Masquerade Violation

*All elements of Vampire bloodlines Masquerade belong to the World of Darkness and White Wolf games

*Batzu and Rose thorn belong to me

The night Rose made her decision that would change both their lives; Batzu was sitting at the table in the rehearsal room of the theater, reading a play on the Salem witch trials. He loved going through the old books and plays left behind from the theaters closure, remembering pieces he had read from before his embrace. Those were rare moments for him, to actually remember memories from before Rose had saved his life. He was reading a play "the Crucible" when he heard a familiar voice at the door:

"Bat-man!"

Batzu's head shot up in surprise towards the doorway. A Brujah with a torn up vest and jeans, a long beard and a dead-serious look on his face stood in the door. Although he was usually smiling…

"Jack, what are you doing here? I wouldn't think of you to come around these parts…"

Jack simply shook his head. "Look man, I didn't come here to crack jokes with you or Red. I came here to tell ya…I think your sire's in trouble."

At that, Batzu was up on his feet, book on the table, "what happened? Is she hurt?"

Jack was quiet. Batzu couldn't take it. "Look, Jack, if something's happened to my sire you have to tell me! But don't go giving me the silent treatment!"

Jack exhaled, letting out an irritated his under his breath. "Look man, your Sire's gone and done something dead serious, so serious they're even sending the sheriff and some others for ya, but if ya wanna find out yourself, don't ask me! I don't got all the details alright? I'm just here to tell ya if you wanna see your woman one last time BEFORE the execution, you better get the fuck down there!"

Batzu froze in terror at the word 'execution.' "Th-they're-going to kill her?"

Jack held his head in his hands, knowing he had said too much. Instead of getting upset, or angry, Batzu simply stated: "Thank you Jack. I'll take it from here."

Batzu closed his eyes. He felt the wind on his face, the streaming sounds of cars and people, swirling and merging around him into one essence:

Then, it was over. With a deep inhale, Batzu opened his eyes, and was standing in the main office of Camarilla royalty before the mighty, self-proclaimed 'prince' himself. LaCroix was, surprisingly, not startled by his presence.

"Ah, Rose Thorn's loyal Bat Servant and childe, himself! You must have found out of the situation your Sire has wound herself into ahead of time. You've certainly saved the Sherriff much trouble of having to fetch you!"

Batzu, however, was in no mood for already known facts. He wanted answers. "Where is she?"

"Ah, yes. You don't know all the details, so you? Well, I can only say this: The transgression she has committed is so great, I'm afraid it pains me to say that her penalty has already been decided as death. However, you are granted permission to see her before the execution to gain any information you seek. Sherriff, show him to her chamber."

Inside, Batzu was boiling. Why her, of all people? Why his beautiful rose angel who had saved him at death's door? Why this friend and neighbor to all Kindred, no matter their clan nor background?

As the Sheriff took Batzu's shoulder, he felt the familiar sensation of rushing colors and sounds whooshing past…

When he opened his eyes, they were in…

"The Theater? What are we doing back here?"

Sure enough, they were standing in the dressing room corridor where Batzu and his Sire's rooms-or the dressing rooms- were located in the theater which they called home.

Sebastian, who had also joined the trip, replied, "Ah, yes, you see, we need a place for the executions where we can send people a message about our laws. So, if it is alright with you, we were going to use your theater, if that is alright."

Batzu clutched his head. "Would someone PLEASE tell me what my sire has done to deserve all of this?"

"Ask her yourself," was LaCroix's last reply before being ushered through the door…

Rose was sitting on the bed, sadly plucking the petals off a black rose, when she was caught off guard by her child stumbling through the door, which quickly closed behind him.

"Batzu!" She rushed to him, pulling him to her and embracing him. As he returned the gesture, he whispered, "What is happening? Why are they turning our home into your prison? What has happened?"

Rose pulled away from him, looking at the floor ashamed. "Batzu, I…you remember how my goal was to make Kine and kindred equal?"

"Yes? Why," Batzu implored.

She inhaled; "About one month ago, I discovered the campus where I had saved you. As I was exploring, I saw…and this may sound ridiculous, but I saw a young woman about nineteen or so on the ledge. Afraid that she was planning to end her life (and seeing there was no one around) I used my 'abilities' to teleport myself to the ledge. It turns out the girl was not a jumper at all, but was simply trying to rescue her cat-I actually found out it wasn't her cat, it was A cat-and had gotten stuck on the ledge. After convincing her to come off and helping her back into her apartment, I learned her parents were abroad and her Aunt had sent her there, but only to get rid of her! Can you believe hpw cruel humans can be sometimes?"

"yes, how cruel to send a child away because you don't desire to care for them…" Batzu stated, "but what does that have to do with the Masquerade?"

Rose shifted uncomfortably, "well, I couldn't leave her alone, so for the past month I've been visiting her, helping her with her studies, and…" she inhaled anxiously, "she figured out who I truly was, WHAT I was, so I may have told her a little about our kind?"

Batzu shook his head. "Rose, my sire, you know there is a reason we cannot share those kinds of secrets!"

"I know! I couldn't help it! She kept asking questions about the superstitions of our kind, and you know I love to teach!" Rose sat down on the bed once more, an ashamed look written upon her face. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just didn't want you to get into trouble…as I am now."

Batzu sat next to her on the bed, "I know, I just wish there was some way our immortality together didn't have to end like this."

She looked at him, her hands reaching up to stroke his face and hair. "you must hear me out. I hear that they have plans for the child as well. I'm begging you: do not let them hurt that child! She is just as you once were, before I found you! Please, promise me!"

Batzu was, at first, uncertain. Should he put his neck on the line as she had done for him? Was there really anything to live for, now that she was being taken from him? Feeling that this was her last wish, he took her hand and kissed it before taking her into his arms and whispering:

"I promise."

That was the last time they were alone together before the execution. He stood outside the open door, dressed in black mourning, listening as the "prince" listed off the charges, calling himself "no more a judicator then a servant to the Masquerade." However, when Batzu did turn to steal one last glimpse at his sire before the end, seeing her bound and kneeling, something happened that made his blood boil. LaCroix kneeled down and whispered loudly for all to hear into her ear:

"Forgive me."

Batzu whipped around, teeth grinding. Forgive him? After she went out of her way for two, maybe even more innocent souls both Kindred and Kine alike, and he was asking her to forgive him for the sentence of death bestowed on her for these selfless acts? It was more than Batzu could stand.

"Let the penalty commence."

As a brief 'thwak' of the blade echoed throughout the theater, Batzu's teeth were still grinding as tears ran down his pale face.

*And scene! Alright! Sorry if that was a little short. There's two more chapters after this before we dive into the game's storyline. A new (and important) main character of mine is introduced that will plunge them and Batzu into the original storyline.