Partisan Thoughts

The schedule is blown to shit. Better handle these things carefully or I’m heading the same way. Fucking former Eastern Block dealers. No sense of service delivery. Would rather try play grab-ass with me than hand over the goods. If I didn’t need him I’d put a round through that good eye of his. Shit. Getting close to sundown. Should abort, but no, the mission comes first. I’m just going to have to work faster. And if it means braving nightfall then that’s an acceptable risk. I will not go back with an abort. I will not give her the satisfaction. 

I can’t wait to be out of this fucking town, if we ever actually leave. Goddam freak show. Even Mexico was better than this. Fuck. Suns almost down. Well, I know what I have to do. I have my orders. And if I die doing this, well, I guess that’s an acceptable loss.

My darling...

"Lately it has been getting more and more difficult to distinguish friend from foe", I say as I light a cigarette. "Those motherfuckers have infiltrated us deeper than we expected! I came close to final death when that tower went up... too close!"

Violetta stares at me, fear radiating from her eyes. I lean forward. "I'm not going to let them get you, my darling, I'll keep you safe." I whisper to her, trying to sound reassuring.

Truth be told, I don't know if I can keep her safe. I think I'm in way over my head. Not only am I trying to save my dear prince's rightful throne, but now I also have a neonate to take care of! Our fates are bound, sire and childe, just like Eddie and I. No fucking around here, if one of us screws up, we all die. Fuck, this is all going down the shitter faster than I expected.

I used to think I knew who were my enemies and who were my friends. The Sabbat are bad, the Camarilla are good. Simple as that. Was I wrong! Those Ventrue scare me more than anyone!

"There are only those who want to kill us now, and those who want to kill us later. If you remember anything my darling, remember this... Trust no one!" She still looks spooked. My rambling isn't calming her down. "We have to stick together, you and I. We are bound." I suck deeply at the filter. Smoking has no effect on me anymore unfortunately, but hey, old habits die hard. "I'll take care of you little one, don't worry."

Retribution

I'm pissed off, I'm sore everywhere, and I shouldn't be staring at my front door like a paranoid Malk, waiting for who-knows-what traitor to come in and finish me off. I want to go stay with Mister Oscar for a few nights, but don't exactly feel safe there either. Stupid Faith. Even if she's not responsible she's still a prissy bitch. Damn I hope it's her just so I can take a swipe at her. Oh and god help her if she hurts Mister Oscar (not that she can really, he's like awesomely super-powerful) because then I will let the Nozzies and the Malks mess her around, and then I'll have my turn.

Things are getting serious and I'm not liking being scared. At least I have my beautiful Byron, my magpie, to make me feel better. He's not scared of anything. He wouldn't be jumping at the noises in the hallway like I am now. Now I know Mister Oscar's been telling me about all the dangers and whatever, but for the first time I feel like the warnings are real. Man, I wish I could just go get drunk! I don't like the idea that I'm growing up all of a sudden - it hurts, and I don't just mean the ragged cut marks all over me.

Damn it all. I call a cab, take a drive, make sure the driver doesn't remember me.

Stand in front of the door. Ring the bell. For once I don't even have to fake the wide eyes, the trembling lip, the vulnerable way that I clutch my jacket to my chest.

It's getting lighter out. Navy-blue sky. I hope he doesn't send me away...

Door opens. Lucky, it's him. I stifle a sob of relief.

"Can I stay here today, Mister Oscar? With you?"

Evaluation

So wow. Those Tzimisce can throw one hell of a party! What a break from all these fuddy-duddy Camarilla guys, I mean, seriously! Now I'm just wondering how much of this "evil Sabbat" thing is just propaganda. I totally think they're just misunderstood, after all who spends their whole time just killing stuff and running around like maniacs (except Jeremy, but he has a condition lol)? Then again what do I know, Camarilla is all about their secrets and stuff. Boring!

Mister Oscar has been talking about this whole Tremere business recently and I dunno, it sounds a bit lame to me (besides I thought I was a Tremere already, wtf?!?!). Tho I guess it could be fun joining a secret society thing and see what they're all up to. I bet it's just sitting around reading dusty books! Come on if you're a vampire at least enjoy it folks! :P Maybe I can make my own wing of top secret fashion accessories - for the modern blood magic vampire! LOL! Some of those oldies really need an update lol!!!

A moment in time

He smiles. All teeth and no lips.

“We’re being used,” he says. Shoving his long, spindly hands into his coat pockets.

“You say that as if it’s a new development, Max.” I reply, broken glass popping under my boots as we sift through the abandoned church. Max’s smile broadens into a grin of impossible proportions.

“Of course that isn’t new, Rebecca. I just wanted to emphasize the relevance of our situation.” He bows, crouches and effortlessly leaps to one of the intact rafters overhead. I look up and see his eyes glisten red in the faded moonlight.

“Walt’s coming back,” he calls. “And he’s got a little present for you, it seems.”

A few feet ahead Walter’s form bleeds out of the shadows. That strange movement. Whenever he moves his body it always seems to waver as if on the brink of evaporating into shadows. In his hand he holds a long shaft of wood, possibly the leg of a chair. The splintered end caked in blood.

“For me. You shouldn’t have.” I say in a flat tone.

He nods, hands it to me and steps to my side.

“Not feeling chatty tonight, Walt?” whispers Max from the open rooftop.

“Reticence. It’s a good flaw,” he mumbles.

I hear the soft gurgling and slurring sound from above which I have come to now recognize as Max’s laughter.

I regard the piece of wood. Makeshift but effective. I turn to the sharpened end deftly avoiding my white leather coat. You have absolutely no idea the dry-cleaning bills I have incurred getting blood out of this thing. Not very practical for field work but it was a gift from… well, someone special. I allow myself a brief moment of longing before focusing once again on the blood.

Recent, a couple of nights at the most. I measure the length, surmise the impact. Single thrust, high force and a direct hit. Time for some answers.

First the victim. I touch my tongue to darkened stain. The acrid copper taste unfolds the tale of the poor bastard that got stuck. Strange. Older than the previous ones. Much stronger. The game has shifted but why? The Sabbat have always had their share of in fighting. They’ve always been quick to toss shovel-heads against each other to show dominance. An almost perverse sense of population control. But this one, this one was but short of an elder. Someone’s upping the ante.

Now the attacker. I’m not expecting anything. Another blank like the time before. I close my eyes and concentrate on the wooden stake searching the item for a lingering image. Some clue as to who drove the weapon home. My eyes immediately flick open.

“There must be some kind of way out of here,” I hear Walter say to Max. Max starts snaking his head around madly.

“Something’s wrong,” he hisses.

The shock of what I’ve seen leaves me reeling. It can’t be right. But it must be. I quickly come to my senses.

“We’re leaving. Now,” I shout. “The jobs off. Everything is off. Run!”

Too late. I see a mass of shadows congeal around Max and engulf him. Walter has his shotgun out but the floor beneath his feet gives way.

Eyes. I see just a pair of eyes. And a voice. I hear that voice.

“I’ll be taking that.”

I feel the stake leave my hands and I feel it once again as it tears through my white coat.

Violetta addresses the heroin room

To all those who serve and love my Master,

As you might have noticed our master has come to visit us less and less in the last couple of nights. This is not because he loves us less. Indeed his boundless love for his followers has done nothing but grow stronger. It is because there are people out there who wish him harm! Yes, there are fiends out there, fuckwits who want to take our dear sweet master away from us, to rob us of his dark love. We cannot let this happen!

Our master, in his divine wisdom, has instructed us to keep watch. Watch who comes in and out of the club, survey the bus lines and keep and eye open for any suspicious activity. If you see anyone who doesn't belong, DO NOT engage. No matter how tempting it is to pump some lead into those motherfuckers. This is direct order from the master. Those who disobey him will be punished!

We will work in shifts. One group will be on TV duty, and the other will do surveillance. Those that watch, report anything strange to me immediately. I will then tell the master.

Our master needs us in these trying nights. And we need to show him how much we love him, he needs to taste our love in our blood. For our master!

Violetta

Last night was awesome!

Dear gang,

Last night was so cool! When can we do it again? It was so funny! Dozens of stupid sabbat playing in their stupid warehouse with their stupid jumping over their stupid fire... it was soooo stupid! But then BOOOM! No more floor! I bet one of them was still in mid air when the floor went poof... all like "Weeee... look at me... I'm jumping over a stupid fire.... ooo bugger where'd that floor go? Splat" Ha ha ha. And his friend was probably playing with a lighter in the corner, passing his hand over the flame like a party trick when WHOOFFF his whole body is set alight by the napalm!

Did you guys see that one vamp who ran out with his head on fire! And then Jeremy shot him in the balls! Ha ha! Fun with a gun! Hooray! And did you see when that supermodel wannabe torrie got her arm blown off and blood was spraying everywhere! Totally killer! Ha ha, and did you check me out when I bit that stupid gangrel in the ass! He was so totally thinking he'd get away - the whole time I was thinking "Fortitude my ass.... ow... my ass!!!" Ha ha. Little bit hard to get away with no legs, dum-dum! And that guy... at least I think it was a guy... who was flailing around on fire and ran straight into the wall! BOOOOIIINNNNGGG! Ha ha ha...

What a party! Pity the fire destroyed most of the bodies... it'd have been cool if we could, you know, do the whole old days thing and hang their heads along a flagpole in city central.

Thanks for inviting me, guys, I had such fun! I'll try bring snacks next time.

Sincerely,
John Riviera

Lost

Hi,

Has anyone seen my bird? Spotty is a dark-feathered raven, with several grey feathers and an odd lump beneath his left wing. I think something might have happened to him... these cars that wizz above my haven make it rather unsafe for my poor flock of birds... just last week a car smashed into one of my poor fellows - nearly broke off it's whole wing. I really hope he didn't get hurt - but if you do spot him around could you please return him to one of the nearby parks? I'll tell the other birds to keep an eye out for him.

I'm sure it'll be nothing a little bit of blood can't fix.

I hope you are all doing well.

Sincerely,
John Riviera