Your anchor is up; you've been swept away
And the greatest of teachers won't hesitate
To leave you there, by yourself, chained to fate
I Alone - Live

I awoke slowly and clawed my way to consciousness. I dreaded opening my eyes and seeing only darkness before me. It took me a moment to realize I was lying on my side on a cold stone floor.

I opened my eyes a slit and looked cautiously at a stone wall a few feet away. I turned my head a little and looked around to see that I was at the bottom of what looked like a dry stone well about ten feet in diameter. I braced myself on my hands and pushed upward a bit to get a better look. I had to look twice at the walls before I realized there seemed to be beams of light running vertically at two-inch intervals all around the walls.

'Hello,' a deep voice called out from above me.

I threw my head back in surprise and looked up. A man looked over the edge of the well perhaps twenty feet above me. He had dark hair and skin, and radiated health the way a professional athlete does.

A woman peeked over the edge at his side. She was pretty, with long brown hair framing her oval face. Their heads made dark areas on the wall where they interrupted the beams. The light didn't seem to hurt them, but I wasn't fooled; I would not go anywhere near the walls as long as those beams were on.

'Hello,' I replied, remaining crouched on the floor.

'Who are you?' the woman asked.

I paused, then told her my first name.

'How do you know Jason?' she demanded.

'He's a good friend of mine,' I told her. 'Who are you?'

'Lena,' she said.

I thought quickly. 'Her Ladyship Lena Stockton?'

'Yes,' she said, surprised. 'How do you know me?'

'I spoke with you briefly by phone a few nights ago,' I said, rising carefully to my feet. 'It's good to meet you.'

'When did I speak with you?'

'Tuesday night. We didn't talk for long, but I was supposed to meet you in a small village in Austria.' I smiled slightly. 'My cell phone cut out before we could talk for very long. You said you would help me find Jason.'

'Where is he?' she demanded, her hands gripping the stone edge of the well.

'I don't know,' I said gravely, 'but if you let me out, perhaps together we can find him.'

Their heads disappeared and I could hear the faint murmur of conversation. A few moments later, Lena reappeared. 'I will only let you go if you promise not to hurt any of my people.'

I could feel the hunger burning within me; it had been nearly a week since I'd fed. I knew there was no need to pretend to be other than what I was, they would have found out soon enough if the werewolves hadn't told them already. 'You wouldn't happen to have some sort of blood bank here, would you?' I asked hopefully. 'I need sustenance.'

She studied me intently. 'You will be provided with what you need,' she told me after a moment.

'If you give me what I need, I won't hurt anyone here,' I promised.

Lena gestured behind her and the beams of light went off. Quickly I scaled the wall using the many hand and footholds available. When I approached the top, the man reached down, lifted me bodily and set me on the floor. He was abnormally strong, and I backed away from him as soon as he let me go. I remembered clearly the strength of werewolves at the village. He smiled at me.

I brushed the dust from my clothing then looked at Lena, who had the valise at her feet. She held the bone in one hand and the unopened envelope in the other.

'Is that mine?' I asked and pointed to the valise. I knew it was.

'Yes,' she replied. She placed the bone back into the valise and turned the envelope over in her hands.

'Those things are Jason's,' I said as she began to open the envelope. 'I don't think he would want us to open them.'

'Our friend is in a position where he cannot make decisions right now,' said the Garou whom I later learned was named Mikael, 'maybe never.'

'I prefer not to think that way,' I said, angry that this wolf-man would.

'You have to face the possibility that he may be dead,' Mikael said not unkindly as Lena read the envelope's contents. His voice carried a light accent I didn't recognize.

'Do I?' I asked, stiff with anger.

Lena gasped and put a hand to her mouth.

'What is it?' I demanded, but she waved me away.

I moved closer and tried to see what she was looking at. All I could tell was that the papers she was holding had Jason's handwriting on them. After a moment, she handed me one of the two sheets.

I read it quickly and took note of the web address across the top and the name Sire Records. 'Do you have a computer?' I asked Lena. She seemed not to hear me.

I moved to look over her shoulder at the second page. It contained a list of dates and locations along with two song lyrics that seemed vampiric in nature. The dates began in London and ended in Detroit. The last date was only days before Jason and I had left for Europe.

Lena and began I discussing various possibilities.

'Sire Records,' I said. 'Sounds like a Kindred thing to me.'

Lena asked me where Jason and I had been during the dates listed.

I began with the first date. 'October 27th, I was in a dungeon in Salem.' When Lena looked at me strangely, I said, 'Yes, a dungeon. On Halloween, Jason was kind enough to rescue me.

'On November first, I flew back to Vegas. I believe Jason returned to San Francisco on the second. On the sixth he called me and asked me to come to 'Frisco the following night. We had dinner together and he told me about the trip to Europe.

'We left that evening, spent the day in Salem and traveled through London to Italy, where we arrived at the monastery on Sunday the ninth.'

I told her about the warning Jason had received from the small device and how shaken he'd been at hearing the horrible voice. I said that we had been in tight situations together before, but that I had never seen him scared like that. I told her about the gunshots and the rising wind, the old man and the cloak.

When I told her of Jason on the altar and the withered crone-like man standing over him, she asked me what the mage had looked like. I gave her his description and she seemed to ponder it for a moment, her face pale.

'What does Jason mean to you?' she asked almost casually, her eyes searching mine.

'Jason is a good friend,' I replied as I struggled to hide my feelings from her. 'What does he mean to you?'

She smiled slightly. 'Jason is like a brother to me,' she said as she glanced at Mikael. It was quite apparent her feelings for Mikael were quite a bit stronger than that.

I felt the hunger calling inside of me and asked her where I might feed. She glanced at Mikael and gestured me aside.

Lena studied me closely, then pulled her long hair off one side of her neck. She angled her head to give me access to her juggler vein, but she looked wary, almost afraid.

I gazed at the pulse she had revealed and fought to control myself. I closed my eyes and held a hand out to her. When I looked at her again, she seemed confused.

'Your hand, if I may,' I said softly. Slowly she placed her hand in mine. 'If you don't mind, milady, I'd rather do it this way.'

Lena glanced at Mikael and he shrugged before he stepped closer to us. Lena nodded and my canines extended as I cautiously lifted her wrist to my mouth. Tenderly I inserted my teeth into her flesh and began to drink.

Mikael moved to Lena's side, turned her head into his shoulder, and held her gently while I fed. He watched me fiercely while I took only enough blood to control my hunger. I pulled my fangs out slowly and ran my tongue lightly across the twin wounds to close them. Lena turned to me and blinked in surprise at the lack of pain.

She's been 'kissed' before, I told myself, and not kindly.

'Are you all right?' Mikael asked her. He supported her and she leaned against his strength.

'Just a little woozy,' she replied. Lena studied her wrist, then glanced at me. 'Is-is that enough for you?'

I smiled slightly, careful not to reveal my still extended fangs. 'It has been a long time since I've fed, but that will hold me over until I can reach a large city. Thank you for you generosity, Lady.' I bowed slightly and retracted the canines by sheer force of will.

'Perhaps I should take you hunting,' Mikael said. 'Would a large animal suit your needs?'

'That would be excellent,' I told him, grateful for the offer.

He seemed surprised. 'You would feed from an animal?'

'Whatever is available,' I replied. 'Whatever works best.'

Mikael swung a drooping Lena up into his arms. She seemed very frail held in his brute strength. 'You need to rest,' he told her. 'Wait here,' he said to me as he carried her through the doorway.

I picked up the valise and opened it. Everything seemed to be there, including the Glock Jason had left inside and its remaining clip. There was no sign of my weapon.

I remembered the clip the Garou had thrown into the box with me and pulled it from my pocket. I studied the bullets for a moment and decided that they must be silver. Why else would the clip have brought such a reaction from werewolves? I loaded the Glock with the silver bullets and put the phosphorous clip in my pocket. I placed the gun in the holster at the small of my back.

I reached past my cellular phone to pull out the palmtop computer and tried to figure out more of its functions. After some playing around, I found a Personal Information Manager, or PIM, function. It revealed travel information from the time that Jason had flown to Salem in Late October. I smiled as I remembered my relief when I had seen him in the dungeon hallway. I also found the canceled reservations to the Cayman Islands.

I traced our travel route to the monastery, then found further arrangements for our travel to Austria. There were even notes on the trip that he had promised to take me on when his business in Europe was finished.

My vision swam with a red haze and I blinked at the blood tears filling my eyes. I searched my mind for some way I might have saved Jason from the creature that had tormented him, but could find no avenue I hadn't taken.

Angry with myself, I dashed the red drops from my cheeks. A river of tears wouldn't help Jason now, I had to be strong and piece together what little information I had. I would use Lena, and Mikael, even Antonio and Brenda if I had to in order to find Jason. After all, I knew he would do the same for me.

I was twisting the ring Jason had given me when I heard footsteps approaching and quickly I wiped away the last traces of my tears.

As Mikael led me out of the castle, he asked if I wanted to hunt or if I would prefer he do so. I told him I thought it would be better, faster if he did the hunting. When we cleared the castle grounds Mikael swept his dark hair off his forehead and said, 'So how do you know Jason?'

'Graves instructed Jason to protect me,' I told him.

'And he did so.'

'Yes.' I stepped over a fallen log, and said, 'He saved me, many times. I owe him a life-boon that I intend to repay.'

'Is that it?' Mikael asked and turned to look down at me in the moonlight with his dark probing eyes.

'What do you mean?' In the dark I couldn't read his expression.

'Your kind isn't exactly known for its regard for humans,' he replied as he moved off again into the trees.

'And your kind is known for its contempt of Kindred,' I bit out.

After we walked a few feet, I said, 'I'm sorry. Can we not stereotype one another? Let's get to know each other before making any judgments, okay?'

Mikael glanced back at me. 'Fine.'

Several minutes later, he said, 'Are you going to answer my question?'

'What question?'

'Is gratitude and debt all you feel for Jason?' he replied as we walked deeper into the forest.

I didn't answer for a moment, then said, 'Jason is my friend. He has been there for me in every way that I needed him. I refuse to leave him to the likes of that... crone.'

Mikael stopped so quickly that I almost ran into him. He turned and looked down into my face. 'And that's it?'

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. 'That's it.'

'Are you lying to convince me or yourself?' he chuckled.

I backed away as he began to strip off his clothing, a little shocked at his lack of modesty. I couldn't remember ever seeing a naked man before that night. I watched with wonder and not a little fear as he quickly transformed into a large gray wolf and disappeared into the forest.

About forty-five minutes later, after much soul searching and pacing on my part, I could hear a large animal returning through the trees. As it came into view, I could see it was a gigantic creature, nearly seven feet tall and very muscular. It wasn't really human or beast, but rather a mixture of both.

It had a large buck across one shoulder that it threw to the ground at my feet. It took the horns of the buck and twisted the neck to give me access. My hunger quickly overcame my fear of the beast. I knelt beside them and eyed the buck greedily.

When Mikael assured me that the village would be able to use the mean from the buck, I bend and drained him dry. I mourned for the animal and a part of me regretted that it had given its life for mine.

When the beast was dead and I was full, I sat up, backed slightly away from Mikael, and wiped the blood from my lips. My teeth retracted easily this time as I turned to avoid the sight of the wolf-man gutting the buck. When he was done, the beast that was Mikael lifted the carcass to his shoulder and started toward the village. I scooped up his clothing and followed at a slight distance.

When we reached the edge of the village, the beast put down his burden. Again I watched Mikael transform, this time back into a human. I handed Mikael his clothing and averted my eyes while he dressed. When he was done, he grabbed the buck by the horns and balanced it along his back, the hindquarters dragging on the ground.

Mikael led me to a cottage and bade me enter. He told me I would be safe within, and that I should rest. I went inside and threw the simple bolt home.

Before I succumbed to the inevitable daytime rest, I performed the simple ceremony Antonio had taught me to keep out the sunlight. I shook my head in disgust that I had forgotten about it in the car. Then I laid my head down on Mikael's cot and waited restlessly for sunrise.

Clues

What the hell
What is it you think you're gonna find?
The Struggle Within - Metallica

When I awoke the next evening, I pumped water into the sink and washed myself as best I could. The nights of hard travel and the time in the coffin had left me feeling stale and used. Then I left the cabin and made my way to the castle that dominated the hillside. The waxing moon shone brightly, lighting my way.

A servant answered the door and took my name before going off. When he returned, he led me down a corridor to a study where Lena was using a telephone. She seemed to be talking to a friend, and I looked around the book-lined study, fingering my ring while I waited for her to finish.

Then something she said caught my attention; she was asking the person to arrange a meeting with the pop star, Madelyn. I looked at Lena and noticed for the first time that she was looking at what seemed to be a roll of toilet paper with writing on it.

'Madelyn?' I asked when she hung up.

'Yes,' Lena replied. 'We checked the web site on the paper and the dates we found are for her world tour. All dates past November fifth have been canceled.'

'What do you have there?' I asked, gesturing toward the roll in her hands.

She seemed reluctant to reply, then said, 'It was a gift.'

'May I see?' After a moment's hesitation, she handed it to me.

The roll was almost empty, and each remaining square had a phrase written on it in lipstick. Some squares even had simple pictures. We figured out pretty quickly that the clues pointed to Los Angeles and Talon Graves. I had heard a rumor that he was prince of the city, but Jason had never mentioned it to me.

The clues also hinted of trouble with the Brujah clan, and finished with 'Find a Siren, Save a Goddess.' We were trying to figure out who the Goddess was when Mikael joined us.

'Christina,' he said, looking at me very intently, his voice hard, 'I would appreciate it if you would reload your weapon with slightly different ammunition.'

I returned his look for a long moment and my body stiffened in preparation for a fight I knew I couldn't possibly win. 'You must understand my unease and misgivings,' I told him. 'Your people have not been kind to me.'

'That is true,' he admitted, 'but I am the only one of my people here.' He crossed his large arms across his broad chest.

Casting a glance between Mikael and Lena, I knew that he was right, he had been more than kind to me. I rolled the toilet paper back up and handed it to Lena. She stiffened as I drew my gun, then relaxed a bit when I snapped the clip out. I put the clip in my pocket and took out the phosphorous loaded clip. I loaded the gun with a click and returned the weapon to its holster.

Mikael relaxed his stance and Lena smiled up at him.

I gestured toward the valise where it lay on the table. 'May I?'

'Of course,' Lena replied, sliding it toward me.

I pulled out the palmtop and activated the PIM. While waiting for it to load, I asked, 'May I use the phone?' She agreed.

Quickly I dialed Jason's cell phone number from memory and waited for the connection.

'Da,' a voice answered.

'Hello?' I asked, confused. I knew I'd dialed the right number.

The man mumbled something in what I took to be Russian.

'Do you speak English?' I questioned him as I heard yelling in the background.

'Dos Vedanya' he replied pleasantly a moment later, then hung up.

I held the phone away from my face, staring at it.

'What is it? Lena asked.

'I just called Jason's number,' I replied, putting the phone down. 'I got some guy speaking Russian, then he hung up on me.'

'Tell me what he said,' she urged.

I repeated the short conversation. 'Do you know Russian?'

'Yes.'

'Perhaps if you call back, you may get somewhere,' I said, watching her face.

She seemed hesitant and glanced at Mikael, who shrugged. She nodded at me slowly, then activated the speakerphone before hitting the redial button.

'Da,' the man said again when he answered.

I couldn't follow the conversation as the only Russian I'd ever heard was in the movies. I caught snatches, like 'Nikoli Petrovich' and 'Presidente,' but none of it made sense. Then the man spoke Lena's name and she looked like she'd been slapped. Mikael picked up the receiver and barked a few sentences into it before he slammed it down. He immediately picked it back up and dialed a number.

'Gregory, are your guests still there?' he asked. 'Good. Tell them to get a hold of our brothers and sisters. Yes, a family reunion. At my house. Right away. Yes. Thank you.' Slowly he replaced the receiver in its cradle.

Lena still sat in shock. Mikael went to her, gathering her into his arms.

'What have I done?' she whispered, crying softly.

'what's going on?' I demanded.

'It will be alright,' Mikael told Lena, ignoring me. 'Nothing will happen to the village. We'll protect it. But you must leave, tonight.'

'What have I done?' she said again, tears streaming down her face.

'Tell me what's going on!' I demanded. 'What happened?'

'Jason's phone is in Russia,' Mikael told me as he held Lena. 'He is going by the name of Nickoli Petrovich. The man said they have him and that they knew who Lena is. They will be coming.'

'And you sent for your family to protect the village?' I asked softly.

'Yes, but you both must leave, now,' Mikael said urgently. 'My tribe will kill you for bringing this trouble here and Lena must be taken out of danger. You will need to get some supplies,' Mikael added. 'I will make arrangements for your travel.'

Lena seemed to be pulling herself together. 'We have to go to Los Angeles,' she said, 'I have to speak to Graves.' Mikael stiffened a little, but did not release her.

'Do you have a car,' I asked, 'or motorcycles?' They looked at me like I was insane. 'Horses don't like me,' I told them softly, reminding them of my nature. Animals didn't usually like Kindred.

Mikael gave me a disgusted look. 'I'll arrange for a cart. It might be better for Lena anyway.' He kissed her temple softly.

'Maybe we should take the box, if it is still here,' I said with a suppressed shudder. 'We may be able to travel faster if I'm in cargo. I also need to make a few more phone calls.'

'You have a point about the box,' Lena said, rising and leading the way out of the room. I grabbed the valise and stuffed the computer inside of it as I followed.

'One thing about the box,' I said, 'I want it to latch from the inside, no nailing it shut this time. You can probably understand my reluctance to get back inside without being able to get out on my own.'

'Yes,' Mikael replied, 'I'll grab my tools.' With a last kiss to Lena, he left to make the necessary arrangements.

Lena opened a door and we entered a storage room full of electronic equipment. The cellular phones that sat on one shelf caught my eye.

'These are identical to mine,' I commented, reaching for spare batteries.

'Grab an extra phone and take several spare batteries,' she told me. She grabbed a few other items, then said, 'I'm going to run upstairs and grab a change of clothing. Wait for me by the front door,' she said as we were leaving the storage room, 'I'll be just a minute.'

Mikael was coming around the castle entrance in a horse pulled cart when Lena and I came outside. The bright moon illuminated him and the driver beside him, and revealed the pine box in the back. Lena and I climbed in beside it before it stopped fully, and Mikael motioned the driver on as he joined us. He opened his toolbox and began fashioning an interior latch and hinges.

As we traveled, I replaced the battery pack in my cell phone with a fresh one, then tried to call Antonio, but the time difference made it several hours before sunset on the West Coast. I decided to try the Salem prince's house and Brenda.

'Christina,' she said when she came to the phone, 'what can I do for you?'

'I really hate to impose on you, but I really need your help,' I told her. 'I need to get a message to Antonio but I'm in Eastern Europe and the time difference is making it difficult.'

'I understand,' she replied.

'Please tell him that I believe Graves is in danger and Jason-'MartÌn' has been abducted.'

''MartÌn?'' Brenda asked. 'The human that was here with you?'

'Yes, I believe he is in great danger.' Despite my efforts to calm myself, my voice shook slightly.

'I see.' The tone of her voice made me think that she probably did.

'Also, I will be coming back to the States in a day or so, and I would appreciate you making travel arrangements for us; one human, Lena Stockton, and one box. We need the fastest possible route to Los Angeles from Austria.'

'I can do that for you, no problem,' she assured me.

'Can you call me when you have the arrangements made?' I asked.

'I will, Christina,' she told me. 'Keep safe.'

'Thank you so much for your help, Brenda,' I said. 'I owe you.' Then I rang off.

'Who was that,' Lena asked.

'My sister.'

'You have a sister?'

'A sister in the sense that we share a sire,' I replied. 'She will be making our flight arrangements and calling me with the details. She will also be contacting Antonio, who will in turn warn Graves.'

'Who is Antonio?' she asked.

'My sire. Brenda's sire,' I said. 'He is a good man, he will help us.'

'He is not a man,' Mikael interjected roughly as he sat back, having installed the interior latch on the box.

'Lena, could you teach me Russian?' I inquired softly, thinking of the phone call as the cart swayed on the rough road. She agreed and began my instruction.

In the next village, Mikael took his leave of us to return to the castle and protect the village. Lena and I got on the Euro Rail and at the first stop I got into the box as morning was nearly upon us.

The following evening Brenda phoned me. After giving me our flight information to New York, she told me that Michael had sent his Leer to meet us in New York. She had arranged for have supplies brought on board for us.

'One more thing,' she told me, 'there seems to be something more going on with Graves. Michael says he hears stories about where Graves has been, and it doesn't match up with where he actually sees him.'

'Really?' I asked. What could that mean? 'Anything else?' When she demurred, I inquired how her studies were going.

'Good,' she said. 'I am learning a lot here. Micky is showing me around town and I'm getting on well. I'm glad Antonio agreed to let me train here.'

'It's a wonderful opportunity for you, as I'm sure you know,' I replied, for a moment mildly jealous of her. Salem has traditionally been a stronghold of the Tremere clan, with a very advanced Chantry.

'Look,' she added just before we rang off, 'if I can do anything for you, call me.'

'I will.'

'I hope you find 'MartÌn' soon,' she said.

The gleam of the diamond on my engagement ring caught my eye. 'So do I.'

I climbed back into the box before we left Heathrow Airport, and that day I dreamed of the night that I had rediscovered my father, the same night I had realized Jason was human. He had been there by my side, keeping me safe and convincing me not to harm Papa.

Jason touched my hand and I helped him to his feet. One of the men from the basement of the church had followed us and now he took a step closer. I pointed my gun at him and he stopped short.

'Don't,' I warned, my voice cold. Suddenly the gun wavered in my grip and I took a step back. I knew this man! I didn't know exactly who he was, but I was absolutely certain that I knew him.

'Christina,' he whispered. The man looked shaken and pale, almost as if he had seen a ghost. He was of average height, and his hair was almost completely gray. His green eyes covered every inch of me as if I were food and he a starving man. He wore the garments of a priest.

Jason steadied on his feet at my side, moving between the man and me so that I had to take a step to one side in order to keep my gun trained on the familiar stranger.

'Who are you?' I asked him.

'Christina, love,' the man replied softly, tears in his eyes. 'Don't you know me?

'He is your father,' Jason told me gently.

'No!' I cried. 'Papa would not do murder like this.'

'Yes,' Jason repeated firmly, 'This is your father, Roger Strong.'

I put my left hand on my forehead to fight the stream of memories flooding my mind; a birthday party, looking through the eyes of the small child I once was and blowing out candles, then gazing up at a younger version of this man who smiled down at me. Other images of other days, but still no name came to my mind. Then I saw myself sitting at a desk, addressing an envelope that lay before me. I saw my own hand write Father Roger Strong.

When I looked at Roger again, Jason slowly raised his hand to take the gun from me. On his finger, I saw a ring with a gold cross, a ring that spoke to me of membership in the Society of Leopold, the modern incarnation of the Inquisition. I took another step back and leveled the gun at Jason.

'You are one of them,' I accused, my voice a low growl.

'No,' he said, his brown eyes pleading for my understanding. 'I am here to protect you.'

'Then why the ring?' I demanded.

His met my scornful gaze without wavering, and his voice was low and careful as he said, 'Christina, you know I came here to save you. I don't belong with these people.'

'But you told me you used to!' I exclaimed. 'How do I know you didn't rejoin them?'

'It was a long time ago, Christina,' he replied. 'I have changed much in that time. You know I am here to help you.'

I heard a noise from behind me, but kept my eyes on Jason. Deep down I knew that whoever was behind me wasn't a threat because Jason was watching my back. Realizing how much I trusted Jason to protect me brought my chaotic thoughts up short and I slowly lowered the gun to my side.

Michael walked up from behind me and MartÌn motioned him toward the basement. I heard a quick barrage of gunfire and screaming from outside.

I looked again at my father. The emotions I felt were too overwhelming for me, and I holstered my gun and turned to walk out of the church. I paused at the top of the steps where I could see the gun battle going on between my friends and the hunters that had arrived after us. Jason and my father walked up to stand on either side of me.

'Call and end to it,' Jason said to us.

Roger looked first at Jason, then me, then to the hunters. 'Brothers and sisters,' he cried, raising his arms. 'We must cease this folly! We were misled! Put down your weapons!'

I too looked at Jason then at the others, saying, 'It is over! Let us find peace here tonight!'

Kindred and kine stopped shooting and looked up at us. I started walking down the steps toward where Estrea and Luke stood. These were my friends, and the only beings I truly trusted other than Antonio, and now Jason.

When I reached the bottom of the steps, the world began to spin around me, and Luke grabbed my arm to catch me before I fell. He eased me down on the steps and sat next to me, putting an arm around my shoulders for support.

I could smell the blood spilled on the grounds of the church and the hunger bloomed strong within me. I hadn't felt it this keenly since the night I had found myself lost and alone in Las Vegas.

I turned my head into Luke's shoulder and tears came to my eyes. I could smell the blood in the mortals all around me, especially that of Jason and Roger, who were very close.

Luke offered his wrist to me and gratefully I took it, biting gently into his flesh. I heard Estrea speaking to Jason as I drank to ease the urgency of my hunger, then licked the wound shut.

I felt a hand at my shoulder and looked up to see Estrea crouched before me, her wrist extended. I took her arm and as I sucked the blood from her wrist, I could feel my father's eyes upon me. I took enough to feel in control of myself again, then licked at her wound to close it.

'Thank you,' I told her, forcing a smile.

Estrea must have seen the horror in Papa's face because she stood and said to him, 'Sir, she is a vampire. It is her nature now to drink blood to survive, just as it is in your nature to eat the meat of animals that have died for your food.'

She smiled, gently touching Roger's arm. 'For all that she does not remember you, she is still your daughter. Speak to her, help her regain her memories of her life. I'm sure you still have much in common.'

'Thank you, my child,' Roger said to Estrea.

Jason crouched at my side and brushed his fingers against my cheek. Luke stiffened at my side as I looked up and smiled at Jason then took his hand. He helped me stand and put an arm around my waist to steady me when I would have fallen. Jason led me to where my father stood waiting for me.

I felt Papa's eyes on me but a long moment passed before I could bring myself to meet his gaze.

'Christina Joanne,' he said softly, 'Do you truly not remember me?' He reached out to put a hand on my shoulder, but I pulled away from his touch.

I searched his face. Christina Joanne Strong. Somehow that felt right, and in the lines of the hunter's face, I saw my father. Dimly I remembered that same face from my past. Things are not as they seem, a voice in my head warned, but I did remember this man.

'Papa?' I whispered hesitantly. I watched tears come to his eyes as he put his arms around me. I returned his embrace and felt my own blood tears stain his jacket. 'Papa.'

'Christina,' he said, 'I thought I had lost you forever.'

Better for you if he had, the voice said before finally quieting.

I woke as Michael's Leer was preparing to land in LA, still remembering the feel of arms around me, the taste blood lingering in my mouth.

Intrigue

Oh now feel it comin' back again
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Lightning Crashes - Live

Before landing in Los Angeles, I took a moment to wake Lena and changed into clothing that Brenda had thoughtfully provided for me. I also fed from blood bags, making sure that Lena knew what I was doing but didn't watch.

Michael had a limousine waiting for us and it took us to a very exclusive restaurant in the hills. The waiter showed us to a table in the corner set for four. I watched Lena's eyes cover the room expectantly, then glanced around myself. I spotted a few Kindred in the crowd, but no one I knew, and none tried to catch my attention.

I kept my hands in my lap and ran my fingers along the vine design of the ring while Lena sipped at her drink. We waited. About fifteen minutes later, I spotted Michael and Antonio working their way toward us. I had to look twice to recognize Antonio - he was wearing an Armani suit similar to Michael's. Michael must be influencing him greatly, I thought.

As they sat down, I greeted them and introduced Lena. Michael asked what he could do for us.

'Lena and I need to meet with Madelyn,' I told him.

'Good luck,' said Antonio. 'You probably won't get any further than the police have in getting to her.'

'What?'

'Haven't you heard?' Michael asked. When Lena and I shook our heads, he said, 'She's been accused of murder. The ghoul who does the day for her is missing, and Madelyn has gone into hiding. Only the prince and the primogen know where she is.'

'We have to see her,' I said leaning forward.

Antonio patted my hand. 'We will see what we can do. Now what is this I hear about 'MartÌn' missing?'

I looked down into my drink, the ice cubes shining like a mortal's unshed tears. 'We were traveling in Italy when some? thing captured him. We have reason to believe he is in Russia and in great danger.' I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions. Of course Antonio did not miss my action. 'Tell me, have the Brujah been acting up here in LA?'

'Yes,' said Michael, surprised I asked. 'How did you know? Graves has been working overtime trying to get the city back under control. And there is a primogen missing.'

I glanced at Lena. 'Which one?'

'The Tremere,' growled Antonio, his face grim.

'We must see Graves,' I said, almost to myself. I turned to Michael. 'Have you heard anything more about Graves being in more than one place at the same time?'

'No,' he replied, 'only what I told Brenda.'

'What are you thinking?' asked Lena.

'The worst of Two Claws.' I whispered, quoting the message on the toilet paper roll.

She sat back, a worried look on her face. 'We must see him right away!'

Michael picked up his drink. 'I'm sorry, Lady Stockton, mortals are not allowed to see the prince.'

'But I must see Graves,' she protested.

I reached over and touched her hand. 'I'll try to arrange something. Why don't you check into our hotel? I will call you to keep you informed of what is going on.'

Lena searched my face for a moment, then glanced at Michael and agreed. We all rose and left the restaurant, getting into the limousine that was parked outside. When we reached the hotel to drop Lena off, Antonio handed me a large box from the trunk and asked me to change.

I went up to our suite with Lena and took a quick glance around, then went into the bedroom I would stay in. I undressed and opened the box, standing there for a moment, stunned. I pulled the black sequined dress out of the box and held it to the light.

The dress was very formal, with spaghetti straps leading to a fairly modest neckline. Was it the father in Antonio showing? The dress was more than floor length as I held it up to my body and I hoped there would be a pair of very high heels in the box. I checked to be sure and there they were, sequined to match the dress. I also found black lingerie designed to set a man's eyes on fire. Michael's influence again?

Quickly I began to dress and, of course, everything fit beautifully. The bodice was smug but not tight, the skirt full enough not to restrict my movements. The shoes also fit well and since they had a fashionable wedged heel I didn't feel awkward walking in them. Looking in the box one last time I found a short jacket, which I slipped on, and a sequined purse.

I slipped my cell phone and gun into the purse, along with lipstick and several hundred dollars. I applied a light coat of makeup and fluffed my hair. On my way out the door, I told Lena I would call her as soon as I knew anything.

As I rejoined the men, Antonio complemented me on my appearance. I thanked him and Michael for the dress and its accessories. On the way to the Coliseum, Antonio told me I would have to be presented to the prince as soon as we arrived.

'How have you been since Salem, Christina?' Antonio asked.

'Better,' I said, 'but now there is this thing with 'MartÌn.'' On my left hand, the weight of the ring on my hand reminded me of my obligation to find Jason.

Antonio and Michael exchanged glances, almost if they were speaking to each other, and Antonio nodded. He turned back to me. 'Is your father well?'

'I believe so,' I replied, 'I haven't spoken to him for nearly a week. He wants me to come home for Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure I'll make it. Perhaps Christmas.'

We pulled up to the doors of the Coliseum. Michael and Antonio again looked at each other, and I smiled slightly as I stepped out of the limousine. Looks like Antonio has been sharing his tricks with others, I thought to myself.

Two Kindred in tuxedos greeted us at the door. They seemed very uncomfortable in their clothing and had the look of Gangrel to them. As we entered, I could see open doors ahead of us in the lobby, with many Kindred inside. We approached those doors and I could see that the entire floor area of the Coliseum was decorated for a formal ball. Kindred were everywhere, some in suites and ties or simple dresses, but most in tuxedoes and evening gowns. Many appeared to be security. There were no humans in the room.

As soon as we entered, several Tremere caught sight of Antonio and hurried over. They were very anxious to speak with him alone on a 'Clan matter.'

'Michael has been accepted into my home as if he were my own,' Antonio stated bluntly. 'Christina is my childe. Anything you need to say you may say before them.'

After a quick glance at Michael and me, the tall dark Kindred spoke. 'As you know, sir, our Primogen has been missing for four nights. We entered his apartment earlier this evening to discover that his personal belongings are gone, along with several historical tomes.'

'The prince has called a council meeting this evening,' said the shorter blond Tremere. 'With Van Able gone, we have no one to represent us.'

'I will sit on the council for the Tremere,' Antonio replied. The two Kindred looked relieved.

Something they had said sparked my interest. 'The primogen took only his own belongings?'

'We didn't go through his apartment,' the tall one said, 'only enough to determine little was missing but what belonged to him.'

'The books he took, were they of importance?' I inquired.

'No,' the blonde replied. 'They were from the general library, not even from the reserved library that we keep our ancient texts in.'

'Interesting,' I murmured.

'We are on our way to present Christina to the prince,' Michael said. 'We shouldn't keep him waiting.'

'Of course not,' the blonde said, then nodded to Antonio. 'Thank you, sir, for your assistance to the Los Angeles Tremere.'

'I will do what I can,' Antonio replied.

As we continued across the floor, many Kindred acknowledged the men I was with, though no one approached us as we walked to the elevator. When we reached it, another Gangrel pair of guards stopped us.

Michael rose to his full height. 'We have business with the prince. He is expecting us.'

One of the guards stepped a few feet away and used a small radio to call upstairs. A moment later he returned and waved us through. We entered the elevator to find another guard waiting inside. He pushed a button marked 'Observation Deck' and the doors slid closed.

We were silent as the elevator rose, but I noticed that Michael and Antonio seemed to be having another silent conversation. To cover their behavior, I smiled warmly at the guard and was rewarded by a near leer before he looked up at the elevator display.

When the doors opened, we stepped into the T-junction of two hallways. There were two guards waiting on either side of the doors, one male, the other female, both with semi-automatic weapons. The male had his back to us, but something in his stance looked familiar to me. When he turned to motion us down the hall, I recognized him.

'The last door is where the prince awaits you.' He hesitated for a moment, looking at me, then said, 'Christina?'

'Luke,' I replied warmly, holding out my hand to him.

He took my hand and pulled me into his arms. I returned the embrace, for a moment enjoying the feel of his arms around me.

Before I'd met Jason, Luke, Estrea and I had been an inseparable trio. We would meet in Vegas at least once a week and go out gambling, or dancing, or hunting. The three of us had depended on each other and never once doubted our friendship.

At some point I had realized that Luke wanted more from me, but at the time I didn't know how to give it to him. Luke was a wonderful friend and I'd spoken to Estrea only the week before we'd gone to San Francisco about him. She'd recommended taking things one step at a time and letting nature take its course.

Then Jason had literally burst into my life and changed everything. Estrea had disappeared and Luke, after seeing me with Jason, had stopped coming to Vegas. Only now did I think about how that must have hurt him.

As I stepped back, I admired Luke's good looks. His brown eyes shone with affection and I saw that his long hair was tied back with a leather thong to fall halfway down his back.

'It is so good to see you again,' I told him honestly. 'You look good in a tux. How have you been?' A picture flashed through my mind of Luke as he'd looked at the church in San Francisco, his hair loose about his shoulders, his gun drawn.

He smiled down at me tenderly, still holding my hand. 'I've been good. Things are kind of nuts here lately, but I'M doing alright.'

>From the corner of my eye, I could see my companions waiting none to patiently for me. 'Perhaps you could fill me in a little later?'

'Yes,' he said, releasing me.

As I turned and let the others lead the way down the corridor, I could feel Luke's eyes on me as we walked away. Again I remembered our closeness in Las Vegas, but knew that now was not the time to travel down that particular memory lane; I was about to meet LA's prince.

Antonio gave our names to the guard standing outside the double doors at the end of the hall. The Gangrel opened the doors and announced us grandly.

The prince sat on a large, intricate Native American rug in the center of the room. He was dressed in elaborately beaded buckskin and was obviously Native American by birth. A woman knelt by his side wearing a similar outfit. Several other Kindred were scattered about the room dressed in formal evening attire.

Michael walked forward and addressed the prince, bowing low. Antonio followed and did likewise.

When Antonio straightened, he turned and gestured me forward. 'My prince, I would like to present my childe Christina Strong, of the Clan Tremere. She would like your permission to reside in your city for a time, and has agreed to uphold your laws and the Masquerade.'

While Antonio spoke, I grasped my skirt and gave the Prince a low curtsy. I waited for him to tell me to rise before I did so.

'You have made a fine choice, Antonio,' the Prince said in a deep gravely voice. 'She has my permission to remain in Los Angeles. Now, Christina, could you wait in the hallway while I speak to your escorts? We have business to discuss.'

'Of course, sire,' I replied and took one last look around the room. I nearly stumbled when I noticed Madelyn sitting by the wall, however I was able to regain my balance and continue out the door.

I walked down the hallway toward Luke, admiring his strong jaw and dark eyes as I did so. I also noted again that while the tuxedo he had on did his figure more justice than the jeans and tee shirt he normally wore, he didn't look comfortable in it.

'What's been up?' I asked as I stood beside him.

Luke glanced toward his companion. 'Things have been real shaky lately. The whole city is in turmoil. I suppose you heard about the murder?'

I nodded.

'A city councilman, murdered like that in public. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the damned Inquisition crawled up our butts after that one.' He shook his head. 'And they should be bringing up the murderer of Madelyn's ghoul soon.'

I lowered my voice. 'Do you know anything about a Brujah that wants to be prince?'

'They all want trouble, but one that wants the crown?' He shook his head. 'Why?'

'Just trying to follow up on some information I came across,' I replied. 'How about a Countess, is there one in town?'

'I don't know of one. Why do you want to find a Countess?'

'She's lost her mineral,' I said cryptically.

'What?'

I shook my head. 'Never mind, it's complicated.' I hesitated, glancing at the other guard. 'What do you know about two Talon Graves?'

'I met the other one once,' he said, glancing down the hallway. 'Saved me and Estrea both. How he got on that plane I'd like to know.'

'So there are two,' I murmured thoughtfully. ''Two Claws.''

'Yeah.' He looked at me closely. 'What are you into? You seem kinda edgy.'

'Remember 'MartÌn?'? At his blank look, I added, ?'August?'? He nodded. 'He and I were traveling together in Europe when we were separated. I believe he is being held against his will in Russia.'

'Russia?'

'I mean to find him, and quickly, or I will not be happy,' I said firmly.

Luke shuddered deliberately. 'A 'Spooky-boo' pissed. Not something I want to see.'

'It's not somewhere I want to be,' I told him, 'But I'll find him alive or those who hold him will not be.'

I glanced back at the female standing nearby, then whispered, 'Have you seen Estrea lately?'

'Not in a while, she never came back after San Francisco.'

'Did she go back to Vegas?' I wondered aloud.

'I don't know.' He looked down the halls again, still alert to any possible trouble. 'How's things going with your father?'

I glanced away and shrugged. 'Fine, I guess. He wants me to be something I'm not and I have a hard time with that.'

He nodded. 'He wants you to be his little girl again.'

'Yes, and he has trouble dealing with the fact his 'little girl' is now a monster.'

'All fathers have to face the fact that their little girls grow up, change,' he told me not unkindly.

'But not all girls grow up to live forever and drink blood.' I chuckled softly. 'I'm sure we'll work through it, but it will take time.'

The elevator began to whine behind us and Luke took up more of a military stance, the barrel of his weapon coming up. The doors opened and a tall blond man stepped out who looked like a member of Hell's Angels. His attitude matched his attire of leather and chains. He looked around arrogantly, and I could see Luke bristle. He did not like this Brujah, whoever he was.

I noticed movement down the corridor about the same time everyone else did. Four large male Gangrel were leading a larger Kindred toward us from the right. The prisoner stood about 6' 4", with blonde hair and a body that most mortal men would die for. He had obviously been a bodybuilder before his embrace. He did not look pleased as the group stopped about twenty feet from us.

The biker Brujah looked condescendingly at the muscle bound Kindred, then glanced at me. 'Are you new in town, or just here for the barbecue?'

I looked down the hall. 'I take it that is the accused?'

He nodded. 'Should make a fine fire.'

'I thought this was America, aren't people supposed to be innocent until proven guilty?' I met the Brujah's gaze without hesitation.

'Many scumbags walk because hard evidence can't be found. I say we burn him on what we got and good riddance. Beside, we're not exactly 'people' now, are we?' He looked at me closer, then laughed harshly. 'Seen your primogen lately? Oh, I forgot, you Tremere can't keep track of your own.'

'Not my town,' I told him calmly, then gave him a cool smile. 'Besides, I hear there are a few good clan members in town quite capable of taking his place.'

'Yeah,' he agreed reluctantly, then grinned. 'There could be some changes tonight at the council meeting.' With that the biker moved toward the prince's sanctum. Luke stepped in front of him, blocking the way.

'The prince is not ready for the council members just yet, David,' Luke said, iron behind his soft spoken words. 'It shouldn't be too much longer.'

David, the Brujah, backed away stretching his muscles. 'Yeah, probably still smoking his fuckin' peace pipe,' he said contemptuously. Then he laughed. 'Yep, should be some changes tonight!'

David spun and walked toward where the bodybuilder and his guards stood. I heightened my senses, straining to overhear their conversation. I couldn't make out everything they said as most of it was in whispers, but I could tell David was trying to antagonize the young vampire. Strangely, the guards backed away and allowed David to have his fun.

'Did she taste good?' David taunted, 'Nearly as good as Madelyn? Not that you'll ever know.'

'Fuck you,' the man replied.

David laughed and said something I didn't catch. The muscle bound Kindred visibly restrained himself, then looked away.

I turned to Luke and whispered very softly, 'I think we've found the Rabble who would be prince.'

Luke immediately put a finger to his lips and gestured toward the female standing on the other side of the elevator doors. As David walked back toward us, those doors slid open.

A dark-haired Kindred seeming to be in his mid thirties stepped out dressed in a 1930'S style pinstriped suit. He flicked the cigarette he was smoking to the ground at David's feet as he approached.

'Put that out for me, boy,' the newcomer said dismissively.

'Don't tempt fate,' David growled, ignoring the cigarette smoldering at his feet.

'I wouldn't dream of it,' the other Kindred said in an accent that could only be from the south side of Chicago. 'Last time I tempted fate, look what happened.' He threw his arms wide, then pulled out a silver cigarette case and drew one out to smoke. He took a book of matches from his pocket and lit the cigarette with one, flinging the match beside the butt at David's feet.

Then he looked at Luke, snapping his fingers. 'Don't I know you, boy? Yes, I do. Luke, right?'

'That's right, Vinney,' Luke replied. 'How ya doin?'?

'Just fine,' Vinney said. 'Lookin' for new deals. I'm sick to death of this city, all the tension.'

Luke smiled. 'Maybe we should find a new city.'

'Yeah, that's it,' Vinney replied. 'Ya know, California is gonna fall off soon anyways. We should buy land in Utah, and then we'll have ocean front property. Open a few casinos, make some money, it could be like the old days!'

'Yeah, Vinney, sounds good,' Luke told him.

'Know any Ventrue that could make it happen?'

'I know one who might be able to.'

'Good, good.' Then Vinney seemed to see the prisoner for the first time and walked down the hall toward him.

I turned to see David standing close to the female guard and talking to her. She was watching him closely as he spoke. With my senses still peaked I could detect a glow of love around her. She's in love with him, I thought to myself. David's aura was harder to read, with shifting colors and patterns. I got the impression he was very vindictive.

'I didn't kill her,' I heard the bodybuilder protest, 'I was attacked and when I woke up she was dead.'

Vinney flicked the ash from his cigarette. 'Funny how there was no sign of a struggle when the prince's people arrived. Pity you didn't see who attacked you.'

'I did see him, we fought for some time,' the prisoner replied. 'I would know him if I saw him again.'

Just then, Michael and Antonio stepped out of the prince's chambers. They came down the hall toward me, looking closely at David.

'Look,' David growled, 'Its Dumb and Dumber.'

Antonio walked up to close David, sniffing the air.

'That smell,' Michael drawled to David, 'is urine on your front porch. There's a bigger dog in town.'

David merely smiled as if he knew something Michael didn't.

'I'll be sitting in on the council meeting,' Antonio said loudly. Then softer, he said to me, 'You go with Michael.'

I nodded and asked Luke if we could talk more a little later. He agreed and I pushed the elevator button. When the doors opened Michael and I stepped inside.

A Helping Hand

I'm your eyes while you're away
I'm your pain while you repay
Sad But True - Metallica

I looked around the interior of the elevator, noting the guard was the same one that had seen us up. It seemed like I noticed everything in the tiny room, as I hadn't yet relaxed my senses.

About half way down to the main floor, the elevator ground to a stop as it lost power. Michael put a hand on my shoulder and pushed me behind him and into the corner. I could feel more than hear him pull his gun as I put a hand inside my purse to switch the safety off on Jason's Glock.

Suddenly I felt a hand cover mine inside my purse and I quickly switched the safety back on. Then the hand, withered and twisted, pulled mine from the bag. I could feel another hand place something, a piece of paper maybe, in my palm, then both hands departed. I put my hand back in my purse as the lights came on again and we moved downward again.

I looked around intently. The guard was in the opposite corner from Michael and I, his gun drawn. Michael stood in front of me where he slowly holstered his weapon. No one else was in the elevator.

I looked up to the trap door. The latch, while closed, was in a slightly different position. I smiled grimly.

As Michael and I left the elevator, I told him I needed to powder my nose. He asked one of the guards for directions to the private areas. The guard gave them to us, also informing us there were rooms we could feed in if the need arose. I told Michael I would catch up to him a little later.

As I walked across the floor, I began identifying members of one clan here, another there. Tremere, Ventrue, Malkavian, Toreador, Brujah, Gangrel; every Camarilla clan seemed to be in attendance. A few I couldn't pinpoint the clan on, and I assumed most were Nosferatu using their Obfuscate abilities to appear normal. Nosferatu generally are hideously deformed.

I walked through a door and down a deserted hallway, still alert to everything around me. I found an empty room and surveyed it quickly for any scanning devices or cameras, but saw none. I opened my purse and looked inside.

I unfolded the paper while it was still in my purse and a key lay inside - an ordinary house key as far as I could tell. I moved the key and read 'Be careful, stick to the shadows.' I pulled the paper from my purse and turned it over. Across the words 'Best Tasting Popcorn' was written an address. I tucked the key back into the note and placed both between my breasts for safekeeping. Then I powdered my nose and touched up my lipstick before leaving the room.

As I started down the hall, I heard Luke call my name. I turned in his direction and we met outside the room I'd been in. He took my hand and led me back inside.

'What's going on?' he demanded, 'No bullshit.'

I pulled my hand slowly from his and warned him that it might take a few minutes to explain. When he nodded, I began twisting the ring around my finger. 'I was traveling through Italy with 'MartÌn' and we were visiting the place he was raised when he was taken prisoner by some... thing.'

'Thing? Kindred?' Luke glanced at my hands, but didn't comment on the ring.

'No, I don't think so. Mage perhaps. He was out in the sunlight. Of course, so was I-'

Luke's eyes widened.

?'but that had to do with the cloak. I was led away by some Italian guy, and then I couldn't find my way back to the monastery. And I got lost and ran into werewolves?'

'Garou?'

'Yes, and it was hairy, if you'll pardon the pun. Then I ended up with Lena and we found out that 'MartÌn' is being held in Russia.'

'He doesn't seem the type to be held for long, babe,' Luke said thoughtfully. He almost always called me 'babe' unless he was being very serious or something was wrong.

'The last time I saw him he was spread eagle on an altar, magical bonds holding him down while he screamed in agony,' I told him, and there was agony in my voice as well. Blood tears welled in my eyes and I blinked them away ruthlessly. I didn't want to cry in front of Luke but he must have seen my tears. He put a hand on my shoulder to comfort me. After a moment, I turned and walked a few feet away to continue my story.

I told him about the toilet paper clues. He agreed that first two clues pointed towards LA and Graves. We also agreed that the Brujah it referred to was probably David.

'A childe rising up against a Sire,' Luke murmured. 'Could that be the Gangrel primogen rising up against the prince? He's very tight with the Brujah, in fact, the primogen just dismissed every Gangrel from the security team that did not support the Brujah.'

'Very interesting,' I replied.

We discussed the other clues, but could come up with nothing substantial.

'Lena and I thought if we could get to Madelyn, she may be the siren. It was her tour that Jason had been tracking. She may know what some of the clues mean.' I put a hand to my temple. 'I have to find him, Luke. He saved my life so many times, I can't let him die like this.'

Luke looked at me closely. 'If you want, I'll help you. I'd like to get away for a while anyway, this town is going down fast.'

'Luke,' I said suddenly, 'do you think David might be planning something for tonight?'

'What do you mean?'

'Well, he sounded as if changes were going to be made tonight, big changes. And they dismissed the guards that don't like the Brujah....' I glanced at my watch. 'Let's find Michael, he may be able to put a stop to it.'

We went out onto the main floor and after a few minutes, we found Michael in a group of Ventrue, Michael's clan. We joined them after Michael motioned us forward.

He introduced us around, and while Luke was talking to one of them about ocean front property in Utah, I placed a hand lightly on Michael's arm.

'May I speak with you for a moment?'

He excused us and we stepped aside. I explained everything Luke and I had discussed regarding the clues on the toilet paper, then I told him how the primogen had selectively dismissed some of the guards. Michael's head went up at that and he looked toward the Observation Deck for a long moment.

'If something goes on up there, I'll know it,' he told me. 'But there is no point in being unprepared. And Antonio is in that council meeting.'

'He is but one against many,' I implored. 'I don't want anything to happen to him.'

'I will prepare safeguards,' Michael replied, gesturing to a large Ventrue who was smoking a cigar.

'Yeah, Boss,' the big guy said as he joined us.

Michael slapped the man on the shoulder in greeting. 'I told you not to call me that in public, Bob.'

Bob was chagrined. 'Oh, yeah, sorry. What can I do ya for?'

'I need you to get some of our people together and go up to the top floor. Wait for my signal, there may be trouble tonight. And stay out of sight.'

'Sure boss, I mean Michael. No problem.' Bob clenched the cigar between his teeth and started for the exit. As he turned, I caught sight of a small listening device in his ear. I watched as others from the crowd began to follow him, some having been given no obvious signal.

'Michael.' I felt someone brush against my arm and turned to see Luke at my side. 'It's good to see you again.' The two men shook hands.

'I'M glad to see you too,' Michael replied.

'If trouble starts and you need me, just call.'

'Excuse me for a moment,' I said, stepping away and pulling out my cell phone. I dialed the hotel and asked for the suite.

Lena seemed relieved to hear my voice. 'Christina, what's going on?'

'Not a whole lot yet,' I told her. 'Big party, big Brujah with big plans, princes with cemetery names, you know, same ol? same ol?. Listen, Lena, can you describe Talon for me?'

'Yes,' she said, 'tall, blond hair, beard and mustache, a blue jeans and tee shirt kinda guy. Why?'

'Native American?'

'No, definitely white. Why?'

'Well, the prince of LA is not your Talon,' I told her softly.

'Oh.' Lena sounded like the wind had been taken from her sails.

'We'll find him,' I promised her. 'I have a friend here who saw him a couple of months ago. Graves saved his life. And I know that he was alive just over a week ago because Jason spoke with him. We'll find Graves and we'll find Jason. I have to go, I'll keep you posted.'

I placed my telephone back in the purse and returned to where Luke and Michael were. 'Michael, do you have things covered here?' When he nodded, I turned to Luke. 'Can you leave?'

'Yeah, I've been dismissed for the evening.'

'Got a car?' I asked him.

Michael gestured to a blonde female Ventrue wearing a soft blue gown that stood nearby. He introduced her as Anna, then asked her if we could use her car.

'Of course, Michael,' she said with an expression close to worship in her eyes as she looked at him. 'Follow me,' she told Luke and I.

'Call me if you need me,' I told Michael.

As we turned and followed Anna outside, Luke put his hand in the small of my back. Moving through the crowd, I was able to break the contact without being too obvious about it. Sadly, I remembered when I'd welcomed Luke's touch, but now things were different.

Jason wasn't even in LA, but he still stood between Luke and me.

'We are happy to have Michael with us again,' Anna said as we waited for the valet to bring her car around. 'Although Belinda doesn't seem to be as pleased as the rest of us to have him back. They did share a haven for some time when he lived here last.'

'Really,' I said, interested.

'Yes. They don't now of course, and that makes all of us wonder about his status here. Are you close to him?'

I chose my words carefully. 'Well, Antonio, the Tremere who took Michael in some time ago? He is my sire.'

'So he's practically family then,' she said, smiling at me.

'Yes, he's nearly a brother to me.' I said nearly because I really didn't know Michael that well.

'Then you would know if he were still seeing that girl, Brenda, that he used to go with?'

'I don't think they are seeing each other right now,' I replied cautiously.

Anna was obviously pleased. 'Good.'

I watched her closely as I said, 'Actually, Brenda is now my sister. Antonio embraced her recently and she is studying in Massachusetts.'

'Oh,' she said her face a carefully blank mask as a Jaguar pulled up to the curb in front of us. 'Oh, here's the car. Who is going to drive?'

'I am,' I told her, 'As long as Luke can direct me.' Anna seemed relieved.

I thanked her as we got inside.

'Where are we going, babe?' Luke asked as we pulled away.

I pulled the note and key from my cleavage. 'Here.'

Look read the note and whistled softly. 'Ritzy.'

Luke directed me and after a few miles, we entered an elite neighborhood. I drove slowly and soon we found the address; a very ornate wrought iron fence with police tape across it spanned the drive. I drove down the street about a hundred yards and pulled off the road.

We walked back and as we approached the gate, flood lights and security cameras focused on us. We meandered past the drive and when we were out of sight of the cameras we started looking for a place to climb the tall fence.

We found a likely area within a few minutes. I wrapped my skirt around my waist just before Luke boosted me up. I carefully raised myself over the razor wire at the top and lowered myself to the ground. Luke failed on his first attempt to climb the fence, but made it on the second, only slightly tearing his pant leg at the top.

We walked quietly toward the house, watching for security devices or anything else that would give our presence away. As we circled the huge building, we found a large patio and pool at the rear. A massive garage stood to the right of the house with two large garage doors and a side entrance. I tried to approach the garage, but a motion detector set off floodlights. I backed quickly into the darkness beside Luke.

'We should go now,' he whispered, touching my arm, 'Just walk up to the house.'

'We're supposed to be staying in the shadows,' I whispered back.

'We look more suspicious hiding like this,' he hissed. I nodded reluctantly.

We strolled up to the back door as if we belonged there. I scanned the area by the door but could find no signs of an alarm system. Crossing my fingers I placed the key in the lock and turned it. The door swung open, and I could see a small red light flashing opposite of the door.

'Shit,' I said. 'Hurry, give me a number.'

Try the house number, I heard. It was only after I entered the house number into the keypad and the red light changed to green that I realized it hadn't been Luke's voice I had heard.

Luke shut the door behind us and very little light shone inside the house. We could see we were in a pantry area with a closed door in front of us. Beside me, I could see Luke's eyes begin to glow red as he used his improved night vision to scan the room.

We walked through the lower level of the house. Luke handed me a lighter that allowed me to do some searching, although for the most part he could still see better than I could. I made a mental note to ask Luke to show me that trick.

In the music room, Luke handed me a compact disc case that, when opened, revealed a rose encased in clear acrylic. 'Toreador clan,' he said as he pocketed the case.

We headed up the stairway only to find Police tape strung across it half way up. I struck the lighter, revealing a white outline on the stairs. From the outline, we gathered that the body had landed head down. Bloodstains were everywhere.

'Do you see anything?' I asked Luke.

'I'll take a look,' he replied.

While he searched the large hallway, I began looking closer at the stains. I gathered bits of the dried blood and 'tasted? them. After a time, I was able to come to several conclusions. The blood was from two different Kindred. There was no mortal blood in the room. The first Kindred was ninth generation and had fed recently. However, it was the other Kindred I found interesting.

The second Kindred had also fed recently. I was unable to determine the generation, but he or she had fed enough human blood to kill. In addition, I was able to sense that the prior feeding had been from wild blood, probably an animal. It also seemed that the Kindred had expended many blood points between the two feedings, perhaps pumping up for a battle, perhaps healing.

I could not determine the clan of either Kindred.

I walked over to where Luke was searching the floor. 'Do you think we should return to the Coliseum or continue searching?' I asked.

He held up something small and glinting to the lighter flame. 'Look at this.' I looked closely to see an earring, a cross with points like daggers. In the center of the cross was a skull with the cross points emanating out of it. It was the sort of earring worn by a man usually, more specifically by the male Gangrel and Brujah clan members in LA.

'Do you know who this belongs to?'

He shook his head. 'It looks familiar to me, but I can't place it. Let's keep looking for a few more minutes, then head back.'

We went through the remaining rooms. We found the Master bedroom with a connecting door to another bedroom that must have belonged to the bodybuilder given all the weightlifting equipment inside.

I began to go through his things carefully. In a varsity jacket's pockets, I found several two-and-a-half-pound weights and as I pulled them out, I noticed one of them had a dark spot. It looked as if someone had been struck with it as it had blood and hair clotted on it. There was not enough blood for me to make any kind of identification.

I looked through a duffel bag to find changes of clothing, a body-building poster and a small tool case. Also inside was a policeman's badge from Newark, New Jersey. Slowly I opened the case to reveal small metal darts, suitable for throwing. I put the case in my jacket pocket.

As we headed down the stairs to leave, my cell phone rang. It was Lena.

'Christina, where are you?' She sounded shaken.

'At Madelyn's house. Are you okay?'

'Have you found things there?' she asked urgently. 'Things you need more information about?'

I hesitated. How could she have known? 'Yes.'

'You must bring them to me,' she said strongly. 'Now.'

'All right,' I said, not understanding her urgency. 'We'll be there shortly.'

'Who was that?' Luke asked as we walked to the pantry door and I reset the alarm.

'The mortal I told you about, Lena.' I locked the door and we moved to the fence, keeping to the shadows. 'She wants us to bring her the things we found.'

Within fifteen minutes we were at the hotel. I opened the door to our suite and saw Lena standing within, waiting impatiently. She looked shaken.

'What's going on?' I asked, concerned about her behavior. 'What's wrong?'

'Have you brought them?'

'Yes. Lena, this is Luke, a very good friend of mine. Luke, this is Lena. She's a... friend.'

'Give them to me,' Lena demanded, 'One at a time. And be silent?

Luke looked at me strangely, seeming to say with his eyes, She's a friend?

Slowly I handed her the jacket. She took it gingerly and sat down, closing her eyes. After a moment, she said, 'This belongs to a young man, blonde, very muscular.'

'Yes,' I confirmed.

She held the jacket for a moment, then folded it carefully and set it aside. 'What else?'

Luke pulled the earring from his pocket and handed it to Lena. She closed her eyes again.

A moment later she jerked as if slapped. 'I see a man wearing this earring. He is choking a woman and she is fighting to push him away. She is dying.'

'Lena, what do they look like?' I asked gently.

'She looks... like Madelyn, the singer.' I glanced at Luke as she continued. 'I can't see him very well, only his ear and that he has long dark wavy hair.' She handed the earring back to Luke and shuddered.

I pulled out the bloodstained weight and gave it to her. She took it from me and closed her eyes, but opened them after only a moment.

'Violence was done with this, I can see nothing more.'

'Lena, can you get information from locations? Say a house?' Luke asked.

'Yes, why?'

'We should go back to the house,' Luke said to me, 'she may be able to gather more information.'

I nodded. 'Let me make a quick phone call. I hope we can get this straightened out tonight, I need to get back to Europe.'

The phone rang several times, then clicked and rang again. A woman's voice answered.

'Michael Moorecock's phone, may I help you?'

'I need to speak to Michael right away,' I said.

'I'm sorry, he's in a meeting with the board of directors. Can I have him call you?'

I thought I recognized the voice. 'Anna?'

'Yes, who is this?'

'Christina. I need to speak to Michael, it's urgent.'

She hesitated. 'He went up to the council meeting with Robert.'

I muttered obscenities. 'Anna, I will be there very soon. I'Ll need to speak to Michael, Antonio, or Bob when I get there. Can you try to find one of them for me?'

'Yes.'

'I'll be careful with your car.'

'If speed is needed, it is fully insured,' she assured me.

I thanked her and rang off. I looked at Lena. 'Do you have a problem with Luke taking you to the house? Things are going down and I need to get back to the Coliseum.'

'No problem,' she said, but she looked at Luke uncertainly.

As she turned to get her things, I looked pointedly at Luke and handed him the key. 'Take great care with her,' I said sternly, 'I have sworn her safety.'

He bowed slightly. 'Of course.' As I turned to the door, he reached out and grabbed my hand, asking, 'What if we find something?'

'Bring it to the Coliseum,' I said then broke contact with him, moving quickly down the corridor and out to the car.

Delays

Don't feed me sorrow
Pain is a poison I digest
Where the River Flows - Collective Soul

At the curb, I jumped into the Jaguar and drove toward the Coliseum. I drove quickly and I suppose it was inevitable that a police car began to follow, lights flashing. Cursing softly to myself, I continued on, driving even faster as I knew did not have time to stop.

I didn't see the truck pulling out ahead of me until it was too late. I swerved to avoid it and the car skidded dangerously. I lost control and the car rolled sickeningly, then landing upright against an embankment. For a time I was stunned.

Eventually I realized I was still in the car, pinned beneath the collapsed steering wheel and dash. I could barely move, and blood trickled from a cut above my eye. I rolled my head to the left and watched a tall blond police officer walk to the car.

'Just stay still, ma'am,' he said soothingly. 'We'll get you out soon.'

I looked up at him half dazed. 'Closer,' I whispered.

He leaned closer to the car, but not quite close enough.

'Closer,' I said softly. He leaned in and put his ear to my mouth. Making a great effort of willpower, I strained forward and clamped my fangs into his neck. Quickly I drank from him. As I heard another officer approach, I licked the wound, pulled back a little and looked into his eyes. 'Forget.'

'Don't move, ma'am,' he said soothingly. 'We'll get you out soon.'

While the officer tried to get me to answer questions, I used the blood I'd taken to heal myself. I was still wounded, but I could at least function again. Then I used more blood to increase my strength.

I pushed at the wreckage, trying to move it enough to escape but to no avail. The dash moved only marginally, and a second attempt had no effect at all. The ring on my finger glittered in the lights of passing cars, taunting me for my failure.

'Stay still,' the officer said, ?you are hurt badly, don't try to move.'

I rolled my head back and moaned, trying desperately to find a way out. The policeman'S blood was not enough to sustain me; I had lost and spent too much blood. I felt consciousness sliding away and fought ruthlessly to keep it. I must find a way, I thought. I must get out of the car I must get to Michael and Antonio and the Siren and I have to save Jason....

Within moments, the battle was lost. Jason....

...I opened my eyes to see that everything was bright and hazy, as if a fog covered the land. I stood on a mountainside and the landscape as far as I could see was rocky and desolate. The mountain's peak rose from the fog, allowing me to identify it as Mt. Helena, Montana.

As I looked to the right, I saw the outcropping called Eagle's Point. But that can't be right, I thought, Eagle's Point was destroyed when?

When what?

'Tina,' a voice said aloud. It was the voice that I had often heard in my dreams over the last five years.

I turned to see a tall handsome man with dark wavy hair and a beard walking toward me through the fog. As he got closer, I could see that his eyes were green.

'Who are you,' I demanded, but somehow I felt I should know.

'You must survive, 'Tina,' he told me in a soft, familiar voice.

'What are you talking about?'

'The car,' he said, waiving a hand to the left. A hole opened in the fog to reveal the wreck of the Jaguar and my unconscious body slumped behind the wheel. 'You must survive.'

'Why do you care?' I turned back to him and blinked in surprise when I realized he was standing very close to me.

He raised a hand to caress my face. 'I care.'

'Who are you,' I asked softly, unable to move away from his touch.

'Go back,' he whispered, 'save him.'

My eyes widened. 'How do you know these things?'

'I know much about you, 'Tina,' he said, smiling.

The bracelet on my wrist seemed to grow warm as the fog rose and swallowed us. Soon I could see nothing but the man before me. Dimly I realized that he had a small scar on his neck, just under his ear.

'Go back,' he whispered as the fog began to claim him.

'Wait,' I pleaded, 'at least tell me your name!'

'You know my name,' he said as he faded completely away.

And suddenly I did.

'Robert!' I screamed as the fog embraced me.

I awoke slowly in a swaying darkness. I felt strong arms around me and my face rested against a hard male chest. I smiled, for a moment thinking it was Jason holding me so tenderly. Then I remembered that Jason was missing.

I inhaled the musky aroma of the man and knew it was Luke who held me, protected me in the darkness. I pulled away from him as much as I could in the cramped quarters and noticed we seemed to be moving at a high rate of speed.

'Where am I?' I whispered.

'In the trunk of a sedan,' a voice I recognized as Lena's answered.

'Babe, do you need...?' Luke asked softly in my ear.

I felt weak and dizzy and knew I was precariously low on blood. 'Yes,' I whispered to him.

Luke pulled me back toward his body until my lips were against the skin of his neck. With some reluctance, I bit into him and as I drank I used some of his blood to complete the healing process. His blood was thick and rich, better than the human blood we Kindred normally feed on. I relished the taste of him in my mouth even as I longed for the taste of Jason's blood.

When I was finished, I licked the wound on his neck closed and rested my cheek on his chest. 'What's going on?' I asked.

Lena answered. 'We're on our way to the Coliseum.'

'How did you get me out of the car?'

Luke's chest rumbled beneath my cheek as he laughed. 'Can't you see we're paramedics?'

'As I don't have your night vision, I can't see anything. How long before we arrive?' I shifted a little to reach my left hand with my right and began to twist my ring nervously in the darkness.

'How long before we arrive?' I heard Lena ask. 'Three minutes,' she said to me.

'Who are you talking to?'

'Burkoff, a friend of Michael's.'

I had heard the name before. 'What happened at the house?'

'It was very disturbing,' Lena told me. 'I saw a man and a woman fighting, teeth extended. He told her that her usefulness was over and when she asked why, he snapped her neck. There was blood everywhere.' I could feel her shudder delicately. 'It was most disturbing.'

The car rocked to a stop and the trunk popped open. Luke reluctantly released me then climbed out quickly, helping first me then Lena out. I could see two men coming from the front of the car and Anna near the Coliseum doors. I nodded at the two men and walked toward Anna.

'Stay close to me,' I heard one of the men tell Lena. 'Are you armed? Can you handle a weapon?'

'Yes,' she replied.

'Are you all right, Christina?' Luke asked me, walking at my side and placing a hand in the small of my back.

'I'm fine,' I replied, glancing up at him and attempting to smile. Oddly, I had forgotten how handsome Luke actually was.

When we reached Anna's side, I said apologetically to her, 'I am so sorry about the car.'

'I understand,' she told me, looking at my torn and bloody dress. 'This just gives me an excuse to buy another.'

'Perhaps I could help?'

'You do seem to need some shopping done,' she said smiling. 'We could also look for a car.'

'Of course,' I said, returning her smile briefly.

'We're wasting time,' Luke said gruffly. 'Let's go.'