April 14 2017

-place: 2 miles south of the Farm, about 2 AM-
The place was remote, this was clear. Tall trees rose up around her as she walked down the road, silent black sentinels, lifting to the sky to block out the stars and moon. She was shrouded in darkness, and the cool of the April air was starting to cut through the blood as it cooled on her flesh.

The path she walked was dirt, but she remembered a road lading up here, a paved road, what ever paved would mean.

Over head she saw a light moving through the woods, and the sound of something like the beating of large wings. Something passed over head, Allison knew what it was, a craft, she was familiar with it, even had a memory of riding in one with her sister and mother. It was a good memory, happy, she looked out at a great canyon, so many colors. The world was so pretty high up like that.

The clothing she wore was soaked in blood, and the cold air was starting to cut through and living might prove harder if you could not get to warmth.

-place: 2 miles south of the Farm, about 2 AM-
She never made a fire without matches, or a lighter. A fire would warm her up, she had never studied survival, her focus was on helping people, law and working to help those who were homeless and unable to get legal help.

Back at the Farm, they might have those things, but it would mean walking back there. There was also a gas station, about a mile down the paved road, she remembered because they stopped there for gas, at least the guy did, she was bound up in the car. They would have warmth, and a bathroom to clean up in.

The wind was chilled and sliced through the tattered clothing. Sabhaal could not remember such chill before in this world, it was bitter and hard, nothing like in the Abyss, still, to the human body it was harsh. In the dark he could not see clearly with the human eyes, but he could feel the sticky blood, drying and crusting on the flesh of this frame.

-place: 2 miles south of the Farm, about 2 AM Sabhaal-

Who knew 20 minuets could feel so long, but that is about all it took for her to walk the rest of the way to the gas station. There was a fog in the woods, and the light of the service station seemed to cut through and make the place glow. Two pumps and a small shop that might have been a home at one point in history stood like lonely sentries in the cold darkness.

The florescent lights flickered and a sign at the side of the road gave the price per gallon for regular and unleaded. As she got closer, she could see the front had two large panes of glass in it and a a attendant was relaxing and reading some magazine. She could see food, but she remembered coffee, something Sabhaal had never had, but really wished to have, for some reason.

They stood at the edge of the light, looking down he could see the crimson of blood that would be hard to hide. But the warmth of the place was hard to ignore, and already the feeling in the fingers was starting to fade.

-place: Shannanigans, about 2 AM Shanna-

Last Call

Friday night was always a good night, and tonight was excellent. Five good bands, four was on the roster, but Speed Bump had just dropped in and they took the mic. Shannan seemed to be doing well, and her staff was hopping. She would need to have to push people out as the night was winding down because things were not doing so on their own.

She was finishing up some orders when a guy at the end of the bar caught her attention. She did not recall him coming in, but she seemed to recall he had been there most the night, with the same beer. Why she had not noticed him she did not recall, he had on a cape, like a Victorian era cape, and a wide brimmed hat sat on the bar, he must have worn it in. A three piece suit made of silk, with a very nice waistcoat with paisley patterns of blue and gold. No neck tie, but a scarf of green, covered his neck.

It seemed no one else was bothering him either, those around him moved about him like they were water just moving about a stone in a river. When she seemed to notice him, he noticed her, and smiled. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up when he did.

-place: 2 miles south of the Farm, about 2 AM Sabhaal-

There is a bell that goes off as the door is pushed open, an old kind, on a metal spring over the door that is hit by the door as she enters. The attendant is standing up and his blue eyes are as large as saucers as he looks at the thing walking into his shop. The boy had to be under nineteen, he was tall and slender, appeared to keep active.

"Oh my ---" He stops and rushes out from around the counter, only to stop short. "Hold on, we have a first aid kit." He says and rushes back, floundering behind the counter and getting a box out. In his rustling of things he pulls a 44 magnum out and sets it on the counter as well as a box of bullets. "Don’t worry, I was a boy scout." He assures her.

Stepping around he wears a t-shirt with a man fishing on it, wore but nice jeans and some boots. His blond hair is cropped and cut short, and his cheeks are sunkissed and tan. He has the look of someone who is local, a little innocent, and Sabhaal can smell his soul is nearly pure as he comes around. The boy has faith, a lot of it, so much it is practically dripping from him.

"I have a chair behind the counter." he says rushing to the aid, offering to assist. "I have the Sheriff on speed dial, were you in a wreck? Are there others hurt?"

-place: Shannanigans, about 2 AM Shanna-

The man looks up, and as she gets close she can smell flowers off him, something like a mix of roses and lavender. "Oh, I think I am set for the drink." he says with a smooth southern drawl. His eyes are a deep forest green, clean shaven, and with a angular face, skin smooth and light. "I was lured in by the dulcet tones of your fair minstrels, my dear." He says and gives her another winning smile. His hair is black as jet, and slicked with some hair product, cut neat and trimmed, like his nails and almost everything else about him looked manicured and kept up, unlike many of the men who came to the bar.

"I am Jonathan, Shanna, you must be the proprietor of this fine saloon?" She suspected he was someplace in his thirties, perhaps younger, but not by much. He turns and looked over at the stage where the sober members of the various bands were still up there playing some tunes from the Grateful Dead. "I suppose many a fellow is here tonight ending Lent. Though I suspect none have truly forsaken anything for the duration." He turned back. "Is it always so alive here?"

-place: 2 miles south of the Farm, about 2 AM Sabhaal-

It was not long before he was on the phone, walking with the receiver in his hand. "Yeah, she is here, looks pretty bad but she walked in. I will keep her awake, she may be in shock, sir." He said as he poured a cup of coffee from the carafe that was sitting on the counter.

When he handed it to her she could smell the aroma of the coffee, it smelled strong, the cup was burning in her hands but it felt good to have the heat against her flesh. "She looks pretty shook up, and… something is up with her eyes." He said in a softer tone. "I do not know, cannot explain it." He says over the phone. "Yes, bring the EMTs."

He hangs up the phone and picks up one of the bear claws. "Drink up, you need to keep awake, you may be in shock, and if you pass out you may not wake up." He offers her the food. "I think I have some wake up pills here…" he starts to look around. "I am Nick, by the way." He said taking a packet of trucker pills off a rack.

-place: Shannanigans, about 2 AM Shanna-

"I do suppose my accent is a bit telling, yes?" He says with the smooth drawl like a fine whiskey. "I am not in point of fact from here, as you can see, I hail from below the Mason Dixon, as my caracteristice accent will reveal. The real question is, are you from around here?" He asks her with a look that seemed to say he was hinting at something. His head canted a bit to the side and those eyes fixing on her with attention she had not rarely seen outside the tabletop game when the players.

"I am not, however, new to these parts. I have spent a good many years here, a transplant so to speak." He tells her leaning back a bit, the smile on his face gain, looking self assured and dapper. "So, if I may be so bold, if this is last call, what might you be doing after you close. The night is still fresh, dawn is an age away, would you be looking for company?"

-place: 2 miles south of the Farm, about 2 AM Sabhaal-

*Point of clarification, he called the Sheriff he did not have him on the phone originally*

He pauses and looks Allison in the eyes. "Nothing… just, something different about you, is all." He says and gives her a smile, one someone may give if they were trying to reassure them of something.

In less then a half hour the Sheriff arrives, followed closely by the EMT in an ambulance. The Sheriff steps out of the car, a tall man with a rough face, he had the sort of look that told you had been a warrior.

Sabhaal could see it in the man, his soul was that of a man who had seen his own shares of hell. He was likely in his 40’s, though one may guess older as life seemed to wear on him. When he looked at Allison, he could see the anger and the concern on his face. "Nickky." he said to the boy as he came in. "And who are you miss?" He asked and gave a polite nod of his head.

The two EMT’s however did not seem to be waiting to stand on ceremony or waiting for introductions. The first was an Asian, Japanese or something, a mix, he stopped setting a bag on the counter and opening it to get out tools. The uniform said Nathan, and had the name of St Herra’s Hospital.

The other was an older woman, nearly 60, and she took out a pen light and went right to work checking on Allison. "Call in and let them know we will bring her in, Nate." The woman told Nathan, her uniform said Delores.

How will she handle this?

-place: Shannanigans, about 2 AM Shanna-

He laughed, a sort of bemused laugh. He leans forward, lowering his voice and forcing her to draw near as he speaks in a conspiratorial manner. "You willing to put yourself in my hands, eh?" He says and leans forward. "I know a place, on the docks, only open to a select few, and I happen to be invited. Music and libations as you have never seen, my dear. If you do not like it, well, no harm no foul." He tells her and slowly leans back, waiting for her response.

-place: 2 miles south of the Farm, about 2 AM Sabhaal-

Nathan shook his head. "Superficial, nothing even needing stitches." Delores told her and seemed to be looking at her wrists. "We need to get you to the hospital for a full investigation." She looked at Allie. "Do you know who did this to you, Sweetheart?" She asked.

The Sheriff was just taking notes, and Nick was wask keeping out of the way and on the phone to the shop owner it seemed.

"Anything you could tell us would be helpful." The Sheriff added in a deep voice. "Anything at all."

-place: Shannanigans, about 2 AM Shanna-

He looked at the napkin, then retrieved a note pad and fountain pen from his coat. "Very well, if you will meet me there, I would be more than happy to oblige you in this request." He wrote down an address. "In forty five minutes, I will be waiting." He tore out the paper from the leather bound notebook and stood.

He left, leaving the beer and putting on his hat as he departed out the door.

-place: two blocks from Shannanigans, about 2 AM Wiki-

Danger, as most humans know it, is something that can be categorized, quantified, and given a limit, a risk, so to speak. Horror, however, never tells us the risk. Humans have lived with horror all through time, it is what has kept most humans safe, this pure dread of that which is horrific. Most humans can face danger, but none face horror and live.

That feeling, of dread, of malic un-named, started to sink into Wiki as she walked home. The sounds of the city were all around her, like the music of a jungle. She could hear Closing Time, playing in the distance as she rounded a corner, another bar, she had never visited but it was usually playing at this time as she went home. Just four more blocks.

Something though was not right, something chilled her to the bones, and each step she took she felt it more. Something was watching her, or, something was following her.

-place: Quickie Stop and Gas outside of Bellinghanm going to the Hot Springs, about 3 AM Sabhaal-

The Sheriff looked dubiously at the young woman marked and marred from an attack. It was clear what ever attacked her was no animal and she could see that on his face. "You were out in the woods, alone?" He said slowly, as if to let those words sink in to her. "At this time of night?" His eyes were on hers, watching, studying.

"This is Five Niner, we are heading back." Nate called on a radio.

Delores interrupted the Sheriff. "Allen, you can question her back at the hospital, the doctors want to see her." She turned back to Allison. "I am just going to give you a mild sedative, it will help you relax for the ride back, ok." She said as she prepped a needle.

-place: Corner of Melfit and 9th, about 3am, Shanna-

"Yeah, go have fun." Travis called back.

It only took a few moments for her to get a text back -I am down, I will meet you there :>-

When they arrive, Jon is waiting, standing in a pool of lamp light, the fog swirling around him. DOwn here near the docks the sea air was crisp and shilled. She could not see anyone else around, and there was no evidence of any club.

What was here was warehouses and offices, the southern side of the docks, nothing like up in the city proper where it was more for tourists and visitors.

"You brought a friend. You do have secrets, your kind." He said and turned starting to walk as if he was expecting to have her keep up. "So how long have you been in the city. A friend of mine got word of you just a few weeks ago, they happened by and you were serving your special drinks." He paused and looked at her from the edge of the light. "We figured you should know how things happen in Bellingham, so we are taking you to Pandora’s."

There was something different about him now, something that felt old. Like some massive oak you happen on in the forest, impressive, tall and while you felt big when you started the hike, in front of this old tree, you suddenly realize how small and fast your life is.

"Come, in for a penny, in for a pound, yes?"

-place:Holland Street, about 3 AM, Wiki-

She spoke on the phone, silence responded to her. As she walked the noticed all sounds were starting to fade, as if the world was filling with unseen cotton and sound was just drowning out. Shadows started to creep in at the edges of her sight and as she turned it looked like tree branches were moving in around her, covering the street light, climbing the poles. The round glass balls that capped the black poles were being wrapped in shadows.

Looking back down the street, down the footpath she walked on, her legs carrying her just a bit faster. She saw a form, then she heard the laugh, madness and evil, it was like the cackle of a wild animal, something she had never experienced before in her life. The mortal part of her, the part of her that dated back to the planes of Africa when humans were not even humans, when animals lept from the shadows to devour them, that part of her recognized it, this was a predator, and she was now prey.

Then she felt something, a spark, deep down, like that old ancestor, hitting flint to steel, something, power...

-place: Quickie Stop and Gas outside of Bellinghanm going to the Hot Springs, about 3 AM Sabhaal-

While he was an angel straight from the Golden City, this was a human he was in, and she was quite mortal. The pain was real, the blood was real, the shivering and goose pimples on her flesh was all real. When the needle stuck, the pain was followed by a blissful euphoria.

A stretcher was rolled in and she was helped into it. The world seemed to move around her, the light were brighter, and she could see the auras of the, The faith they had, Delores had little to none. She spoke softly as she was put in the ambulance. "Do not worry hun, we have one of the best doctors on the coast." She said and smiled. "If anyone can get you better, he can."

"I am going to drive up the road a bit, give me a call when she comes to." The Sheriff said as the back door shut.

The lights flashed on the walls of the old gas station, it was hard not to focus on it, the pulse, like a heartbeat. She had a heartbeat, she could feel it in time with the flashing lights.

The car started moving, time was an illusion, reality was nothing like what they thought it was. The drugs racing through her made it hard to change, made it hard to move, to focus, and for some reason that did not matter. Things were in motion now, he could feel it.

Then everything in the ambulance started to fly about. Delores lifted off her chair and flew into the ceiling. Gravity seemed to choose to play tricks, throwing everything about.

The back door opened, and the world was on it’s side. She was being moved, drug out, barely walking. Another car, black, behind her she saw a small sports car turned on it’s side, and the ambulance was rolled over.

She was set in a seat, and next to her was a woman in nice suit. "Welcome back, you have a meeting I am to get you too. Of course we have to make you presentable." She slipped a necklace on Allie and smiled. "For everyone’s protection, we are friends here."

She knew she was in a car, an SUV, that was the make, the interior was leather, and two people were up front, faith radiated from them, but her, she was aglow with it. They were human.

-place: Corner of Melfit and 9th, about 3am, Shanna-

He nods. "I do not blame you, dangerous world we live in, no one is really who they say they are, or what they are." He says and looks back at Shanna. "Well, first it was just to see what you were doing here. With all that has been happening, a new face in the city can be upsetting." He told her and walked to a wall where some gang had tagged it.
He ran his finger over one of the letters and then walked to a door, knocking on it in a musical pattern. The door opened and music poured into the street. If the place was a club it had wonderful insulation, not a note leaked out before the door opened. The music was lively, a sort of jazz house music fusion.

Looking in there were rough wooden stairs that led down to where a thick man sat on a barrel, like any good bouncer would. He was big, his shoulders easily four feet in width, with a chiseled look about him. He wore a tight white shirt and faded jeans.

The smell of food came up, it reminded her of home, it was as if they had gotten the smell just right for her. The sound of people talking could be heard as well as someone singing off key.

Welcome to Persephone’s." Jon said and motioned for them to step in.

"I will of course introduce you to Gale, she is the appointed leader of your sort in the city." He said as he waited for the women to step up.

-place:Holland Street, about 10 AM, Wiki-

She started to run, the whole of the area around her, slowly came to mind. The whole path, from her to her home was clean, she knew it down to the last step. The image was unlike anything she had experienced before in her life. It was as if she was in every point from here to her home at once, she could see it from all angles and all positions.

The fear she felt was unlike anything she had in her adult life. The closest she had ever felt was as a child, the pure dread of looking into a closet and seeing nothing, seeing just the void.

There was a pop inside her, then she felt it, something took hold of her.

She stood on the other side of her door. Turning around the ally was gone, the street the darkness. She was home, safe. The door locked behind her. Then the backlash hit.

She woke up in the morning, still in the entryway, the sun pooling in her living room.

-place: Outside Bellingham, about 3 AM Sabhaal-

As she looked around she could see the two in the front were wearing looser fitted clothing, they seemed a bit more as if they were there to just drive. Eyes forward, and alert on the events outside the car.

The drugs in her body was a new thing. Allie did not use recreational drugs, and had no concept of them. Medical drugs were not known to her either, or if they were it was not information she left behind.

"We are friends." The woman said. "The hospital they were taking you to would not be safe. It is on holy ground." She informed her as they drove. "You want to rest you can, if we wanted you harmed we would have done it by now. But my Master wishes to see you, seems you are family."

Nothing in the SUV gave away who they were, though the necklace she put on her she could feel was binding the demon. It would be harder, even if she was not drugged, to change, to switch. It was magic.

The car was leaving the scene of the crash, and she could see the woods thinning and giving way to buildings and houses.

-place: Persephone’s, about 3am, Shanna-

Walking into the bar, she saw the crowd was eclectic, if one was being generous. Behind the bar was a woman in some sort of cosplay, it appeared her skin looked like scales, the make up was perfect. Others in the bar went from alluring to grotesque.

"What do I mean?" He asked and stopped, sitting at a table. He crossed his legs and looked at her. "I mean, your kind, the other worldly, the visitors, the… fae." He said with a flourish. "I know I am not of your kin, but like I said, Gale here is."

As if on command a woman came up with a tray of drinks. She was dressed like a playboy bunny, ears, tail, and even wearing a pink tux cut to flatter her figure. She was young with bright pink hair as well, and red eyes. "Honestly, I have never seen her in the courts." Gale said as she looked Shanna over. "But she is…"

Gale slowly let a hiss slip through her teeth. "You were not born, you were made." She said and she looked at Shanna. "Oh, this is bad, Doc…" She said looking at Jon. "She is not aware. I thought you said Leena saw her using powers."

"She did, a few times." Jon took one of the drinks from the tray, the blood red one.

"Well, then she has been doing it without her…" She turned back to Shanna. "Tell me, have you had anything strange happen in say the past year?"

The rest of the while, Caitlin seemed to be drinking it all in with a sort of drunk look on her face, as if she was not completely there.

-place: Sterling Tower, about 6 AM Sabhaal-

The body needed sleep, and for Sabhaal, this was the first time they had ever rested. It was unlike anything the former angel had done before. It was a strange bliss, one that was weakening, and made them defenseless. All senses shut down, but unlike the abyss, it was calming, relaxing, and even rejuvenating.

When she woke she was laying on a couch, light was pouring into the room from a wall of windows, single panes of glass that looked over to the mountains and around the room to let the person view the whole of the city.

"Welcome to earth." The voice was deep and rough, and a man in a fine suit walked in. He was average height, and average weight, older, about Allison’s father’s age. "Sleeping is nice, isn’t it, wait until you have to pee, that is a sensation I always enjoy. Nothing like a morning piss."

A cup of coffee was set on the wooden table, the place was decorated in older furniture, all wooden and cloth.

"I am Apophis." He said and nodded. The name was familiar, she was a Namaru, one who fought hard against god in the first ranks. She was known as one of Lucifer’s lovers. "You have questions?"

-place: Persophone’s, about 3am, Shanna-

Gale turned to Jon. "Those are the two I spoke about, we do not know who they are and they have not come to court. They are not from around here." She said and then looked back to Shanna.

Gale cleared her throat. "Ok, this is going to sound strange, but, you are not you, well, not the you that you thought you were but a you that you always were but now you are the you that you were supposed to be."

Joh laughed and leaned forward. "You are not human, might be you never really were."

The woman from behind the bar came out from around it and her lower half was a snake. She started to look around and she could tell, everyone here was a little more, real, then her friend Caitlin.-place:Home, about 8 AM, Wiki-

The morning would seem to be rolling out as normal. Yes, she did walk up in the hallway, but other than her phone being dead, nothing else seemed different. On the surface at least.

She could feel something though, something different about her.

As she scrolled through the news, someone was killed on the street she had left, a few blocks from where she had… run? She could not remember getting home, just arriving home. And yet, in her mind she knew she traversed the distance, but could not remember the run.

Her phone started to buzz.

-place: Home, about 4 am, Attica-

Sometimes, Spring break is just a chance to go home for Easter. And that is where Attica was. Back in his old room with his old things, Mom had not changed a thing. Even still had to posters on the wall.

His old computer was still here, a weak machine compared to the stuff he had been using at college. At 4am he was checking on the status of his classmates, they had a project going. It was made to uncover black money the government was using. The data he had mined off that unknown site might have keys to tables he could use once in the Treasury system.

Then a console window popped up. -You need help, I can offer it-

The cursor waited for a reply.

Attica is sitting in his dump of a bedroom. An unmade single bed lies against one wall, with freshly washed sheets. Clear signs that his mother has been into his room to prepare it for him.

His unpacked bags are stacked in front if his wardrobe and piles of unwashed clothes and dirty dinner plates lie scattered about the room in some kind of parody of feng shui.

He sits at his desk wearing a black Van Halen T-Shirt despite having no idea who they are.

Attica looks at the popup. Strange he thinks. I haven't given my ID out to anyone recently.

His fingers tap on the keyboard.
Heeeey. Who dis?

-place: Sterling Tower, about 6 AM Sabhaal-

He laughs, looking over his shoulder at her sitting on the couch. He turns to look back at the city. "You do not want to know how, you really want to know why." He sipped coffee from a mug he held in his hands. "The how is not important, and you know yourself there are so many ways to know how. How I watch things is really not anything you need to concern yourself with."

He turned around. "Why, no there is a question. Why we do things is important. Why shows motive and motive shows truth. It is revealing. Something you should always wonder is why."

He walked closer, moving to sit on the old mission style coffee table across from her. "Why is because you need to know how things go here. You need to know we have a balance here, a truce with the others, and destruction is not something we turn a blind eye to." He says very seriously. "Needless death is checked here, and you will keep the killing to a minimum. Offer respect and respect will be given in kind. Ignore this at your own peril."

"No, anything you still wonder about?"

-place: Persophone’s, about 3am, Shanna-

She stopped the action in the bar. Everyone was looking at her now as she rant up to the bar. Gale followed close at her heels. "Now hun, it is not that bad, look, you are a slave yes, but a powerful one and one that needs to reckon with her situation." She offered with a sympathetic look in the mirror.

Gale was still herself, pink hair and even still in the tux and bunny ears.

Jon sat back, and seemed no different then he was, others in the bar seemed normal as well, though she could feel there was a difference in them.

The Naga poured her a drink. "She going to be ok, Gale?" She asked and looked then at Shanna.

"She will be fine." Gale rubbed her back. "Your with friends and family. You got to understand we would not have shocked you so if we had known, but those who changed you. Well the pair aint exactly friendly around here." She explained to Shanna.

"And with the soulless turning up, well, we did not know who you were wandering with."

Jon stood. "Pratt spotted here, I could give him a line and see if he can help." He said, and that is when Shanna noticed it, Jon was drinking blood. She did not know how she knew what was in his glass, but she could sense it, as if drinks were something she could just feel.

A glass of something with a foggy haze over the top of the cup was set before her.

-place:Home, about 8 AM, Wiki-

She hangs up the phone.

Normalcy, a word that was now redefined for her. Before this she was not the norm, the norm was a box house in the suburbs, a pair of crotch goblins and a husband who worked at some investment firm and golfed on the weekends.

Now it all had a new frame.

The knock at the door followed about an hour later, looking out the peephole she saw a man and a woman, they looked like cops.

He was mid fifties, salt and pepper hair and bad mustache with thick rimmed glasses. He was dressed in a button up shirt, green grey with buttoned down collar and no tie.

She was dressed in a pants suit, dark brown with an orange blouse. She could see a badge on her hip. A black woman with dark hair was in cornrows.

-place: Home, about 4 am, Attica-

-This is the Singularity, the point to witch all information flows. We know who you are.-

An image of Attica pops up, a feed from the school CCTV. He is just entering a computer lab, then walking to take a seat. It seems it might have been from just a few days ago.

-We have eyes, and you have taken something from us. We are impressed, and so we want to help you.-

There is a pause.

-You need us.-

The Google maps pops up with a location and a time, 8PM, with a rout from your house to a place down at the wharf.

-place: Home, about 10 am, Alan-

Good friday is always a thing for his family. Catholics all celebrated it by remembering the Crucifixion, and for him this means usually attending a short play about it at his Grandmother's church. Of course after there will be food, a lot of it, and some drinking.

This early in the morning though he was looking at a blank screen, his next book was supposed to get done, and he had a publisher waiting for it, but nothing had blossomed in his head yet. It is not that he had not tried, three different books started over the past month, but a few chapters in and he just eas not feeling them gel.

His phone buzzed, it was Pratt, he ran the local rare book store, a place when found you sort of wonder how you ever missed it, but he never saw it until he went looking for it. A first edition of "Through the Mirror Darkly" had just arrived, he was willing to part with it if the price was right. The message read: "Come, have coffee and cake and we talk, ok?"

-place: Prattle On Books, about 9 am, Beth-

She had been able to find work at the book shop for the past few weeks. He did not ask questions and paid in cash. She could sweep up and put books back on the shelf. The store always smelled of milk and cookies. Books and shelves filled the place and she always wondered how such a small shop seemed so big inside, but when she would try and focus on it the ideas would seem to get slippery and want to get away from her.

Old Pratt was a thick man, with a rough long beard. Glasses sat perched at the edge of his nose and always looked about to fall off but somehow never did. He would usually be at the front counter near the door, and he had a plate of cookies with him there with a cup of creamy tea.

There was only one place Beth was not allowed to go and that was the Vault. It was not really a vault but a room in the back where he kept the good books. It might have been just a big porn collection. But he always would keep it locked and shut, letting her know she was not allowed in there.

Today though, as she was putting books back in order, she walked by the door and it was opened, just a bit.

Oh shit! Fuck, Fuck Fuck, Attica thinks as he reads the screen. How did that happen? I made sure to cover my tracks. Wait... You're impressed? You want to help me? Woah, I wonder if this is like that story of the guy who hacked Microsoft. I heard they offered him a six figure salary or something?
'You need our help.' Actually, I might. If they have some kind of legal representation, I might need help to keep out of prison. Maybe they are offering me some kind of legal protection. Still, why not invite me to the company office? It's a little strange. But this might be my ticket to easy street...

I grab my fake brown leather jacket and head out the door. I tell my mom that I'll be back later and then I head to the position on the map.

My eyes shift to the door that leads to the Vault. Hmm? It's not locked? Old Pratt always locks it behind him whenever he enters or leaves that room... He might have forgotten. Old people tend to forget things...

As I finish placing the books that I was carrying in my hands, I turn to the door that is ajar, which feels as if it's beckoning me to come closer. Fine, just a peek. It's not like I'm going to step into his dusty old hideout. Now, what does he keep in here?... I thought as I carefully walk over to the door, taking quick glances around me to make sure that the old man is not nearby.

-place: Sterling Tower, about 6 AM Sabhaal-

The touch to the metal is uncomfortable, but not painful. Your eyes lock on his and you can see the Devil inside looking back. "I did not fail to answer the question, I just choose not to. It is not as if you need to know anything about me or my agenda." He says and stands slowly. "Feel free to remove it, if you desire, it was to protect my followers."

He stepped away from her. "You think yourself more important than you are, if you think I have some purpose for you. I do not, but what I do desire is you maintain civility and obscurity here. Humans hunt our kind and not just to send back to the Abyss, oh you will be lucky if that is all they do to you." He took a slow draw from his cup, the firm gaze meeting hers again.

"Take it off, and I can have my people escore you out of the building, you will be free to go, just know you will be watched."

-place: Persophone’s, about 3am, Shanna-

"What do you need to know?" Gale repeated and looked over at Jon.

Jon shrugged. "You are with friends." He told her from where he sat at the table. "Not everyone is as friendly"

Gale gave a cute little huff. "We are mostly the same as other people, I am just glad you are who you are." She gave a nod. "We should likely get your normal friend home, being here for a long time for normal humans can be… not good."

Jon stood and picked up his hat. "I need to go at any rate, the sun is due and so bed is calling."

"Thanks Doc." Gale said and nodded. "So, Shanna, since we are kin, how can I help you?"

-place:Home, about 8 AM, Wiki-

The female cop looked at her partner. "Normal door?" She repeated.

"I am Detective Pierce, and this Detective Lynn." The male said showing her the badge. "We are just following up on a lead. Were you walking home last night, about 2 or 3 am?" He took out a notepad.

Detective Lynn smiled. "Mind if we step inside, might be easier to answer the questions."

-place: Home, about 5 am, Attica-

There are still hours to go until the meeting, but going to the place he sees it is in the rougher side of town. It was not a place he was used to going, different people. This time of the morning the city had just woken up and people were doing the morning routine. Attica was still dozy from the night before, as they did not tend to get much sleep.

The address is a small Pho restaurant, it is closed at this time in the morning. Did he want to get some rest before the meeting that night?

-place: Home, about 10 am, Alan-



-place: Prattle On Books, about 9 am, Beth-

As she stepped to the door, it creaked open. Inside were five tall book shelves in a room with five walls and the door. In the center of the room was a table with six chairs and places to set books to read. The room was lit by some light she could not quite tell where it was coming from.

One book was on the table, closed. Across from that on the shelf was a silver looking sword. A set of wands was in a cabinet in the shelf closest to her. Finally, the shelf opposite the book had a open case with what looked like bottles inside it.

The place felt real, more real than the rest of everything outside the room. It was as if she had been dreaming and as she stepped in here, she was starting to wake up.

After casing out the meeting place, Attica feels a little relieved that his meeting place is somewhere public.

He returns home, crashes and sleeps til about 3pm.

Then he wanders down the stairs and grabs a quick bite to eat. He bites his fingernails as he nervously waits down the clock before his scheduled meeting time.

He has dinner with his family, which is a little odd for the anti-socialite. Then heads to the Thai restaurant.

-place: Sterling Tower, around noon Sabhaal-As she walks around the town she can feel the power of the place. She follows some of the roads, feeling a current of power flowing through the place. Soon she is standing before a build, it is old with a facade adorned almost like a cathedral.

The Herald Building might looks like just some other building to those passing, another place to do work. The entrance looked like the gatehouse of a castle with the name embossed in stone above the doorway. Inside she could sense it, it felt like the barriers between worlds was thin there.-place: Persophone’s, about 3am, Shanna-

Jon had left, laving Gale to try and sort out the new fae. "You are a fairy, a fair folk as some may call us. You are… you are you, just remember that. If you let yourself slip into these ideas of what you are and are not, you will go down a dark path, trust me on this." She sighs. "You are also of a cast in our kind that is a slave, so, whoever they were that made you, they may come calling on you again. If that happens, you need to let me know."

She reached over and gave Shanna’s arm a pat. "As for everything else, I cannot say, deception is a key trait of our kind. What you experienced could have been real, or not, it is hard for me to say without meeting the pair that took you." She looked over at Caitlin again. "You should likely go, I will give you my contact information, you can just get a hold of me." She wrote three numbers down on a piece of paper. "Put that in your phone and say my name and it will call me."

"Your human friend should not sleep here, she may get lost if she does." She warns. "So, head on home, and we will talk later, yes?"

-place:Home, about 10 AM, Wiki--place: Pho-tastic Noodle Shope, about 8pm, Attica-

The Pho shop is small, with a mostly asian clientele. The place is pretty busy with most people ordering at the counter and sitting in the small shop at the plastic and metal tables. He was just barely sitting down when three bikes rolled up.

They were motorcycles that stood out because of the artwork down on them. They looked like something more out of a movie then one would see on the streets in in Bellingham. The bullet style bikes were painted like something you would see in a gothic church, knights and maidens on the gas tanks in a sort of classic style. The fittings and other details on the bikes made them look more steampunk then mechanical.

The three riders stood, a woman, long black straight hair, Asian, and the two men were taller, looked thicker. She was lithe and moved with a fluid grace that seemed to catch the eye. Her eyes settled on Attica as soon as she got off the Crotch Rocket.

The two men with her, both wore top knots and shaved heads, went to the counter to order noodles. She walked to him. "I guess I lose a bet, you did show up." She says and sits across from him at the table. Her green eyes fixing on him. "You ready to take a ride?"

-place: Home, about 10 am, Alan--place: Prattle On Books, about 9 am, Beth--place:Scrap and Save, about 8pm, Nik-

The Prince of the City was a Toreador, her clan, though what art he could do no Toreador knew. He did not make any art, he did not sing, dance, the most anyone could say he did was show up to events. This is why he was Prince, he was of a clan but of no clan, so when he made a choice people questioned they knew he did so as Prince and not as Toreador.

Tonight he was waiting at her shop when she arrived. Jon, relaxed against the door of her workshop, dressed in his Victorian era clothing, something like a Cowboy but nicer. His blue eyes hit her and his angular features offered her a smile when she walked up.

"I am going to need to ask a favor of you, one you will not like." He said slowly and stood from his relaxed leaning against her door. "You ready to listen?"

Inwardly, Attica freaks out when he sees the bikers pull up.
This is definitely not what he was expecting. But when the graceful girl dismounts he lets out a small sigh of relief.

He tries to maintain his composure and act tough.
Sure. Where we going?

"If you know I won't like it, why bother asking?" I scowl at him and pull my motorcycle up on its stand. I take a moment to stroke the black cowling, tracing the black horse barely visible there. I turn back, hoping he might have gone away. No. No such luck. "What do you want?"

Taking in all the mysterious items in the room, I strangely feel like I'm in a trance. The sword, the wands... They are like from the fairy tales I read when I was back in the orphanage. For some reason, inside me, the room feels more like reality, and that the years previously in my life was some kind of hazy dream. A bad dream of nasty experiences and confusions.

As if I'm hypnotised, I stepped in, wandering towards the centre. I make my way towards the table with the 6 chairs, and flipped open the book that is on it. My eyes gaze over the words and pictures that are on each passing page...

-place: Herald Building, around noon Sabhaal-
She was not able to find anyone who looked able to fleece for the clothing, not in the middle of the day. But she was able to find an old long coat, to cover up in, it was dirty and smelled of something, she could not put her finger on it. Something like fish, or rotten meat, it eluded her.
As she looked at the building she started to make out the markings. The building was warded, mages, they had marked the building to keep non-humans out.
-place: Home, about 11am, Shanna-

In the mirror this morning she was normal. At least she looked normal to herself now. If she focused, she could see it though.

The morning routine seemed benal now, getting the coffee, getting her breakfast, it all seemed so mundane, ordinary.

-place:Home, about 10 AM, Wiki-
"This will only take a moment." Detective Lynn said.
Detective Pierce nodded. "So you know it happened near where you were. We are just following up, you did not see anything did you. Hear anything." He took out a card from his coat and offered it to her. (Make Alertness + Perception check)
Detective Lynn was looking past her to the apartment. "Anything at all would be of a great help." She added to what her partner was saying
-place: Underground, about 8pm, Attica-

"Underground, honey." She said and offered him a helmet.

The bike was fast, and she rode as if she could not be killed. SPlitting lanes and even riding up and over sidewalks. The high pitch of the engine echoed against the city buildings as the thrio rocketed down the dark streets.

They came to a stop in a dark alleyway, music pumped into the air from the club. A set of stairs descended to the old speakeasy club that had a sign in neon over it, ‘Underground’.

"I am Li. Come on, I own the place." She took his hand and started to pull him along. "People want to meet you."

Down inside it is crowded, the people all moving with the music.

-place: Home, about 10 am, Alan--place: Prattle On Books, about 9 am, Beth-
When she enters the room she feels as if she is surrounded by a thick miasma, and air about the room feels charged and gives her goose pimples. Getting closer to the table she can see the book, gold lettering in latin on the front, it is bound it a soft leather.
She opens the book and at first the pages are blank then slowly words start to rise to the surface.
"The pure has been damned, the Host is Fallen, seek the Sword of Alexander, Seek the lance of the Doctor. Our very souls are at risk. Paradise will consume us all"
The words appeared, filling in the book, she could feel energy in the room flowing through her and to the pages as if she were feeding it.
The door suddenly latched and Pratt was in the room with her. "I had a feeling about you."
-place:Scrap and Save, about 8pm, Nik-

He did not leave, but followed her, admiring the work. "Well, I would hope you would do this because of the great love and admiration you have for Prince and Principals." He said slowly. "But the fact is, I am giving the sireing rights to Li, not to Gregory."

She knew those names, Li was the head of the Brujah, a woman who was sired by an anach and fought her way to the head of the clan. Her child had died just weeks ago, and no one had spoken about it, why it happened or even how. So the Brujah clan was down to just her in Bellingham, her and her mortal gang.

Gregory was the leading Ventrue, the Primogen and a product of the 1980’s. He was hard and just as much a shark as any, though his short and pudgy exterior may say otherwise. He looks more marshmallow then man.

He was also always hounding Nik to make him something. He was a bit of a puppy when the whole of the Cam got together, following her, trying to show her pictures of art he had done.

"I am going to want you to make Gregory something. He will know he is getting passed over for this right, I want him to feel he is getting something for this."

I turned around in surprise. I-I... I didn't mean to..." My head is racing for an excuse. Then, I paused and considered my employer's words. " What do you mean by "you have a feeling about me"? And what is this place? It feels so much more... alive than the outside..."

Attica tries to keep it together as Li drives like a demon through the streets, but she notices he clutches her tighter and tighter as they race towards the club.

When he dismounts, his legs feel like jelly and he is shaking as he allows himself to be dragged into the club.

-place: Shannanigans, around noon, Sabhaal-

Wandering some more, she did draw attention to herself with the way she looked. Only a few times were the cops called and she was able to duck out if sight before they car pulled around. She knew what a cop was, and Allison knew they could help, only having good associations with them, but they both knew like this it would be trouble.

Soon she was wandering over to a bar. Something about it drew her in, pulled her there. It smelled nice, like it was touched by the other world.
-place: Above Shannanigans, about Around noon, Shanna-

She was rousting Caitlin who had nothing but a good time and wanted to talk non stop about it. She told her how much she loved the drinks, and how nice everyone was. "We going there again, they Jon fellow, he can get us in?" She said before heading into the shower to wash up.

As she was bathing, Shanna saw what looked like some homeless woman wandering to her place, she looked beat up. For a moment there was a blur and the woman was not the woman, but something else.

-place:Home, about 10 AM, Wiki-

"Thanks"

This was all the guy could say before the door was resoundly shut.

She had the card in hand. The cops sounded like they were leaving, and a quick look through the peephole confirmed it.

As she moved back into her daily routine, Archi called again. "Hey, mind if I come over. I can bring lunch." He asked.

-place: Underground, about 8pm, Attica-

Once he is in the club it is a pulse, a beat, it is alive with music and people. The place is under the building, the DJ sitting in an empty boiler. The music ripples through him as the man with the mixers in the boiler starts to bring up the bass.

He is pulled along, brought to the dance floor where she is pressed against him. The crowd demands dancing, everyone pressed together in an orgy of music and motion. Her hand splay on his chest as they start to move, urged on by the beat. Too loud to talk, it is as if there is a drug in the air and everyone around him is letting go.
-place: Home, about 10 am, Alan--place: Prattle On Books, about 9 am, Beth-

The place was different, this is for sure. "Yes, well, the book only opens for those who have the gift, and that means you have it." he told her. "Part gift, part curse, and all good wizards know, a grave responsibility."

He walked over closing the book as he reached across her. "I bet you have often wondered why your life is so hard, so strange? The reason is, you have the spark of magic in you." He looked at her firmly. "I can teach you to use it, if you are willing to learn?"
-place:Scrap and Save, about 8pm, Nik-

Jon shook his head. "You know I am not asking you to do it ad a favor for me, but as a favor for the peace we have here. Peace I should remind you, is one you profit from." He walked close, looming over her, he had a sort of way of looming.

"And I did not say you would be making him a bike, I have a 74 VW bus you will be painting." He told her slowly. "I have had it in storage for a long time. I hate to give up an old horse like her, but, it is the price we pay."

I look up at the old man in quiet contemplation. This is too good to be true. Could this be some trick? No, this room and the things in it are real. And this man knows about my condition... and my insufferable life.

Fixing my eyes with his, I finally say: "Please teach me everything. About my curse, and everything else that you said..."

Attica is into this big time. Despite being quite good looking, he has never had a date before. So when Li starts running her hands over him he thinks he has scored big time. This is awesome! he thinks as he turns her around and starts running his hands up and down her body in time with the beat. Losing himself in this new sensation, he gives in to it completely.

-place: Shannanigans, around noon, Sabhaal-

Walking up to the door, it is locked, but it looked like someone was in an upstairs apartment. Perhaps two. They were looking down, and they saw her.

Allison was feeling weak, lack of food for nearly a day, and parched. She was still a little woozy and the cut on her were irritated and sore, likely getting infected.

Allison knew crying was her best bet. Humans always would help a crying girl, and Allison knew if she turned on the waterworks, they would come help. They had been made so predictable, and this is one of those predictable behaviors.

-place: Above Shannanigans, about Around noon, Shanna-

She peeks through the curtains. She can see her, down below, the girl looks like she has been through a lot. Wearing a thick old grey coat with stains, her hair matted with blood, and her skin was puffy and crimson, no shoes her feet looked dirty and bleeding.

"Are you sure, I do not know if I could find the place again." Caitlin said as she came out of the shower and stopped looking at Shanna by the wall. "What is it?" SHe asked and slowly walked up looking out as well. "Oh man, she looks messed up, should we call the cops?"

-place:Home, about 10 AM, Wiki-

The game went well, she seemed to be on top of things, sensing what they would do next. It was almost as if she could read the other players minds. Perhaps it was just the thrill of everything, or she was just very focused.

Another knock at the door brought Archi. He held up a large white paper bag. "FIsh tacos?" He asked and held out the food. "And beers." It was a six pack of Corona.

He paused, looking at her for a moment, and she felt something as well, as if something exchanged between them.

"So… you want to hear about my morning?"

-place: Underground, about 8pm, Attica-

He let loose, and she led him on. Deeper into the club, the music became the pulse of them as they danced. He felt her body pressed to him, the smell of her, not just perfume, but the musky scent of her body.

The first kiss caught his breath, and her hand was around his throat as she held him. Then the beat dropped and it was like she became a beast. Her lips moved over him in lustful pleasure. Her body writhed and moved against him in all the right ways. Her hands, the nails, moved over his body as if he became the only thing in the world for her.

-place: Home, about 10 am, Alan--place: Prattle On Books, about 9 am, Beth-

He nods. "First things are first, we leave the room." He tells her. "You can practice in here, but, only when allowed. Use of magic outside the room is forbidden. This will be your first stages. If you are able to get past this, it is on to higher things."

He users her out og the room closing the door and making a motion with his hand, she hears a lock seal. "You must also now start to be very careful. Something in the city is hunting our kind. Not just hunting us, but stealing our very essence. A monster we cannot use magic to find and one that seems to be able to sniff us out."

He spoke as they wandered through the maze of books. "I am not telling you this to scare you, but to warn you. It takes us, our soul. Those who have died are not able to be found in the afterlife." He stops her. "Do you understand? Now that you have a sense of your power, it can get a sense of you."

-place:Scrap and Save, about 8pm, Nik-

He shook his head. "I am not as point of fact, joking." He told her flatly. "As for what to do, you know me, I love a good horse, but, you should let your passions sway you the way you desire."

He paused. "Have you fed recently, you are looking a bit, pale. You should get something to eat." He told her in a fatherly fashion. "When you do, keep your ear to the ground. We just found out there are a couple of fae hanging about who have not checked in at the court. Know what you are biting into, fea blood is… a trip."

"Also, check in with old Pratt, at his book store. He has some books on art, Western art, that may help with the side of the minibus." He took out a keycard. "Harker’s garage, this will get you the old Betty… she is topped off."

"I... I understand." I answered with a face of worry. A monster that kills people with power and eats their souls... Is that the same monster that night?

"Old Pratt..." I begin with hesitation in my voice. "Could my parents have been like us? With magic? They were, they were killed by a monster when I was very young..."

Attica was getting really into this. The sound of the music mixed and remixed with his own pulse as he moved instinctively in time with Li. The two became almost a single creature on the dancefloor and he was oblivious to everything else apart from Li and the music.

Then she kissed him. That shocked him. Then she grabbed his throat. That socked him even worse. He smiled, reached up and casually grabbed her wrist meaning to force it away but her grip was like Iron. He panicked and opened his eyes. She was still kissing him but her eyes were open too. Then her eyes seemed to smile as if she found his panic amusing in some way.

Then she lets go of his throat and starts kissing him passionately all over his body. He gives in to the pleasure forgetting his earler panic in the passion. He gives himself over to her completely.