5.40am Saturday Fifty minutes until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
Fifty minutes before sunrise, Eclipse exited an Uber outside the Crowbar. Morning was coming, and she had little time to waste. Entering the hotel, she registered and took a suite as the sun slowly rose above the harbour. A new day was dawning.
6.50pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Wetherill Park
Stallion awoke to an empty toilet stall. His companion from the last few days now safely flushed down the stormwater drain outside, Stallion got to work on his renovations.
He knew theoretically how to meld with the earth, but the concrete floor and network of piping under the warehouse were between him and the natural substrate. Drawing on the blood he let his talons grow long. With a down strike, he thrust them into the thick concrete slab in one of the toilet stalls. The heavy concrete broke like cookies, the reinforcing bar inside snapped away like dried sticks and the heavy ceramic plumbing smashed like china plates. He tore aside electrical conduits and bent copper water pipes until, almost a metre down, he hit earth.
He tore up a patch of flooring a foot square so his bare feet could touch the earth. Standing, he listened to the blood in his veins, directing that sense down through his feet and into the ground. He spent ten minutes exploring the earth below the warehouse, pushing his new discipline until he was satisfied he at least knew what it could do.
5.40pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
I awoke to the braying of an alarm. I’d set my phone to wake me before sunset and quickly busied myself packing my few possessions and dressing for the day. Thoughts of the Lady so strong in my mind the night before now seemed like a vivid dream. Something like fever dreams that, once the fever has gone, cease to have the influence they once had. I was a little sad about that. I rather liked the idea of the perfect woman. Of course, I chided myself that there was no such thing…that would require there to be perfect people, and they did not exist.
With all I owned packed into one suit bag, I left the suite for (hopefully) the last time and headed for Mad’s room. There was no guarantee that she was still there, but as most of us woke naturally at sunset, it seemed a fair bet I would bet her to the punch. Pulling out a deck of cards, I leaned against the wall beside the door and practised moving them around. It was the simplest and earliest form of magic I’d ever learnt, but unlike the disciplines I’d recently acquired, they needed constant practice to keep the movements fast, smooth and seamless.
Besides, it kept my hands busy while I thought about the day. It seemed that my new home was finally available for me to move in. It was technically still in Pyrmont so I hoped that any other ownerships that may have come with the old building extended to the new residence as well. I’d left a lot of Lenny’s paintings at the old place and while the cards flipped and fanned I contemplated a trip to visit Lucretia. She was my teacher after all.
6.50pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
Mads awoke in a strange bed in an unknown room. Quickly, she whipped off the bedclothes, scrambled for her phone and pulled up a maps app. She was still in Leichhardt, still technically at the Crowbar. Breathing a small sigh of relief, she then tried to recall what had happened the night before. The memory of meeting Luna-Eclipse, heading for the Crowbar, and meeting the rest of the coterie, following Eclipse to the apartment building and being caught by Rain. All the memories were there, with an accompanying headache that may or may not have had anything to do with what she’d drunk. After the interview, there was just a collection of blurry images, poorly taken memories marking how she’d spent the rest of the night.
She sat and looked around her. She’d been lying in bed with the bedclothes tucked in around her. Nothing of hers was missing, and besides the headache, she felt…sound. Someone had brought her here and made sure she was comfortable before leaving her…unmolested. Why?
She needed to talk to her Sire, but not being of the current era, they were unreachable via telephone. Flipping now to the messaging app, she sent a text to a few of her contacts.
NEW DEVELOPMENT ON TASK. NEED TO TALK.
Out of habit formed from a lifetime of waking up in bad places, she crept to the door and looked out the peephole. Nothing. She closed her eyes and listened. Off to the left, she could hear the soft slapping and flicking of paper or cards but could make nothing of it. Slowly, she cracked the door and peeked out. I was there, immaculately dressed for another day, my suit bag at my feet and a pack of cards flipping and fanning through my hands.
“Good morning, Mads…switch that, good evening, Mads,” I said, cheerily correcting myself, “When does that stop being a thing?”
“Give it time,” She replied, seeing I didn’t seem interested in bursting into the room and stepped out into the hallway, “Good evening, yourself.”
“How are you feeling?” I popped off the wall and made the cards disappear.
“Hazy. You brought me up here, right? I can’t remember. There’s a lot of blurry images.”
“Yep, you weren’t in good shape to be left alone,” I recalled the sleaze who’d thought he found a free meal, “Anything planned for today?”
“Developing the little passion project we share. I’m hoping to make a little headway on it, “
“Oh?” I said, eager to hear what she had in mind as we walked side by side to the elevator.
“It’s going to take some time, but I have a little spare time. What do you have in mind?”
Oops. I was moving into the new apartment tonight, but I didn’t think any of the Giovanni would be pleased with me taking Mads along to the old house, even for a short visit.
“I’m hoping to finally settle down in my own place instead of rattling around in this hotel,” I admitted.
Mads made a face, “I always found that staying in one place was pretty boring,” She replied.
Brujahs.
“I’ve never really had a chance to be in one place for very long,” I confessed.
She looked at me as if I’d said something strange, “I can see we have very different beginnings.”
“Probably,” I smiled and pushed the button for the lift., “Come on, I’ll shout you to a snack down at the bar.”
6.50pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
Eclipse awoke refreshed and feeling good. She’d spent so long in a state of high anxiety that she’d forgotten what it was like to just…be. She’d slept conscious-free and now felt reinvigorated, ready for what the day offered.
From her spot on the bed, she scanned the room for cameras. The hotel was a Giovanni business, after all. Satisfied there were none, she got up and pulled out Izac’s small notebook. She’d read through it before, but this time, she had a little more context to some of what had consumed Izac’s thoughts. What had once sounded like mad ravings was now coming into sharper focus.
Golconda. There was lots on Goldconda.
Settling back on the pillows, she turned to the first page and started reading.
6.50pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
Dominic awoke safe in his private space.
In no hurry to get to the bar, he potted around for a while, grabbed ingredients from the basement, and carefully placing them in a suitcase. He had a chat in the crypt for half an hour, not concerned if he received an answer or not. When things were as they should be, he dressed and headed out to see what the night had in store.
7.00pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
It was early, and the Crowbar V.I.P room was virtually empty. I was looking forward to another round of Rumplestiltskin’s cocktails, only to find Delith smiling at us from behind the bar. Imagine my disappointment.
“Are you okay? You look like you’re thinking about something really hard,” Mads commented.
I schooled my expression to interested urbanity again, “Just feeling good today.” She was quick, I’d have to be careful around her.
“Hey! How are you both doing?” Delith called, and Mads stepped up to the bar. I followed, curious as to what Delith would try pulling.
“I don’t think I had the pleasure of meeting you,” Mads said smoothly, turning on her usual charm.
“I’m Delith, welcome.” She extended her hand and they shook.
“Nice to meet you. The name is Mads.”
“Enchanted.” Delith beamed.
I didn’t know if I should laugh at the display of high charisma beings trying to out Riz each other or join in.
“What are you up to?” Delith turned her attention to me, “I thought it was more Luna that picked up the newbies.”
I acknowledged her insider information with a nod and a smirk, “Mads is just helping us out for a little while.”
“Really?” I’d made the comment too tasty. She’d taken the bite and was running with it.
“Yeah, just a friend.”
“Oh, so does the boss know?”
“Yeah, I’ve talked to him. We’re all square with him. “Mads fielded nonchalantly, and I stepped back, watching Delith.
“Well, that’s good. As long as you treat him right, we’ll treat you right, right?” Delith dropped any further enquiry into our business and got down to hers, “What would you both want tonight?”
We order two ordinary reds. Without Rumplestiltskin there, there was hardly any point in ordering otherwise.
“A double claret, coming up!” She winked and showed a fang as part of a cheeky smile. If we hadn’t been in the V.I.P. lounge, I wondered if her smile would have constituted a Masquerade breach. The glasses were provided, and as she handed them over, she made eye contact with Mads.
“Oh, and Mads, it was lovely to meet you.”
Mads blinked and seemed a little confused, “Nice meeting you too.” Nothing else seemed to transpire between the two of them. I’d been ready for her mind-reading shenanigans, but in the end, I saw nothing, and Mad moved towards a table as if nothing had happened. In the end, I just chalked it up to Delith, trying to make a good impression.
“Just be careful around Delith,” I said quietly to Mads as we took our seats, “She’s well known for trying her tricks.”
“Tricks? What sort of tricks has she got?”
“She’s tried to read my mind and I know for a fact that she dominated a friend of mine. Nothing serious, yet, but she’s…very ambitious.”
“I thought it was a bit of a weird interaction, “ Mads looked back at Delith now busy with a new customer, “She seemed nice…I don’t know.” She looked a little confused again.
“She may have tried it with you,” I was sure Delith had tried something. Who else was she trying it on with? Did it threaten Dominic’s vaunted claim to Elysium? Or was she one of his side hustles to gather information? I mused on it for a little while until small talk drove it out of my mind.
“So, tell me about this new apartment you’re moving into?” Mads played the interested friend and obliged with what I knew about the new place.
“Just a little place in Pyrmont. I haven’t been there yet, but I’m looking forward to making my mark on it. This is my first chance to really belong somewhere.” A pang for the old building, but I wasn’t sharing that with Mads.
“It’s overrated,” she replied as one who knew what it was like to have a place they could always go home to.
“May I ask where you were before coming here?” I said and had a strong Deja Vu of asking Izac that exact question out on the docks at Botany.
“I’ve been…in the vicinity for a while. I grew up here, “ She replied vaguely, “That was…before my new life started. In that time between then and now…I’ve been getting a little tutelage.”
If she was the same age as Izac, or thereabouts, that could mean she’d spent maybe twenty years learning. I nearly groaned audibly at the thought of that much tutelage. That was more than most university degrees, and I’d failed to show enough interest in finishing high school.
“Yeah, I could do with a little of that myself, ”I admitted and hoped that mine wouldn’t take anywhere near as long, “Our society is rich but full of sharp edges.”
“It’s a sprawling web, that’s for sure, “She agreed, and I appreciated the image of the predator waiting in its web, “Not hard to get cut by it, that’s all I can say.” Still, the concept that even the society that we were trying to build our lives in was predatory sobered both of us. Conversation ceased as we spent a few moments looking into our respective glasses.
7.30pm Saturday 11 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Pyrmont
His renovations complete, Stallion rode out on his bike to the old house at Pyrmont. He hadn’t been back to the old house since the night Ambrogino took ownership. As his bike pulled up in front, his senses rebelled against the foreboding feeling the place now held. Once a welcoming home, the place now seemed…abrasive, as if it no longer recognised him as an occupant. He imagined that haunted houses must feel very much like this one.
“What am I walking into?” He said to himself with a worried glance up a the place. Regardless, he kicked down the stand on the bike and walked up to the door.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Nobody answered. He was about to knock again as the door slowly creaked open, and Lucretia peered around behind it.
“What are you doing here?” She asked, recognising the Gangrel as one of her nephew’s bastard children.
“I was wondering if Ambrogino was around,” Stallion said, trying to peer around Lurcretia guarding the door.
“Odd question,” She said, confused, “Why do you want him?”
“Ur…um…,” Stallion hadn’t expected an interrogation. Frankly, he hadn’t made any plans, “He seemed a pretty powerful guy, and I figure he was someone I could learn a thing or two.”
What Lucretia thought of his suggestion, he couldn’t tell. Lucretia was like talking to a statue.
“What do you offer for this boon?” She asked in her emotionless voice.
“Hadn’t thought about it, really.”
“You better think quick. Now we’re negotiating. Information uniquely yours? Something only you can do? What is it you can offer?”
“I don’t really know. I’ve only been around for a couple of months.”
“Well, until you do, here is your first lesson. You will only ever get a free meal from your sire…adopted sire. Goodnight.” And with that, the door slammed shut, the wind of it tussling Stallion’s blonde hair.
7.30pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
Dominic arrived in Leichhardt just as the night was started to heat up. The streets were full of cars looking for parking, people in couples and small groups looking for a good night out. Serenely, he drove his car directly into the underground carpark under the Crowbar.
His first stop was the Security room where he accessed all the cameras. Scrubbing through the last twenty-four hours, he noticed only one concerning item that was out of the ordinary. At only fifty minutes before sunrise, Luna disembarked from an Uber and entered the hotel. If she’d left it any later, she’d have been a dark smudge on the pavement in front of the Crowbar instead of safely installed in one of the hotel suites. When she was older and had more of a feel for where the sun was in its cycle, such lateness could be excused. He made a note to have a word with her and continued to his office.
He went through the books, pleased at the hefty increase in revenue, finance and gossip coming into the bar. Much of it was just small amounts from many patrons, but some came with names. Padre Craneo was one that came up a few times. Once for the use of the Time Out room to feed and once for a substantial offer of ninety thousand Euros and information relating to the Shadowlands. He knew the Padre was a new figure in town, though very old himself. He disappeared for a long time, and it was only in the last twenty years he’d been active in Mexico and Europe. He was a specialist on the Shadowland and was known to have gathered substantial information. It seemed fortuitous that the Padre had come to the Crowbar at this time. He made a note to seek out his new customer and moved on.
Another name, more of a title, appeared up in the ledgers. El Torcedor was hosting an event at the old medical theatre at Sydney University. Invitations were moving through the Vampire network, and information about it had made it to Dominic. El Torcedor was a Tzimisce from South America. Sabbat affiliated. South American Tzimisce! He rolled his eyes and moved on.
The third was only intimated by the moments of money, items, and information Dominic saw in his ledgers. Unclaimed bodies going missing. Organised crime on the increase. These were all the signs of another Giovanni being involved, but the name linked was not Giovanni. The only name that came up was Kaanes. Dominic knew there were Giovanni in the Lowlands of the Dutch, but more likely, amongst the Afrikaans of South Africa. As most of that part of the family mainly kept to themselves, this left only one kindred making waves through the Sydney nights. Kenneth Stahl, an exiled Giovanni. He’s the only Kaanes that travelled outside of South Africa. A real piece of work that Dominic would easily spot due to his strawberry blonde hair and penchant for wearing white business shirts with the sleeves rolled up with khaki pants.
His notes made on the interesting individuals of Sydney nights, Dominic did his usual lap of the bar: the common room, the private rooms and finally the V.I.P lounge.
7.30pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Leichhardt
The notebook was small, and she’d scanned the pages quickly. Eclipse now sat on the bed contemplating what she’d learnt. It wasn’t much. At one time, Mads had been an important…friend…leader… She’d had a strong relationship with another friend called Joel. Izac was quoted saying she’d been a ‘calming influence’ on all of them.
On Golconda, there was more fragmentary information. He’d been reading a book in the library and had an image in his head about Golconda being some sort of…salvation. No details, though. It seemed that Izac had been more delusional than she’d thought.
Another dead end.
8.00 pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Crow Bar
Mads and I drank our drinks and chatted about nothing. I was getting to like this one, which was going to be a problem if we ended up having opposing views about Izac. He was a grey cloud of misery, but he had a vision for the world, though delusional, I could get behind. Besides, he was our grey cloud of misery.
Mads was his opposite in many ways. Articulate, charming, and interested. I couldn’t pin down any particular agenda with her, but she knew how to hold a conversation. She was also the same height as me, which was a refreshing change in the land of the giants.
Dominic made his entrance to the V.I.P. Lounge, looking like the Lord surveying his lands. I waved him a greeting from our table. He nodded, recognising our presence and continued with his rounds, first to the bar and then around the room until he made it back to us.
“Good evening, sir.”
“Good evening. Enjoying yourselves?”
“Yes, thank you, as always, “ I had his attention, I took the opportunity to ask a favour, “I was wondering if I could borrow one of the cars. I’d like to make a trip out to Pyrmont if I may.”
“Ah, you want to view your new place,” He assumed, and I didn’t enlighten him otherwise. I’m not sure why…old habits? Maybe because it’s often better to ask forgiveness than seek permission.
“Certainly, ask Bruce for a set of keys. Maybe take…Madeline..was it?” He gestured to Mads, who seemed surprised to be mentioned.
“Huh, sorry? Yes, that’s me,”
“I was just suggesting that you go out with my young protege here and look over his new place,” Dominic suggested, and I inwardly sighed. Just when I thought I’d dropped Mads off somewhere safe for the evening.
“Oh, yeah. I’m down for an inspection. I do have a meeting here in a few hours…sorry, I should have come to you with it first. I’ve organised a meeting. It’s relevant to us finding Izac.”
“And what was your interest in Izac again?” Dominic asked.
“I knew him from a long time go. I was in town and was hoping to catch up,” She supplied sweetly. That I didn’t believe a word of it didn’t matter. I’d already told Dominic what I thought. I just drank my drink and listened to their conversation.
“Quick question. Was he always a vegetarian?” Dominic said, and I was surprised. After being continually lectured on not showing my hand, he was spilling the largest bean in Izac’s pile. In public. Now, Dominic, for shame!
“No. You asked me this before, Mr Giovanni, “ The question had touched on something deeply unhappy in Mads. If she didn’t have a meeting later that evening, I’d have been worried about her drowning herself again.
“Have I?” The Old Con, I almost laughed, “I must be slipping.”
Mads lifted a hand to her brow and sighed, “Believe me, I don’t remember much of that night, but that, I do. I still have the headache to show for it. Whatever your bartender gave me, it was a hell of a ride.”
“We have a lot of…interesting people coming in recently. Staff and customers. That particular individual knows a trick or two when it comes to his alchemy.” Dominic said, and I wondered where they all came from. I assume many were drawn here by the big event. How did he get a hold of them? I would have to find out.
Mads thought so, too, “You’ve been hiring a few interesting sorts in preparation for the big event, I’m guessing.”
“I try to draw more interest to the pub, especially with everyone in town for the Event, yes.”
“Looking to rub shoulders or gain the attention of…appropriate ears?” Mads said, then instantly retracted the statement, embarrassed, “Sorry, that was rude of me.”
“You’re not wrong,” Dominic seemingly took no offence, “It’s always good to have fresh bodies in the place.” He laughed. The irony wasn’t lost on either Mads or myself.
She changed the subject, “Well, if we’re going to see this new place …as long as we’re not too long. As long as we’re back by ten?”
I had to cut this off if I was going to visit Lucretia tonight, “I really can’t say. As I’ve said, I’ve not seen the place. If it’s a problem…”
“ You could always go after your meeting, “ Dominic suggested, “It seems like a quiet night tonight.”
Maybe because we’d been talking about the apartment, maybe because her insight was beyond anything I’d experienced before, Mads seemed to notice my reticence.
“Rain, if you want to check out your new place alone, don’t feel like you have to take me along. I’ll keep to my own company.”
I could have kissed her. Maybe I should sometime.
“If you don’t mind, “I replied apologetically, breathing a sigh of relief, “I’ve not seen it yet. I don’t even know if it’s furnished. I’d been be embarrassed to show it in less than its best.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Mads accepted my apology, but still glanced knowingly over her glass at me.
“There have been people working on it. It may be done by now,” Dominic oblivious to the subtext between Mads and I.
“Half-finished would be worse than never started,” I lamented, “No, I’ll check it out, and then when it’s ready for guests…maybe I’ll have to invite you over.”
“Enjoy your new place,” Mads said, as I rose to leave, “Embrace the experience of a place you’re settling down in… for a while.”
For a while, huh? It seemed like our Mads wasn’t looking to stick around anywhere for long.
“And don’t forget to take some toys with you,” Dominic added. Though the gripping fear of guns had gone with the spirits, I still didn’t have the need to surround myself with weaponry as Dominic did. I don’t know if it’s his own brand of paranoia or the simple fact we were raised on opposite sides of the pond. Even Mads made a face at the thought of having to go tooled up.
“Just in case.”
“What? Other than my usual?” Lupara was always with me, and he knew it.
“It’s always good to have a backup.”
With another thanks to Mads, I Ieft them in search of Bruce.
“Mr Giovanni, before you go,” Mads caught Dominic’s sleeve as he too made to continue his rounds, “When all this is done, do you mind if I stay in contact from time to time, do you? I’d like to start my own move up through the world when all this is said and done, and I realise that you are someone who could help in that endeavour.”
Dominic turned back to Mads, the new smell of business wafting through the air, “Certainly. I’ve funded many projects in my time. Though the interest can be killer.”
Mads smiled, and raised her glass to Dominic, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Dominic continued his tour, keeping an eye out for the Padre whose presence he’d noticed me with the night before. Luna was also conspicuous by her absence. He’d seen her visit the Time Out room during its…occupation by the Padre on the CCTV. That was more concerning than her absence at the moment. Such a powerful individual should never be met with alone. Still, the interview had been no more than ten minutes and Luna had walked away again. A more fortunate outcome than most, he suspected. Checking the Time Out room he was pleased to find it was spotless with no sign of the previous night’s use. He nodded satisfaction at Bruce’s good work. Dominic made a note to commend him for such a fine job.
8.00pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Burwood
Having been rejected at the door to his old home, Stallion rode out to a late-night joke shop in Burwood. Happily, he moved through the isles of cheap toys and trinkets, filling a handbasket with items:
A hand buzzer
A shark hand puppet
A semi-automatic cap gun
A flick-comb
He paid in cash from his bum bag, which the sales clerk recognised smelled distinctly herbal. Slinging the plastic bag with his few treasures over the handlebars, Stallion finally headed towards Leichhardt and the Crow Bar.
8.00pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Crow Bar
There was really no other place to go.
Leaving her hotel suite, Eclipse wandered down to the Crow Bar in search of the elusive but all-important Bruce. She found him in the armoury, shelving the new stock. Eclipse looked at the boxes of guns, some only seen in war movies, arrayed around him but said nothing.
“What the hell are you doing here, Luna?” He asked, turning around to find the silent Luna behind him.
“Looking for you.”
“I’m flattered, but you’re not my type,” Bruce snarked, turning back to his work.
“You wish,” she replied, completely disinterested in what he found attractive. “I was more curious to find out if you’ve made any headway in finding Izac.”
“I was looking for him?” He said, seemingly in genuine surprise.
Eclipse paused for a moment, letting that sink in. He was either being an arsehole, which…it was Bruce, or Dominic had never asked him to look for Izac.
For a beat, the breath froze in her lungs.
“Unless you expect Giovanni to do all the work then, yes, yes, you should be looking for him.”
“I have other people for that. He’s not that important.”
“Whose looking for him?”
“It doesn’t matter,” He dismissed her concerns to concentrate on his work, “the boss knows.”
The darkness boiled inside her. The urge to bite Bruce, snide head off, was a real and present threat.
“Cool.” And she was. Frozen to the core.
Her eyes dropped to the boxes around her. Being eighteen, female and living in Australia, her exposure to munitions was limited. There was a large pile of handguns, a long tube with a trigger and sight, some military armour and generic crates. Nothing as familiar as her flick knife. Nor as interesting.
She left Bruce to his inventory, the clod lump inside her only thawing enough to allow movement. Oblivious, she nearly crashed into Dominic, who was making his way down the stairs from the Lounge.
“Luna, how are you this evening?” He asked as smoothly as his top-shelf whiskeys.
“I’m fine, how are you,” She replied automatically.
“I was concerned to see you arrive home late last this morning.”
“I had enough time,” She tried to sidestep his conversation as she passed him on the stairs.
“You’re young, you don’t always know how much time you have, and a small traffic jam can stop you from getting back. You don’t want to end up a shadow on the pavement.”
“It was a bit close,” She admitted, just so he’d drop the subject, “I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Of course, you can always camp in…someone else’s for the day.”
She shrugged. She had thought about it, “There was a possibility, but I’d rather be back here.”
“Fair enough,” He bowed and let the subject drop, “And what are you looking for?”
“Something to do, really,” She confessed. She had many things that needed doing, but without help from at least one of the Days of the Week she wasn’t sure how she was going to achieve it.
“I thought I’d help Bruce if he was doing anything about Izac, but apparently, he’s not important enough, ” Her eyes stung, but she’d cried enough. She brushed the impulse aside, “But you know, it’s fine as long as you know.”
“Bruce is a very important individual to our little social circle. He does do things to cover up for you, but he doesn’t do things…for all individuals.” Eclipse knew what that meant. As an adopted childe, she was important. Izac wasn’t.
The ice burned.
“ I have other people who are more experienced…more specialised at finding missing people. Last night, they narrowed it down to a suburb.”
I would have taken offence at that point. I’d narrowed it down to a suburb, thanks very much. But I wasn’t there.
“As for the boredom, you will experience lulls from time to time. In lives as long as ours…it happens. I expect it to be quiet tonight.” He said.
“Anything interesting happening with the others?”
“Rain is going to his new apartment. I haven’t seen Stallion yet, I’d say he’s on his way back from the warehouse. The new person, Madison, is in the V.I.P. Lounge. As I said, a quiet night.”
Eclipse nodded, and decided to find Mads. She started climbing up into the bar.
Delith was behind the bar, busy chatting with a customer. Mads was at a table alone. Neither interested Eclipse. She scanned the floor for any of the Days of the Week and spotted Monday and Tuesday. She let out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding and made her way over to them.
Mads, listening to the room as usual, spotted Eclipse saunter across the floor and stopped at a table with two strangers. Heightening her senses, she sat back and listened in to their conversation.
“Sunday, how are you?” Monday said, “We were just talking about you. We were curious as to how your preparations for tomorrow are going.”
“I’ve made none at all,” She confessed.
“Well, you don’t want a toddler from the hospital…it’s a bit… unseemly.”
“I have some decorum.”
“We’ll see. You do show a lot of promise. We hope you live up to it. We’re just living it up. Do you want to join us?”
“I’d love to,” Eclipse replied and gratefully took a seat.
“Have you met the bartender before?” Monday gestured to the bar and Delith.
“Yes, she’s….very eccentric,” Eclipse said diplomatically.
“She’s very humorous. She’s very much of our clan. When you have your nose up too high, you can’t see what’s going on around you.”
“I don’t know what she is, “ Eclipse confessed. All she knew Delith was a pain in her arse who seemed to get away with murder.
“Not to put down the efforts of the one who is training you, but she’s…what do they call them now…the Nobles?…the merchant Princes?….the Ventrue?”
“I think I remember that being mentioned before. It explains a lot.”
“It certainly does. We hear things. We’ve met with the same people. You don’t have to worry about the Padre, but don’t get too friendly with him, “ Monday said, and Eclipses remembered only the old man’s kindness in not revealing her real nature, “You are not experienced enough to deal with his kind.”
I did great with the old man, She thought to herself, but said nothing that could upset her new friendship.
“I guess I should be pleased you’re keeping tabs on me.”
“He’s powerful. Just be careful.”
Enough about Padre. Eclipse dragged the conversation back to what she’d been wanting to discuss with them for days, “I’m curious. How do you prepare for your day?”
“It depends. If there’s a big event on…say, the Olympics, we might take ten in a week. When things are quiet, there are always streetwalkers, a curious lawyer or detective sniffing around is always convenient, ” Monday listed off, and all sounded reasonable to Eclipse. She wasn’t sure about actually putting it all into practice. That’s when Tuesday surprised her.
“You’re of this time. You know more than us about how people meet up and interact. How would you go about it?”
“That’s just it. I don’t have transport. I can’t drive.”
“That is a problem. You can always tell them there’s a really cool party and get them to drive you. You can hunt closer to the altar but never shit where you eat. You don’t want to draw unwanted attention.”
Eclipse remembered the drive out to the abandoned house that must have taken almost an hour, the long, dank walk through underground passages that led finally to the Days of the Week sanctum. It would be tough, but she could do it…she just needed a little leg up this first time.
“If you take them from all over, no one notices. A missing person here, an overdose there, a suicide somewhere else…it just depends on how much effort you want to put in. It’s amazing once you start how the weeks just roll by.”
Monday turned to Tuesday, “Say, Tuesday. Do you have any spares you can give her?”
Tuesday mulled over the idea, “Perhaps. What are your preferences?” They turned the question back to Eclipse.
She knew who she needed to find. The dream had been very specific about the tiny little black figures dancing to the serpent’s music.
“Targetting the…displaced. Natives?”
“Good choice. There are not many around, but no one’s paying attention to them either. They go missing all the time,” Monday nodded thoughtfully, “Very wise of you.”
Inside, the echo of Luna cringed against being praised for murderous racism. Eclipse wasn’t quite what she thought of it all.
“Can I get some help the first night?”
“Would you like us to lure one to you, or would you like to go somewhere you can get your own?”
“I’d like to pick my own amongst the herd, “ Some of Eclipses self-confidence reasserted itself. This was her sacrifice, after all.
“Sure, it’s a farmer’s market. Pick your own!” Monday said happily.
“When would you like to do it? The night of the sacrifice or tonight?” Tuesday asked.
“Are you free now? Is tomorrow more convenient?”
“There’s always time to rock around Redfern.”
“What do you say, Sunday. Shall we take a trip around The Block.”
Eclipse smiled, and saw it echoed in Monday and Tuesday’s expressions, “Why not?” She agreed and was first to stand from the table.
“Nights a-wasting!” Monday, the most eager of the two followed suit, “Let’s go!”
Monday and Tuesday followed their Sunday out of the room. At her table, Mads watched them go. She was still nursing a sore head and, above the bustle in the room, hadn’t heard more than one word in three of their conversation. Still, what she had heard made her think. On another night, she may have tried to follow them, but tonight she had plans.
8.20pm Saturday 11 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Crow Bar
Stallion rode down into the private parking under the Crow Bar, his treasure swinging in their plastic bag. Dominic was waiting in the carpark. He spied Stallion’s bag of tricks and gave him a quizzical expression.
Stallion was always up to some trick or jap, usually at his siblings’ expense. Stallion caught his eye, and a mischievous smile forced its way across his features.
“Ah, Dominic. Just a few things. Nothing bad, just a little…subversion?
“And what are we subverting?” Dominic asked, the benign parent figures as always
“Dunno. Just practising. I got the buzzer. I have a shark puppet to cover the hand buzzer, and hopefully, things will go well for my next victim.”
“Happy hunting.”
“Anyone around?” Stallion asked as if it had nothing to do with his collection of trinkets.
Dominic looks around the carpark. It was just them.
“The rest of the coterie?”
“A few of them are in the V.I.P. Lounge. Some are going out later.”
“I wonder what they think about my little prank?” The mischievous smile was back, unrestrained this time.
“I thought you’d got past pranking your siblings,” Dominic said is a way that suggested his disapproved without actively saying Stallion should change his mind on the subject.
“You can never be too sure. Besides, Mads is new. Initiation has to happen.” Stallion said with the conviction of a old hand in the business of pranking.
I turned up still looking for Bruce and found Dominic talking to his favourite child in the carpark.
I was surprised to see him there, “Oh, you get around, sir,”
“It is my establishment, “ He reminded me, and I inwardly sighed. Yes, yes, it was, but not forever. First, the apartment, then my own club. But all in good time.
“It is indeed,” I stepped out of his way and noticed Stallion looking pleased with himself, a plastic shopping bag at his side.
“Good evening, Stallion.” I tried to read his expression for clues as to what he was up to.
“Good evening, Rain,” He said casually enough, “Are you off somewhere?”
“Why would you say that?”
Dominic silently handed over the keys to the nondescript Audi sedan.
“Ah, nice. Thank you.”
“Whatever you do, don’t pull an Izac,” Dominic warned, a spark of humour in his cold dead eyes.
“I intend to go there and back…and hit nothing invisible, ” I assured him, “But if I do, I’ll tell you straight away.”
He laughed at that. It’s nice to be able to read your audience’s level.
Stallion looked confused.
“Don’t you want me to drive you?” He asked, and I almost regretted my plans. I had planted that silly story about his car for just this purpose, and it may have given us a chance to spend time together without one of us being incinerated.
“Not his time, brother. I’m going out by myself to see the new place. I want to take in the vibe for a bit. Mads was right. I just want to feel it out first.”
“Ah, you have a new place, do ya?” He asked, and instantly, and now I regretted telling him anything. I meant it when I told him I didn’t want him under my roof. Not that he remembered. No, Stallion and I would never be friends. It was futile thinking otherwise.
“I’m sure you’ll…be able to look…distinct…in your style,” He said stiltingly. Dominic looked at me, then at Stallion. Without a word, he turned and walked back upstairs.
Equally as silent, I headed for the car.
8.20pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Crow Bar
Dominic headed not back into the bar but upstairs to his office. He checked that the two rooms were clear of his childe, then silently closed and locked the door.
He sat down carefully behind his desk and manipulated the secret compartment hidden deep behind wood and leather. With reverent care, he pulled out the skull hidden there and brought it up so the empty eye sockets were level with his eyes.
“Hello, Mother. There’s a lot of interesting things happening…”
8.30pm Saturday 12 hours until sunrise. 6 days until the Succubus Club Crow Bar
I pulled up outside the old Harris Street house. Nothing had changed since I’d been here with Dominic for our Necromancy lesson. Was it possibly a little creepier. As if creepiness were a moss that collected over time? Regardless, I stepped up to what had been my front door a week ago and knocked.
“What the hell is it this time?!”
*****************************************************************************************
Eclipses eneravations:
Complicated
What would you be writing now if you had your book?
Would it be of the people you’re meeting?
Would you write about the woman Rain saw, who was talking to you? Would you write of her presence?
What of the man who stole you away?
Did you know I was seconds away?
All this time. All this fucking time and I missed the 10 seconds that mattered.
burn it all
You said Mad’s taught you discretion. She plays her cards close to her chest but what is a hound to a lioness? It is but a rat to a snake.
Let us out.
You were so hopeful. You had some sort of direction before meeting all of us at the dock… Do you believe it? About Golconda?
If Mother met me now she would kill me on the spot.
Can you understand that? It is not blackness that surrounds me. It is miasma.
God has abandoned me and in his absence the end of the world is being inscribed.
The rest of my life is a clay tablet, the serpent the inscriber.
Can you see what I’ve become?
Can you comprehend what has become of me?
Maybe I don’t want you to understand. I do not want you to see into this pit. No. No great height for you to fall.
Maybe…
you are strong enough
…to prove me wrong about Golconda.
Maybe I want you to come home to stay gone.
Stay gone.
*****************************************************************************************
Izac’s Thoughts:
First Steps
Vague shapes surround Izac
Near a hundred strong
People
Faces lost to time, or ones he can’t bring himself to see
Two stand in the arena
This eye of the storm
No, four
A royal, a businessman, a girl
Izac
He holds his bloodied heart
The others blur as one in front of him
Only one of which he is willing to give it up to
“You must betray your own heart”
The others search, the serpent did not take the curious observer.
She could have, possibly even ruined him, but she seems confident they won’t find us, at least until the Club.
Part of me hopes she is wrong.
To understand the world, I need to understand myself
Come to terms with my nature
While I look for answers beyond me, she insists to look inward
I dwell on the who, but never the why: the reason for the slaughter, the hunt
“The ends justify the means”
She talks of killing as justified, given the circumstance
The ghouls in the bar sprang to my mind, an act of self-defence with deadly consequence.
Its not the same, its all a matter of where the line is drawn
The urge, the impulse, the Beast
It is not separate
I and it are one and the same
To come to terms with it is to travel the path
I can hear it, deep within
A whimpering dog, starved and chained
Is this what I have been doing to myself?
Punishing nature, rather than taming it
She offers to help, her price to be paid during the festivities
Another of her experiments, like the Prince?
I fear her intentions for me, her words cryptic
Like a choice that must be made
“You must betray your own heart”
Notable NPCs
Abram: Ventrue, and one of six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Agaricus: Children of the Moon, and one of six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Alicia: Toreador Vampire met at the Crow Bar
Ambrogino: 5th Generation Vampire, Cappadocian and Elder of the Giovanni Clan.
Avel: Rain’s mother, a wraith.
Beelzebub: Fallen angel, demon entity in Rain’s pocket watch.
Blanco Falzo: A man who had made into a likeness of Stallion’s dog for a time. Now deceased.
Bobby Lisner: Malkavian seer who lives in an old Sewer pipe in The Rocks.
Brendan Virgil: A.K.A. Miss Divine Intervention. Rain’s close friend.
Bruce: Ghoul of Mr Giovanni
Cabolut Hazzim: the name given by a vampire who cleared out the homeless at Rain’s old squat. Prince’s Assassin.
Days of the Week: Pseudonyms for members of the Baali group Eclipse (Luna) is now part of.
She is Sunday, and they are missing Wednesday. Tuesday seems to be their nominal spokesperson, though they seem to have no leader.
Delith: Ambitious Ventrue bar staff at the Crowbar.
Detective Woodman: NSW Policed premiere detective and a sufferer of schizophrenia. He has an assistant currently called Notetaker.
Doctor Willis Hodge: Ghost acquaintance of Dominic Giovanni’s from the Coroner’s Court.
El Torcedor: “The Twister” or ore accurately, “The Fleshcrafter” A Tzimisce from South America
Founders of Sydney Masquerade: Those still alive: Abram, the Ventrue, in Canberra, Wid, the Nosferatu in Wollongong, Agaricus, Child of the Moon, Tasmania, Montague Layton, Toreador current whereabouts unknown.
Francis Tuttle: Name given in charge of the investigation into the deaths of homeless in Surry Hills.
Garcia: Sire. Unknown location.
Giuseppe Giovanni: Ghoul of Mr Giovanni and nephew.
Kenneth Stahl: South African Giovanni (exiled)
Lambach Ruthven: Kin met at the theatre. Sire of Dracula. Drug addict.
Lenny: Rain’s Ghoul and artist friend, now with mages. Location unknown.
Lucretia: Childe of Ambrogino, now caretaker of the Pyrmont House and teacher to Dominic
Madeline Blackwell: Ghoul of Mr Giovanni, working at the State Coroners Court.
Montague Layton: Toreador, and one of six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Night Rider: Red-haired vampire? Works for the Prince.
Pangea: a Nosferatu (tunnel builder)
Padre Craneo: Nagaraja vampire met at the Crow Bar
Paul: a Nosferatu of the sewer rats
Prince Lodin: Prince of Chicago (until his final death in the 90s) and sire of Al Capone.
Prince Sarrasine (Sar-ras-seen): Toreador Ruler of Sydney*
Sebastian Melmoth: Kin met at the theatre. Powerful Toreador.
Shara-had: Banu Haqim (Assamite).
Sparrow: a Nosferatu of the warren in Pyrmont, closest to home
Teeth of Titanium: Werewolf dingo met in Leichhardt.
The Woman: A powerful being of unknown name who kidnapped Izac and enchanted Rain.
Tom: A sleeping head awakened by Dominic in the Dreamtime.
Wid: Nosferatu, and one of six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Glossary of terms:
Anarchists: a faction of Vampires. Caused issues in Los Angeles recently, killed the Prince.
Antediluvian: from before the time of the biblical flood. The third generation that were the progenitors of the thirteen clans of vampires.
Banu Haqim: Also know as Assamites, Assassins though sometimes just mercenaries for hire.
Bone Gnawers: A pack of werewolves
Blood hunt: A process to destroy a vampire who has broken a tradition. Specifically mentioned in the sixth.
Blood worm: What a possessed vampire can turn into.
Black Spiral Dancers: A pack of werewolves that worship a being of entropy.
Canaanites: Those descended from Cain, the first murderer and vampire.
Camarilla: a faction of Vampires closest to the Princes. Believe in hierarchy and order.
Clan or Bloodline: From one the 13 antediluvians.
Christopher Charlton: Rain’s pseudonym.
Marauder: A mage gone mad. Living in his own pocket dimension that answers to the whim of his broken mind.
Diablerie : the drinking another vampire blood and soul
Favour: How Vampires pay for things they want or need doing.
Fetter: A place, person or thing that binds a wraith to the Shadowlands.
Ghouls: Servants of a vampire who have been fed vitae. They are loyal, stronger, and more resilient, and sometimes, they show other powers gained from the blood. They must receive the blood at least once a month or they return to being human. Can be addictive.
Glasswalkers: A pack of werewolves Izac is familiar with this
Hunter: Members of the Society of Leopold, a branch of the Catholic Church. Fanatical vampire hunters and killers.
Kin: Short for Kindred. Vampires, a name among themselves
Kine: Humans
Marauder: a rouge mage, often mad. They are likely to act in a way that exposes the Otherworld of the Masquerade to exposure.
Masquerade : The rule that keeps vampire society safe. Hiding ones nature from the world.
Nagaraja: A bloodline that are obligated to eat the flesh as well as the blood of their victims.
Men in Black: An international unit dedicated to controlling supernatural and alien entities.
Sabbat: a faction of Vampires that believe that the progenitors of the clans will one day awake and eat all their young.
Traditions: Six laws that vampires live by.
Vaulderie: A ritual where Kindred swear loyalty to each other.
*Sarrasine, a novella by Balzac. Sarrasine is a sculpture who is infatuated with an Opera Singer, Zambinella. She thinks herself cursed and deflects his advances. At a performance, Zambinella is revealed to Sarrasine to be a castrato. In a rage, Sarrasine attacks the singer, only to be cut down and killed by their bodyguard.
A Strange Life 