[color=darkred:3afa18023f]

[i:3afa18023f]


He walked the familure streets watching the mortals as they did the same things they did every night. They were so unaware of the dangers present in thier midst. He saw a few kindred, some he knew some he did not. None of the recognized him though. The only ones that had seen him since his return were Gab, Porter and Kathy. From what he could tell Porter was gone again and good ridance in his opinion. Oh true he had never liked Porter mainly because of his "'superior holy than thou attitude"" although in truth they were not so differant. Oh well he thought life or on second thought unlife goes on.

He continued to walk the streets the crowds dwindled untill there were only a few hard core partiers still out. He found himself headed down an oh so familure street and soon found himself directly acrossed from her shop. Should he go knock and announce his return even though he would more than likely only be in town a few days. He missed her but also felt as if they had grown apart these last few months. It seemed that either he was gone or she was they had not spent the day in each others arms for a long time. He wonderd what her reaction to the gift he had left on her desk had been. Oh well he thought all the better more than likely if he did not go in.

He looked at the shop one last time befor continuing his journy. He headed back into town and for the Elysium. He really should pass on the info that he had to Gab or Valek.

Just incase.............................[/i:3afa18023f]

[/color:3afa18023f]

The evening was chillier than most, even for late October. The chill drove many mortals inside, leaving their uncarved pumpkins and gayly strewn orange ribbons to their own. The city was settling in for Halloween, an apprehensive air hovering like a storm cloud. With so much terror and turmoil, the Kindred's activities had been restricted by mortal scrutiny. Even the few remaining Giovanni had stuck mainly to their legitimate business fronts, out of fear and out of respect.

The nervous chatter of speckled Kine down the normally crowded Rack's sidewalk merged together in a fluid hum that Gabriel found somewhat soothing as he paced the streets. Every so often he would catch himself forgetting to breath in the cool weather and would exert the effort to exhale a long stream of hot air, which would coil into the air behind him.

As he passed beneath the faded lights of failing nightclubs and bars, he wondered.

[i:d85498b06b]Where have they gone....where have they all gone?[/i:d85498b06b]

There was a time, not so long ago in fact, when being part of the undead society was almost enjoyable. The Kindred of the city whittled away their hours in Elysium, drinking and debating, loving and fighting. With each infringement on the Masquerade, whether it be flagrant use of disciplines or front lawn brawls, at least it brought an icey breath of life into their undead corpses.

Remarkable characters, such vampires that Gabriel had never seen up until then. Power mad Lasombra, blood thirsty Assamites, demented Malkavians, they all vied for strength and control in the blood soaked walls of the Camarilla city. Now, as the blonde haired Ventrue stared down the darkened and remote streets of downtown Cascadia, it was all too evident it was empty.

Cascadia's Golden Age, at least for the Kindred, was buried and forgotten. Even his Sire had dropped out of view. That brief glimpse he had received some weeks ago had been only fleeting, and had not returned since then. The Gangrel Porter still ran his nightly securities, but from a distance. Kiya the Setite had dropped from view, as Setites tend to do. But still it was unlike her. Even Kathy, beloved Kathy, was frequently away.

Gabriel thrust his hands into the warmth of his pockets and sighed. They were gone, perhaps forever. The memories clung to him like tar tonight, and try as he might, he could not wash them away.

[i:d85498b06b]Bah, get a hold of yourself Gabriel, you're weeping like a Toreador...[/i:d85498b06b]

The Ventrue quickened his stride, turning down an alleyway off the The Rack. Here the air was colder, more aggressive. Tunnelled into the tight space, it took hold of his hair and he relished the sensation as it lifted off his shoulders.

"Please....please...." the tiny voice was in agony, and was quickly answers by several scuffles. Gabriel stopped in his tracks and peered down the alleyway at the figures. Two men hunched over a woman, tearing at her clothing. One of the men glanced up, his gnarled face registering the stranger. A blade glimmered in the faint moonlight.

"Get the f*ck outta here...." he hissed, and went back to his business. Gabriel expected his body to lunge forward, inhuman strength quickly crushing the two men. He expected immortal justice to carry the night and to rescue the 'damsel in distress'.

But his heart registered nothing, his soul felt no ties to the woman. Indeed, his entire being told him it was a waste of blood. She was no virgin, he could not feed from her. Shocked, he complied with his bodies wishes. Turning, he fled the alleyway at a quickened pace, losing himself in the crowd....alone....tired...and inhuman...

His rage had been absolute.

Flowing from the shadows as they finished their torture of the girl, a mass of hate, claws and ichor dripping fang.

They hadn't even had time to focus on their attacker. Instead the last thing they saw was the other's death.

Claws tore eyes from sockets. Fangs drank deeply and with malice rather than hunger from fear pulsed throats. The girl lay bleeding, steam rising from where they had used her and from the tears they'd inflicted. Porter stood over the two shredded bodies, spraying a foul stream of urine-blood over them. Marking them with his blood's scent for other predators to recognise.

He sniffed at the girl, sensing her pulse weakening. His feral green eyes rolled back revealing hot veins as he took her pain, ended her ordeal, her shame with a single merciful bite.

Licking his bite marks from her neck he howled long and low. Sorrow filling the bestial dirge.

As he started climbing the alley wall he scented something familiar, a scent he'd tried to avoid. The realisation hit him. The so-called Vampire of God had left the girl to her fate.

As he disappeared like a cloud of every predator, he growled the name into the smog enriched night.

"Gabriel."

Sheet after sheet of rain poured over the city, washing away the all too familiar scent of sin and hatred. Streets became shimmering waterways, lights flickering and dancing as the surface shifted with water. All throughout, the Kine scrambled to stay dry, deserting the outside and relinquishing their control of the outside world to the alien.

Now well past the still highly active Rack, the drenched businessman moved gradually into Setite and Nosferatu territory. Here, there were more like him to be among. Not vampires, but the lifeless husks of humans. Reddened eyes and pale faces, ravaged by the affects of narcotics peered at the well dressed passerby, their feeble track scarred hands reaching out for one more hit.

In their empty hollow eyes Gabriel saw a reflection of himself, and he felt nothing. Devoid of pity or fear, but unsure of how to trigger such emotions, the Ventrue pressed on. A frail arm grasped his sleeve, and even though he could of easily broken away, he stopped.

"Hey mister, gimme some cash. I'm high as hell and I'm just one hit from bein' passed out..." Two dark eyes peered from the shadows of the slum, pleading. The figure appeared to be in his late thirties, but Gabriel could feel his youth. The boy was in his early twenties, long jagged lines had etched themselves into his face, masking his age.

Kneeling, Gabriel gazed into the boy's eyes, searching his soul for any semblance of humanity. In the throes of heroin addiction, anything that was once a person had been all but destroyed.

"What are you starin' at man?" Gabriel leaned in, cupping the boys mouth and nose with one glove and pressing on the boys chest with the other. Alarmed, the youth began to struggle, thrashing his arms and squirming under the pressure. The vampire held tight however, and dug his hands into his victims chest, wedging him against the wall.

As the youth struggled for air, his eyes wild with fear, Gabriel felt the blows fall upon his ashen cheek. They were weak, and barely of consequence, but not wanting to cause more of a scene than was necessary, he pressed harder on the chest, the sounds of snapping ribs audible above the patter of rain.

"Mmmmfffttttt!!!!!" the boy wailed beneath Gabriel's grip.

[i:ade224db85]Enough Childe, enough.....[/i:ade224db85]

He jerked back, pressing himself against the opposite wall, throwing his eyes across the jet black alley in search of the intruder. Only empty air and the pattering of rain, mixed with the blood soaked cough of the addict, responded.

"Wh...who's there?" he said at last. Thunder rolled across the night sky, shaking the city to it's roots.

"You're crazy! You're f*ckin' nuts!!!" the boy shrieked, shakily rising to his feet and stumbling off into the depth of the alleyway. Gabriel ignored his departing prey and took a gentle step toward the entrance to the streets.

"Victorrio...?"

Tobias watched him as him as he bent over the young man, who looked like he was homeless and let a gasp escape his lips as Gabriel knelt down, his hands pressing against the man's chest, looking like he was intent on causing him pain of some sort. the shadows cast by the light in the alleyway prevented Tobias seeing the full scene unfold, but he walked away cautiously wondering if he should tell his mistress what he had just seen.

((hmmmmm what to do what to do I will post something tomorrow I have to think about this

The rain thickened, now blanketed Gabriel's coat to the point of futility. As he paced the city, making a gradual descent into the city's literal underbelly. Far opposite of the high shimmering towers of business and corporate dealings that the Ventrue paced on a nightly prowl, the older business sector was a portion of town that bordered the slums. The familiar gaze of empty souls lessened to a certain extent here, instead replaced with the hopeless apathy of the destitute.

With the rain, the grime and filth of the city retreated, but still Gabriel paced on. As he traversed between once bussling houses of business, their windows now as vacant as the souls who lived in them, he attempted to contact Victorrio once more. There was no response, only the patter of rain, and the sloshing of the puddles beneath him.

The general grayness of the area left him feeling cold, even for the undead. Trees seemed to be sucked of life, and the influx of water did little to revive them. The sidewalks, cracked and beaten, laid in humble feifdom to the crumpled buildings that served as their masters. Every other building or so, rusted iron gates spanned the distance in between, blocking the alleyways.

As Gabriel turned the corner, he stopped suddenly, a strong gust of cold air sweeping over him. The gray atmosphere seemed to shiver almost blue as the patch of frigid air blew by and disappeared into an alleyway beyond.

Cautiously, the curious Ventrue approached the alley and found the gate open, it's squeeling hinges singing out another presence. Rain blocked his view, but from what he could see the alleyway stretched a few yards and then opened into sort of a courtyard area wegded between four abandoned buildings.

He entered and found himself amidst heaps of garbage and refuge. Old boxes stacked like bache towers loomed over heaps of newspapers, the print smearing with each pounding raindrop. Bottles and cans, and even a stray condom or two was strewn around the roughly square yard.

As Gabriel searched the yard for any presence, he found nothing save the ever thickening mud and soaked ashes of a barrel fire. As he turned to leave the chill returned, sweeping violently through the yard.

[i:f80e3a51e4]Gabriel.......[/i:f80e3a51e4]

He turned, moving quickly back toward the farthest building, his shimmering green eyes peering through the rain. At that instant, he found his feet leaving the comfort of solid earth. His body sunk as if the earth had animated and proceeded to devour him. A brief struggle did not prolong the blackness that followed....

[color=darkred:af74351dde][i:af74351dde]

He decided to abandon the streets and took to the roof tops. Ahh yes it could be considered a breach of the Masqueraid leaping from roof top to roof top as he did. Hell it out right was but he never really cared about it. Ohh he had fooled them all into thinking he cared. That was his job so to speak. Some of them even knew of his backround bening Sabbat. Even a few suspected that he was a member of the Black Hand. None of them actually knew though. Oh he was a mamber and had done much for the Hand since his arriaval in Cascadia. But that was all behind him now. He served only one master and that was Haquim. Yes the Old Man on the Mountain was awake and in the world now. Not that these Kafir would know or understand the signifigance of this news. He began to move acrossed the roof tops abandoning that train of thought and concentrating on his movements. As he leaped acrossed and alley he thought he saw movement. He quickly turned around to check on it.

He saw a young woman on the ground and what looked like 2 men. The men had been torn apart as if by some beast. The woman had been tourtured and used for acts best not described. He could smell the blood and something else. It was anouthers blood a fourth had been there and it was not a human. Hmmmm he thought I know this blood I have smelled it befor. Ahhhhh it was Porter it had to be it was not the blood that tiped him off although not many others would have left there blood as a calling card so to speak, but he was the only one that Cain knew that would have savaged men in such away for what they had done. Ohh others would have killed them also but they would have shot them or maybe decapitated them or just beat them. This looked like the work of an beast and Cain only knew one beast that would do this to humans.

So he was still around bahh it mattered little all would be done and over with soon. Just ehn he realized that he knew what he was going to do. He had made the decision that he had been contemplating for so long now, but there was much to do befor he could carry out the rest of his plans.

The night was getting old and soon it would be daylight he had but a few hours left he must hurry and find those he needed to speak with. Or all could be lost.............


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The Seneschal clearly wasn't thinking straight. The trail of scents he left were easy to follow. Porter growled, his wolf form, though massive, could in the low light of the city's alleys, pass for that of a large dog.

Gabriel's steps brought him ever deeper into his hunting grounds. He sniffed at the scattered alley debris, syringes, plastic bottles that reeked of methylated spirits and worse. The insistence the prey had for self-destruction made him wuff with disgust. When he'd first taken to hunting humans upon his return, he'd felt a modicum of guilt. But with hindsight it was clear that they were nothing more than depressed cattle.

He growled again as inhuman eyes recorded an alien figure. Broadcasting the image to him as he loped onwards. The cat's mind crystal clear, instinctual yet driven with intelligence, showed a familiar figure.

The cat mewled in Porter's mind as it showed the figure leap from rooftop to rooftop, almost jealous of the figures agility he mused as the cat grumbled.

"Where are you going Cain?" Porter thought briefly before dismissing the leaping assassin.

He winced as the call reached him again, even this deep into the city he thought.

Malsum.

The name made his fangs glisten.

If only they could know what was coming.

*reserved*

The white noise that blanketed his mind was slowly replaced by the faint thump of a will induced pulse. Gradually Gabriel regained conciousness, feeling the shattered bones in his arm knit together. With much effort he shifted his mud caked body into a sitting position and examined his new surroundings.

The space was pitch black, even from the area he plumetted from. No hole or trapdoor was visible. The floor was muddy and wet, and the regular dripping sound in the distance led him to believe he was in some type of underground cavern. Nosferatu possibly?

Suddenly from the blackness, a hiss emerged...slight at first and then gaining strength. All at once it burst and a sickly green flame erupted from an unlit torch that had apparently been planted in front of him the entire time.

The torch was simple, and sat protruding from the mud at a slight angle, eerie green torch light dancing from the top. Unable to think of anything else, Gabriel picked the torch up and began to further inspect his environment.

He had been correct in his assumption, the walls were constructed of earth and bedrock. Thick roots weaved themselves in and out of view, through the coarse soil of the underground cavern. In the walls of the circular room, Gabriel could see handprints and nail marks.

"Why would anyone dig a cavern out with their bare hands?" he murmured aloud. A loud thump filled the cavern, and Gabriel swung the green flame towards the direction of the sound. "Who's there?"

Up until this point, he had noticed no exits or means of escape from the cavern. But suddenly, there was a mansized hole in the far wall. The mud soaked Ventrue slowly approached it, his expensive shoes sloshing through the cavern floor.

The finely dug passageway was rockier than the main cavern, and extended downward at a slant, and even with Gabriel's torchlight he could scarcely see several feet ahead of him as he descended. All the while, the faint dripping sound became more and more distinct.

As he wound through the underground caverns, he found the temperature dropping steadily, and now was accompanied by the steady sound of rushing water. He emerged from the tunnel into another large cavern. The echoes of his footsteps informed him of it's depth.

As he took careful, measured steps forward, he suddenly found himself at the edge of his walkway, staring into the expanse of a vast black void.

"What is this...?" he whispered, his breath coming out in short steamed bursts.

[i:c360bb90cd]Welcome Gabriel....[/i:c360bb90cd]

Gabriel arched the torch through the air, trying to identify the voice of the speaker.

"Who's there? Who are you....why have you brought me here?" his voice sounded frightened, and he did his best to conceal his fears.

[i:c360bb90cd]I apologize for the rather abrupt invitation. I fear you would not have come otherwise...[/i:c360bb90cd]

For some time, Gabriel said nothing, and only listened to the sound of rushing water. Whoever his host was, he apparently had eternity to wait, for he said nothing in the silence.

"Alright. I'm here, so what do you want from me?" he said at last. There was a low grumble, as if heavy boulders were being shifted from their ancient perches.

[i:c360bb90cd]You cannot allow the city to fall to it's newest menace...[/i:c360bb90cd]

"Newest menace? What are you talking about?"

[i:c360bb90cd]The impure race must not gain control. Even now they plot.[/i:c360bb90cd]

"Impure race? I don't understand." Gabriel took a step backwards toward the tunnel entrance.

[i:c360bb90cd]The Demon Prince sits with them, at their side Gabriel. You must stop them. It falls on your shoulders...your bloodline has dealt with them before, and so they shall again.[/i:c360bb90cd]

"My bloodline? I've no desire to fall pawn to some Methusaleh's bidding if that's what you wish of me." Gabriel mustered his strength.

[i:c360bb90cd]Unfortuneate, but irrelevant.[/i:c360bb90cd]

Suddenly, before the Ventrue had time to react, the sound of boulders shifting filled the cavern, nearly deafening Gabriel. A large hole formed on the far wall, allowing light to flood Gabriel's surroundings. The light was horrendously bright, and fell directly on the shocked vampire, encasing him in a halo of white light.

[i:c360bb90cd]Accept me...for I was, I shall be once more....[/i:c360bb90cd]

"NOOO!!!!" Gabriel shrieked, and the next moment he collapsed.

Gabriel once again wretched himself from the warm womb of unconciousness, bringing his undead body back to the cold tendrils of reality. He found himself braced against the rock in the now lit cavern. The cavern was huge, stretching several hundred yards on all side of him and climaxing in a deep underground river far below the small cliff he stood upon.

Gradually he stood, his body feeling strangely alive. He felt as though he were different somehow, but each time he came near to identifying the source it slipped away.

"So what is this...?" he called, his voice bouncing off the walls of the cavern with surprising speed. Only silence responded, even that being drowned out by the lull of the rushing river below.

Gabriel slowly made his way back up to the main cavern, and to his surprise found easy access to the world above via a natural stone staircase. Why had he found it so difficult before? As he climbed towards the world above he pondered how he had arrived there in the first place.

Alarmed, he quickly realized that with each passing second he was losing more and more memory of the incident. Searching his mental faculties (sp?) the presence of another was detected, slowly erasing the experience from his mind. He mustn't forget, he thought, fight it. I was down.....a cavern...with water. Was there water? Water where....?

As he ascended the final step into the moonlight, he had no idea where he had just climbed up from. A moment later, the ground swallowed the staircase, leaving no trace of the underground area visible.

[/i]

((holy shit this is good!!!!! I'm going to jump in, I have a feeling Cain and Bats need to meet up again some time soon...


--

The Cappadocian left her haven as she always did at this time every night, leaving her assistants to tend to the store. Perhaps she was foolish for wanting to venture into the cemetery on this night but the tempting aroma of blackened grave soil was too much for her. Halloween usually drew a motley assortment of dark hooded figures into the night and she expected to easily slip into the crowd unnoticed, her only concern being any late night visitors to the over grown section of the cemetery that she liked to call her own. 'Never mind', she thought, 'I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.' She smiled a little, looked up and down the street and with near panic, her smile vanished. Where is everyone? As if in answer, the wind snatched at her hooded cloak, whipping it against her legs. The cold has driven the mortals indoors early. Good. She clutched a handful of the heavy fabric and pulled it around her. With little time to waste she quicken her pace...

The moon was poised directly overhead, shining brilliantly like a sand dollar amidst a sea of indigo. Far below, the Ventrue strode alone, his body resonating with vibrant essence. His face shone like that of a newborn babe, just breathing in it's first gentle breaths of life. Life force flowed like waterfalls around him, passing through him, strengthening him.

The figure, glistening with rain, slipped his heavy overcoat from his shoulders, allowing it to fall in his wake. Not losing a step he removed his jacket as well, flinging it to the wind. His eyes burned like embers, barely communicating the roaring inferno which blazed within. His soul, for the first time since his death, was screaming with life.

As he passed the staring humans, he saw them not as sources of food, but as sources of life. He found that with a mere flicker of his will he could sway mass crowds of them. His eyes flashed a tint of gold as he wished them to and fro. They obeyed with flock-like obedience, unaware of their mass movements. Shifting to avoid their disguised master, they went about their business.

His powers of mind had never been so effective, so complete. He marveled in his strength, feeling the blood of some devine being coursing through his veins. As he stared at the massive buildings above, he saw their shimmering glory...the rain fell upon his face, and he embraced it. Gabriel fought to contain the orgasmic feelings within, to contain his bliss.

As he ascended the steps of a local business building, he searched his mind for newer alleyways of power. He found at his fingertips a wealth of information. Facts and strategies he had never known to exist were suddenly at his fingertips, begging for his attention and pleading to be exercised. Names, faces, referances, dates, all were filed in the catacomb of his mind as if all the great minds of the ages had poured their knowledge into one vast pot.

His physical prowess surged as well, as he seemingly bounded entire floors of staircases in single, smooth leaps. He moved with expert percision, with such grace that was unknownst to him before.

Finally he reached the heavy iron door leading to the rooftop. Unable to contain his newly acquired glory any longer, the Ventrue struck the door with his opened palm sending it flying from it's hinges. The pea green door twisted under the force and arched through the air, coming to a crashing rest at the far side of the roof.

Overhead, stormclouds covered the moon's shining face, but the Ventrue stood strong. He tore his shirt free from his torso, revealing a tightly wound mass of muscle and flesh. The skin seemed nearly alive, pulsating and eager. His blonde mane whipped fiercely in the wind, shining nearly silver. Two green shimmering eyes stared wildly into the midst of the storm, and into the forest beyond.

[i:ee21436246]...the impure race....[/i:ee21436246]

Suddenly he knew what they were, as if he had fought them before.

"COME THEN!!!" he cried, screaming into the wind, "MEET YOUR FATE!!! I AWAIT YOU, I GABRIEL, MESSANGER OF GOD AND PURGER OF EVILS!!!"

The wind roared wildly as the storm gathered strength, the clouds billowing now like sickly arms of destiny. The Ventrue beat his chest madly, laughing maniacally. The power washed over him in waves, and he shivered for a moment.

++++++++++++++++++

He arrived at his home hours later, half naked and drenched. Immediately the servants rushed to his side, offering towels and tidings of blood. Gabriel waved them off, striding powerfully towards the house entrance. The human employees noted little change in their odd master, but the ghouls hung back.

Something was not right. They watched as their Vampiric Lord strode through the house, gathering strange odds and ends. He slipped into a thick pair of denim jeans and a heavy green wool sweater. The sweater bulged in some places, revealing the presence of kevlar. A heavy pistol was strapped to his leg, held in place by a dark leather holster.

As he threw a thick trench coat over his shoulders, the servants saw briefly the large shotgun that he had concealed in it's innards. Strangest of all however, was when he strode confidently into the study and snatched a heavy claymore from the wall, fastening it with bits of leather into it's ornate jewelled sheath.

He stopped for a moment, pausing to speak with his assistant.

"I want you to get me as many maps of the city and it's surrounding areas as you can within the next five minutes. Sewer layouts too."

"B..but Master!" the ghoul stammered, his face losing all color, "That will take time...I have to contact the..."

"Nevermind that, you'll find them in my bedroom, inside the desk. Go now." the ghoul scurried away to do his biddings.

Gabriel meanwhile approached the garage, stopping only to snatch a particular pair of keys from the keyring. Once outside he stepped to the black Civic which had served so many times as a low profile vehicle. He popped the trunk and threw the shotgun and claymore into the back and then climbed into the driver's seat.

The engine had just sprung to life as his assistant erupted from the door, several rolled papers in his arms. Gabriel took them and placed them in the backseat and then stared clearly into the ghoul's eyes.

"I may not be back for some time, if anyone asks I am on a business trip to Italy. Make the proper arrangements to make it appear so." with that the car roared down the drive, the tires spinning on gravel as he whipped it around the turn that led to the main road.

The ghoul turned around, his face gaunt. The others approached him cautiously.

"What's wrong?" they asked.

"The master...his eyes....."

"What about them?"

"T...they were gold."

"Gold?"




As the sirens wailed and the city's populace cried out in horror, the Golden Childe spead towards the city's heart, his aura leaving a shimmering streak behind....

((BRAVO! Where you hiding your tights then SuperGabe?