Eyes open. Darkness. Sore. Eyes closed.

Eyes open. Darkness. Sore. Horizontal. Warm. Eyes closed.

Eyes open. Darkness. Sore. Horizontal. Warm. Move. Pain. Eyes closed.

Eyes open. Darkness. Move. Pain. Move dammit. Sit up.

*THUNK*

[i:af26838422]"D'OH!"[/i:af26838422]

Julius rubbed his head. He felt terrible. Vague recollections about being in some kind of furnace. That was probably it. Where the hell was he? Somewhere dark. And sitting on some kind of... something. He slipped off onto the ...

[i:af26838422]"EWWW!"[/i:af26838422]

... body of the snake coiled about the ... whatever it ...

[i:af26838422]"Creo Ignem"[/i:af26838422] Light issued from his outstretched hand.


... Bier. A Bier. He had been laid out on a bier. For some reason. In a stone hut. A stone hut with all the windows boarded up. A bier, with some kind of oversized snake coiled around it, in a stone hut ... with a low roof.

[i:af26838422]"What the fuck is going on?"[/i:af26838422] Mused Julius

Pain flared as the scaly skin split and leaked precious fluids. Agony shrieked into the silence of the mind as bones cracked, popped and reshaped themselves into two pairs of arms, neck, shoulders and nearly breastless torso. Topped with a woman's face and graced with thin snakes for hair.

Blood burned to create it all, then set up a clamoring for replenishment. [b:28313bbdf8]NOW!![/b:28313bbdf8]

But there wasn't enough left to fuel the strength to fulfill the demand and the newly made creature stretched it's upper length across the back of the hut. Craddling the darkness to it's heart.

A cold, lifeless foot touched upon guardian coils and left a message that the Master was finally awake. And stirring. At last she was released from duty and the Python gratefully gave herself up to torpor. That she might not take, in desperation, what wasn't freely offered.

The small group of Vampires walked back into the world of shadow and ash. The Outriders were gone. All was silent but for the wind that whipped among the battlements. Tromador's rho-car was unmolested.

"Well, now what," mused Eveshka.

"Indeed," said Montcalm.

"Fuck," commented Tromador.

"That was witty," further mused Eveshka

"That was unnecessary," stated Montcalm to Eveshka. "My Lady," he finished.

"Indeed," commented Tromador.

"Fuck," indepthly mused Eveshka after a moment's pause.

She kicked a few stones around and walked over the the edge of the citadel and looked over the battlements. Skeletons of the younger vampires remained and piles of ash blew away on the winds from the older ones. Tromador walked up next to her and placed a gentle arm on her shoulder. She flinched slightly, as if struck. Trom started to remove his hand but she reached up and held it in place.

"I'm sorry Trommy," she said.

"Trommy," he repeated emotionlessly. "Like old times, eh?"

She laughed myrthlessly. "Yeah, too much like old times," she said with a wry smile. "The two of us again. First it was a city we ran for my halfwit sister, now it is a world."

"Indeed."

Eveshka swooned suddenly. Tromador moved to catch her, more from reflex than any real genuine emotional attachment.

"What is it?" he asked.

"He's awake," she said with a smile.

"Who?"

"Julius," she answered and then closed her eyes.

Tromador merely held her. There was a time when she had closed her eyes thus for him, reaching out with all of her soul. That time was long gone for them. It was long gone for him. He smiled slightly knowing what she was doing. Her soul was winging out to her beloved. He wondered how it would be received or if the somewhat unstable Firebird would come unglued if she did not like what she saw.

Julius stepped outside. Or rather, with a kind of casual disregard, he kicked through the boarded up doorway and then stepped outside. A strange twilight greeted him, along with the sight of a medium size village of stone huts, all atop with some kind of thatch. People too, in odd clothing, all stopping and staring at him. Julius looked down.

[i:66f8da58a5]"Oops!"[/i:66f8da58a5] Said the magus, quickly conjouring a smart suit. The people didn't stop staring though, on the contrary, their attention seemed entirely fixated upon him as they sank to their knees. [i:66f8da58a5]"Stop that!"[/i:66f8da58a5] He said. [i:66f8da58a5]"Go away... Shoo!!"[/i:66f8da58a5]

To no avail. Whoever these people were, they were clearly determined to throw themselves on the floor at his passing. Julius sighed. What on earth was going on? And... what was with this wierd twilight?

The ancient wizard mused on this for a moment, then swore. [i:66f8da58a5]"Fuck... I blew it all up, didn't I."[/i:66f8da58a5]

[i:66f8da58a5]"Anyone seen the Statue of Liberty half submerged and surrounded by monkeys?"[/i:66f8da58a5] He addressed the crowd. [i:66f8da58a5]"No? How about a vampire with a harpy fixation?"[/i:66f8da58a5] One or two of the villagers gave a guilty half-look in the direction of the hut. [i:66f8da58a5]"No ... that's a big snake ..."[/i:66f8da58a5] Julius trailed off. [i:66f8da58a5]"... for some reason ..."[/i:66f8da58a5] Dammit where was Cyrilynn. Julius sent a mental summons to his thrall. Hopefully she'd be able to explain all of ... [i:66f8da58a5]"Fuck."[/i:66f8da58a5] Said Julius, eloquently, as the last memories clicked into place.

[i:66f8da58a5]"Ok... I remember now."[/i:66f8da58a5] Sighed Julius. [i:66f8da58a5]"Up off the floor all of you, we'll have none of that, I'm sure you've got things to be getting along with. Zeki, Karli, I think we need to have a chat. I'll come by and visit."[/i:66f8da58a5]

The group began to break up, slightly nervously and head off in a variety of directions.

[i:66f8da58a5]"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks..."[/i:66f8da58a5] Began Julius, turning slowly.

[i:66f8da58a5]"Julius?"[/i:66f8da58a5] Only the wizard could perceive the shimmering form.

[i:66f8da58a5]"I guess so. Yeah. It's me."[/i:66f8da58a5] He replied, his smiling face full of adoration and longing.

[i:66f8da58a5]"It's all gone to shit, love."[/i:66f8da58a5] Sighed Eve.

[i:66f8da58a5]"Yeah... I know."[/i:66f8da58a5] Replied Julius slowly. [i:66f8da58a5]"I know. You were supposed to sleep through it all. That was my plan. All went wrong. I really fucked up this time."[/i:66f8da58a5]

[i:66f8da58a5]"I need you, lover."[/i:66f8da58a5]

[i:66f8da58a5]"I'm at Enoch, fuck knows why. For whatever reason I've rebuilt the place. There are kine here, willing donations of life for our kind."[/i:66f8da58a5] Julius sighed. [i:66f8da58a5]"I can't leave them. The world is a fuck up and it's largely my doing, this place is a start of the healing process. For everyone."[/i:66f8da58a5]

Eve gave Julius a weary look. [i:66f8da58a5]"And what about your responsibility to me? Whilst you have your Utopian Eden project, we are being wiped out, there's only a few of us left."[/i:66f8da58a5]

[i:66f8da58a5]"Why? What's happening?"[/i:66f8da58a5] The sincerity of his voice curtailed the Firebird's sharp retort, instead she explained about the Outriders.

[i:66f8da58a5]"I can't be in two places at once, love. You'll have to come here. You need me to come get you?"[/i:66f8da58a5]

Julius awaited her reply.

Eve's eyes opened and she looked up at Tromador.

"They have rebuilt Enoch," she said simply.

"Enoch?" asked Tromador skeptically.

Eve looked at him with misty eyes and shrugged.

"He says we have to get to him," she said.

"How are we to do that?" asked Trom with a wry smirk.

"Just like the old days," responded Eve. "At sword point."
She smiled with her fangs bared. There was a maniacal gleem in her eyes. Tromador smiled. This was the Eveshka he remembered.

They made their way south into the stumps and dead trees that used to be the great northern forests of Russia. Finally after several days journey they came to the Moscow River.

Tromador came down from sky in his rho-car and landed near the small group of vagrant kindred.

"There is a settlement up ahead," he said. "Lots of humanoids."

"Humanoids?" asked Eve apprehensively.

"Yes," he said. "I'm not sure they are human enough to even get vitae from though," he finished gloomily.

"Shit," mused Eve. "We need blood."

The group of Cainites walked into the little settlement, Tromador sat in the rho-car hovering several hundred feet above. Greenish-gray tinged primates ambled around with exaggerated hunches in their backs. Their knuckles dragged on the ground. They had matted hair that made them look kind of like apes. Their faces were more human looking, albeit humans with grossly prominent Downs syndrome features. They did not even seem to register that there was anything above them. It was like they lived in a 2 dimensional world where there was no Y axis, just an X axis and an X' axis.

Eveshka waded into the short, hunched over forms exuding Majesty. All of the people in the settlement were completely awed by her presence. Indeed, all of the vampires, except for Tromador who ceased to be effected by such piddling things upon achieving Golconda, stared at her as well. She tried speaking Russian to them. They merely looked at her oddly and made grunting sounds, although none of the grunting sounds appeared hostile.

Tromador circled around a little bit as Eveshka and Montcalm attempted to commune with the little monkey people.

"Try singing," said Montcalm.

Eveshka shrugged and sang a quiet Russian folk song from her mortal youth. As one, all of the little monkey people sat down on their haunches and listened attentively. Some had what appeared to be simplistic smiles on their faces. After a moment or two she stopped singing. At once, several of the little monkey people got up and went into a crude hut. They came out with what looked like animal skins. They arranged them into a nest and then laid what looked like maggoty bread on the ground next to it.

"What is this?" asked Eve's only surviving Daughter, Ana. "They understood what you were singing about?"

"What did you sing about?" asked Montcalm. "I could not understand your ancient Russian."

"I sang about a young woman who was lost in the woods and who was hungry and tired," answered Eve.

"So they brought food and a bed," said Montcalm with a smile.

An act of kindness, thought Eveshka. Perhaps they really were not in Hell after all. Perhaps there was still hope.

Tromador landed the rho-car a hundred meters or so away from the village and walked over a low bermlike wall.

"Evey," he said with an odd look on his face. "Guess where we are."

"Someplace along the Moscow River, north of Moscow."

He shook his head no. "From the outlines of the settlement and the topography, I'd say we're IN Moscow. This settlement is inside the remains of Red Square."

She laughed. "Wow, guess my ancestors didn't fair so well, eh?" He could tell she was sad. The Byzantine architecture of the Kremlin churches was breath taking and he knew that this was really breaking her heart. He did not mean to do that.

"If this is Moscow," she said. "Then down that way should be Dzerzhinsky Prospect." She pointed to the south east.

Tromador nodded. "Former KGB Headquarters, that'll be interesting."

(Okay, its been a while since I had the time, but finally, at long last, I write for you once more. Sorry there isn't more, need to get back in the groove again.)

The solid crunch of earth under his boots was the harbinger of his approach, but Wren did not look his usual self; it wasn't so much the fact that his clothes were shredded and singed, or the fact that that there were still soot marks on him, no, it was more that he looked almost nostalgic. He hadn't seen so many humans in quite some time.

However, the was something else in the gleam of his eyes. Something feral, full of anger and sorrow, for he knew who was here; here was the man who's actions had, albeit not of his will, resulted in the destruction of the fruit of Wren's labors for the first nearly thousand years of Wren's long unlife. It had resulted in the death of Haven and Cassandra.

"Oh Julius, where are you?" he whispered softly, though he had no real malice, just a certain... anger, in his voice and demeanor, "An old friend has come to visit you Julius," he added, though he wasn't speaking directly. Wren had wandered for the last few days, since, in the largest catastrophe of anything he had ever attempted, he had crashed the prototype, magic fueled aircraft that had been left behind by Haven.

At long last, he stopped moving entirely, standing statue still while he waited for Julius to come out to meet him; the mage owed him that at least.

There were dreams of dawning light that touched undead flesh, sending waves of searing fire screaming its way up nerve endings and bursting with finality into blessed oblivion. Dreams that shrieked of betrayal and aeons of rage against the Sun god. Dreams that hinted of a civilization long gone and of an age that became nothing more than a fading memoir.

She stirred in those dreams, restless, terrified, pulled. Someone called her name. [b:ab0b10bbd7]Was[/b:ab0b10bbd7] that her name? Unsure, she chased after an especially elusive memory. Caught up with it, snagged it and clutched its knowledge to her soul. There was comfort in knowing who you were.

Awakening to the idea of self had a price in suffering. Pain that spoke of renewed form as appendages formed and stretched. But that wasn't, by far, the worst of it. No, the greatest agony was... the [i:ab0b10bbd7][b:ab0b10bbd7]ITCH[/b:ab0b10bbd7][/i:ab0b10bbd7]!!

It spread downward from between her shoulders and took up residence at the point between the blades. She began to press and rub against anything and everything, seeking relief from the spreading malaise. Skin, that had once been gleaming scales, tore and tattered itself to make way for the new. Four blisters of waving tentacles swelled enormously, fluids oozing and weeping as hands, arms and elbows began emerging, like pale worms, from their fleshy cocoons.

Tiny snake-like strands pushed upward through the scalp to become a semblance of hair. Eyes flew open in the dark to reveal black-slitted pupils awash in amber pools. They gleamed impossibly, there in the gloom, gazing around in confusion, seeking something familiar.

Finally, the process of shaping done, the upper torso levered itself up, with the help of four limbs and scanned with darting eyes.. And there, in the coolness of the cave-like night, a lipless tongue hissed the all important question. [i:ab0b10bbd7]"Who am I?"[/i:ab0b10bbd7]

She received an answer from within. [i:ab0b10bbd7]"You are the living avatar of Python, Goddess of the Greek Oracle of Delphi, come to life. She who died at the hands of Apollo, the Roman Traitor, lives again, in you."[/i:ab0b10bbd7]

But there was another, important, question to be asked... and answered. [i:ab0b10bbd7]"[b:ab0b10bbd7]Where[/b:ab0b10bbd7] am I?"[/i:ab0b10bbd7] Driven by some odd compulsion to leave this den, she rose up on the lower half of her massive tail and made out the portal across the way. Blocked mostly by the figure of a man in strange clothes. Perhaps he would have the answers she desired.

She approached from behind with a faint sussuration of movement, noting the twilight sky, just as a collective group of villagers fell to their knees at the sight of her. It made her pause, pleased that they were so quick to acknowledge her paramountcy. The male before muttered some rapid phrases in what appeared to be questions to those assembled, then he waved them on their way with what seemed to be further orders. [i:ab0b10bbd7][b:ab0b10bbd7]AH![/b:ab0b10bbd7][/i:ab0b10bbd7], she surmised, he must be a priest, but just who's cleric was he? Certainly not one of hers and certainly not an Apollite, judging by his garb.

He paced forward and appeared to enter a speaking trance. No doubt communing with his diety, since [i:ab0b10bbd7](again)[/i:ab0b10bbd7] the language was nothing recognizable, leaving her to her own devices for the moment. She slithered off at a tangent from this High Priest, caught by the dwellings so like those of her long decayed home. The sun was a swollen presence felt just above the cloud layer but it's touch didn't reach here. Of that she was somehow sure and it promised a rare sense of freedom she'd not expected.

A woman blocked her path, an awed smile lighting up an otherwise unremarkable countenance. The baby strapped to her back and her obvious maturity spoke volumes of her fitness to serve; making her worthy of being a priestess of an oracle. Python leaned down, gazing into her eyes and realizing that this creature was somehow bound to her. The avatar's designated, personal handmaiden... and possession.

A flicker of movement at the edge of her vision caught her attention and her head swung around to confront what disturbed her. Another male, but one who looked like he'd just come from a battle zone. A messenger perhaps? He certainly looked like he'd been running for days. Advancing, she spoke to him in Greek, hoping he could understand her. No one else seemed to.

[i:ab0b10bbd7]"What is it you want here, citizen? What news do you bear? Glad tidings or that of war and battle? Answer me."[/i:ab0b10bbd7] she demanded in imperious tones.

Wren was a fairly tolerant vampire, especially given that he was a brujah. He had a very firm grip on the temper infamous to his clan, and a strong grasp on who and what he was. He had also seen some strange things in his day, including children conjuring fire between their hands, and a dragon turning into the tattoo on a young girl's back.

But Wren had also had several very bad days recently, in fact, his waking moments for the last few centuries had been nothing short of miserable, having seen loved ones turned to ash and burned corpses, however accidentally, at the hands of those they respected.

Given this, and his present level of perturbation, it was no surprise that a naga-esque creature speaking to him in ancient greek, was enough to start wearing on his patience.

[i:955c9858db][b:955c9858db]Listen to me very carefully.... whatever you are. I am looking for a man named Julius. I am not looking for you, or anything with scales, and as a matter of fact, you rather remind of a setite, so I'd suggest two things. Speak a little more politely when asking questions, and clear off before I decide to find Julius after going straight through you,"[/b:955c9858db][/i:955c9858db] he responded in halting, ancient greek, before he continued, [i:955c9858db][b:955c9858db]"Because aside from these humans, just about everything in this screwed up mudball world, including and especially you at the moment, is beginning to wear on my patience!"[/b:955c9858db][/i:955c9858db]

[i:f86dfc858b]"Step away from her Wren. She is more dangerous than you think."[/i:f86dfc858b] The voice, unmistakeably that of Julius, the Brujah turned. Yes. The wizard, still bearing scars it seemed, of some terrible inferno. [i:f86dfc858b]"From Scorpion to Harpy, from Snake to Medusa is it Cyrilynn?"[/i:f86dfc858b] The magus continued. [i:f86dfc858b]"I see it in your heart, the one and only desire of all things you would wish to achieve. Freedom from my rule."[/i:f86dfc858b] Julius shook his head. [i:f86dfc858b]"Without my leash you would be nothing, Tzimisce. Sand upon the wind. Dust."[/i:f86dfc858b]

The snakes upon the head of the creature writhed and hissed their defiance at the newcomer. If Cyrilynn understood the words she gave no sign, yet still she turned to gaze at her Regent, at first with disdain and then with horror and fury.

[i:f86dfc858b]"Traitor! Usurper!"[/i:f86dfc858b] The ancient Greek escaped her lips with a reptilian sibilance. [i:f86dfc858b]"I shall bathe in your blood, Childe of Zeus."[/i:f86dfc858b]

Julius laughed and spoke in the ancient tongue [i:f86dfc858b]"So, now I am Apollo to your Python. I see. Then remember well the chastisement you were once given and know I am still your master, snake. By the blood that bonds us, I charge you to guard this place and it's people with all the power at your command. For now ..."[/i:f86dfc858b] Julius looked upon the Medusa with a kind of disappointed disdain. [i:f86dfc858b]" ... be silent."[/i:f86dfc858b]

[i:f86dfc858b]"As for you Wren."[/i:f86dfc858b] Julius continued in English. [i:f86dfc858b]"Know where you are?"[/i:f86dfc858b]

Wren shrugged. Didn't much matter to him in all honesty.

[i:f86dfc858b]"Enoch. The First City. Rebuilt in error and inescapable. I hold it in trust, for now. A place where all can heal. If you come in peace, then you are welcome in my domain. If not, then leave in peace, or fight and die, as you choose."[/i:f86dfc858b]

[b:0b4163ad17][i:0b4163ad17]"Originally, I came here with intention of killing you... or perhaps dying in the earnest attempt."[/i:0b4163ad17][/b:0b4163ad17] Wren said softly, momentarily ignoring Cyrilynn, [i:0b4163ad17][b:0b4163ad17]"Although I'm sure you can understand the why. I suppose perhaps it is the fact that there are humans, thriving and growing stronger here, that calms me... just maybe."[/b:0b4163ad17][/i:0b4163ad17]

Wrens hands clenched to fists at his side as he shook his head, [i:0b4163ad17][b:0b4163ad17]"Truth be told however, I doubt it. In my minds eye, I had seen you as someone else. Then again, in my minds eye, in my nightmares, I have been haunted by the death of..."[/b:0b4163ad17][/i:0b4163ad17] Wren paused a moment, shaking his head, as though trying to shake off the memory itself, before speaking once more, [i:0b4163ad17][b:0b4163ad17]"...of Haven. And of Cassie. And of countless others. I would have called you to account, but... truth be told, I can't. Haven and Cassie both believed in you, and were willing to fight for you... and it was the end of them. No matter how much I hate you..."[/b:0b4163ad17][/i:0b4163ad17]

Here, Wren once again paused, though it was apparent that he was not staving off a bad memory this time, but rather, staving off the rage that was inherent in his particular breed, though he had always controlled it admirably, [b:0b4163ad17][i:0b4163ad17]"No matter how much I hate you Julius, I won't disrespect their wishes, or their memory by trying to take your life... but take care not to repeat your past mistakes."[/i:0b4163ad17][/b:0b4163ad17]

Wren finally walked past Julius, and Cyrilynn alike, as he now knew her to be; only one could be called the scorpion, but paused a moment, [b:0b4163ad17][i:0b4163ad17]"And as to fighting and dying, as I might have done... I am already dead. I do not pretend that I have a life to lose. The only reason I chose to continue walking this earth was for family. Now however, it is morbid curiousity."[/i:0b4163ad17][/b:0b4163ad17]

Tromador, Montcalm, and Eveshka dug into a low mound on the ground. After a few feet of loose dirt they came to a layer of concrete. With the superhuman strength of ancient vampires they bashed their way through this layer and into a dark tunnel. Eve used her thaumaturgical powers to summon a bale light and the three went inside.

The floors were in remarkably good shape. They had come through a hole in the ceiling and were now standing in the middle of a hallway. This used to be one of the most feared places in the Soviet Union, then turned to a museum for a time, and then reopened as NKVD headquarters when the Communists regained control in the mid 21st century. There were a smattering of rotted corpses laying about in moldy uniforms.

"Well I'll be damned," said Eveshka. She had walked into a square room that had rifles of some sort in neat racks on along the wall.

Tromador smiled. "I hope they still work," he said and picked one up. He flipped a switch on the stock and the three of them heard the unmistakeable sound of something powering up.
Montcalm looked at it with interest.

"This, lady and gentleman, is a Kalishnikov ‘55 Mark VI," said Tromador. "The Russians were the first ones to develop plasma fire arms. At the time, this was the pinnacle of gun evolution."

After looking around some more, the three found helmets, things that were like Trom's light grenades, and a tube-like gun that could only be a grenade launcher. The three stocked up on as much stuff as they could comfortably carry and then continued searching the building. One door led to a large room with very detailed maps on the wall.

"The humans never had a clue what was going on," mused Eveshka. "It looks like they thought the unrest was from conventional, human, sources." The map had areas circled in red all across Asia, and Western Europe. The area around Touraine in France was circled and had red lines through it.

"This must be from after the initial strike," said Montcalm.

"When did Russia finally cease to exist?" asked Eveshka.

"Mid 22nd Century," said Trom. "They were the last nation, them and the Swiss. Everything else was gone by then. There were rumors that some of the humans, and probably a vampire or two, had made it off the planet to a colony they were building on the moon. I don't think they actually made it."

Eveshka looked at him. "They did," she said. "I felt the pull of their energy when I was reaching out."

"Did you feel any Cainites up there, My Lady?" asked Montcalm.

Eveshka shook her head no.

"At least we have a map now to get down to Enoch," said Tromador. "Looks like there may be some fuel for the rho-car as well. How many do we have with us now?"

"Eight I think," answered Eveshka. "Perhaps we can find an alternative means of transport along the way."

"It's possible. Moscow should have several military barracks around it. Conceivably something has survived in a motor pool. Maybe we can find a tank or something," said Tromador.

He had rested for several days since his long flight across the oceans. Burying himself under the ruins of what seemed to be an office building, he'd slept regaining strength by summoning the bare populations of fauna nearby to feed from. As the days turned to weeks he grew restless, and decided he'd stayed buried long enough.

Dragging his shaggy arse up from the rubble of humanity's defeat, he shook the beasts form from him. Returning to something a little more civil and smiled a gormless, grizzly smile as he felt a cool breeze tickle his nether-parts.

His single green eye peered wetly towards the region he'd flown over last. A settlement had emerged from the cold barrens, one that piqued his curiosity.

And so, naked as the day he was born. Porter walked South.

[i:f47e9ccd48]"I care nothing for your curiosity and less even for your hatred. You are, I fear, simply of insufficient importance. Stay, or not. Go, or not. Harm any of these people and ... "[/i:f47e9ccd48] Julius paused. [i:f47e9ccd48]"No, that you would not do. I know you well enough to say that, at least. The people here will share their life with you gladly, if you will allow, as it was when I lived here millenia ago. Do not hunt, Wren, but join in the dance. Remember the ecstacy your kiss gives and share. Perhaps the hardness in your heart will eventually soften."[/i:f47e9ccd48]

Wren opened his mouth as if to speak, but Julius held up a hand.

[i:f47e9ccd48]"Do not judge me too harshly. I am not solely responsible for what the world has become - but I am solely responsible for the rebuilding which must now follow."[/i:f47e9ccd48]

Julius turned away, to head back into the village, then paused and turned back to Wren.

[i:f47e9ccd48]"Oh ... and for the record, whilst the blood of many souls may well rest upon my conscience, it was not I who killed Haven and Cassandra. I would have saved them if I could. The spell which killed them was the same which wiped my memories, broke my body and left me in the four hundred year torpor which has caused Cyrilynn here so much mental strain. No. They were killed by the enemy we yet face. My equal and opposite ... and it is her we must destroy if we are ever to set the world to rights."[/i:f47e9ccd48]

Once again Julius turned away, leaving Wren with his thoughts and the dust swirling about his feet.

The lone figure bounded up the mountainside, his dusty filthy feet nimbly finding their targets and halting only long enough to aid in springing him towards his next destination. With each leap the form's long, matted hair whipped wildly around his nude frame, maining his grime-obscurred face.

Poe, Gabriel, and Katherine had traversed the main body of Europe since arriving on the Western shores. With each desolate ruin, the Ventrue grew increasingly melancholy. Each crumbling chunk of masonry spurred the Cainite further inward, until he eventually had fallen silent altogether. The marvels of the human world were now little more than unnatural additions to Mother Nature's landscape, at her whim and beckon.

Gabriel continued his rapid pace up the mountainside. They grew close to whatever mystical force was drawing them in, an enigma that the Ventrue was growing increasingly suspicious of. The realization that it may be nothing had initially terrified him. But with each passing wasteland, it became less frightening. By the time he estimated they had reached the borders of what was once known as Moldavia, he was eagerly seeking to prove his theory.

Once this final quest was complete, the Elder Cainite could finally slip into torpor and be rid of this blasted unlife. With the final threads of his humanity writhing through his fingers uncontrollably, he was a shadow of what he had once been. Endowed with incredible powers, but no purpose.

He was as barren as the smoldering plains they traveled.

[i:9eca7a1ac8]"Gabriel! Slow down!"[/i:9eca7a1ac8] Kathy's voice was faint and hollow in his ears. It didn't even sound familiar any longer. The only comfort he felt was the persistant buzz that drew him forth. It was growing louder. Desperate for release, he scrambled up the rocks at a dizzying pace. He lost track of his own limbs as he moved in a blur of motion.

Above him, the final perceivable rock that seperated from his goal. His clawed hands grasped it and launched his lithe body high into the dreary sky. Twisting in the air, he landed on all fours and peered intently into the valley below scanning in hopes of finding nothing.

Instead he was confronted with a great ditch, distinctly far more barren than the rest of the countryside. It stretched as far as the Kindred's keen eyes could perceive and tore open within him a great void. He fell to his knees in abandonment. At last his desire had been sated.

Here was the source of his exodus. It was all he had hoped for and less!

His will deserted him and he could feel his mortal shell die away. As if in the waking moments of a dream, he could faintly hear Poe's curious voice.

[i:9eca7a1ac8]"A village? This is what we were looking for?"[/i:9eca7a1ac8]

The Ventrue opened his eyes and saw his companion standing over him, peering out into the twilight. He followed his gaze and saw it, albeit barely.

Lights.

Campfires smoldering in the distance. As though his torpor had never even been considered, the Cainite stood and descended into the main body of the ditch, that he now recognized as the dry carcass of the Black Sea.

*************************

Three figures emerged from the darkness, peering intently at the tiny collection of huts and structures. Humans, ACTUAL LIVING HUMANS, peered at them curiously as they walked cautiously towards the center of the village.

[i:9eca7a1ac8]"What's so special about this shithole?"[/i:9eca7a1ac8] Poe grumbled. He eyed the villagers hungrily.

[i:9eca7a1ac8]"Nice attitude."[/i:9eca7a1ac8]

[i:9eca7a1ac8]"Shaddup bitch."[/i:9eca7a1ac8]

[i:9eca7a1ac8]"Enough. Both of you be quiet. There's something here. Something powerful. Something....familiar?"[/i:9eca7a1ac8]