Evermore Roleplay

“Most of the visions occur that occur during the day are the surreal ones and the one’s from ages past. I’ve have visions of what could only be hell, torment, and anguish; visions of ancient times and ancient loves. The Celtic/Viking ones are the strongest, but not the only one. They are the ones I’m fixated on though. So much so that I thought about going to the west country to find out if any of the places I saw are real.”

“Wow,” said Kian. “Are you sure all this is coming from the connection you have with me? Or are you perhaps tapping into someone else, too?”

“I don’t know. I never asked for this and certainly don’t want to purposefully steal into another’s dreams or nightmares. Can you answer me this, when you sleep – during the day – do you sleep, or is it like coma?”

Kian hesitated. “The simple answer is that I’m just a corpse. But that’s not strictly true. I mean, if disturbed I’ll awaken. And when we sleep for years on end, Brenna says you have dreams. Others say you have nightmares and that’s all you have to keep you company through the decades. I’ve heard some say that it happens so intensely, replaying old memories so often that they become warped, dream-like so that when you awaken you can’t be sure if your memories are just memories of fanciful dreams or if it was real.

“But that’s for the long sleep. For short times such as during the day? I’m not sure what really goes on since I don’t really remember my dreams. It’s possible I could be dreaming anyway, but… it’s just that some of those images, like the Celtic and Viking one you drew, aren’t familiar to me. I was born… not that long ago and died even more recently.

“Still I wonder because it’s been shown to me by powerful people that I’ve had past lives, some of which may have taken place during the periods you’ve drawn from. Brenna, I know, is convinced that in another life I was her lover — and the one that took her and made her what she is now. But who can really say? She slept for so long that no one can be certain of memories from back then.”

He hesitated. “But then again, maybe you can. If you are seeing even memories from past lives, or possibly connecting with those close to me, you could be seeing deeper truths than any of us can recall. Do you suppose there is some way for us to find out?”

“I don’t know. I really can’t control it, save to ignore it, wave it away and the like. Only an hour ago I literally read your mind’s eye, and that took a lot out of me. I guess with training I could learn, but who could train me? By myself I don’t know if I can. I discipling enough, that isn’t the issue. I guess, few people have experience with this, eh?”

“I guess it’s something you’ll have to learn for yourself, but you don’t have to do it entirely on your own. You can test things out with me,” Kian offered.

She smiled, “Thank you. This has been a change. But thanks to your forthrightness and kindness it is a painless one. I hope I can help you too. You are a good person Kian. Vampire or no, you are no monster.”

“I like to think so,” he smiled. He stood up. “Now I think I’ve taken enough of your time tonight. I’m sure you have a lot to think about. I could stop by in a few days, if you like, and we could talk again or perhaps try some experiments. I’ll try to come up with a safe way for you to contact me as well.”

“That would be nice, ” She kisses him on the cheek. Her lips are soft and warm. Her affection, genuine, unforced and without jealousy or envy, “You have my word, nothing shall be said of this. You have my numbers and know my place of residence. Let me know later how you wish me to contact you.”

“I will,” Kian replied.

He walked silently away from her apartment and then faded away into the night.

Kian barely hesitated. “I care for all those close to me. Who do you mean in particular?”

“I don’t know rightly. Whomever she is, I usually only see her in flashes during the day. Sometimes when I remember past boyfriends or such, or see a good-looking guy cross the street (which in Paris was most of the time), I would see a flash of her looking at you, protecting you, and you protecting her. She is young with deep red hair and a Nordic look to her. Often you would be surrounded by nightmares, but they rarely influenced you. There are some other faces, ones whom I couldn’t make out watching you both. I have a sketch of her if you would like to see it.”

He nodded. “Please.”

She goes through one of her sketchbooks, found in a half-empty box. She proceeds to show an amazing nude drawing of Kian and what could only be Brenna, but before her embrace, floating in a maelstrom of nightmares, clinging to each other like lovers, siblings or close friends. This Brenna is not the china-doll, nor the Nosferatu horror, but a young woman. Other sketches show her in Danish regalia beside a man who looks vaguely like Kian, but only vaguely. “What do you think?”

Kian stared wide-eyed, clearly overtaken with surprise, or perhaps even shock. “That… that is of no living person,” he said in a hoarse voice. Truly, it was the first time he had seen what Brenna had looked like when she was alive. It was also the first likeness he’d ever seen of Dorian.

What does it mean? he wondered. How could she see this? The images were nothing he’d ever before seen. Clearly, Cathleen was tapping into some very deep current of thought or soul that spanned oceans of time, centuries lost.

Kian stared at the picture a long time, but his startled looked had turned to one of fascination. “Do you have more drawings?”

“Sure”, she said. Over the next hour, Kian saw sketches (mostly rough, some detailed) of recent events he recognized, such as battling the Brood, nights with Brenna, kneeling before Aife after his acceptance as her Guardian, nights out with Veronica; event fraught with emotions. Little was seen of Tessa, Trina, other kindred whose connection wasn’t deeply emotional, or as emotional as a kindred could be. In addition there were several drawings of people Kian didn’t recognize. Aiden staring down at something with others standing beyond (POV of person on ground), an embrace (sketchy, could be Brenna & Dorian), a furious battle on a hill silouetted by the moon. What must be werewolves and many kindred fighting one another in an furious melee. Amazingly, most of the sketches of Brenna, to a fault both modern and past are of this Nordic ideal, usually not the China doll except if Brenna isn’t the focus.

Kian pointed out a few things that were familiar to him as well as which were not as familiar. “These, I think, are from real events,” he stated. Point to others he said, “these might be a bit idealized, or at least I don’t remember them quite that way. And this here — I’m not sure what this means because I wasn’t there. Those things look like they might have occurred a thousand years ago or more.”

He pointed out Brenna dressed as a Danish maiden. “I never knew her like this. But she is quite ancient and she’s changed since then. When I first met her, she mistook me for… this guy, I think.” He pointed out Dorian. “She thought I was him, returned to save her. It might be true, but if so that was an entirely different life. It couldn’t have happened any time in the past ten centuries. And I’m very young by our standards,” told her. “Since then we’ve been sometimes close, sometimes distance, and lately close again.” He watched her face, looking to read her reactions.

There was slight disappointment on her face, but only slight as it was obscured with her excitement of showing the images and gaining feedback about them. Kian wasn’t too sure of her feelings, but she seemed above all – honorable. She started talking, “I think I believe in re-incarnation. Always have I guess. People often seem to be together over many lifetimes. Sometimes friends, sometimes lovers, sometimes kin; but always together, if only for a brief time. I feel that I know you Kian, not personally, but emotionally. Maybe we met long ago; I don’t know. I’m smart enough to realize my infatuation with you is somewhat due to what those killers did to me to capture you. But this connection is very real to me. Here I am, looking at you, a vampire right out of some romance novel or horror story in the flesh and I am not afraid.” She paused, “I suppose your girlfriend is a vampire too?”

He nodded. “Brenna is a one of us.” His mind was still on her drawings. “Your connection with me is like nothing else I’ve ever encountered or even heard of before. I’d… like to see where this might go. Do you think you can keep all this secret?”

She smiled, “Of course. Anyway, who would believe me? I have kept more secrets in my short life than you know. Now that I know I’m not insane, but connected to you in a way; well, it is comforting. I’ll be there to help you. Be your sound board, so to speak. As long as none of your enemies learn of my wherabouts (which I certanly hope not), then everything should be fine.”

“Then I’d like to continue to see you. I think I can guarantee no one can follow me here with a small bit of effort. Is there a number I could use to call you so I don’t surprise you?”

“Of course.” She copied it down, “Call the land line, it is safer.” She handed the number to Kian, “While I believe I might be beginning to know you emotionally, I hope to know you better intellectually. I’m full of questions. Although on the flip side, I’m sure my life is not interesting to one such as yourself. On the other hand, isn’t it the mortal who asks too many questions like the curious cat?”

“Normally? Very much so,” he admitted. “But you’ve got me looking out for you on this.” He broke into a grin. A thought went through his head that he’d have to watch himself, or at least be aware that she might observe how he treats people, including and especially his sex life. But he quickly decided that he wouldn’t change his behavior. Rather, he’d just have to hope that she would notice that the way he treats her is quite different than the way he would treat any other person.

“I appreciate that. You have been so kind. Normally this would be the time that you would sweep me off my feet, make love to me, and feed off me. And..I would let you.” She looked a little vulnerable, “But you don’t want to do that do you?”

Kian stepped and suddenly he was very close to her. The movement was supernaturally fast. He slowly inhaled her scent with his eyes half-closed, then breathed, “Oh yes, Cathleen. I want to do that very much.” His eyes widened to reveal the intensity, the true fire of his hunger and desire. “I hold myself back now, at the very knife’s edge, because I sense that in your heart, you aren’t certain yet what you want.

“I will hold back. I will … try,” he struggled to say. “I don’t want to treat you the way I treat other mortal women. I take; whatever I give is just a by-product of my own indulgence. But not this time. I’m going to leave you with the power of choice. I’m not going to take what I want from you and leave.”

He forced himself to take first one step back, then another. He smiled. “It’s going to be a very worthy challenge for me. But I want to wait. I want something… new. If it is to happen, it will only happen if you are ready and if you go into this with both eyes open.

“You know me better than anyone, though we’ve spent almost no time together. Because of that, you can ask me any question you like, even personal ones.”

“The same goes for you Kian,” she said with an honesty Kian wasn’t used to. “I don’t know if I am ready. It’s not that I’m afraid of men. In college I shagged and disposed of enough one-night stands to nearly earn a reputation… nearly.” She leaned back and smiled, “But, I guess should we choose to do so, the best I could be is your friend… with benefits. You have known many women, haven’t you?”

Kian took a moment to savor the what-ifs associated with her “with benefits” description. Then he quirked an eyebrow, which matched the wry smile. “Oh, a few,” he said with a chuckle. “Or more. None that had any great meaning for me, except for Brenna, though.

“But since you offered to answer, I think I do have some questions for you,” he said. “Are you seeing anybody now? Anyone that might notice any changes that have happened due to our bond? And are you close to any family members?”

“Sure, I’ll answer. I’m not seeing anyone right now, though there were a few at the office that tried to get my attention, I wasn’t interested. I guess I want someone who isn’t associated with work.”

She continued, “My father was killed in the Troubles back in’79 shortly before I was born. I never knew him. My mother and I rarely talk. She’s involved in Sinn Fein now and again along with my elder sister Kirstin, who’s an MP in the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Belfast. They both don’t approve of me working even indirectly with the UK MOD, so I’m a kind of a pariah. So other than family gatherings and the rare phone call, we don’t talk much.”

“I see,” Kian said. “And how do you feel about knowing what I am, and about your connection to the world I’m a part of?”

“I’m excited about it. Happy to know it is real instead of dreams or nightmares I’ve envisioned. I’m happy to know you, Kian. I know you wouldn’t let anyone harm me, and I also know you are taking a mighty risk. As I said before, no one will know.”

“How do the dreams and visions come to you?” he asked. “Does it happen only when you are asleep? Or can you see what’s going on through me right here, right now, too?”

“Sometimes I dream about them, but usually it is a echo. Like someone is having a second conversation with you. If I’m busy, on listening intensely or such, I don’t hear or see them. If I concentrate on them, or am distracted from another task, they appear. I can usually ignore them. Actually for awhile I thought I was quite schizoid. Delusional. They thought it was post-traumatic stress. I’m glad they were wrong.” She looked at Kian intently, “I know your thoughts right now. You are thinking…”

Her face glazed briefly with anger, her hand almost rising to a slap; which just as quickly subsided, her hand dropping to her knee, “about my breasts…a lot.” It was obvious to Kian by her knowing and slightly sultry look that she knew more details about what he wanted to DO with her breasts but was holding back. “It’s actually refreshing, I think, that you think just like a regular guy sometimes. I’ll take it as a compliment, after all, the only thing worse than being treated as a sex object is to NOT be treated as one.”

“Aw damn!” Kian said. “I’m really sorry. If I was making my heart beat right now, I’d be really red faced. I sort of have a runaway libido for a dead guy.” He actually fidgeted. “I guess you know that. Damn! You really read my mind, didn’t you? I mean, I thought you were just seeing what I saw through my eyes. I’ve actually got some experience with that one, but this… you were actually [b]in[/b] my head, not just seeing what I saw.”

Physically, he was just fine. Psychologically, he needed to sit back down. Which he did. He slumped back into the nearest chair again. “Oh, I’m so sorry you had to see that. My mind was really in the gutter.”
She smiled, putting a reassuring hand on his knee, “I know. It’s okay. My dreams and visions are often highly erotic. Or highly violent. I’m glad you are thinking about the erotic side as opposed to the other!” she laughed. “You are a player, aren’t you? Were you before you…what do you call the change?”

He chuckled. “Some things about a person never changes.

“I’ve always loved women. I like loving women, spending time with women, sometimes just admiring women. I guess the difference now compared to when I was alive is that it takes conscious effort. Also, it’s harder to really feel emotion like I did. Emotions like love and affection don’t just happen like it does when you are human. Rage, fear, those things are tied to survival and so my guess is that’s why those feelings survive the Embrace. Feelings like friendship, affection… even love seem to be harder to attain. Like the good side of passion is bled from your soul after the Embrace. It’s not gone, it’s just… not as strong or fulfilling as they used to be. ”

He gave her a rueful, sad smile. “When I was alive I never bothered to think twice about stuff like that. I guess you only notice it when it’s gone. So to answer your question, I guess I do try harder to indulge my passions than I did before in a sad little attempt to truly feel like I did before. Yet, each night I feel like the tiniest piece of me is slipping away. I keep looking to tighten my grasp on passion, but…”

He shook his head. “When the day comes that I can’t feel anymore, I hope I sleep and dream of my humanity, but more likely I’ll be tortured by it. The irony is that even as these things slip away, I feel my power growing bit by tiny bit. I suppose that’s the nature of the beast, as they say.”

“Immortality, with a price. I think I understand. It is better to attempt to be human, at least the human experience, to feel, than become an inhuman monster like the ones you fight. I think you are braver and wiser than you think trying to keep the memories and feelings alive. That must be the point. You cherish what we often take for granted and have a unique view on our mundane lives.” She seemed genuinely compassionate with Kian’s plight and listened intently.

“Your Embrace, was it painful? Did you have a choice?”

“A choice as in, was I asked if I wanted to live forever in the night but be only a corpse during the day?” Kian asked. He shook his head. “No. My entire family had been slaughtered by… well actually by vampires who had deliberately turned away from the last remnants of their own humanity, who then killed and slaughtered the living simply because they could. They in turn were destroyed by those of our kind who took exception to that kind of behavior. At the end of it, I was lying on the ground with my guts ripped out, dying. I don’t remember much of what happened at that point. I don’t think it’s usually painful anyway but I don’t know. The body does die, after all. There are nice, quiet ways to die and then there are horribly painful ways to die. Mine was painful but not because of what I was to become.”

“So, you were in a sense saved?”

He nodded. “Yes. But everyone’s Embrace is different, individual. Some few had to serve vampire masters while slavishly addicted to vampiric blood for years before being Embraced. I imagine others might have been found and given the choice. A few may have been Embraced out of malice, an intent to torture someone for a very long time.

“And then the most unpleasant method I can imagine is one in which the Embrace is twisted into a sadistic ritual of pain and sacrifice designed to strip away a person’s humanity. This is what can create true monsters of the sort I fight against on a regular basis.

“Because every Embrace is really unique it’s hard to truly say if choice is involved. In some cases, perhaps. In other cases, no. Even in cases where there was no choice given, ultimately it is still the individual who decides whether they will continue their undead existence or not.”

“Why do you have to drink blood. It doesn’t make much sense to me, other than in an S&M erotic way. Can you drink any blood? If I’m asking too much, let me know. I guess I’m very curious, a little turned on perhaps…a little, but mostly intellectually curious. Also, why hasn’t the truth of vampires gotten out after all this time? You would think an investigative reporter or two would have found things out?”

“Not everything in this world obeys the rules of reason. Maybe we feed on something more than simply blood? I can drink human blood, yes. Weaker vampire may be able to subsist on animals. Others can only find sustenance by the very dangerous practice of feeding on other vampires.

“You also ask why the truth hasn’t gotten out after all this time?” Kian continued. “It’s because we take action to obscure the truth. And sometimes the public simply refuses to believe. Our society has a great deal of influence over the waking world and any person can be discredited, their stories warped or eliminated, nothing is truly beyond our reach. That’s why I’m stressing so very much how important it is that all of what I say, even knowing me, is an incredibly dangerous secret.

“But since you are already in here,” he tapped his temple, “I feel it is far wiser to tell you the what and whys rather than leave you to guess, to bring you into my world figuratively speaking, rather than be cruel.”

“It’s not like I’m in your exact thoughts like sci-fi or such, its just very strong feelings, emotions, and empathy. And… a bit of your primal nature as well. I am unfair though, you were asking about me before I so rudely carried on with my curiosity.”

He smiled. “It’s okay. I do have a question about the drawings you made of people that seem to be from a different time. I think I’ve identified a few of them, but I was wondering where they came from. Were they from dreams?”

Two nights later, Kathleen Innisfree moved into her new home. She would start her job next week. For now, as Prudence had said, she had earned some time off. Kian could observe the light on in her place and the flicker of a television set. The question being, does he observe this lion-haired beauty for a time, or present himself right away?

Kian finally decided to watch for just a while. The nights were lengthening as the season progressed toward winter and he felt comfortable gazing up there from his dark refuge in the shadow of a tree. He thought he might enter with a grand gesture of supernatural power and mystery, but he rejected the idea. No, she had been face to face with the unknown for weeks — no months now. And she’d had to do it alone. When he first crossed paths with her, it was under the guise of a mysterious but mundane person. It would be best to reintroduce himself that way again. There was no good reason to panic her, after all.

He made his way past the tall, dark hedge that framed the property, and up the short, steep steps to the front door. Feeling slightly awkward, he simply rang the bell.

A moment passed, and Kian heard sounds of a person approaching the entrance. Kian briefly saw the shadow of a form gaze from the peep hole of the door. After a short pause, the door was unlocked and opened. Kathleen stood there, dressed upscale casual, her long tresses gliding down from her head and gently sweeping over both sides of her shoulders. Kian noted no surprise in her look, in fact quite the opposite, it was like an old friend coming to visit after a long absence. She said, “Kian. Your name is Kian.” Completely unafraid, she gestured for him to come in, “Please enter. I’m afraid I haven’t yet gotten the place ready for visitors; so please excuse the mess.”

He smiled faintly and nodded. “Ms. Innisfree,” he greeted her. He stepped inside and paused to look around. “I apologize for my unannounced visit. I know you must still be settling in.”

Kian turned to look at her. A hint of sadness touched his eyes. “It’s just that I think we need to talk and I don’t think it can wait.”

“Of course, can I get you anything? Is there something wrong? I’m sorry if I called you Kian, it simply felt right and I thought you would like it. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

“No, nothing thank you,” he said. “I’d just like to sit and talk a while. And it’s okay if you would like to call me Kian. Everyone does.” He looked about for a place to sit, then took a seat at a table.

“You’ve had some things on your mind lately,” Kian began. “I thought I might be able to help you put them in … context.” He used the word carefully and with intent. He wasn’t there to grant perspective or to try to control how she felt about it. The term, ‘context’ also insinuated some tentative knowledge of what she might have witnessed in her mind’s eye and that was meant to inspire a sense of informal confidentiality.

“You know? Well, that makes sense that you should know. I took your advice and tried to leave this all behind me, but it has been nagging at me ever since. It’s been, well, strange to say the least. But inspiring and scary at the same time. I’ve tried to be rational about it. How have these feelings and visions come to be, and how do they relate to you? In context of course.”

He paused. “Before I get into all of that, I have another question, if you’ll indulge me. Have you continued to have these images and dreams even when you were away?”

“Yes I have. During the evening usually and most intensely but more rarely during the day. But those are different. And other things have happened, strange whispers.”

Real emotion, sadness and regret, poured forth from him for a moment, before he returned his face to a calm, neutral expression. “To be honest I had hoped it would all go away, that the thing that bound us together would fade away. I see it was entirely a vain hope. I didn’t want you to be pulled into all of this.

“I don’t know what all you saw, how much was true and how much of it was distorted. The people who made this bond are likely dust now; but their power can’t be undone so easily. What was forged between us — against our wills — was a kind of psychic bond, as near as I can figure. It used a sort of sympathetic connection, through my blood, to connect to you. It sounds impossible, but it is true. Their purpose, I’ve discovered was to create a tool they could use to track and destroy me.”

Kathleen replied, “Last year I would never have believed such things, such as psychic powers, were true. But after seeing what I saw, I can see that they may just be. Who are they? I was told terrorists, but I’m not so sure now. To be honest, I was not sure what I was feeling was simply hysteria or madness. But they didn’t effect me emotionally, just like they were memories or dreams. Echos from a life long gone. Except most of them included you.”

He nodded. “We’ll want to address the things you might have felt during the day as well as the strange whispers you spoke of, but that can wait for now. I think you realize now that there is another world in addition to the one commonly known. It is full of danger and it’s hard to know who is enemy and who is friend. But there are certain laws that this other world operates by. They are few, I admit, but they are ironclad. More importantly, these laws protect humankind from the supernatural world, and the supernatural from humankind. Any breech, be it done by human or inhuman or more than human, can cause a terrible flood of violence and disaster.

“With that in mind, it is of the greatest irony that you have been bound to see into my world. You see, it is my… profession to ensure those laws hold for the protection of my kind — and yours.

“You may have seen me do terrible things in your mind’s eye. I don’t know what you saw, not exactly. I’ve been harsh when acting in my given role. But I’m not without compassion. What has been done to you is not your fault. I had hoped it would fade — yet a small, dark part of me, a selfish part, hoped it would not.

“You are in danger now, Miss Innisfree. You see into a world you weren’t meant to see — and do not doubt that it likewise now stares back at you. If the others knew how much you have been exposed to, they would no doubt order me to … take action.

“I won’t let that happen.

“I stood outside your place for a little while tonight trying to figure out why. I’m not sure I understand, but I think that somehow… I need your help.”

She looked a bit surprised, “You need my help? You just confirmed for me that there is more to this world than what I see on BBC or experience in my job; something terrible and wonderful. You say that by knowing this I could be in danger, but you won’t let that happen. I appreciate that, and I felt that you would always help me. I don’t know why. It’s not romantic, or a crush, its simply something I…know. But, how can I help you?”

A smile flickered but then disappeared. “Hm. That’s hard to explain, and harder to admit. For now, do you have questions about what you’ve seen that you’d like me to answer?”

She walked around the apartment, “Well, you have to understand. All of this is both strange to me and to a degree familiar. The things I’ve envisioned and dreamt about are so wild and vivid that I really can’t believe it, but for some reason, I do. Sometimes I remember details, other times it is vague and I don’t remember it all. I guess I should start with the big question and go on from there. Are you, and those you fight, vampire-like? I don’t mean like the bad sci-fi or horror movies, nor the silly romantic women’s fiction, but something real, supernatural but part of the natural world all the same. Is this you? And do you work for the government of a secret society?” The intelligence in her eyes was unlike anything Kian has ever encountered. She was confident, unafraid, and seemed genuinly curious even though this knowledge could threaten her.

He’d already decided to take a chance. It was a huge risk, telling her this, but his presence here already proved he was prepared to take the risk of breaking the very laws he was charged to uphold. It was his secret that drove him forward even now; it truly was a great challenge to undertake what he was about to do — and survive. He stood and left the table, then approached her.

“I was born, lived, and died like any other person would. As you are destined to. But my death was … different. Something took mercy upon me that night, if you can call it mercy. And so now, yes I am dead, but not passed on. That fate is gone from my own destiny. In its place I was given only a hunger for the living, that which must sustain me or I shall sleep forever, unable to die.

“But at least I have been given a purpose. They call me Guardian of the City now. So yes, in a sense I am a part of that government you speak of. My duty is to root out those who break our ruler’s peace, those who threaten my city. ”

“You are very ambulatory for a dead man,” she smiled, coyly walking past him. She turned toward him, asking, “How much of the Troubles were caused by these…haunts. Yes, I’ve heard the urban legends of late night Belfast. Are they the reason Ulster stays violent and no peace ever truly holds? Somehow I think not. Perhaps they hide in our wars? Am I right?

“The troubles have human causes, human hatreds. But there are also wars in my world. There have been times when the violence has been hidden within the mask of confusion and violence the people of Northern Ireland have caused on their own. Other times, the waking world never knows — or it shouldn’t. There are those humans,” Kian said with a hint of bitterness, “who think they are Van Helsing. Most often we simply disappear and wait for them to go away. But when these humans meet those of my kind who are… criminal — like those who assaulted you and jacked your car — then we all have big problems.”

Kian paused and looked at her intently. “Too many people get killed when that happens. And this is one area you may be able to help me.”

“How can I help?”

“Sometimes there are resources that I need that I just don’t have. It’s not like I can hold down a day-job,” Kian gave her a wry smile. “Or do much of anything during the day. And, while my position puts me in a good place to deal with criminal underworld elements, I don’t have the kind of contacts that would help me shield the common person from what goes on down here.

“Oh, there are some other of my people that do. But they aren’t the Guardian of Belfast. I am.

“I would never ask you to do something that would get you in trouble with anyone, and if I do by accident, then I’d expect you to tell me. Usually it’s just very simple things, and it’s rare. I do have others that help me, after all. And they really can’t help me the way I need the most. That secret thing I mentioned? The thing that’s hard for me to admit? It’s just this.

“Perspective. Sometimes I just need to talk to someone who’s seen what I’ve seen.” He sighed. “That’s what’s so embarrassing for me,” he admitted. “I barely even know you and I’m asking if I can dump on you. It’s just that you’re not supposed to know any of this stuff. But you do. It makes you utterly… unique.”

“I can help you Kian. Yet, haven’t you ever met a normal person who would keep your secrets? I’m sure you see dozens of vampire want-to-be’s in nightclubs or on campus. How am I different than them?”

Kian explained, “The laws that are held to keep the boundary between the supernatural and humanity forbid that humanity know what we truly are. We call it the Masquerade and breaching this law bring heavy penalties. Only those who’ve been brought into our society — the Renfields, so to speak, are permitted to know even a little.

“By the letter of the law, in order to preserve the Masquerade, I would normally be charged with making you… disappear. Or, perhaps employing mind erasure techniques to make you forget all that you know. The route I’ve chosen is dangerous precisely because I am defying this law, the very law I must uphold. But your situation is different — you never tried to discover all this on your own. You never meant to harm anyone at all. This isn’t your fault. So if I tried to protect this Masquerade we have then I would be guilty of harming an innocent person. I’m a monster, but I’m not so far gone as to know that’s just as wrong as breaking our own laws. You don’t deserve it.” His tone hinted at something, some buried emotion, but even he wasn’t sure what it was.

“So I’m trying a new route,” he continued. “Instead of causing damage to cover up damage, I want to mend the breach with honesty and clarity. If you understand why we exist and why we must have rules, I believe that you will help me keep these secrets. No one else in the mortal world can know what you know. And no one from my world can know that you know these things. Do you understand?” Kian looked at her hopefully.

“I do.”, she answered. “I find that I am a font of secrets, and I know how to protect them. This is just another one. I’m fairly certain the Prime Minister and MI-5 has suspicions of your kind; they do so much to cover things up and deny things that they must be in the know. Just my suspicion.” She looked at him thoughtfully and then slowly without malice she asked, “Do you love her?”

Prudence wasn’t too happy to be doing what she was doing. But, the boss had given her all the information necessary and assured her of the safety of the situation. She didn’t quite understand his fascination with the blood vampires, but as his student (Charity was more of a bodyguard), and servant she knew it was important. The boss truly believed that the Tremere were simply a different kind of kindred. So be it. “If he believes it, so do I”, she thought. In any case this action was to build trust. The boss likes Kian and his coterie, more so than he did their predecessors (save Veronica, but of course we wouldn’t be here without her).

She waited in Kelley’s, an Ardoyne pub that Kian frequented. At the door, she saw Kian enter. He noticed her and walked over. It was unlikely he knew what the meeting was about. “Kian,” she said (formalities in public spaces were to be avoided), “please have a seat.”

Kian smiled broadly. He was quite comfortable in this place. As it was within what was generally considered ‘his domain’ and very close to his well-known haven, he’d made it clear with nuance and suggestion that while kindred were welcome to visit or travel through the area, specifically vampiric activity was not to take place there. Hunting was not exactly discouraged, but rather if candidates were found, Kian merely ask that any distinctly kindred activity such as feeding be done outside the boundaries of his domain.

His strong and growing connections to organized crime combined with his presence was also making the human side of society more comfortable and safe, by inches. The effect was so slow most didn’t notice, but if one compared the current crime rate of the neighborhood with the rate eight months ago, they might see a slow, steady improvement that had become, over time, significant.

Kian sat down comfortably. On his way to the little booth, he’d stopped as he always did to purchase the obligatory beer and exchange a few warm words of greeting with the bartender and the young owner.

“Prudence. How surprising and pleasant to see you’ve found your way to Kelley’s. Any chance you’ll be frequenting our friendly little establishment?” Regulars always felt their favorite pub were as much their as as it was the owners and the other patrons formed a sort of extended family for them. Like any person proud of their favorite places, Kian was happy to share.

She had dressed casual for the meeting, though it was obvious to Kian that she was comfortable. Whatever her background was, being in a pub agreed with her (normally she was all too formal in the presence of her master, a little morbid and gothesque as well). “Should I find time, I certainly would stop in for a pint; however, time is something I rarely have. Our mutual friend has asked me to let you know that Kathleen will be coming back to town in a few days. He asked me to deliver some details and answer any questions you may have about her.”

“That’s quite neighborly of him!” he said. “Please do extend my thanks to him. And to you, too. I know that working for the likes of us can be trying at times.” He wore a small, knowing smile that echoed some sympathy — surprising for one of the Kindred.

“Something that’s really been weighing on my mind is whether our Miss Innisfree has been asking questions of a curious nature lately. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” he wondered.

“Through our contacts, we have learned that she has not asked either the Defense Ministry or the Home Office about the agent, i.e. you, that saved her from the cultists. She attended the funeral of the former ‘associate’ of Liam’s who was killed that day. Our mutual friend believes that this associate was a friend from childhood. They were not lovers. What he may have told her is unknown, though Liam’s many ‘associates’ all had a different level of ‘access’ to this ‘thing of ours.'”

“She did; however, confess to her psychologist about strange visions. She has dreams of you as a vampire, a hero, a murderer, a charitable man, a lover, an enemy, and as nothing but a shadow. This therapist was ‘advised’ to diagnose her situation as stress from the experience and from overwork. He advised her to take a position closer to home. So, she was promoted to preserve this thing of ours into a position of a strategic materials procurement negotiator for our mutual friend’s firm. It is an important position, but with less stress.”

“In inspecting her apartment in Paris, we noted that she had accumulated in a short time a large amount of information on kindred kind (most of it incorrect), magic, and the occult. She has remembered exactingly her experiences and has detailed it in several notebooks and sketch pads. She draws a notable likeness of you. She is a fabulous researcher and is exacting in every detail. We believe she is currently slowly moving toward expanding her experiences into a story or novel for publication. This could be a threat if it is too close to the truth, but our mutual friend does not want the powers-that-be to deal with her. It would be a waste as she is very useful to us. She could be useful to you in your position protecting this thing of ours. There will of course be rules that would be expected of such an arrangement.”

Kian looked very thoughtful. “Of course,” he murmured. “Of course.” He took a moment to complete his thoughts in view of the amazing news Prudence just gave him.

He focused his attention upon Prudence again. “I view this situation as a personal challenge, one I intend to conquer. As you know, the situation that resulted in my first meeting with Kathleen led me to save her life. I took some pains to keep her that way and I fully intend to continue to protect her as well as I can. You can assure your friend of that.”

Prudence nodded, “That is appreciated.”

He took a drink of the beer, just enough for a taste, but it was more to give himself more time to consider his next step. “She is at a very fragile moment in her life. Or I might say dangerous and that could be more accurate. The correct action taken can lead her to be even more valuable than she is now. A misstep will cause her to fall very hard. Like a beautiful porcelain figurine, she might shatter, and I would not like to treat art that way.”

“We would not necessarily consider her art; however, she is considerably talented,” Prudence replied. “For her to meet an untimely end simply because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time is simply a waste. It is good to see that our mutual friend and yourself agree on this.”

Kian put down his glass and looked directly at the young lady. “Prudence, I need to meet with her. As soon as possible.”

She answered slightly more businesslike than her previous statements, “Of course. Our mutual friend has asked the following terms. First, is that her work in the business world will not be unduly affected in the short-term. She has several contacts that might notice. She has few friends in Belfast as she is a career-oriented person who has had until now little time for a social life (at least that we know of). You know how her last social encounter ended up. Second, she cannot know of our mutual friend’s association with you; at least until (or if) she is an assured friend of ours. Third, she cannot deliver to you any information on her work with our mutual friend’s businesses, of any kind. She signed non-disclosure agreements, so I doubt she would under normal circumstances. But we are not normal. She can; however, use her contacts and skills outside of this very specific area to assist you.”

She continued, “Of course, what happens in the long term is up to you. Our mutual friend simply wishes to be advised should he need to terminate her employment or modify her status. Her current position is low-stress and only 37.5 hours per week. Should she request to go part-time, things will be arranged of course. Should you agree to this, we can proceed. If you have any reservations, I am authorized to discuss details.”

Kian thought about that briefly, then shook his head. “All your friend’s conditions are perfectly reasonable. I have no issue with any point. As of this moment forward, you have my word that my interest does not extend to anything related to your friend’s business. I also have no immediate plans to disrupt her professional life further than it already is.”

Prudence smiled, noting that this Kian was looking better every time she met him. Too bad most of her business was with Moira & Brenna. “We have an understanding then. That is wonderful. I think I may have that additional pint!” She waves to the waitress and orders pints for the table, “In any case your word is accepted. We have arranged a four bedroom place for 1600 quid per month in South Belfast off Malone Road. It is one of the best neighborhoods and far from any crime. She’s there in two nights. How you introduce yourself is of course up to you.

“Anything else?”

Kian shook his head. “You’ve been very helpful. Thank you.”