Colt: The Two Princes

Part 1: Party in Gary

It was New Years Eve, and I wasnt so long dead or undead that Id stopped noticing.
odius was throwing a party, and that !eant every va!pire in town was e"pected to !a#e an
appearance. Parties werent !y thing$ never were in li%e either. &ut theyre e"cellent places to
see people at their !ost %a#e hu!ans or va!pires and %or !e, thats research you dont pass
up. I lit another cigarette and loo#ed at !y watch. ' (uarter past sunset$ a)out ti!e to leave. y
)usiness is staying to the shadows. *how up too early or too late and youre e"posed. &ut stay to
the !iddle ground and you usually avoid the radar. +lipping up !y collar, I headed %or the
Princes ho!e.
I hadnt gone twenty paces )e%ore !y #nees )uc#led )eneath !e. I gritted !y teeth,
%eeling !y %angs slide past !y lower lip. y eyes saw red and I #new the hunger had hit. Id put
it o%% %or as long as I could, )ut what I was had control now. I rushed down a side alley in search
o% whatever scu! I could %ind. I% I was luc#y Id %ind a looter or one o% the local toughs this
ti!e. ,a!n. -oo#ed li#e Id )e running late %or the party$ Id have to ta#e the )i#e now %or
certain.
I ran across a wino and involuntarily lic#ed !y lips. .hough I had lost the a)ility to en/oy
alcohol nor!ally, I still thrilled at the hint o% it in !y %eedings. 0n%ortunately, that always caused
!e to lose control. I cant say it was willpower, )ut this ti!e I resisted the %ren1y. ay)e it
would ta#e !ore than /ust one wino %ro! now on, or !ay)e it was #nowing I had an engage!ent
to get to. 2owever I did it, I still dran# enough to sustain !e )e%ore heading )ac# to !y
downtown apart!ent %or !y ride. ,owntown apart!ents they were lousy, )ut at least the
alleyway groceries were close.
.he stop %or )rea#%ast held !e up longer than Id wanted. '%ter passing )y the thugs at
the entrance I %ound I was the last guest to arrive. &ut I was still on ti!e and odius was
.oreador enough not to call !e out on it. 3e e"changed greetings at the door.
4'lways a pleasure to see you, 'le"ander. +or so!e reason, whenever you are around, I
%ind !ysel% %illed with !e!ories o% !ore pleasant ti!es.5
I nodded. 4Pleasant ti!es are hard to co!e )y in our world, odius. Good to see your
annual gathering returned.5
4Yes, I thought it %itting. 3e are a s!all population, and to suddenly have %our
newco!ers arrive so suddenly was a surprise. +or a !o!ent, I al!ost thought we were %acing a
*a))at in%iltration. +ortunately, this was not the case. &ut with the population al!ost dou)ling,
introductions should )e !ade.5
I arched !y eye)rows. 4+our6 Either !y count is o%% or were still awaiting another
guest.5
4I )elieve it is %our. 'le"ander ,anov, 7e)ecca *!ith, the erstwhile 8Prince o%
9hichester, and arshall iller. Perhaps you had not the opportunity to !eet r. iller: he le%t
so (uic#ly. 0n%ortunate. 's a %ellow .oreador, I had hoped to discuss so!e o% the great wor#s
with hi!.5
I nodded and allowed odius to !ove on to the other guests, )ut I turned over what hed
/ust told !e in !y !ind. 'le"ander ,anov was a Nos%eratu and a wanderer$ I /ust hadnt reali1ed
he was such a newco!er to Gary. .i!e runs in a di%%erent %ashion when youre a va!pire. I had
heard o% iller, )ut never !et hi!. 3ord reached !e that he had )een an architect in li%e, )ut
couldnt conte!plate his undeath. ;id was still drin#ing )lood %ro! the )ottle when hed turned
tail and ran out o% town. .he others I #new )y reputation i% nothing else. &ut nu!)ers aside, we
werent here %or a )loc#:party. 's the local Prince, odius had a decent cover, )ut the real
reason %or the party was to gauge the new arrivals, not /ust !eet the!. 2u!an, va!p,
lycanthrope anyone in a position o% power always #eeps ta)s on potential threats. Its not
!alicious, /ust the way o% the world.
<nce we parted co!pany I too# in the setting. I didnt let it show, )ut the place too# !e
o%%:guard !ore than I thought it would. .he state o% decay !i!ic#ed odius own loss o% power
in the 8war against -odin, his 9hicago:)ased rival. I wondered i% that decay e"tended to the
Prince hi!sel%. I lit another cigarette and signaled one o% the servants to )ring !e another pac#.
In the !eanti!e I wandered %ro! one roo! to another, listening in on the %ew conversations and
en/oying the anachronis! o% classical !usic played on stereo. odius struc# !e as a 9hopin
!an. I went !ore %or the !elancholy wor#s o% &eethoven, )ut could appreciate his taste.
ost o% the other guests #ept to the!selves. .he Nos%eratu, ,anov, who !ade the
!ansions condition loo# pristine )y co!parison. 2is vacant s!ile !ade !e wonder i% he was
li#e ichael, the al#avian gi!p. I #new the latter was slow, )ut Nos%eratu are !asters o%
deception$ it could have )een no !ore than a !as#. 9hi was another al#avian, and as
outwardly loony as his clans stereotype. 2e !entioned so!ething a)out the Princes !edicine
ca)inet that caught !y ear$ not !uch use %or !edicine when youre dead, a%ter all.
I spotted odius daughter 'llicia leave the dining roo! shortly )e%ore I entered. ' well:
to:do &ru/ah was still inside: -uc 9ol)ert, cat )urglar, -ouisiana:)orn Gary local. I put !y hands
in !y trouser poc#ets and loo#ed at the )an(uet laid out )e%ore us, reali1ing I couldnt re!e!)er
how !ost o% it tasted. *urrounded )y water with nothing to drin#.
9ol)ert spotted our host and engaged hi! in conversation. I was set to leave the roo!
!ysel% when 9hi loo#ed at !e %ro! under a ta)le$ I had thought he was still in the studio. 2is
voice was surprisingly steady. 4You #now you want to. 'nd I! not tal#ing a)out the %ood.5
al#avians shouldnt )e ta#en lightly, )ut !ost ti!es they shouldnt )e ta#en at all. I decided to
play de%ensive to see which was the case.
4'nd what do you #now a)out !y wants6 E"cept %or !ore cigarettes.5 I loo#ed at the
last two in !y open pac# and o%%ered hi! one.
2e )u!ped his head as he !oved to stand up. 4No than# you. .hose could #ill you.5 I
sti%led a laugh though the /o#e was an old one. 2e /oined !e on the %loor. 43hat do I #now a)out
your wants6 ore than you want !e to #now. You=re the second )iggest threat to everyone here.
Your challenge is %inding out who the )iggest one is.5 2e switched %ro! a giggle to a s!ir#, then
)ac# again as I loo#ed at hi! un)lin#ing. 43hich do you pre%er the s!ir# or the giggle6 <h, I
#now: I=ll go as# 'llicia. *he always gives !e the &E*. o% advice.5 2e turned and wandered o%%
as I )rought !y pac# to !y lips and e"tracted another cig. I% I could conte!plate the !ind o% a
al#, Id )e a god.
I le%t the dining roo! undistur)ed and %ollowed the !usic in the air. It slowly !oved into
a sad violin piece when I reached the edge o% the dance %loor. I% 9his riddle held any water,
odius would )e the li#ely 8threat due to his age and e"perience. &ut his position now wasnt
!uch !ore than an e!pty title and his power had waned to the point that he li#ely depended on
the va!ps in Gary !ore than anything else. .hreat or no, the )est thing %or !e to do now would
)e to )u!p el)ows with so!e o% the other guests. I decided on 'le"ander ,anov, though I had
passed ichael en route. &ut I wasnt in the !ood %or )ac#:to:)ac# al#avians.
,anov was s!iling to the wall as I ca!e up )ehind hi!. ,ou)tless he #new I was there,
though he showed no sign o% !oving. I released the s!o#e through !y nostrils and spo#e.
4>uite a )it di%%erent %ro! our usual haunts, heh65
4.rue, )ut then again, your usual haunt is also dissi!ilar to ones we sewer rats %re(uent,
r. 9olt.5 2e turned to !e with the slightest hint o% a s!ile$ ugly, )ut not !alicious. 4You are
new to the ga!e, r. 9olt, so unsullied. I will en/oy watching you grow tonight.5 2e continued
)e%ore I could respond. 4.ell !e: you were a detective, and as such did your part to uphold the
law and )ring cri!inals to /ustice. &ut now, you %eed upon the innocent, even ones you called
your %riends. 2ow does this change your perception o% cri!e and !orality65
2is (uestion would have ta#en !e a)ac# i% I hadnt as#ed it o% !ysel% every night %or the
past seven years. I loo#ed hi! in the eyes not an easy tas# when dealing with a Nos%eratu and
gave hal% a s!ile. 4-ets /ust say that in li%e I wasnt always the )est detective.5
4No, r. 9olt, let=s investigate, as it were, %urther. You !ight not have used the !ost
a)ove )oard !eans, )ut the end was %or the good. Now even the ends are suspect, and you=re
driven to do the!, not %ro! the i!petus o% so!eone else, )ut )y your own nature: and perhaps
also your own desires. 2ow do you handle that dichoto!y, r. 9olt65
4*ince I can no longer drin#,5 I held up !y )urning cigarette, 4I use a lot o% these.5 I
li#ed sewer rats$ they were tric#y li#e the al#s, )ut not cra1y. .heir hideousness hid their
cunning well. ,anov was trying to see i% I would )rea# down, )ut )e%ore he could !ar# !e as
trying to dodge the (uestion with another hal%:/o#e, I gave hi! an answer with so!e su)stance.
4y perceptions on cri!e and !orality were tainted a long ti!e ago, r. ,anov. I !ay loo# li#e
I co!e %ro! a )lac# and white !ovie, )ut !y world has always )een colored with shades o%
gray. *o!e o% those 8%riends you !entioned used to say !y detective wor# was /ust an atte!pt
to a)solve the sins I co!!itted in war.5 I had no intention o% telling hi! what war I had )een in
a va!pires true age was )est le%t un#nown so I continued. 4&ut i% sins can only da!n you in
the a%terli%e... well, I !ay as well accept the %act that here I a!.5
4+or now, r. 9olt, %or now. &ut there are also sins that can happen right here where you
are: dia)lerie )eing one o% those. 3hat are your thoughts on that act, r. 9olt65
I loo#ed up %ro! lighting !y latest cigarette. 4Even the undead have laws. .ell !e
!ore.5
2e loo#ed genuinely con%used )ut only %or a !o!ent. 4.ell you a)out dia)lerie6 You o%
all people here should understand that, r. 9olt. In the 9a!arilla, and in the territories o% the
9a!arilla, it is a (uic# way to )e !ar#ed %or a &lood 2unt. Perhaps it will /og your !ind i% I
called it '!aranth6 3hat is your thought on this practice, given that it is the %oundation o% your
clan65
I %ailed to suppress a s!ile. ,id ,anov really thin# so little o% !e6 I could use it to !y
advantage )y playing along, )ut %igured he already underesti!ated !e enough as it was. 4I #now
all a)out dia)lerie, r. ,anov. 'nd yes, we have rules in our 8secret societies that outlaw it on
pain o% %inal death. &ut as pleasant as this conversation is, !y personal views on all su)/ects
va!pire arent all that interesting.5 I too# a nonchalant loo# around to see who !ight )e listening
in. .here was the other detective, s. *!ith, )ut 9hi had her attentions now, it see!ed.
4'ctualities however, are. *o when you say sins can happen, do you !ean 8can, or 8do6 .here
so!ething you want !e to #now a)out65
4I thin#, r. 9olt, I have already done so. 'nd li#ewise, you have revealed (uite a )it to
!e: %or that, I than# you. 's I said, you are new to the ga!e, r. 9olt, so unsullied. I have
en/oyed watching you tonight. &ut %or now, I will ta#e !y leave.5 ,anov )owed and I gave hi!
a hal%:s!ile and a nod )e%ore he stepped away. I wondered /ust how long itd )een since hed
)een turned. odius said ,anov was new to Gary, )ut that didnt !ean he was new to this world.
Yes, I had revealed !ore to hi! than he had !e, )ut I was hoping that what he revealed carried
!ore weight.
I too# a loo# around and noticed that our host had gone !issing$ so had his daughter and
the cat )urglar. I decided to %ind out where theyd gone upstairs or down. &e%ore I could ta#e
!y %irst step, they re/oined the party. I lit another cig and wondered whether our ti!ing was
coincidental or i% one o% the! had )een reading !y !ind. I wouldnt have !uch !ore to worry
a)out %or the ne"t %ew !inutes I was on !y last lung:dart so %inding !ore )eca!e !y only
concern. I hit up !y hosts pantry and %ound so!e golden oldies nestled )ehind a )ottle o% wor!:
ridden rice.
&y the ti!e I re/oined the party a cloc# on the !antle read 11:?@. 9loc# read the sa!e
ti!e when Id arrived, )ut this was its se!i:daily spot to )e right. odius called %or his guests to
/oin in the dining roo!. ' servant hit !e with a glass o% )u))ly on the way in. 'll %or show, o%
course, )ut even i% I could I wouldnt drin# it. I always did !y )est to stay away %ro! anything
under AB proo%. I e!ptied it into a dead plant while eyes were on the Prince. No sooner had I
e!ptied !y glass than it was re%illed at our host=s e"pense. .he servant !entioned so!ething
a)out having it %illed %or the toast. +air enough, I could water the plant again right a%ter.
4y %riends, I wish to spea# words o% hope, o% the re)irth o% the union !ove!ent, and
the %uture glory o% Gary. It has )een an e%%ort, )ut I have outwitted -odin o% 9hicago. I have
!anaged to gather the power to get one o% the steel !ills open once !ore. 3ithin a %ew short
!onths, it will once !ore hu! with activity, and that in turn will spar# a period o% regrowth %or
our city. 's it grows, so does our power, and so does the privileges that co!e with that power.
9ele)rate !y %riends, as we cele)rate our city and a return to pro!inenceC5 I lit up another sta#e
and too# a loo# around the roo! I dou)ted anyone in this crowd cared !uch a)out odius
citys status e"cept %or hi! and !ay)e the )urglar. odius eyes shi%ted to the door. 4Duggler:
where is he65 I didnt #now who he was tal#ing to, )ut I !ade a scan to see i% anyone was
!issing %ro! the roo!. 'll the #ey players were accounted %or.
.he Prince=s (uery was !et )y the sound o% one hand clapping$ it didn=t do anything %or
his te!per. E.hat arrogant )astard will )e punished %or his tardiness to !y court. I will not
tolerate such )ehavior.E .he guy really li#ed his carnies. odius was a true actor though, and as
always, the show !ust go on. .he countdown to New Year=s was sounded and odius hit his
notes in ti!e with grandpa=s twelve o%%:#ey gongs: 4ay we discover the )eauty we cannot
share.5 9ele)ratory toasts should )e le%t to the living. .he only va!p I saw ta#e the !edicine
was 9hi, who i!!ediately vo!ited the drin# )ac# up$ !ade !e even happier I had %ed !ine to
the %lowers. I decided to ring in the New Year right where I had le%t the old : lighting up a
cigarette and ta#ing a step into the nearest shadows.
.wo hours and two pac#s later, the )and arrived to play their %irst note sla!!ing the
%ront door wide open. Duggler !ade it to the party, along with three le!!ings and a wo!an I
presu!ed )y association to )e his prodigy, Evelyn. Duggler sent ,e)ussy to a second grave, )ut
%ar %ro! a (uite one$ he replaced the dis# with the sounds o% epileptic !etal &lac# +lag, i% I had
done !y ho!ewor# right. .he drun#s !oved to 7e)ecca li#e !oths to a %la!e, trying to pass o%%
their staggering as dance. I was pretty sure they were soon to learn that %ire )urns. .he ringleader
swept up 'llicia %or his own go:round. 's I too# the scene in stride, odius !ade a show o%
dropping his /aw and shortly, his laisse1:%aire. 4.his is intolera)leC +or such a )reach in the
as(uerade, I de!and that these !ortals )e #illedC5 Duggler responded with a s!ile$ either this
was a gag he was in on, or the prodigal son had /ust received the welco!ing he desired. I
%ingered the %or!er as odius hadnt even co!plained o% his a)sence until !idnight. .hen
again, what was there to co!plain a)out6
.he cat:)urglar pulled 'llicia %ree %ro! Duggler with no resistance. -ucian %inally arose
with a sigh, headed in our direction. I stayed in the corners shadow, eyeing the drun#s li#e a lion
does 1e)ra. odius had de!anded the !ortals )e #illed that le%t out Duggler and Evelyn )ut I
wasnt going to /u!p hoops %or a #a%irF not prior to a price anyway. *till, the scent o% li(uor
was strong despite the light )etween !y lips, and I readied !ysel% in case they danced !y way
I !ay have had to cut:in on 7e)ecca %or a dance o% !y own. 's she )rawled with her partner,
-ucian put the s(uee1e on tough nu!)er three literally. 3hile he didnt crush the guys head,
his screa!s synced with the )laring !usic. ay)e crushing it wouldve )een !ore pleasant.
.he inaction on the part o% !any o% his guests didnt help the Princes te!per. 2e let out
so!e shrie#s o% discontent to rival that o% -ucians thug. I turned so!e %igures over in !y head,
weighing whether or not to involve !ysel% in this charade. *ee!ed )etter to %orego any pay!ent
and #owtow to the Princes wishes in this case$ I could say I was /ust paying hi! )ac# %or the
s!o#es I li)erated %ro! the pantry. *pea#ing o% which, I too# a long drag on !y current one as I
wal#ed up )ehind 'llicias aggressor. 3hile it was a sha!e to put it out, I did so nonetheless
using the guys nec# %or !y ashtray. .he )rawl went on %or a %ew seconds !ore. I traded a %ew
shots with !y guy while 8&ecca got pretty )eaten )y hers. <nce the thugs were down, 7e)ecca
%ed and I lit another s!o#e. 's they were carted away, Duggler decided to taunt his 8victory.
4*o, little slaves, you have done your !asters )idding and prevented a )reach o% the
!as(uerade. I! sure dogs li#e you will )e rewarded, or perhaps your !aster will /ust let you
lic# his hand.5 2e turned toward -uc. 43hy are you present here tonight65 -uc /ust stared at
hi!. I returned to the shadows to watch and listen. 43hy are you present here tonight65 -uc
stayed silent, and it see!ed to irritate hi!. 4You groveling .hrallC 2ave you no power to spea#
without the leave o% your !aster6 ,o you not see past this !eaningless ritual6 It is the pathetic
court o% a wind)ag, senile, has:)een, wea#ling Prince. 'nd you, little slave, disgust !e al!ost as
!uch.5 2e turned away and the crowd re!ained unco!%orta)ly silent. ,idnt )other !e in the
least.
odius atte!pted to restart the party, doing his )est to pretend to ignore Dugglers
co!!ents. 's he struc# up a conversation with ,anov, Duggler #ept turning the !usic up to
drown out their conversation. .here were a %ew possi)ilities here. .he whole thing couldve )een
a ruse$ Duggler could )e the one with the real power, using odius as a %aGade$ he could )e a
%avorite o% odius and was ta#ing advantage, #nowing that 8daddy would never ta#e o%% his )elt
and actually use it. <r !ay)e he was telling the truth that odius was so washed up all he
could do at this point was )luster. In his declining %ie%do!, every #night was worth having, even
the rogues.
Evelyn approached !e. 42i, I! Evelyn. 3hat )rings you here65 I was distracted as I
listened in on -ucian and 7e)eccas conversation. &oth o% the! )eing Gangrel, he was giving
tips on one o% their particular va!piric gi%ts called it the ,read Ga1e. I noted that 'llicia
!oved close to -uc :though they )oth stayed silent: )e%ore I turned toward Eve.
4Not pleasure.5
43hy6 ,ont you li#e parties6 It !ight )e a little dull, )ut Dester always #eeps things
lively. 3hats your na!e again65
7ather than point out that Id never given it to her a %irst ti!e, I let it rise with the s!o#e
%ro! !y last pu%%. 49olt. 'le" 9olt.5
4&een a va!p long, 'le"6 3hat do you li#e )est a)out it65
I was saved %ro! her per%unctory (uestioning when Dester #illed the !usic. 4+ellow
guests, there is one you should all welco!e to this gathering i% you have not done so already: !y
9hilde, Evelyn.5 2e turned toward odius with a sardonic s!ile. 4Please, dear aster, why so
glu!6 Is she not e"(uisite6 *uch a well:sculpted )eauty is so rarely %ound these days, and she
has the spirit to !atch.5 odius seethed, )ut it couldve all )een part o% an act. I% shed )een
operating in odiuss territory with Dester, custo! would dictate that he had already presented
her to the Prince.
<nce odius %ound his voice he allowed hi!sel% several !inutes o% )lusters and threats.
+inished, he (uieted down and si!ply stated, 4I trust that you have taught her o% the .raditions.5
.hat said, he returned to ,anov and his speech a)out the decadence o% !odern art.
I lit another cig and answered one o% Eves earlier (uestions. 4*ee!s Ive )een in this
)usiness a )it longer than you, sweetie. 3hered Duggler pic# you up65
49hicago, a)out %our !onths ago: )ut it was the other way around. I pic#ed hi! up. 's
soon as we !et, I #new there was so!ething di%%erent a)out hi!. 'nd once I %igured out what it
was, I #new it was going to )e !ine too. .he power is incredi)le.5
4.hat his #ic# too6 In this %or the power65 I e"tended !y pac# her way. It was a si!ple
gesture, and one that a naHve eye would see as the !ar# o% a %idai or %ledgling as the !ore
co!!on va!ps would ter! it. ost va!pires cant s!o#e, even i% they wanted to. -uc#y %or the
arl)oro an I wasnt !ost va!pires. &ut o%%ering it to Eve would !a#e her co!%orta)le
tal#ing to !e. *harings a hu!an act, %or one, and the o)tuse gesture itsel% would !a#e !e
appear closer to her 4age5 and thus, less threatening. 42e see!s to li#e )eing the head o% a
pac#.5
*he declined the cigarette and shrugged. 4<h, hes got his %ollowers, )ut I dont thin#
thats his thing. Ever hear o% 8.he Party an o% 9hicago6 .hats hi!. Every so o%ten he heads
into 9hicago %or a good ti!e. .hats where I !et hi!, a)out ? !onths ago.5
42!!.5 I poc#eted !y pac# and recalled what I #new a)out 8.he Party an. I
wondered i% Dugglers 9hicago:)ound %orays included visits with -odin, the citys Prince.
's I conte!plated !y ne"t (uestion %or Eve, a !essenger in%or!ed odius that -ady
'nna)elle .ria)ell had arrived. +ro! the corner o% !y eye I noticed a loo# o% terror %lash across
the Princes %ace. odius was letting (uite a %ew e!otions slip through tonight. No sooner had I
turned )ac# than I noticed that Evelyn had le%t !y side. Duggler and his childe were heading out
the )ac# door. I !ade a hal%:step to %ollow the!, )ut was interrupted )y a servant announcing the
presence o% -ady .ria)ell. Dust li#e a classy )road to arrive late to a party.
*he was average height and slightly a)ove:average )uild, with stylish, shoulder:length
ash:)lond hair and wide, s#y:)lue eyes. 2er !outh was large and %ull, her appearance and
)earing right o%% the runway. *he didnt loo# the type that could hold her own in a %ight, )ut
see!ed e"ceptionally power%ul in other ways, even to a !an without red )lood in his veins. I
thought it )est to re!ain silent and see how she and the prince interacted. I dropped !y spent
)utt in a gasping houseplant and lit another cigarette.
'nna)elle loo#ed a)out at the guests, s!iled, and then gave her coat to one o% odius=
servants. *he stepped over to the prince, who had )een atte!pting to greet her. .here was an
aw#ward pause as she patiently waited %or hi! to re!e!)er to #iss her chee#. ' va!p li#e this
one, Id )e worried I !ight not get !y lips )ac# too. *he grasped his ar!s and led hi! into his
o%%ice, still without uttering a word, though she s!iled at everyone as they le%t. -i#e I said, she
was a classy wo!an. 3ithin seconds, the unco!%orta)le silence in the roo! was )ro#en )y so!e
!u%%led shouts and e"cla!ations co!ing %ro! the o%%ice. I )reathed the s!o#e %ro! !y e!pty
lungs. 4Its sha!eless the way those two %lirt.5
9hi chi!ed in with a )anal response. 43hat6 7eally6 .he two o% the!6 I=! always the
last to #nowC5 al#s.
I inconspicuously scanned the e"pressions o% the other guests while #eeping an ear %or
anything o% note co!ing %ro! the o%%ice. -ucian ignored the shouts, see!ing )rutally prag!atic
as usual the (uarrel didnt involve hi! and he wanted to #eep it that way. ichael held his
head and roc#ed hi!sel% while 'llicia stro#ed his hair, apparently trying to #eep hi! cal!.
,anov was doing the sa!e thing I was. <ur ga1es !et and he gave !e a wry s!ile. I ignored it.
7e)ecca didn=t react at all. I wondered i% she even noticed the noise and /ust how green a
detective she had )een. -uc was co!pletely !otionless. 2e !ightve )een sin#ing into torpor.
'nd 9hi co!plained that he never #new what was going on, as#ing 'llicia and 7e)ecca a)out
their love li%e. I didnt )other listening in$ they wouldnt deign to entertain the %ool.
'%ter a %ew !inutes, odius and 'nna)elle e!erged. I had !y )ac# turned, pretending to
)e loo#ing out the window. odius yelled wildly while clutching a letter written on a piece o%
parch!ent paper. E2ow dare he co!!and !e in this wayC I will not tolerate it, Dusticar or no
Dusticar.E
'nna)elle, %ollowing right )ehind the Prince, replied, E2is language is so!ewhat strong,
)ut you !ust !eet hi! hal%way.E
E-odin has not the right to !a#e de!ands o% !eC 2e had )est concern hi!sel% with his
own a%%airs in 9hicago, rather than inter%ere in !ine here in GaryCE
EYes, you are the Prince o% Gary, and you have your rights. &ut consider the point o% view
o% the Prince o% 9hicago. .his does not cause you !easura)le har!. Perhaps it will even !end
old, )ro#en %ences to co!ply, turning his attention elsewhere, and thus strengthening your
position.E
odius= anger )egan to di!inish as he considered 'nna)elle=s words. *pea#ing !ore
evenly, he responded, 4I% the har! cannot )e !easured, than the har! is i!!easura)le. I a!
Prince o% GaryC -odin !ay want these neonates to present the!selves to hi!, )ut they are in !y
do!ain, not his. 2is re(uest is laugha)le, and insulting. y protest to his de!ands stand.E
EPrince odius, perhaps we should return to your o%%ice to discuss this %urther6 It would
not do to da!pen the %estivities o% your party.E
EYes, you are (uite right.E 2e turned towards his guests. I wondered what their reasoning
was co!ing into the parlor !id:argu!ent. E*o!e !atters o% state have co!e to !y attention.
3hile I do not want to )e a neglect%ul host, I %eel I !ust )rie%ly e"cuse !ysel%. Please, !a#e
yourselves at ho!e and wait )ut a %ew !o!ents %or !e to return.E 2e and 'nna)elle returned to
the o%%ice, leaving the rest o% us to conte!plate our places on the chess)oard.
9hi re%lected aloud, E<h yeah$ I totally see it now.E
I% the in%or!ation we were !eant to hear were true, as it see!ed, than it was clear that
-odin was pointing out odius wea#ened state to hi! as )latantly as possi)le. 2is de!and to
have the latters neonates see hi! la)eled odius as a ser% to his own princedo!. I decided I
could read the outco!e o% the (uarrel in the !orning paper and le%t the roo!. .his was a )ig, old
house. I headed upstairs to see what I could !a#e o% the second %loor.
I didnt %ind !uch. .he %loor was huge, and nothing see!ed out o% the ordinary %or a
decaying !ansion. I wandered through large, grandly %urnished roo!s, decayed li#e the city o%
Gary had )eco!e. I %elt oddly co!%orta)le. uch o% the area see!ed to have )een unused %or
so!e ti!e, )ut one )edroo! loo#ed as i% so!eone was recently within. I dropped a dead )utt
onto the %loor and approached when a servant intercepted !e.
4aster 9olt, the Prince has e!erged, and wishes to spea# to his guests. Your presence is
re(uested downstairs at this ti!e.5 I too# a loo# past hi! at the roo!, )ut turned and let hi!
escort !e )ac# downstairs.
'nna)elle was already gone when I reentered the dining roo!. odius was waiting.
3aving a parch!ent he still held, he e"clai!ed, 4-odin o% 9hicago is atte!pting to
e"pand his do!ain into !y own. I a! re/ecting this pile o% ru))ish, these conte!pti)le de!ands.
Gary will stand strong against the tyranny o% 9hicago.5 2e loo#ed dangerous, I ad!itted to
!ysel%. 4I a! charging the neonates a!ong us to )e !y e!issaries to -odin. You will !a#e clear
to hi! that I a! not his servant, and I will not tolerate any inter%erence in the a%%airs o% !y city.
0nderstood65
9hi provided the Princes anticipated reaction, though it ca!e o%% %ar less serious in truth.
47ightC YayC .he *ears .owerC 3ho=s with !e65
7e)ecca glanced around the roo!, only to %ind everyone else already eyeing her.
Neonates !eaning younger va!pires, usually less than @B:1BB years old, indicated that odius
was certainly calling on 7e)ecca, -uc, and !e to do the deed. It was possi)le so!e o% the others
were e"pected as well, though I couldnt )e certain. -ucian, having once served under Dulius
9aesar, was un(uestioningly e"e!pt %ro! the test. &ecca loo#ed at !e and -uc, then )ac# at the
Prince. 4I will do what is as#ed o% !e and will do !y )est.5 Id !et geishas less acco!!odating
than this one.
-uc sounded his assent and all eyes turned toward !e. I loo#ed directly at the Prince,
though not in a way as to challenge hi!. 4You neednt set up so !uch %or!ality on !y account,
odius. I! in.5
3ith our assent given, Prince odius gave -uc a sealed letter, delivera)le only to Prince
-odin. 2e also provided another letter, an open one. 4.his letter will allow you to reach -odin
without any trou)le, instead o% having to deal with his inter!ediaries.5 2e le%t us with the
#nowledge that we were the only neonates in the roo! the others had all stayed (uiet with no
o)/ection and a %inal instruction to leave within two nights. 'nd thus the party had co!e to an
end.
I didnt waste any ti!e in departing through the )ac# /ust to see i% Duggler and his crew
had le%t any odd traces o% their passing. .he others ignored !e, though I thought I %elt the cold
s!ile o% the Nos%eratu on !y )ac# as I le%t the roo!. I !ade !y way to !y )i#e and sped ho!e,
#nowing that Id have to eat again on the way i% I wanted to avoid another near:%ren1y. I thought
a)out !y conversation with ,anov %ro! earlier in the evening. .he Nos%eratu was wrong
while I was new to va!piric society, I wasnt new to the ga!e. Id )een living in a world o%
espionage and deceit long )e%ore I was 4e!)raced )y 2a(i!.5 .here was a stor! co!ing to
Illinois, and I was ready to see it in 9hicago.
Part 1 I: +ro1en in .i!e
,us# %ell and I shot up %ro! an undead sleep. I could no longer sweat or )reathe rapidly,
)ut da!nation still didnt e"cuse !e %ro! night terrors. 3ell, day terrors, I suppose, )ut all the
sa!e in e%%ect. I reached %or !y cigarettes and put one to the torch. It was ti!es li#e this I wished
I could still drin#.
.he 8drea! had )een hitting !e !ost every night since Id returned %ro! 'la!at. 'll
that ever see!ed to change were the characters.
3ed decided on ta#ing a day )e%ore our departure, allowing /ust enough ti!e to #eep
personal a%%airs in order: all in the na!e o% the as(uerade, o% course. y )usiness didnt need
any dressings, so the day:long wait /ust %elt li#e years.