One eyebrow perked up and a subtle smile as Arauchia admitted the ‘changes’ she felt happen to her. As she told her– people change in the Nexus. Accepting the hunger and giving into it was hard for some of them in the beginning. She could recall how many rats she had devoured until she felt brave enough to approach a mortal. As far as suddenly discovering the same sex as you are that could have been a suppressed desire or inhibitions being eroded away. Becoming vampire is liberating in ways. ”Well, there is nothing wrong with that as far as I see.” she smiled. ”Just don’t tell those anti LGBT types about it. I can see it now. Vampires HAVE to be destroyed because they turn gay in the shadow realm. Then they bite us and the gayness spreads. EVIL!” Her face was animated in laughter and amusement, though no sound came from her lips.
She wanted to explain more. She had zero proof the Nexus was ‘alive’ in the sense it had wants and needs. All she knew for fact was other things dwelled within it, and thanks to those morons who allowed that ancient assed vampire to get free the Rift opened wider and new things began to appear. Was there a hierarchy within the true depths of the place?
Was there a controlling entity at its very core? It sounded poetic to her when she considered it. Every aspect of heaven or hell had a central figure in charge of things, so why not in the Nexus?
She made a mental note to come back to that later.
"But I don't know anyone with those kinds of abilities and I can't mind speak like you do. So maybe eventually."
Oh boy!
Her chin rested on her crossed hands as she considered in silence for a few moments.
”I could…do it. If properly motivated. I did say I have experience with the abilities of all types of vampires, and I do have those skills. If planned properly, I would be willing to assist in such an endeavor-but only if it is planned out. I have never been in there myself and perhaps it is time to consider a visit, but I have no desire to become a long term guest in that place.” she replied softly. ”Perhaps if I was doing this for someone in my employ or service it would encourage me, so….”
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
The blonde started to laugh loudly at the hyperbole spun by Zo about the bible thumpers using homosexuality as a reason to eradicate vampires. It wouldn't be the first time humanity used religious zeal to try to exterminate something that was too different for them to understand. She had seen that first hand in her work. Families had petitioned the Angels to no avail to eliminate their LGBTQ children. They were in the business of punishing real crimes, not a narrow-minded thinking that people were evil or criminal for being different.
This too was happening in the public sector here in Harper's Rock. Based on her self study on the cure, it sounded like the cure was an attempt by government agencies to control and cull the vampires that were too different from the species they "evolved" from. Such a shame really. She would rather co-exist with her food supply instead of have to fight for the survival of her kind.
Her eyes closed in thought for a moment. Most of what Chia was wanting to learn from the gypsy seemed to be things that Zodiac would only impart to those under her supervision. So far from their limited exchanges Chia liked the raven haired woman. And in her world, that was one of the most important things she cared about in a mentor. "So if I were to become your apprentice as outlined in the posting on the glass, what all would that entail? As I see it, you have a great deal you can teach me on many topics and I would welcome the opportunity to study with you."
Chia paused as a small smile came to her lips. "I know I don't have much to bring to the table, but I can promise I will work hard and my loyalty is second to none. I know it's not what you were expecting when I came calling, but what do you think?" The Spaniard gave the other woman a prize winning smile, hoping her argument was convincing.
I am the darkness that serves the light.
Conduit | Arauchia Rivera | Shadow
Her opinion of the woman went up another notch when she heard her laughing. Laughter was one of the ways she measured another vampire. Too many of their kind were ‘gloomy’ in nature or was so hip deep in the ‘I was never human to begin with’ game to have sane emotions or be able to express them in such simple ways. Humor had its uses. It was a good thing. It showed the mind and spirit was still active and that meant there was a person still within.
”We laugh a lot around here. We make mistakes, we laugh, we carry on and try again. Laughter is part of the song of life just as much as sorrow and tears.” the tone of her mindspeak light and amused. ”So having a sense of humor is totally on the requirements list to work here.”
Both eyebrows rose as she considered the woman’s offer. She certainly had a need for one. Her own experiments were starting to go way beyond the norms now so having someone who could do the normal things around would be a godsend. ”Before I answer either way, I should explain a few things. No one who ever apprenticed with me can say they didn’t know what they were getting into and I won’t start with you.”
She sat upright in her chair now. An all business look on her face. ”A lot of this stuff is written down. I don’t expect anyone to remember every single item, berry, plant and such involved, but I expect people to have that oh so elusive super power….” She paused and stood up. One hand raised with a finger pointed to the ceiling while the other was on her hip mimicking the pose a super hero might take. ”Common Sense!”
She flopped back down into her chair. ”You’d be surprised how many people and vampires don’t have a lick of that. If in doubt? Ask or check the books. I will have you doing things that may seem boring or repetitious in nature not because they are vital to have the finished product, but to get the ways things are prepared and processed as a second nature to you. Consider it training the mind and the hands to work together. I am sure you’d had similar experiences in the past.”
“Next, this goes without saying I think, but to be sure-what you learn here stays with you. If I wanted to teach the town my secrets and such, I would do big ads in the newspaper. In time, you may find another. Perhaps among your other work to impart such things to and that is fine. It is the normal order of things to continue passing knowledge to the future. But not the locals. I have no family, faction or bloodline I am loyal to save the 2 children I made so why should I help the rest of them? For free at that!”
The serious face vanished again as she smiled. She reached into a pocket of her skirt and pulled out a set of keys while standing up and she bid Arauchia to rise as well. ”I guess before we go any deeper into this, I suppose I should show you where we would be working and what is waiting for you. Upstairs is where all the fun happens.” She walked to the door and opened it while gesturing for the woman to follow her.
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
Chia listened carefully as Zodiac outlined her expectations of her apprentices. A bemused chuckle left her lips at the mention of common sense. That too was a trait highly prized in her line of work. Hunters that had no common sense were usually short lived in the field. They were either killed for making a silly mistake or reassigned to desk work so they could not be a liability. The non-disclosure locally also made sense. Zo didn't want to have competition in her line of work. Chia was generally a poor instructor anyways, so this wouldn't be a concern for a long time.
"Si you are correct." Chia started as she got up out of the chair, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "One was expected to master mundane tasks before being given actual important duties. It would make sense that crafting poisons and tonics is not too dissimilar. Is it like in chemistry lab if you add things out of order it blows up?" The blonde grinned brightly as that image popped into her head. In 10th grade, one of her classmates had nearly set the building on fire because she had added one of the chemicals in the wrong order. Everything was going great, then bam. Eruption of liquids shooting all over the place and out of the flask.
She walked over behind Zodiac, ready to follow the raven haired woman upstairs. "While it would take a lot to scare me away, I would be interested in seeing your workshop. I can't even begin to imagine what an alchemical lab would look like. Other then a way cooler science lab." Chia was starting to grow excited at the prospects that awaited at the top of the stairs. She was kind of bouncing like an over-excited child.
I am the darkness that serves the light.
Conduit | Arauchia Rivera | Shadow
”Trust me. Lots of things have exploded around here.” Zodiac’s thoughts touched Arauchia’s. How many errors till something useful was discovered? Occasionally the errors had their uses, but they were few and far between. And some of the side effects could make you wish you had just went boom.
It wasn’t science, but it was a process. Science and sorcery had their similarities but as the gypsy saw it science was too busy back tracking on things her kind already knew. Inquisitions and witch trials and orthodox religion had that effect on trying to learn anything from ‘magick’ back in the day. Now it was a game of catch up football as science began to ‘discover’ things magick had known for ages. Science was the ‘Johnny-come-lately’ to the game while sorcery was still the pioneer in front.
”And a lot of things will explode as time moves on.”
As the pair reemerged from the back of the store, Zodiac caught the attention of Jennifer. The gypsy gestured to herself and Arauchia and pointed upwards.
“Already? What the hell did she do?” Jennifer smirked. “Make sure she fills out the next of kin info card.”
”Ha!” was the only reply as she unlocked a door with the bold STAFF ONLY sign upon it. She held it open for the girl and herself to step into darkness. Zo flipped a switch and a dim light revealed the stairway going up to the next level. ”Onward and upward,” she encouraged Arauchia as she locked the door behind them. She watched the woman as they ascended. She practically had a bounce in her step. Despite her reluctance, she had to smile. Odds favored this woman might end up blowing her face off, being accosted by some ‘ingredients’, or loosing a limb or three and she was hopping up the stairs like she was going to Candy Land. ”Gotta love enthusiasm” she thought to herself as they arrived at the second door. This time 3 keys were required to open the door. Again, a light switch was flipped as they entered. Zodiac gestured to the right where what appeared to be church pews sat under sheets. The arrangement had them focused to a central spot that also was covered with a large cloth.
”Back when Bindings were the rage, I set this up for private ceremonies for family, friends, whatever. 32 couples have been my pleasure to bind. Some of them still are.” she laughed. ”Eventually this area needs to be repurposed, but the part you are interested in is over here.” She now pointed to the left where a single plain door sat in a wall. It was not locked. Zodiac opened the door and stepped aside.
”Welcome to my playground,”
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
Chia followed along with Zodiac as she seemed to be leading her to a different area of the shop. Violet eyes glanced back and forth between the assistant and Zo. She laughed heartily before smiling to the woman. "Eh I'll be fine. I have no next of kin anyways." A dismissive shrug was given before following up the stairs a few behind Zo. She noticed the amount of effort Zo had took in keeping her place secure and separate from ordinary folk or really anyone she didn't want in there. If anyone understood the importance of adequate security measures, it was Chia as she had spent so much time breaking into poorly secured areas in person and virtually.
Zo fiddled with the keys again when they reached the top of the stairs, then led them into a larger space. This area didn't seem at all like the space Zo worked in. But shortly Zo gave a good explanation. Apparently the gypsy moonlighted as justice of the peace for the supernatural folk in Harper's Rock. "Bindings. Is that our kinds equivalent of marriage?" Chia asked as they passed by what Zodiac seemed to suggest was a chapel. It may have seemed like a really naive question coming from the Spaniard, but she hadn't really ever had a super serious relationship. Chia had just never felt compelled to entangle herself in a relationship. To her it seemed like a huge risk with someone else's life on the line. What if someone with a vendetta about the angels discovered who she loved? Would they kill them to take revenge on Chia? Based on the people she had helped kill, absolutely.
However, her attention was quickly pulled back to the present as she saw Zodiac open the door to what might have been her laboratory. Slowly Chia walked past the raven haired woman and into the space, taking in all of the sights, sounds, and smells. The cauldron was expected. However, the rest of the place looked out of a museum with all of the skeletons and preserved bits. "Wow this is really cool." A coy smile played on her lips as she stopped in front of the butcher's block that looked stained and dented from use. "Good thing I'm a master butcher, yeah?" Chia teased with a big grin. She figured the gypsy would appreciate her humor.
I am the darkness that serves the light.
Conduit | Arauchia Rivera | Shadow
”Yes, vampire marriage. It was the rage for a time and as many couples I was overjoyed to see do it, there was just as many that I cringed at the thought. ‘Immortal’ is a subjective term. So is forever. Nothing lasts forever and none of us were born with the parts in place to handle immortality to begin with.” Zodiac shrugged. ”There is a lot of vampire divorcees out there is all I am saying..”
She smiled as Arauchia explored her work room. ”A butcher, eh? Well we do a lot more around here than that.” she approached the table and pulled a garbage bag from the lower shelf and dumped the contents on the table. ”Mooncalf bones. What do you get for them at the shops? Just over a hundred, I think.” She paused and pulled a chunk of meat from the bone and dropped it into the small rat cage that sat on the bench. The rat grabbed the meat and began to chew it up.
”Good job, Chad. Keep it up,” She motioned the girl to follow her to a pile of boxes being readied for shipment. ”I network. A lot, and had some visitors from the Far East a couple months back before all the zombie nonsense started. They saw first hand where we were getting the bones and remains from. We clean, process, break and grind the bones into powder.” She pulled a small container from the box that was full of them. Outside of a pressed lettering on the side saying 8 ounces, there was no tables to be seen. ”Children of the East have a culture based on consuming more unusual parts of creatures to cure their ills. So when they saw the native ‘fauna’ of Harper Rock, they went crazy. We came to terms and now I ship them the stuff. What they use it for and for how much do they sell it for, I have no clue, but they always order more. A hundred something per bone local?” she tapped the container in Arauchia’s hand. ”They pay me 400 just for that one container. I can get 5 to 8 of them from one bone. My export business is booming now. Plus, there is a lot more than Mooncalf bones involved.”
She started to walk while pointing out a few things of interest. ”I actually have 3 set ups along these lines. This one is bulk production of the more ‘supernatural’ items plus poisons and other things. That’s the main reason I am considering breaking down the chapel to make more work space. Another one I doubt you will ever see the inside of. Some of my creations are from my grandmother’s wisdom. 100% organic, no additives. Pain remedies, cough syrups and elixirs. Like that. I have a license to sell holistic medicines as well, so that ‘lab’ is all like a lab you would see on TV. All sterile, following rules and protocols set down by the government. Most of my human helpers work there.”
“And the third is my private one. That’s where I work on new things and once I work out most of the explosions and make any counter agents I think may be necessary, that work shifts to here for either custom or mass production. Any questions so far?”
'Chad' squeaked.
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
The Spaniard couldn't help but laugh at the mention of vampire divorcees. Something like 50% of all marriages ended that way among the humans, right? Why would it be any different in vampires. In fact, Chia thought the divorce rate in vampires would be higher because of all of their supercharged emotions and personalities. Still, she found the idea of a partner alluring. Someone to enjoy the adventure with, as Chia heard her papa say fondly about her mother.
Then there was a bit of a loud thunk from in front of Chia, snapping her to the present moment. A violet gaze glanced back to Zo before looking over the zombie and critter bits that were now strewn on the table before her. Chia had heard about the Eastern World's penchant for animal products as remedies during one of her briefings before she wen to China on a case. Her mark was some sort of black market magnate that specialized in products sourced from exotic and endangered animals. Her employers were actually a group of conservationists that struggled to keep poachers out of the reserve and wished to snuff out the problem at the top. Chia tried to not become emotionally invested in her cases, but this man she took great pleasure in executing him. In a bit of poetic justice, she displayed his body in a manner befitting the animal he was by skinning him and putting him on display in his warehouse. Needless to say the rhinos weren't bothered again by that group.
Unlike living creatures, the fauna of Harper's Rock were abominations fit to be eradicated from this plane. Effectively Zo was making a profit out of making the streets safer for humans, and thus making the world a safer place for vampires and supernaturals alike. Brilliant business model as far as Chia was concerned. The petite blonde squatted down next to Chad's cage as she watched the vermin feast upon the leftover mooncalf flesh. She wiggled a finger at the critter, who seemed to ignore Chia since there was food available.
"If the chapel isn't serving your needs, then I think a new lab space is a very fitting plan for it. And don't worry, I won't go where I am not invited." Chia stood back up before she looked back to Zodiac. Did she had questions? That was a bit of a loaded question in and of itself. She wanted to know how long it might be until she might get to dabble in poisons. But she figured that was off putting and the answer would likely be far longer than what she wanted to hear. "Not really. its all pretty straightforward. I suppose my biggest questions lie in what tasks you want to assign me first as well as when you would like me to begin my lessons. My only other commitment is my job as a bouncer at a bar a few nights a week."
I am the darkness that serves the light.
Conduit | Arauchia Rivera | Shadow
”Well, no time like the present, I guess.” The gypsy moved to a solitary computer that occupied one corner of the work area. A sharp eye in such things would have noticed several things about the device. It was old. Had no USB drive ports nor any more traditional ones such as a floppy or disc bay. Also, there was no visible network or internet connections. ”Welcome to the book of the assistant.”
Zodiac sat down and turned on the monitor. A Windows XP logo graced the screen for a moment before a very dull desktop appeared. She clicked on the only icon appearing on the screen and a program opened. After entering Arauchia’s name in a New User space and giving her a password ”Remember that,” she handed the woman a note with the password, a list appeared -
Welcome Arauchia
Basics:
Ingredients
Tools
Incantations
Preparations
Timing
Seasons
Storage and Handling
Note: Once your progress has been judged, the Admin will give you permission to advance to the next level of study.
“Each section in ‘Level 1’ has simple, easy to do items we use and sell. Basics is all the ground work you can reference back to. Myself and a couple witches abroad I am on good terms with have spent a few years making this. A how to ‘book’ that when a person gets from the start to the last, they will have a solid idea of how making such things works. No one remembers everything or every item. That is to be expected in anyone-even a vampire–” She paused and blinked for a couple of seconds. ”Especially vampires. Too many are filled with delusions they are perfection. So this is a reference tool to look back on if one becomes unsure how something is done. My main goal for you to start with is this. The potions here that can be made demonstrate all of the basics that apply to everything. Once you have that nailed down you should be able to make almost anything I need if I give you the ‘recipe’ for it. This is something to study as time allows between myself showing you how to do things.”
Zodiac grew silent and turned her head as if listening to someone only she could hear. She actually nodded, then turned back to her apprentice.
”Well, you can look at this after you get back. I got something more to your liking to do , I think. You armed? Good, good. Gonna send you to a nasty part of town. Jennifer just told me my order of Dendroaspis polylepis juice is in. Black Mamba venom. Imported illegally from sunny Africa. I have tried to get the actual snakes but they know they can rape my wallet this way better. ”
There was a knock at the door before Jennifer let herself in. She handed the gypsy a couple pieces of paper and an envelope before leaving without a word. Zo looked them over and handed them to Arauchia. ”Okay, there is where you are going and who to ask for. If he asks where am I at, just tell him ‘Zodiac has better dumps to be in than this’. Trust me, he will laugh and know that I am the one who sent you. Before you hand him the envelope, make sure the box is cold as in kept in a fridge cold. If it’s hot, refuse to pay and call us. Simple task. Is also a good starter thing for you to do. Let one of my ‘supply representatives’ meet my new ‘apprentice’ and you get to play with poison. If this works out, you two will be seeing a lot of each other.”
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
Chia took the offered piece of paper and tucked it into her pocket while keeping her eyes glued to the computer screen. It certainly wasn’t the most cutting-edge piece of tech she had ever used, but sometimes simple was better. Perhaps Zo would eventually trust her enough to have unsupervised access to the lab, so she could study at her leisure after her other obligations were completed. She waited impatiently for Zo to move back away from the terminal so she could dig in to the basics of alchemy and potions, but hesitated when she saw the gypsy stop mid-thought.
And just like that, Chia was assigned her first task. The siren song of the books would have to wait for now, but Chia would be lying if she said she didn’t agree with the raven-haired woman’s assessment that dealing with shady characters was something more her style. “Yeah of course I have weapons with me – you would be crazy to go anywhere in this town without being ready to take on the apocalypse.” She gave a bit of an amused chuckle both to the thought of being without her trusty daggers as well as her mentor’s characterization of the black market. As she had worked in intelligence as an assassin, black market of information was as familiar to her as the back of her hand.
Her head turned as she heard the knock at the door, watching as the assistant from downstairs entered the room and delivered something to Zodiac before departing. Chia listened closely to Zodiac’s instructions, pausing to reach to take the envelope and papers from the woman’s hand. Her eyes moved to inspect the papers and checked the envelop over before stuffing all but the directions page into her bag. Best she could tell, the building she was looking for was close-by one of her favored hunting grounds: the chemical plant. That whole area of town was controlled by the gangsters, and the cops generally stayed the hell away from there. It was the perfect environment for the black market to thrive.
“Cold to the touch – got it. I’ll be back soon.” Chia gave a wave to Zodiac before turning on her heel and heading down from the lab and out the front door. Hands snaked into her pockets as she moved out of the Market and to the Honeymead train station, which she would catch to Newborough, then head back north. The short 15-minute train ride allowed her just enough time to type the address into her phone’s map program and take some notes in the leather-bound book that lived in her backpack. There was a lot she had absorbed over the last hour or so and she didn’t want to forget a single important detail.
I am the darkness that serves the light.
Conduit | Arauchia Rivera | Shadow
