Path of the Vampire forum

"Increased speed, strength, and durability are all common factors in test subjects, though they vary based on how long each subject has been a vampire. The odd thing is that there seems to be no extra development of muscle tissue, efficiency of lung or heart capacity (since those aren`t necessary to begin with)."

I remember being human.

Odd to say, considering everything that I've been through, how accustomed to pain and acts of betrayal that I've felt over the past six years, but I do. I remember it when I look at Grace, see the way that she so happily lives and breathes. When I tell her about surfing, I can remember the warmth of the sun on my face, and the way the cool water was always a shock to the system when I'd fall off my board whether or not I'd do it intentionally.

I remember the night that I died, too. When I became this.

I'd sprayed Micah in the face with mace and ran for it after I'd come across him feeding on Levente. I ran for it, the push of adrenaline helping me try to run as quickly as I could. I wasn't fast enough, he caught me. I paid the price for it.

As I found this piece, the only thing that I could think of was that I probably still have some of that adrenaline in my system if I were to be cured - not that I'd want to. I'd want to return being a vampire as quickly as possible if I were forced into becoming something else again. There's still probably that lingering taste of mace, too.

"Fast acting, with amazing results, the cure is estimated to be able to revitalize citizens afflicted with vampirism, with no discernable side effects so far. This is not only a triumph of medicine, but a triumph of human willpower and the ability to choose."

"Finding the best candidates to act as test subjects is surprisingly easy given the prolific `siring` tendencies of the Lionelli and other `bloodlines`."

"I heard one of them mubling about something called a relic. She showed me, but it just looked like an ordinary chachki. I can`t decide if delusion is part of the diagnosis, or if I should be experimenting with these objects."

"Why don`t they reflect in mirrors? That doesn`t make any sense."

"As you know, the agency works closely with certain sectors in the government, our latest project may prove to be the most controversial. Marketting a cure for vampirism to appeal to as broad a population as possible."

Some of the other scientists keep discussing calling them something other than `vampires`. Joe jokingly said we should call them `blood sucking monsters`, but some of the more serious minded guys have been talking about creating a formal classification for them.

Even if we call vampirism a disease, and somehow swing a bill into law that compels people to take the cure, what`s to stop someone from just turning them again? No, it`s better to call it a choice until criminal law has caught up.

The more talkative ones share anecdotes about what it`s like to live as a vampire. To me, it seems almost like a living (excuse the pun) hell. Constant insatiable hunger. Constant fear of being revealed as monsters. Constant fear of being attacked for something they have no control over being. I guess you could say we`ve bonded some.

"Today we`re going to be testing the subjects for the effects of extreme cold, heat, and sensory deprivation."

"I can understand why someone would want to take the cure. The basis for society on the whole is `fitting in`. Hard to have a cookie cutter life when you`re worried about eating the next door neighbor."

"Ultimately, the impression I got from the people upstairs was sinister sympathy. They feel bad for the vampires, but are willing to take action if need be. Leave it to politicians to have two opposite views on the same exact subject."

I decided to share some of the information I've found with Worthington. I wrote down what they've found, as well. Perhaps it'll be useful in the future, but it was surprising and kind of nice not to get snarked at on the Clan board like I've been in the past. Looking at these, I don't know whether or not to agree or disagree with this curse. I told Bjorn it needs to be kept. I think we need to study it, to learn more about it rather than destroy it. Perhaps we'll be able to find traces of what does more as we keep searching.

Another year comes, another year gone. Happy birthday to me. Never thought I'd make it this far in life.

My little Paladin has been attacked today.

I'm not quite happy with it. I cursed the individual, too. Some ragtag biker wannabe, maybe.

Locryn and Zachary have been singing at me randomly throughout the day. Minor little bit of a headache, really, but it is a nice gesture. I don't know how Locryn found out - but Zach's known me for ages. They both - it seems he really just gave his opinion and she purchased it - got me an obsidian necklace.

I’ve changed my name a few times to cover my tracks. Evelyn White, Scarlett Reese, Diana Paul. I used to tell myself that the names and the backgrounds that followed were chances to start over again. No one knew about Every Leighton, they never heard of her. They had no idea what she’d done in her past, what she was rightfully accused of and dismissed about. I’ve done things in my past that I’m not proud of and that’s exactly where I’ve intended to keep them. I wasn’t surprised when my uncle sent people after me and he didn’t seem surprised when I fought back. He was surprised that I had people who cared about me. The night Micah came after me because he thought I’d started running again sent a message I’d never been able to portray even to myself: it said that I mattered to someone other than the dead.

Maybe it was around here that lying stopped being something I needed to do. I burned all of my ID’s, I stopped telling little white lies to cover my back. I had somewhere I belonged as Every Andras. I’ve never been one to enjoy lying, with the exception of things to hide behind the masquerade, I hardly have over my time in Harper Rock. A waste of effort, really, is the best way for me to put it. The truth tends to go over better, and when it doesn’t, it tends to sting more. If I feel the need to lie, there’s typically something more beneficial to me rather than when I don’t. Honestly, I don’t even feel half of the people I know are worth lying to due to the way it has the tendency to backfire.

Doc has been talking at me. I don’t think he realizes that people can change over time. I’m not running, I’m resting every night in the same place night after night. I’m not hiding, but I’m not going to make it easy for them to track me down - not without Micah or Velveteen’s decision. He’s mentioned that others are disappointed in me, that they didn’t know me at all and the more I’ve considered it, the more I find his insults and remarks to be completely pointless. He isn’t even worth getting riled up for. If they listened, they would hear where I said I was fine with leaving. They would hear where I never told Locryn to give her blood to Theodosia - only to listen to Amalea.

They only care about Ariadne.

I admit I should have noticed where Lea started to falter.

They would know that I have no need to lie if I’m willing to offer up my blood once they get the truth about everything. As I’ve said, Ariadne is just as guilty as we all are. She’s chosen to omit specific details to make herself look better - and yet, I’m called a liar when I haven’t. I was going to show them the telepathic communications that they’ve all missed - and yet, I’m the liar. What they don’t realize is that in choosing to ignore all of this, they’ve chosen Ariadne over the faction - just as they claim I did over Freyja. I chose to try not to let her die, I didn’t agree with everything she wanted. I didn’t choose her side over anything. The more I consider it, the more I feel that they’re turning Tytonidae into a joke.

I’ve considered what I can do to see who has interest in learning the entire story. Something public isn’t going to happen because I really have no desire to allow the twats whom I once called my family ruin it with their ********. Truthfully, those who matter will either get the truth anyway and still stab me, or they’ll take my word as it is. Micah was pissed and he’s still wanting to knock me senseless, but even in his anger, he was willing to hear me out. He was willing to hear Locryn out. Granted, she was shot and the outline of my body was almost introduced to the window of the upper floor of The Eyrie.

I should reach out to Amalea and see how she’s doing. I should do the same to Freyja, but I’ve chosen to keep my distance. I’ve tried to reach out to Theodosia, though, and I’ve gotten nothing.

Zombies are a problem right now, but as expected, the military has mobilized. Locryn has joined their cause - she’s taken responsibility for her part in it without me having to tell her to. Silas is right, I’ve gotten attached to her.

Honestly, I still don’t know entirely how I feel about the rift opening. I’m surprised on some level, I suppose. I really didn’t expect Lea to do it, not after the way she seemed unsure. I hope she’s alright. I stay in the Eyrie until it starts getting late, perched upon my favorite branch as I stare down at the city lights. It’s almost surreal, the steady sounds of gunshots in the distance. As some begin to flee, crime has improved. While Locryn has been dealing with the militia, I’ve been trying to figure out what could be done about the gangsters running around.

Eventually, though, the city will find it’s balance.

It always does in some strange way.

Despite that, though, there’s bound to be something worse over the horizon and I’m not surprised that the Administrator has gone radio silent as they always do.

I keep comparing the two auras in my head, the intensity that Theodosia put out to the point Amalea and I were given headaches. The power radiating off of Bancroft’s master, too. You would think that a faction who are up in arms about the rift being widened would be interested in that, too, really. I don’t know if I can figure out a way to track this, but I do wonder how far getting close to some of the politicians that are friends with Bancroft might pan out. I actually wonder if one of them are the vampire that controls him.

I’m almost positive that it has an aurascreen cloak, as well.

Pissed off doesn't explain how Locryn felt when I sent her away for her own good. The city is too much of a quiet mess and to be frank, I don't doubt that the faction have decided to pass around her photo. I haven't decided on how I'm going to tell Micah, but I don't know how he'd feel about it. If blood gets spilled, I'd rather have it be mine and not a dying human. Maybe when things are less hectic I'll summon her home, but for now, she's taking some R&R far from here on some tropical beach.

Oh well.