Path of the Vampire forum

The only ones who still appear to be around, who still appear to actually give a ****, are those sired by Axel. I had seen all three, recently, at a gathering I had called for Fforde. They were the only three to have shown up. I don’t think I’ll bother calling such a get together again. I think I’d prefer to just catch up with them all separately, to make sure that they are getting along alright. More recently, I’d gone hunting with Paige, who seemed to enjoy herself. I, too, thoroughly enjoyed myself, and even now feel the urge to call her again, to see if she wants a repeat. It’s nice to have a partner in crime – someone who’ll allow me to indulge in meaningless violence and not ask me why I’m so angry all the time. I’d also complete the tattoo for Renee—the crest and the hydra, rockabilly style, on her torso. I’d already been thinking about calling Ursula when I got the message from her instead.

I was not lying when I said they could contact me for anything, should they need to. I was not lying when I told them I’d help them where I could. As I read Ursula’s message, I frowned. I knew that I had one of the tomes that she required, but not all. Before answering, I made a quick enquiry to Micah, who accommodated my request swiftly. I now three of the four tomes that Ursula had asked for. I’d already texted Ursula to ask her where she was. She didn’t have to say ‘Corvidae Flats’. All she had to say was that she was in the lobby of her apartment complex and I knew exactly where to go.

I took the elevator from the second floor of the Eyrie to the third, where I stepped through the portal which would take me directly to one of the abandoned buildings in the Quarantine Zone. On my way through, I maimed a mooncalf and collected the bone – I’d spent a few nights the other week wandering around the QZ. I’d run out of zombie ears, and I needed some more if I was going to be any help on the team raids.

It was perhaps fifteen minutes after Ursula had texted me that I stepped into the lobby of Corvidae flats. It doesn’t take me long to find her through the small gathered crowd. I approach with a small grin on my face. I find her at the shop; I sneak up behind her before she has seen me, and lean forward to speak directly into her ear:

”Make sure you buy your lottery ticket,” I tell her. I have the urge to buy a few of my own.

I give a shrug.

"Mooncalf. Wouldn't call it fun," I say, holding my arms wide to look down at myself. I wasn't aware of getting too dirty, but I suppose my lack of care could explain my lack of notice of the gore that had spattered my clothing. Nothing that couldn't be washed out, I suppose. Or perhaps I can start a pyre and burn the clothes. Maybe I can dance naked around it. Maybe that kind of thing will be accepted, given that I think I'm starting to go slightly insane already. The thought vanishes as soon as it arrived. The future isn't something that I dwell on. I have no hopes for it. I have plenty of fears that I choose not to acknowledge, because I refuse to admit fear. I try just to live moment to moment, because it seems to be better, that way. Don't dwell on anything. Just be.

"Fine," I lie. I hate that question. It's so generic, and no one ever tells the truth when answering it. How could they? People sure as **** don't want to hear how I am, and I sure as **** don't want to tell them, regardless. I can at least keep a straight face, and I can at least feel at ease that I am not just a burning ball of unreasonable fury. Sure, it's still there. But there's something about being around kin - my own 'family' - that throws a blanket over the fire of my soul, and lulls me into security.

"Planning to actually use these rituals straight away, or are you just collecting?" I ask, reaching into the messenger bag that I have slung over my shoulder to retrieve the tomes that Ursula had asked for. "Disenthrallment is one that I can't even get. But I have the other three," I explain while handing them over.

I know exactly what it’s like to be annoyed with one’s own failures. It’s a constant companion of mine, that sharp-edged voice telling me that I’m a complete ****-up. And no wonder they’ve all walked away. Of course, although I am nodding, I do not grace Ursula’s with the vitriol of my own self-loathing I have only to agree with the basics. ”Tell me about it. I’ve been near bled dry wanting to help people before, only to fail completely,” I say. I do recall my mistake, however; the one thing that I had failed to do which meant it was a miracle I’d managed to perform the rituals that I had.

”You are mending the circle as you go, right?” I ask. A simple question – and she probably has been, and she probably just requires a little more practice. I give a shrug of my shoulders and glance around us, at the people gathered in the space of the lobby. Strange, how this particular complex has become a hub of activity simply because of the zombies that seem to be drawn to it. It makes me wonder – were the zombies drawn here first, for some reason, or is it simply the mass of moving living things here that have attracted them?

”The fae hate us. Vampires, that is,” I say, feeling no need to lower my voice. Here in the Quarantine Zone, if there are those who don’t know about vampires… well, they shouldn’t be here anyway, amongst the zombies. ”They’d have given you less grief when you were human simply because you were human. It’s got nothing to do with your own talent. That hasn’t diminished. It’s just got everything to do with how you smell to the fae, and how willing they are to do your bidding, I suppose,” I explain.

I nod. At least she is aware of how to do the rituals properly – for one reason or another, it was a thing that I was unaware of for a very long time. I suppose I should feel proud that I managed to complete the number of rituals that I did. Water under the bridge at this point, I am happy to know that Ursula has been taught properly.

I give a shrug as Ursula ponders the reasons why she thinks this sort of thing should come more easily to a vampire. The only answer I have is that, perhaps the Hunters and the Paladins are onto something. Maybe, in the end, we are unnatural. Maybe it throws something off as far as magic is concerned; to work with the elements is to work with nature. One cannot be in tune with nature if one is not natural.

”We are different now, that is all. It just takes some adjusting,” I say. As always, a man of few words. Although I am inclined philosophically, the idea of a full-blown discussion is still somewhat daunting. I am happy enough to keep my thoughts to myself. I’m not sure they’ll help Ursula any, in the end.

When she asks if the Home Bound ritual is one that is easy to pull off, I have to give yet another shrug.

”You’ll have to tell me once you’ve tried. I never have,” I tell her. I have a tome already – one given to me by Tytonidae that will take me to the Eyrie. I know that it is a fickle magical thing, carefully attuned to the person holding it. If I were to create another tome with the one to the Eyrie still in my possession, the latter’s magic would be eradicated.

”It’s a tricky one,” I explain. ”I haven’t tried using it, because if I were to succeed, the tome that I currently hold would no longer work – not for the location it’s set for, anyway,” I tell her. This, at least, is something that Ursula ought to know. Something that will be helpful to her. ”Is there a particular place you want to bind it to?” I ask out of idle curiosity.

I follow Ursula’s gaze up to the ceiling. I know she has a place here – same as Axel. I think? If I’m remembering correctly. It makes sense to create a tome that would take you back to a place of safety. That’s why they exist, right? That’s why people want them. To get them out of a sticky situation at a moment’s notice. Or maybe they’re just lazy and would prefer not to have to take the train home. Or drive. Or traipse through messy sewers that are infested with hunters out for your head.

I turn my attention back to Ursula as she asks her questions. Pertinent questions, too. I’m aware that we’re standing around in the middle of the lobby; I don’t know whether she intends to just go off and do her own thing, now, or whether we’ll use this opportunity to catch up. I spy over Ursula’s shoulder some couches, set around a little table. Just like any normal hotel lobby, if it weren’t for the zombies. At least they’re being taken care of by the other occupants of the building, and Ursula and I can talk in peace. I gesture to one the couches with an arched brow; she can decide whether she wants to stay and talk with me or not. It’s completely up to her. And as I gesture, I begin to answer her questions.

”I’m not sure it’s a case of one being stronger than the other. It’s a case of… the newest one always trumps the oldest,” I explain. ”Of course that could mean that the newer one is always stronger; maybe the magic wanes,” I say. It’s not something I ever dabbled in as a human and although I do practice a lot, I know I’m not the best ritualist out there. I haven’t done them all. And the fae still have their way with me at times.

”Unfortunately, no. You can’t have different tomes to different places on you. Not together. Only separately. You could say they don’t like company,” I smirk. ”As for the location – as I said, I’ve never done it before. I’m not too sure about the specifics. I only know the basics, and only those because I have one on me,” I say, patting the pocket where I know I’ve stashed the tome – the one that will take me to the Eyrie. Given to me by… who was it that gave it to me? Every, maybe? I don’t remember. Regardless, it’s a thing that I never leave without. It’s on me at all times, day and night. ”I can ask though, if you want. And I can get back to you,” I say, knowing Micah would be happy to answer any questions that I might have, regarding the art of rituals.