September 21, 1805

For some time the third-floor salon had been quiet, the only sound coming from the fire as it popped and burning logs shifted. The quiet was broken as the door opened, admitting five boys of about sixteen.

“The lamps are lit already. Your servants are marvellously efficient, Rafael,” one of the boys said.

“I know,” the young host replied. “Fire's a bit low, though. I'll stoke it up a bit while the rest of you get the table ready.”

As he strode over to the fire place and put on another log, the sound of furniture being shifted was heard as the other boys set up. From where she was curled up in one of the large armchairs, hidden from view of the door by the chair's back, Gabriela watched her brother stoke the fire, a slight smile playing over her lips. When he stood and turned, that smile grew wider as he saw her and jumped.

“Gabriela! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in bed by now?”

Gabriela stretched and slid out of the chair to her feet as the others came over to see what was happening.

“Oh,” she replied, all innocence, “I must have fallen asleep, Rafe.” She glanced around at the boys, some of whom she'd seen at a distance before, others of whom she could guess by name, but not by face. “Are these your friends? What are you all doing? May I join you?”

Just as Rafael opened his mouth, one particular one of his friends that Gabriela recognised beat him to it. “We're playing cards, señorita. I don't suppose you know how to play.”

Gabriela gave him a brilliant smile. “I'm sure you could teach me how.”

He laughed, just as Rafael gave him a kick on the ankle. “Don't believe a word my sister says, Alejandro. Of course she knows how to play, I taught her.”

“And wasn't Aunt Isabella cross!” Gabriela added, and gave Alejandro another brilliant smile. “But, of course, just because Rafe tried to teach me doesn't mean that I have the experience of you wonderful gentlemen. Perhaps one of you could help out, just to begin with?” As she said this, she didn't once take her eyes from Alejandro, who grinned at her in return.

“Gabriela!” Rafael said. “You can't play! You're a girl, and you're not even chaperoned. Just imagine what people would say.”

“But of course I've got a chaperone, Rafe. You're here. What better chaperone than my own brother?”

“She does have a point there, Rafael. Come on, let her play for a bit. I'm sure she'll get bored soon enough,” Alejandro urged, giving a conspiratorial wink to Gabriela, who smiled back. “And introduce us to your sister.”

Rafael sighed. “Just this once, Gabbie, okay?”

“But of course!”

Giving his sister a “yeah, I'm sure” look, to which she only responded with an innocent smile, Rafael turned to Alejandro. “Alejandro, this is my younger sister, Gabriela de Villanueva y de Díaz. Gabbie, this is Alejandro de la Péna y de Nuñez.”

“Maria's brother!” Gabriela said, offering her hand and pretending that she hadn't known that this was her friend's elder brother. “Delighted to meet you, Señor. I've heard a lot about you from Maria.”

“The delight is mine, Señorita,” Alejandro replied, taking her hand and lightly kissing it. “I hope my sister only told you about my good qualities.”

Gabriela giggled. “Of course she didn't. But I promise I didn't listen too much.”

She turned away, then, so that Rafael could introduce her to the rest of his friends, smiling brightly as she felt Alejandro's eyes on her during those introductions, and made a mental note that she really needed to find a way to thank Maria properly for her advice on how to catch her brother's attention.

June 16th, 1797


“Gabriela!”

Doors systematically open and shut throughout the large town house as eight year old Rafael de Villanueva y de Díaz searched for his little sister. Normally five year old Gabriela was hiding in her room with his old schoolbooks when he was with his tutor, waiting for him to finish his lessons so that he could then attempt to pass them onto her. Rafe lessons, as she termed them, were much more interesting than Gabbie lessons, but grown-ups didn't seem to think that she should have Rafe lessons. She wouldn't understand, they said. Rafael and Gabriela both knew that that was just silly.

Today, however, Gabriela wasn't in her room. Or in the playroom. Or sneaking into the salon to curl up in one of the big chairs where no-one would see her. Or in the kitchen. Or even in her brother's rooms. Rafael was starting to wonder if Gabriela was still even in the house.

Maybe trying outside was worth a shot. She had been begging him to help her learn to climb the big old tree in the back garden, after all. The little boy trotted down the stairs and slipped out the back door, the servants ignoring him as long as he didn't look like he was about to get into trouble.

“Gabriela! Gabbie!”

“Rafe?” came the quavering reply from up in the tree. Rafael ran over and looked up, spotting Gabriela clinging to one of the branches. Her face was white in stark contrast to her black hair, and her eyes were wide as she stayed very, very still.

“Rafe...I can't get down,” she said, her voice very small and frightened.

“It's alright, Gabbie, it's easy,” Rafael tried to assure her. “Just go back down the way you came up.” His sister frantically shook her head in reply, and clutched the branch more tightly.

“I can't, I'll fall!”

Rafael bit his lip, thinking. If Gabriela couldn't get down, he couldn't get her down himself. She was too heavy for him to try to carry, and she probably wouldn't let him, anyway. Their father was out, and besides, he'd be angry. The servants would likewise tell them off. But...their brother was home.

“I'll be right back!” he called up, and ran off back inside.

“Rafe! Rafe, don't leave me!” she shouted back.

“Stay there! Don't move!”

That was a stupid thing to say, he realised as he ran upstairs to the bedrooms. Where else was she going to go if she couldn't get down?



When her brother ran off like that, Gabriela almost started to cry, then blinked back tears. She was not going to cry. Rafael wouldn't be crying if he was the one stuck up in the tree. She'd just wanted to show him that she could climb it, too, so then when they wanted to hide from the grown-ups they could both climb up here. But it was a lot taller than she'd thought, and now she was so high up off the ground, and when she tried to climb back down she couldn't see where to put her feet...

So she stayed up here until someone came looking for her. She knew Rafael wouldn't take long to find her, but now he wasn't helping her, he'd gone away and she'd be stuck here forever. Unless she got down herself. She glanced back down, then swallowed and tightened her grip on the branch. That seemed like a very long way to fall if she slipped because she couldn't see where she was putting her feet.

“Gabbie?! I'm back!”

Gabriela peeked down, to see Rafael with their older brother, Miguel. She breathed a sigh of relief. Miguel was a lot older than his younger siblings – why, at fifteen he was practically a grown-up! - but even though he got impatient with them and scolded them he was more likely than not to help them out without telling the grown-ups.

“Gabriela,” Miguel called up. “It's going to be alright. Can you climb down the way you climbed...no?” He walked closer to the tree, so that he was almost below her, and held out his arms. “Then just let go and jump.”

Gabriela looked down at him doubtfully. “Jump? But...”

“We'll catch you, won't we, Rafe?” Beside Miguel, Rafael nodded.

“We'll catch you, Gabbie! You trust us, right?”

Gabriela smiled, no longer feeling quite so scared, and jumped.

On any normal night, the haven would be full of the sounds and smells of habitation. Ivy’s perfume, Gabriela’s prayers, music that someone had left on, or the tap of keys on Ivy’s laptop. This night, however, was lacking in it all.

It’s not to say that the haven was abandoned. Gabriela remained there, in her cell, curled up in her chair of woven rope and wooden frame. Behind her sat an empty bed, in front of her a desk covered in sheets of paper, each with a few words or a few sentences scrawled on it before being crumpled and pushed away.

Pulling a fresh sheet of paper in front of her, she tried again. Dear Charlie, she wrote. A car door slammed outside and she paused, looking up. She listened intently to the fall of footsteps along the path, her shoulders slumping slightly as the footsteps continued past her gate. Not Ivy or Roland coming home, then.

Returning her attention to her letter once more, she found ink pooling from where she had left the tip of the fountain pen resting on the paper. Yet again, she crumpled the paper and tossed it with the other attempts, then took another sheet of paper.

Dear Charlie

Mass is held in St Patrick's Cathedral, a grand and imposing building on the edge of the Melbourne CBD. While there are no mortals in the Cathedral at night, the LS requested that those Damned whose appearance would breach the Masquerade arrive Obfuscated. Present at this week's Mass are Gabriela de la Lanza, Roland Fitzroy, Ivy Darling, Deimos, Gabriel, Bader, John Doe, Eli Stanthorpe (who makes sure to be sitting in the front row), Anson Krieg, Cameron Moran, John Hargrave, and William Pratzner.

The Mass follows the standard format as laid out in the LS book – recitation by the congregation, readings from the Testament, structured call-and-response prayers. This week's readings are from sections of Malediction and Torments where Longinus discusses the purpose God has set for the Damned, and from the First Canon in the Catechism. The prayers are in Latin, but the readings are in English so that everyone is able to understand them. Due to mortals not yet being cleared of the infection that wiped out the previous court, the communion rite is held without blood.

Following communion, Gabriela begins the sermon. She speaks with passion, and at some points in her sermon she appears to be looking somewhat pointedly at particular people.

“Brothers and sisters,

“In tonight's readings we have heard the words of both the Dark Prophet and the Monachus regarding the purpose of the Damned. We are the wolves of Heaven, God's holy monsters, and the role that He has set us is one that we should keep in mind each night, for it is integral to what we are. We are not here to surrender to base instincts, allowing our Beast dominion over us and our actions. We are not here to pretend that we are human, allowing our Pride to deny our nature and purpose. We are Damned, and we are the agents of God's will. We are here to test the faithful and to show the evils of turning from God, even as we work to turn mortals back to Him that they might be redeemed through Him and through their Lord, Jesus Christ.

“In the beginning there was no need for the Damned, for mortals existed in a state of innocence and goodness. The first man and woman walked with God, and knew that they existed in his grace. But in disobeying God and eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they committed the first sin and fell from God's grace, tainting their descendants with sin forevermore. They were expelled from Eden into a world that was no longer perfect and giving, but was now their harsh prison for their sins. But God, in his infinite mercy, had also designed this world as their testing ground, that they might prove themselves worthy of returning to Him once more. Understanding and accepting the Fall of Man is essential in understanding and accepting the purpose God has set for the Damned, for it was as a result of the Fall that the Damned came to be.

“God laid His Curse on evil mortals who turned from Him, that they might serve Him in maintaining the prison that is the world and in testing those who might still prove themselves worthy of God's grace. But these Damned either knew not their purpose or they ignored it, becoming as wild animals who hunted and thirsted with no true purpose to call their own. Mortals continued to live with not only the sin they were born with, but with the sins of their lifetime, turning further and further from God through wilful disobedience or just plain ignorance. And so it was that God, in his infinite wisdom, sent His Son to the mortals that they might find their way back to His grace, and pre-ordained the Damnation of the Dark Prophet that the Damned might be taught their purpose.

“Know that you are Damned, and that you are Damned for a reason. You were born into sin, you lived your mortal lives in sin, and you sinned once again when you chose to be cut off from God's grace and forgiveness forever. For those of you who were not given that specific choice, whether through ignorance or wilful faithlessness, your Embrace was still a sin on your part as well as your sire's – for if you had been truly worthy, God would have taken you to His side rather than decreeing your Damnation.

“In the words of the Dark Prophet, 'though you are Damned, your Damnation has purpose. It is the will of God that you are what you are, and the will of God is that the Damned exist to show the evils of turning from Him.' We are the wolves amongst the mortal sheep, preying on them to make them stronger in their faith. We are what they fear in the night, so that in their fear they turn back to God, in whose infinite grace they may find relief from their fear. We push them to their darkest places, where only the light of God can reach, so that they turn to His light. This is our curse and our sacred burden, laid upon us by God Himself through His angel Vahishtael and His servant Longinus.

“Though you carry a Beast within you, you are not a Beast. You are not a Damned such as the ones Longinus first met, a wild animal who has no knowledge of its purpose. To lose control and allow the Beast within free reign does not serve God, for though you may still be inspiring fear in mortals you are no longer doing so with God in mind, and in your bestial state you risk breaking the Second Canon, that of keeping mortals from knowing about us, for our role is to guide them from the shadows. To fulfil your holy purpose, you must not allow your Beast to control you.

“Though you were once human, and still wear the basic human form, you are no longer human. Your role in God's plan is no longer to walk in the sun, to strive to return to Him, to do all those things that mortals do. To cling to what you were is to fall to Pride, and does not serve God, for in trying to still be a mortal you act as mortals do and persist in upholding mortal morality. The morality of mortals is not for us, for God has set us to be the monsters in the night. To fulfil your holy purpose, you must not allow your Pride to convince you that you may still be mortal, and you must accept the role that God has decreed for the Damned.

“Each night, remember that you are Damned and that you have a part to play in God's holy plan. Each night, ask yourself what you will do this night to fulfil your holy purpose, and do it. This purpose is an integral part of being Damned, so ensure that you have made your commitment to it an integral part of you, and never forget why you are here.

“Go in the name of God, and do God's work. Prey on and hunt mortals that they might know fear and darkness so that they might turn back to Him.”

Gabriela closes with a brief prayer in Latin, asking for God's blessing on the assembled Damned for their activities tonight when doing His work, then Mass comes to an end.

She hadn't realised what it was she was feeling that night, until she walked into court and saw him there. He looked like her sire, he felt like it, through the blood, but it couldn't be...it couldn't...surely he would have told her if he'd returned when he had not expected to. She watched him for a moment - watched him move, watched him speak. It was all wrong. Then he glanced at her, and their eyes met. She saw that she was right, that whoever this was, wearing her sire's body, it wasn't her sire. She broke eye contact and went to give her report to the Prince.

They had spent all night avoiding each other after that - easy enough to do, for this night had been full of chaos and fear, blood and loss. Her cousin was lost to possession - to more than possession, for the ancient elder which had taken his body had expelled every trace of the younger Mekhet. Kindred in the court began spontaneously bleeding out, causing fear and panic - which was not helped when Britannia broke down in anger and grief upon receiving word that the previous Prince of the city and her dear friend had been murdered.

Karly stood back from the others, staying next to Ash as they both watched what was going on. The Bishop dragged himself from the court, pouring blood from his eyes and mouth, returning to his church to die rather than to bleed out and ash on the floor of Elysium. He was followed by others, if they were able to leave, while still more simply...gave up. Karly watched, knowing there was nothing she could do, and knowing that at some point she would also begin to slowly die from whatever this plague was - she knew she was infected, for she had already taken advantage of it's side-effect to free her two ghouls from their bonds to her. She was wracked by a sudden pain, raising her hand to her mouth to cover the cough it spawned. When she took her hand away it was covered in blood, and she glanced up at Ash, who just wordlessly patted her on the shoulder.

He came over soon after, whoever this creature in her sire's body was, requesting a word with Ash. Karly didn't look at him, pretending to be busy wiping her blood from her mouth and hand. When she glanced up, he was watching her but Ash was over with Britannia, speaking quietly and quickly. She straightened up and looked steadily back at him.

"You're not Finch."

"No," he agreed. "My great-grandchilde gave up his body so that I could return."

She crossed her arms. "You're claiming to be Tearlach?"

"I am Tearlach." She raised an eyebrow, and his demeanour didn't change. "Your sire knew I was needed back. He brought me back, and sacrificed himself to do so."

"So he's completely gone, then?" Her voice sounded very small, reflecting how she'd felt. She looked down. Even though she knew it wasn't her sire in front of her, a part of her had still hoped...

"Part of him is still here. He's part of me now."

She looked up again, quickly. "Can I talk to him?"

The look on his face answered before he spoke. "No. It's...I can access his memories. What he thought. He's not here as a seperate entity." He paused. "He loved you."

"I know," she whispered.

"Even when you betrayed him..."

"If I hadn't done that, he would have died!" she interrupted, her fists clenching.

"I know. He knew. He forgave you. You've always protected your family."

She looked away, trying to make sense of the jumbled emotions this conversation was bringing up. She saw Ash lead Britannia into a side room, and he followed her gaze.

"I have to do something," he said. "Will you help me?"

"Me? What? Why?"

"You'll see. We don't have much time."

He headed into the room where Ash and Britannia where. After a moment's hesitation, Karly followed him. He began a brief ritual, opening up a shimmering portal in the wall. Karly looked at it warily, remembering the last portal that had been opened, and watched Ash and Britannia step through it. Finch/Tearlach turned to her.

"Four can go through this."

"You're asking me to?" She looked at it. "What is it? Why?"

"It's too dangerous here. Kindred are dying - the other side is safe from the plague."

"Why should I trust you?"

"You have no reason to, it's true." He looked at her. "You have to decide for yourself, but I ask you to. He would ask you to. He told you about the duty he and I both held."

"Of course."

"The other side is where those spirits are from. Where they can be confronted. This is where our duty lies. I would ask you to - he would ask you to. But once you step onto this path, you can never turn back."

She looked at him, then at the portal, then back at him again. Even though she knew it was no longer her sire, her blood still sang in his presence. And what he had said, both that there was a trace of Finch still there, and about duty...

"I began to walk that path over two years ago. I wouldn't turn back now even if I could."

He nodded, and for a moment there was the briefest of familiar smiles as she stepped up beside him. They walked through the portal in step with each other, on to whatever fate awaited on the other side.

The danger was over, for now. The three strange Kindred who had opened that portal and brought through the creature that had attacked lay slain, and the creature fled back through the portal. Those few of the court in attendance moved around quietly, speaking softly as they tried to understand what had just happened, and wonder if it had any bearing on ghouls suddenly being freed upon drinking their regnant’s blood.

Karly stood speaking with Prince Britannia, discussing the dreams they’d both had that give hints to the night’s events, as well as what little information Karly has got from using the abilities of her blood to glean information from the very portal and walls themselves. Once she’s relayed everything she knew, Karly leaned against the wall, no longer paying attention to Britannia as she turned her revolver around and around in her hands.

“Karly...are you alright?”

She bit her lip at her sire’s voice, and shook her head. “I tried to kill someone,” she said quietly, her voice anguished.

“Were you really trying to kill him?” She looked up – it was a serious question.

“I put my gun against his head and pulled the trigger,” she replied. Finch nodded.

“Then, was it for a good reason?”

“I...I don’t know. He had a sword, and he was between me and B, and I thought he was going to hurt her...” she trailed off.

“Then you did the right thing, Karly,” he tried to assure her.

“Did I?”

“ You were doing it to protect someone, not because you just wanted him dead.” She nodded. “You’re not a killer – you were just doing what was necessary.” He reached out and drew her closer to him, hugging her while she clung back and buried her head in his shoulder.

“It doesn’t make it feel any better,” she whispered.

“I know. And that’s why you’re you.”

He held her for some minutes more, then spoke again, even more softly. “I forgive you for your betrayal, my childe.” She flinched at that, making a half-sobbing sound. “Goodbye. Remember that I’m always proud of you.”

He let her go and walked towards the door while she stared at him, then almost ran after him. No-one else noticed, remaining focussed on their conversations. She touched his arm, and he stopped, turning to look at her.

“You’re leaving me.” While there was an incredulous note in her voice, it wasn’t a question. He was. Her sire, the one person she always relied on, was leaving. He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded.

“You won’t see me again,” he confirmed.

“Why can’t I come with you?!” I’d follow you anywhere. Don’t leave me...

“You can’t follow where I’m going,” he replied quietly. “We’re Khaibit. This is our duty. I won’t be coming back, so you have to stay here and keep going.”

She dropped her head, staring at the ground, and nodded. He took a step towards her, lightly touching her arm as she looked up at him, her eyes saying what her voice couldn’t. He hesitated for a moment, then kissed her. In that kiss was every unspoken word, every unnoticed look and misunderstood touch, every feeling never voiced to her. She froze for a moment, then she was returning the kiss, acknowledging and returning everything that was in it, praying for this moment to last so that she’d never have to lose him.

But such things aren’t to last, and he stepped back and smiled, a bittersweet smile at acting on deeply-held feelings and finding them returned only at the moment of parting.

“Goodbye.” He left then, leaving her standing there alone. She glanced around, seeing that what felt like forever had been only a moment, for not one other creature in the room looked up or seemed to realise what had just happened. What had just been lost. She looked at the door, then back at the Kindred in the room, and sighed. She had to stay. She had a duty to try and protect them.

As the car drew up at the Observatory, Elspeth kissed Michael again, then glanced out at where the Observatory glowed unnaturally. Michael ran his fingers down her cheek, and drew back.

"Elspeth, I want you to go and let Ash know what's happening."

"What? I should be with you," she objected. "Who knows what's in there?"

"I have God's blessings upon me," he said. "It's going to be dangerous in there." He hesisted. "I don't expect to come back. Go. Tell Ash. You should be safe with her." He hesistated a moment, as if he had something more to say, but said nothing as he got out of the car. Elspeth scooted across the seat to the window, reaching out and grabbing his hand.

"Michael...once I've told Ash, I'm coming back here to be with you."

He sighed, and squeezed her hand. "If you insist."

***

Finding Ash was not difficult. She was nearby, and following the tie of blood between them was easy. She was pacing around nearby, keeping a suspicious eye on the Observatory.

"Ash," Elspeth called out as she approached her grandsire.

"Elspeth. What's up?"

Elspeth glanced over at the Observatory. "That. Something bad's going down."

"Yeah. Figured that."

"Michael's gone in there. There's some kind of ritual going on, from what It said. If it's not stopped..." She trailed off and shrugged. "I'm going back there with him. Ash, we..." she hesisted. "We don't expect to come back. Michael wanted you to know that he loves him family."

She'd been with him long enough to recognise what it was he'd wanted to say, even though he hadn't managed to say it. Ash looked like she'd just been kicked in the stomach.

"Tell him I'll see him in Hell." She looked at Elspeth. "Both of you."

Elspeth nodded. She took a step towards Ash, as if to hug her, but settled instead for just squeezing her on the shoulder. "Thanks, Ash. Good luck."

***

Inside the Observatory, Elspeth could hear shouting and fighting in the distance as she ran in.

"Elspeth!" It stepped out of a side-room, Richard one step behind it. The little Nosteratu pointed down the hall. "Michael went that way. He's going to need help."

Elspeth nodded. "Thanks." She kept running, hearing Richard fall in behind her. She was faster, though, so he fell behind slightly. She could hear more fighting ahead of her, and the sound of claws on stone. Running into the room at the end of the corridor, she could see Michael fighting another Kindred, a woman, both tearing at each other with their claws while a third Kindred stood by, looking ready to jump in. Michael glanced at the third one, who suddenly attacked the woman, giving Michael a moment's reprieve.

"Michael!" Elspeth called over the sound of fighting, unsheathing her own claws. "Ash said to say she'd see you in Hell!" She gave a sudden, wild grin as she kept running, ready to charge straight into the fight. "And so will I!"

Someone grabbed her from behind then, and she felt the sharpness of fangs in her neck. She felt her soul trickling out of her body, before everything went dark...

...and then light again, as she looked down at where her own body lay. A Kindred was falling to ash from Michael's claws, before he came over to her body.

"Michael," she whispered. He gave no sign of hearing her as he picked her body up and carried it into another room. She followed, and watched him lay her out as if for burial. She heard him speak a soft prayer, before he unsheathed his claws again and stalked out. She followed, then felt herself drawn back down the corridor in the opposite direction, back to where It was.

Inside the room she found It frantically scrawling on the walls in blood, and saw other indistinct Kindred - including the one she saw turning to ash at Michael's hands, and instinctively knew him for her killer. She ingnored them, and went over to where It was writing on the walls. The symbols being written meant nothing to her, so she focused on the young Nos instead.

"It?"

It slowed in it's writing, almost pausing. "Oh God, Elspeth. Not you, too."

"Yes." At least someone could hear her. That was encouraging. As she tried to gather the strength needed to make It hear her once more, Michael staggered in, his cassock torn and covered in blood and his claws still unsheathed. It stopped writing to go over and catch him before he fell, the two of them exchanging quick, low words.

"It!" The urgency with which she wanted her message relayed gave Elspeth the strength she needed. "Tell him I love him."

"Elspeth says she loves you," It told Michael, pushing him towards the door. "Now go and do God's work."

As the car wound its way up the mountain, towards the Observatory at the top, Elspeth kept glancing at Michael, a scrap of conversation with It replaying in her head.

"It, why is saving this kine so important to you?"
"Because I look at him the way you look at Michael."

Was it that obvious, she wondered, studying him as he looked ahead, his gaze going past the driver to see what was on the road ahead. He had that brooding air about him that had always attracted her, no matter what they were about to get themselves into, and she desperately wanted to kiss him and tell him it would all be alright.

But she couldn't, and not just because she didn't know if it would be alright. She couldn't take that step again, to let him know that despite adopting his faith and his Covenant and agreeing to abide by its rules so she could stay close to him, that she still broke those rules by loving him as she always had. Even when, after twenty years together, he'd chosen his Covenant over her and left her, she still loved him despite the anger and the hurt.

He glanced at her, frowning slightly. "Elspeth..."

"Yes?" For a moment she thought he was about to call her on what she was thinking.

"Do you ever wish we hadn't met?"

She jolted back a little in surprise. "What? Why? Do...do you?"

"If we hadn't met, then you wouldn't be here," he said. "I wouldn't have given in to my weakness, my...lust...," he looked a little uneasy and ashamed at admitting it, "and I wouldn't have Damned you to this. You would have lived your life. You would have been safer, happier."

"There's no way you or I could know that," she replied. "There's no way to know what would have happened to me. Look at the places I travelled to, all around northern Africa. Look at all the trouble spots there. Who knows what would have happened to me - if I'd have been happier, if I'd have died there, if I'd have even been Embraced by someone else?"

He nodded slowly. "That's true. So what do you wish?"

She paused, and studied him. He hadn't changed much from the night they'd first met, over twenty years ago in Morocco, not that she'd expect him to. He was still a heart-breakingly handsome man in his thirties, still the same brilliant intellectual who had attracted her with brains as much as with looks and charm. Even the strength of his faith had never wavered - only whether to go with faith or to go with family.

"I wish your choice between faith and family was not so incompatible," she said quietly. "I wish that you didn't have to choose one over the other."

He sighed. "So do I. You, and Ash...I'm sorry." He shook his head and looked out the window. "I can't choose, even though I need to. I need the two of you just as much. Family...that is, I think, our greatest downfall - and our greatest strength."

She watched him for some minutes more. "Michael."

"Yes?"

"I'm not sorry we met. Being with you...that's the happiest I've ever been." She swallowed, a mortal habit when nervous that she'd never quite kicked. "I...I still love you. And I think I always will."

He sighed, taking her hand. "Then we're both sinners," he said, drawing her into a kiss.

Wolfe will come and see Butterfly when he knows that she is in the Manse and alone. He will watch her from the doorway for a little while, seemingly hesitant, but obviously thinking hard.

"Excuse me. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"I have been out of contact with people for a long time, and I've been thinking that it would be useful to me to attend your birthday party in the spirit in which others do. Ordinarily, I know that you know my reputation, and as such I wanted to explain that my doing so would not be for a price, or a fee. I am not so disconnected to know that the custom is to provide gifts, but I have no idea what to get an 18 year old girl as a present.

I have been thinking about it however. I have been told that you wish to experience more of life, to experience hedonistic aspects that have been denied you to date. I have also been told that you would enjoy a suitable setting for your party, or assistance in that regard. You may even simply wish a cake." He smiles.

"As you may remember, I'm a reasonably direct person, so I thought I would ask you directly. I am wealthy and resourceful, so whatever you would like, I shall see what I can do. If it were left to me, my gift may be inappropriate, and thus it is better for the Concilium, and for you and I, if I do not offend you".

Butterfly blinks, obviously surprised. She doesn't reply for a couple of minutes, and it is easy to see that she is seriously giving the question the thought it deserves, instead of making one of her usual flippant remarks.

"Well...," she finally says, sounding a little hesitant herself. "You knew Constance for awhile right? Way longer than me - I mean, you should know how long I knew her. You were the one who promted me and her to do the whole mentor-apprentice thing formally. I miss her and, well...I dunno. Could you do something that lets me know more about her, from how you remember her?"

Hi Lucius,

Me, Darcy, and a few others who weren't in Adelaide are trying to work out what's the go with this upper house/lower house National Council/Consilium. Like, details on the set-up and how it's supposed to work and jurisdiction and stuff.

As I see your hand all over this, was wondering if you could explain it to me so I can explain it to the others.

Also, I hear Mathrias has fucked off. Since I wouldn't have to deal with that soul-stealer anymore, my cabal would like to rejoin the Melbourne Consilium, if we may.


~ Butterfly ~
Black Rose Cabal



A response, later that day
I am glad to hear that you are feeling better, Butterfly.

ON the Matter of the National Concilium (NC), it was decided by the gathered Hierarchs to create something that reflected a blending of Atlantean ideals and more, modern, thinking - specifically with our colleagues within the Free Councin in mind.

The NC will have two 'Houses'; the Upper House will be a council formed from the Hierarchs of each of the participent Concili and the Lower of a Council of Orders. Any decisions made by the council need to be ratified be both Houses.
Should one house find itself tied in it's decision, the other house has a deciding vote.

An additional reason why we went with this model is that Hierarch Wells was concerned about the idea of a much more traditional Concilium with a 'National Hierarch' being open to a great abuse by one willing to utilise the underpinning laws of Atlantis & challenge for the position via a Duel Arcane.

There is still a lot of work to do; the National Concilium still requires a Charter which will need to be ratified by the Houses. The intention is that the Charter should define the limits of power that the National Concilium has, as well as providing it with the ability to intervene effectively should it be necessary - the last thing we want is for it to become as impotant as the United Nations.

The other element was that in order to establis a Lex Magica for the Council, pertinant case law would be drawn from each of the current Lex Magica and a National decision, which would be abided with by all, made where there was a conflict.

It is the intention of the Upper House to ask Mr Darcy to be an active part of these elements, especially the foundation of a workable Charter.

With regards to the Lower House. As part of our announcement we acknowledged (in some cases selected) interim representives to stand for each of the Orders, including the Free Council, until such time as we were presented with either a confirmation or a fresh appointment by the respective Orders. This was done purely to allow a clear line of communications between the Upper & Lower houses.

As part of the establishment of the National Council - and this would need to be examined as part of the establishment of the Charter - we are looking at re-emfotcing the scope of some of Order specific roles that, ideally, are designed to foster a sense of communitya & co-operation amongst the Orders, such as the establishment of Lictors to provied their services as 'circuit judges' moving from Concilium to Concilium as & when needed.

As announced; this is very much a work in progress that will only succeed if all are prepared to participate actively in it.

As for Mathrias; he and his Cabal of Tranquility have decided to attempt to form their own Concilium within the area claimed by the Concilium of the Tower. I will deal with them as the time comes.

So; upon your return to Melbourne, would you be willing to resume your seat upon the Council to represent the Moros? I have already had Gaijin approach me about the fact that he feels he is more suited to serve as the Concilium's Sentinal and I agree with him - which would allow for a seamless transition.

Regards

Lucius Alderman
Mastigos Councilor
Hierarch of the Concilium of the Tower

Ok, here we go. This is just a generic description with some random scene stuff at the end.

GROUNDS
The grounds surround the house with a head height hedge lining the cast iron fence and trees are spotted around the property that constrict normal viewing of the house from the street and adjoining houses. Along the front fence there is a gate slightly left of the middle with a path leading to the door and a double gate to the far right with a driveway leading to the double garage (adjoining the ground floor of the house). The front stone path (facade overlaid on cement below) leads through the front garden to the front door of the house. The front garden is prevalent with purple Rhododendron (Victorian: Danger/Beware) and contrasting the subtle native flowers and plants. Amongst the small trees in the front garden two "Hand Flower Trees" (Victorian: Warning) are located on each side of the path.

HOUSE AND HAVEN
You enter the house and proceed into a room hen down a staircase. The stairs from the General area lead to a hallway at the end of which are double wooden doors over each is a crossed over script "tS" (recognised as the bands symbol), above the door is the remains of some Latin which has been chipped away. The doors are reinforced with steel plates for security. When you enter the living quarters there is hallway which leads into a large square room (general area) with two doors and an alcove on the near end (amenabilities), 5 doors on each side (bedrooms) and 3 doors at the end (back rooms).

HAVEN
Within the central chamber there are four distinct areas; Training Area - Near the armoury is a padded area with foam tiles, several wooden and padded dummies, circuit weight training set and training bags. Lounge - Near the kitchen/bar is three couches, TV, stereo system, and coffee table. Entertainment - Near the bathroom is a pinball machine, Dance Dance Revolution machine 1 and 2, juke box with karaoke and a steel pole attached at the floor and ceiling, in the corner is a strobe light and smoke machine. Dining - Near the reading room is large round wooden table and 10 chairs, set with a Lazy Susan. Along the left and right walls are a series of 10 doors each leading to a bedroom, five of the doors have a gold plaque with a member of the bands name on it. Along the back wall there are three rooms labelled "Studio", "Armoury" and "Library".

ENTREE
The large wooden table is laid out with silver drinking goblets. In the middle of the table is several large crystal crafts of blood and several red rose petals. Beneath two of the goblets are the following name tags: Prince James Morrow and Karly Finch.

GUESTS
Karly Finch is present at the haven from the night before. Prince James Morrow receives a phone call with an address in Ashfield where he can be picked up by a driver and then driven to/from the haven in a private car. Lady Eschiel is also at the haven. A selection of the members of The Sanctified are present (Donny is definitely not there). A ghoul and two retainers are present along with a handful of other individuals who do not show the beast, then all tend to stick to entertaining themselves quietly and hold conversation if needed.

FEEDING AND ROOMS
Jordan welcomes you in once you arrive and offers you some starters. Any particular normal tastes in blood are supplied. During the night three mortals (one male, two female) present themselves at he door and in the vicinity of the dining table allow a small amount (1-2 blood) to be fed from them. Karly Finch and Lady Eschiel both have a room, each with some minor adjustments to make her feel at home and Prince Morrow is offered a room should he need it.

ACTIVITIES
The evening is fairly light hearted and the facilities in the main area are open to your enjoyment. Several people will enjoy some Dance Dance Revolution, pull out the Wii and watch some movies. Jordan will show the two guests the collection of photos and awards including a number of gold and platinum records. Some training weapons are lying in the training area, Jordan at one time later in the night has a few mock fights with one of the male ghouls, who seems to be taking it more seriously.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
The night goes on and you are offered to stay the night or head back to your own places. Travel is available to a pick-up location or your place. Jordan informs you both that he is leaving early the next night to travel to Brisbane with Lady Eschiel.

Hi Lucius,

I heard about what happened to Flux. Well, kinda, I heard she died. She was friends with a few Libertines around the place, and Raph's sent me the information he managed to get on it.

He said that it was *definately* sometime after May 23rd. He said someone looked into it with postcognition, and this is what they got:

"It was a dark alley. There were two very tall skycrapers. Yet it wasn't dark. By natural lighting, it was daytime where she was. I saw a dumpster. I could read a McDonald's symbol on it. A sign on a wall that said Elizabeth St. below that, City of Melbourne."

I've asked him to send me anything else he manages to get so I can pass it on.

I'm back at Constance's and Gambit's and my Sanctum now, but I do not intend to rejoin the Consilium. I'm gonna be (non-magically) popping in and out the city for class and stuff, just so you know. Hope you don't mind. While I'm in there, if there's anything I can do to help with the Flux thing, I'd be happy to. So long as I don't have to have anything to do with Mathrias and his lot. Or Jack. Did you SEE the crap Jack was pulling on the international list a few weeks back?


~ Butterfly ~



A response, later that day

It is our loss, Butterfly.

I wish we, the Consilium, still had your council and more personally I will miss the lightness you brought with you.

Should you ever need my assistance, consider it yours and always consider the Manse open to you.


Lucius

Hi all,

I was just speaking with a friend from Sydney, who passed on some news of likely trouble up there.

You all heard that the Sheriff of Sydney, Inquisitor Mikhail Skadi of the Lancea Sanctum, had been torpored during a fight with the Brood the other month, right? His body was being looked after by former Bishop Isobel Harker/zas Fershun while she and House Skadison sought someone who could wake Mikhail.

They found someone, and were preparing to wake Mikhail the other night when Alder Christof Grey of the Invictus broke into Isobel's haven and killed Mikhail.

Christof claims that Mikhail was responsible for the death of Mary Riley just over a year ago. As far as most people had heard the person responsible for Mary's death was Sean Kelly, who was killed in retribution for that late last year/earlier this year. But that's up to Sydney to sort out. Prince Aaron is not expected to kill Christof as punishment, and it's thought that that knowledge was why Christof acted now.

The reaction of the Sydney court so far has been highly negative. Christof is expected to lose his position as Primus of the Sydney Invictus, and Victor Marley is tipped to replace him.

The reaction from Isobel and House Skadison is not yet known, as members of the House who weren't in Sydney are still in the process of being informed. But it's the Skadisons. I don't expect them to take it very well at all.


~ Karly