My ire cooling, and filing these events away for later use, I greeted Marcus, who bade me spend the rest of the day in his mansion. He was also more than willing to provide blood for me, seeing that I was injured. As we entered the mansion, he received a phone call. It was apparently from Vashard, whom Marcus thanked and bade him to continue with his previous duties.
Mandi enthusiastically offered me a place to stay, but Marcus stepped in and compared how I was feeling now to (apparently) how Tessa felt in the past. That seemed to frighten her, as she asked if she'd have to go into the safe room. Marcus reassured her that all would be well, that I was not Tessa. (I can only assume that beyond cranky, Tessa is rather aggressive when tired.)
Marcus led me into the kitchen, where he heated up a few frozen blood packs and served them to me in a crystal glass. The absurdity of the moment was not lost on me, even in my tired state. A very powerful mage (I would soon come to learn how powerful) and a tired vampire, trading stories and chatting over a crystal glass of blood (for the vampire) and of whiskey (for the mage). Sartre would have been ecstatic.
Having healed and fed, I was better able to take in my surroundings. Marcus was in jeans and a flannel shirt, of all things. He looked very relaxed. He then congratulated me on how well I did at Elysium, saying that it was a rare man who could stand up to Teresa as I did. My actions with that alone seemed to have made a good impression (even on the Seneschal, he told me, though she would never ever admit it). However, I came to find out that Teresa enjoys men "who can put up with her."
I thanked him for shelter and for agreeing to teach me how to use this sword cane I have purchased (but not yet used). He told me that I would be meeting another hunter, Ilsa, his sparring partner. She is part of a Vatican-sponsored hunter group, the Malleus Maleficarum. I would apparently get a warning, due to my nature, but it is not unusual, apparently, as Marcus seems to get warnings all of the time.
We discussed my Embrace and transition for a while, then. The overwhelming feelings of Elysium, he said, were simply a first step into the world of the Kindred. True integration, and a sense of home, would come when I selected a covenant. We discussed the covenants, briefly, and I found out that Teresa has lost a member of her covenant to the Carthians, which they gained on top of two newly Embraced Kindred. If I let her give me an offer, Marcus claims it will probably be a good one.
He also pitched the idea of the Ordo Dracul, a more cerebral covenant. I've never exactly been described as such, and told him so. He laughed and said that he had to put it on the table for "his Tessa."
I found out that Marcus has working relationships with many of the supernatural groups across the city, excluding the werewolves. No real office, just friendships, so it's not bothered anyone as of yet.
I discussed how I was slowly going to cultivate my own friendships, when he brought the Sheriff to my attention. The Sheriff had stepped when when the matter of Sophia, the Kindred I killed pre-Embrace, was brought to the floor at Elysium. I come to find out that he took that bullet for me, and the bullet was fired by his "former flame," aka, the Prince. Apparently, some time ago, the then-not-yet Sheriff, Dominic, (who also was not associated with the Camarilla) was on a trip through Seattle when he saved the Prince, Katya Medvedev, from a host of Caitiff (I gather these are unaligned Kindred, though I cannot be certain). He was dragooned into the role of Sheriff, and the pair of them eventually ended up in Chicago. I shall have to consider what to do with this.
Then, the conversation became very serious, very fast.
He called the Sheriff a charlatan, and I asked what he meant (as he had done so twice in my hearing). Apparently, back at the beginning of the middle ages, there was a clan of Kindred named Tremere, talented blood mages. These Kindred sought to Diablerize (literally drink the soul from a victim) certain mages of the time. Apparently, as soon as they began to drink the souls of the mages, they were immediately consumed by "supernal fire," whatever that may be. Even those of the clan not taking part were incinerated, wiping out the clan of Tremere completely.
The curse, however, transferred itself into the mages they had attempted to diablerize. These were called the Tremere Liches (full importance to come).
Sometime later, a covenant calling themselves the Tremere formed to coalesce the teachings of the old clan into a single repository on Blood Sorcerery. The Sheriff is a member of this covenant...and Marcus is a second generation Lich. As such, they both feel more entitled to the name than the other. Hence the "charlatan" comment.
Apparently, if Chicago's mages every found out there was a Lich among them, they'd destroy the city to find it. And now I know something that should not be divulged. (NOTE: Does Nadya know? I'll have to find some way to ask.)
Then I found out the truly dark part. Liches feed on souls, rather than blood. The youngest Liches (those one hundred years and younger) require only one soul a year. The next fifty years drop the interval to nine months. Twenty years after that, every six months. And as the age increases, the interval drops.
He stated that I was probably thinking it was a good thing that Liches are rooted out and destroyed, and that I probably was not wrong. However, I pointed out to him that such a stance was hypocritical. While Kindred do not have to destroy those upon whom they feed, the act of feeding itself is well within the same sphere of "unnatural." He found this amusing, stating that Liches don't need to kill their victims, but it is better for the victims and society as a whole if they do, as they become the very immoral sort that wreak more havoc upon humanity than any supernatural ever could.
We next discussed the killing of feeding victims, with my only experience being the girl that he had procured for me. He apologized, stating that Viviana insisted I had to prove I could kill to survive. He agreed with her, with the caveat that I should endeavor to not let it get that far again. I agreed, stating that having done so, and knowing how it feels when I do, I can be more on guard. He made an offer to make certain I am supplied if I fear my ability to restrain myself.
Thanking him for his generosity, I noted that there is a small part of me that is convinced that I should be furious with him for knowingly leading me into my Embrace, but that strangely enough, I was content. He apologized, stating that he owed Viviana and needed to clear that ledger. He also knew that I wouldn't be put through too much undue harm.
I waved off his apology, citing how I now have a family and Viviana does as well, and how I have already begun to make contacts within the Carthians. All of that combined somewhat balances out the curse I'm now under. He appreciated it, then glanced at his watch and sent me off to find a room. He stopped me, using the name I've given to the Kindred at large - Geralt.
"Thank you for not asking how often I must feed."
I nodded, stating that I had always been taught it was rude to ask one's age, male or female. However, I had already done some basic math on that scale.
Knowing that Marcus is (at least) nearly fifteen hundred years old, and using the scaling intervals he described, the last age he gave me had a ceiling of one hundred seventy years feeding every six months. Given that information, it seems likely that he must feed a few times a week, if not daily.
I made my way to an outer room, feeling uneasy while within another Kindred's territory. I hoped by keeping out of the way, I would be less of an issue when Tessa woke, thereby not necessarily being chewed out for being in "her domain." I sipped off into a very grateful sleep.
Now it is evening again, it having taken me more effort than usual to wake. My dreams were nightmares, filled with the terrors I had so recently had described to me. I have been invited to stay longer, and take part in the training that Marcus goes through with this hunter, Ilsa. I think I may. Knowing may be more the key to power and influence in this city than money. With power, I can make certain that my new family, including my highly dysfunctional branch, are kept safe.
And that is what matters.
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