Saturday, February 1st

Apparently my new condition is innately rife with humor. Agnes sent a rather large basket of gifts, all centered around puns having to do with "eye." I won't bother to list them here, but I have a feeling I will be putting the laptop and iPad to good use in the future.

This is why it gave me great delight when, after arriving at Nadya's penthouse for a meeting, Agnes seemed preoccupied with my somewhat restored left eye. She tried to continuously steer topics towards where and how I had gotten that eye. I, however, made no effort to give her a satisfactory answer.

Part of the reason I kept that secret is simply due to amusement, yes. However, on the whole, the group seems as though they are quite antagonistic toward my sire, mainly for killing me. I would rather not see those two groups come to blows. I also begin to see how Greyson feels with his friendship toward Marcus. I do not doubt that Viviana can be viewed as evil, but I must drink blood to survive, so I am not one to judge.

On this night, discussed the gears we had seen. Greyson called them the God Machine. While ominous in its name, my biggest fear was that we would discuss and worry ourselves into a paralysis. We agreed to inform the rest of the group if we encountered another building with a gear (since our success rate with entering strange buildings was 0 for 3). We also met Nadya's friend Oliver. Apparently, he knew about me and what I had become already. In a panic, Nadya had asked him for help and guidance in terms of my Embrace. As I assume he didn't tell her to stake me and leave me to die, I bear him no ill will. He also keeps interesting acquaintances nearby.

After a round of introductions (and further Agnes-interrogation as to my eye), it was suggested that we look into the recent murder of one Kristine Velroy, a vitriolic fashion critic who had no short list of enemies. On the way, there was a scritching in the glove compartment of Nadya's van. She leaned over to open it...

...and out popped a dog - that spoke in a British accent.

He called himself Bruticus, or Little Brut, and said that he was looking for someone. Nadya told him that the person he had been looking for had died and wasn't coming back. The dog, Little Brut, then offered his services for our venture. I think the only shocked one in the car was Oliver, though Agnes seemed concerned about its creation. It mentioned a family recipe.

We arrived at the building and made our way upstairs. The idea of police presence already had Nadya on edge, but luckily, there was only one. The officer on duty was quite taken in by the performance hysterics of Agnes and Nadya, as each cried about a mysterious attacker. The old man bravely drew his gun and advanced toward the fictional threat.

Inside the apartment, we investigated. Aside from the grisly mess of blood on the floor (which, I will freely admit, made me lick my lips but nothing more) and the wall safe Greyson found, there was little to go on. Greyson found a few magazines and some money. Nadya, unsurprisingly, took it all. We decided to get gone, so Agnes magicked us downstairs and we left via the fire escape. A police car's spotlight found Greyson, and two cops started making their way toward us. Nadya just went invisible and Greyson took off running back into the building. Agnes convinced the officer that we weren't with Greyson, so he left us be. We went and got the van, then picked up Greyson who had apparently gotten away.

In order to get into the morgue, we had to get a "Big Jon" (apparently some kind of hamburger that is at least as big as the dog who wanted it) for Little Brut, so that he would use his contacts. Apparently, his contact was an acquaintance of Nadya's, who, after some discussion, a few remarks regarding "Yes, he's a vampire," and some reason for a congratulations, arranged badges for us.

We pulled into the morgue and found another dog, this one in a hat and trenchcoat. Apparently, this one was just "Brut." Brut had our badges and, after a bark or two at Little Brut (literally, he said the word "bark"), they left and got into a pink Cadillac.

After that wonderful bit of madness had passed, we made our way past a barely interested night clerk and found the body of the woman we were looking for.  Nadya, displaying hitherto unknown faculties, realized that the skin particles under the woman's fingernails were exactly as old as she was - essentially, her own skin. Nadya then started bleeding from her eyes, ears, and nose.

More concerned than hungry, I was a trifle annoyed with Agnes as she pulled me away. However, because of my new vantage point, I was able to see some form of an ephemeral being flee the mirror and go through the wall. Greyson noticed it as well, so after Nadya was cleaned up, we left the morgue. In the van, Greyson grabbed one of the magazines he found at the apartment and found the likeness of the ghost we'd both seen.

Seeking a way to confront the ghost, we discussed various ways of tracking it. Curious, I called my sire, as I assumed my ability to see ghosts had more to do with my eye and bloodline than my Embrace. She told me that at the start I could do very little, but if I found a container and marked it with some of my blood, I could force a ghost to enter it for a short time. Armed with this knowledge, as well as learning that Agnes could summon the ghost, we made our way back to 4430 Hawthorne, the mansion where I was Embraced. On the way, I marked one of Agnes's Thermoses with some of my blood.

At the mansion, we made our preparations, then summoned the ghost. It was angry and was staring daggers at Agnes. I attempted to force it into the bottle (not understanding that Agnes's salt designs would prevent it anyway) and failed. So I wasn't surprised when it turned its attention to me and just blasted me with...whatever force it had at its disposal.

And so it went. I had little direct impact on the battle. However, after it had been "defeated" and began to dematerialize, Agnes was able to force it into the Thermos, the "Govi Bottle." I then promptly gave the bottle to her.

After we returned to Nadya's place, and I retrieved my truck, I made my way back to my safe house.  A text message from Viviana, saying she had a surprise for me. I smiled, then put her advice to good use and used my blood to heal my wounds. After that experience, I was ravenous, but was able to make it home without issue.

As I entered my safe house, I rather quickly found Viviana, her dress slightly askew, and her surprise.

A naked, shivering girl on my table - and Marcus Purcell. Apparently, Marcus had procured a girl that no one would miss - a meal in celebration of my "first adventure as Kindred." (Kindred, it seems so much nicer than the word "vampire.")  I glanced at the girl, then turned away. A girl no one would miss is by no means willing, and whether or not a human will miss her, I would know. How does one reconcile their hunger with that guilt?

The simple answer is survival. If I did not drink, I would be reduced to the state I was in the night of my Embrace. With that hollow rationalization in mind, I drank. I drank that poor girl dry.

After a short discussion, Marcus moved to the corpse and did something that seemed so wrong to me (before I realized that, I am a walking corpse that has to drink blood, and I've the gall to be hypocritical...). He somehow...re-animated the corpse. The corpse stood and stared straight ahead, while Marcus seemed...overly appreciative of her form. They wanted me to admire her, but all I could consider was that I had just killed the girl and now she was some kind of a zombie.

Marcus apologized for entering unannounced and left with the corpse, using some form of darkness to leave the building. Viviana, my sire, applauded my attempts against the ghost, saying that it was rare for Kindred (I will continue using this word as opposed to vampire, I think, less chance of a slip up in public) to try themselves against so dangerous a foe. I had a few miniature lessons and insights, such as her first terrifying view of eternity, the fact that we do, in fact, appear blurry in mirrors and cameras.

I also found out that I am the second person that she has Embraced. She has said that she doesn't intend for me to go the way of him. That can mean many things, but it piqued my curiosity. I am also to be "introduced to the city" soon, at an all-Kindred meeting called "Elysium." There is a ruling body, called the Camarilla, and a "Prince", who is apparently female, beautiful, and kind. I am to meet and be presented to them, as a requirement.

Finally, she suggested I go to Marcus to learn how best to use my new acquisition, my sword cane. I don't trust him, but I also know that, to this point, he hasn't wished any lasting, permanent harm to me. I will probably pursue this.

I need a new place to live, something more fitting (and less embarrassing if my sire decides to stay over). My odd, random thought is to pursue the mansion on Hawthorne, family history and such. I've used Agnes's thoughtful gift of the laptop to research the property. I've a few hours until dawn to amuse myself...