Kent By Night

Set in June/July 2012

Brighton Knights, Brighton Daze

~Departure~

Elliot looked at his watch, he still had a few minutes spare before his employer, Mr Ahrimane, was expecting to be collected. He knew he had to be prompt, on the dot. Being released at this time in his life, after thirty years service, would be a bad thing to say the least. Gunning the engine of the 18 Seat Hummer Limo he eased forward. He'd driven both Hummers and Limousine's before, but this hire by Mr Ahrimane was to say the least ostentatious but utterly in keeping with his behaviour.

Pulling up crisply outside the building Mr Ahrimane occupied, one of many he no doubt owned, Elliot got out, put on his cap, checked his gun and stood by one of of the doors, opening it as the buildings door opened to emit Mr Ahrimane, an aide with a several travel cases and the doting old woman who was the chief of staff to the vampire.

Like a grandmother seeing off a favourite grandchild she brushed off a spot of imaginable dirt from the Armani suit the vampire wore like anyone else would wear a casual t-shirt and jeans.

“Now, you be a good boy, and don't get up to anything that your mother or father might disapprove of you hear?” she gently chided him as she done so.

“Boy? Boy? I'm your senior by a good thirty years you know.” he sighed.

“Yes yes, now go play with your friends and settle all that disagreeable business. If Miss Doakes calls I’ll be sure to tell her that you're occupied and that she may contact you directly on your secondary number” taking a step back the old woman waited until Elliot closed the Hummers door and was driving off before she went back in to the building.

“Dammit Chrissie, can't you turn that down? I'm trying to figure out how this word is meant to be spoken..” Jason called, ineffectively, over the music.

“Piss off, you know I need my music when i'm getting ready to party. And besides, it's pronounced shod n froy duh. Now, be a sweetie and do me up..”

Christina Barr tottered in to the living room, scattered with books, cd's and dvd's, putting a heel through at least one of the library discs Jason had managed to scrounge up from some where.

The heels on her boots more like knife blades that anything some one might actually walk on, and the clingy pvc pencil skirt lacing scandalously open at the back.

“My gods, Ahrimane's not taking you to a brothel is he?”

The Toreador frowned in reply turning tartly around so that Jason might do the skirt up properly, her heel finding its way through another borrowed cd with a crunch.

Elliot opened the limousine’s door and took the bags from the woman who struggled out of the buildings doors screaming obscenities at some one inside who it seemed didn't want to help woth her bags.

“Ma'am” he said helping her in to the dark interior.

Closing the door behind her he returned back to the drivers seat.

“Ma'am? Ma'am? Who does he think I am, a bloody librarian or something...” she muttered as her eyes become accustomed to the unnatural darkness. “And where's the sodding light switch in here..”

“Miss Barr” a voice purred from the dark interior “A pleasure to be able to give you a lift on our little... Jaunt to the coast.”

Christina sat back, her skirt unceremoniously squeaking against the leather upholstered seats.

Several small bulbs flickered to life, marking out star patterns in the cars ceiling.

Her clan mate, Mr Ahrimane sat forward, leaning slightly in to the light, offering her a flute glass.

“Refreshments? I had it freshly squeezed before I left this evening..”

Christina took the proffered glass, sipping delicately from it, savouring the rich coppery taste as it filled her senses.

“Wonderful, thank you” she murmured licking her lips.

Jason looked over his meagre collection of clothes, picked up a few t-shirts, a couple pairs of socks and threw them in the duffel-bag along with a dog eared copy of “Titanias Book Of Magic and Enchantments”, which he was assured by the member of staff was one of the best books there were on modern Wicca. May as well have something to read, just in case. He'd already told work he was feeling ill, something he ate. He'd get some one to knock up a letter for him, that shouldn't be beyond anyone in the Court Of Shadows he theorised.

His ears pricked at the sounds of a throaty roar in the street before the limo came in to view. Throwing a pair of trousers and shirt in to the bag as well he rushed out of the flat he was crashing in. In all honesty, it was a squat, and all his belongings were in the bag so it's not like he'd be fussed if the place was occupied in his absence.

The vehicle stopped, after what seemed like an age of it rolling past him, and the driver crisply approached him, asked to take the bag, stowing it in a forward area, and then opening the door.

Once the door was opened there was a blast of laughter and music, something modern and screamy which he decided instantly he didn't like.

A hand appeared from the gloomy confines and helped him in, Mr Ahrimane sat back allowing the Gangrel to find a seat to his choosing.

Mr Ahrimane had the whole back seat to himself, whilst Christina Barr lounged on the left hand side, close to the inbuilt entertainment system.

“Refreshment Jason?” Asked Mr Ahrimane offering a thin and delicate looking glass half filled with the only thing that had a taste to the Gangrel any more. Blood.

He could feel the car start off once more, and brooded opposite the woman whilst she skipped through various tracks in the limousine's on board library.

“Beyonce? Boyzone? Rihanna? Rasmus? Urgh you really need to get some better tracks on here” Christina opined turning towards her clan-mate before digging out her phone and plugging it in to the stand provided and downloading its contents.

The sound of Elvis came through the buried speakers, before turning in to a clash of drums, guitars and some one offering various words of hip-hop encouragement over the former rock & roll kings soulful singing.

“Gah! Nooo... not that one, I thought I deleted that...” Christina wailed as she quickly changed tracks yet again.

It was going to be a very long journey Jason decided, wishing he had his book to read.

Elliot waited patiently by the door of the Limousine, waiting for the fourth person to come out from a block of flats. It wasn't some where he thought that a Vampire might live, it was all a bit run down, two burned out cars littered the car park, a children’s play park cluttered with empty beer cans and burnt back spoons.

Ten minutes later a group of people exited the building, one of them had a half dozen Rottweiler puppies on a leash, and carried pulled behind himself a large red suitcase.

“You all right mate?” the man asked before handing the suitcase over to the driver.

“Yes sir, thank you” Elliot never really knew how to reply to those others like his boss, they were a mixed bunch, and only in the last year had he seen or heard of so many living in the south of England.

“Goodo” replied the man as his flock of friends departed with the leash of puppies and he all but jumped in to the back of the stretched SUV.

“Alright Ahrimane? Jay, Miss Barr? Got anything to drink? Mind if I smoke?” Borris didn't bother waiting for a reply, pulling out a small tin from a pocket, and promptly filling the car up with the heady smell of marijuana.

“Home grown, anyone want some?” He offered as he rolled a significantly large joint with the skill of some one who could probably do it in a pitch black room whilst keeping an eye out for anyone who might spot him doing it and still appear to be doing little more than just sitting there comfortably.

Mr Ahrimane offered a glass of blood, but declined the offer of the narcotic. Jason followed suit, but Christina quite happily took a rather large lungful, stretching the fabric of her fishnet top as she used her lungs properly once again.

Elliot could barely feel the constant thump of the music from the passenger compartment as he pulled on to the M25 and drove along the near empty motorway towards his destination, Brighton.

“So” Jason glowered over his glass “what are we gonna do when we get there then?”

Christina turned the music down to a less deafening level, the singer was growling about fucking some one like an animal, and she seemed to be singing along under her breath whilst keeping track of the conversation.

“Well, I’ve arranged for us to have the entire top two floors of the Brighton Marriot to ourselves, I’ll have the Penthouse suite naturally, the floor below has three rather spacious apartments which I think you'll find to your tastes.” Offered Mr Ahrimane in his steady tone.

“Marriot? I thought they was turning that in to a rehab centre” Giggled Christina, the drugs settling in to her bloodstream.

“No, I made sure last year that the proposed plan never happened. You know how favourable an impression the press can make on public affairs one way or another.” Ahrimane replied smoothly.

“So, like, are we going to be there for a few days then I take it.” Questioned Boris taking back the smouldering joint.

“Well, I've seen to it that we have access to those rooms for the next two weeks, I don't think we'll be there that long in all honesty. We'll need a couple of days to get to know the area. Christina, you come from this direction don't you? You might be the best person to act as out guide or facilitator in this matter. I must confess it's been some years since I was in the neighbourhood.”

“Yup. Not a problem. I'll call some friends tomorrow, get them canvassing the area for the better places to go, then we can utterly avoid them. To much hype for some of those bars really. We'll be better off looking in to any beach parties, Shovel Heads are as fond of them as any idiot that believes all that Lost Boys rubbish. Great recruiting tool that film is for them, and admittedly Keifer is a bit cute in them..” She trailed off, lost suddenly in some dream before blushing and taking a to large drink from her flute glass.

“I should be able to figure out where Sanders actually went, with luck he may have left some form of residual emotional link I can pick up. We might learn something new from that as well. We'll also need to look in to that address his rats were able to impart to us. Boris, do you think you might be able to do that with Jason first thing tomorrow evening? If we're exceptionally lucky that twisted woman thing will still be there. I don't think she would have been one of those who died on the way in to Sheppey..”

“Yep, not a problem. If it's ok, I’ll hit that at say ten? I'll need to look in to something in the area first. Got a little other business to sort out.”

Jason simply nodded, he didn't care really, the smell of all this leather was starting to make him hungry, and the small amount offered in the glasses was doing nothing to help the matter.

“Well then that's agreed. Tomorrow will be a purely investigative evening. I don't think it'd be to good to go to the nearest biker bar and start a fight right away. Those sorts of things never end well.” Said Ahrimane.

“Oh I dunno” Boris chuckled “I had great fun last time I done that”

~The Marriot~

With the two and a half hour journey behind them each of the vampires were shown to their rooms, given a tour of the facilities and asked if there was anything else they required. For the group Ahrimane said there was nothing else they required, other than to be left undisturbed until further notice.

It was barely two in the morning, and Christina was busy texting and trading rumours with people she knew when she used to live in the area, the relaxing buzz of Boris’s narcotics slowly filtering out of her system and filling her with a gnawing hunger.

“Damn bloody munchies...” she muttered sending off a message before picking up the hotels phone.

“Hello, Reception how can I help” came a voice.

“Oh hi, I’m feeling a little peckish, is there anyone that could rustle me a salad or something? Nothing much just a small portion will be fine..”

“Yes certainly. What sort of salad would you like? Our staff can prepare anything you like.”

“Oh, I don't know, surprise me. Not fish though, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

“Certainly, some one will be up shortly”

“And please, charge it to Mr Ahrimane he's offered to pay i'm told.”

“Certainly Ma'am”

Hanging up the phone she hissed again.

“Ma'am? Ma'am? Sodding hell, that does it. No more pencil skirts for me!”

Borris checked his watch. Half two. Should still be plenty of people out and about on town he thought to himself.

Grabbing a quick squirt of lynx and throwing his jacket on he headed out.

Walking past Jason's room he heard no noise or indeed any indication of habitation, however as he walked past Christina's he noticed a food cart outside her room, however he was pretty sure the member of staff belonging to the trolley was inside and providing some other service to the hedonistic Toreador.

Waving at the staff as he left he let his senses sharpen, and was soon able to discern the pungent stench of cannabis.

With a smile he headed in the direction of where the heady smell was coming from.

Brighton wasn't going to be all that bad he'd decided.

“'And it harm none do what thou wilt'” Jason read aloud from the book. No matter how many times he read it it just didn't seem proper.

Thou? Wilt? Oh gods so long as the Mystics he was looking for didn't expect him to speak like that. And why did the book refer to “Sky Clad” what the hell was that? You dress up as clouds?

Looking in the small reference section in the back of the book he found out what it meant. Cursed himself for thinking it was anything other than an allusion to working naked, and then decided that if the Tremere or the Mystics done stuff naked then he might have to just knuckle down and picture certain people with their clothes on in future.

Blowing four of the five candles in front of him he couldn't help but feel a small thrill as the wisps of smoke curled up and away from him. Leaving him with just the one candle to focus on, to meditate with before dawn finally took over him and forced him to slumber.

The following evening each of the kindred descended and met in the lobby.

Ahrimane gave each of them a nod.

“Ok, we all know what we're doing yes? Christina if you Network, Jason and Boris, check out the block of flats after you've dealt with what ever business it was you wanted to tend to. I'll escort Christina for a while. If we all meet up at say, one o'clock? There's a Starbucks just by the pier, it has an upper floor, I’ll meet you there. We can see what the lay of the land is and then decide on other actions. If anything comes up before then call me.”

Offering an arm to his clan-mate he walked out, listening as she spoke about several bars she used to frequent a couple of years ago before they went a bit downhill.

~B's Appartment~

Boris looked at the scrap of paper, checking he had the address right.

The building in front of him was a brownfaced five story affair, probably built in the late seventies or early eighties.

The two vampires looked at each other, sighed and shrugged.

“Fake pizza delivery? I've used that one in the past..” Offered Boris.

“Sure, we can try. Person we want is on the third floor, so lets press for some one on the fourth. Judging from the size of the place, there's maybe four flats on each floor. Odds at the front, evens at the back of the building. So, flat four on floor four yeah?”

“Sounds like a plan Jay” said Boris as he pressed a few times on the button.

“Hallo?” A heavily accented, possibly Russian, voice rang out after a few moments.

“Oh yeah, hi, Er Pepe's Pizza. Is that flat three? Got your Special, garlic bread and nuggets.”

“No no, this is flat four. Sorry.”

“Ah can you buzz me in, I’ll head up to them with the stuff. They keep having problems with the bell I think. Cheers” Boris yanked the door open as the buzzer sounded and the accented voice cut off.

“Stupid sods, no one in my block does that. They know it's always an invite for trouble. Guess this lot here ain't all that close.”

Jason followed behind, his claws already forming as they got the to the third floor. Upstairs they heard a door slam shut.

“Reckon you can kick it down Boris?”

“Yeah no problemo buddy..” Taking a step back Boris put a swift boot to the lock, shattering it inwards with a loud crack. The door slammed in, to reveal a nightmare in pink fluffy cushions and disco balls sparkling from the hallway light.

A gentle hum echoed out as the two went in to the flat, closing the door behind them.

Giving the flat a quick once over all they could find was an impressive selection of vibrators and some rather tacky poor quality BDSM clothing that even Anne Summers would be ashamed to sell.

“Well Boris, it'd be fair to say it's fled. Judging by the post no more than seven days ago as well. Which means It didn't assault the Island with the rest of the war party.”

“Good news, means we get to kick some what ever it is's arse. What was that hum by the way did you find out?”

“Yeah, you know when you kicked the door? There was a thingy with suckers on it, it fell of and started up when it hit the floor.”

“You're shitting me?”

“Nope.” Jay went over to the closed door and picked up the fist shaped vibrator. “Need a hand Boris?”

“Nah I'm good ta. Weirdos having shit like that kicking about. Any hint on where It went?”

“Well, I did find a note saying 'to anyone that comes here I am at a different address'.”

“So that's a no then you cocky sod.” laughed the Brujah kicking what looked like a sea slug across the floor at the Gangrel.

“Fuck me stupid...” Exclaimed Boris “And no that’s not a request. Didn't those rats say something about hook ups at the Sealife centre?”

“Yeah. It's where the Shovelhead Ghoul worked. Why?”

“What say we give em a visit?”

“They'll be closed. Might still be open when we get up tomorrow. Can drop in then if you like.”

“Outstanding plan. Right, my watch makes it three and a half hours before we gotta go meet the Toreador. Fancy a pint? I met some people yesterday and I got some trade to finish off with them.”

“Sure, so long as you don't mind me tagging along.”

~Teardrop Club~

Ahrimane looked down from a balcony, so this is what the young people do with themselves these days is it he thought to himself as he look across the dance floor of writhing bodies.

A sea of black, quite pretty to watch the fluid movements of people high on amphetamines and alcohol.

The odd splash of colour marred the scene, like fish surfacing on a night time coral, before they were lost once again in the sea of black bodies.

He could see Christina in the middle of them, a small group forming around her, mid dance she'd make some high pitched noise and then launch herself at some one, hugging them, kissing them & whispering to them something that elicited a sudden smile before once again she was off dancing.

Dressed in another suit, his perpetual dark glasses and a slight scowl he almost fit in.

Admittedly he wasn't in the leathers, rubbers or pvc's like many of the dancers down on the floor, but there were others dressed like him so he didn't stand out to badly.

He could tell that only he and Christina were the only ones of their kind in the club.

A brief glance around, barely any effort at all for him told him that over in one corner something dangerous lurked, a solitary woman, dressed like anyone else there, her aura marred with clashes of sparkles and streaks of bloody red. A Magi. A Real Magi.

~Christina, we have a problem. This is someone else’s territory. Do not feed from anyone down there~ He cast his thoughts out to the dancing Toreador.

She spun round on the dance floor and locked eyes with him within moments, a look of questioning marring her face.

~Magi. The Bad Sort. Satanist type..~

A look of surprise now on Christina's face as she quickly looked around, unable to see the Magi however, she quickly left the dance floor and worked her way through the lower level of the club to the stairs leading up to the balcony.

~Far booth, dressed like an extra from that irritable Marilyn Manson fellows videos you enjoy~

Christina said nothing, just standing next to Ahriman and pretended to whisper in his ear so that she might look over his shoulder and see who he was talking about.

“She looks pretty. Do you think she knows we exist?”

~Have you ever drank from a Magi?~

“Once, I had such a rotten hangover for a month though. Known a few wannabe Fangbangers who thought they were wizards. Dungeons and Dragons has a lot to answer for.”

~Fangbangers? Do I really want to know..~

“No sweetie you don't. I think I might go see if I can sit over there.. my poor ickle legs are killing me.” With a laugh Christina wandered over to the booth and sat unceremoniously down with a sigh.

“Heya. Good club eh? Not been here before.” She called out over the music, constantly keeping up a stream of conversation, one sided.

The woman looked at her, sighed and took a sip from her bottle.

~She's trying to make you go away. She doesn't appear to be very powerful. I think I’ll come and join you. I think it might be funny to play with her a little.~

Turning away from the balcony Ahrimane went to the bar, and then went over to where the Toreador was still keeping up a constant stream of conversation. The woman had stopped watching the dance floor and was now focused on Christina. She barely registered Ahrimane sitting down next to her.

She was blocked in, one vampire across from her, another right next to her.

Passing one of the bottles over to Christina, Ahrimane left his on the table.

“Aradia, I leave you alone for two minutes and you begin to pester some one else. Still, its the only place where there are seats, so good call. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“Sorry, um.. I don't think I caught your name before sweetie?” she looked at the Magi, her eyes locking and she forced her will in to the stare.

“Circe.”

“Ooh nice name. Gaelic for witch isn't it?

“Greek.”

“Oops, silly me, of course it is. I'm Aradia, this is Crowley. Say hello Crowley.”

“Hello Crowley” Circe murmured.

~Oh dear gods. You've broken her already. And Crowley? Really?~

“No no sweetie, not you, him.”

“Yes, Good evening Miss Circe.” Ahrimane bit back a laugh, offering his hand.

Keeping hold of her hand Ahrimane turned her head so he could look her in the eye and impose his will on her.

“Tell me Circe, do you know what I am?”

Christina disappeared under the booths table momentarily before reappearing on the same side as Ahrimane/Crowley and the Magi, Circe.

The Magi was between them both.

“Look at me, look at her, and tell me what you see..” He leaned in, whispering in to her ear, seeing her pulse quicken as she used what ever Sight she had to truly perceive them both.

Fear, stark yellow fear filled her aura.

~Hmm, delicious.. I think a month long hangover might be worth it..~

Christina emptied one of the beer bottles under the table and put it in front of Circe.

“Be a sweetie, give me your arm...”

Unable to refuse the Magi snaked an arm out to her side, and felt the sting as Christina sliced her flesh open with a fang, letting some of the precious liquid remain on her lips before licking it off with a moan of pleasure.

When the bottle was over half full she done the same with the other bottle, emptying its contents on the floor before passing it to Ahrimane to do the same with the other wrist.

With the bottles full each vampire licked the wound they had made, and the holes closed up, leaving little more than small puckers, which in turn settled down to look like nothing more than a birthmark or needle mark.

~Well, I think we have business else where to attend. She well leave this woman with some pleasant memories? I've marked her aura, she won't be to hard to track down again should we ever feel the need..~

Christina nodded and squeezed over the lap of the Magi.

“I guess we should go see if the others have found anything useful.. I've let a few old friends know I’m back in the area. By tomorrow evening I'll have a comprehensive list of places to look in to. You never know, we might bump in to that sweetie again.” Christina laughed a little as she collected both the bottles and headed to the bar and brazenly asked for a couple of corks, to prevent people dropping stuff in the bottles she explained to another person at the bar.

~Starbucks~

Christina nursed a double choco mocha gingerbread and mint latte whilst Ahrimane held a strong smelling espresso to his lips, feigning drinking from it. Both were starting to feel the effect of the barest taste of Magi blood. Colours sharper, tastes bolder, noises clearer.

“Well, I think with moderation such an acquired taste might be worth following up now and then.” Spoke Ahrimane over the lip of his small cup.

“It's a heady flavour, you have to be careful, I've known others in the past become addicted to it. Same as Garou Blood. Don't let Boris know about it now..” Replied Christina wiping froth from her lips.

“Know about what” Boomed a voice from the stair well, Boris coming up with Jason in tow, both looking a little flushed, creases in the corner of their eyes as if they had a smile they couldn't quite shift.

“That I’m quite the mover on the dance floor apparently.” Ahrimane quickly covered.

“Really? I'll have to see that some time..” Laughed Jason.

The two new comers pulled over some comfy arm chairs, sitting opposite the two Toreador.

“So, what did you find out at the apartment block? Was It home as I suspected?”

“You were half right” Replied Boris.

“Oh? How so?” Interjected Christina.

“Geesh let me get me words out woman why don't you.. Anyway, yeah some one was still living at the flats up until last week before they cleared out. Took most of their clothes and some personal effects. Left half the sex toys of Soho kicking around the place though”.

At this Jason laughed again, but quickly composed himself under the withering gazes of Christina and Ahrimane.

“Uh, we also remembered that the patsy worked at the Sealife centre. It was closed when we got there, but it's got some kind of late night opening on Saturday. I figured either of you two might know some one who could make them think one of us was a concerned flatmate or relative looking for them since they went missing last month.” Jason quickly explained.

“Hmm, Saturday. That's still a couple of nights away. I can get one of my people to start that process, missing persons report sort of thing, posted in tomorrows paper. That'll lay the groundwork for you. Christina, do you think you might have a chat with anyone you know, see if you can build on it before these two go there on Saturday to speak to the manager?”

“Mmm hmm not a problem sweetie, I think I know some one who will do very nicely for that..”

“Ok. Well, the clubs are still be looked in to, I think if we cover a few more tonight, then we can hit the beach tomorrow. Beach parties tend not to happen midweek. We've already been to Teardrop and Forbidden, so don't bother with them. Besides neither of you would fit in there, dressed how you are. You two tackle the more mainstream bars, Yates, Peacock, Whitbread places. Me and Miss Barr will attend to another couple of places tonight. See you both tomorrow.” Ahrimane smelled his espresso once more, before putting the cup down.

“Come along. Aradia..”

The Brujah and Gangrel looked at each other as the other two went down stairs.

“Aradia? What the fucks that about?” Quizzed Boris.

“Well, according to a book I've been reading, Aradia is the queen of witches on the mortal realm, Titania is the queen of witches in the Fairy realm. Maybe he was calling her a witch but all snidely.” Replied Jason with out even thinking as he followed Boris downstairs and up the road to a rather loud bar.

~Sealife Centre~

Two nights later the kindred met once again in the lobby of the Marriot, Ahrimane was speaking to the driver of his limousine.

“Fetch the car here for eleven o'clock, you're to drive us around for a little while, get the car seen a bit. Then take us to Club Revenge. It's on a corner with traffic lights, so expect some unhappy drivers in the area when you park up.”

“Yes sir, shall do.” Replied Elliot.

Ignoring his driver he turned to the three others.

“Ah good evening, I trust you all slept well again.” Each assented in turn. “Well, we've a busy evening ahead of us. Borris, Jason, you wanted to go directly to the Sealife Centre yes? I had a colleague place a missing persons story in one of the local papers, it would have been circulated today, so locals would have read it or seen it mentioned on the news. Christina, were you able to get your person on the matter as well?”

“Mmm hmm sweetie, a policeman of my personal acquaintance made a few discrete phone calls today asking about the poor missing boy, spoke directly the to duty manager of the Sealife Centre, April Malloy. So that should be firmly in their minds now, they won't be surprised if some one comes along asking questions in person.”

“Excellent. After going there, I think you two should mooch along the beach front, Christina and I will be looking in to another couple of clubs tonight. Prior to that I’ll be looking in to the matter of the pier myself. Right, let's get cracking people..”

With that each went about their own tasks, Jason and Boris walked back in to town to where throngs of the usual holiday makers were starting to thin out and the locals starting to fill the streets instead.

Jason was the first to speak as they walked along.

“So, we've been here four days, including today, to be honest this town doesn't seem to have any kindred in it.”

“Yeah it is a bit odd. But you've got to remember, if the Sabbat held this town they would have slaughtered any Camarilla they come across. If there are any remaining, and they see us, they'll just assume we're just Sabbat. Let's face it, if they watched you and me they'd have seen two guys going out, having a few pints, having a smoke and generally kicking arse and taking names. If they'd have watched the other two they'd see.. Well I don't know what they'd see to be honest. I know that some of the Sabbat can be as foppish as the Camarilla, so they might just assume they're those guys that control the area.”

“Yeah I guess. When you put it like that it makes sense.” Replied Jason as they came to the Sealife Centre, a steady but thin stream of people still coming and going from its doors.

Boris held the door open for Jason, the stench of piss and cheap plastic toys filled their nostrils momentarily before the air conditioned cleaner smelling air crept through.

Approaching the desk Jason took the lead, waiting in line for his turn to be served.

“Hi, We're here to see a Miss Malloy. Medway Police.”

The boy behind the counter looked at the pair then picked up a phone from under the counter.

“Uh April, got a couple of cops here to see you. Ok, yep I'll get Steve to bring them down to you.”

The pair followed a spotty youth down a series of corridors and steps, eventually coming to a door marked A.Mallo. Mgr.

The stain of age showed where a Y would have been placed once, but had since been damaged or peeled off. Knocking at the door the spotty lad, Steve, opened it up in to a small office, behind a cheap desk sat a fat woman. Greasy hair scraped back and tied off with bit of pink ribbon.

Standing she offered her hand, then motioned to two chairs.

“Can I get you a tea or coffee?” She burbled, clearly nervous at having what she thought were two policemen in her office.

“Thank you no, we don't drink.” Spoke Jason before adding “on duty, don't want to get caught short if we have to dash off anywhere.”

The woman nodded, her chins jostling for position before settling down.

The boy, Steve, left the room, closing the door behind him.

“I'm Officer Smith, my partners name is Smith too.” Boris flashed his wallet, to quickly for the woman to see that the shiny badge was a simple child’s toy sheriff badge and the photo ID was in fact just a drivers license.

“Oh, yes, I spoke to another officer on the phone today. They did say that some one might come along, ask the staff a few questions.” The woman was clearly nervous, it probably wasn't very often she'd have to deal with police, or even fake police for that matter.

“Anything you can tell us would be deeply appreciated.” Spoke Boris, taking a small note pad and pen from a pocket inside his jacket as he put the wallet away.

“Well, I thought it was a bit odd when Andy didn't turn up for work. After a couple of weeks I stopped bothering to phone his mobile, it didn't connect. I figured he'd just upped and moved out of the area. I know he was having trouble paying his rent, I couldn't give him more hours though.”

“Trouble with rent” Boris muttered, pretending to note it down as if it was vital evidence. “Could you just confirm his address for us please.”

The woman struggled up from behind her desk and moved over to a row of filing cabinets, opening one marked “Staff” she pulled out a file.

“Ah here you go.” She put the file down in front of Jason and Boris, the latter writing the address down on a fresh page in his pad.

“Thank you, now if we could speak to the staff?” Asked Jason, standing. He was starting to feel caged in, knowing that at any moment all those tons of water might crack the glass tanks and flood the building was doing nothing for him either.

“Oh yes, certainly. Steve out side will be able to take round all the staff that may have been on shifts with Andy.” Holding the door open for the pair she spoke to the lad, directing him to do as asked then to fetch her a tea and doughnut when he was done.

Once the pair were gone April Malloy went to an adjoining office, knocking on the door before opening it.

Sprawled on the table was the Man/Woman thing, grunting in exertion whilst an armless worm looking thing, barely the size of a young child, performed what might only be described as a noisy slurping sex act with its oversized lips on the supine Tzimisce.

“Police, two of them. They were looking for Andy. I've given them his address..” The Sealife Centre manager looked on as the vampire arched its back, letting out a shrill yell of pleasure before it pushed the worm child thing away, leaving it fully exposed as it sat up on the desk.

“Well now, aren’t you a doll...” It smiled, sliding off of the table walking towards the manager. Its malformed erection twitching, leaving gobbets of bloody semen dripping on the floor with each step it took. “You've been so good to little old me, I think you should be rewarded, don't you..”

It was close to ten o'clock by the time they had spoken to various members of staff around the building, and they were ushered out with the last of the customers in to the shop area whilst the rest of the building was checked and then closed down for the night.

“Fuck me, she reminded me of the marshmallow man from ghost busters” Boris quipped as they finally left the building “I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot barge pole. Fuck, I wouldn't touch it with your barge pole neither..”

“Guess we better see if we can find a beach party or two huh?” Jason laughed, shoving a few leaflets in to his pocket. He might come back at some point, watch the animals for a bit some day.

~The Pier~

The noise of the surf lapping at the pebbles, the nearby fairground, the people on the board walk above his head, all enhanced by what he'd sipped at earlier before seeing the other.

Opening his mind, allowing his senses to be flooded by all the available information at hand. Trying to find those elusive traces of Sanders aura, or rather, utter lack of it.

Shuddering at remembering the utter blackness, cold chilling nothingness, that surrounded Sanders like a second skin.

Looking around, picking up the barest trace of the now very dead ghouls aura, marked with fear, marked with excitement. Spotting another trace, following next to the aura, tainted similarly. Marked with the signs of Sabbat connections, the mixing of many blood types, Vaulderie.

The traces left the beach where he expected them to, heading in the direction of the block of flats.

Able to refocus his mind, he saw where the traces returned, spotting other auras, marred like cancer by the Vaulderie.

Leaning against the pier briefly he opened his mind, Sanders may have brushed against it, enough for him to pick up on. Nothing.

Looking out from the shadows of the pier Ahrimane watched the interplay of the other auras.

Then a sudden bright flash, enough to make him throw his hand in front of his eyes and wince in pain, before turning away, only to realise that it was an after image of the explosion Sanders used to kill himself and two of the Sabbat.

Blinking bloody tears out of his eyes, trying to shake the glare, Ahrimane look at the back of his hand, expecting to see it seared but thankfully there was no mark.

Wiping the blood from his face with a cloth from his breast pocket Ahrimane walked back up to the main road. Savouring the sudden rush of living and vital auras around him.

~Revenge~

Elliot took a a good three quarters of an hour to drive around, annoying some of the drivers with his oversized vehicle before parking outside the club doors. The smell of the Harry Ramsden restaurant made him realise that he'd not had anything to eat yet.

Holding the limousine's door open for his boss, who in turn helped the woman out, Elliot ignored the honking from drivers, casually flipping his jacket open as one driver started to get verbal.

The driver saw the pistol nestled under his armpit and quickly went silent, brooding behind the steering wheel.

Arrhythmic music pumped out from speakers, neon flashes of glow sticks as people waved them around, or wore them around their necks. Only behind the bar was there anything that looked to be regular lighting, casting an island in the darkness.

Christina sauntered through the crowed, turning heads of women as she passed, a slight smile on her lips, self assured, daring, alluring.

Ahrimane walked behind her, watching the sway of her fur coat, watching the crowd part where ever Christina turned her gaze.

Open stares of lust showed on the faces of those who looked on the pair.

~Oh what it is to be us in a place like this. Regardless of their sexuality we could have any of them and they would be powerless to stop us. Marvellous...~

Christina threw a smile over her shoulder, fangs blue in the glare of a glow stick, then shrugged off her coat, showing the club wear beneath and moving in to the press of bodies with the grace of a shoal fish in water.

~I'll keep hold of your coat shall I then?~ Ahrimane sent in her direction before he turned to the bar, ordering a whiskey then slipping in to the shadows, pulling them around him, seeing but unseen by those in the club.

It was nearly four in the morning when Christina left the dance floor, flushed from small feedings here or there as she danced. She cast her mind out, and found Ahrimane, the shadows slipping from him as she approached, haloed by a glow stick crown.

“Well, you'll be pleased to know that this is the club where that thing comes to. No ones seen it for a couple of weeks now however. Daisy over there” Pointing at a large transvestite dressed like some thing that might be seen in a Christmas pantomime “helped it move out last Thursday. He was going to pop round, collect the post and drop it off to where it was staying for the time being. Just outside of town, a block of flats, he doesn't know the name of the road, just knows you take the number five bus, get off at the Asda on the hill, walk round the back of it and its the second block on the left. Flat seven. Third floor. Oh and the lifts broken apparently.”

“Excellent. If it's still alive, for want of a better word, then tomorrow we'll get it. Did Daisy give It a name perchance?”

“Bob.” She laughed in response, shrugging the fur coat back on with the help of Ahrimane.

“Bob. There are I suspect so many Blackadder jokes I could make right now.”

“I know right!” Exclaimed Christina, taking her clan mates arm and walking out in to the chilly night.

The ground was wet they each noted as they climbed in to the car, bad night to be looking for a beach party on.

~Jabberwocky~

Elliot had orders to get a smaller car to use the following night, something with decent boot space, and had managed to secure a Vauxhall Meriva for a few days from a local hire company.

“This should be more than plenty enough space” He decided, driving it around, it didn't stick out like the limousine did, it had a decent acceleration and brake speed and plenty of room for his boss and guests.

“Elliot, remain ready to collect us. I'll drive tonight.” Ahrimane said to his chauffeur taking the keys from him.

Dressed in more casual clothing, a large duffel bag slung over one shoulder Ahrimane walked off.

Might as well go get some fish & chips then I guess thought Elliot as he wandered in to town.

“Bramble Way. That's what the sat-nav says where we should be going. It's the third lot on the left hand side” Jason looked up from the small screen and directed Ahrimane to where they were going.

Christina checked the laces on her boots, made sure her sleeveless t-shirt didn't prevent any form of movement and then checked her lipstick in a small mirror.

“Well, I don't want to get in to a fight looking pants do I?” She said as Boris looked at her. “And you could have at least changed your clothes once this week Boris.”

“I did, I just happen to have a lot of things that look the same. Means I don't have to worry about matching or accessories.” He quipped back.

They bantered as they drove the few miles to Carden Park from the town centre.

Their moods were high, earlier on they discovered that the Ghoul who died on the road the Sheerness was having his old flat used by the elusive Tzimisce. With any luck they'd find It there, and put paid to the Sabbat in Brighton once and for all.

“Last stop ladies and gents, we have reached our terminus...” Announced Jason.

“Ooh big words today Mr Morris..” Giggled Christina getting out of the car.

To anyone else they looked like just a group of people returning home after a day out. Casually dressed, a couple of big bags between them.

Ahrimane checked the shotgun under his jacket and removed his customary shades, casting his eyes around.

“Yes, the taint of them is here quite strongly. I'd recommend caution. If we're lucky we'll catch It off guard” He spoke.

“Oh I hope to be very unlucky then, I want a serious rut with something tonight.” Growled Borris, already filling with rage, slipping off his brown leather jacket and leaving it on the back seat of the car.

Jason remained silent, sniffing the air, a strange scent prickling at his nose suddenly.

“CONTACT” He shouted, suddenly sprinting towards a man that had come out of the block of flats they were due to be going to.

Christina was close behind him, fangs bared and hands formed in to claws much like his.

With a howl and a leap he landed on the man and started tearing and swiping at him, ripping out large chunks of flesh, shredding flesh and breaking bones before the man could even do anything to respond.

In moments it was over, Jason, bloody and covered in gore looked at the corpse in front of him.

Clearly it wasn't human, it had some work done on it, teeth fused in to one solid plate, bony spurs on its arms.

“Pathetic” He growled and turned to the others. “C'mon. They know we're here..”

Christina looked down on the Gangrels handy work, damn he was fast, gutted the thing before she'd had a chance to get there.

Boris wrenched the blocks main doors off the hinges, left them laying in the hallway and caught up with the others once they had passed him.

Bounding up the stairs Jason sniffed the air again, putting a hand up for everyone to stop.

“I smell a lot of them. One big nasty thing, Bob I assume, and seven or eight other things, less smelly. Pretty new I’d guess. They won't be a problem. Bob might be though.”

“Well, lets go kick arse and take some names eh” Laughed Boris shouldering past the others and heading up to the third floor.

“Pepes Pizza Delivery..”Ahrimane knocked on the door with the butt of his gun.

A ghoul answered the door, nearly normal looking until it received a shotgun blast to the face and collapsed. Boris and Jason kicked the door fully open and charged in, fists and claws swinging.

The three things in the room beyond didn't stand a chance, one was gutted and its spine snapped before it could even get out of the beanbag it was slumped in, another had it's head wrenched to one side, the crunch and snap of bone filling the room above the Abba soundtrack playing loudly, filling the flat with happy Swedish tunes. The third one was nearly ripped in two by the pair of them as they both grabbed and arm and yanked.

The stench of gore and viscera filled the small space.

Christina stepped in, hearing a noise from a room of to one side, the kitchen.

A ghoul, its mouth welded in to a rictus grin, stood there with a knife in each hand.

Slamming her will against the ghouls she whispered “Stop. Drop the knives. Kneel before me” The ghoul twitched, its limbs responding to the command placed on it by the Toreador before it was leapt upon by her, fangs sinking deep in to its neck, her claws digging deep in to its rib cage, snapping bone as she yanked her hands back out, pulling lumps of blackened lungs, to many years smoking she surmised, through the rents.

From another room a bellow echoed, and a form crashed through the door frame, slamming in to Jason and Borris, knocking them over, before it continued towards Ahrimane, swinging a bony studded limb at him, catching him in the chest and slamming him in to the wall, crushing the weak plasterboard there.

With another roar and bellow the thing stood to its full height, almost eight feet tall, its body mass twice that of any other person in the room, all for good reason, the thing, this monstrous mockery of the human form was made from two people, one head atop the shoulders, the other upside down and in its groin, vicious rending teeth snapping away at Ahrimane, catching him on the arm and slicing easily through the flesh, the gun dropping from his numbed hand.

“Poison, it's poisonous!” He gasped out in agony backing away as much as he could from the scissoring teeth.

Christina looked up, spitting blood from her mouth and turning her attention to the monstrosity before her. It was way to big for her to handle alone, and she doubted it hand much of a mind for her to control. Quickly looking over to where the Gangrel and Brujah were sprawled she saw they were already getting to their feet and sizing up the thing as well.

In the background the track skipped.

“My, my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender, Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way”

The thing lashed out once again at Ahrimane, its attention focussed on him, slamming its arm down, crushing the tiles between his legs as he scrabbled back even more through the hole in the wall.

The gnashing toothy maw snapped at the retreating legs, missing them narrowly.

Something landed on its back, slicing and gouging with claws, then another thing sliced at its legs from behind.

“The history book on the shelf, Is always repeating itself”

The thing staggered forwards, towards the prone vampire, knocking away even more wall as it advanced on him.

“Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war, Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more ”

A roar of gunshots, four or five in close succession, each one striking the thing in the chest, having little effect other than to anger it even more.

“Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to, Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you ”

More irritation as things sliced at its back and legs, then something in its leg snapped, a backwards knee joint spewing blood.

“Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo”

Another roar, thunderous in the close confines of the room, the scything maw exploded in a torrent of blood, bone and grey pulp, as Boris pumped the shotgun and emptied another round in to its other head whilst Christina and Jason ripped chunks of flesh from the thing.

“My, my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger, Oh yeah, and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight ”

Slowly the thing toppled forward, towards Ahrimane, before collapsing on top of him.

It's numbing poison spreading through his body preventing him from moving out of the way.

“And how could I ever refuse, I feel like I win when I lose ”

Still filled with rage, his blood boiling, Boris pumped more rounds in to the thing, before he ran out of ammo and then started pounding the corpse, ignoring the fact that a comrade was stuck under it.

It took both Jason and Christina to pull him off of the body, Christina slammed her will in to his, forcing him to calm down, to stop his relentless assault on the thing.

The song skipped then started to repeat itself on the last few seconds, over and over until Borris threw the gun at it, shattering the stereo in an impressive display of sparks.

“Dammit, get this thing off of me...” Ahrimane coughed feebly, his lungs filling with blood from the pressure of the thing on top of him and the poison in his veins.

Boris, is rage spent looked at the carnage around him and began laughing. He looked at his gore soaked friends, and laughed harder before he grabbed the shattered leg of the monstrosity and pulled it away from Ahrimane.

“Need to drink... not this stuff.. it's corrupt..” Ahrimane coughed once more before passing out. The stress on his body to much to stand any longer.

Jason and Boris quickly looked around the flat, certainly signs of Bob were evident, and not just in the bizarre ghoulish creations.

Sex toys, bad fetish clothing, an abundance of pink and shiny things.

Boris looked at the fridge and noticed an club card on there, slipping it in to his pocket, something to check out at a later time.

Jason and Christina carried the unconscious Ahrimane down to the car, putting him in the boot, where no one would see him.

“I'll wait here, go get Boris” Christina said, prompting Jason to head back in to the block of flats.

Dragging the thing he'd killed not five minutes earlier in to the building and dumping it in the flat.

Boris was busy looking through the pockets of the people they'd butchered, taking what ever money, cards and ID he could find.

“Come on, we got to get Ahrimane seen to.” Jason prompted him.

Looking around Boris nodded before heading in to the kitchen.

Gas cooker. Perfect.

Twisting all the knobs on full for the appliance before looking for a lighter, finding one in a drawer next to the cooker, along with several tea light candles.

“Oh too bloody perfect..”

Heading in to the front room he placed a few of the candles close to the bodies, lit them and then walked out of the flat, closing the door behind himself as much as was possible.

As they drove away, bloody and battered there was a dull crumph of an explosion, a flicker of flames registered in the rear view mirror.

~Seen but Unseen~

Two days and nights passed before the poison was burned out of Ahrimanes system, the hotel suffered a string of sickness calls and strange lethargies amongst its staff.

“What have we learned?” Ahrimane croaked, sipping at the bottle given to him. Christina had spoken to Elliot, who in turn returned to his bosses haven and came back with several bottles of blood from a willing group of people who gave frequently for Ahrimane to consume.

“Well, me and Jason went over to that bar I said about. Bob had never been seen there, it was a proper bikers place, not one of those Village People bars. Decent music, a bit of smoke, some pretty skirt. It may have recruited from their via proxies or thought about doing a mass conversion there at some point. Other than that, a dead end.” Boris chirped up. His mood had calmed down after a couple of days and a lot of smoke.

He'd read in the local paper about a “Tragic” accident in a drug den in the block of flats, how a meth lab had gone boom. No one reported dead, just some injuries of folks living near by.

No mention of the dead things in the flats at all.

“Ok, so this Bob has gotten away scot free then. But we've learned it was the only one left in the area. We've learned that we can take down the things it makes, but we suffer for it. If Luther were here it wouldn't have been much of a problem. I think we need to have some people stationed here permanently. We'll need to discuss this with the Regents of course, but i'd recommend we place a small coterie here. At least one Tremere, one of the more traditional sort, they're handy with fire and that's easily explained away in the press. Any of your clan juniors, the ones you essentially represent in court can be the focus of a coterie here.” Ahrimanes voice got stronger the more he spoke, with each sip of the blood.

“I've been going up and down the beach whilst you've been mending” Said Jason “there hasn’t been any action down there at all. I think we scared Bob away from the area.”

“No one in the clubs has seen him either” added Christina “Just upped and left, gone to ground. It's gonna be hard to find him with us still around. I'll stay in the area for a few weeks, build up my network, I can co-ordinate a coterie from here if you'll let me have the top floor when you return back to your proper have. I like the room service and they don't complain about my music..”

“Ok, fine. Some one call my driver, I'll head back tomorrow night, Jason, Boris will you be coming back with me?”

The pair agreed they'd return, they were far to recognisable to remain behind to be of any use.

From across the parking lot a man watched the upper floors of the hotel until the lights went out.

Starting up his bike engine he rode back to his haven.

“Hmm, well a shit storms been kicked up here. Guess I better go present myself next month. Cheeky fuckers coming in to my bar and not having the decency to present themselves to me” Felix thought to himself as dawn overtook him.