Quietly a young girl approached Airegon. She knelt beside her when suddenly Airegon woke. A question was asked: 'Who are you?' The answer was given: 'I am the one who has been chosen to show you how to love.' 'Love?' Airegon sneered. 'I don't need to learn how to love. I survive just fine without love. So why do I need to learn to love?' The child simply smiled. 'Because without love you will be destroyed. Everyone who does not carry love in their hearts will eventually be destroyed. So I have been sent to save the chosen souls. Now let us begin. You know what love is?' 'What do I care what love is?' Airegon retorted. 'No, I don't know.' 'Well if you go by the definition of it,' the girl mused, 'it would be a deep and tender feeling of affection for, or attachment to, a person or persons. But if you want my definition it would be the feeling of tenderness in one's own heart. I don't think there is a true definition of love. It just how you feel inside.' Suddenly Airegon woke. "What? Love?" She rubbed her crusty eyes, blinking against the light seeping in through the door crack. "Oh who cares. It was just a dream, Airegon, don't worry about it." Airegon was still worried though she tried not to show it and she attempted to ignore it. She hated the thought of ever loving anyone, even herself. - End of post. Airegon, Brujah. Karl did not often prowl the city. He was quite content over in the forest, plenty of mortals lived in that area, so tonight was quite unusual. He wore a black cloak round about him, which hid everything but his face, protruding from his hood. Karl was well aware that he would encounter other Kindred, something he usually preferred to avoid - the real reason for dwelling so far from it all. He just hoped that he didn't meet with anybody who enquired of his visit to the city. The main park was just a few blocks down. He knew of neonate Kindred who hunted in that area, so instead of continuing he crossed over and started on 5th Avenue. The weather was turning to rain when Karl approached a back alley. He took a short glance round the corner. Karl had been notified by a messenger of the Tremere Clan in the next city, that the Masquerade had been compromised. A woman, MORTAL, in her mid-20s had been attacked by such neonates as mentioned before, who unfortunately left the job unfinished. This foolish action was severely punished, but the consequence had to be brought to an end. The woman escaped (she used powerful self-defence techniques) then fled the city. There was rumour that she was wise to the Kindred and wanted to purge them from the city, but she failed this attempt and came to New Chelsea. She must be stopped, but the Prince need not have any worry of this information, it can be dealt with in a more discrete manner. Down the alley, the woman was busy getting the better of a young Malkavian Kindred. She was as powerful as the messenger had first said, but she lacked the power of healing that the Kindred possess. She would have to suffer great pain for the Tremere who 'died' at her hands. The woman had just driven a stake into the Malkavian's heart when Karl started down the alley. She heard him coming and realised that he would be more powerful, possibly the young one's sire, so she started running in the opposite direction. Karl took chase, but the woman ran strongly with much endurance. When Karl approached the young Kindred he yelled out. "Heaaaaaah!" Karl stopped running. "You foolish child!" he started, as he yanked the stake from the body. "What were you thinking? She's twice your size! Did your sire never teach you anything?" The Malkavian tried to swing his fist at Karl, which he caught in his own hand and forced it back at him. Karl then helped the Malkavian up onto his feet and sent him on his way. He ran along the way which Karl had come himself, which happened to be the opposite direction to his female opponent's exit point. Karl thought of taking chase again, but by this time the woman was probably in hiding, in some building across town. She must be found and killed. She would come back out some time and Karl knew their paths would cross again. -End Of Post Karenthuras Tremere The flame was reflected in Leick's eyes. They looked like they were burning. In a way they were. The heat and light from the cutting torch was searing the Brujah Primogen's skin, but he could stand it. The blood-bonded Brujah in the mask who was doing the cutting, however, he'd probably be consumed by the fire and die before the box was opened. Such was unlife. Leick rubbed his hands together anxiously. He stood in the abandoned subway station (where he lived) with three other Kindred. Two of those stood with Leick watching the third cutting open the safety deposit box. He was almost through. The crystal was almost his. A strangling noise sounded from within the cutter's mask. The torch went out, and the Kindred stood up from his crouching position unsteadily. Then, a puffing sound was heard as the UV radiation took its toll - the Brujah was set aflame. Leick and the other two blood-bonded servants of his watched as the man burned away to nothing but a pile of ashes. None of them said a word until he was finished. Then: "Marcus," Leick called to one of the other Brujah. "Your turn." The young Cainite nodded and put the mask on his head, lifted the torch, and took up where the last man had left off. A brief frown passed across Rutger's face as he mused. The acquisition of this box was almost too easy. Perhaps it was a trap. Maybe Leick's information was wrong and he had been set up. No. The Brujah shook his head. Frost wasn't that sneaky. He was the type to come up to you and offer to chop off your head, but not one for underhanded tricks and traps. No, this was the real thing. The crystal of the oceans was nearly his! "What's taking so long?" Leick demanded impatiently. "Almost through," the cutter declared, moments before he switched off the torch and layed it down, indicating he was done. Leick approached the box which lay on the ground and touched it. It was hot. Extremely hot. "You," he nodded to the third Kindred. "Open it." The Cainite came over to where the other two were and knelt down, grabbing the top of the box firmly. Smoke rose as his hands burned and melted in the heat, but he held steady, even as a look of horrid pain twisted his countenance. The Brujah servant lifted the lid and threw it to the side, quickly nursing his marred hands. Leick stared into the open box. There it was, nestled inside the metal tray. Its intense blue made it look like it glowed, but Leick knew that was just an illusion. He reached into the hot box, and grabbed the crystal. It was cool, as though it had never seen heat in its life. Rutger laughed quietly to himself. He could not believe it. He had a crystal. He showed it to the Cainite with the now-deformed hands, and to the second cutter whose face was charred beyond recognition. The crystal was his! He held it up triumphantly. - End of post. Rutger Leick, Brujah Primogen. This night had gone worse than any night Frost could remember. First the worthless whore Treagard had rejected his offering, and now after returning to the bank he finds his box gone. Only one person had enough influence to do something like that, Leick. When Frost got his hands on the Primogen Leick would rue the day he had tried to take what belonged to Frost. Frost walked towards the park that was just in face of the Bezoar complex. He walked along the path. He had to clear his head, if he went up against Leick without some sort of plan he would no doubt lose. He could not allow that to happen. Frost felt a weak Kindred presence approach. Leick had not yet learned that he could sense Kindred near him, and had sent someone to follow him. How like the treacherous Brujah. Frost heard footsteps behind him. Whoever it was they were either stupid or suicidal. Frost pivoted on his heel to face the enemy. A young female Brujah not altogether unattractive dove into nearby bushes as he did. "You can come out," Frost yelled. "I know you're there!" The young Brujah slowly moved out from behind the bush. "Who are you?" Frost asked looking at the childe in front of him. "I thought you were a human," responded the insolent youngster realizing her prey was a Kindred. "But I didn't sleep too well so I'll be glad to fight you instead." The young Brujah rushed Frost with great speed. Frost side-stepped the attack and drew his sword. Throwing off his coat, he prepared for battle. The young vampire stopped as she came around for another pass. "Hey," she exclaimed suddenly. "You're the wacko Caitiff who chopped up Laplace's foot." The youngster was smiling. "You wanna fight or you wanna talk kid?" Frost growled still poised for combat. "Cuz I'm in the mood for either, but I ain't got time for both." "Hey any enemy of Laplace's can't be all bad," replied Airegon. "So I'll let you go this time." Frost relaxed and smiled to himself. Now here was a Brujah with good sense. "My name's Frost." He paused waiting for the young Kindred to introduce herself. When she did not, Frost added: "And you would be?" "Airegon," came the reply finally. Frost gathered his coat off the ground. He looked up at the young Brujah who was studying him. He pulled a piece of scrap paper from his pocket and wrote on it. "Here take this," he said, handing it over. " If you ever want something from me you can find me at this address." Frost put his coat back on and sheathed his sword. "See you around kid," he called over his shoulder as he walked away. I hope I do anyway. - End of post. Fredrick Frost, Caitiff. Airegon sat on a rock thinking. "What's wrong with me? I have never felt like this before... I don't understand. How could this happen? I just met him. How could I be attracted to him. I have never felt like this before this is so unfair." Suddenly there was the noise of talking behind her. The voices sounded young. Maybe a good kill will make me feel better, she speculated. Airegon went and hid behind a tre, watching and waiting for the young ones to come into her sight. They stepped out and Airegon attacked breaking the young girl's neck and sinking her fangs deep into the boy's neck. When she was done feeding she sank to the ground. "I still don't feel any better. I wish I had never met this vampire called Frost and I wish that this feeling would go away - I hate it." Airegon exploded knowing that she was lying to herself. - End of post. Airegon, Brujah. Frost walked along the street heading back to his apartment. This New Chelsea gig was just not working out: too many enemies and almost no friends. With Leick running the game in this city Frost had to get the hell out. He still had two crystals and with him gone no bloody Crystal of Darkness would ever be assembled. It was time to drive away and never come back. He had to hurry. He wanted to put as much distance between himself and this bloody city as possible before sunrise. Frost arrived at his apartment door. No warning - that was a good sign. Frost opened the door. He quickly went to his room and threw his few possessions into a canvas duffel bag. He went back towards the door. He still didn't feel anyone. Getting into the elevator he pushed the button for the lobby. The elevator descended slowly. Frost arrived in the lobby. He walked hastily to the door that went to the parking lot and pushed it open. He moved towards his car. The Barracuda AAR sat at the other end of the parking lot. When Frost reached it he unlocked the door and got in. He started the car. It eased out of the parking lot and he began to drive out of the city. He was going fairly fast. What had he been thinking coming here anyway? It was stupid. He reached the city limits after about twenty minutes. Finally out of Leick's grasp. Frost thought of Treagard, how unfortunate that he would never get to see her head on plate. There was also Airegon, the young Brujah. Given some time and a little training she would probably make a formidable warrior. Too bad he had to leave. Frost drove for about 40 more minutes. He was well out of Leick's grasp and with any luck he would never see the Brujah again. As Frost passed an old estate he noticed a young man pulling something down that looked like a 'For Sale' sign. Frost stopped his car. "Excuse me!" he yelled. "Has this estate been sold?" "No," replied the young man. "I've been trying to sell it myself for years, but no one has bought it so I'm listing it with a realty company come tomorrow." "How much are you asking for it?" asked Frost with an interested sparkle in his eyes. "900 grand," said the young man with a shrug. "You interested?" "Yeah. Would you take cash?" Frost asked pulling the pack of bills intended for Treagard from his pocket. A stunned look passed over the young man's face. Over the course of the next hour before sunrise Frost arranged for the young man to fill out the paperwork for the mansion to be sold to him. Now Frost had a strong hold outside Leick's reach. Frost abandoned any idea of running from New Chelsea, at least before his enemies were made to pay. And they would pay dearly for crossing Frost. Beginning with Victoria Treagard. - End of post. Fredrick Frost, Caitiff. Frost stood patiently on the roof of the building opposite the theater. He had been planning this for three nights. All the materials had been in his car and he therefore had not needed to purchase them from some illegal organization. He had left a satchel bag in the back of the theater. The bag had enough C-4 in it to blow the entire back of the theater off. More revenge on the Ventrue would be exacted tonight. He breathed a deep breath of night air. Soon it would be filled with the scent of charred rubble, and maybe a combusted body or two. Dust would choke the lungs as the building came tumbling down. Frost couldn't wait. He readied the detonator in his hand. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," came a voice from behind him. Frost had been so lost in thought he hadn't noticed the pull of Masamune alerting him to the other Kindred's presence. He felt it now. Spinning on his heel atop the building, Frost whipped the sacred blade from his coat and stood facing the speaker. The moonlight shone brightly on the newcomer's face, and Frost saw it clearly. He was an average-looking vampire, but with a strange look in his deep eyes. The man stood calmly on the other side of the rooftop, his long black coat blowing in the night breeze. He made no move to counter Frost's defensive manouver. Instead, he merely smiled. "Who are you?" asked Frost. "No-one," the Cainite replied. "Everyone. Both to you, neither to some. I am here." Great, another one of these vague-talking, vampire-lore-obsessed, Kindred idiots, Frost thought. You never get a straight answer outta these guys. "Okay," Frost tried a new tack. "Who are you specifically?" "My name is unimportant." A strange look passed over the Cainite's face as he struggled to think of something. "I'm not even sure I can remember it." He shook his head. "No matter. *What* I am is more important." "Okay then," Frost sighed, his sword still held rock-steady. This guy's gentle approach didn't fool the Caitiff. Frost could tell the stranger meant business. "What are you?" "I am the one who's here to stop you." "Stop me? From what? Blowing up the building?" "Among other things," came the reply. How had this guy known Frost was about to do something like this? Had he been tailing him? No matter, this could be ended simply, Frost decided. "Let's go," Frost said finally, waving Masamune. The man nodded acceptingly, and slid his own sword from beneath his long coat. The two vampires edged easily around each other, waiting for the other to make his move. They stared deep into each other's eyes, attempting to understand his opponent in those few moments. They circled each other slowly. Frost made the first move. He swung Masamune at the stranger's left side. The Kindred blocked the attack easily on his own impressive sword and threw Masamune off, making an attack of his own. It was no more successful than Frost's own, as the Caitiff managed to easily parry it. Both now had a good idea of the abilities of his opponent, so long had they been duelling in their lives. That kind of on-the-spot assessment became almost like a sixth sense. The fight went no further, as Masamune made a strange tugging motion. At the same moment, the Frost's opponent turned to look behind him, feeling the same thing somehow. He turned back. "This isn't over," he said simply, and faded back out of view. Frost frowned as the Kindred vanished into the shadows. Who was he? What was he doing here? What did he want with me? The Caitiff's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a third Cainite. Frost peered into the darkness, but the moon had slid behind a cloud and he could see no-one. He sheathed Masamune, and picked up his detonator again. "You sure that's a good plan Frost," said a voice from beyond the darkness. The voice belonged to Johnnie Hammond. "It's good to see you again Frost," he said as he came into view. "Hammond you stuck in this town too?" mused Frost, trying to shake off his thoughts from the last encounter. "Who ever thought we would end up in the same town again." "Yeah. I mean who ever would have thought you would still be alive after scorching that Ventrue theater in New York?" Hammond paused. "A theater a lot like this one." He looked meaningfully at the detonator still clenched in Frost's hand. " Treagard piss you off or are you just going after her on principal." "No she pissed me off," snarled Frost. "I need her connections to get me started in this town. But apparently she ain't one to associate with the lower clans. I don't suppose you know the inside track in this town do you?" "Actually yes," said Hammond with a smirk on his face. "You know Frost Humans and Vampires have a lot in common. They don't like things to change unless there's a problem. Most of us don't really see a problem here in New Chelsea, but wherever Fredrick Frost steps onto the scene things are bound to change." Hammond studied Frost's face for a second. "She's here isn't she Frost? That crazy bitch you're always hanging around with." Frost said nothing. "Damn man. I can't believe you teamed up with that ancient freak. Last time I took a trip back home to New York in 1995, you and me stood side by side fighting her. You said you wanted nothing to do with her. Damn man, what's wrong wit' you?" "I'm not her dog on a leash Johnnie," he retorted, not mentioning the Methuselah's name. " Teaming up with her helps me to keep an eye on her." Frost paused. "Listen man. She's up to no good again. I think she might be manipulating Leick into assembling something called the Crystal of Darkness. Leick stole one of the twelve pieces from me. I need to get it back. And I need help to get it." "What is it you need" Hammond asked perplexed "We can't talk here, the walls of this bloody city has ears. I know a place we'll be safe." Frost whispered. The two began to walk towards the staircase. "Hey Frost, you forgot to waste the theater," said Hammond mockingly. "I'll do it some other time," laughed Frost, slapping his friend on the back. The two got into Frost car and began driving towards Frost's manor. - End of post. Fredrick Frost, Caitiff. Airegon sat on the sidewalk, muttering to herself. "Where did he go? He gave me this address to go to him and he hasn't been there anytime I tried to see him. What's going on? I wish I could see him. If I ever find out that he gave me a phony address I swear I will kill him on the spot. No one messes around with me. I miss him and I only saw him once. How can this be?" With that outburst she burst into tears, ignoring the fact that two young children were walking by laughing at her and she was hungry. "If you don't mind," an odd-looking man that she had never seen before in her life said, "I overheard your... musings. I know it's none of my business but I think you're in love with the person you're talking about." "I have never loved anyone in my life and I haven't started now!" Airegon shouted, wondering nonetheless if her claim was still true. "Suit yourself. I was only trying to help," the man stated. Then glancing at her with a smile on his face he left her by herself. "Love," Airegon whispered. "Love." And bursting into tears again she wondered why and where Frost had gone. - End of post. Airegon, Brujah. Sheilina pulled up the floor board and took out the box hidden underneath. She inserted the key into the lock from the ribbon around her neck and murmured something - a magic spell. She turned the key and the box sprung open. Inside was something wrapped in a purple cloth, emitting a deep purple glow. Sheilina unwrapped the object and revealed a purple crystal - one of the Crystals of Darkness. Holding it up, she said, "Don't worry, my precious stone. I won't let anyone take you. Nobody, NOBODY, can hold the power of all twelve! Especially him. You're safe with me. Even if we have to run." Then she wrapped the crystal up, put it in the box and turned the key. Reciting a short spell, she put the key back around her neck, and replaced the box and the floorboard. She had no idea she was being watched. Airegon stepped back from the window. "I have to tell Frost," she said, and ran off into the night. - End of post. Sheilina, Caitiff. Karl watched as Airegon ran away down the street into the night. He had known of this strange crystal for some time now, but didn't quite expect it to turn up in his 'Shielding'. The crystal was deeply colourful and eminated a bright, royal purple. This stone was a representation of sorcery itself as a tangible quantity and was very powerful. Karl had previous knowledge of this crystal, but in time everyone forgets and moves on. The crystal was lost for some years, but just recently, 'an associate' approached Karl about the subject of the 'Great Crystal' and warned of the importance the purple crystal held. It was the most secluded of the crystals - rarely if at all glimpsed since its disappearance millennia ago. Its presence now spoke of the resurfacing of all the crystals. If the crystal of sorcery was here in New Chelsea, then the others would be in this place very soon. Karl approached the domain, murmering words. He knocked at the door. He could hear scurrying at the other side, then eventually the door opened. A young girl stood at the door: Kindred, neonate. Karl entered the room as the girl went out to look around. She wasn't aware of his entering as if he was invisible to her. "Who's there?" she called. There was no reply, then Karl gave her the suggestion of shutting the door and coming back inside. She was neonate sure enough. It was so obvious with the ease of control Karl had over her. She could, however, sense something and began to search the room more thoroughly using her Auspex. "I'm not afraid of you. Who are you?" she continued to call. "I'm your friend." Karl finally replied, "I'm here to help you." Karl made himself visible. "You have the purple crystal of sorcery, don't you?" She felt the sincerity in his friendly tones. "Yes, why would I need your help?" "Even as we speak, child, some Kindred of confused loyalties runs to a foe, to tell of the wondrous crystal which you have. We must conceal it, until the time is right. You are too weak to protect it from the evil ones." "What words do you speak?" she stared at him. "I speak the words of truth and of the guardian. Will you come with me?" Sheilina had little choice, she knew that if she stayed, she'd be in terrible danger from other Kindred who longed for the crystal. If she went with Karl then she'd have a better chance of holding onto it. "Yes, but where would we go?" "You need only leave that up to me," he said in a firm voice. - End of Post Karenthuras Tremere