Dear Eternus,
Gaia’s greetings, my friend. I would have spoken with you or called, but am a bit frightened by the Kindred of your city. Discretion seemed best. I’m presently laying low until I can find adequate shelter from the people here. Your offer of staying at the orphanage was generous, but I fear for the children and for your own safety if I were to be discovered. For now I am getting by, and am staying at a near-by caern, so don’t worry.
It was unfortunate that you could not attend the party thrown by your people, and I sincerely hope that the children who were unwell have since gotten better. Be cautious, for there are many ways that the Wyrm tries to weaken and corrupt the young. As it was, perhaps it was better that you and your daughter were not present; the city stirs and is restless.
I arrived at the address you sent me, and was greeted by the folk within. All around there was a sense of malevolence, but as I understand it, such is normal for Kindred not like you. Everyone seemed nervous, and awaited the coming of the Princes. I went around and talked with some of them, and though all were aware of the fact that I lived, because I had mentioned that I knew you, no one took any rash actions.
Feeling unsure, I went into an empty room and stepped sideways into the Umbra. I know, my friend, that your kind do not go to the spirit world, but let me assure you, what I saw were things that shouldn’t be. All around your Kindred friends were clouds of Banes, and I saw one who had two souls twisted up inside of her. Some of those there bore the scent of the Wyrm, and I became very concerned.
Eventually, after much socializing and small-talk, the Princes, who’d arrived while I was traveling through the Umbra, called court. I returned to the ‘normal’ world. You will feel proud to hear this; most of those I met while at the party, once they knew why my speech was marred, were neither callous nor tactless about my deformity. There was one man, however, who needled me greatly, but I shall say no more of him for now.
There also was there a very powerful woman, who was obviously in charge. She explained to the people that their Princes had to leave the city, and she installed a man named William as the new leader of the city. Eternus, I know that your kind have laws like our Litany, and a rule akin to the Veil, so I tried to hide myself as best I could. The woman looked hard at me, and in a flash I knew that she knew what I truly was.
Surprisingly enough, she said nothing, and gave me a reassuring smile. My secret, it appeared was safe and soon the woman disappeared, not seen by me for the remainder of the evening. After the court broke up, I was approached by a the prince and a man who always seemed to be hiding something of himself. They tried to trick me into revealing myself, so I believe that they knew what I was.
They asked me to step outdoors, not wise, considering what I could do if I were of a different Tribe or Auspice instead of a peaceable Theurge Child of Gaia. After more questions, they told me that they knew. I promised that I was not in the city to do harm or fight them(for they smell of the Wyrm, but I did not tell them of this), but only to find out more about reports of an angel an a demon(they also did not know that the two are but Incarna and Bane, but I did not say that either).
Cautious and worried, I again stepped onto the Umbra after finding myself alone, and what I saw that time astounded me. I made it a point to meet the man who’s imprint on the spirit plain I recognized. He was Irish, like Johnny, a Fianna in my pack, and I had seen his kind only once before. I do not know, Eternus, what your word for them is, but we Garou call them the People of the Shining Place, and have long held a pact of peace with them.
Darby, the one who was at the party, told me that he was trapped on this side of the Umbra, and unable to get back to Arcadia, his home. He advised me that I should pretend to be a Gangrel, and in that way I might avoid further discovery. I agreed.
There was great danger at the party, my friend, I’ll tell you that. The man who’d been mocking me for my speech impediment ended up murdered in the driveway, his head and body in different places. Many of the Kindred there were using poison that they weren’t even aware of. One girl who seemed a bit crazy was smoking cigarettes made by Circinus Inc., one of the corporations owned by Pentex.
There were a few there who were not your kind but also not mortal. One of them was bound by the soul to a short woman, and when the former took some kind of medicine to which she was addicted, the latter showed the effects as well. They need to see a Kindred Theurge or another manner of mystic healer. Perhaps if I am to remain in you city, I shall try to help them.
Also, there was in your city some kind of gang. Be careful, for they are of the kind that the Wyrm easily reaches and corrupts; anarchs. They managed to catch Darby and force him to join, so I fear for him.
Two of their members, however, may still have hope. There was one girl who always wanted to be in the dark, it was that she couldn’t stand light. She knows spirits, as my kind does, but practices dark things on them. While I am here, I wish to help her know them better, and as we Garou see them. Also, it is my belief that she suspects I am not who I claimed.
The other was a large man who seemed to be the group’s leader. He seemed quite dedicated to what he and his gang stood for, and even engaged me in argument over it. Pardon my saying it, Eternus, but your kind are lucky to have the Garou fighting the Wyrm. Gaia knows what you happen if we didn’t. Please, find out who this man is, for I believe he has enough belief in his cause to be a good fighter against the sinister forces you fear in your city.
I must say, things in your Kindred world are difficult for me to understand. It got quite aggravating when people didn’t take the time to listen to what I had to say. Some of the half-vampires started using chemicals to fix their hair and faces, and it badly affected me. Thing started to break down; I tried to step sideways onto the Umbra, but instead ended up caught in the gauntlet for a short time.
One of the half-Kindred began asking about me, thinking that I was mentally marred along with my oral impediment. Sometimes, my friend, I wish I could just tell the whole world at once; I’m not stupid, I’m not retarded, I’m not deaf, I’m not mute, it’s just the way I was born. Anger started to find it’s way to me, and after Darby asked if there was some way I could fix it, something snapped.
I’m a metis, I can walk around in homid form, but cannot just go to a hospital whenever I wish. The Rage in me had built to such a climax that I shifted into Crinos and ran off in wild frenzy. Truly, I am ashamed of my behavior, and am truly glad that the local pack caught me before I did any real harm. They are mostly Children of Gaia and Glass Walkers, so they did not treat me badly for being of my breed.
With them I am now staying, so again, do not worry. For a while, I aim to observe the Kindred from a distance whenever possible. I hope my report to you has been adequate, for I do not know much of the politics of your people. I hope to see you soon, but for your safety, will probably not contact you for a time. Should you need to get in touch with me, you know who to call.
I wish you peace and love in Mother Gaia, as to you and your pack. Keep the children well, my friend, and I shall be protecting you at all times.
~ Surrey Canum
When I rose that night, ready and prepared for the first session of court under the new triumvirate, I woke to a minor crisis. Catherine was out of the city doing research, and Jack Lupus already risen and gone. Nancy, and Josie, who had just risen, were running around chaotically. Five of the children, Rick, age ten months, Marty, age 2, Sally, and Tom the twins, age 5, and Andrea, age 8, were sick.
Josie was carrying Rick, and handed the feverish infant to me while she searched for a hot water-bottle to give Marty for his ear infection. Nancy was taking the temperatures of Sally and Tom, who like Rick seemed to have the flu, and Andrea was throwing up in the bathroom. It never rains but pours.
Unfortunately, court would have to wait, and while I gently bounced the fussy baby up and down to soothe him, I called Lady Meredith’s house to inform her that Josie and I wouldn’t be able to attend. Shawn answered, and took the message; he said that Lady Meredith was ‘unavailable’. For the next two hours, the three of us spent our time fetching medicine and trying to calm all the children, for it seemed that even the well ones were tired and cranky.
After we had managed to get Marty to sleep, I told Nancy to take a nap, for she’d been out all day. As I was sitting up with the twins, a loud but controlled knock came from the front door. Since Josie was bathing Rick, trying to bring his fever down, I answered it. Gabrielle Gevonne, the Ventrue Justicar, was standing there on the orphanage porch. Immediately, I offered her entrance.
The woman came in, and surprisingly, the children who were downstairs, flocked to her. She smiled at Little Stevie, who shyly ran into the kitchen. Interesting. Gabrielle politely asked my permission to speak with Josie, and seemed a bit submissive to me; something had happened, but I knew better than to ask. I called my daughter, who came down the stairs with Rick, who was still crying. She gave him to me, and went out into the backyard to talk with Gabrielle.
I put on Josie’s CD of Phantom of the Opera(she’s trying to teach me to like operas and American musicals, and of the ones I’ve heard, Phantom, Les Miserables, and Evita are my favorites), and the music quieted the children. Little Stevie came over to the couch where I was giving Rick his bottle, and sat next to me.
"Aunt Eternus?"
"Yes, what is it Stevie?" I asked softly, so as not to wake the baby, who was slowly falling asleep.
"I like that big lady, she’s really nice. Do you think she’s going to stay here for a long time?"
"Well, Stevie, I think that lady has to leave soon, but maybe if you ask her, she might come back to visit you," I replied, a bit curious to see what would happen when he spoke with the Justicar.
A few minutes later, the two came in from the night. Gabrielle was patting the girl on the back, and Josie was wiping blood-red tears from her face. Silently, she took the sleeping Rick up the stairs to put him down.
"Lady?" Stevie piped up from the couch.
"Yes?" returned Gabrielle, looking a bit amused.
"Are you gonna come back here and play with us sometime?"
"Perhaps, if you wish. Eternus, may I speak with you?"
"Of course, Sir Justicar," I said, showing her to the front porch.
"I’m quite sorry for upsetting you daughter like that, but she needed to be told that Vincent had to leave the city for a while."
"What has happened?" I asked.
"Many things. A triumvirate has been tried in other cities as well as in Swarthmore’s past, but had never proved an effective way to run things. Besides, when it is composed of a visionary anarch, an elder Malkavian, and a Lasombra antitribu, such a council is headed for disaster."
"What’s become of the three Princes?"
"I sent Pierce back to Detroit, back to DX. Lord Brendon will be running a haven for his fellow Malkavians not far from here, and as for Vincent, well, I have plans for him," Gabrielle replied.
Were I mortal, I would have sighed in relief. "Sir Justicar, that is indeed good news. I was greatly afraid of Vincent."
"Why is that?"
"Josie is blood-bound to me, but only because she wished to be, and I seek no power over her, she’s like my Sao-kan, like my child. Vincent was angered by this, and swore vengeance on me if he believed that I was using her as a servant."
"Hmm, well, you have no further need to fear. As for your city, William Blair, the Ventrue, has been appointed Prince, and he will lead you well," spoke Gabrielle.
I nodded. "That was indeed wise."
We spoke for no longer, for I heard the twins crying, and let Gabrielle take her leave while I ran to comfort the children. No sooner had Sally and Tom been put back sleep when Andrea woke up to be sick, and Marty began sobbing again. It was a long night, that is sure, and by the time Nancy awoke an hour before dawn, Josie and I were quite exhausted.
As I prepared to rest for the day, my cell phone rang. I was too tired to talk with Dominic, but it was not my young Ghoul on the line.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Cian zhang-tsia pei jong yi-keol." Click.
The way of Chaos is the way of the Lord of Dragons.