Memorias de vampiro libro XI

 

Bonus Chapter 

 

ASHES

 

Dragged You Down Below

Down To The Devil’s Show

To Be His Guest Forever

(Peace Of Mind Is Less Than Never)

Hate To Twist Your Mind

But God Ain’t On Your Side

An Old Acquaintance Severed

(Burn The World Your Last Endeavor)

(Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare)

 

New York, 2012

 

The night found Hephaistion walking through the streets looking for his meal. Whoever looked at him, dressed in jeans, t-shirt and boots would be unable to imagine that he was a creature of darkness with promises of blood and pain that had walked among the living, like a no-dead, for more than 2 thousand years. Most vampires of his age did not left their havens so easily, they used to hide in the most uncommon places, with an army of new born vampires doing their will, and no longer bother with such petty things as hunting.

 

But the Macedonian was not like the rest and he liked to hunt, it was one of the things he enjoyed the most about this false life. But the Tzimisce no longer fed on mortals, no, in this he was like the rest of the most ancient vampires, he fed on the blood of other vampires. Why? For 2 reasons: one, it was more challenging to hunt a vampire than a mortal and two, the vitae of a no-dead was stronger and far more delicious than the one of mere humans. 

 

As a consequence young vampires feared their elders as a child fears the boogie-man, many youngsters looked to kill their elders, drinking their blood to become stronger, before they killed them. And, precisely because of this, a war had started more than 200 years ago between them, ending with the creation of the sect known as the Sabbat. It was said that the ancestor of the clan Tzimisce, Tzimisce himself, had been killed during this war by his own Children, but Hephaistion knew better. You couldn’t destroy a monster like that so easily and the Macedonian was convinced that, one night, they would see Tzimisce, the Lord of Pain, rising again.

 

The Gehena –thought Hephaistion, the Last Night, the end of the world. It was said that during the Gehena Kaine would walk again on the earth along with all the antediluvians, all the vampires created before the Great Flood. The True Demons. In 2 thousand years the Macedonian had only met one of this monsters: Tzimisce, and that had been enough to fill his nightmares for the rest of his no-life.  

 

But, why was he thinking about this now? He truly had no idea, it could be because of that beautiful full moon adorning the night sky, looking red, as if it was covered in blood. It was a beautiful sight and one that remembered Hephaistion that he had not eatean yet. He kept walking. His Child, Azrael, had told him about this place where the Caitiff, the vampires with no clan, the Orphans, and the ones that either the Camarilla or the Sabbat wanted among their ranks, gathered. 

 

Yes, it was true that Hephaistion liked challenges but he did not want to attract too much attention on him, especially not now that he was so close to bring his lover back to the realm of the living. Then, the Caitiff were a perfect choice. When a vampire took a Child he/she was obliged to teach the Child everything there was to known about his new false life, to teach him/her the Disciplines of the clan and to introduce him/her to the World of Darkness. But, not everyone was ready for this kind of responsibility, many vampires took a Child after a night of passion or by mistake and decided to run away leaving behind a new vampire knowing nothing of what had just happened.

 

These Orphans had gathered in their own “clan” and called themselves Caitiff, when they worked for the Camarilla, or Pander when they decided to join forces with the Sabbat. They were the scum of the vampire society, nobody cared for what happened to them, they had no rights but all the obligations and the Camarilla or the Sabbat demanded that they followed their rules and fought in their wars. In all times there had been Caitiff but in the Modern Nights their numbers had increased so dramatically that many elders were talking about a crisis of the blood, the most alarmists said it was a sign of the Gehena.

 

Hephaistion turned to the right and stopped, brushing his now short hair with his fingers. Tonight he had chosen to cut his hair, a caprice that would only last for 24 hours because every night a vampire always returned to his original appearance, that is, how he looked when he were Embraced. The Macedonian knew he had been followed for some time now, at first he did not pay it much attention but now it began to be annoying so, he decided to investigate what did this invited guest wanted.

 

— I know you are there so why don’t we cut the crap and tell me what do you really want –Hephaistion turned, and from the shadows the lonely figure of lad of 17 years old, all dressed in black, with nails painted in black, and dark make up, appeared.

 

A mortal. His smell was unmistakable and the Tzimisce could hear the beating of his heart as loudly as if it were a war drum. The lad seem incapable of talking, once those gorgeous dark gray eyes settled on him he forgot how to speak, lost in the beauty in front of him and the powerful aura that he irradiated. He helplessly could do nothing more than just stared at this Angel of the Night with his mouth stupidly opened. He was looking at a God, he was sure.

 

— You stink of fear –said Hephaistion, haughtily, and that woke up the other.

 

— I-I-I…I have been following you for a while –he stammered.

 

— I know, what do you want? –asked the Macedonian, impatiently.

 

—I, well, I know what you are –said the lad, and Hephaistion raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

 

— I don’t think so –he turned with all the intentions of keep walking when…

 

— You are a vampire –the Tzimisce stopped and turned to look at him, this time amused and a little, just a little, intrigued.

 

— And?

 

— And? –the lad was confused, this was the last thing he had expected when he gathered all his courage and decided to talk to him.

 

— You still haven’t told me what do you want.

 

— Oh…well, I er…I want to…I was looking to meet you since nights ago when I first saw you…I saw you when you killed a red hair girl and I…my name is Xander, and…—he was boring Hephaistion— I want to be like you.

 

The Macedonian laughed without noise, a musical sound that froze the lad’s blood.

 

— Go home –he answered, walking again but Xander, somehow, found the courage to follow him.

 

— Wait! Why don’t change me? I mean, I can be like you –the lad insisted.

 

— Boy, you will never be like me, not even in 2 thousand years –answered the Tzimisce, walking as if he had no weight, making no sound at all.

 

— Is that your age? Wow! You are really old…and beautiful –Hephaistion stopped again.

 

— I gave you the chance to go, but now you are truly starting to piss me off –he never raised his voice, he wasn’t even angry, but the Tzimisce spoke in a tone of voice that stood up the hair of Xander’s nape, but he did not run away.

 

— Please, I would do anything to be like you, please –the lad begged and this gave the Macedonian an idea. There was no way in which he would take another Child, and even if he wanted, he would never Embrace someone like this lad but…

 

That doesn’t mean we can’t play a little –he thought.

 

XXX

 

It was midnight by the time the Macedonian’s visitors arrived, his lunch had not being exactly as he had planned, and the Caitiff could rest knowing that they were safe… at least for now, unfortunately Xander was no longer able to say anything any more. For a moment Hephaistion had expected to find Zophiel at his door, ready to hear another one of his stories, but his surprise was little when instead he found Lucius with Eric behind him. If he could still sigh he would have done it, his friend did not look happy, in fact, the Roman looked quite unsettled and why not, angry. But then again there were so many things that could bother the Roman that the Macedonian decided to wait and see what had happened this time.

 

— This is outrageous! –exclaimed Lucius, waving a newspaper in his hand so close to Hephaistion’s face that he almost hit him.

 

— Lucius, even if my sight is quite remarkable, not even I can see what is so “outrageous” if you keep waving that in front of my face –said the Macedonian and his friend handed him the newspaper.

 

Hephaistion opened it and found on the first page a very flashy note about an outstanding archeological discovery made in Rome. According to the note they had found the best well preserved pieces of a complete Roman armor, a chest with several aureus and denarius, as well as weapons and personal effects of a Roman Centurion.  

 

— So? Why is this so outrageous? –asked the Macedonian, but as soon as he lifted his eyes to see his friend, he regretted his words.

 

— THOSE ARE MY THINGS! –shouted Lucius in his best parade voice. Hephaistion almost laugh— That! –he pointed at the picture— Is my fucking armor, those are my fucking decorations: torcs, armillae, phalerae and this is MY fucking money!

 

— Well –Hephaistion’s gray eyes surveyed the note— According to this your stuff had been declared part of the World Heritage.

 

—World Heritage my ass! That stuff is mine and I want it back –said a very angry Roman— I won those phalerae fighting, I bleed to win that Civic Crown, do you know what it took to win a Civic Crown? It was the second highest honor in the army, and I bloody won one just the same as the divus Julius did! 

 

— Yes, I forgot you are Caesar’s fan-girl –the Ventrue looked at him through narrowed eyes— Lucius calm down, if these things are so valuable to you, why didn’t you have them in safe place? –asked Hephaistion.

 

— That’s the problem Phai –said Eric, talking for the first time since they arrived— Lucius had his things in a safe place.

 

— Then, what happened? –the Tzimisce was officially confused.

 

— Carolus in causa est! –exclaimed the Roman in Latin, when he was angry, or aroused, he started to talk in Latin which was really funny when you were not the cause of his anger.

 

— The Prince of Rome? Are you insane? You scare the living hell out of that guy –said the Macedonian, throwing the newspaper on the nearest table.

 

— Exactly! He fears me and hates me, and now that I am at the other side of the world he thought it would be very amusing to tell the archeologists where to dig –said Lucius and Hephaistion had to agree with him. This had much more sense than the idea of the mortals finding the treasures of a 2000 years old vampire just by chance. Besides, Carlo did hate his friend, but still...

 

— I agree that someone told the mortals about your hiding place –said the Macedonian— But I still doubt it was Carlo, you said it yourself, he doesn’t have balls.

 

— Yes, but he is the Prince of Rome and it is his obligation to know everything that happens there. Rome is part of the Camarilla, not like New York, and it has been under Ventrue control since Camila was there more than 2000 years ago and Carlo HAS to know what fucking happens in the city –said Lucius and there Hephaistion had to agree with him. Even if Carlo did not plan this, he was responsible for not stopping the mortals.

 

Poor Carlo, Lucius is going to tear him limb by limb –thought the Tzimisce, smiling amused.

 

— What’s your plan? –Hephaistion sat down on his favorite sofa—What are you going to do?

 

— I’m going to Rome to get my stuff back –said the Roman, pulling a chair to sit in front of his friend— And I don’t care if I have to steal it or who or what do I have to kill… and you are coming with me. 

 

The Macedonian blinked confused.

 

— Lucius –he said carefully— I cannot leave the city, you know I have to stay here because of the ritual to assemble Kaine’s sword.

 

— I bloody know that but I need your help.

 

And with that he left the Tzimisce without words. The Roman had always helped him, always, he had been one step of finding the final death at Mexico City because of him and Hephaistion could not say no. Besides Lucius was truly his best friend, in all those years of his false life, even counting his mortal years, he had never found someone who understood him as well as Lucius, with the obvious exception of Alexander of course. The Roman was a very curious mix among Scipio, Nikandros, Perdikkas and Leonnatos and he could not deny his best friend help when he needed it.

 

— Fine.

 

XXX

 

Rome, 2012

 

It supposed a very big achievement, for a vampire, to travel by plane. They used Eric’ private plane but they had to spend a good part of the trip in coffins to avoid the daylight, and, in Hephaistion’s case, it had to be a coffin with earth from his homeland. All vampire clans had a weakness, and the Tzimisces’ weakness was that they HAD to sleep over the earth of their homeland or risk waking up at night as weak as if they had had a massive hemorrhage.

 

As soon as they arrived to their destination Lucius called his contacts in the city, which were a lot, to know more about what had happened with his things, while Hephaistion was left in his room, looking at the city from his window. This had been the Roman’s house since the time of Emperor Constantine, of course it had been remodeled more times that one could count, had survived fires and angry mobs during the Dark and Middle Ages, but it was, more less, the same house the Macedonian remembered. 

 

— Why are you so quiet? –asked Eric, standing at the Tzimisce’s side, a hand on the window’s frame, resting his weight against it, looking at the Macedonian down.

 

— I was thinking –whispered Hephaistion, his eyes on the moon.

 

— You think too much –those words made the Tzimisce smiled.

 

— I get that a lot –Hephaistion lifted his head to look at the Viking— You want to ask me something, don’t you?

 

— As a matter of fact, yes –answered Eric, showing him an art magazine— I was wondering, is this your portrait?

 

The Tzimisce took the magazine and a smile curved his sensual lips. He walked away from the window watching the painting showed there.

 

— Ah! I have forgotten about this one –he said, looking at his own face. He was sitting on a chair that looked like a throne, painted only from the waist up, his hands resting on the arms of the chair. His hair was very short, but a long lock of hair was crossing his face— It was painted during the Renaissance, I was in Florence and this man –he tapped the name that appeared on the magazine— Insisted in painting me, he practically begged me, at that time nobody knew his name now you are an illiterate brute if you don’t know him. 

 

The Viking shook his head.

 

— You are full with surprises –he said amused.

 

— I am, after 2000 years it’s kind of inevitable –Hephaistion handed him back the magazine— Just for curiosity, where is my portrait now?

 

— At the Louvre…which reminds me, wasn’t there an exposition about your King? –Eric asked with curiosity.

 

The smile abandoned the Tzimisce’s face.

 

— Yes –Hephaistion’s voice was cold and detached, his previous good mood now forgotten. 

 

— You don’t want to go? –asked the Viking, intrigued by the sudden change of his friend’s mood— I mean, it could be interesting to see what they have at the exposition.

 

The Macedonian took his time before answering that question and sat down on the nearest sofa.

 

— I don’t like to see things from my time in that….state –he tried to explain— I don’t know how to say this but…To see the armor that once belong to my King, or his shield or helmet everything in pieces or parts of it…It’s the same as it happens to Lucius every time he walks in front of the Flavian Amphitheatre, it makes me nostalgic and sentimental, and I don’t like that feeling.  

 

Eric shook his head and crossed his arms.

 

— I would never understand that about you and Lucius –he said— For example, I like to see the remains of my people, I like to travel to Sweden and see what is left. It brings me back good memories. 

 

— What can I say? We are all different –answered Hephaistion and both feel silent.

 

They heard steps approaching and then Lucius appeared at the threshold. He was in a good mood, apparently things had gone better than they expected. 

 

— Great news! I know where my stuff is –said the Roman, smiling— Now we just have to steal it, I have everything ready.

 

— That’s really great, lover –said Eric and Hephaistion smiled, watching how public love demonstrations made Lucius uncomfortable.

 

But he couldn’t blame the Roman, after all, when Lucius was mortal he had been everything but a tender person. His mother had abandoned him when he was a boy and he had worked with his father at a tavern in Rome near the Circus Maximus until his 16 years old, when he had to run away from the city after murdering the man who had killed his uncle. At that young age he joined the army and served for 16 years until Anaxagoras Embraced him at Antioch. Lucius did not know how to be a tender loving person, but this was exactly what it made so funny to see him with a man like Eric.

 

— Lucius, I understand you can take care of this situation alone so, why do you need my help? –asked Hephaistion with curiosity.

 

— As things turn out, Phai, this was indeed Carlo’s idea of a prank –said the Roman, approaching him— My informants tell me he has a new lover and she was the one who convinced him of doing this. So, we can’t leave them go unpunished, don’t you think? And, who is better than a Tzimisce to “punish them” –the Macedonian smiled knowing perfectly well what he was thinking.

 

— Lover, you can’t let a Tzimisce torture a Prince of the Camarilla –said Eric, serious— It would only mean troubles with the Inner Circle.

 

The Inner Circle was the ultimate authority of the Camarilla, where the most ancient and strongest vampires controlled everything through their Justicars. There was one Justicar per clan and rumor was that they were so ancient and strong that the Brujah Justicar had been a Gladiator when he was alive. Not even Lucius could defy the Inner Circle.

 

— They don’t have to know, Eric –purred Hephaistion, playing with a lock of his silky hair— I can take care of Carlo and his lover and the Inner Circle would never know what happen to them –he had never tortured a Prince and truth was that he was eager to do it.

 

The Viking did not like this, not because he was a pure innocent soul who wished no harm to the Prince, but because it was risky, and if there were something truly dangerous in this world that were vampire politics, and he did not want to see his lover in troubles. But, at the end, he decided to trust them. The Roman sat down on the bed, rubbing his eyes.

 

— It had been a couple of centuries since the last time we came together to Rome –said Lucius and the Macedonian nodded— Do you remember the night we met?

 

— I would never forget it –said Hephaistion, resting his ankle on his knee— You asked me so many questions about Caesar. 

 

They fell silent.

 

— Phai, I was wondering –said Eric— What are you going to do when Alexander comes back to life? Are you planning to Embrace him?

 

— Why are you so serious, Eric? –asked the Macedonian, cocking his head— If I’m planning to Embrace him, does that bother you?

 

The Viking took a seat at his Sire’s side.

 

— It’s forbidden to Embrace mortals like Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar, for that mattered –said the blond— I have heard all my life from vampires like Anaxagoras, that the second rule is never to Embrace famous men or women, right after the most important rule that is: never to Embrace a child; reason why Napoleon or Charlemagne or Caesar are not vampires. 

 

— I am not that sure about the divus Julius –said Lucius, shaking his head and catching Eric’s attention.

 

— What was that? –asked the Viking, frowning.

 

— That is a very old rumor –said Hephaistion, his elbow on the arms of the chair and his head resting on the back of his hand— It has been ages since the last time I heard it.

 

— What rumor? –asked Eric with genuine curiosity.

 

— Some said the divus Julius was granted with the false life –said Lucius— I heard it long ago, but there are vampires who claimed they have seen him.

 

— Is that even possible? –the Viking found this hard to believe— He was cremated.

 

— The same as I –said Hephaistion with mockery— After one millennia I thought, Eric, that you have learned that nothing is impossible in the World of Darkness.

 

— Fine, I grant you that nothing is impossible –said Eric— But still, I think this is a far-fetched idea. Lets think this for a moment, who would do something as bold as to Embrace him?

 

— Someone like me who is truly thinking not only to bring Alexander back to life but to grant him the false life –said the Macedonian— Eric, don’t look at me like that, I am not saying I believe the rumor, in 2 thousand years I have never seen proof that is true, and I think it is just that: a rumor, but what I am saying is that it is not impossible. A very crazy vampire could have easily stolen the body from his house, replaced it, and turned the divus Julius into a Child of Kaine. You have 3 days to do it, remember?

 

— Personally, I wished it were true –said Lucius, smiling— I would have loved to meet him.

 

— I know, but, if you want my opinion, this whole thing that the divus Julius is a Child of Kaine is just like that story of Elvis been turned into a vampire –said Hephaistion making them laugh.

 

— But coming back to the initial question –said the Viking, brushing his long blond hair back— You are turning Alexander into a Tzimisce, then.

 

— I haven’t decided if he should be a Tzimisce or a Ventrue –said Hephaistion— I thought to ask Anaxagoras or Lucius to Embrace him because being a Tzimisce can be truly a burden but… I have to think about it.

 

— You will have to be really careful –said Eric.

 

— Trust me, I know, its not only about turning a famous man into a vampire, is about resurrecting the dead and not merely to create a vampire, we are talking of someone who had more than 2000 years dead –the Macedonian reminded him— I am breaking a lot of taboos here, but I’ll do whatever its necessary to have my lover again at my side.

 

The Viking nodded and said nothing more. Since he met Hephaistion he had never stopped for a moment to really consider what was to be in the Macedonian’s place but, now, he asked himself what would he do if Lucius found the final death.

 

I would probably do the same as Phai, find a why to bring him back defying everyone and breaking every rule –he thought.

 

XXX

 

The whole adventure to get back Lucius’ stuff was more like a comedy than an epic adventure. Next night they were ready to burst into the museum to steal the things, appropriately dressed in black for the occasion, weapons ready, and a whole sample of powerful, useful and cool Disciplines to break inside any building undetected. The 3 of them were ready to make Tom Cruise look like an amateur in Mission Impossible when they found that there was a guy in the museum willing to sell them all the things for a scandalous price.

 

Hephaistion did not know if he should laugh or cry.

 

— Let me get this straight –said Lucius to the man— You want to sell me my own things?

 

The man called Hugo shrugged.

 

— I don’t know if they are your things or not, the only thing I know is that now they are the property of the museum but, if you want them, the only thing you have to do is pay for them –said Hugo with a calm that was ending with the Roman’s patience. He had always known about the illegal traffic of art pieces or archeological ones but this was just too much.

 

— I am not paying to have my own things back –said the Ventrue, through clenched teeth, the points of his fangs now visible.

 

— Then, I’m afraid I can’t do anything for you –but before Hugo could even blink Lucius took him by neck and looked at him in such a way that he scared the living hell out him. After that he obtained his stuff without delay. Everything had been so easy that it was ridiculous.

 

But the truly creepy part of this whole adventure took place at Carlo’s haven, where Hephaistion truly made his clan proud having fun with the Prince and his lover for several nights…

 

XXX

 

Again, all the information regarding vampires was taken from Vampire the Masquerade by White Wolf.