Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah:

Blue Light Special

Notes by Anthony

“As we stared at the corpses, Gwen asked for the names of the two slain Sisters. I remembered Maria and Thaia from the story circle but stayed silent. I was not opposed to Gwen using their spirits. But, best to let her convince Nana Kahenta of it first. Nana looked confused. Gwen explained that their spirits had returned to the cave and helped in the fight, but their souls could not rest until their unfinished business was completed. Gwen speculated that this involved the Black Spiral. If Gwen had their names and a personal effect, she could bring the Sisters with us. Gwen promised that, once we had accomplished our mission, she would assist them in passing on. Nana agreed, and Gwen summoned their spirits, though no sign of this was visible to us. 

“That was when Rose noticed the corpses moving. She tore them apart, but the bits and pieces bubbled and hissed and reformed. We decided it was well past time to leave. It was tricky, going down the mountain. Asa and I held Ben’s hands. He followed like a lost child. I nearly slipped, but Asa pulled us up. Asa and I sat in the truck bed with Ben between us. 

“At the farm, I tried to grab three bags of blood from the Giovanni car, but Gwen stopped me. She told me we needed to conserve our resources. I nodded and took one for myself and one for Ben, as well as the Denny’s thermos. She was right, though the Beast growled angrily inside me. Rose transformed into wolf and dashed off into the night. I drank my fill and took Ben’s hand in mine and led him to the barn. No more stalling. Time to face the music.

“Cedric and Comet were sitting on the ground. It looked like they were playing cards, but they held nothing physical in their hands. They looked up as we approached. I could feel my eyes well with tears. My voice sounded shaky and small in my ears as I confessed that “things didn’t go as planned.” But Cedric wasn’t angry. He wasn’t disappointed or dismissive or cruel.

“Instead, Cedric smiled sadly as he walked towards us. “Come here, son. My boy. Come here.” He hugged Ben before gently tipping his chin to stare into his eyes. Cedric shook his head. They had witnessed Ben’s Embrace in the cave, and he had seen this happen before. Hope blossomed in my chest. I begged Cedric to help him.

“Cedric pursed his lips and told us to take a seat. He apologized. I was a Childe. Given my own unorthodox Embrace, no one had told me the ‘Birds and the Bees.’ Ben and I were both illegal. If we walked into a Camarilla court, we could be staked or worse. But that wasn’t the only danger. The Malkavian Embrace didn’t always take. The Universe, the Madness, the Cobweb – it could be too much to handle. Some never woke up. Only feeding and mumbling nonsense. 

“At that reminder, I pulled out the blood bag and poured it carefully into the thermos. I asked if I could try to reach Ben in the Cobweb. Comet, who had been pacing back and forth behind Cedric, laughed bitterly. Comet had tried when Ben was first Embraced. Comet didn’t share what he saw, but something he saw had spooked him. I wanted to know more, but I kept my mouth shut and handed Ben the thermos.

“Something lit up in Ben’s eyes and he grabbed the thermos from my hands, chugging it quickly. I watched for any spark of recognition, but as soon as he finished drinking the blank, glazed look returned. I changed clothes, and Cedric helped me change Ben out of his bloody, ruined ones and into one of the spares. We returned to the truck, where Rose was apologizing to Big Frieda for accidentally draining her cows. Big Frieda forgave her, and we piled into the cars. One of Gwen’s ghouls drove Gwen, another ghoul, Rose, Cedric, Ben, Asa, and me in the SUV. Nana Kahenta, Big Frieda, Vousette, and Comet took the truck. Just in case something happened, we could stay in contact by the Cobweb. 

“During the drive, I thought I felt something at the back of my neck, and Ben appeared to look up and see something. I could not find anything with Auspex. I thought the universe was playing tricks on us. Asa, Ben, and I were in the third row. As we drove, Asa spoke up. We would find a way to help Ben. If not, Asa would make sure Ben was taken care of. 

“I flinched. I told Asa that wasn’t going to happen. I would fix Ben if I had to pull him out of Hell myself. He would do the same for me. I could feel myself getting louder, and Asa put his hand on my arm. “Breathe, Zachary.” I took a deep breath and held it, petulantly. I was technically obeying, and I didn’t have to breathe anyway. Asa’s lips curled into a half-smile. If I was going to rescue Ben, then Asa would be my anchor. After planning, Asa emphasized. I released my breath and told Asa about my dream. I asked if I had permission to pull him in if I ever saw the three-eyed man again. Asa agreed, telling me to call the three-eyed man “Uncle Sal.” We then got into a discussion about vampire therapy. Apparently, there isn’t any. Too dangerous to tell mortals and being vulnerable with a kindred would certainly get you killed. No wonder we’re all fucking crazy.

“The Temple looked like a fortress. Giovanni ghouls were unpacking weapons and barricades. They were partway through building a façade around the invisible Temple. Once Gwen confirmed we were all friends, the Sisters and Malkavians quickly ran over to investigate. The Sisters marveled at its presence in the spiritual realm, and Cedric and Comet pushed against its heavy Obfuscation, finding it impossible to see through. Gwen said we would open the Temple tomorrow and prepare today. I was too exhausted and hungry to disagree.

“I sat Ben in front of the TV in the farmhouse. I remembered Damien went crazy from the Nature Channel and made sure it was just playing sitcom reruns. Then I left to ask Cedric and Comet to come hunt. Gwen was right. We needed to ration our blood bags. Asa and Ben could not hunt, and Gwen seemed uninterested. A mischievous smile quirked under Cedric’s mustache. Comet started bouncing up and down. Apparently, I was about to learn our family’s Malkavian hunting traditions. It made me feel warm inside, listeners, to be referred to as one of the family.

But first, we needed a car. I left to meet Gwen at the weapons cache. Gwen, if you haven’t realized yet, does not like to be asked for handouts. However, Gwen appreciates a rational argument. She also very much likes to be told she is right. I made my case. She was correct to ration our blood bag supply. There were too many kindred for us to feed. However, some of us could hunt, and Manassas was a short drive away. I requested permission to take one of the cars and go hunting with Cedric and Comet. Gwen seemed pleased as she tossed me the keys.

“Cedric and Comet looked different, listeners, as Comet sped us down the backcountry roads. Comet’s jitters seemed fluid, a natural extension of his overabundance of energy rather than an ill-contained explosion. Cedric’s shoulders relaxed as he laughed, sticking an arm out to feel the breeze on his skin. I rolled down my window and stuck my face out. I could hear the commercial jingle for WRXL 102.1 FM like a phantom radio signal. I felt free, listeners. For once, no one had any expectations of me. No one was judging me. I wasn’t worried about acting sane in an insane world. Here, crazy wasn’t a bad word.

“Sirens wailed as we tore through downtown Manassas. First one cop car, then two, then three. “This is a game we used to play in Alexandria,” Cedric yelled out over the roaring wind and sirens. Comet pulled to the side of the road once there were no houses in sight. Two cop cars pulled in front of us, and one behind. We were trapped, but for once I wasn’t afraid. I was excited. I had my family with me. I was doing what I was born to do. I stepped out of the car first, hands in the air. I faced the lead officer and let Dominate fill my throat.

“Sorry, officers. It’s just a misunderstanding. We’re all friends. Why don’t you put your gun down and come over here?” I felt the man’s will crumble under my own. Cedric spoke next, telling his officer to stay calm and lower his weapon. Comet twitched violently. He bared his teeth in a manic snarl. “You think you’re the only one with problems? I have problems, too!”

“The third officer raised his gun at Comet. I told my officer to tell his men to calm down and lower their weapons. They did so, and Comet got his under control. Red and blue lights flashed over their slack expressions as they stepped into a line before us. The lead officer was a large, white man about four inches taller than me. I unbuttoned the top two buttons of his uniform to expose his neck. I stole a glance to the side. Cedric and Comet had already begun, the faces of their officer’s rapidly paling as they sighed in ecstasy. I pulled my officer close as I sank my fangs into his neck. There was the rush of hot blood in my throat and then – 

“He was young. Ten or eleven. His mom smiled as she pulled a white cloth over his face. He looked in the mirror to see a Klan hood. I could feel him grinning. Later, the rally itself. His mom was so proud. He hid the hood from his wife, but he was sure he could convince her. Besides, she was beautiful enough he didn’t care what she thought. But now she was old and fat. He hit her when she made him mad. But their daughter was starting to look just like her mother and –

“I tore myself away from the officer and stumbled back. I wanted to spit the blood out. I started babbling. “How do you stand seeing all that? His whole life. The Klan rallies. Fuck, he was even looking at his kid.” I paused for breath and Cedric put a comforting hand on my shoulder. Cedric asked if I had seen the officer’s life or memories. I said yes. He asked if this had happened before. Yes, again. He said this doesn’t always happen. I was hopeful, asking who this had happened to before. He chuckled dryly. “By not always, I mean never.”

“The car ride back was quieter. Sleepy, even. Like when my parents would drive me and Frieda home from the restaurant after we all ate too much food. That peace was broken when we entered the farm house. Ben lay on his side on the ground. His eyes and mouth were open in a shocked expression. A stake had been driven through his back. It tented the front of his Nirvana t-shirt but had not broken the smiley face.

“Asa and Gwen explained what happened. A few minutes earlier, Ben started yelling. “I’m coming! I hear it!” Asa tried to stop him from running out, but Ben kept struggling. It was only a few minutes before dawn, and they could not risk him running out into the sun. One of the ghouls had driven a stake through his heart. I couldn’t stop staring at Ben. He looked dead. Again. 

“Asa took charge and told me to carry Ben upstairs to a light-proofed bedroom. We lay him on his side on the twin bed. Asa sat sentinel, keeping his back to the door. I stretched out beside Ben, resting an arm and leg over his thin frame. If he awoke, hopefully any movement would wake me up, too. I whispered to Ben until torpor claimed me, telling him everything was going to be okay. And I tried not to think about how my life had become a nightmarish parody of everything I could have ever wanted.”