Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah:
Know These Times
Notes by Anthony
“I looked between the blinds with Asa. Two “cousins” had joined Lucretia. Gwen walked quickly out of the farmhouse. I think she wanted to keep them away from the almost half dozen Malkavians hiding inside. We watched the cousins drag two duffel bags from the car. They looked heavy and human-shaped. Then two people stumbled out of the car. Pam and Ally. Longtime listeners might recognize the “thin-bloods” we rescued from Roosevelt Island. Rose had convinced the four of them to sleep until we could provide for them. I suppose that time is now.
“They spoke in Italian. Best I can tell from body language, Gwen was politely intimidating Lucretia into staying the fuck off her lawn. I couldn’t tell if she was successful. Gwen told us later that she still controlled the site and was in good standing with her family. Also, the Giovanni had established a portal connecting the Embassy to nearby Sudley cemetery.
“Gwen wanted the thin-bloods in the basement, but Rose insisted they stay in the attic with her. She carried the two in duffel bags to the farmhouse. Pam and Ally looked scared, but they followed. Gwen, Asa, and I started planning. I didn’t like it, but we agreed George was our next priority. He’d been for us scrying every night. Only the Temple and Sisterhood’s fire had kept us safe. But there’s a fine line between safe and trapped.
“George is… it’s hard to talk about him, listeners. I’d known him for a week. November 30th to December 7th. And he’d lied to me that whole time. But I think I understand George. He wants to be in control. To succeed. To impress those he considers superior. To dominate those he considers inferior. I think he liked that I looked up to him. That I needed him. That he dictated what I learned of this strange new world. That I was lost and scared, and I turned to him for safety and comfort every time.
“Then I walked away from him. And George didn’t see it coming. I had been his mission, and I left him. He needs me back. He failed to control me. And George doesn’t tolerate failure.
“I said I should be the bait. Gwen agreed, but Asa was worried. He said he would come with me. Be my “babysitter.” His teacher had told him to “find the Malkavian.” Asa wasn’t letting me out of my sight. If I was determined run off on my own and get lost, then Asa would find me.
“It’s funny, listeners. On one hand, that doesn’t sound much different than George, does it? George never let me leave his side. He controlled all my movements. But Asa is nothing like George. George said all the right words, but he never cared about Ben or me. We were valuable to him, yes. But as assets, not as people. When Asa runs after me or holds me back, I know he’s terrified of losing me. Of losing the future we’re trying so hard to protect. And I think he likes being around me. I make him laugh.
“Sorry, I’m rambling. In a good mood because, well, Ben is awake! I asked Joan to come with Asa and I to meet “the newest member of the Cobweb.” She sat at his bedside, closed her eyes, and stroked his hair. And then Ben sat up! His eyes locked on mine, but there was no recognition. My Ben wasn’t back, not yet. He said with a strange voice:
“And you will know these last times by the Time of the Thin Blood.
You will know them by the Clanless.
The vampires that cannot beget.
You will know them by the Wild Ones, who will hunt us even in the strongest city.
You will know them by the awakening of the eldest.
The Crone will awaken and consume all.”
“Ben blinked and looked at his chest, “I stabbed myself.” I hugged him, but he pushed me away. I felt blood swell at the back of my eyeballs but pushed it down. This wasn’t about me. I had to be here for Ben. “What have you done to me?” There was a flash of anger, but it drained as soon as he spoke. “Done to myself.” I knelt at his bedside. I told him it wasn’t his fault.
“Joan spoke from the doorway. She said we had much to discuss in the Cobweb. But she seemed to realize we needed a minute. Asa told Ben he was a vampire. Ben looked shocked and then grinned. “I’m a vampire, now. I have powers. I’m so ready.” I felt dizzy at the whiplash. Is that how I sound, listeners? When I tell you about something awful and make a joke about it? I told him, “I’m never going to hurt you again.” Stupid promise, I know. Ben knew it, too. His voice went strange again, “I don’t think that’s true.” Then he smiled like hadn’t said anything at all.
“Gwen and Rose left to hunt. I tried not to think about their victims. Asa left to meditate. Ben and I sat on his bed. It was so good to talk to him again, listeners. Like a part of myself had been missing. Ben said the blood had been like a drug. It fucked him up. He stabbed himself for me. Because he believed in me. And then the world went strange. He’d been playing a video game.
Then his eyes rolled up and he collapsed on the bed. I shook him, terrified I’d lost him to the madness. He blinked awake and smiled. He’d just been saying hello to everyone in the Cobweb. It was so good to see him smile again, listeners. I could feel myself mirroring him. How had I survived these past few nights without him at my side?
“We lay on the bed together and answered Joan’s summons. Our Malkavian…collective manifested in the Temple navigation room. Joan and Cedric had been united when Gwen questioned them, but I realize now that was because outsiders were around. It was more than the cliché of “tension hanging in the air.” It was as though the walls were made of tension. The manifestation of the room held our emotions in it. Joan said, “we have much to discuss.” Cedric scoffed, “we are not all in agreement on a course of action.” Comet spoke up. He was manic. He was convinced Ruth was coming for us. That she’d tear us apart. But he said her true name, and Joan interrupted, “never say her name again!” For a moment, I was selfishly pleased that my insistence on giving Ruth a nickname wasn’t just my own paranoia. Cedric demanded that Joan tell us how to move the Temple. It was too dangerous to stay so close. We were defenseless. We had to know how to fight back, and it didn’t matter how we discovered it.
“Joan stood and opened her mouth to speak. She held her hand over the sundial. A thin line of grey shot across her lower lip. I jumped up. “Wait!” Everyone went quiet. I had their attention, but I could feel it slipping fast. I remembered a trick from group meetings, back when I was hospitalized for having nightmares in class. The kids were constantly interrupting and sniping at one another. No one could be heard, and no one was listening. One day, the facilitator brought a bright blue, novelty microphone from her child’s playset. We couldn’t get enough of it. “I have the speaking microphone!” I tried to manifest it in my hand, but it remained stubbornly empty. “Well, pretend I have the speaking microphone. And the rules of speaking microphone are that only the person holding it can talk. And once they’re done, it gets passed to the next person who wants to talk. Okay?” I looked around the group, expectantly. Ben and Joan nodded at once. Cedric and Comet after a moment.
“I took a deep breath. I met each of their eyes as I spoke. I needed them to take me seriously. “Hello. I’m a 32-year-old crazy night shift DJ who was turned into a vampire a month ago. But for some reason, I’m the one who, in my future, saved Joan. Who is the reason you are all alive right now. And for some reason, I’m the one who saves the world. So, when I say that I have the capability to figure out how this Temple works myself, you are all going to believe me.” For a long moment, there was silence. Not even a breath. For a heart-breaking second, I knew I’d fucked it all up and they’d walk away from me. Then, in unison, they called out: