Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah:
Needs
Notes by Anthony
“Apologies, listeners. Afraid that wasn’t very good radio. You’re here for the action! The drama! The thrilling tale of an underdog coterie of sexy vampires saving the world! Well, unfortunately I couldn’t do much of that tonight. George could scry Ben and me at any moment. We were only safe at the Temple. But the rest could leave. Gwen and Rose would scout Sibly Graveyard and set the trap. Tonight, Gwen would open a portal there to the Sudario, or the Land of the Dead. Tomorrow, she, Rose, and a fighting force of ghouls would wait in the Sudario until George was nearby. Then, they’d ambush and stake him before he could cast any Tremere magic. Asa, meanwhile, would visit Manassas Hospital with Cedric and replenish our blood bags. There are a lot of mouths to feed here, listeners, and Asa, Ben, and I can’t hunt.
“They left, but not before Asa crashed the car into the living room wall. Gwen looked disappointed and handed Cedric the keys to another car before departing with Rose in a third armored van. Nice to have rich friends. As they drove off, Ben took my hand in his and pulled me to the Temple. It is different, listeners. I’m not trying to kid myself. He had been so warm in my arms a few days ago. We both had been. Now we were dead. And I had killed him as surely as if my hands held the blade that pierced his heart. But his fingers still squeezed tight around mine.
“Ben led me to the Navigation room. He stood before the sundial. He grinned, triumphant. “The Beast lives without a body. They staked it. If we put a stake in us, blood still flows through us. Blood can flow through it.” I nodded. Ben had come to the same conclusion as I had. Blood powered the Temple. I remembered my dream where I’d sliced my wrist and let my blood flow in. It was sucked out of me until I died. But I told him that, until we knew how to operate the Temple, giving it power seemed too dangerous. Not until we’d dealt with our stalker wizard, at least.
“I asked Ben how he was doing. If he was okay with…I gestured. I couldn’t say it. Ben’s smile fell. He had thought this was something he wanted. He remembered staying up late in high school watching Battlestar Galactica. He had fantasized about flying in a giant spaceship with an intrepid crew, carrying on his shoulders the last, desperate hopes of humanity. But now he couldn’t remember his ex-girlfriend’s middle name. He didn’t know if he paid rent for December. He certainly hadn’t for January. Our old lives were gone. We could never get them back.
“I tried to say I was sorry, listeners, but Ben shook his head. “It’s too late to say sorry. I made my decision.” I could hear the unasked questions in his voice. Had it been worth it? Had it been worth dying for? These are questions I’ve asked myself, listeners. I tried to put as much confidence into my voice as possible. If I could convince Ben, then maybe I could convince myself, too. “Even if we can’t have burgers at the Alexandria Diner anymore, or spend Thanksgiving with my parents, or listen to new records at The Spin Zone with Rachel, it’s worth it. Those things still exist, even if we can’t have them. Burgers. New music. The people we love. That’s why I fight. I’ve seen the world end. I want to keep this world around for them, even if we can’t be a part of it.”
“Ben stared at me with that same intensity as this morning, when the four Malkavians had sworn fealty to me. “Thus, spake…” my heart sunk. Could Ben only see me as the Prophet Zachariah, now? Then, he grinned “my friend.” I laughed in relief and joy. I didn’t have to choose. Not yet. I could be DJ Zachary and the Prophet Zachariah. I took a step forward. I hesitated. I remembered how Ben pushed me away when he first woke up. I asked if I could have a hug. He opened his arms and told me I never needed to ask.
“The rest of the night was peaceful. Ben and I coaxed the Thin-bloods out of the attic, and we watched Indiana Jones and the Ark of the Covenant. Rose and Gwen returned from Sibly Cemetery, having successfully opened the portal to the Sudario. Asa and Cedric came back with a handful of blood bags and a warning. The Tremere agent who attacked Asa and kidnapped Diane was in Manassas. Asa had felt Four’s touch on the mind of a hospital guard and then felt himself being scried around midnight. Cedric was able to Obfuscate them quickly, but Four would be on our trail soon. One evil wizard at a time, though.
“So here we are, listeners. It’s a half an hour before dawn on Saturday, December 31st. Rose, Nana, and Vousette flew to Sibly Cemetery already. They will sleep below the earth. When they wake, the Sisters will light their Obscuring Fire in the cemetery, so our confrontation with George isn’t scried on. We’ve all piled into the Temple, since that’s now the only place that remains Obfuscated. I’m recording this in one of the bedrooms. Once I’m done, I’ll join Asa, Cedric, and Ben in the Antechamber. When Asa and Ben wake, they’ll carry Cedric and I to the car and drive the backroads to Manassas, acting as though we escaped some cult that had held us hostage. Cedric will intermittently drop Obfuscation, so anyone listening in will hear breadcrumbs as to our location, though not be able to intercept us until we arrive at Sibly Cemetery.
“Soon after we leave, Gwen, Comet, and her ghouls will drive to the cemetery and enter the Sudario. Once they are in place, Comet will contact us via the Cobweb, and we’ll make our way to Sibly Cemetery. Joan offered to stay behind. Though she cannot tell us how to operate the Temple, she swore to pilot it into the sun rather than let our enemies take it.
“Listeners, I hope you won’t be surprised that didn’t comfort me. It’s hard, talking to Joan. She looks like a little kid and acts like one sometimes, but other times, she sounds every bit as old as the centuries she’s lived. I want to protect all “my” Malkavians, but she’s special. She knows the “me” I become. I’m important to her and I don’t know what I did to deserve it. I don’t want to lose her, but I don’t know how to be around her, either. I think I’m scared I’ll disappoint her.
“Anyway. Off to bed with me. Hopefully, I’ll report back on how we succeeded completely on all of our goals with zero complications. Now, to find some ancient wood to knock on in this Temple. This has been DJ Zachariah in his last broadcast of 1994. I’ll see you in the New Year.”