Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah:

Passion of the Dark Father, pt. 2

Notes by Anthony

“It was just how I had dreamed, listeners. A large bonfire roared at the 50 yard line. The Camarilla kindred were splayed out on the goal posts or on makeshift pikes. Fleshy tubes extended  from their exposed skin, dripping blood into goblets held up by Sabbat Cainite. A few Cainite fed the captive kindred with pulverized squirrels and bugs dropped into funnels forced into their jaws. 

“Ralphie escorted us to back, and DJ could feel Tala tense beside him as she scanned the stadium. Later, she told us she recognized several of the Kindred. Bronson Taylor, anarch leader. Bobby Schroyer, Gangrel domitor of College Park. Vandy Rae, Gangrel domitor of Rockville. Rommel Carillo, Prince George’s Toreador…companion. Gage Bulworth, Ventrue S’eth Adar. I don’t know if anyone listening will recognize these names, but I wanted to – I don’t know. Acknowledge them? Remember them? I don’t know if any of them were good or bad people, or if those terms even apply to vampires. But no one deserves to be treated like that. Not even monsters.

“At one end of the field was a large stage, with a backdrop of some ancient city. DJ saw the play from the dream and the terrified human puppeted around the stage. Nearby, the two women sang from my dream. DJ did not to look. He could not save any of them. DJ had to keep smiling.

“Ralphie deposited us off before a tall woman with alabaster skin. Even from a foot away it felt like she was covered in ice. But she smiled at us pleasantly as she gave her well-rehearsed speech to the ‘recruits.’ The Sabbat were the only force in the world that stands proud against the darkness. Their purpose is to forestall Gehenna, stop the Antediluvians, and stand up for the All-Father. The Sabbat frees us from the control and machinations of the Antediluvians and Camarilla.

“She asked about us, and DJ went first. DJ could set the tone and give the others time to think. Funnily enough, DJ mostly told the truth. DJ had been embraced three weeks ago in Alexandria, where being a Malkavian was illegal. DJ had kept hidden, finding friends where he could. When the Camarilla fell in D.C., DJ saw his opportunity to escape to a place where he could be himself. No longer hunted. Free. Samantina nodded proudly. DJ had told her exactly what she had wanted to hear. Tala claimed to be a recently defected Camarilla turned Anarch, and Asa told Samantina he wanted revenge on the Camarilla and Tremere for taking someone from him. DJ could hear the honesty in his voice, though the hatred in his voice terrified the part of DJ that still called himself Zachary. DJ thought it was cool, though. Hell yeah! Fuck the Tremere!

“Samantina smiled and told us she was thrilled to have us as new recruits. We were the first ones to volunteer in D.C., in fact. In half an hour, we would participate in something called the Vaulderie. DJ asked Samantina if she had seen any of the Sabbat Malkavians. He knew that we were “united as Sabbat” and all, but he’d love the chance to meet any Malkavians and see if they had any shared experiences. Samantina’s face fell as she scanned the stadium. There were no other Malkavians present, and this was not a normal state of affairs. Shadows swirled around her feet as she made a hasty retreat into the crowd, leaving us to amuse ourselves.

“DJ and Asa circled the stadium, trying to look casual. DJ had his arm tucked around Asa’s elbow, excitedly jabbering about any stupid thing he saw. Asa looked for exits but could find nothing that would not put the coterie in the path of dozens of Cainites. Half an hour passed quickly. DJ knew that whatever the Vaulderie was, it wouldn’t be good for his health. Out of the corner of his eye, DJ saw a group of six Malkavians enter the stadium in lockstep. Samantina tried to speak with them but received no response. She stormed off, and DJ switched to intercept her, looping his other arm around Zanzibar’s and dragging him away from his conversation.

“DJ let the smile drop as he stood before Samatina, though he could still feel the manic energy thrumming through his veins. He told Samantina he was here because of something he had seen. Not just in a vision, but something from reality. DJ had watched as a high-ranking Malkavian Sabbat by the name of Montbatton had raised a Methuselah from the depths of Theodore Roosevelt Island. DJ and his companions had tried to stop it but failed. Now, their only hope was to alert the Sabbat to the traitor in their ranks. 

“Samantina’s icy stare nearly froze DJ’s words in his throat, but he knew she was taking him seriously. She called a few guards over and asked them to escort these new recruits to the back rooms. They were not here for the Vaulderie tonight, after all. DJ followed, trying not to let the fear build up in his gullet. DJ was here to tell what he had seen. That was his purpose. To show the so-called Sword of Caine the light and truth. Asa walked beside DJ, while Tala followed a short distance behind, now accompanied by Gwen. 

“Just before they passed through the doors, a flash of red light passed through the stadium. I looked around, blinking against the afterimages. DJ’s manic certainty melted away from me in an instant. Only Asa stood beside me, looking as scared as I felt. The stadium was empty, sans for the six Malkavians and an unknown seventh standing in the bleachers. I could not tell you, listeners, if I reached out for Asa first, or if he reached out for me. We felt a strange vibration as our hands touched and instantly let go. The Malkavians spoke as one.

So, it begins. Did not expect to see you here, Asa

So, the seals will be opened to Caine

Wormwood Approaches

“We looked up. Though the star was but a tiny red dot in the sky, it seemed to magnify in our vision. The Malkavians laughed and laughed. The red light grew stronger, and it was scarier than whatever had sparked between us. Asa reached up to his beanie and I helped him push back the hat and bandana and duct tape and tin foil. A calm, blue light surrounded us as soon as his eye was free. I cupped my hands around his head, trying to shield him from the Malkavian onlookers. 

“I recognized the star as the one with the locust aliens that had eaten me alive in my dream back in Ben’s apartment. Asa’s blue light shielded us as the red light melted the six Malkavians until only three remained standing. 

And lo, it begins

“We came back to ourselves in the real world. We had not moved since the red star appeared. I saw blood trickle from beneath Asa’s beanie. Out in the stadium, dozens of Cainites pointed to the sky. The tiny red dot was not just a figment of my dreams, listeners. It was real. It was coming. And everyone with eyes to see would know the truth.”