Canticles of the Prophet Zachariah:

Taketh the Cup

Notes by Anthony

“As they left RFK stadium, Asa looked at DJ in concern. He asked “Could DJ please go to sleep now? I want to speak to Zachary.” DJ tried to frown in confusion, but the grin felt superglued onto his face. Had he been smiling this whole time? DJ – I nodded at Asa and stopped smiling. 

“Asa and Tala dragged me through the tent city as I reached out to Cedric in the Cobweb. I appeared in the passenger seat. I told him we were safe, and we were ready to leave the city. I would tell him the whole story once we got out of D.C., but he needed to know something right away. The Sabbat knew Samal was here. They had invaded D.C. to hunt him down. And that if Samal had come to D.C. for me, then it was my fault that the Camarilla fell. That all those kindred were dead. Cedric nodded, accepting the news. I couldn’t tell if he believed it was my fault or not. I looked out the window and recognized the street signs. I could guide Tala and Asa to the car.

“One thing, listeners. During the conversation, Cedric called me “son.” I don’t think he meant anything fatherly by it. I know from his clothes and demeanor that he’s old. Over a century, at least. Calling a thirty two year old man “son” was probably natural for him. And yet, when I first met Cedric, he didn’t seem to like me that much. He only helped me because Joan wanted him to. But things were different between us, now. Maybe it’s because I rescued him on Roosevelt Island. Or maybe it’s because I conducted a Malkavian séance to free his mind from Damien. But I think Cedric has accepted that I really do see the things I see. And whether or not I’m actually a magical time-traveling prophet, Cedric believes that I am genuinely trying to save the world.

“I waved my bloody sleeve at Cedric and broke the connection. I led Tala and Asa to the car and Tala drove us north to our pre-arranged meeting spot with Gwen. We had chosen a Denny’s just south of the Maryland border. We knew it would be open on Christmas, and no one would be suspicious of a car parked there after midnight. Comet watched over Cedric as he entered a trance to keep the car in Obfuscation. 

“With everyone else distracted, Asa helped me take off my jacket. I didn’t want to look at my arm, but I knew I had to fix it before I saw Ben. Asa wrapped his hands around the stump. He gently rubbed my skin just above the cut. I reached out with my right hand and lifted the beanie away from his third eye. Blue light glowed softly between us. I felt blood shift from the center of my body to my left arm. I watched the bone and flesh reknit itself. I wanted to freak out, but that blue light and Asa’s gentle touch kept me calm. Kept me sane. When it was done, I wiggled my new fingers. All five moved as expected. It was like it never happened.

“We waited in the car at the Denny’s parking lot, but there was no sign of Gwen. Without warning, Tala transformed into a wolf. The sounds were horrible, and it was very hard to not run screaming as she bared her fangs and pawed at the door. She pulled the handle and slipped out into the night. Cedric was still in a trance when I saw Gwen’s black SUV pull up. I leapt from the car and ran forward. I heard Asa clamber out behind me, but I only had eyes for Ben.

“I barreled into Ben, wrapping my arms around his chest before he even realized I was there. He started in surprise but quickly hugged me back. I could feel Gwen rolling her eyes behind me. I didn’t care. I was so grateful she had kept him safe. I had trusted her with the most important person in my life, and she had delivered on her promise to bring him back to me.

“We entered the Denny’s and asked for a booth. To appease the waitress, Gwen ordered coffee. The smell of hot, greasy food roiled my stomach. I tried not to look at the other patrons scarfing down runny eggs and soggy, too-sweet pancakes. Ben didn’t order anything to eat, and I realized the last thing I had seen him eat was the sandwich Asa made four nights ago. I ordered the waffle slam with scrambled eggs. Maybe I could convince Ben to eat some of it.

“A few minutes later, Cedric and Comet entered. Cedric spoke to each of the tables, and one by one they abandoned their half-eaten food and walked out without paying. He approached to the waitstaff, and they left out the back. As Cedric stepped into the kitchen, Tala and Asa arrived. Asa and Comet joined us at the table, while Tala grabbed a large soda cup and filled it with her blood. I tried not to let myself feel hungry at the smell. She passed it to Asa, and he drank from it. 

“When Cedric joined us, I told them about the message I had received while Cedric was still under Damien’s spell. The thing in my head had spoken through Cedric’s mouth. It wanted me to tell the truth at Il Gran Ballo, and I had obeyed. Now we knew it could speak through other Malkavians, or at least, those infected by the Malkavian madness. Cedric had not heard of this happening before, but he said that if such old forces were truly awakening, then “woe be to us all.” I also shared what I saw in my vision of Sascha and how she had rejected her manhood when she formed the Sabbat. I tried not to look too meaningfully at Tala. Gwen was excited. Apparently, we had made clandestine allies with quite a powerful Sabbat Priscus indeed.

“Gwen again pressed Cedric for Prentiss’ name. This time, he relented. Her full name was Marie Prentiss. She had led a very privileged but tragic life. If there was any physical object her spirit was connected to, it would be at her haven in Gallaudet. Gwen also shared that she had participated in the vinculum. She was now bonded to several high-ranked Sabbat, but they were also bound to her. But it wasn’t like a regular blood bond. This was much less powerful. Each participant felt friendlier to their bond mates, but not devoted or subservient. 

“One last thing. Gwen told us that the Camarilla were planning a counterattack on Christmas Day. They would exploit the same weakness we did when the Giovanni ghouls moved our corpses to Adams Morgan. Though the Sabbat were fearsome fighters, they were vulnerable during the day. And the Camarilla had plenty of ghouls at their disposal. 

“I could feel my face flush with phantom blood. At first, I was furious at Gwen, but the rational part of me recognized she could not have risked telling us anything while we were watched by the Lasombra in Adams Morgan. Mostly, though, I was mad at myself. I should have seen this coming. I had given my speech and risked my life because I believed I had no other option. The Camarilla were defeated or hiding in the bubble. The Sabbat were the only ones left to fight against the apocalypse. At the ball, DJ had witnessed atrocities against humans and kindred and grinned as though it were the best entertainment since color television. I made myself into a monster to forge my alliance with Sascha. And all of it could have been avoided if I had waited another day. 

“I buried my face in my hands. There was no point in arguing over this now. Gwen had been right to hide this from us. I just had to trust that I had made the right call anyway. That telling the truth and following Mal– the voice in my head was the right thing to do.

“We got back in the car and drove north to meet Rose’s friend, Big Frieda. It wasn’t quite kosher, since most of us were men, but Rose thought it would be fine since we were the “Gateways” her Sisters had spoken about. Oh, Tala goes by Rose, now. Tala was just the name she uses to avoid being recognized by her former Camarilla allies. During the ride, I told Ben, Cedric, Comet, and Gwen everything that had happened at the Ball and in our conversation with Sascha. 

“When we arrived at the outskirts of Big Frieda’s, Rose turned into a wolf and ran ahead. Fortunately, she did so outside the car. Half an hour later, Rose returned. We had permission to spend the night at Big Frieda’s farm, as the Sisterhood would gather the next night. In exchange, though, Big Frieda needed some of our blood. Since Big Frieda’s blood was now infertile, her ghouls were suffering from withdrawal. All our eyes turned to Asa. Malkavian blood was too unpredictable, and it was unlikely Big Frieda wanted her friends bound to the Giovanni. Asa was the only one any of us could trust with that kind of power over another’s soul. 

“We piled back into the van and drove ahead. At the farm, we made our introductions to Big Frieda. Asa followed her upstairs. The rest of us were led to the barn, which we were told had been sun-proofed. Gwen elected to stay in the trunk of the Giovanni SUV. I put on the muslin, too tired to even consider being embarrassed about stripping to my boxers in front of everyone. 

“Just before we fell asleep, Rose told us about something that had happened between her and Gwen. She had let Gwen feed from her the other night. A ‘fangbang,’ she called it. For a moment it had felt good, and then it was really, really painful. Like bad sex. Gwen had drained half of Rose’s blood before Rose had to tell her to stop. And instead of cuddling or checking in on Rose or even saying ‘thank you,’ Gwen had walked off and left Rose behind. 

“I didn’t know what to say. My own thoughts about feeding and being fed on were too complicated. Fortunately, I didn’t have to. Asa said that Rose had a pattern to her relationships. In her former life and in her old body, Rose had been in a bad relationship. One where Rose gave much more than she had been given. Now she had a new life and a fresh start. Didn’t Rose owe it to herself to try something new? To find someone who valued and respected her the way she deserved? Rose nodded, but it was hard to read her expression. She looks so inhuman, sometimes. 

“I had curled up on my side next to Ben. His legs were stretched out before me. He had his notebook open, and he was writing. I could feel the sun behind my back. I whispered to Ben that I was worried about falling asleep. The Ball had taken so much out of me. I knew the nightmares would be bad. Ben patted his leg. He told me to put my head on his knee. He would stay with me and keep me safe. I lifted my heavy limbs against the pull of sleep and rested my head on his lower thigh. I wrapped my left arm around his legs and hugged him tightly. 

“As long as Ben was with me, I was safe. No matter what horrors invaded my dreams, Ben would be there when I awoke to banish the monsters. I nuzzled my cheek against his jeans as I finally relaxed into torpor.”