Uriel" " A Demon, Not a Vampire."

 

After Mael recovered and we made sure the Dancers would never be around again, I decided to return to my "quiet" life in the city. I was supposed to meet up with Maharet again soon.

I arrived shortly before dawn, so I took a trip to the local blood bank where I drank a small amount, nearly giving a young nurse a heart attack. Oh, these people these days! They have such weak minds and hearts!

After this outing, I returned home and went to sleep in my favorite bed (it didn't have to be a coffin, as I slept about three stories underground).

The next day, I went to the 24-hour shopping mall. I wanted to buy something to welcome Maharet. I chose dark red roses and a rather good ten-year-old red wine (not that I'm particularly obsessed with that color).

After returning to the building, I found her in the upstairs guest room. She'd already set up candles, glasses, and a vase on the coffee table.

"As usual, you're predicting my movements.

" "Clairvoyance is useful sometimes, but what's it to you?"

"Hmm? I don't understand.

" "You think you can bribe me with those weeds and that miserable brainfucker? Get out of my way!"

She headed straight for me. I didn't have time to say anything; I was too stunned by her behavior. She never said things like that.

"Why are you standing there like a statue?"

With a swift movement, she swept the crystal vase off the coffee table and smashed it over my head.

"I don't want to see you again!"

I ran out of the house as fast as I could. I didn't want her to leave, because then I might never see her again. I headed toward the city center, pondering what I could have done wrong, why was she so angry with me?

After a few minutes, I came to the conclusion that in my current situation, only two things could help me: a good friend and a good Bloody Mary.

-Later-

- So this is what Blade looks like. First, it's idyllic, then hell. As if she'd swapped personalities with someone.

- It's strange, indeed. I have a piece of advice for you: wander around the city for a few days, visit her sometimes. Maybe she needs a few days of rest, maybe something happened to her that she doesn't want to talk about. You know how it is sometimes. If nothing changes, come back here. I have a feeling someone once told me about a similar case, but I need some time to contact them.

-Thank you.

- As always, it's my pleasure. Take care.

- For now.

I followed Blade's "instructions" and spent the next week with various friends. I visited my building three times, but there was no indication that Maharet's mood had changed. I saw her downtown at a disco once, but she likely sensed me in the crowd, as I lost sight of her a few seconds later. I was increasingly unsure what to do or think. I only hoped Blade would be able to help me. So I went to him.

"I'm worried. It's been a week and she's been behaving the same way. I can't reach her with words or thoughts. Help me! Please! Have you contacted your "mysterious friend" yet???

" "Calm down a bit! It wasn't easy, but I managed. The guy owed me a favor.

" "Who is that?

" "Are you familiar with these various "psychological fraternities"? He belongs to one of them. He's a pretty good psychic." He once toyed with two vampires, found out who they were when they practically tore him apart, and to this day, he has scars all over his body…

"Let me guess: they almost had it when you entered the scene and saved another hopeless day by killing both of them and rescuing a defenseless and innocent man from danger.

" "Look, can you read minds too?" Anyway, getting back to Maharet, he advised me, or rather you, to try "reading" her aura. I don't know exactly what he means, but he said it would be enough for you.

"Aura, you say? Thank you, I'll check it out today.

" "Run, run…"

I arrived at the building, but I didn't sense her presence inside. I decided to go inside and wait for her to arrive.

The wait wasn't long; I saw her coming around the corner. I focused on her and shut myself off from the outside world. I saw her aura and gasped. The "normal" vampire aura was streaked with bright yellow veins. That could only mean one thing...

I acted as quickly as I could, activating all the security measures so that upon entering the house, all the doors would lock. I hid behind the door so I wouldn't be seen.

The plan worked; she wasn't expecting anything. I closed the reinforced door and quickly tied her hands behind her back so she couldn't move them. I knew it could be dangerous.

"You son of a bitch! How dare you!? Untie me immediately or you'll regret it!"

Without a word, I hung her by her hands from a hook under the ceiling and began drawing intricate patterns beneath her legs, which were beginning to fade from my memory. However, after my apprenticeship with the elder Tremere, some knowledge remained.

She began to take on her true form, or should I say, began?

"So, a succubus? Hmm? You're slowly starting to confuse me. So much of this satanic shit is being born now.

" "What could you possibly know about us, you wretched leech!?"

"Oh, please. Don't say that, you're hurting my feelings!

" "I know what you mean. About Her, right? What else?! I'll never tell you where I hid Her!

" "I've heard that succubi greatly value beauty, right? Well, what you see beneath you isn't the only trick I learned from the Tremere...

" "What else? Hee hee? Can you do it, hee hee... Magician?"

I didn't let him talk any more. I focused and started following the strict procedures. It worked. His blood temperature went from 36.6 to about 75. The little bastard was somewhat resilient. However, when I raised the temperature a little more to keep him from dying, his skin began to boil. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and stopped laughing. In broken words, he began to plead:

"Please... Don't answer... My face..."

I lowered the temperature a bit and said:

"Place."

"Factory... Concrete... City... Next... Tools..."

That was enough for me; I knew where to look.

"Thanks."

I turned on my heel, went out into the street, and raised the temperature to 3000.

I entered a nearby garage, started my car, and drove off with screeching tires. My destination was a cement factory on the outskirts of town.

When I arrived, I found everything locked, but a few rusty padlocks wouldn't stop me. I jumped the fence and began searching the entire area. The last word the succubus said was "tools." So I had to look for the technicians' barracks.

After ten minutes, I found it. The door was locked, so I used my shoe to open it.

There it was! She was hanging crucified on the wall. Occult symbols were drawn around her.

I quickly ran over and began to free her. He tied her with silver wires! I cut the wires with my katana and carried her to the car. Then I drove home.

I washed her, dressed her in new clothes, and put her to bed.

But something wasn't right... She was sleeping the whole time, dreaming. What was happening? What now?