The Toils of Marconius
The door burst open , four Kindred on the other side of the threshold bearing teeth and claws . Earlier in the night , he ’ d discovered one of the few Camarilla holdouts remaining in D . C . As a result , his elimination had become a priority for these agents of the Ivory Tower .
“ You gone done it now , licks .” As the vampires entered the bedroom , bedlam took its toll ; the ward ’ s effects penetrated the intruders ’ minds . Three of them clutched their heads , stumbling like drunks as they fumbled for an exit they found impossible to locate .
Nathaniel ’ s smugness faltered as he observed the ever impressive Tabitha Prester hanging back , leveling her shotgun at the Kiasyd . “ Your wards won ’ t work on me , McCabe . I ’ ll blow you to fucking kingdom come before you tell a soul about our haven .”
“ Such a dirty mouth , Tabitha . Your mama oughta wash it out .” Nathaniel slid forward with the child in one arm , three long fingers jammed in the boy ’ s mouth to silence his crying . “ I reckon your trigger finger ain ’ t so fast to save both these boys . Here ’ s a conundrum , Gangrel ; can you live with causing the death of one more innocent ? Last time you liketa lost control entirely .”
With amusement , McCabe watched as Tabitha attempted to mouth an answer . Her eyes questioned , but her body would not move . “ I know all about you and your weaknesses , Tabby . I done read Vitel ’ s old diaries pretty well . I might could be leavin ’ with this boy , as insurance , you unnerstand ? Don ’ t pursue now . I ’ ll hurt him bad , and it ’ ll be all your fault . Just like last time .”
Even when pushing passed four stupefied Camarilla with a child in hand , Nathaniel McCabe never ran . One of the fiercest Gangrel in D . C . tried to form words , but instead , vitae just leaked from her eyes .
The Black Sheep
A wise Cainite once said ; “ A truth that ’ s told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent .”
I just lied . William Blake was never a Cainite , more ’ s the pity . He ’ d make a fine member of our bloodline . I daresay our falsehoods are believed more readily than any bona fide facts I could present , yet truths are requested , so truths you shall get .
Just don ’ t blame me if you do not believe them .
You know the Kiasyd of tonight to be a bloodline of the Lasombra Clan , and are well-read enough to know also we are descended from Marconius , the founder of our kind . There are no Kiasyd outside that lineage .
Any theorized weakness we have or had due to connection with creatures known as “ fae ” or “ changelings ” is purely hypothetical . We ’ re far more than mere Cainites , not less .
I did intimate you may not believe me . Wet your quill . Use the — heh — inkpot over there . The words you write shall be my testament . You ’ d do well to refer to them before questioning others of our blood .
The Toils of Marconius
Marconius and his sister Hrotsuitha were magi .
I see your quill ’ s already ceased scratching . You heard me correctly . Now , the Lasombra weren ’ t known for their dabbling in thaumaturgic arts , but it ’ s remiss to believe our august Clan hadn ’ t Embraced some mortals familiar with the power of the Abyss .
Marconius and his sister were such scholars . They were consumed by the idea of creating the perfect being , possessed of vitae , the dreams of changelings , and the souls of magi . If an alchemical mixture comprised of such glorious components could be fed to a subject , the organism created would be perfection embodied , and elevate the creators to godhood , surely .
52 KIASYD