Chapter 3

Chapter Three

"Master, what are these traditions and laws that Armond mentioned to me?"

"Oh crap, that's right; I need to tell you these things before we get to the
party."

We sat down under a tree and he proceeded to tell me the traditions. "Many
centuries ago our leaders sat down to draw up some rules for us to live by and
to protect us. The first tradition is the most important of them when it comes
to protecting us. That is the tradition of the Masquerade. What this means is
that we do not allow mortals to know of our existence. If Mortal society was to
know that we truly existed they would hunt us down, for it is mans way to
destroy that which he does not understand. If you allow yourself to be seen
feeding by anyone who does not know of us, then you are in violation of a
capital offense in our society. Breaching the masquerade is one of the few
offenses that can get a blood hunt called on you faster then you can blink."

"A Blood Hunt?" I asked.

"It is when the prince has washed his hands of you and has made your existance
null and void. You will have every kindred in exstance hunting you down so that
they can take your blood. It is the ONLY time that it is allowed to drink the
blood of another Kindred and rob them of their existance."

"Anyways, where was I?" "Oh yes, The Second Tradition is that of 'Domain'."
"This means that when you visit other kindred in their home that you respect
them, even if you do not agree with them. The same holds true if they are in
our domain. A kindred's domain is not only their haven where they sleep during
the day, but also includes their feeding area. This means that you do not feed
in another's domain without their permission."

"The third tradition is that of Progeny. This tradition is what helps to keep
our numbers in check and prevent us from over-running the world with our kind.
If this were to happen then the world would be covered with vampires, and there
would be no mortals left for us to feed upon. The tradition states that you can
only embrace a mortal with the permission of your clans elder, but we carry it
one level further and require that a kindred have the permission of the reigning
prince in their area."

"The fourth is that of The Accounting. This means that whatever you do until
you are released, I am responsible for. Your transgressions are mine. If you
break any of the traditions then not only are you in trouble, but so am I."

"The fifth tradition is that of Hospitality. This just means that when you
travel, you are to present yourself to the prince of the city you are in. If
the prince of that city does not recognize you then you are nothing in that
town. You will be granted no respect, not even from our own clan."

"The sixth, and final, tradition is that of the destruction. This means that
you are not to kill any kindred. That right belongs only to the prince. If one
of us breaks the traditions so badly that death is warranted, then only the
prince can declare a blood hunt. At this point any kindred who come upon the
transgressor have the right and obligation to slay them."

"Do you understand these traditions and swear to live the rest of your days by
them?"

"I do." I told him with all honesty.

"Good, then let's be going."

After he finished telling me about the traditions and giving me a brief synopsis
on Kindred history, we continued on to the party.

We went up on Chandler Dr. to a house that had a long standing reputation for
being haunted. "The party is HERE?" I inquired. "This place is haunted."

"What makes you say that?"

"Simple, the house has a history; every family that has ever moved in here has
died under mysterious circumstances."

"Mysterious my dear Geri, Only because Mikey has been very careful to cover his
tracks."

"Mikey?" I asked?

"He hates it when I call him that." Pasteur said with a smile, "His real name
is Michael. He was the one who had this house built many years ago. Shall we
go in and say hello?" With that he sauntered up the walkway to the front door
and proceeded to knock on the door: ?Shave and a haircut?" Then without waiting
for anyone to open the door he walked on in. He stopped in the entry hall and
looked at me as if to say `are you coming?".

I proceeded to follow him on into the house, but before I could even get to the
door a very large ominous black man who had to be at least seven feet tall (and
just as broad) appeared behind Pasteur.

"Pasteur, I should have known that you couldn't pass up a chance to crash a
party. I can only assume that you do not have an invitation." The mans voice
was very deep and thunderous.

"Evening Olympus, how's it shaking? Invitation? Since when have `I' ever
needed an invitation? You know perfectly well that if I didn't show up these
parties would be the dullest thing to ever come out of a member of the Camarilla
since they proposed the whole ludicrous idea of the masquerade. Now step aside
and let me and my young childer here through. It is time that he met the others
of the nobility."

"Yeah RIGHT!" he boomed, "You think I'm going to risk punishment and just let
you pass right on in. You really ARE crazy."

"Just tell them that I knocked you out"

Olympus cocked and eyebrow at Pasteur and gave him a look that said `You're
shitting me, right?' And I kinda had to agree with him. I just could not see
my sire putting down this mountain of a man.

"If you don't let me in, then you know perfectly well that I will find some
other way of getting in. Since when have I ever not been able to get into one
of these events?"

"Ok, but Just remember, I never saw you and you never saw me."

"That's a good man, now step aside." And with that Pasteur walked past the
giant. I cautiously edged my way around him to follow my master.

Once inside we could hear the sounds of the party going on in the basement. It
was not the loud thundering bass that I was use to associating with a party, but
the delicate sounds of a string quartet playing soft chamber music. When we got
downstairs I noticed that everyone seemed to be gathered around a statue over on
the opposite side of the room.

Pasteur nonchalantly walked over to the stereo system. Producing a CD from an
interior pocket of his coat, he placed it in the stereo. As soon as the piece
that was playing finished he switched the CD's. The next thing I knew, loud
hard hitting industrial came out of the speakers shocking everyone in the room,
including me.

"Now it's a party!" Pasteur exclaimed.

A young looking gentleman dressed in fine clothes moved in the blink of an eye
over to the stereo and hit the stop button. "Just what do you think you're
doing Pasteur, and who is this child with you?"

"Relax Mikey, Meet my new Childer, Geri. Geri, this is Michael Angelo, Elder of
the Toreador clan."

"New Childer? You mean to tell me that Victor has given you permission to
create new childer?"

"That's right, because of my assistance to him and the Camarilla in the war he
has granted me permission to rebuild my brood. Geri here was unlucky enough to
stumble upon us all at the club last night."

"Ok, be that as it may, you felt that this gave you the right to just waltz into
my haven and crash my little gathering?"

"Pop a chill pill Mikey, I just thought I'd make the rounds tonight and
introduce Geri here to the other Elders. Besides, it looked like this place
needed a little livening. What the hell's going on anyway? You get a new piece
in?"

"As a matter fact I have, not that someone like you could appreciate fine art."

"Ouch, that really hurt Mikey. Remove thy dagger from mine heart unto which thou hath thrust."

"Enough of the theatrics Pasteur. It's time for you to leave."

While the two of them bickered I moved over toward the statue to take a look at
it. "This is really a very nice piece you have here. What is it? A Moore?"

Michael's jaw dropped. "As a matter of fact it is. You're familiar with his
work?"

"Sure, I love the simplistic and fluid lines. He manages to show so much while
using so little detail."

"My God, why the hell were you given permission to embrace him Pasteur? He
should have been brought into the Toreador clan, not Malkavian. I just hope
that your madness does not distort this young mans views of art too badly. It
would be a shame. Maybe he can actually bring some culture into your poor
clan."

"Just the right place at the right time Mikey." Pasteur said with a grin.

"So who else have you assaulted tonight?" Michael asked turning to Pasteur.

"You were the lucky first Mikey. By the way, where is dear ole Victor? I
thought he was supposed to be here."

"He should be arriving shortly."

"Good, Geri needs to be formally introduced to him. He met him last night at
the club, but now it is time to deal with the formalities."

"Well, then I guess you two can enjoy the blood bar while you wait for him, I
see that young Geri is at least being civil and enjoying my collection, Unlike
OTHER kindred I might name."

"Hey, you have a few pieces that I like, for instance the paintings you have by,
what was his name? Picasso? Now THERE was an artist with true vision."

Before Michael could say anything else Pasteur came over to collect me and lead
me over to the blood bar. "Here try this one." He said pouring me a glass from
a bottle. "You will find that different types of blood have different flavors."
He pushed a wine glass over to me, "This one is pork."

I took a sip of the red liquid. "Hmm, this is pretty good. You mean we can
drink the blood of animals?"

"Of course my dear child. Pork is my personal favorite. After all, it IS the
other white meat." He said chuckling to himself.

"Ok, if we can survive off the blood of animals then why do we need to feed of
of people?"

"Simple, if we were to feed off of animals only then we would be nothing better
then the Nosferatu with their rats down in the sewers. Besides, Human blood
contains an ingredient that is found in the blood of no other animal on the
planet." "Speaking of Nosferatu.. Looks like their elder has surfaced."
Pasteur motioned toward a dark staircase that seemed to lead even further
downward. "Daid Man Walking.." Pasteur said just load enough to make sure that
he was heard.

The rather sickly looking kindred heard him and moved toward us.
As he got closer my nostrils were assaulted by the foul smell of the sewers.
His appearance was human, but with what could only be described as a 'ratty'
face. Nearly bald, with just a few hairs on his head. Pointed ears with wisps
of hair growing from them. The image I had was a funny one. I got this image
in my head from an old 'Dick Tracy' comic book of 'Pruneface' wearing Vulcan
ears.

As soon as that image popped into my head I fell off the stool I was sitting on
and hit the floor laughing.

"What's wrong with him Pasteur?"

"I honestly have no idea Daid." Pasteur was starting to get the giggles himself
as laughter is extremely contagious. "Maybe the madness just suddenly hit him,
this is his first night after all."

Pasteur was finding it more and more difficult to keep from joining me rolling
on the floor. Every time I would start to calm down I would look up, see
Daideless' face and erupt in a new fit of laughter.

Daideless just shook his head and walked over to inspect the new piece of art and to say hello to the others gathered there.

Pasteur picked me up off the floor and asked me what I had found so funny. I
whispered it into his ear and no sooner did I finish than we both just collapsed
on the floor in hysterics.

It took about 10 minutes for us to calm down enough to be able to stay in our
seats again.

While we were rolling on the floor, Victor had arrived. He heard us before he
saw us. When he came in and saw the two of us rolling on the floor in a fit of
hysterics he inquired of Michael what had happened.

"I have no idea Victor, Daideless came in, Geri saw him and fell down laughing,
a few moments later Pasteur was on the floor with him. I'll go take care of
it."

Michael managed to get us into an anti-room away from the rest of the guests.
"Ok, what the hell is going on? Have you two been hitting the laughing gas?"

I snapped my fingers like a light bulb had just come on in my head, "No, but you
just gave me a glorious idea."

Michael shook his head and left the room shutting the door behind him.

After about another 5 minutes we were able to relax enough to rejoin the others
in the main room. I figured that the only way I would be able to keep from
laughing every time I saw Daideless would be to just think about all the things
I would no longer be able to do since I could no longer go out during the day.

Pasteur told me to stay at the bar while he went over to get Victor. When he
returned to the bar with Victor he presented me to the Prince. "My Prince, may
I present to you Geri. He has already been told of our laws and our traditions
and is ready to enter Kindred society."

I made an over exaggerated bow, "My Liege"

Victor snickered at my dramatics but quickly regained his composure. "You
understand all that your sire has told you and swear to uphold our laws and
traditions?"

"I do my liege." Again, bowing dramatically to him.

"Very well, then I recognize you as Geri of the clan Malkavian. So long as you
continue to abide by my directives and observe our laws, you are welcome to stay
in Huntsville."

"Pasteur, he is your responsibility, make sure that he does not get out of line.
Though I can see that the madness of your bloodline is already starting to take
hold. I just hope that it does not take him too far into insanity."

"I will watch him closely until he is ready to go out on his own." My sire told
him.

-End Chapter-