"An hour?" Liam hazarded. "Not much more, I shouldn't think."

"If all goes to plan you'll never even see her face. She'd prefer it that way, actually. That's why I need your help. She values her... anonymity. But she can help Pockets. Not with the curse, but with the pain."

Robyn took a deep breath, and forced a smile. "What is it, specifically, you need from me?"

“The cover of darkness,” Liam replied. “Whatever you did with the shadow of the watchtower at the university.”

“I’ll drive, unless you’d prefer to. I’ll take care of the rest. We’ll take Pockets and Doug, the security guard along. After the meet we turn around and come home. That’s it.”

Robyn groaned. "Yeah... Yeah, if it's for Pockets, I think I can make that happen," she said, heading back up the driveway. "You better drive. I need to prep. I've got nothing in the tank tonight."

“Thank you,” Liam replied. He made his way up the drive in silence with a mind to ready the cruiser and collect his two patients. Doug would still have to be blindfolded, at least for the ride out. Liam also made sure to fill a small spray bottle for Eurydice.

Robyn waited by the car as Liam loaded up Pockets and the security guard. Pockets was easy. But the guard struggled. And kicked. Fortunately, police car backseats accommodated the unwilling. It didn't make for a quiet ride. The rendezvous was mercifully close. Robyn helped Pockets find a soft spot of ground to wait on, ane left Liam to deal with the guard.

Robyn circled the clearing, getting a lay for the space she was to black out. "So this top-secret, really old vampire," Robyn said. "What are we lookin' at?"

"In modern nights, at least in as far as Vampire mythology is to be believed we count thirteen clans descended from Caine and his progeny. But this is neither true, nor constant. Tremere was a mortal wizard who stole the secret of immortality from one of Enoch's childer - Saulot. What was once the noblest of all Kindred bloodlines, the Salubri, were systematically hunted down by the offspring of Tremere. They are more legend than memory now. Even most later day Kindred are unaware of them or at least fail to acknowledge them as anything more than fantasy. The Tremere have not forgotten, though."

Liam reached into his pocket and fished out the charm Eurydice had given him, holding it on his open palm to inspect. He'd received it in darkness, and had not taken it out beneath the light until now.

"A handful of Saulot's offspring survived the purge, and continue on to this day. Their existence is a closely guarded secret. Hasan would kill me were he to learn about tonight, so lets not let it happen.”
This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

The charm seemed simple enough. A woven disc of coloured cord, with beads of several colours threaded into a spiral on its face. Liam wasn't sure what stones they were made from, nor could he decipher precisely how it was to share his location. But magic was far beyond his ken. It wasn't long til the rendezvous, now.

"I won't tell him if you won't," Robyn said. "I've heard a little about the Salubri," she said. "Very little. They're supposed to be some sort of healers? Makes sense, given what we're doing here. So long as she doesn't try to eat me, I'm sure we'll get along fine."

She stood in the centre of the clearing, and gestured with her hands. She brought them up high above her head. The shadows began to move. It wasn't as quick or as dramatic as the other night, but as she said, she was running on fumes. Eventually the darkness sealed them in.

Liam smiled. "No. There's no fear of that."

Eurydice was unlikely to leave her entirely alone however. Liam had no doubt that Eurydice would sense Robyn's heavy heart. Three patients awaited her touch this evening. A broken body. A broken mind. And a weary soul.

Just before the lights 'went out', Liam opened the back door of the cruiser and helped Doug out. Once the curtains fell he wouldn't be able to see either and he preferred to have a firm grip on the potential runaway.

"Just a bit longer, my friend. Then the bindings can come off and you'll get the long awaited answers to your questions. I promise."

The security guard swore and raved, struggling uselessly in Liam's iron grasp. Fortunately, Liam didn't have to wait long before Eurydice arrived. Suddenly, and very close, there was the beating of massive wings and a heavy thud on the earth. She approached him first.

"Hello, Liam," Eurydice said, stepping in close. Liam felt the guard stiffen, and then jerk in his arms.

"Get your hands off me, bitch," said the guard.

"Hush now," said Eurydice. Liam felt her take his head in her hands. She wasn't rough, but the guard couldn't wrench free from her grasp. His struggles weakened, until eventually he was still. He collapsed in Liam's arms. Liam heard Eurydice fall to her knees.

Liam held the guard close against him and offered comforting words. "We're almost done," he said softly. "We can talk when we get home."

Shifting their weight so that he could kneel Liam held out a hand towards Eurydice should she wish to take it, being unable to find her himself.

"Are you alright?" he asked the darkness.

The guard didn't speak. He was unconscious.

Eurydice did not take the offered hand. "Yes," she said. Then she was silent for several minutes. Then she rose. "I'm okay. The fragmenting of his mind began long before the occupation. So much trauma. He will need to rest. A mind reordering itself is no simple thing."

She sighed. "I mustn't delay, Pockets is suffering, too."

"Who, me?" Pockets said. "Nah I'm hunky dor- whoa." She gave a shuddering moan as the pain that had been coursing through her body suddenly ebbed.

"We shouldn't tarry, but that does not mean you need to exert yourself unduly," Liam said gently. He cradled the guard in his arms now without resistance. "Take the time that you require."

"And now for you," Eurydice said. She stepped away from Liam, towards where Robyn had settled. "You can see me."

"It works on everyone but me," Robyn said. "But I tried my best not to stare."

"You're very tired," said Eurydice. "May I?"

"I'll try anything twice," Robyn said. "And since all the cool kids are doing it..."

There was a moment of silence. Eurydice drew in a sharp breath. "You've suffered so much."

"You, too," Robyn said. "Guess we have that in common."

"I can't undo all the damage that has been done," Eurydice said. "Not without placing myself in danger. But I can help."

"Go on," Robyn said. There were several minutes of silence. Finally, they both collapsed.

"Thank you," said Robyn. She whispered something Liam couldn't hear. Whatever she said seemed to evoke emotions from Eurydice.

Finally, the Salubri moved back toward Liam. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help these people," she said.

Liam smiled in the darkness, his whole being radiating relief. Today when the sun crested he would sleep without worry knowing that Pockets was without pain, Robyn was rejuvenated and their guest had been put back on the road to recovery.

"Thank you," Liam replied earnestly. "As ever I cannot begin to repay you, but I did promise you this," he said, holding up the container he'd filled before their departure along with the charm Eurydice had given him to find him tonight. He didn't know if she would want it back.

"I hope it releases you from some of the other strains you've taken unto yourself."

"This has been a... welcome excursion," Eurydice replied. "I am only sorry I was not able to lift the curse. Safe travels, Liam." She turned away from him. "And to you, too, Robyn."

"I'm glad Liam dragged me out here," Robyn said warmly. "You have a good night." There was a sound that sounded an awful lot like a kiss. Then the beating of wings. A moment later, the shadows melted away. Robyn was smiling serenely, and Pockets was getting to her feet. She looked weak in the knees but her eyes were clear.

"Well?" Liam asked, holding their fourth compatriot in his arms. "Are we ready to head home?" He opened the backdoor of the cruiser and carefully belted Doug into his seat. Then he came around and gave Pockets a hug.

"Lets not do this again. You scared the hell out of me."

Pockets returned the hug. "I... my mind hasn't been this clear in... let's go home."

Robyn hopped in the passenger seat, smiling quietly to herself.

Liam turned the key over in the ignition and eased the cruiser onto the country road. He drove in silence which seemed like the unspoken consensus. The brief excursion had accomplished all that he’d hoped for. Now he could start focusing on the coming nights once more.

The drive was completed in silence. There wasn't much to say. When they arrived at Robyn's, Liam took the guard to convalesce in the yurt. Pockets headed inside, and Robyn took a seat on the back patio to watch the stars for a moment. The rest of the night belonged to Liam.

Leaving the others to ponder the night’s events on their own, Liam set out for the communal camp fire. Specifically he was looking for Joyce.

The campfire was quiet tonight. Joyce sat by the campfire with Alex, Grace and Logan. Most of the villagers were exhausted from another day of construction. She smiled as Liam approached.

"Evening, Liam," she said cheerily. "How'd everything go with our uncooperative friend?"

“He’s sleeping,” Liam said, taking a seat for himself beside the fire. He smiled at Joyce and waved at the rest of the gathering. “Surprised Caleb’s not keeping you company,” he said, looking around.

“I think we had the breakthrough we were hoping for tonight. I suppose we won’t know for sure until he wakes up, but I expect he’ll have lots of questions.”
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

"He's too busy following Daisy around like a lost puppy," Joyce said, nodding over at the trailer where the Shannons had taken up residence. The flicker of candlelight indicated that electricity was still an issue. "I think he's missed the company of other dogs."

"I'll take a run at him again in the morning. I'm eager to see what magic you've worked on him. Maybe I'll be able to pry his name from him."

Liam nodded. "I'd appreciate that."

He glanced across the expanse of the campfire towards Logan.

"How are you feeling? I put you through the ringer last night, getting you out in one piece and back before the sunrise. I apologize if it was a bumpy ride."