For the next three days we do as we have been doing. Training some, learning each other's foibles and working out our relationship. She agrees to be my blood slave. I explained it to her as best as I can though I tell her because of what I was before, I don't fully understand what it will be like for her. I was born to it, she was not. I think in part though this is something she feels she needs, a sense of security. I can understand it. We all need that illusion, it gives us something to build from, to work with and to have hope for tomorrow.

She does like that I call her my Maid and not my slave. I point out I did not buy her, she came to me of her own free will. As such she is not so much a slave as a servant. Not that I treat her that way, much. She is a good person and keeps my secrets well. The bond really does not change how she acts around me much. Though she does tell me it does make her feel closer to me and trust me more. But as she is aware of it she is not fooled by it. (much *grin*)

A night or so later we are sitting outside a pub (around here Pubs and Taverns are different, sort of like how Cafés and Restaurants are different - here Pubs have outside tables, Taverns don't. So far that is the only difference I can find.) This one is having poetry readings. I am not really in to poetry but Emily is, so we sit and drink stuff (I laced my mead with her blood makes it Extra Nummy). The fellow who is speaking is not very good. His meter is off and his manner of speaking makes me flinch.

Ivan appears with a middle aged man that reminds me of an old time christian monk. Which they don't have in this universe, thank the gods. (brown robe, long rosaries chain but no cross on it. In fact I think it's a weighted chain, more useful in strangling someone than praying.)

Ivan and I flinch at the same time all through the man's recital. Emily is the one to notice this and ends up watching us instead of the poet, as apparently does Ivan's companion. The robed man is closer to Emily than me and quietly comments to her, "Watching these two is more interesting than the watching the speaker." she nods, "I know, at the same point and time. It's like they can hear something we can't." he nods, "My friend is an artist, what about yours ?"

Emily grins, "Paladin actually. Her art is more along the lines of painting with other peoples blood on some battle field." he grins at her analogy.

I sigh when the poet stops, at a strange place, but at least he stopped. I look at Ivan, "Subject of the poem was not bad, but I am not sure if he ever heard any real poetry before or is one of those who thought he was a poet cause he knows how to apply pen to paper and not come back with a blotch." Ivan nods, "True. People like him should not write, let alone Read that stuff. Though I agree the basic Idea was good, his style is not."

"Robina of Tyche, I would like to formally introduce you to Michael, hidden lord of the city." He states before I can continue with the conversation of the hack.

I look at the man, "Pleased to meet you sir, I hope your evening is a pleasant one."

He looks from me to Ivan and back and smiles, "Well it's been entertaining so far. From your reaction you have an artist heart."

I nod to Emily, "She knows about us and is Mine." Michael looks at her, Emily shrugs, "I have known about you all, at least in abstract, for some time. The little ins and outs and all that is still new though." he nods, "Well said. Very well. Ivan made it plain you would not come see me in a formal manner. You impressed him, that does not happen often."

Ivan corrects, "Impressed, hell she scares me, allot."

I grin at him but don't speak.

Michael nods to that, "Yes, well seeing that object on her head I can see why. That had to hurt." I shrug, "I fell asleep with it on and when I woke it would not come off. I did not feel a thing. Wait, " thinking back, "No, I did not so much fall asleep as pass out. Still don't remember feeling anything though. "

Michael nods, "I suspect you did but it was too much for your mind to handle so it blocks the memories from your waking mind."

I nod, "Quite possible .. you are a bit of a scholar I take it ?"

He bows in his seat, "Quite. I have made a study of various religions and their artifacts for some time now. It's my focus in life that keeps me going. I suspect you are now trying to relearn your own focus as the world you once knew is gone."

I sigh and nod, "My goddess told me I should do that as well actually. Find myself and my place within myself before she feels safe in having me do much. Running around angry at the world is more of a Brujah thing after all."

Both men grin at that, Michael states, "Actually I am Brujah, though the younger ones do that quite a bit. Till they find themselves or self-destruct. From what I have observed of you. And I have been watching, you got a grip on some of it. You are not out there showing the world what you got or even acting like most Paladins we have had the misfortune of dealing with. Though I do understand your desire to remain apart. That relic makes you unpredictably dangerous though of no will of your own. Given recent history I am more lenient than I normally am too. Nostromo's fall has released many old ones. A few we have had to put down as they endangered us all. But a few, like you, are handling it better, be it from faith or from being so old to start with. Ivan tells me you were of a Revenant family on top of it, so you had a head start on controlling your beast I take it."

I grin and nod, "When I was turned I remember it. The Beast comes and tries to defeat you, to conquer you. I beat it in to submission, tied it in a harness and renamed it Beaten. Beaten and I get along famously now. I keep it on a short leash and it protects me when I can't protect myself."

Ivan looks mildly confused, Michael on the other hand is giggling and nodding. HE gets it. "I have heard similar stories. People who start out more in touch with their beast, more aware of how it works often finding a common ground or a way to control it. Most of them don't have the same level of struggle most do. Torries like we Brujah have more than a normal share of passions, so it's important you gain a measure of control over it."

I nod, Emily listens intently.

He sighs, "Back to business. I hear you destroyed 3 young ones though."

I nod, "Ingred, tried to bully me and push on me. I really only meant to scare her but well, she hit my arm in the right spot and POOF no more child. The other two were from her group, they went after Emily, We fought, they died. Really should not have tried that, ended up exposing the thralls with in the temple. Fortunately I have some power there and was able to let most of them go free with just a little talking to. The Lady does not care if your undead or not. She is nice that way." he nods but looks grim, "I can understand protecting what is yours. Still the problem is the unsanctioned killing of those three. I understand the first was an accident. Tell me what brought on holding her over the street like that ?"

I sigh, "She kept calling me new blood and Fledgling, and seemed to have it in her fool head that if your new to the city then you must somehow be new to the Life and she tried to press me, by force of numbers, in to her little gang. I was trying to instruct her when Ivan showed up and distracted me."

Ivan nodded, "I think the fact that I distracted her at a crucial point hurt her control of the situation sir."

Michaels head almost snaps around and he is staring wide eyed at Ivan, "You really are scared of her, why ?"

Ivan gives me a worried look, I shrug, "I am Robina of Tyche, Child of Arikel, founder of the Clan of the Blossom, these nights called the Toreador. When she turned me, she had but 2 other childer." I let that sink in. I watch the colors of Michaels aura shift and change. I can see aura's always could but I really have very little knowledge of what the colors mean. So it's a pretty light show for me. Well Some colors I have worked out. I know they show the emotional state of a person and I have gotten where I recognize Anger, Lust, Fear, Happiness and Madness. Madness is easy as the lights are very chaotic. His colors and turning slowly to fear, others still stronger but it's far more evident now.

He nods, "Ah, that makes a great deal more sense then. So how much waking world time have you had ?"

I shrug, "500 years as a thrall, about oh, Well Nostromo's cult got me while I was in the change, so just since Nostromo's power failed."

Both of them give me a Very wide eyed look. I grin and shrug, "No one ever asked me That question before."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Michael starts to slowly laugh then burst in to gales of delight. Things for him are falling in to place. 500 years as a thrall is a long time and accounts for my pure strength and speed nicely. An Elder Fledgling is how some would put it. I know Lots of stuff cause I lived on the fringe of it for so long. But the actual working society, that is not something I would have a huge amount of knowledge of. And the high protection value I put on my own thrall, makes a lot more sense to.

He slowly calms down and shakes his head, "ok ok. well then that does change things."

Ivan is in shock to. Though more from how I worded things on our first meeting. I never lied, but I managed to mislead him all the same. He is not angry with me about that, more impressed really. He shakes his head at it all, "She may not have the skill of ages but she is very good at the word play of politics." he sighs. I shrug, "500 years, helping raise two new fledglings and get them through the world before the Curse of Darkness came. In my time vampires did not fear the sun. That came later."

Michael nods, "When Caine angered the gods of light and they cast him and his out of the light. Then we all learned to live only at night."

I nod.

The Prince thinks then shakes his head, "Because of How you were locked away I think that is why you don't fear the light. Nostromo may have done you a favor even as he tried to punish you for daring to exist."

I shrug, "I still want to find him and introduce him to the business ends of my staff, till I invert his head enough it comes out his ass."

The other two nod and grin.

"Ok, well if you are going to stay here any length of time I think you need to learn how our society works. Even if you do avoid the meetings. Which given the nature of certain individuals, may not be a bad thing. Still I think you should meet with Ivan and a few others who have been out of things for a time and learn about how things are done Now. So as punishment for killing some idiots that more than likely deserved it, you will meet with Ivan and his other students" Ivan looks pained, "And learn about our place in the world. Otherwise welcome to the city and please try and refrain from killing anyone else unless you have no other choice."

So speaks the Prince of the Undead. I shrug, "Ok works for me."

Michael just snorts a laugh then returns his serious face, "Do you treat the high ranking in your church this way."

Emily answers, "actually yes she does. She has one on one conversations with Tyche to. They act more like friends than God and Servant."

I shrug, "She is the only reason I am as sane as I am. She helped me stay in touch with the world enough that I know a few languages and enough of the culture that I don't go all Barbarian on this world."

Michael nods, makes sense to him. "I can understand your relationship from that point of view. After so many centuries with only her to talk to, even if you were mostly just spirit, yes it makes sense. Though the waking must have been a shock."

"More of an annoyance, waking locked in an old wood coffin inside a stone box. I used a device to cast disintegrate spells on the box. Took a few tries to get the aim right but I got out, blasted a wall. Then just because, I set fire to the box I had been trapped in for so long. Then I went out and ate all the priest and hunters I could find."

The other two smile and get that to. Emily actually smiles to. "We actually met later that day. She um, ate some slavers then actually and accidently helped a king recover his missing princess by beating some other slavers to death. She really is scary with her staff in hand. Knocked the head off two of them who charged her, and caught and threw back a dagger thrown at her, she hit the knife thrower in the neck, nearly decapitated him to."

I shrug, "That one was pure luck, not skill. The other two, I am specialized in staff and my staff is enchanted. It's actually older than I am and of dwarven manufacture."

Michael gets all excited, "OH can I see it sometime ?"

I shrug and pull out my bag, then pull the staff out of the bag and hand it to him. He and Ivan stare in wide eyed amazement at the bag. "What, haven't you ever seen a bag of holding before ?"

Both shake their heads. I sigh, "I got to teach your people some proper magic before I hear another idiot proclaim 'lost knowledge' or other crap. This is called a Marvel Pack, I helped design them actually. They were made so merchants could carry a good amount of stuff in a small space. Also handy for adventurers. At this rate I probably could just start making magic items from my time and become very rich IF I chose that route."

Both vampires nod, "Most likely. Many things that were probably common for you have been lost to time. No telling what other marvels you have that would go over well these days."

I shrug and sigh even as Michael looks over the staff. I sit forward and translate the Dethic runes for him and tell him what little I know of the staff's history before I got it. Which really is not much as Dwarves don't use staves for combat, they sell them to us Tall people. I tell them this one belonged to my father. For whom I was named. My father was a giant of a man, 6'6" and strong as a giant." I am making some of this up. I am saying my Old self was my father. Ivan is not wearing that ring so I don't feel the need to tell the truth. Well all the truth at any rate.

I hold off on telling to many tales as they look a little bored at this point, "To much ?"

Ivan nods. I shrug. "Ok, I get going sometimes. I can't seem to stop easily."

Michael hands me back my staff. "Thank you for letting me see that. It really is a fine weapon and I loved the carvings on it. You keep it so clean to."

I shrug, "I have never cleaned it actually. It kind of absorbs blood in to itself. I never really gave it much thought though. Just the kind of magic it uses."

Both look very surprised at that I shrug, "What did you think Blood Magic was New ?"

They both nod and I laugh.

"It's one of the Oldest magics there is. I know quite a few spells and Alchemical formula that call for blood from different sources. There are hundreds of spells and enchantments that use blood, I am surprised by this I must say. Especially considering how we use our powers and all."

That one actually makes them do a double take then a slow smile from Michael and a nod of understanding.

We chat about this and that for a while longer before we leave to find Emily something to eat. Neither side had again mentioned the meetings or training and as such I had no idea where they took place or when for that matter. Which was fine with me really. I was thinking of moving on soon anyway. Only reason I hadn't was Emily and I think I was hoping Bethany would come looking for me the same as Emily. She never did, but I hoped none the less.

Later in the week I ask Emily, "Is there any reason we need to stay here ?"

She thinks, "Your training in vampire politics and social mores ?"

I consider then state, "Like I said, any reason why we need to stay here any longer ?"

She grins, "Your feet are itching to be on the road again, where food is scarce and you will have me all to yourself."

I grin, "I got you all to myself now, though the use of the tent and its magic rooms would improve on that." she giggles and nods.

Emily, grinning, "Truthfully you should have a nice herd of humans to take with you. Keep you entertained and fed." I make a face and she nods, "You really don't like being responsible for large groups do you ?"

I shake my head and sigh. "Any more than 3 or 4 and I start getting irritable. On top of that when I did have something like that I was not the only one in charge. I had someone else who helped with that." She considers that, "I take it this other was your wife ?"

I shake my head, "Never actually got married. Did leave behind a goodly number of pregnant ladies though. Lots of children to. No the person was the one who eventually became my sire. I helped raise her childer and took care of her thralls. Ok there was a lot of sex but she had a stronger sex drive than me. LOTS Stronger. Well back then. These days I really understand it better but from her I learned to control it and not let it control me. If it controlled me I would still have all of the girls and probably be torturing and raping them and such cause I enjoy it so. I dream about that sometimes. What it may have been like to have Anne and Cinnamon and the others and use them at my leisure in any way I wanted to."

She nods, "I have had similar dreams myself. Watching you use them as you will, though mostly as a food source more than a sex source."

I grin at her. We had been intimate a few times now and she goes both ways, male and female, so easily. I really like her and her strong drives and her Brilliant mind. Pretty, good in bed and so very smart. All things that help me want to keep her for a very long time.