“If you want forever, close your eyes and surrender to me
Just remember today was the last that you’ll ever see the sun”
— Tiger Army, “Santa Carla Twilight”
Nestled on the north side of the Monterey Bay in California’s coastline, the fief of Santa Cruz softly glows against the deep black of the Pacific Ocean. While San Francisco roars with perpetual intrigue, Santa Cruz slumbers.
Don Bartolomé de Alba, the Prince of Santa Cruz since its inception as a Camarilla domain, rules with largesse uncharacteristic of his clan. Aside from a few modest demands, he allows those Kindred in his lands to exist as they like. He upholds the Traditions, but he is no petty tyrant. He maintains a coterie of neonates to watch over his eastern flank, but they are free to come and go in exchange for their vigilance.
Tonight, however, is one of those duties he demands of Los Vigilantes del Este, the so-called Eastern Watchmen. A poacher has been detected in Watsonville, a small town sitting on the edge of the domain claimed by Don Bartolomé, as several patients in the ICU have succumbed to anemia. He has sent his Vigilantes to speak with the Southern Cross, their counterparts in Monterey. If one of them is poaching on his land, restitution will have to be given.
Chapter 1: The Poacher
It is summer, but that doesn’t mean warm. The wind blowing off the Pacific has teeth.
The four members of Los Vigilantes del Este wait, arrayed over the sand. Valerie Rhodes, diplomat of the coterie, is out ahead. Echo, eldest and leader, in its center, a gray wolf by her side. Alex and Rook, enforcers, flank their leaders.
Trudging up the sand come the Southern Cross. Four of them, familiar faces to those who have existed in Santa Cruz for a long time.
In the lead is their diplomat, the Nosferatu Frannie Orozco. Wrapped in a ratty hoodie and worn-out leggings, her filthy feet are bare on the sand. Her wide carplike mouth stretches in a reflexive smile.
Beside and slightly behind is the official leader of the coterie, Ernesto Cortez of Clan Tremere. The warlock is dressed more formally than his diplomat, in slacks, shirt, and waistcoat, his sleeves rolled up. His face is stamped with annoyance—Ernesto’s default expression.
Flanking them is the massive Nosferatu Sonny Colosimo. Sonny’s lumpy body ripples with muscles, and he looks ready to burst out of his clothing if he so much as flexes wrong. His piggish eyes size up each member of the Vigilantes, and as they fall on Rook, an ugly smile creases his face.
Lastly is Madison Blair of Clan Ventrue, a beautiful young woman in a slinky minidress, she holds her expensive party heels in one hand while she stares at the phone clutched in the other. She barely seems to acknowledge anyone until her coterie stops. Only then does she look up and mouth hey to Valerie.
”Hey, girl,” Frannie says to Valerie. ”Coming out in force tonight, huh? I should talk.” She chuckles.
”Get to the point, Fran,” Ernesto monotones.
Frannie rolls her eyes. An impressive sight, as they’re much too big for her head. ”Okay, let’s get down to business.”
”Hang on,” Sonny says, his voice comically deep. ”Who’s the new chick? Looks good enough to eat.”
”Sonny,” Frannie scolds, her voice growing serious. Then, to Valerie: ”He’s right though. Introductions first?”
Alex, blond hair blowing in the Pacific wind, keeps his hands in the pocket of his jacket. He rolls his eyes at Sonny, and doesn't say anything.
Echo stands comfortably in her bare feet, faded denim pants rolled up in deference to the sandy ground. Her attention slides between each member of the Monterey group until it rests on Ernesto and she inclines her head politely.
A single red eyebrow rises at Sonny's blunt comment, her shoulders twitch slightly. But she easily remains silent as Val does as Val is so good at doing.
Valerie is dressed similarly to her diplomatic counterpart, albeit a little... fresher. She's wearing dark denim, comfortable hiking sandals, and a trademark green hooded sweatshirt with no other adornments. She looks like an anywoman you might see in a coffee shop with her hood up and laptop open in front of her. Someone you might pass on a street and forget moments later. Unless she talks to you, and that gentle and mellifluous voice catches your ear. That's much harder to forget.
"A pleasure as always, Frannie. It's been too long. Maybe when we're done here we can take a little walk?" Valerie's smile is warm and honest as she scans the group. She gives a little wave to Madison's silent hello. "You're familiar with Echo and Alex," She gestures to both in turn, and then to Rook, "this is our newest, Rook Iida." She ignores Sonny's comment entirely.
But this wasn't San Fran, her technique was excellent, and she'd need to hold herself back now.
Rook Iida, maybe 5 feet tall on a good day, with the face of an angel and long dark hair, crosses her arms over her tailored blazer. The movement allows two pistols to briefly peek out. She says nothing.
"A pleasure as always, Frannie. It's been too long. Maybe when we're done here we can take a little walk?" Valerie's smile is warm and honest as she scans the group. She gives a little wave to Madison's silent hello. "You're familiar with Echo and Alex," She gestures to both in turn, and then to Rook, "this is our newest, Rook Iida." She ignores Sonny's comment entirely.
"Might have to," Frannie says. "Nice to meet you, Rook. I'm--"
"Frannie. Ernesto. Sonny. Madison," Ernesto interrupts, making a c'mon c'mon motion with his fingers. "Let's get on with this."
Sonny purses his lips and makes a kiss noise at Rook, then breaks into deep laughter. Then does the same to Alex.
"All right," Frannie says with plain annoyance at Sonny, holding up a hand. "Look, we don't want to be here, but you know we had to. You can't hunt in Salinas and expect us to let it go."
Alex shakes his head at Sonny but keeps his hands put away. "Don't threaten me with a good time."
...and at Frannie's statement, "What the f--" then shuts his mouth again and looks over toward Val and Echo.
Valerie smiles slightly at Ernesto's impatience, and Alex's response, a smile that's maintained when Frannie speaks. She pauses a moment to digest the information.
"I see," she says with a nod. "We're here for the same reason; that you can't hunt in Watsonville and expect us to let it go. Seems like we might have someone taking advantage of our borders."
"I see," she says with a nod. "We're here for the same reason; that you can't hunt in Watsonville and expect us to let it go. Seems like we might have someone taking advantage of our borders."
"F$*+," Frannie says. "You think it's Brad again?"
Brad refers to Brad Moon, a local Toreador who spends his nights surfing up and down the California coastline. He wanders through fiefs with an utter lack of concern. He is generally regarded as a nuisance. A sexy nuisance.
Echo's eyes close for a full three count before they open and she briefly meets Ernesto's with a shrug of her shoulders and a sigh. Very quietly, "Joint problem."
Not to mention a whole burner of work that is being put aside.
"F+~~," Frannie says. "You think it's Brad again?"
"Probably. Hopefully. He's not usually cruising hospitals, but maybe he's trying something new." Valerie sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Let's keep an eye out for Brad, but assume there's someone we haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet who's out there taking advantage of fiefdom borders." She looks to Echo, to Alex and Rook, then back to Frannie. "Sound good, all? I'll be in touch if we manage to find Brad first."
Rook waits silently. An eye on the obvious threat of Sunny, and the unknown threats of the rest of Southern Cross.
"Best place to find Brad are the beaches," Madison says without looking up from her phone.
"I seen him down at the Wharf a couple times," Sonny says, shrugging. "Good hunting there."
"No, no," Ernesto says. "We need to check the hospitals. And we're going to do this efficiently. Small groups. Everyone follows up on a lead. Meet up at the Nite Owl later. If this is our problem, this is our problem."
The Nite Owl is an all-night diner not far away from this beach. It's technically in Santa Cruz territory, but right on the border, attracting high school kids, college students, and burnouts.
Frannie looks at Val and offers a crooked smile. "How keen are you on that walk exactly?"
"We'll follow our leads, and meet you at the Nite Owl," Valerie says, taking Ernesto's annoyed plan-making in stride.
To Frannie - "As keen as you've got time and interest in gossiping! Just a sec."
She turns to Echo, Alex, and Rook. "I'll just be a few, but you don't have to wait up." She lowers her voice a little. "I'd guess he's out on the water surfing, or getting ready to. Probably the best place to start. But what are you guys thinking? Brad, or someone new?"
She's often the voice in these situations, but always takes care to make sure Echo has the final say, and that everyone else gets a word in once the diplomat part is done.
Alex shrugs. "What's a surfer dude doing at hospitals? I think it's someone new. But we gotta start somewhere."
Sonny is getting on Alex's nerves a bit tonight.
His hands in his pockets are probably bird-shaped.
"Can this surfer turn invisible though? Because you can't just walk into the ICU without being on numerous cameras, and passing staff check points. He'd need to be utterly convincing as an employee, or check himself in as a patient." Rook says to her coterie quietly
The Southern Cross forms a loose circle. "I'll take the hospital," Ernesto says. "Frannie, the beaches. Sonny, the Wharf. Madison--"
"Does anybody remember tamagotchis?" Madison blurts, looking up from her phone. "Virtual...like...pets?"
"...and I've lost my train of thought. Thank you for that, Madison."
"Let's say I find the surfer dude," Sonny says. "You want me to work him over a little?"
"Doesn't matter to me one way or the other," Ernesto says. "Maybe if you do, we don't have to do this b$%@~&+~ next time."
"If you weren't here, all you'd be doing is sitting in the Chantry reading dusty old books," Frannie says.
"Books don't read themselves." It sounds like it should be a joke, but the way Ernesto says it, with funereal seriousness...actually, no, that makes it funnier.
Frannie snort-laughs, Sonny chuckles, and Madison covers her mouth.
"Yeah yeah. You got your marching orders," Ernesto says, checking over to his Santa Cruz counterparts.
"Very well," Echo says, "let's get you back to your books." She turns to her group, "Beach," she motions to Val and Fran, "since you both had more to discuss." She waits to see if this works for Val.
"Hospital and..." she considers, "the boardwalk is a bit up the coast but I could see it appealing to Brad."
She waves to the Monterey group as she glides over the sand towards the parked cars. "Night Owl or we"ll be in touch if we find something precipitous." A casual wave.
"I am down for whatever," Alex says, a shrug of the shoulders. "If you'll drop me back in town, I can grab my bike and cover the boardwalk faster than on foot."
He keeps his hands in his pockets while the Southern Cross are around.
"If you weren't here, all you'd be doing is sitting in the Chantry reading dusty old books," Frannie says.
"Books don't read themselves." It sounds like it should be a joke, but the way Ernesto says it, with funereal seriousness...actually, no, that makes it funnier.
Frannie snort-laughs, Sonny chuckles, and Madison covers her mouth.
"Yeah yeah. You got your marching orders," Ernesto says, checking over to his Santa Cruz counterparts.
Rook smiles ever so slightly, at the Books don't read themselves comment. It dissapears before as much as a blink of an eye.
"I'd prefer to go to the hospital. I can drop you off Alex." Rook says. "Do you know the order of when each person in the respective hospitals was hit? We could get an idea of their movement if we can find out from, Southern Cross, what their hospital says."
Madison begins following Alex up the sand.
"Where the hell are you going?" Ernesto demands.
"You never gave me an assignment," Madison smiles sweetly. "So I'm going to help Alex. He's more fun than you are anyway."
"Yeah, fine. Just respect their domain. Let's not turn this into a diplomatic incident."
Madison waves him off. "We can take my car," she offers to Alex.
Frannie stands. "Easiest way to look along the beaches," she says. "I didn't want to say this in front of the others, but there's a worse option for who this could be." She lowers her voice, as though speaking a curse. "The priest."
She's referring to Father Eamon, a Nosferatu elder. For many years he made his haven in San Francisco without acknowledging the rule of the Prince. Then, only a few years ago, he retreated to Monterey. Anna is terrified of him, the only time Val has ever seen the preternaturally self-possessed Toreador express open fear.
Regardless, he and Madison find themselves at the boardwalk. This is prime hunting area, and one of the reasons Santa Cruz proper is jealously guarded by the Prince and his inner circle. Still early in the evening, the place is packed with flesh, the grungy locals playing at their nightlife. Whoops come from the rollercoaster while cheap prizes are occasionally rewarded at the rigged carnival games.
"You don't think he's actually down here, do you?" Madison asks.
A billboard looks down at the two of you on the way into town. It looks like an ad for some kind of flavored bottled water. Refreshment Never Tasted So Good, the tagline promises. The model, fresh-faced and photoshopped, has been vandalized. Glasses, in the shape of an infinity sign, have been spraypainted around her eyes.
You pull into the hospital parking lot without incident. A small, two-story complex, it's a modest edifice for a modest community.
”I’ll see you soon,” she says to her coterie, and to Echo specifically she adds- ”Give you a call when I’m done.” She clears her throat. ”Good luck, everyone. Peace! Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer! Descend with broad-winged flight, The welcome, the thrice-prayed for, the most fair, The best-beloved Night!”
She watches the others disperse to their tasks before turning to the ocean.
Val watches the ocean for a few long moments before responding. And when she does, her volume matches Frannie’s.
”Then I hope we find out it’s Brad. He’s a little more in our pay grade.” She chews on the thought. ”Is there anything you’ve heard that’s got you thinking in that direction?”
"I'll catch a ride with Madison," Alex says, and follows her to her car.
Alex doesn't slouch in Madison's car. It's his domain -- but it's her car. He stays alert, watching the scenery flow by.
At the boardwalk, he relaxes a bit. He's still alert, watching the flow of people rather than focusing in on any one person.
"No, I don't think Brad's here," Alex says. "On the water, maybe. I don't expect to see anything unusual."
Alex turns toward Madison and does an exaggerated shrug. "But it beats poking around at the hospital."
Rook shrugs, as Alex finds his own way, and she goes to her car and heads to the hospital.
Once in the parking lot, she makes sure she reverses into her space, just in case a quick get away is needed. Rook looks for Echo, and joins her once she finds her.
Madison seems perfectly fine with wandering along the boardwalk. "So, new chick. What's her deal?"
"It's not my idea of a good time," Alex agrees.
He pauses briefly at a funnel cake stand. "I never saw the appeal of these."
Alex ambles on.
"Not sure what Rook's deal is. Pretty clear San Fran is a lot more formal about things than we are here. I like laid back myself, I wouldn't do well up there."
Alex thinks for a minute. "She's still pretty new in town. Don't have a good handle on her yet."
"Nice crowd tonight."
When Rook approaches, she nods to the younger kin. "I'd just plan on going in to chat with the staff to find out if they've noticed any visitors on the nights when patients passed away."
A smile, "I'm always open to suggestions, and I know that you seek better than I do."
Madison looks at the funnel cakes and frowns. "Never had one. I guess I never will."
The bulk of the evening crowd on the boardwalk is too old to be playing these silly games but too drunk to care. Alex watches a trio of teenagers throw balls at metal bottles that would take someone of his strength to knock over. A biker with his old lady shoots water into a clown's mouth while a balloon inflates. And Tina Flores stands not far, watching an old game of miniature metal dolphins racing one another around a gently rusted track. She hasn't spotted Alex, but Murphy's Law says that won't take long.
"Don't really know what to make of Rook yet, if I'm being honest, so yeah, that gave me a real moment of concern there too. I was hoping she didn't come equipped with itchy trigger fingers."
Val chews on her lip and looks out over the ocean. "I'm hoping it's Brad for the same reasons. Something tells me it's not, but maybe that's the same edge you're feeling." She sighs and rolls a shoulder. "Thinking there might be anyone else we should be keeping eyes and ears out for?"
"Look, gun to my head, you want to know what I think is going on? Somebody got turned off the books and now some fledgling is trying to hide out where they think nobody cares. And I mean, come on. Do you hunt in Watsonville? I bet no. I bet nobody hunts there. Salinas...okay, yeah, we use that from time to time, but it's not like it's prime hunting ground. This is just some f%$%ing elder who still thinks this is the middle ages pissed off that someone took down a deer in his territory."
"No offense taken, I thought the same thing when I first met her. I think maybe she's serial killer on the streets, mild mannered librarian in the sheets? Is that how that goes?" She grins. "Sonny sure would make a lot of hat."
After Frannie finishes her thought, Val nods. "Yeah, I mean, all things considered, and between you and me... I've never understood the chest-puffing, territory guarding. It's not like humans are in decline, and especially not in these areas. And you're right, Watsonville? Maybe clearing that place out is a favor for us." She shakes her head. "But the bosses wants what they want. So here we are."
She cocks her head. "How are you, though? It really has been a while. I'm not always great at keeping in touch."
When Rook approaches, she nods to the younger kin. "I'd just plan on going in to chat with the staff to find out if they've noticed any visitors on the nights when patients passed away."
A smile, "I'm always open to suggestions, and I know that you seek better than I do."
"I'll let you know if I notice anyone or anything suspicious or out of place." Rook says.
Once they go inside, and Echo starts talking to the battleship in maroon, Rook hangs deferentially to the side, and subtly looks around.
The woman at the front desk, a businesslike battleship in maroon scrubs, looks up and offers a perfunctory smile. "Can I help you?"
Echo approaches the desk, her shoulders slumping but keeping a tired yet hopeful smile on her face. "Oh I most certainly hope you can. My Uncle James just passed away here," Echo winces, as if the guache bluntness of her own words slapped her, "despite the absolute excellent care that you gave them," her words tripping over themselves in apology. She shakes her head, But now we are having an absolute family mess," she smiles with a shrug.
"Which isn't any worry of the hospital's, really but..."
Echo proceeds to twist a tale of a not-really-expensive but meaningful piece of family jewelry that has gone awry, but not wanting to accuse anyone of taking it in the family, she just needs to know who visited him on that last day so that she doesn't have to go questioning all of the cousins and relatives. Because of course one of them must have tucked it away for safe keeping.
"I just need to know what the last person to visit looked like and I'll be able to figure it out licky-split."
After Frannie and Valerie have parted ways on the beach, she'd give Echo a call, as she said she would.
"Hey, just wrapped up here. Was thinking about cruising the beaches for a bit to check for Brad - I know a couple of his haunts, though there's a better chance I won't run into him. You know how he is, only found when you don't want to, usually. Want me to meet you somewhere after that?"
She's careful to stay vague on the phone.
"Never been there officially, and zero desire," Alex says.
"None of the food here is worth the trouble," Alex freely admits.
He doesn't give any obvious signals when he spots Tina (as far as he knows), but he does look for an excuse to duck off the boardwalk for a moment.
"Do you think we should check the water for a minute? Just to see if someone's out there surfing in it."
"It makes all the sense in the world." She looks out at the ocean again. "I used to sit and watch the ocean at night with a sense of wonder, of feeling small in a big world. And now... well, yeah. Life looks a hell of a lot different when it doesn't have to end."
She looks back to Frannie. "I should probably head out and see if I can't find our resident nuisance. Really hoping it's him, so we can put this thing to bed quick. I'm sure I'll talk to you again soon."
"Everyone here so good with Uncle James and I know you're all super busy..." her voice trails off. She takes a deep breath steeling her resolve, "I know its a pain but could I just go in a chat with the wonderful nurse that was with him at the end..." A slide in her voice, like she's trying to remember someone she's only met a time or two.
"Please? It'll make everyone feel so much better."
"Utterly unreliable is Brad," Echo agrees, but her voice is light.
She blows out in thought, "If you find him, probably best to go straight to the Night Owl until you can get our friends from Monterey to show up. If you don't..." Echo thinks, "Watsonville, we can figure out the best place after you've beach combed."
She gives Valerie a hug. Her scent is that of the beach, strong and possibly unpleasant, but she has none of the scents a human might. No body odor to speak of. That's for humans alone.
She plops herself down on the sand, loosely crossing her legs, and waits. "See you at the Nite Owl later."
Before Alex can clarify that no, she's the one who needs to put in some effort, he hears a familiar voice, the one he was hoping to avoid. "Alex? Is that you?"
She's not lying. It does take her some time, and when she returns, she's desperately trying not to let her annoyance bleed through. "You're in luck. David is on his way down right now."
Not too much longer and a young man in scrubs with spiky hair and a soft, cherubic face emerges into the lobby. The receptionist nods in Echo's direction and he joins her. "Hi, I'm so sorry for you loss. I'm David Lee. I was the nurse on duty when Jim passed. Flora said you had some questions for me?"
"See you there, Frannie."
Valerie takes off - ostensibly she drove down to Monterey and would probably take the car to check out Brad's possible surfing spots as it made sense to. She's got no problem with a little hike if the spots are a little far from where she could park.
"Sounds good to me. I'll let you know what I find, and either way, see you at the Owl."
Alex opens his mouth to clarify, then closes it and turns toward the voice.
"It's me," he says, "and a nice night for it. I wasn't expecting to see you out on the boardwalk, Tina, but I guess a night like tonight -- anyone could be out here."
Alex shifts a bit as he's standing. Maybe a little more between Tina and Madison, but nothing obvious. He hopes.
She's not lying. It does take her some time, and when she returns, she's desperately trying not to let her annoyance bleed through. "You're in luck. David is on his way down right now."
Echo keeps herself very quiet while the beleaguered front desk matron works, just looking around the entrance. "Thank you so much."
Not too much longer and a young man in scrubs with spiky hair and a soft, cherubic face emerges into the lobby. The receptionist nods in Echo's direction and he joins her. "Hi, I'm so sorry for you loss. I'm David Lee. I was the nurse on duty when Jim passed. Flora said you had some questions for me?"
Echo gives David a bright smile, which gets shaded down at the word loss. "Yes, please, Mr. Lee." She looks around, "I've already bothered Ms. Flora so much, can we step somewhere else to give her a break?"
She shrugs, "I mean they have a cafeteria here, right? Can I get you a horrible cup of coffee?"
Then the image is gone. Unerringly, she makes her way to this surf spot. She finds Brad's bus parked exactly where she saw it in her mind. Below, on the cliffs, she can see a single shape dancing on the whitecaps. Brad might have the intelligence of a not-particularly-well-educated doorknob, but he is absolute poetry on the waves.
Dante offers a hand. It's warm, alive. The blood pumps through it. For a moment, Alex has trouble thinking of this young man as anything other than a meal.
"Hey, I'm Madison Blair." Madison says, throwing a brick through the stained glass window of a moment.
"Tina Flores." Tina gives Alex and Madison a look, and puts 2 and 2 together in her mind. "It's nice to finally meet you. Alex has said such nice things about you."
"All true," Madison says winsomely. "So how do you know Alex?"
This is right about where Alex can leap in front of this conversation like a secret service agent taking a bullet.
She watches Brad from a distance for a while, admiring the way he moves, the way he looks as natural on the waves as a dolphin at play. Then she makes her way down to the beach, and is content to sit or follow as needed. She'll wave, but otherwise doesn't gesture that he should come back to shore.
At least not immediately. Maybe after an hour or so she'd gesture again if he doesn't come up to the beach, just so she doesn't keep either coterie waiting too long.