Day 7: Where I Hunt
I prowled the shiny linoleum of the hospital, my footsteps making no noise. No squeaking os sneakers, no clicks of heels. Once upon a time I would have found the lack of sounds eerier, unnerving. But it was routine now. Quiet meant things were going as they were supposed to. It was noise that was more alarming. I shook my head, trying to clear it.
With my date with Icarus-Ithan on the horizon, I needed to make sure that I wouldn’t be tempted to take a nibble out of him. At least not one where I would risk his life.
I had saved him once and this one I could prevent by simple self restraint. No cryptic warnings needed.
Just self control.
Like Ark had to do to resist the blueberry pies Kerrigan left.
But he failed.
I would not.
I passed by the sleeping forms of patients, nurses half alert at their stations. I remember telling Gandalf early on after I was turned that I was hungry but the food I had brought from home was awful.
Ash.
Not the savory chicken lomane I had expected, with the nice crunchy vegetables.
He responded with placing a packet of blood on the desk.
Weirdly, that actually looked…appealing.
After I drained it, I asked him why the packets? There were people out there, people sleeping. People who we could just…take a little from. No one would be any the wiser as long as we were careful to not set off any alarms.
He had shut me down.
“Cassandra, I need you to understand that those people have a very delicate balance. If their blood pressure dips too low the alarms go off. Plus,” he raised a finger. “You don’t know what drugs they’re on. I had a child once get so addicted to the drugs running through patients’ systems that he went out to the roof, got himself locked out while he was strung out and met the final death. I will not be making that mistake again. Until you’re experienced and can handle that in a responsible way, bagging it is.”
I stared at him, processing what he said. “...Did you just basically give me the ‘if you don’t know what’s in the drink at the party, don’t drink it’ speech?”
He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Is it wrong?”
I slumped in the chair, kicking my feet. “No.” Not that I had been one for parties or excessive drinking in my life. But it still felt like I was a child being told I couldn’t do something that seemed normal. Seemed like the most…sensible way.
“Good.”
~
I slipped down the stairs, grateful that flights like these were a piece of cake. I didn’t feel like being trapped in an elevator, no matter how quick they were in the hospital. Because it was my turn to take the trek to the blood reserves to retrieve our “dinner”. Not the most exciting of hunting grounds, but it was safer.
I couldn’t blame him for being cautious. In my mortal life I only ever had gummies. And they were wonderful. Quieting my thoughts.
Maybe a nice stoner, if he okayed it of course. I was in no rush to experience death again.
Not yet.
I had too much to look forward to. Our games were reaching a crescendo, Carly’s upcoming wedding, which meant going to see Bryan in person. He was probably the one I wanted most to tell about the changes. We hung out at least once or twice a week virtually, and his life had changed too. He was out more often, making connections.
Rubbing elbows.
“Hobknob, network. Oh! Ask about the web.” Sybil seemed to twirl in my mind.
“The…internet?” I stopped next to the door to where the bloodbags were kept.
“The cobweb.” Syybil said as though it explained everything.
And as nearly always she refused to elaborate.
I gave the passcode and acquired dinner. A bag of A+ for each of us.
I made my way back up to his office. It was Alistair who greeted me, motioning me to take a seat across from him after closing the door. I passed over a blood bag but eyed the pretty sleek black box on the desk.
“That is for you.” He said, giving the bag a small squeeze. Like priming a capri sun before you stuck the straw in. “A token delivered by James from Seven.”
I raised an eyebrow and frowned. James….Sharkbait from Round One. But who was Seven?
He set the bag down and steepled his fingers. “You saved lives. The Garou had planned an ambush. A gas leak, alcohol and fire…all at a meeting place.” he scowled.
I scooted the box over closer to me, opening it. Inside I found a pretty silver wolf pendant and a sleek black credit card.
“One of which…was the Brujah Warlord Seven. Now he’ll start to take us seriously.” There was pride in his words. I wasn’t quite sure what he meant by us exactly. Was he talking about he and I? Or Malkavians? Or was there a secret third thing that I didn’t know about?
“He’ll want to meet you at some point. But for now,” he held up his bag. “A toast. To change.”
I smiled, closing the box for now and clinking my bag to his. “To change.”