Night 1
There is a steel womb that rests within the basement of Chapter House Florin, the new center of the Ordo Dracul in Sacramento that she had helped create.
It was a sensory deprivation chamber, modified with a lock. Beside this was a small stool with a small alarm clock and towel resting upon it. At its front was Blackbird, naked and bare, staring into the maw. The message had already been left with the Grand Wyrm. Blackbird's first trial was about to begin. This chamber would be Blackbird's home for the next 72 hours. There would be no light, no sound, and no external stimuli of any kind.
The only companion she would boast was the Beast.
The timer set, Blackbird entered into the chamber under the watch of the Grand Wyrm. The door closed and, though she could not hear it, Blackbird was certain the lock was in place. Resigned to her trial, Blackbird breathed in, allowing her body to float on the surface. Among the kine, they could hear the pumping of their heart when subjected to these conditions, but the hearts of Kindred do not beat. Blackbird did not have this luxury.
It took mere hours before the Beast began to stir, becoming aware of its new environs. With only the dark and the pitiful neonate as company, it growled its displeasure and, for the first time in years, Blackbird did not move to reprimand it. However, this first night was tame. Soon the rising of the sun began to pull her to daysleep and Blackbird's eyes closed to rest.
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The First Dream
Annora found herself sitting in a clearing by a campfire, nearby which was two green pup tents. It took only a moment before she spotted the glinting form of a familiar 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454. The back trunk was open and a figure stood rummaging in the back. However, Annora was unafraid, in her heart she knew who it was.
It didn't take long for Ray to join her, carrying a pack of hot dogs, beer, . Her father. He was younger here than the last moment she had seen him on that fateful night in 1993.
This isn't a dream... it's a memory.
"I got a hold of Charlie," he said, "Seems like he needs some help down in Wichita. He's saying its some sort of canine cryptid, but I think its a vampire using... ah, what did you call it again? Allows them to be like a wolf?"
"Protean," Annora replied, glancing to the book of her findings. She had been traveling with Ray for five years now and, despite only being 16, had become a pretty solid occult scholar. It was her role within Ray's network ever since she showed an affinity for it shortly after he brought her in.
"Yeah... yeah that's right," Ray replied, "Listen, this thing is pretty slippery. Tracked down one of Charlie's contacts and put his ass in the hospital. So I'm gonna drop you off in Holdrege and have you stay with Maude."
The silence that followed was palpable. Annora was tired of being treated like a kid and she sure as hell didn't want to stay with Maude. She was one of those rare hunters that got out of the business, but she lived in a small town, which did little to keep Annora stimulated. She loved Maude, but Holdrege was just... dull.
"I want to help," Annora murmured.
"I don't want you in the field, you aren't ready," Ray said, his tone stern and tense.
"Fuck that! I've been going to the range with you since I was twelve," Annora yelled. She had been wanting to get out there and help. "I can do more than just sit here and read goddamn books!"
"This isn't some limp-dick fledgling, Ann!" Ray retorted, his voice becoming one of authority, "Do you have any idea what he'll do to you if he catches you? He nearly skinned Charlie's man alive! Even worse he could turn you into one of them! Is that what you want? No, I'm not going to be responsible for you becoming some blood-sucking freak, you hear?"
Silence fell again. It seemed like hours passed, but that was probably just because of the tension. The pair silently cooked their dinner and ate, but, though they were feet from one another, Annora did not even offer her father a glance.
Then Ray approached and knelt.
"Look, kid," he said, his voice gentler, "You're all I got. I can't risk taking you and losing you, you know? If this was something more manageable, I'd take you in a heartbeat, but I gotta be in it the whole time I'm down there. You'll get to go soon, alright?"
The sincerity in his eyes drew Annora's attention back to him.
Lighten up Ann... he's trying.
Ray cracked a beer off the six pack and offered it to her. "Truce?" he asked.
"Truce," Annora replied.
Ray threw an arm around her and Annora hugged him in turn.
"I love you, kid," Ray said. The statement was a genuine one. He wanted to look out for her and Annora just wasn't ready.
"I love you too, Dad," she replied. Again, a truth. Ray was an ass, but he was her father. Given the circumstances, he was a good one too.
Then, the woods around them suddenly became silent. Crickets didn't sing, owls didn't hoot, and the wind didn't even rustle in the pines.
A single twig snapped in the darkness, drawing the attention of both of them. Within the dark, a pair of eyes, reflecting against the full moonlight.
What? This never happened...
The event tipped Blackbird back to her reality. This was indeed a dream. The memory was a tender one, but her desire for the trial was about to bring her face to face with the Beast.
Part 2 and 3 to come tomorrow! Gotta run for now.