The night air had cooled a bit, lending the small hints that California had switched over to Fall. The grip of the heat loosening to allow for richer fabrics, hotter drinks, and comfort food. The Kine of Sacramento were all a stir. It was rapidly approaching the happiest time of the year: The Holidays.


Even for the Kindred this glorious transition meant longer nights to conduct their nightly danse and prepare before the short days of summer come again. The wheel turns. This turn of the wheel Adeline Martin was doing a ritual of her own. The most sacred of the week, and her first in this new and unfamiliar city. It was time for the ritual hunt. She removed a small chest from under the bed she never slept in and opened it with a gold key. Inside was a wooden rosary representing living wood, its divine might could hold a kindred in stasis, a bottle of clove oil to represent sacred anointing, a chalice for ritual, and red wine to represent The Blood.


She poured the sweet wine into the cup. It was purely for ritual. She opened the bottle of clove oils and placed a few drops on her thumb and raised her hand and glistening digit to anoint her forehead with a cross. “May my head be clear for the hunt.” She whispered softly. And then added more oil and did the same gesture over her breasts where her heart lay in atrophy. “May I feel no shame for taking the sacred lamb that strengthens me.” She then lifted the cup and allowed the tainted sickenly sweet wine to fill her mouth, and then she spit it out. “Let me spit out that which will poison me or not sustain me. Let the blood of the lamb fill me as I am the true chalice.”


She set the chalice down, and took up the rosary, and wrapped the beads for prayer around her hand and began her prayers. She whispered feverishly and softly. Every single bead was gently pressed between her thumb and forefinger against her head, and then her heart over and over until her prayers were complete. She put away the baubles into their box and locked it and placed it back under her bed. She showered and got dressed for the hunt.


Later….


He was so excited she didn’t even have to go to his place. Small favors. Though she never again thought she would revisit making out in a porsche. I guess money couldn’t buy you any class, huh? Oh well. He was yummy, and it would boost her for the days ahead. Anything was better than nothing. Adeline’s blood sang in her veins. Happiness was a successful hunt. This city has given a piece of itself to her. She had tasted it. She wanted more. Elated, she walked back to her newly acquired studio…

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