In the Belly of the Beast by Omnicynic The Land of Milk and Honey 1996 In time, there comes a crossroads of events where the actions of a select few can affect the lives of millions. Where allies are enemies, and the best protection is the safety of a lie. These are the needle turning points on which the course of history spins. We have reached one of those points. "This is Ted Hoffman in the air, giving you an update on the latest whale beaching. Apparently, at eleven-thirty this morning, a humpback whale broke loose from its pod and beached itself here in Carlsbad. So far, the great creature has resisted all attempts by rescue workers and volunteers to free it, and has twice thrown itself back upon the sand. A heavy-lifting cargo helicopter is being flown in now, and as-- wait a second. Bill, swing that camera down a bit, the crowd seems to be parting for someone, a diver it looks like. Can't tell who it is, the guy...yes, it seems to be a man, is totally covered in a light green wetsuit. No air tanks, though. What is that stuff on those harnesses? Bill, zoom in there, can you tell? No? He's entering the water next to the whale, he's rubbing its head. The rescuers are backing away for some reason, who is this guy? Oh my god! Good god, the whale just ate him! I've never seen anything like that, oh god...Bill did you get that, tell me you got that! The whale is turning, it just kicked away from the beach, it's free! Its free and it just ate someone...A coast guard boat is turning to intercept...hey, isn't it kinda late in the day for fog? Where'd that come from...can't see a thing now...folks at home, this is...I can't say...I'm at a loss for words, I've never seen anything like this." The great beast of the oceans flipped its flukes and swam carefully out to sea. The rest of its pod were waiting in the deep waters. Songs were exchanged, a new voice was heard. The wales whistled, turned, and chose a new course. Meanwhile, the vampire attached by a grapple to his whale's baleen, slept. Days, nights, and miles later, a private jet screamed high over the night waters. A flash, a thrust, and a man clung by his sword to the airplane's hull. A cut, a change in form, and the man was inside. Shortly, the airplane tilted, changed its call, plummeted in its final dive. When it hit the water, only whales mourned its death in song. The vampire was too busy swimming towards the broken wreck to bother with drama. He whispered words that not even water could muffle, spread an enchantment like a net over the dead, dying and drowned within the jet's shattered body. Energies escaped from their corpreal forms, only to be ensnared back. The vampire found his goal, the woman for whom several died, and one killed. Dead she was, her wounds extensive. These did not concern the vampire. The vampire only hoped that Handel's Auspex could not see him. She awakes slowly, painfully. She can still feel the sword in her heart. It is cold. Her eyes open to darkness and stone. If this be Hell... "Not exactly," calls a voice, strangely soothing. "Although you may wish for it shortly." She sits up on the stone slab, and casts about for the source of the voice. Her gaze levels to rest on the Reverend Omnicynic. "Know this, Tremere bitch, you owe your life to one of the Tzimisce." She pales at the announcement, knowing that if the world believes her dead, there will be no rescue from the house of fiends. "After the Sabbat assassin put his sword through you, I captured your soul and kept in this world, then restored it to your body when it was repaired enough to accept the burden. Considering the circumstances of your new life, I'll pardon a lack of thanks." "Who are you?" She manages to whisper. Her jaw muscles are still somewhat stiffened. Something black and horrid stirs behind her. "You can call me either Master, or Reverend, Marianna. Both are true enough." "What...what will you do to me?" She casts her Auspex out over the Tzimisce, then recoils in horror as his aura reveals diableries, psychotics, magic far more advanced than her own, and a generation second only to the Antediluvians themselves. The Reverend just smiles. "That is really up to you, slave. I could always use another blood factory, perhaps a toy or pet...or a sculpture. Maybe you could provide me with amusement if I ripped off your skin and forced you to regrow it, hundreds of times a night. Or I could be curious as to just how large a burning iron rod your various orafices can accomodate before splitting apart. Of course, these are just possibilities from the top of my head. If pressed, I'm sure more creative uses for such a plaything as you could be found." The Tremere woman gasps, realizes her nudity, curls up. She rocks back and forth slightly. She could be anywhere, and is in the presence of one far more powerful than she. The fiends! She has fallen into the claws of the Tzimisce! It is over for her, she thinks. "No, it's not, slave," Omnicynic says, pulling the thoughts from her mind. "Would it benefit me to go through all that trouble without more elaborate a purpose?" She pauses, turns her head to face him. Her eyes are pleading, but an edge of sharpness hangs within. If a deal can be made..."What...purpose?" She asks of her saviour. "I wish for you to bring something to the Tremere. Here." He tosses a leather case to her. She hesitates, and it lands on the slab with a slapping sound that echoes in the small stone chamber. "It's only leather and paper," laughs the Reverend. "Go on, examine it." Cautiously, she takes up the case, opens it. Her eyes go wide as she finds the contents within. "These are spells!" She exclaims, unbelieving. "You're giving us magic?" The Reverend nods. "I am. You will teach these spells to those you can, and have them teach others. If you do not, there are others ways I can take payment for the debt you owe me. Slave." She bows her head then whispers, "As you wish." The black BMW pulled away from the mountain, and Esteban looked over to Omnicynic. "Did tu really mean everything you said to her, Reverend?" "Of course not, Esteban. I just don't do that anymore. The prestation is quite real, though. She should follow through." "Que if Handel finds out she's still alive?" "He'll be too busy, so will she. Hopefully, she'll keep a low profile from now on." Omnicynic placed a hand on his ward's shoulder as the chill evening wind blew the vampires' hair about. "Say, Esteban, are you in the mood for some hot chocolate?" ---------- R.O