Julius nodded. “Take her inside. My men have cleared the first six levels, and haven’t met with any resistance whatsoever, so I’m assuming the man behind this committed all his forces to the defense. It should be safe.”

With Warren in tow, they moved Sinunu inside the entrance, which looked as if some giant had reached down and punched his way through. They gently laid her down on the glass-strewn carpet.

Suddenly. Rachel’s vision swam. Two of her closest friends were nearly dead. Warren, her love, and Sinunu-her new chummer and a woman who had put her life on the line for Rachel. The feelings that washed over her, seeing Warren barely alive and Sin almost dead, were more than she could stand. They both stood on the terminus line, pushing against the pale veil. Waiting to step beyond, or step back.

One of the Fratellanza men appeared from the stairwell. “We came across one of the docs trying to get away,” he said. We tagged him twice, but he managed to lock himself into some sort of tunnel. I figure he’ll bleed himself out before he gets too far, but I’ve sent a couple of men to try and track the tunnel above ground.”

Julius turned to him, nodding.

“What did he look like?” It was de Vries, and his tone was worried.

The man shrugged, his broad shoulders jumping. “I dunno, kinda small, dark-skinned.”

“Damn” said de Vries, standing.

Julius turned to the vampire, and knew in an instant. “Your mysterious insider?”

De Vries didn’t look at him, but nodded. “Doctor Pakow. I should have warned you about him, but I didn’t want to give him up-Just in case tonight turned out differently.”

Julius turned to Biggs. “Tell the men to find him, but not to hurt him. They are to render whatever aid they can to make sure he stays alive.”

Biggs nodded and left by the front door, speaking quickly into his commlink.

When Rachel turned back, however, she saw that Sinunu was breathing regularly, though her eyes still had that glossy, faraway stare to them, She was going to be okay.

And with that thought, the fatigue crashed in on Rachel. She rested her head on Warren’s chest and closed her eyes. Just for a moment.

37

Some people say the nasty art of cybermancy doesn’t even exist. But anyone who’s been following our recent posts knows better. I got curious enough-and scared enough-that I went digging for more info. What I learned is that this is some major, major mojo-heavy-duty magic with bad consequences. You got to be aware of it if you want to live to tell the tale. My advice? If you’re looking for it, don’t. And if you’ve got to deal with someone who’s got it, run. Fast. And don’t look back.

– 

Posted to Shadowland BBS by Captain Chaos, New Magic e-doc, 10 January 2057

At first, Marco couldn’t believe his ears. He had taken refuge in the building, knowing that if he joined the battle between the Fratellanza troops and Wake’s vampires, he might be taken out in the confusion. He had stayed just out of sight, willing to let his little brother take down the enemy, but, now, right there was his brother. Talking with the man who had killed Derek.

Marco shook his head, which had begun to ring, a warning sign of another seizure.

Filled with rage, he willed his body to float, and pressed himself forward, in mist form. His pain faded, and his rage grew focused.

The vampire, the one known as Martin de Vries, had his back to him, and Marco concentrated himself toward that point. A meter from the hated vampire’s back, he let his form solidify, bringing his hands into being before the rest of him. Curling his fingers into stiff claws, he jabbed forward with all his strength and speed, set to rip de Vries’ heart from his chest and devour it before the vampires dying eyes.

Except de Vries wasn’t there any more, and Marco’s hands thrust through empty air.

His momentum carried him forward, and he stumbled painfully. With an effort, he kept his footing.

“Clumsy,” came de Vries’ mocking voice from behind him. “Did you honestly think that a deformed thing such as yourself could challenge a true vampire?”

Marco turned slowly, letting his rage build. “You are an abomination, not me. You are a self-hating freak who can’t even bring himself to commit suicide, but instead takes out his self-loathing on his own kind.”

Marco smiled as he saw his words hit home, but De Vries’ voice was calm as he replied. “You are not my own kind. You are nothing more than a rabid beast that needs to he put out of its misery.”

Marco felt a tightness in his stomach as he raised his hands. “Talk, talk. If I’m so beneath you, then have at it. Maybe I’ll teach you what I’ve learned in such a short amount of time.”

De Vries smiled and stepped forward.

“No!” It was Julius, from just to Marco’s left.

Marco didn’t turn. “I’ll deal with you soon enough, little brother. You have a lot to learn about family.”

De Vries, however, had stopped moving forward, and was looking over Marco’s shoulder. With a small bow, the other vampire stepped back.

Marco glanced back quickly, to see Julius standing with a flamethrower pointing directly at him. Behind his brother, Marco caught sight of Warren lying on the floor. Warren looked absolutely normal, and it made Marco’s heart sink to see it. Wake had lied to him. Pakow had lied to him. Warren hadn’t undergone the procedure.

“It’s over, Marco,” Julius said. “You’ve caused enough pain. Both to the people I love, and to the people who served you. It ends now.”

Marco cast one glance back at de Vries, who said, “I’ll not interfere. Sometimes it is best for family to straighten itself out.”

Marco turned to face his brother. “Even when we were children, little brother, you could never beat me. What makes you think you can do it now that I’m stronger than I’ve ever been?”

Julius shook his head. “Stronger?” His voice was soft. “I don’t see any strength in you, Marco. All I see is a craven coward who has always preyed on the weak.”

Without warning. Marco moved. Using his legs to awkwardly propel him across the floor, he managed to move with a speed that surprised even him.

Julius never flinched as he triggered his flamethrower. Marco screamed as the fire consumed him. It felt as if his entire body were being ravaged by a million razors. Through the flame, he saw Julius. and let his momentum carry him forward.

The last thing he felt was the flesh of his brother’s neck part beneath his burning hands.

38

There will come a day, make no mistake about it, when humanity is going to have to rise up against these monsters, and take the fight to them. There will come a time when normal people will grow weary of the night being ruled by the forces of evil. Then, and only then, will they finally rise up in the morning, and drag the vampires of Ordo Maximus out of their darkened rooms, and expose them to the deadly, cleansing sunlight. Let just pray that day doesn’t come too late.

– 

Martin de Vries. Shadows at Noon, posted to Shadowland BBS, 24 May 2057

With a curse, Rachel kicked the still burning body of Marco off of Julius, who lay in a growing pool of his own blood, choking.

Rachel knelt by him, quickly pressing her hands to Julius’ wounds. “Julius?”

Julius managed a tired smile. “Finally beat him at something.” He coughed, and choked up blood.

Suddenly Rachel’s world turned into an inferno, Explosion after explosion tore through the compound, ripping the structure apart.

De Vries was the first to react, as the wall of flame spread down the hall.

The next thing Rachel knew, the vampire had taken hold of both her and Julius and flung them out through the door, Rachel landed, still clutching Julius to her chest, She looked up just in time to see de Vries streak out of the burning building with Warren and Sin over his shoulders.