5 comments/ 5003 views/ 12 favorites Foreign Skies By: RedDrake1983 The blackness of night didn't seem so dark to me. The night my throat was taken by a vampire I thought he would be in my unlife for the rest of eternity but that didn't happen. He had hit me and knocked me out and dropped me in the middle of nowhere. When I tried to find him back in Detroit he was nowhere to be found. I thought looking for him would be easy over the states but have yet to find him or the pack that he ran with. I sat back in the chair and stared up at the night sky. My eyes have distinguished many of the constellations and even some that telescopes would only see. The many colors of the night show to me. My fingers brushed red hair from my eyes as my head lowers. My eyes went to the book before me. I have written story after story but it felt more like I was now writing my life. My head turns as my eyes go to the many books up on the shelves in my pent house. It's been 15 years like this vampiric creature. I nearly have forgotten what the sunrise looked like. Yes, the books hold some truth in them. No, garlic, crosses, and holy water do not hurt me. Sunlight turns vampires into ashes. Stakes immobilize our bodies. And we must drink the blood of mortals. The game vampire the masquerade is down to the point on how we live. I had found out the people that had made the game were also vampires. They told the truth without people seeing that it was the truth of vampires. A soft chuckle came from my lips before my body stood up. I walked to the nearest bookshelf and placed the journal up with the many others. I didn't get tired until the dusk of the day to hit. I walked back to the window and drew the shield closed locking it. My eyes went to the clock. At daybreak I would fall into slumber. Daybreak would be in six hours. I picked up my purse and walked out of the pent house. I locked the door behind me and walked towards the elevator. I pressed the down button on the elevator. I waited by the doors. My head turned as my eyes came to a man walking down the hallway towards the elevator. He didn't breath and I didn't hear a heartbeat. A vampire that I didn't know on my floor. His body stopped next to me and looked towards the door. His body was dressed in a white shirt with a black overcoat. His black slacks were pressed and his shoes shined. His long black hair was pulled back and his blue eyes seem to stare at me in the elevator doors. The elevator toned before the doors slid open. I stepped on as he stepped on next to me. I turned as he turned and looked down at me. "It has been 40 years, child." He breathed as I stared at his eyes. "Do I know you?" I asked as his hand lifts to touch at my face but my body stepped back. Some vampires touching others could use disciplines against one another. His lips press some as he watches me. "I don't know you." I said as his eyes look away. "I know you, Teresa." He breathed as my chest tightens some. No one has called me that name in 15 years since my death as a human. "You were a five year old child when you came upon me in the sewers of Trenton, New Jersey. You had come upon me while I was drinking from a bum. I had killed him and turned on you. When I saw you the lust for blood went away. I could hear your steady heart beating in your chest. I didn't see any fear in your eyes." He breathed as my eyes widen some. "Vladimir?" I asked in whisper. He stepped towards me as my back touched the wall of the elevator. "You were supposed to fall in love with creatures like us. He shouldn't have left you like this. He paid the price for it as well. His pack fell with him when I was done with him." He breathed as my lips press to a line. "You killed Vance and the pack?" I asked as he nods. "Why didn't you stop him from making me?" I asked as the elevator stopped. The door opened as we walked off the elevator. "Because I made a judgment call. I thought he would have been the one. But I was wrong." He said as we walked out of the building onto the street. We walked down the sidewalk as my eyes looked through the night life that wondered the streets of Detroit. "Come away from here with me." He said as I chuckled some. "You can't whisk me away from this place, Vladimir. I live alone for a reason. I don't want to deal with other vampires or their packs. I want to live out this unnatural life alone." I said as his hand grabbed my wrist and turned me to face him. "You belong with someone, Teresa. You don't belong alone." He said as I watched him. "I'm an independent, Vladimir. I don't want to become a Sabbat or a Camarilla." I said as he watched me. "Vance was a Toreador, Teresa. That makes you one as well. You are beautiful. You should not let your unlife go to waste where people can't see you." He said as I chuckled and looked away. "The vampire the masquerade game had always been my favorite game to play. I had picked Toreadors and Ventrues as my characters. I don't want the spot light. I don't want to be anywhere in the spot light of the vampires either." I said as his fingers slid under my chin and made me look into his eyes. "Don't make me put you in toper. I will not leave you here alone, my child." He said as my eyes rolled some. I drew away from him. "I'm going to go eat, Vladimir. Are you going to join me or are your threats going to be empty like those words you spoke to me so long ago?" I asked as my eyes went to him. His lips press some as I turn away and walk on down the street. He grabs my wrist and spins me to face him before his mouth crushed mine. My body stiffened in his hold as his tongue slid through my lips to play with mine. His arms tightened around my flesh. He broke the kiss and looked into my eyes. "You will not stay here alone, Teresa. You don't belong here in this place. There are better places than this. There is someone out there that will love you forever. There will be a vampire out there that will take you in his arms and give you child." He breathed as I pulled from his hold with a laugh. "I thought that when Vance lay me every night before leaving me in the dust of a damned field. Those words you had spoken made me want a child for 7 years after being made. But nothing ever came from his touch. Nothing ever came. I am stone, Vladimir. I'm undead. I cannot bear fruit from these loins because nothing works anymore." I said as spite was heard in my voice as I faced him now. "He wasn't the right one, Teresa. He wasn't meant for you. You are Catarina's and Richard's child and blood. You are the blood of the damned gods." He said as I shook my head. "Shut up, Vladimir. I'm dead. I'm nothing anymore." I said as his lips press to a line watching me. I turned and walked away from him. I walked into an alleyway and used celerity taking off away from my apartment away from Vladimir. I found a loner walking down the street stumbling away from one of the many bars. His eyes looked at me as I wondered down past him. "Hello pretty lady." He breathed though I could smell the booze coming off his lips. My eyes turned to him and smiled some to him. "Want to have a little fun?" He asked as I heard him stop as I slowly stopped and looked to him. "I'm not that kind of girl." I said as he chuckles. "Just a little fun." He said as I walked back towards him. My fingers slid over his cheek as my awe discipline kicked in towards him. He chuckles and slips his fingers over my hand at his cheek. "Come with me." I said gently as he nods and follows me down the alley. His lips crushed mine as he pushes me back against the wall of a building. His fingers tried for my clothes as my lips went down from his lips pulling open the collar of his shirt towards his throat. My lips pressed as I felt my fangs slide long. My fangs slipped into his skin as he moans out and tightened his grip upon my flesh. His loin throbbed against my stomach as his hand slid under my one thigh and pulled it up against his hard flank. I drank a couple of pints before I released his throat and licked the wound closed. "You can leave now." I said gently as he turned and walked away out of the alleyway. I fixed my clothes and walked from the alley. A chuckle drew my eyes to a blonde haired vampire leaning against the wall of a building in another alleyway. My body walked on as I felt the vampire step out and followed me some. My body stopped as I turned and looked up to him. "You have some issue?" I asked as he watched me. "You do that like you are a pro." He said as I rolled my eyes and turned away. He was a newborn. His sire would be somewhere around watching the newborn. "You shouldn't wonder too far from your sire, child." I said as he chuckles again. "My sire let me off his leash. I wanted to see what others were around. I can't believe there are ones that are beautiful around here. I thought there would only be dirtbags around this place." He said as I rolled my eyes once more. My eyes lift some towards the sky. The stars had shifted more. In about an hour the sun would rise. My body turned down a street back towards my apartment. I could hear the boy following me. My eyes went to a limo rolling up and stopping. The driver got out and went to the back door of the limo opening the door. A tall redheaded male stepped out of the car. "It is time to go, Jordan. Sunrise comes soon." The redhead said as his eyes slowly came to me. "Miss." He said as I watched him some. His body was well toned with muscles in his black AR Monty suit. His eyes were silver in color. I turned and walked away as I saw Jordan get into the limo. The redhead watched me some before I turned around another corner and used my celerity back to my apartment. I walked off my elevator and found Vladimir waiting by my door. His eyes watch me as I unlock my door and opened it. My eyes went to him. "Come in." I said gently as I felt him follow behind me. I heard him close and lock my door behind him. I left my shoes on the floor by the door before walking in socks on my carpet. I walked to my bedroom slipping from my blouse. My head turns as Vladimir's fingers slid over my hips and around pressing at my breasts. My head lifts as his lips crossed over the skin of my throat. His fingers undid the clasps of my skirt as it dropped to the floor at my feet. His fingers slid over the band at my hips and slipped my panties down off my skin as well. His fingers turned me to face him as my fingers slid over his cheek. His mouth crushed mine as my arms slid around his shoulders. Our bodies fell back to my bed as my head lifts into his kiss. He broke the kiss and looked into my eyes. "Beautiful." He breathed as I shook my head. His mouth caught mine as his loin throbbed against my stomach. He was using his blood to cause this arousal. His hands slid around my thighs and drew them up around his hard flanks. The head of his loin split the lips of my womb as he groans and buries his loin deep into my flesh. A soft groan came from my lips into his mouth as he sank to the core of my flesh. My hands pressed at his shoulders hard. His mouth went down as my head lifts. I gasped softly as his fangs slipped into my skin as my body trembles under his flesh. A moan came from my throat as his body thrusts on my flesh. My legs dangled over his flanks with each thrust he pounded into my flesh. My breasts bounced and rolled against his chest as a soft purr came from my throat. My jaw drops some as my body trembles under his flesh. My toes clench as my body thrusts up to meet his every powerful thrust against my flesh. He released my breast of his fangs as his mouth came up and crushed mine. I could taste my vital on his lips as his fingers pressed and massaged my breasts. His tongue and mine tangled with one another as we moaned out to one another. I made my muscles clench around his loin as my body trembled hard. He groans burying his loin in my flesh. My body shivered hard coming with him as his loin pulsed and pumped his seed into my flesh. He broke the kiss to look into my eyes. His fingers moved hair from my eyes as I felt the sun on the rise. "There are two vampires in the city that I don't know. I saw them both tonight. One's name is Jordan. His sire is a redhead. The redhead watched me until I went out of sight from him and his child." I said gently. He pulled his loin from my flesh as a soft moan came from my throat. His lips pressed to mine gently. "Let us sleep." He said as I crawled up to the pillows. He drew the blankets around us before his head touched the pillow next to mine. Sleep took our flesh. Vampires do not dream like when they used to while they were human. Every now and then it was like glimpses of something through my closed eyelids. I think they were faces or places. Every time I wake up they were gone and I could not remember them. My eyes open and turn to find that I was alone in the bed. Vladimir must have been the light sleeper type of vampire. His clothed were gone from the bedroom floor. My clothes had been set in the hamper by the bathroom. I slipped out of bed and walked into the bathroom. I left the door opened and stepped in the shower under a warm stream of water. My head lifts as my eyes close. I washed up my flesh and my hair before turning off the water. I didn't have to shave anything for when I first met Vance everything upon me had been clean shaved when he turned me. I stepped out of the shower and picked up a new towel. I dried off my flesh walking into my bedroom. I wrapped my hair up into the towel and walked to my dresser. I drew out panties, bra, and stockings before going to my closet and looking for an outfit to wear. My ears listened to the pent house but could not hear if Vladimir was still here. I brought out a black mini-dress and laid it on the bed as I slipped into the under garments. I slipped the mini-dress onto my flesh before slipping black sandals that matched onto my flesh. I went into the bathroom and brushed out my hair from the towel. I hung the towel over the shower curtain and made sure I looked okay in the mirror. I know I shouldn't fret over what I looked like but I still had a high humanity. I haven't done anything to threaten my humanity. I put deodorant on under my arms before I brushed my teeth. I sprayed a soft vanilla body spray against my flesh before walking from my bathroom. I walked out into the living room and took notice that a journal was missing from my shelf nearest to the shielded window. Vladimir must have it with him. I went to the shield and opened it to the night. My eyes stared out across the darkness before my eyes lift to the sky. The night was clear and the stars shined forth. A soft human sigh came from my throat. Another night as a vampire. I thought this unlife would be more exciting. I thought I could do anything my dead heart wanted to. Even the rules of being a vampire said that I'm not to break the masquerade. Humans are never to know about our existence. I turned away from the window and walked towards my door. I picked up my little purse and walked out of the pent house. I locked the door behind me and walked towards the elevator. My head turns and looks down the hallway but Vladimir wasn't there this time. Maybe it was time for me to move on from this place. Vance and the pack are dead. Vladimir had taken their lives because of what he had done to me. It wasn't about turning me. It was about leaving me to this loneliness. I stepped on the elevator and rode it down to the first floor. I stepped off the elevator and felt the eyes of the men and woman in the building's lobby turn to watch me pass some. I had a high appearance rating. It was annoying some. I was hoping I would have been turned by someone like a Ventrue or someone else in the vampire society not that of a Toreador. It made me strikingly beautiful. I ignored those around and walked out of the building. I stepped out into the warm summer night. The wind was coming from the west. I could smell on the air that a storm was coming soon. The lightning would be beautiful and have me captivated to watch it unfold. Damn weaknesses. I wondered down the street moving towards the vampire hangout of Dennis Mathew. He was a friend to say the least about vampires socializing with one another. I walked up the steps of the bar and stepped inside. Dennis was a large black Brujah that owned this biker hangout. His head lifts and his eyes come to me. His nose had sniffed the air some as a chuckle came from his throat. He wiped a glass before hanging it up on the rack. He brought out a glass and poured me some blood before setting it before me at the bar. I tossed a couple of bucks on the counter as he picks it up. "You smell like a human, Lillian." He said as I sipped at the blood. My eyes went up to him. "Do you expect anything different, Dennis?" I asked as he chuckles and shakes his head some. My Auspex turned on as I listened to the conversations around the bar. My head turned slightly as a conversation I was hoping to hear came to my ears. "The Lord of Italy brought his child here last night. The world leaders seem to be gathering. I have yet to hear why they are here." A female voice said gently. My Auspex was higher than most as I listened through the quiet of the bar as I sipped at my blood. "I thought I saw the child down on Fifth and Main. Want to go mess with him?" A male voice asked as a chuckle came from a couple throats. I saw several vampires stand up and walk from the bar. My eyes rolled some as I sat the glass down. My eyes went to Dennis. I stood up as he nods. I turn and walk from the bar. I used my celerity and came onto Fifth and Main as my eyes went around some. My ears listened and found him as the pack surrounded him in a back alley. He didn't look overly concerned as I stood by and watched some. Seven against one wasn't a fair fight as my body dropped down in the alleyway near him. His body turned as a chuckle came from his lips. "You look quite sexy in that this evening, miss." He said as his eyes had gone down the length of my flesh before coming back up to my eyes. "Seven against one isn't fair odds for you child." I said as he chuckles some. "I am the child of Mythos..." He ducked to the side as an arm swung to hit him. My fist came out and slammed into the fist as I heard the snap on his end and not mine. The vampire backed away as I saw that I had broken from his hand all the way up his arm. My majesty kicked in as I stepped in front of Jordan. The vampires before me stepped back as my eyes glowed hot in the darkness. None of them were strong enough to fight against my ability. They turned tail and ran from here. I turned as I turned my majesty off looking at Jordan. "I have never heard of Mythos." I said as Jordan's eyes went wide. In every story I had ever written there was never a Mythos. "He is the lord of Italy." He said as I turned feeling a couple more vampires coming down this alley. I went to kick on majesty but the scent of the men were much older than the bastard pack that ran from here. As the light hit the three bodies that stepped into the alleyway I saw Vladimir, the redhead from the night before and another long white haired man. "This is my sire, Mythos." Jordan said as he walked towards Mythos. My eyes went from Mythos eyes to Vladimir. "Why are the royals gathering?" I asked as I ignored the wide eyes of Mythos, Jordan, and the white haired male. "It's getting closer to a full blue moon, child." Vladimir said as I rolled my eyes and turned away. "That's only a damn myth, Vladimir. It's not real." I said as I began to walk away from them. My fingers slipped my purse over my neck and shoulder as I walked. "What is your name, miss?" Jordan's voice asked. "Lillian." I said as I came out of the alleyway. "That isn't true, Teresa." Vladimir said as his hand grabbed my wrist stopping me. My head turned as I looked to him. Foreign Skies "She is dead, Vladimir. Teresa is dead. Stop calling me that name." I hissed through my fangs as his lips press some. The others were watching us. "I want the return of my journal, Vladimir." I said as he looked to the others. "Come with us, Teresa. The red star is going to rise with the blue moon as well." He said as I pulled from his grasp. "Stop it Vladimir Dracula." I growled low. I saw the eyes of the others go wide. "If you had stopped Vance from making me and made me yourself this would be different. But it is not. I'm not yours or anyone else's anymore. I'm a loner. I have no clan or pack to call my own. The ones that did this are dead because you still want to stop my feelings from being hurt. I'm dead, Vladimir. Nothing you can do or say will change that." I hissed as my body stepped back away from him. Mythos grabbed my wrist. We yelped out as we were both shocked at the same time. He released me as I drew my wrist back rubbing it staring at him. Vladimir looked at him as well. "What the hell was that?" Vladimir asked as Mythos looked to him. "I don't know." Mythos said. I used my celerity to get away from them as I came to another street six blocks away from them. I rubbed at my wrist some for it still irritated me from being shocked by him. My Auspex opened some as I felt the sensation of being followed. His shoes were light as he moved following me down the road. I could hear a heartbeat in his chest. He was human. His breath smelled like a Mentos mint. His hair shifted over his shoulder down his back in a ponytail. My head turned some as I waved to a taxi that was coming up the road. My eyes went to the one following me. He was a good looking brunette. His body was dressed in jeans and a long sleeve shirt. His body had stopped as my lips brought a smile to them. I winked to his as his chest tightens. I opened the taxi door and slipped within. I closed the door as the taxi began to move. "Twenty-third and Western." I said as the taxi driver nods. My head turned to see the guy slip into a black car. My body turned around once more as I watched from the rearview mirror that the black car was following me. They want to follow and I will lead them to a place many vampires go to drink and kill humans that are being nosy. The taxi stopped one the corner of twenty-third and Western as I paid the driver before stepping out towards the line that was wrapped around the building. Max and Stephen were standing at the door. Their bodies were huge compared to some others of the vampire clans. My head turned some to see the black car stopping on the other corner. I walked up to Max as he lifts the rope for me. I stepped up a step or two behind him. "I think I'm being followed, Max. The black car on the corner. There are three men in the vehicle. You Brujah like to play some games. Don't let them bother me again." I said as Max turned to look up at me. I laid a gentle kiss on his cheek as he smirks some. "I like the vanilla, Lillian." He said as I smirked some. "Thank you." I said as I walked into the club. The beat thumped the building as I turned my Auspex off in this place. I still kept my eyes and sense of smell on as I moved through the crowd. The strobe lighting didn't bother my eyes as I walked around dancing. A hand slid around mine as my eyes came to Denver. He smiled to me and drew me against his chest. My hands slip up over his chest and around his shoulders and neck as he grinds my flesh against him. "You smell amazing tonight, Lillian." He breathed in my ear as I chuckled and nuzzled into his neck some. "I was being followed by a couple of humans, Denver. Max is going to take care of them if they try coming into here. I've been having a bad night." I said gently as his eyes widen some as he draws back. I heard the growl come from his throat. Three vampires came out of the crowd near us. He growled to them as they nod and take off into the crowd once more. His hand took mine as he led me through the crowds towards the bar. He lifts his hand to the bartender Marshall as Marshall nods and brings over two glasses of blood. The black cups hid the color of the contents within from the humans that also danced around the floor. I took a glass from Denver's hand as he sipped his. He drew me up the steps onto the second floor of the club. We walked back towards a VIP section that George opened to let us through. There were a couple of people I knew here sitting and relaxing to the beating of the music. Tanya took my hand as I nod to her and her two ghouls. Samuel sat with his child, Lawrence, nodding to me as Denver and I passed by. Julie and Vicky smiled to me as I rolled my eyes some. Denver offered out the inner part of the small booth as I tucked my dress and sat down. I slid over as Denver sat down with me. His hand laid over my thigh as my eyes watched around. I sipped at my blood. "What is going on, Lillian? Why are there humans following you?" Denver asked as I sighed some. His head turned and looked to me. I don't usually show human sides like this to the vampires but I was tired. "Vladimir came to me. He destroyed Vance and the pack for what they did to me." I said as Denver's eyes went wide. I saw other heads turn in this direction with wide eyes. "An elder killed Vance and the pack? They died because Vance left you?" Denver asked as I nod. I sat back against the booth and looked out towards the crowd of the jumping and dancing people. "Yes. The lords of the world are coming here as well. They are gathering for the blue moon and the red star. I guess Gehenna is coming." I said as their eyes were wide and looking to one another. "Don't quote me on that. They only spoke of the blue moon and the red star on the rise." I said as their lips press some. "I walked away from Vladimir and the others and was being followed by the human. I hailed a taxi and slipped in when I noticed that the human stepped into a black car and it followed me here. If they try to get past Max I'm sure he will tear them apart. I have had enough dealing with this stuff. I think I will be packing up and leaving soon, Denver." I said as Denver pressed my thigh gently. "I don't blame you, Lillian. I would leave too if I didn't have the club to take care of. You aren't being held back by a clan or a pack, Lillian. You can go anywhere you want. No one is stopping you." He said as I nod. "It will have to be tomorrow night to head out. I have a couple of things to do before I leave. Thank you for the drink, Denver." I said finishing my glass before standing up. Denver stood up and took my wrist. "Stay a while, Lillian. You just got here. It isn't safe out there for you." He said as I chuckle some. "I'm not a child anymore, Denver. I'm very capable of taking care of myself." I said as he slowly nods releasing my wrist. I leaned up and kissed his cheek before walking out of the VIP section and down the steps through the crowds. I slipped through the back and out into the back alley. My eyes watched around before using my celerity to take me back towards the pent house. I rode the elevator up to the floor and stepped out into the hallway. I went to my door and unlocked it. I stepped inside and walked to my journals. I had this pent house rigged with explosives. I know it was dangerous but in this kind of life I wasn't going to let my stuff get into the wrong hands. I picked up a backpack and changed into some jeans, tank top, and a hoodie. I picked up my shades and put a couple of unfinished journals into my backpack. My important papers were in the binds of the journals. I zipped up the bag slipping my purse into one of the pockets of the bag. I slipped out the key chain with my keys for the door and the detonator. I know that all the vampires around this place along with the humans will see and feel this place explode when I walk from this. No one will find me though. I was going to run. I wasn't sure where I was going to go but I knew I had to leave before sunrise. My eyes checked my watch on my wrist. It was nearing midnight now. I stepped on the elevator in sneakers and ordinary clothes. I slipped my hood up to cover my red locks and head. I drew on the shades and stepped off the elevator. I walked out of the building walking down the street. My fingers slipped around the detonator in my hoodie pocket. I pressed the button. I heard and felt the explosion as my body turned and my eyes looked up. I heard the screams and lunged backwards as pieces of my pent house came crashing to the ground. My body turned away as I began to run like a human. I slipped into an alley before my celerity kicked in and I was gone from that place. I came out on a street a couple miles away before turning back to see that my place was lit up like a Christmas tree. Even from here I could hear the sirens and people screaming. I turned away and walked on for a while before hailing another taxi. I sat down in the seat drawing my hoodie and glasses off my eyes. The driver looked to me as I slipped the shades into my hoodie pocket. "The airport, please." I said as the man nods and turns away. We drive in silence as the news came onto the radio. They were at my pent house. I could hear someone calling out Teresa in the background as my lips press some. I heard others calling out Lillian. The vampires were fearful that I had been taken out by the humans that had been following me. I chuckled lower than the human in the driver's seat could hear. My eyes went to the window as I stared up at the stars as we came out of the city. Let them think I'm gone. I was something dead hiding in the shadows and running from shit that they want of me. We came to the airport as I paid the driver and walked into the airport. I walked to the counter and could see my pent house still on fire as firefighters tried to put it and the rest of the building out. I made sure that the explosives would continue to burn to take care of everything that had been in that pent house. Maybe they will think I was destroyed in the flames. With how much paper and natural ash in the pent house they would think I was burned up. I know it is strange to have ashes around my home but it was placed there to protect me. I guess you could call me a bit superstitious but it was to ward off the bad spirits. I got to a counter as the woman looks up. A soft smile came to my lips as my eyes glitter. "May I help you?" She asked. "A plane ticket to Cairo, Egypt." I said as the woman nods. I bring out one of many passports and ID. My name on this one was Tessa Graver. I paid a vampire friend for many of these things. They were just in cases like this. I handed it to the woman as she took my information before handing them back to me. I paid for my ticket through this name and walked towards the terminal. I knew I would have to hide as the sun came up on the plane but that wouldn't be that hard. My powers would protect me while I slept. I waited for my flight to be called before I stepped down the launch ramp into the plane. The flight attendants didn't bother me as I moved through. I slipped down into the cargo hold of the plane and found a crate that was going to Cairo. I popped the nails and slipped within. I drew the crates lid closed and laid within. I smelled another dead thing in here with me. My eyes looked to the mummy as a chuckle came from my throat. My fingers slipped down the cheek of the male. I slipped under the hay drawing my bag with me as I sank further under. I felt the plane begin to move as I laid there listening to the flight attendants roll on about seatbelt safety. I felt the jet engage as the plane began to move. Soon I would be in the air. Soon I would finally get out of this country into another that I had no idea what was like. I didn't know what kind of vampires were there either. Maybe I could finally get away with being alone. Cairo was humid but when it rained it was a downpour before stopping for months. I felt the sun coming and felt sleep take me. When night came once more I felt the lowering of the plane. We must have stopped off somewhere to refuel. I pushed on the crate and slipped out from under the mummy. I pushed the lid down tight before brushing the hay off my clothes and hair. I moved around the cargo plane a couple of times as the under belly crew came onto the plane to take the cargo out. I walked out from under the plane and up with the rest of the passengers through customs and out of the airport in the darkness of night. The air was crisp and the sky was beautiful and foreign to me. The moon was a half full greyness and the stars were welcoming. I walked down a sidewalk and wondered towards a hotel for the night. I was quite hungry but I would ignore it for now. When I get familiar with the night I will find a place to feed. For now I just wanted to blend in to the darkness. My Auspex opened to the silence. I could hear heartbeats and steady breathing throughout the buildings that I passed by. My fingers drew the backpack further up my shoulder. My head turned some as I heard a muffled gasp from an alleyway. My eyes caught the sink of fangs into the throat of a female victim. I stopped by the end of the alley and waited for him to be finished. He released her throat and touched her cheek before she wondered away from him down the other end of the alley. The man's head turned as his eyes came to me. His body cloaked in dark colored clothes moved with fluid towards me. His body stopped before mine as his amber colored eyes watched me in the moon light. His hair was short and snow white in color. "Roch Skylar." He said as I nod. "Tessa Graver." I said as he watched me a moment. "If that is what you wish to be called." He said as I nod. "You just came in this night. How did you beat the sunlight?" He asked as I chuckle some. "I slept with the dead under a plane. What territory does Cairo belong to?" I asked as he chuckles some. "This is the Follower of Set territory. Where did you come from?" He asked as we walked down the sidewalk together. "The states. Needed a change of scenery." I said as he shakes his head some. "Followers of Set are strange to me. They believe things I have read of. Are you one of them?" I asked looking to him. "Yes. You could get into a lot of trouble here if you are not like us." He said as I sighed some. I felt his chest grow tight as my eyes went to him. "You sigh like a human." He said as I nod some. "Just something I do. It freaks out others as well. I plan on staying for a couple of days before moving on to someplace else. I don't want to start any trouble for anyone." I said as we came to a sandstone building with words in Egyptian. I took it as a hotel of sorts. "How can you speak Egyptian?" He asked as my eyes went to him. "I'm speaking English. I can't understand Egyptian." I said as his eyes widened. "You are speaking Egyptian, Tessa." He said as I watched him. "The hotel has rooms available but you should get something to drink before you settle in for the night." He said as I chuckled some. "I will be fine for a couple of days. I will feed when I head out onto the road again." I said as his hand slid around my wrist stopping me from going up into the hotel. "Come with me to the bar. You can get something to drink there." He said as I drew my hand from his hold. His eyes widened some. "I am just fine, Roch. Thank you." I said as his lips press some. I turned away from him and wondered up into the hotel leaving him alone in the street. I walked to the counter as the old man standing at the counter looked to me as I approached. "A room for a couple of days please." I said as he nods. I drew out my ID, credit card, and a pen to sign my name. Two days would do for now. If I was going to stay longer I would pay for those extra days. He gave me my key and had me sign the receipt. I walked away from the counter and walked up the steps towards my room. I unlocked the door and stepped in. I locked the door and walked towards the window. I drew open the curtains and stared into the sky. The moon was beautiful as it looked to perch on the roof tops of the buildings around the city. My eyes moved down to the street as I saw Roch watching me from this room. His body leaned against the building across the street. "You aren't safe here." My auspex could hear his words as I chuckled some. "I'm safer here than where I was, Roch." I said as my eyes lift towards the sky once more. My eyes gazed upon the stars. My eyes went back down to the street and found that Roch was gone from across the street. He had walked away. Damn Followers of Set. I walked away from the window drawing the curtains closed. Since I could not tape up and black out the sun I would sleep in the bathroom when day breaks. A soft sigh came from my throat. I walked into the bathroom and checked out the tub. There weren't any windows in this area of the hotel room. I tossed the pillows from the bed into the tub and closed the door behind me. I checked the clock and found it to be two in the morning. I put my bag down and walked from the room. I closed the door locking it behind me. I walked down the steps of the hotel and walked out into the darkness. My auspex opened as I wondered down the street. I wondered the streets moving towards a place with blood lingering from the door. I stepped up and opened the door before walking into the club. The music was different from the states as people danced and swayed around the dance floor. Women in provocative clothing swayed around incense holders that drifted strange scents into the air. I sat down at a low table as watched the women move around. A woman came out with a snake in her grasp. The women's hearts did not beat and their skins were darkened tan. Through the veils I could see their eyes were slits like that of the snakes in their holds. A woman set a cobra down on the ground as a flute began to play. The creature curled up and lifts its body as the hood unfolded showing the beautiful silvers, gold, and reds in the creatures flesh. The snake swung back and forth to the flute as the women danced around the creatures that coiled up on the ground. A tweak of a smile came to my lips. Such dangerous creatures freaked out those with hearts that still beat but my heart was stone. There was no more fear of death here. I couldn't die like a mortal. My eyes came to a veiled woman as she set a glass before me. I could smell the blood in the dark colored glass before I placed a couple American dollars on the table. Her fingers take them up as she nods to me. I sip the blood and smile some. My eyes went back to the snakes. They swayed and strike the air as the flute plays. The veiled women pranced and bowed as their silks slip gently over the snakes back and hood. My hand slowly reaches out towards one of the snakes. Gasps came from throats as the snake closed its hood and slithered away from the veiled woman that was dancing around it. The snake slid over my skin and wrapped lightly around my arm as its head lifts opening the hood once more. My eyes watched its eyes. My fingers slid over the head and down its back as I could feel the beating heart of the creature. His tongue slipped out and touched my cheek gently. My eyes lift to the veiled woman that the snake had moved away from. She was wide-eyed as I chuckled some and look to the snake on my arm. "Go back to your master." I said gently kissing the head of the creature before he closed the hood and slid off my arm into the grasp of the woman. Her eyes stared at me as she stepped back. She turned away as the snake slid off her hand to its place once more. My head turned as Roch came to my table sitting down. His eyes went from me to the snake that swayed once more with the flute. "How did you do that?" He asked gently as I chuckle some. Foreign Skies "I don't know." I said as his eyes came to me going wide. "Maybe having snakes when I was mortal has the calling to the creature." I said as he watched me. "What is your true name?" He asked as I chuckle once more. "That doesn't matter anymore. That person has been dead for a while now." I said gently as his lips press some. "Who are you running away from?" He asked as I look down to the snake as it shifted in the coil and turned in this direction. "That is another question that doesn't concern you. I'm safer here than I was there." I said gently as my fingers traced a pattern in the air. The snake mimicked the pattern with his body before curling up once more. I could feel the eyes of those in the room watching me and the snake. I drew out another pattern as the snake did that same pattern with his flesh. I chuckled some and turned as Roch touched my arm. I heard the snake let out a hiss as Roch's head turned towards the creature. The creature curled up into a tighter coil as if it was going to strike. Roch released my arm as the snake hissed and drew its coil looser now swaying with the flute. "The snake is protecting you. They are the closest to that of Set himself." Roch said as I smirk some and finished off my blood. I stood up as the snakes come side-by-side with one another drawing out a pattern with both of their bodies. Red Star was the pattern of their bodies as my lips press some. Their bodies drew apart as I turned and walked out of the building. I could hear Roch following me. His hand slid around my wrist turning me to face him. "Why are you not affected by the power of Set?" He asked as there was anger in his words. "Have you been trying to use them upon me?" I asked as his eyes went wide. "Since I met you I have been trying to use them." He said as I laughed. I pulled from his grasp and wondered down the sidewalk. "Who are you? Why are you running? Where did you come from? Who sired you?" He asked too many questions out behind me as my body continued to walk. His body appeared in front of me stopping my body as his hands grasp at both my wrists. My eyes lift to his. My majesty kicked in as my eyes glowed in his. His eyes widened as he released my wrists. "Stop following me." I growled low as his body stepped back. "I am no one to you or anyone else. I do not want to be bothered by the likes of your kind again. Begone." I hissed. I could see him try to fight my powers but instead his body turned and he walked back into the building leaving me alone. I sighed and turned away as I turned majesty off. I wondered down the road alone as my eyes lift towards the sky. The stars twinkled and sparkled. A soft flute melody passed through the streets as my eyes came down and looked down an alleyway. An old man was sitting there with a flute to his lips. A small garden snake sat before him dancing and swayed in the darkness of the alley. I wondered down the alley and watched the little spectacle. My hand went out to the snake as it slithered up my hand wrapping around my wrist like a bracelet. The old man stopped playing the flute and looked up to me. "He's a pretty snake, mister. Why do you not stay in a place?" I asked gently. "You are such a pretty lady, miss. I do not have a place to live or money to get a place." He said as I nod. I understood this. I had been homeless when I was human a long time ago. "Stand." I said gently as my awe surrounded him. His body with bones popping and creaking stood up before me. My fingers slipped over his white fuzzy beard as my head dips past his lips and to his throat. My fangs slipped gently into his neck as a soft gasp came from his throat. I took a little more blood from his veins before my fangs released his throat. A soft groan came from his throat. I licked the wound closed and drew back as I saw his eyes were closed. His snake slid over onto his master's collar before the man sat back down and I walked away from the old one. I walked out of the alleyway as the music of the flute began once more. I wondered back to my hotel room and slipped within. I locked the door and walked into the bathroom towards the bathtub. I made my bed in the tub and closed my eyes when sunrise came. When night came I woke tossing the pillows out of the tub to take a shower. My head lifts into the warm water as I puffed breath out to splatter the water some against the wall. My fingers slipped through my scalp as the soap suds drifted down every curve of my flesh. I turned some as my fingers slipped down over my stomach. The thoughts of Vladimir and Mythos came to my mind. My lips press some. My eyes went down to my wrist that his touch had shocked. I wanted to know why that had happened but I didn't want to go back to the states to find out. I turned off the water in the shower and picked up a towel. I stepped out of the tub and dried my flesh before walking into the bedroom part of the room. I flicked on the Cairo late night news. Even in this part of the world they had all kinds of news. I opened the backpack and drew out a different shirt before slipping into my jeans. I drew out one of my journals. I opened a page within the book and wrote about this experience in this new world. I wrote about Roch Skylar and about the snakes. The fact that I could speak Egyptian and not really know how I could do this if I never learned it before in my life. I closed the journal when I was done and slipped it back into my backpack. I slipped my sneakers on my feet as I brushed out my hair. I drew it back braiding it down my back. I lift my bag over my shoulder and walked from the room. I walked down the steps to the counter laying the key on the counter before walking out of the hotel. My head lifts as I sense vampires wondering closer to the hotel. My body moved the opposite way before slipping around the corner. My celerity kicked in as I moved blocks away from the hotel. I'm sure Roch was with the group that was going towards the hotel. They were looking for me. A soft sigh came from my throat. My fingers brushed a bit of red hair from my face as my sneakers crunched the dirt and gravel under my shoes as I walk. Why couldn't people just leave me alone? My eyes lift towards the sky. The moon was fuller now as it was rising further from the horizon. My eyes could see something red and faint in the distance. Was it the red star? I look away from the sky and continue to walk. My body stopped near a museum as my eyes lift to the banner out front of the museum. Egyptian heritage day the sign said both in English and Egyptian. I stepped up the steps towards the door. My hand stopped and knew the door would not open to me. My eyes widened some as the door opened and a man was there. His body stopped as his eyes went wide. His heart pounds in his chest as if I had scared him. "Sorry. I was just admiring the banner on the front of the building. Forgive me, sir." I said gently as I turned to walk away from him. "You missed the exhibit today miss. Would you like a tour?" He asked as my body stopped and I turned to look at him. "I was going to leave but I could show you before I leave." He said as I smiled some. "I don't want to trouble you, sir." I said as he chuckles. "It's no trouble." He said as I walked back towards the door. He let me within closing the door behind us. "You could come back during the day time to take a tour." He said as my eyes went to him. "I'm leaving out of Cairo tonight. I have a little time before my flight takes off." I said as sadness showed in his eyes. "You look like someone that would appreciate artwork." He said as I chuckle some. "I do enjoy art, sir. I had missed the tours because of other business that I had to take care of." I said as we walked through the museum. The dim lights over the exhibits showed the culture of Egypt. We came into the main exhibit room as my eyes came to the mummy I had slept with on my way here to Egypt. "This is Lord Ramses the second." He said as my eyes look to the mummy. "He was a great pharaoh that fought against the Hittites. It is said that he ruled for 66 years before he was buried in the Valley of the Kings. Nefertiti was his wife." I said as I saw his eyes go wide. "I know some history behind Egypt. It was a passion a while ago that I couldn't help but look into while in high school." I said gently as the man watched me. "That is nice to see that an American would be interested in our history." He said as I chuckled some. "Thank you. These pieces are beautiful." I said as I walked around the old urns, jewels, and necklaces under glass. "They came in yesterday with Lord Ramses from the Americas. Lord Ramses had come from the natural history museum in Detroit." He said as I nod. "Then he had come in when I got here. I was on the same plane as him. No wonder I felt safe on the plane." I said as he chuckles some. "Ramses is the protector of his people, miss. He was a good pharaoh. Those that came after him could never keep up with him." He said as I chuckled softly looking over the canopic jars that they had put the vital organs into. I walked around the exhibit and stared at the paintings that were written in Egyptian. My body stopped before the blue full moon and the red star in a painting on the wall. I could see at the bottom of the painting seeing people bowing as an image in glowing white floated between the earth and the two objects in the sky. "What does this mean?" I asked gently as the man came to my side. "This depicts the rise of Set to his people once more. Though some think it could be a god coming back to the earth from the passing of the red star and the full blue moon. Not much is known about this prophecy. There are many superstitions that are whispered through the winds during the darkness. Some say this is the ending of life. Others say that this god will come to spite the sinners for turning their hearts away from the gods that made them. Others say that this is an angel come to give redemption to those damned by the god's hand in the beginning of time." He said as I stared at the painting for a little longer before turning away. "Thank you for this, sir. But I must be going before my plane takes off." I said as he nods and walks with me back towards the front of the museum. "Where did that painting come from?" I asked gently. "That came from Europe from one of the museums." He said as I nod. He opened the door of the museum as I stepped out into the dry air. He stepped out closing and locking the door behind him. We walked down the steps towards the streets. "Thank you for the tour, sir." I said as he smiles in the street light. "You are welcome, miss. That painting came from an older gentleman by the name of Vladimir LaCross." He said as my chest tightened some. "He and his company are flying in this evening. They were going to have an evening showing of the museum in a few nights. You should reschedule your flight to see it." He said as my lips press to a line. "Thank you but I must be going." I said gently as he nods. I turn and walk off away from the museum. I definitely had to get out of this damned city. Just knowing that Vladimir was coming here annoyed the hell out of me. It was time to take leave of this place. My eyes could still see the painting up on the wall. I hailed a cabbie as it pulled up and stopped. I slipped into the seat and sat down. My majesty kicked in. "Fill up the gas tank and drive me out towards Mersa Matruh." I breathed as the human nods and drives away from the museum and the man. I looked back slightly to see the man watching my cab. My lips press some drawing out my journal. My pencil moves quickly across an open sheet of paper as I drew out the painting. I remember each of the details and made sure I even drew out the faces of the people bowed below the figure in the light. My lips press some for there were fangs in the lips of some of the people. There were vampires there. I closed the journal slipping it away as the cabbie driver stopped at a small gas station and did as he was told. He paid the attendant and climbed back into the cab. He took off away from the gas station and drove out of the city. I leaned back against the seat as my eyes looked to the stars once more. I would have flown out of this place if that man had not told me that Vladimir and the other elders were coming to this place. My eyes rolled some. This was one annoyance after another. The cab drove out onto the dirt road as my eyes went to the desert. The sand was calm and the moon shined upon the sands turning it silver in color. The moon was only half way over the skies. I was hoping that the cabbie would make it to the city before day break. I rubbed at the back of my head and looked up to the moon once more. The red star was getting closer. I could see it. It was coming closer. It wasn't going to rise with the blue moon. It was going to come closer to the moon. It was coming from out of the sky to sit beside the moon. I didn't want to be there when it happened. I didn't want to be near the elders or anyone else if that star was to bring forth the god to this plane of existence. My eyes went to the front of the car. There was a lineup of many cars as my lips press to a line. "Stop the car." I breathed to the driver as he pulled to a stop 30 plus feet from the lineup of cars. Roch was in the head of the lineup. A couple of vampires on horseback galloped around so the driver could not turn around. My body stepped out of the car. "Get out of here." I said as the driver turned the car around. The horses parted to let the car go by. My eyes looked around some before going to Roch as he stepped away from the lineup. His body stopped about ten feet from me. "Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?" I growled low. "It only works if you hold it to do so." He said as my lips press to a line. "I'm leaving this place, Roch. Stop getting in my way." I growled out as I felt the chests of the vampires grow tight. "Lord Vladimir Dracula says different, Teresa." He said as anger flared in my chest. "My name is Tessa. Get out of my way." I snarled as I felt the anger of a frenzy boiling up through every fiber in my being. Roch stepped back as his eyes widened. My celerity kicked in as my body bolted backwards. The vampire gasped as I knocked him from the saddle. My body climbed into the saddle spinning the horse about some. I kicked the sides of the horse bolting towards the lineup of cars. The horse neighed out as I lunged the horse up and over the ducking vampires. I stayed low on the saddle as the horse ran. The wind blew through my hair. My bag bounced on my back as my eyes remained ahead of me. I could hear the starting of engines and could hear the other horsemen following behind me. It was like the race of the Arabian nights. My eyes watched the sands ahead of the horse. My eyes lift towards the sky. At this rate with being slowed down I may not make it to Mersa Matruh in time. I may have to stop for the daylight. I didn't want Roch to get me though. My eyes went to the sky. The moon was towards the west now. In a couple hours it would set and the sun would be on the rise. I needed to get to another city. El Dabaa would have to do. I would sleep and then take off once more into the night. I had to stay a step in front of Roch. My head turned to see the horses and the cars still chasing after me. My eyes came to a black shadow crossing out of the sands towards the cars and the horses. My eyes widened as the blackness engulfed the horses and the cars. I heard wild neighs and the snarls of the vampires. I saw a car flipping coming out of the darkness as my head turned back. My hands pulled the reigns as darkness appeared before me about thirty feet away. Several creatures came out of the blackness as my lips press some. One that still had features of a man held out its claw like hand towards me. My eyes went to the blackness as it slowly seeped and wrapped around me and my horse. The beast under my flesh lunged up and tried to knock me off its back but I held on trying to regain control of the frightened beast. I released and fell from the saddle as a yelp came from my throat hitting the ground. The horse bolted for the blackness. As soon as it went within the blackness the beast was engulfed and screamed before being silenced. My eyes went to the male that still held out its claw towards me. I got to my feet as the male stepped towards me. I stepped back as I watched the male. I could hear hissing and snarls in the darkness around me and this male. "Come with me." The male hissed as my eyes watched him. "What do you want?" I asked as the male stopped and looked around to the darkness. Creatures appeared as the darkness made up their shadows under their feet. My head turned to see that a couple of horses and one of the cars survived the darkness and were going in the other direction away from me. I saw the eyes of Roch looking out the back of the one car. He had survived. My head turned back as a gasp came from my throat. The male creature's arm went around my waist as his hard strange flesh pressed against mine. My hands went to his chest and nearly went through his flesh but his body solidified against my touch. "What are you?" I asked in whisper looking up to his dark eyes. "I am your survival in these harsh lands." He hissed. "Sleep." He said as I tried to fight the power but he was too strong. My world slipped away in his arms. It must have been the next night that I woke. My body sits up in a bed. The room was dark and nearly pitch black in color. My legs swung over the side of the bed. My eyes went down to a pair of shackles on my ankles. "Seriously?" I asked gently. My hands went down and pulled the shackles apart before getting to my feet. I walked towards the door and opened it. A darkness like the one in the room loomed out into this hallway and down the length of the cabin I was in. I walked through the cabin and came to the front door. My hand went to the knob. Another hand covered over mine as my head turned to the male from the night before. He removed my hand from the doorknob and pushed me back against the door itself. His body solidified as it brushed against mine. "You cannot leave this place. You are safe here from those that chased you." He hissed out as my lips press some. "I need to get away from Egypt. You cannot hold me captive." I said as my head looked away from his face getting very close to mine. I felt his lips brush against my throat. My hand went to his chest and tried to push him away but my hand went right through his chest. I drew back my hand as his lips brushed at my throat once more. "You cannot hurt me, woman. Nothing can hurt me and my clan." He breathed as my hands balled to fists. "You are like nothing I have ever seen before." I whispered as he chuckles some. "You are in the wrong country, woman. Your people should never step foot on our sands." He breathed as my lips press to a line. "I was trying to escape those others that your sands attacked. I just wanted to make it to Mersa Matruh. I was trying to get to Benghazi to sail across the waters to Misrata and then hit Tripoli. I was leaving the country." I said gently. "You are a sinner and a wanted woman to those others?" He asked as my head turned and looked into his dark eyes. "I may be a sinner but I refuse to be a sacrifice to their god." I breathed as his eyes widened some. "Sacrifice? What god do they believe in?" He asked as his claw came up and slid over my cheek. "Set." I breathed as a hiss came from his throat. My head lifts as his claw slid down over my throat before slipping over my breasts. "Your body is beautiful enough to be some kind of sacrifice but it shouldn't be to Set." He hissed as my eyes went to his.