Black Star

"Come to me. Urgent!"

The confused English speech with a terrible French accent was extremely unintelligible and emotional. The silence that interrupted everything did not let Victor understand what was what. He couldn't say for sure if that phrase had been uttered, but one thing was clear — he needed to go as soon as possible.

....

Genger did not expect such a large company for tonight. He thought that it would be only his sire, but he was met by the cold stares of several kindreds. It was even more stressful. Not that there weren't alarm calls before, but they were reduced to almost insignificant things, when the presence of the Grand sire and primogen looked much more impressive.

"On what question did you call me, Jean?" Victor cautiously squinted at sire. It was as if there was no face, and even bright makeup did not save from the greyness of the view.

An unknown kindred angrily tsked and clearly tried to explain everything in the most unflattering epithets, but was stopped by Alexandra's languid gaze. Here she sets the rules and only she has the right to decide who will speak.

"Well, you're done," Jean was clearly not able to say something directly and clearly. Whether it was because of excitement or because of the language barrier, it was difficult to understand and already impossible, since Zlata, with Alexandra's silent permission, took the initiative:

"Jean didn't put it right. You may be done if you really are to blame. Tell me, do you carefully observe the Masquerade?

The question was a trick and Victor understood it perfectly. Now it doesn't matter what he answers, only the truth that follows after this question is important. And the truth is very simple — he made a mistake somewhere. A thousand and one memories flashed through Genger's head, thoughts swarmed, trying to identify what and where could go wrong, but nothing came to mind. Time passed inexorably and then Victor tried to say as confidently as possible:

"Of course, as well as anyone who wants to exist in the Camarilla."

A light laugh from Zlata followed. She was alarmed by this mysterious news, too, but she had much more experience and worldly wisdom to stay cool. At least Victor definitely felt much less convincing than he wanted to.

"You see, honey, here's the thing," Zlata withstood a theatrical pause, giving the audience a good taste of all the emotions of the Genger, "A little bird told me that you didn't follow it so carefully, apparently, since some mortal decided to set up surveillance on you."

Victor was stunned. Is it really over? Would he leave this world sooner than he had planned? And all because of some little man who wanted to track someone down. And why him, Victor? ...really, why?

"But how?"

"Ha, there are disappointments in life," the evil kindred snickered maliciously. He clearly enjoyed watching the whole spectrum of horror and despair. "Sunbathing will definitely prescribed to you, and when we will find your friend then..."

"So you haven't found him yet?" the voice traitorously broke and Victor almost wheezed the last words. "How can you say that I am guilty of something without having any evidences?"

"Unfortunately, there is evidence. The fact of surveillance has been established, we just need to understand how much he knows. I would hate to interrupt your life, Rhaunn, so it would be much better if you confessed here and now how and where you let yourself be revealed.

It was impossible to resist the gaze of those piercing beautiful eyes. Victor was almost ready to give everything away, even if it was an absolute fiction. However, the obsession was interrupted by anger bordering on despair. "I know for sure that I didn't do it! It just can't be!"