Liam has been moving about the city, seeking answers to questions. While he has been wandering about, all he sees around him are just the driftwood of humanity, especially at the hours after dusk. The kine he sees are just the desperate, the hopeless and the lost. He wasn't contemplating on feeding on any of them for tonight. He still has enough vitae in his form to sustain him as long as he doesn't expend it into his special abilities of the Kindred.

After what passed close to two and a half hours, he suddenly noticed that he is in the city park. The park at this hour is very much empty and dangerous. Liam wasn't concerned of being cautious around such places. His affinity to things nature has served him well from searching his prey to gathering information. If a gang of punks were to attack him, they would have to contend with the army of animals at his call.

Liam scanned the many benches that litter the park for any kine present. His keen senses alerted him to the presence of another of his kind. He was momentarily startled by the traces his senses told him. The sense-trace is similiar to a superficial degree to one he knew before. The last time he sensed this signature was an encounter between him and a certain Toreador, many months back. The current trace has the same signs but the distinct differences are also there. He decided to move in and see who the newcomer is.

With practiced stealth, Liam slowly moved his way to the source of the sense-trace. He spied a female Kindred sitting alone on a bench. She is wearing a leather jacket of fashionable taste which conceals underneath a black evening dress. A black rose was pinned to the jacket's lapel. The dress is more of the kind used in nightclubs and discotheques. The contrast goes so well with her pale skin and slight frame. Her hair was close to shoulder-length which has that sheen of being recently styled with oil or gel. She was just sitting there with her eyes closed with that carefree expression on her face. She appears to soak in all the sounds of silence.

"Liam. I didn't know you been prowling around for a few minutes already. Sit down and relax. From the way I sensed you, looks like you have a lot on your mind." The female newcomer calmly told him.

Liam casually moved next to her after being discovered. It takes a lot to mask one's presence from a Toreador or a Malkavian for that matter. Better that a "artiste" spots him than a "kook". Upon sitting down next to her, a flash of recognition begins to register. He knows now who she is.

"So how things going for you, China?" Liam asked her.

"Pretty inquisitive for a Gangrel, eh?" China answered him back with that remark.

"I gathered that things are fine, then."

"You could put it that way. You seem to have that air gloominess around you." China inquired to Liam's state.

"That usual for me. You know, being gloomy and alone." Liam answered back in casual tones, as if it is normal to him.

"As for me, just putting some time for myself to sort a few things out." China replied. Her face has that capacity to project vivacity of emotions whether positive or negative with a childish twist in it.

"I gathered that things aren't going well for a while between you and Mikhail." Liam casually dropped the statement.

"How did you know about that? Who told you?" She asked with feigned expression of amazement and denial.

"Nikolai dispensed that item to me. I got word from the others. Even the animals tell me a bit of things. Of course, I do occasionally observe from a safe distance, after I get wind of it. Just maintaining surveillance on anyone within my view of 'protective domain'." Liam nonchalantly answered back.

"Well, that's none of your business. It's just a little misunderstanding that needs time and explanation."

"Deny all you want . The signs and patterns are there that you have something for him regardless of what's going on in your self. It's like a 'stay-or-leave' kind of feeling."

"Amazing for you to come up with that assumption. I just want to manage my affairs on my own. I don't care what the other people see and say about me and him."

"Of course, China. But why put yourself though something that fell apart for awhile and yet still maintain any ties to it?" Liam stares towards a cluster of trees nearest them.

"You don't have all the facts now do you? All you get are just snippets and pieces of the whole picture." China slowly took a deep breath.

"You are correct. But I have enough speculation and insight to draw that conclusion. Didn't I not? "

"Don't be too sure of yourself." She wriggled out a face at him.

"You still prove yourself to be a Childer inspite of weathering a emotional episode in your life and unlife." Liam pointedly emphasized the title of Childer to her.

"Don't try to rub that Cainite parlance on me. I'm very much myself, in spite what the elders call me and others. I guess you are above that." China tries to dig up a barb with her remark.

"I admit I'm not well versed in the area of emotions but anything that disrupts the harmony of Kindred in this city is my jurisdiction. Until I'm told otherwise." He passively defended himself with a rationale.

"Yeah. Right. I suppose if this 'harmony' was ever disrupted, what are you going to do about it?" She mixed the statement in with her childish pout to play up the "naive child" bit.

"Handle the situation as appropriate with whatever means at my disposal."

"Kind of extreme in that reaction."

"Not exactly. Just within the available means to interact or to avoid it. Given that the situation can be handled by itself or not. I normally don't step in on such things unless the Masquerade is threatened."

"You're right on the matters of secrecy. But still, you can lurk around places as decent enough to have the ability of the certain stealthier clans in the Camarilla."

"Don't mention anything about major-league politics. Politics aside, I guess you still stick around and confide yourself to Leon most of the time while sorting things for yourself."

"Leon is such a blessing and a oddity for a friend. He has the combination of being a hedonist and a loonie. He is company enough to talk and have as a companion. But he is different compared to Mikhail."

"Mikhail is pretty much an intense individual, much more fitting to be an Ancilla. I forgot from what clan he is from. But that intensity is pretty much a trademark for certain number of clans."

"That 'intensity' you talk about is just something that makes him come off as a jerk sometimes. But I know enough about him to go through his mood swings."

"What about you? Don't you get hurt by these things brought about from him." Liam edged it in with a touch of friendly concern.

"I do. But I get on going after being in it for a while."

"But both of you go on with this air of strained togetherness around the both of you. It somewhat makes others feel bewildered with this "charade" you put between yourselves. Of course, don't mind the rambling of a Gangrel vampire to the likes of you Toreador." Liam puts in his sigh of regret within that insightful remark.

"Don't worry about that, Liam. Things will work out fine between me and Mikhail. Thanks for the concerned sentiment. Anyway, I have to get going. It's time for me to attend a party at the Succubus Club. Want to join me, Liam?"

"No thanks, China. Got to keep moving around the city by the mandate of the Elders. Maybe some other time." Liam gets up and smooth out his long coat.

"Take up the offer next time. Who knows what happens the next time? Life or unlife is to be experienced to the fullest. That's more general than the my clan's byline I'd say. Till then, Liam of Clan Gangrel." She replied back with a warm smile.

"Till the next encounter, China of Clan Toreador." Liam managed a faint smile and slowly walks away.

Both vampires left the park to pursue their own tasks for the evening. Regardless of their farewells, the encounter is just a part of the complex chain of events in the so-called drama of life, even for the unlife existence of the vampires.

STORY BY LAIM VERNE-IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS [email protected]

This is the first story I have recieved, I hope you enjoy it. If you have any World of Darkness short fiction or poems you would like posted just e-mail it to [email protected].