Vanessa parks Armande's black Cadillac in front of the store called "The Raven" and gets out. She's dressed a little more conservatively tonight to make a good impression for Armande. She's wearing black slacks with a silk burgundy blouse tucked into the slacks, expensive black Italian leather heels, and a gold necklace and earrings. Granted the blouse is unbuttoned enough to give a little glimpse of her cleavage, but she looks classy. Her hair is down and curled a little, and she has no weapons on her person. If this Hope is as old as Armande guesses, weapons wouldn't do anything for Vanessa anyhow if she turned out to be hostile.
Vanessa clears her mind and enters the shop.

Hope stands near the jewelry cases when Vanessa walks in. She wears a simple black dress that skims across the floor, and her long black hair reaches nearly to her waist. She turns to look at Vanessa with curious eyes.
"I know you...oh yes..." she says after giving Vanessa good look. "Your daughter has been here a few times. A very nice girl...you did well..."

Vanessa raises her eyebrows in surprise-- not expecting THAT greeting! She thought it would go more like:
Hope: hello, how may I help you?
But anyhow!
Vanessa quickly recovers from her surprise and gives Hope a smile as she takes a good look back. Yep...she's a vampire all right.
"Thank you. It wasn't easy...for me, anyhow." she sighs, referring to her condition as a vampire. "I give all the credit to Armande. He went to all the parent/teacher conferences...got her ready for school everyday...was there to greet her when she came home...baked her cookies and asked her how her day was...I envy your ability to be able to be up and around out at any time you need to." she says sincerely.

Hope smiles at her and lowers her head. "Does Armande still bake those wonderful little cakes? I have missed them for a very long time." she says with a small smile. "My little Prince of Thieves." she says. She sighs and turns back to the jewelry case. "Your daughter is in no danger of harm...not from me. Nor is your husband."

Vanessa watches her carefully when she says this, and knows her words are true. Or at least that's how she is perceiving them with her skills. One such as Hope could always be messing with her mind so she wouldn't know truth from fiction, but she doesn't feel that Hope is one of those types.
She nods. "I believe you. I do not mean to insult you by coming here before my husband does, but we are a very protective family. We have not let Kassandra near kindred society, as you can well imagine why. But she found you on her own, and she likes you and wants to continue being a customer, and so I thought it only prudent to come meet you. I was also a little curious. Ever since Kassy told us about you it has brought up so many memories for Armande that he talks about all the time now, so I wanted to meet you for myself. He remembers that nickname you called him, and yes...he is an excellent cook, and will be bringing you your requested cake tomorrow when he comes in." she smiles, relaxing a little.

Hope smiles. "Sister Mary Hope. I have not called myself that in years." she says. "I have had so many names," she says looking down at her hands. "So many children, that I've raised and lost. It's nearing my time..." She looks at Vanessa and shakes her head. "Enough of those things. I do not begrudge you coming here first. I would be concerned for Kassandra if you hadn't." she says with a bow of the head. "She doesn't realize fully yet does she?"

"About me?" Vanessa sighs and shakes her head. "As a mage, part of her training was her Uncle John telling her how dangerous we are...why we shouldn't be trusted...how to defend herself against one of us...all of that. I knew he was going to be teaching her that, and so I have given her only little pieces of the full truth about myself so she wouldn't think I was one of those that John is teaching her to protect herself again. Because I do believe this training is important...because as a mage she really SHOULDN'T trust our kind. Especially being who and what she is. I just didn't want her father and I to be lumped into that category with the others. But...I think she's starting to put the pieces together." Vanessa sighs.

Hope nods and motions towards one of the chairs. "Please sit and make yourself comfortable if you wish." Hope says. "Your daughter has interesting aspirations. She hopes to do whatever it is she is supposed to do well." she says. "She doesn't know yet what she is supposed to do?"

Vanessa sits and crosses one leg over the other. She shakes her head. "No she doesn't...and neither do her father and I, or even John. The loas won't tell us...they say it needs to be kept a secret for now. Makes it kind of hard to prepare her, doesn't it?" she smiles wearily. Then she gives Hope a curious look. "Do YOU know what she's supposed to do?"

"I do not," Hope says shaking her head. "It is in her thoughts constantly. I can help her with her dreams, but beyond that, I cannot interfere. That is not what I am here to do." she says. She looks Vanessa over again and smiles. "My father always said that it was never too late for redemption."

Vanessa raises her eyebrows, trying not to look offended. She's liking this woman, and wants things to continue to be amiable.
"Armande and I feel that redemption is a very...indefinable thing. For example, I have been a faithful servant of the loas since I was a young girl studying under the tutelage of a great mambu. I serve them still, and in my service am greatly favored by them. So what shall happen to me...to Armande...when we die? Because we do not serve the Christian god we will go to hell or become demons or something like that? Or is there a great voodoo-paradise awaiting me where Armande and I shall make love every night and walk in the sun and drink champagne? Who has the truth? All I know is that I have seen no miracles performed by the Christian god or his followers, however the night Kassandra was born there was no greater miracle seen by gods or men." she says, her cheeks a little flushed.

Hope smiles, "Who said anything about the Judeo-Christian god?" Hope says shaking her head. "You, Vanessa, are seeking redemption even if you do not know what your heart and soul are saying. I see it in you...and you are doing that very thing. You raised a daughter uncorrupted by your former ideals of the Sabbat."

Vanessa closes her eyes and looks away. She can tell Hope was looking into her heart, but the feeling wasn't invasive or like a rape the way it is with pretty much every vampire. It was...gentle. She sits quietly for a moment, trying to compose herself.
Finally she looks up. "I want to be a good mother for Kassandra. I wanted her to be a normal human girl...a good girl. I wanted John to approve of her once she was grown and under his instruction...I didn't want him to wish he'd taken her from me the day she was born and raised her, himself. And I never want her to look at me like I'm a monster. Having a baby is...the most powerful and complete transformation anyone can experience. More powerful than the night I was Embraced. And...having a baby with the man I love brought us together like a key turning in a lock. Suddenly there was no room for any other male amusement...or desire for it...anymore. I cannot claim the credit for transforming my life. It was Kassandra who did it." she says, struggling to keep her voice even.

"Whatever the excuse is, Vanessa, the truth is that you have started down a path that will lead to your eventual redemption. Your vampiric nature does not have to be a curse or instant damnation. You have slaughtered, killed, maimed, but now...whatever monster lay within you is gone and you have started the path." Hope says with a smile. "Continue the path, Vanessa. Not just for your soul, but your husband's and your daughter's very souls."

Vanessa looks away again, blinking back red tears. 'Who is this woman and how is she doing this and WHY is she doing this??' she thinks to herself frantically, wishing she could hide herself in shadows and slink away. These are her most private of private thoughts and fears...that what if the loas don't have anything to do with what happens to her when she dies? What if she and Armande and Kassandra are forever separated after death because of what she is?
Vanessa covers her eyes with her hand, still turned away.
"Why are you doing this?" she moans.

"Because you need to hear it, Vanessa. And I'm afraid you are still throwing Judeo-Christian morality into it...but you are wrong. I am old, Vanessa, so very old and I have seen many things and there are more things between heaven and earth than you can possibly imagine. Do what your heart has told you all along." Hope says bowing her head once more.

Vanessa shakes her head slowly, wiping at her eyes. She finally turns back to face Hope. "Well if the Judeo-Christian god has nothing to do with what happens to me when I die, then what DOES? How do I know I am redeemed? Or am I redeemed right now?" she demands, her eyes rimmed with red.

"Your actions, your kindness, your true self coming to the fore. You were made into a killer, but this is not what you could have been, this is not what you are." Hope says. "Inside you are good, you know it. Live the rest of your life as such and you will find it." Hope says. She sways on her feet a moment and then sits down with her hand to her forehead. "So tiring when they are old," she says to herself.

Vanessa half-stands when Hope starts to sway, and then watches her carefully after she sits. "What do you mean by that?" she asks in a softer tone.

Hope lifts her head. "You're old...it is tiring to look down the years of your hopes and fears, dreams and fantasies." she says. "I cannot control it sometimes. I just look at people and it is a road map of their life. Sometimes I try to set them back upon the path...other times...I let them see what could be..."

Vanessa nods slowly, trying to understand. "I have never heard of a power like this before. Do you...have a clan? An allegiance or some kind? When you mentioned your father you are talking about your sire, yes?"

"I am Salubri, my name is Hope for I am the first and will be the last of my clan. I am the hope of all things." Hope says looking at Vanessa with a seriousness and a power that almost radiates off her. "I do what I do because I must. I inspire children to be their greatest wish and sometimes, just sometimes, I am successful."

Vanessa blinks and stares at Hope. "Salubri...?" She sits there looking surprised as she muses this over. She almost doesn't know what to say!
"There are more of you still around?" she finally asks.

"Seven of us. My brothers and sisters, for we are the last." Hope says. "Our father gave us the power he most admired in humanity and so we are." Hope says bowing her head. "So many of my brothers and sisters lost. So many."

Vanessa sits there trying to let this sink in. She's silent for a moment. Finally she looks up. This woman must be simply ANCIENT. She almost wants to run out of the store and hide, knowing what Hope could do if she wanted to! Then she realizes this is just a knee-jerk reaction from all the old, old vampires she's met in her life-- all of which, so far, were either insane or allied with demons.
"What...brought you to San Francisco?" she finally asks.

"No reason other than this is certainly a city of dreams and hopes and fantasies." Hope says. "We are drawn to where we are needed most at different times. I have lived in many cities, Vanessa. Very very many cities and they are all different."

Vanessa nods. "So I have heard!" She finally feels some of her composure returning. "So you knew Armande when he was a little boy..." she muses, a soft smile on her face. "I wish I could see pictures, but I don't think photography was very widely available at the time. He must have been a very cute but mischievous little bambino!" she smirks, a fond look in her eyes. "One of the reasons I wanted to talk to you before he comes by tomorrow is that I think he's afraid you might be disappointed in him...for some the choices he's made since he saw you last. Kassandra said you saw him in New York...then Toronto? So you must know what he is now." she says, referring to Armande being a ghoul.

"I do...my prince of thieves." Hope says with fondness. "He should have been a chef, or a baker. It was his talent and passion." she says. "I am not disappointed in him. He made his choices and now he seeks the same as you." she says simply.

Vanessa raises her eyebrows. She'd always suspected he's been seriously thinking about his afterlife, but it's nice to hear confirmation. Whenever she asks him about it, he always acts nonchalant like they have nothing to worry about. She gives a little smile.
"Now MY blood keeps him alive...he is free from his previous life as I am. Or as much as we can be, being what we are. You know, I've been trying to get him to open his own restaurant for decades now! He always has some excuse or another for not doing it. I think if we weren't...special...he would have done it long ago. I think he's afraid he'll get on some creature's radar if he goes public with his skills. It seems like such a waste...his talents, and only he and Kassy to cook for..." she sighs.

Hope nods and looks up at Vanessa. "I am glad one of my children from that time is still walking the earth. It was one of my...happier times in my life. At least in this life." she says. "The children. It always comes to the children, watching them grow and chase their dreams. This is my greatest joy."

Vanessa listens. "It must be hard, too...I would guess that most children abandon their dreams when they hit a certain age...either because of circumstances or because something steers them off. And you haven't gotten discouraged from what you do...all these years." She pauses. "Why were you chosen to be Hope? Did you work with children in your first life?" she asks curiously.

"That memory is far away, Vanessa. I do not know what my predecessors did...but I know their loves, their dreams, and those they truly helped. But the first Hope...know I do not remember who she was...only that she was hope...our sister ourselves." Hope says thinking back.

Vanessa blinks in confusion. "The first Hope? You're not the original? So...how many Hopes have their been before you?" she asks.

"Too many to number, dear Vanessa. There have been many Hopes. I am just the one currently occupying this before I too move on." Hope says. She sighs and puts her head in her hands. "I am tired, Vanessa. Do you find what you were looking for here?"

"Wait...one more question. What happens when you 'move on?' Do you die? And who takes your place?? And how do they just...just become Hope??" she asks, completely enraptured by Hope's story. Still VERY confused, but even more curious!

"That I cannot reveal to you, Vanessa. Not just yet," Hope says with a smile. "In time perhaps...but now I must rest. I have a very busy day tomorrow at the orphanage." she says. "Now did you find what you came for?"

Vanessa sits back, realizing they're done and not pushing it. She nods. "Yes. If you ever need sanctuary, you have our address." she says, standing. She's automatically assuming that when Hope says she needs rest, it means she's like every other vampire and WILL involuntarily pass out soon-- whether or not the conversation is over-- and so Vanessa respects her clues and prepares to leave. "Or if you ever need to talk to me-- about anything...like if Kassy gets herself into trouble and tells you not to tell us, especially-- just let Armande or I know!" she smiles, but there's a serious look in her eyes.

"Of course. I will try to watch over her. Or I shall have one of my friends watch her. She will be under my protection." Hope says. "This is my bond to you Vanessa." Hope's eyes grow heavy.
"I will call upon you as well, Vanessa...should the time come."

Vanessa recognizes the signs of the Sleep as they come upon Hope, and she nods quickly. "Thank you, Hope. Sleep well." she says, giving her a little wave and then quickly exiting the store so Hope can have time to get to wherever it is she sleeps. Vanessa has been caught off-guard by the power of the Sleep on a few occasions-- usually in the middle of sex when it's been an all-night session and she didn't realize how close dawn was! But no matter what she was doing, there was no fighting it. She would just pass out cold...literally...and Armande or whoever was there would have to make sure she was protected from the sun. Not a very pleasant situation!
Vanessa pauses on the sidewalk, looking up and down the street as her conversation with Hope sinks in a little, and then she finally gets back in Armande's car and heads for home-- anxious to tell him everything that happened.

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