The Return of Geoffrey St. James
I awoke in complete dark. My mind seized with fear, and I tensed my shoulders. No pain. My hands are free. My panic eased.
As I stood there the dark room came into focus, and I could see details, as if looking through a slightly reddish haze. The room reeked of old blood, and disgusting sewer smells. Again my brain froze, the stench of the sewer triggering my fears. There were figures around me. They were each starting to move. I didn't know them. My beast stirred in fear, and I rushed to the door to leave.
On the other side of the door were stairs. At the top of the stairs were two Chinese wastrels. They glanced up from their game of stones. "Wǎnshàng hǎo" the one on the left said genially. My face was blank, and he seemed unsure. "Good evening, how you?"
My innate contempt rose up. Filthy Chinese talking to me in such a familiar fashion. "I will have you know I will not tolerate such familiar behavior from lessers such as yourselves. Who let you in this house to begin wiht?" I said, barely keeping my indignation from turning to shouting.
The two Chinese looked uncertain, but unbowed. "Nao Ping." the one stated, shifting slightly.
"They are my charges Liam, you know that, we all agreed." I heard a female voice from behind me, the Chinese edge clear in her words.
I turned and behind me stood a Chinese woman in fine Chinese robes, her ebony hair pulled back with wooden sticks. She was very still and I realized she was also a vampire. Her eyes were very dark, her skin very white. I could feel concern from her, but had no idea why. I didn't know this filth at all. "My name is not Liam. You will address me as Lord Geoffrey. I will have you know I served in the House of Lords Caitiff."
I saw her stiffen, she moved slowely past me, watching me like a rat watches a hawk. A beuatiful dark haired woman came up the stairs behing Nao Ping. She wore a well made blue dress. She moved into the room and stood by Nao Ping. The Chinese woman looked at her and said "He thinks he is the elder St. James."
The dark haired woman nodded at me. She said "My name is Roxanna." She nodded toward the Chinese woman, "This is Nao Ping. Do you remember us?"
I searched my memories, and from the shadows of my mind, I vaguely did remember them, though it seemed disjointed and confusing. In my mind I saw us running down a sewer. I saw us outside in London. I remembered the man biting me, sucking my soul from my body. I remembered dying. I shuddered.
"What happened?" I rasped.
"Liam, you drank his body. Probably his soul. Your mind is having trouble with that." Roxanna said with a soft voice.
"My name is Geoffrey." I said defiantly. She shook her head sadly. She pointed to a mirror on the wall near me. When I looked in the mirror I saw a handsome man in his late twenties. But this was not my face.
"Is this Liam?" I said, pointing at the mirror.
"Yes, it is." Nao Ping stated.
From the basement came a tall, gaunt looking man up the stairs. His skin was brilliant white, his eyes black discs. "Do we have a problem?" he asked in a rumbling voice when he reached the top of the stairs. Behind him came two others, both of them slender men, one with darker skin.
The world spun a little, and then darkness overcame me.