The club was nearly empty as defenders converged on Adam's position. Their instincts honed for confrontation, they assumed at first that Adam might be a Gangrel, a Kindred clan known for their shapeshifting prowess. However, as some recognized his true nature, a flicker of fear crossed their faces.
Before they could react to Adam's presence, the first wave of Sabbat vampires stormed in. Adam noted they were covered in dirt, as if freshly unearthed from graves.
A frenzied Gangrel, a man in his thirties with short brown hair, blood-red eyes devoid of humanity, and claws like an animal, lunged at Adam. The vampire aimed for Adam's chest, but Adam deftly caught the man's wrist before the blow landed. With a swift movement, he slashed the vampire's neck with the claws of his free hand. Adam's claws, longer and more powerful, sliced through the vampire's flesh and spine, decapitating him. The body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
"Well, that was a young one." Adam remarked.
More vampires surged forward. Adam remained unnervingly calm, a stark contrast to the rage-filled nature of a Garou. The frenzied Sabbat vampires clashed with the calmer Anarchs, who struggled against the relentless assault.
Adam moved with predatory agility. Though not in his fullest form, his Glabro state was still a formidable presence on the front lines. He tore through the Sabbat ranks with calculated violence, his silver eyes gleaming with determination. As the Sabbat vampires witnessed Adam's lethal efficiency, those not in a frenzy began to retreat.
A few moments into the battle, the shadows began to shift. Vampires emerged from the darkness as if from a liquid void, all clad in black and armed with swords.
Two of these shadow vampires charged at Adam from either side, one aiming for his neck and the other for his legs, attempting to restrict his movements.
Adam leaped into the air, his strength propelling him over their heads. He brought a foot down on the vampire to his right, slashing the vampire's head with his leg claws. Though he felt chunks of brain stick to his claws, it wasn't enough to kill the vampire.
Landing on the ground, Adam quickly turned to the unharmed shadow vampire. As the vampire pivoted to face him, Adam drove his claws into the vampire's eyes, blinding him with a swift, brutal motion.
Adam grabbed the blinded vampire by the head and shoulder, his claws sinking into the vampire's skull to gain a solid grip. With a brutal yank, he heard the sickening pop of tearing muscle and sinew. Before the first shadow vampire could fully heal his head wound, Adam wrenched the vampire's head off, the body instantly beginning to rot and decay as if it had been dead for decades.
The remaining shadow vampire roared in fury and charged at Adam. Adam quickly grabbed the fallen vampire's sword and hurled it at the oncoming attacker. The vampire deflected the sword but was caught off guard as Adam followed the thrown weapon with blinding speed. In a swift maneuver, Adam sliced off the vampire's sword hand at the wrist.
The vampire staggered back, and Adam's claws raked across his neck, though the wound was shallow. The vampire, using the power of his blood, conjured a shadow arm that coiled around Adam, trying to pull him back. Adam felt the pull but surged forward, his strength overpowering the shadow's grip. He slammed the vampire to the ground and began tearing him apart with relentless ferocity.
Once the vampire lay in pieces, Adam scanned the battlefield. The defenders were on the brink of defeat, overwhelmed by the shadow vampires' lethal efficiency.
More shadow vampires charged at him. Adam seized the two fallen swords and flung them at one of the vampires with all his might. The swords flew like bullets, but the vampire enveloped himself in a shadow armor, stopping the blades.
Adam tapped into his Gnosis, the spiritual energy of the Garou, summoning the elemental power of fire. Instantly, blue flames engulfed his hands and claws. The sight of fire created a primal fear for vampires, caused the three advancing vampires to hesitate and back away.
Before they could regroup, Adam lunged, slashing at the nearest vampire with his flaming claws. The fire shattered the shadow armor, and his strikes inflicted grievous wounds. Pinning the vampire to the ground, he continued to slash until the flames spread, consuming the vampire entirely. The creature screamed as the fire turned from blue to a normal color, burning until only ash remained.
Adam assessed the scene, the Sabbat vampires had secured victory. Only four vampires remained, all shadow vampires. Adam knew his strength surpassed that of regular vampires, but four old vampires could still pose a deadly threat. He had to make them believe otherwise.
Raising his flaming claws, he stood ready for the next assault, his eyes blazing with determination.
The vampires roared and charged at Adam. Reacting swiftly, Adam spun around and hurled the flames from his hands at two of the attackers. The fire engulfed them, not lethal but enough to incite a terror frenzy, forcing them to desperately extinguish the flames.
Turning back, Adam saw a sword swinging towards his face. He dodged, but the blade grazed his cheek, leaving a deep cut. Retreating slightly, he kept the two unburned vampires at bay. As he stepped back, he felt a sword beneath his foot, kicked it up, and caught it. With the weapon in hand, Adam parried the vampire's strikes and began to push them back.
To their horror, the vampires saw the wound on Adam's cheek heal instantly, leaving no trace. Adam felt the sturdy grip of the sword, a recently made weapon designed to resemble a medieval broadsword.
Pressing the attack, Adam moved with superior speed and strength. He engaged the vampires with calculated swordplay, making them believe he relied solely on the blade. Suddenly, he tapped into his primal rage, increasing his speed. He slashed one vampire across the stomach with his free hand's claws and the other across the leg with his foot claws.
The surprise attack staggered the vampires, giving Adam a critical opening. Moving with ferocious speed, he decapitated one of the vampires. The other regained his footing and lunged at Adam, who deftly slashed off the vampire's hand before beheading him.
Adam turned to the remaining two vampires. One had managed to extinguish the flames while the other still writhed on the ground. He advanced on the burning vampire, bringing his sword down in a swift strike. The first blow didn't finish the job, so Adam struck again, decapitating her.
The last vampire, seeing Adam unharmed, tried to retreat into a shadow to teleport away. This mistake gave Adam a perfect opportunity. With a rapid move, he closed the distance and slashed the vampire's head off.
Adam stood among the fallen foes, his flaming claws and sword dripping with the remnants of the battle. The room was eerily silent, save for the crackling of lingering flames and the fading echoes of the fight. His enemies vanquished, Adam's focus shifted to the next threat, ever vigilant, ever ready.
Adam moved towards his shoes, beginning the slow transformation back into his Homid form. The shift was gradual, his body morphing from the powerful Garou form into his human shape. Once the transformation was complete, he decided to keep the broadsword, its sturdy weight a reassuring presence. As he slipped on his shoes, the absurdity of a boy walking with a sword struck him, but he knew his Garou gift would ensure people ignored him.
He stepped outside, and the scene was even more grim than inside. The ground was littered with corpses, mostly vampires but some humans as well. The police were conspicuously absent, though the distant wail of sirens signaled their imminent arrival.
Adam moved cautiously, scanning for security cameras to avoid. Fortunately, he found none, the few that had been installed having been destroyed in the chaos. He also noted a disturbing number of birds and bats with a vampiric aura, likely shapeshifted vampires. Thanks to his Garou gift, they paid him no attention.
As he walked, the people around him ignored the boy with the slightly damaged shirt and the ash-covered broadsword. Despite this, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He glanced over his shoulder repeatedly, but saw no one.
The air was thick with tension as Adam navigated the aftermath of the battle. He kept his pace steady, his senses on high alert. The feeling of being watched persisted, a prickling on the back of his neck that he couldn't ignore. He continued walking, blending into the night, ever vigilant for the next threat that might come his way.
Adam reached his destination, an empty street corner. He took a few steading breath then stopped using the Garou gift. Coming out of the street he hailed a passing cab, the driver unaware of the events Adam had just been part of. Entering the cab, Adam directed the driver to his home. The city streets passed by, and as he arrived at his destination, Adam paid the fare and stepped out into the quiet night.
As Adam stepped into his home, he couldn't help but notice the subdued atmosphere. Most of the lights were dimmed or turned off, probably most of the family were sleep. With cautious steps, he made his way through the familiar corridors, his senses attuned to any signs of activity.
Upon entering the living room, he discovered his mother, Faith, immersed in the delicate art of enchantment. She sat amidst a collection of mystical components, crystals, candles, and ancient tomes arranged with meticulous precision. The air was tinged with the subtle fragrance of herbs and incense, creating an otherworldly ambiance. Faith looked up from her work, her gaze meeting Adam's with a warm, albeit tired, expression.
"Hey mum." Adam said.
"Adam, you're back. How was your night?" Faith greeted, with a tired voice.
Faith saw Adam's slightly damaged shirt and the sword he held. Her expression shifted to a frown.
"What did you do, Adam?" Faith asked.
"I checked out what you mentioned about the vampires," Adam replied. "Turns out a group called the Sabbat is coming to the city again. I remember you saying something about them being a vampire death cult or something."
"Yes, they are. Did they attack you?" Faith asked, her concern evident.
"No, they attacked a nightclub I was in," Adam explained.
"You were in a nightclub?" Faith asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is the world ending or something? I thought you hated places like that."
"I do. It was not nice," Adam said with a grimace. "The sounds, the smell, the people. I was really close to frenzying on those vampires, but thankfully, the Sabbat attacked. First, some frenzied young vampires attacked. They were easy, but then some vampires who could control shadows came. They were a lot harder to fight."
"The Lasombra," Faith said, her voice grave. "They are friends with the flesh crafters. The Lasombra clan is known for using shadow powers and abyss magic. You were lucky. Most ancient vampires are feeling a call toward the Middle East. Powerful Lasombra abyss mystics can be very dangerous."
"Two questions: first, should I be worried about the flesh crafters? And second, what's happening in the Middle East?" Adam asked.
"First, yes. The Sabbat has many flesh crafters," Faith said. "As for the Middle East, I really don't know. I heard vampires are feeling a supernatural pull there. They think a war is coming. There's also a rumor that one of the eldest has awakened, whatever that means."
"Okay, let's avoid the Middle East," Adam said, and Faith nodded in agreement.
"Anything else happening?" Faith asked.
"Yes, actually," Adam said, then he explained the events that happened during his scouting. He handed Faith his notes that he took while looking around the city.
"You really should work on your handwriting," Faith said as she looked at the notes. "All right, these are good, but keep at it. I will have some of my people take out the Fomori, but first, I have to bring in my own product."
"By the way, I can scout in my dream too, you know," Adam said.
"Yes, I know," Faith said with a sigh. "I know you are a Theurge, spirit and magic should be your nature, but dreaming isn't. There are many parts of the dream world, and it would be dangerous to check even the part you are connected to."
"Don't worry, the protection spells in the house will protect me," Adam said. "Besides, what's the worst that can happen? I'll be seen by something, and I'll decide to wake up."
"Just be careful, okay," Faith said.
"I will, Mom. Goodnight," Adam said, heading to his room.
Adam took a quick shower and went back to his room. He set his alarm clock at five in the mourning. Placing his items on the desk in his room, Adam went to his bed. He put his amulet and fang daggers back where they were then placed his new sword under his bed. Adam then went to the bed completely naked.
As he laid down on his bed, he started to focus his mind on the city and the spirit world around it. As Adam drifts into sleep, the darkness of his mind was replaced by the surreal landscape of the dream realm. Los Angeles bathed in ominous colors appeared before Adam. The city seemed to have been painted by blood and sometimes inky black ooze.
Above the city, Adam saw multiple entities covered by shadow and darkness. Out of those entities, Adam could only see one, a three headed dragon that seemed to hover above the city. Each head of the dragon had a unique expression, one of malevolence, one of cunning, and one of insatiable hunger. Adam didn't know how but in this dream he was able to sense those expressions in the dragon's face. Hundreds of strings extend from each entity and waved through the city.
Adam used some of the Gnosis stored in his body to get control in this dream world. As he channels his mystical energy, a subtle shift occurred, granting him a modicum of control in this dreamworld.
Adam was a theurge, a shaman of his kind. Through years of practicing spirit magic and other form of magic, he had learned that it is possible to shape the dreamworld. The dreamworld was still extremely hard to navigate and shape, it could also be dangerous.
Adam moved through the dreamland like he was floating in water. He moved toward one of the strings that was closest to the area his house was located. Adam, in the dream realm, focuses his mental power on the luminous string that hovers near his residence. As he reached to the string, visions descends upon him.
Enticer Fomori, a grotesque amalgamation of corruption and twisted humanity. The visions showcase the Fomori's ability to shapeshift into alluring forms, assuming the guise of beautiful individuals to conduct its malevolent business. The Fomori used these shapes to sell some form of drug that felt wrong, apparently a sexy dealer can boost costumers.
Adam followed the string up closer to the dragon. This string with a hundreds of others like it around it connected to a bigger string, one of the hundreds. As Adam tried to connect with the larger string, he encounters a formidable mental barrier that resists intrusion. Undeterred, Adam draws upon his Gnosis, delving deeper into the dream realm. With heightened focus and more power, he breaches the resistance, gaining access to a mysterious realm beneath the city.
This subterranean place was illuminated by sickly green light emanating from balefires. The air hangs heavy with a corrupt energy, and the surroundings are adorned with carvings etched in an ancient Garou language. The markings speak of a forgotten era, revealing cryptic messages that only a theurge like Adam can interpret.
As Adam read the carvings on the walls he realized this place to be a hive. Hives are corrupt spiritual places that Black Spiral Dancers gather and conduct their ritual.
Adam, entranced by the spiritual currents within the hive, finds himself drawn into a haunting vision. The ethereal landscape shifts, revealing a ritualistic scene conducted by a malevolent Black Spiral Dancer Theurge. Positioned at the heart of the hive, the Theurge calls forth a spirit of addiction, beckoning it from the spirit world into the tangible realm.
As the spirit materializes within the corrupted sanctum, the Theurge and his acolytes, inferior in spiritual prowess, commence a dark alchemy. The Theurge skillfully binds the addictive spirit to the very essence of the hive, intertwining their destinies in a sinister pact. With each member contributing their spiritual energy, a ritualistic extraction begins, siphoning essence from the captive spirit.
The twisted ceremony unfolds with an insidious purpose, the creation of a potent drugs. The extracted essence, now transformed by the corruptive influence of the hive, transmutes into a highly addictive drug. The malevolent concoction bears the essence of the spirit of addiction, a substance capable of ensnaring mortal souls and binding them to the insidious forces that govern the hive.
In the seamless transition between the dream realms, Adam emerges in a darkened landscape, a realm shrouded in shadow and foreboding. The only discernible presence is that of a colossal figure, a Black Spiral Dancer Theurge whose form is now illuminated by the eerie glow of its emerald eyes. Towering in the imposing Crinos form, the Theurge's fur is an inky black, blending seamlessly with the darkness that envelops this otherworldly expanse.
The giant black spiral dancer's piercing green gaze upon fixated on Adam. Adam started to pull back from the spiral dancer but the spiral dancer seemed to be stronger and kept Adam and seem to try to reach into his mind.
The protective runes woven into the fabric of Adam's room respond to the disturbance in the dream realm, springing into action with a surge of mystical energy. As the Black Spiral Dancer endeavors to maintain its grip on Adam's consciousness, the runes manifest a barrier that acts as a metaphysical shield. The runes glow with an ethereal light, creating a protective boundary that repels the encroaching corruption of the giant Black Spiral Dancer.
With a forceful push, the protective runes sever the connection between Adam and the malevolent entity, thwarting its attempts to infiltrate his psyche. The energy pulses within the room, creating a sanctuary that shields Adam from the pervasive darkness of the dream realm. As the protective enchantments take effect, Adam is abruptly jolted back to awareness in the safety of his physical body, the remnants of the otherworldly struggle lingering in the air.
The sudden awakening in his bed finds Adam grappling with the lingering effects of the dream encounter. Sensing the telltale signs of his body's inclination to shift into the his birth form, Adam swiftly takes action to maintain control over the transformation. With a determined focus of will, he manages to quell the instinctual pull toward his birth form.
Adam, having successfully quelled the impending shift, looks up to find the concerned gaze of Faith, a mix of worry and relief etched on her features. Lucy and Jessy, were also standing in the doorway with a shared wide-eyed expressions of horror.
Faith, after ensuring Adam's well-being, turns her attention to Jessy and Lucy. With a somber yet determined expression, she beckons them closer, signaling that it's time to address the mysteries that have lingered within the walls of their home.
"I think it is time to finally talk about some things."