Interview

Interview With a Mage

Well there I was standing in the cold, wind cutting through you like the proverbial and the incessant rain didn't help make mood any better. New Years Eve 1979, the death of disco I hoped. What people saw in that music I don't know? Now this new 'punk' scene was more up my street, matched my mood and my dress. Some of it was still crap, but Blondie and some of the English imports were good. Well as I said, there I was freezing my bollocks off for the good of my employer. It was worse for some of the others, at least as head of security for the place I'd be able to spend most of my time in doors tonight, and who knows I might get lucky.

James O'Dowd's the name, work at a place called Sigel. Place is a bit dark, not your run of the mill discothèque, thank God. It keeps me off the streets though and my head low, too many people wanting to know where I am and the place is a bit out of the way in Gary (suburb of Chicago really). My life's been a bit on the strange side since about 4 years ago, that's when I was invited to join a secret martial arts club in Chicago. Little did I know that the friends I made there would all be dead now and me hunted. You see there is magic out there, not you magicians namby pamby sleight of hand stuff, but real move mountains and kill people stuff. These are the guys I got involved with, helping them stave off the 'technocrats', something like bureaucrats but much worse. Well we lost and now I'm trying to keep my head down and survive until I can find a way to kill the bastards who iced my mates.

That's how I came to be head of security at Sigil, I was a bouncer and my 'special skills' were spotted by the owner. I've been running the place for quite a few months now and even though I've seen some shit in my time, what I've seen here takes the biscuit. Well for one thing my boss and owner of the club is a young kid called Harriet, looks just about legal. Well you'd be wrong, this kids got more years under her belt than I have. You see I'm not the only strange thing roaming the streets of Gary, the kid's a Vampire. A real live, blood sucking spawn of the devil. Now I knew them as some European thing, Dracula and all that, but with my mates I learned more. This still doesn't prepare you for the first time you meet one, these guys can be real scary and I mean shit dribbling, send for the colostomy bags time.

They do have a public face, seen only at night of course, which can be kind and generous, and some of them are downright drop dead gorgeous (excuse the pun). All the stuff you've read about them is quite true, Mr Stoker got quite close, hell maybe he was one. There fast, strong, resilient and can do all kinds of weird shit. But they have their faults as any human based life form has, they're also scared of crosses, mirrors, holy water, crossing water and matches (well fire really). So be prepared if you meet one. Well the kid, Harriet, owns the place (don't ask me how) and has a number of friends like her who come here often, this night was special; some guy called Prince was coming.

A night much like any other, but an invitation only (mostly), so had to keep any eye on the johns as they arrived. Private party was upstairs, as it usually was and someplace I don't normally visit. Tonight was different with some big guy coming, really had Harriet doing her nut. Anyway the crowds getting large downstairs and I'm doing my rounds and end up back on the door, by this point a number of Harriet's friends have arrived and are 'dining'. Some poor sap's been tied to a cross upstairs and well, you know, he seems to be ok (poor fuck). The Clown arrives, don't know his name but he's another of them. Clown, cause of the white face paint and black verticals over his eyes, some say he was the 5th original for KISS but took it hard when he had to leave (staying dead would have been easier on the general population). He's ok, doesn't cause any trouble, which is how I like it. Seems this guy Prince arrives and everyone's fawning over him, well if he likes it that way (has a good taste in chicks). A sucker called Danov mentions he was followed here, but can't say by whom and every time he looked they disappeared, yeah right. I say I'll look out for some guys I have no description for who look a bit wary (look in the mirror guys).

Everything's going fine and dandy till the lights, music, everything goes out. It's not going to be one of those is it? Off to the generator room, meet Harriet there (seems this Prince guy's not very happy). On first sight you wouldn't think you were in the same building, the place looks derelict. A second look and I realise my old 'friends' the technocracy have been around, hope it's just a general attack against the suckers (they really don't like each other, and no don't ask the obvious) and not been aimed at the club because I'm here. If so, I'm out of a job and on the run again. The bastards have not only fucked the external feed, but have buggered the back-up as well, nice one lads. Back outside and start people moving, hoped not to have to do this tonight but there you go, look likes a short night.

Just then, some guy walks over to me saying he can smell smoke coming from the fire exit (just what I need). Haven't seen him before, but checking it out he's on the level. I see him talking with some other guy and then head towards Harriet's group, looks like someone new's in town. With the rest of security I try and deal with the flames, but it's a no go so it's 911 and some explanation to the PTB. Time to move the private party on, don't want the PD seeing that shit upstairs. Everyone is moved out and things are moved to the basement. Fire and police arrive deal with the situation, not sure of what happened as all the cameras went out. It's going to be a long day tomorrow, and it's going to be a bitch to get anyone to come out and fix this. As long as it's fixed Harriet won’t mind the cost too much.

Get introduced to a guy called Adrian, Harriet's employed him to work for me as an investigator. He's another sucker, but can do some weird shit to track people. Well if we do, it's payback. Adrian seems ok for a sucker and we get on well, who knows what's he's like underneath though and so have to just be on guard.

Seemingly the party's moved on to Clown's place and Harriet wants me there for protection. I close up and we ride a cab over. Getting out of the cab I notice four guys sitting in a Lincoln across the road, maybe this guy Danov had something after all. We get let in and I let Adrian know of the situation. Just then Clown exits with three chicks, same three I let into the club without invites (well who wouldn't man), and takes them to his car. I had said to Adrian I was going to take a closer look at the four in the Lincoln, so I duck out behind the three chicks and Clown and head into some bushes. Why am I doing this runs through my mind, it's cold and wet, but hey Harriet's a friend (even if somewhat dead). Clown gets near his car when the four guys exit and go to the boot, Lincoln's don't have great boots and it jams (told you I could do things). I shout a warning and approach the car.

Subtlety is sometimes not a suckers prime quality, so the next thing we get is rage and guns blazing. Clown moves real quick and get close to one guy, just as he is changing into some weird bone creature. Harriet puts a bullet into one and I break another's neck. Then there's a crash of glass and bang from the house, sounds like someone's firing a cannon. Finally with the help of some of feral sucker, we get the four down. Two are dead and the others in the house. PD arrives and some explaining is done, sometimes I don't know how they get away with it, but they seem to. This bone creature is another sucker so they drive stake through his heart(?), seemingly this doesn't kill him (something to remember) but puts him to sleep (torpor?). I try to interrogate the human but he's too blitzed so I head home for the night, got a long day tomorrow.

1980, feels just as shitty as 1979. I've arranged at exorbitant cost for someone to fix the power and supply a new generator. Then everyone from last night turns up at the club, well if that's the way Harriet wants it, including some sucker I don't know. They put the sucker in the chair to question in and leave the other lying on the floor. They're wanting to ask this guy questions, which I don't think is going to be too successful. Clown takes exception to this and asks what do I know and anyway why am I here. Non too pleased, but not wanting to make a scene I politely inform him that I am head of security for these premises (I don't add that he's only a punter and shouldn't be here, but I do have a self preservation streak). He turns to Harriet who confirms this, so I'm allowed (!) to stay.

It seems there's this guy called Mobius who runs Gary, he's the Prince guy they were all talking about last night. He wants to know what's going on, hell so do I. I don't think the two are connected, but he's pretty convinced and he's also convinced a Lodin is behind it (where do they get the names, well I suppose Frank and Johnny wouldn't be quite as dark). Seems this Lodin has it in for Mobius and he wants proof. Before we get started I get a feeling that someone else is there, I had it last night in the club as well, I ask him to show himself. Adrian and this other sucker look round and see some guy watching us, right in our midst. He appears and boy is he some ugly motherfucker, he's spent too long under ground. He doesn't take to kindly to my comment. He further explains Mobius' request and remains during the questioning. This sucker we have staked is from some 'nasty' group, the same shocked look appeared on my face, there are various 'families' who do not all get on.

The questioning seems to be going or way, when all the lights go out (again). Seems there's some other sucker around as I see a shape moving in the dark. Clown, Harriet and the feral can't see shit so they stand around gawping. Adrian, myself and this other sucker take the guy down and lights go back on. I'm ok but this other sucker seems a bit bruised, but he recovers soon enough, drinking some of Harriet's supply. I ask why they don't do the other 'nasty' suckers, I get the answer of we don't eat our own, its cannibalistic (it's blood ain’t it, what's the difference?). Eventually the sucker coughs to being behind it and that Lodin was involved, the rest are well pleased and have hit paydirt. Clown phone's Mobius, and from what I hear is non too pleased with the conversation. Lodin seems a bit hard and we've (they've) been asked to take him down or at least bring him down a peg or to. None of them seem particularly pleased at this. Some negotiation is done and they agree to do what they can, this Mobius seems to have a great hold on them.

I'm not too sure where I fit in, in their plan and say so. Clown takes an exception to this (unhinged or what) and wants Harriet to take responsibility for my actions. Not having any of this, I point out that I am responsible for my own actions. He's not happy until Harriet agrees (seems that with the feral I make two). I explain to the guy that no matter what Harriet says, she is not responsible. He doesn't care and seems happy, says if something goes wrong he knows where to go (if he takes it out on her I'll make sure he stays dead).

Turns out Clown is called Eric, now that's poetic justice.