While in college I tried out the Mind’s Eye Theater Live Action Roleplaying Game (LARP) for Vampire the Masquerade. I was impressed with the system and ease of character generation; I wanted the ability of True Faith. I was told by a Story Tell (ST) that I had to write a story describing how my character received true faith. I would like to share the story to all who would like to read it 🙂

My name is Justin Lockheart and I have to tell my story. I was born and raised in Chicago Illinois. I was always a military buff since I was in high school I wanted to join the military. I was however rejected from the services because I could not pass the physical. I was determining to have some dealing with the military or some type of law enforcement. I didn’t want to be a cop because I think they are corrupt, and forget being a lawyer they are shady in my opinion.

After receiving my Bachelors and Masters in Speech Communication I decided to become a Private Investigator (PI). So I took two extra years out of my life and studied investigation procedures. I had to be good, since I was so weak physically. With my degree I hoped to talk my way out of any physical confrontation, for the most part it worked. I was able to talk my way out of most fights and those I couldn’t I used the equalizer (my gun).

I had to admit business was good, I was good at what I did and I had clients lined up to hire me. I spent my money wisely and made sure I had enough saved up for a rainy day. Everything was going good for me I could not complain, and then she walked into my life. She was the finest woman I ever saw, and she was very intelligent. Not only had she mesmerized me with her beauty but also she held me with her intellect. Her name was Valeria Wunderley, and she was a trial lawyer. Valeria was also the best at what she did and she needed my help for a case. I decided to waive my fee for dinner with her. Yes I know I was blinded by love but who cares I had plenty of money.

The courtship lasted for three years I proposed to her and she accepted; now everything was complete. Neither of us wanted anything we were completely content with our lives. This was a state of bliss that I have never felt before I had everything. Yet for some reason I was still missing something, but I hadn’t figured out what it was.

I slowed down on my caseload to spend more time with Valeria and she took fewer cases. There was one case that I found to be intriguing it was a stalking case. The woman was being stalked by a pale weirdo she called him. She hired me to tail the guy and see what he was up to. Thinking back on this I should have turn the case down and referred her to the police. Sometimes I can be so very naive, that’s what I get for being so impatient.

So I followed this guy around and I begin to notice little odd things. For example he never came out in the daytime. I never saw him eat, and he appeared to be stronger than he looked. I tailed this guy for over 3 months; I knew his hangout and the type of people he ran with. I saw him tailing my client and then it began the event that would change my life forever.

He attacked my client when she was alone I was about a half a block away and I could see him leaning over her. I yelled at him to stop, this is when it got freaky he was biting her and drawing blood. I pulled out the equalizer and told him to stop right there or I would shoot. He perched his head up and stared at me with cold eyes, and he then began to laugh. That made me mad, so I took a few breaths and went for the ear. I blew his ear clean off, and said a silent prayer thanking God that I didn’t shoot the woman. Well that made him mad with lightning speed he attacked me. I could tell I was in for a fight so I pumped four rounds into this guy. To my amazement he wasn’t even phased by the bullets, I figured this guy was on PCP or some other drug like that.

Thank goodness he was a lumbering baboon incapable of beating up someone as graceful as I was. I position myself between a car and kept the car between us. This guy flipped the car; I had seen it all! This was way too scary for me; I was stunned at that sight. He was coming to deliver the final deathblow when heard sirens coming from behind. I turn to look at the sirens and when I looked back at the guy he was gone. This was some spooky stuff, and the police were not my salvation either.

The police hauled me down to the station and kept me for three hours as I explained what happen. No one would believe me, I was telling the truth this guy was a psycho who was pumped up on some drugs. Just my luck the police requests I go under psychological evaluation and to take a breath analyzer test. It just wasn’t my night I was tired and ready to go home when the police told me that my story checked out and that my client backed up my story.

When I returned home I was exhausted, it was about seven in the morning, and all I could think of was sleep. I forgot Valeria was coming over and I was so tired I really was unable to be a good host. In my sleep and slumber I told her to spend the night with me, that way when I awake so that I could make it up to her. I don’t remember her answer since I drifted off to sleep.

I awoke and went to take a shower, I didn’t see Valeria so I assumed that she went home. I took my twenty-minute shower and got dressed in hopes of salvaging the evening with Valeria. That’s when I had a big surprise Valeria was in the kitchen crying. I looked at her and froze, I then glance to the left and right. She picked up on my gesture and glanced to her right. I looked to the right and was brushed to the side. I was once again in a fight for my life, that low down dirty excuse for a man invaded my home and attacked me. Enough was enough I slammed a lamp shade on his head. He brushed it off and hissed at me, Jesus Christ this guy had fangs! Ok I heard of people into that vampire stuff but this was taking it to far. I used a chair to separate him from me I watched him crumple that to shreds. I love Valeria, all the while I am fighting for my life she is going to get my gun, which made me proud. There was just one problem I never got around to teaching her how to shoot. She told the guy to freeze or she would shoot, he turns his attention toward her and that’s when I knocked him upside the head with a lamp. Of course he shrugged it off and smacked Valeria, that was the final straw. Something went wrong with me I went into a beserker rage and start pounding the crap out of this guy. To make matters worse he seemed amuse by it, it was if he was toying with me. So I grabbed part of the chair he had destroyed and said, If you want to play vampire how about if I stake you like one. Now I had no intention of staking this guy in the heart but my comment seem to spook him for a couple of seconds and that was all the time I needed. I jabbed the wooden chair leg into his shoulder and kicked him out the window. I then went out the window and took the garbage can and began to pound him to death. Driving the wooden chair leg deeper into his shoulder. This guy was pissed and in much pained, he screamed out some things he wanted to do to me. One thing he said he wanted to do was to bleed me dry. Once again I could hear the police sirens, I bet Valeria called the police.

Ok here is when it gets freaky, the guy pulled the wooden leg out of his shoulder. His wounds began to heal right before my eyes, oh boy this was not right. He was hissing and spitting and swore he would kill me, neither my fiancie nor I were safe from his wrath. It happen again he disappeared right before my eyes, Valeria must have saw it too cause she looked spooked. It took two and a half-hours to straighten this whole mess up with the police. I learned from my previous mistakes that I could not say I just went toe to toe with a creature of the night. I said something to the extent that there was an intruder and I ran him off, that he was probably a disgruntle person who I probably pissed off while I was on a job. They seemed to buy it and they let us go, Valeria confirmed my story and left out that it was some weird creature.

When we left the police station I looked over to Valeria and told her we were leaving town. We would swing by her place and gather a few things and blow this town. I told my secretary to hire outside private investigators to take my caseloads while I am away. I also told her that if anyone came looking for me that I was taking the woman of my dreams to Jamaica for a year. This was of course a lie used to throw anyone off my trail. I was content that I could still have my business going in my absent. Valeria had a little tougher time convincing people at her firm that she need the time off. Eventually they gave in and allowed her to take the time off.

So we were on our way we put a lot of distance between Chicago and us. I always looking over my shoulder terrified that I would be in the fight for my life. We traveled to New York, I figured it was a big enough city to relocate to and sort out this mess that I gotten us into. Once there we rented a modest apartment and I began to research the occult. I started to search every movie made, books written about vampires, fairy tales. You name it I was reading it or watching it, this was my obsession. I breathed, ate, slept vampires, this was not a good time in my life.

I think I was beginning to lose my mind on this quest for knowledge. Four months into my research I began to have nightmares. They were not pretty I was having visions of my untimely demise at the hands of the undead. Many nights I woke up in cold sweats screaming get off of me. I think Valeria was feeling the strains of it as well, either that or she was just plain tired of me.

It hit me, I had been researching movies and books, maybe it was time to talk to men of the cloth. For two months I visited various churches asking about demons and undead creatures. For the most parts Pastors and Priests talked about mythical creatures as metaphors, stories used to scare little children. I even poked my nose on tarot card readers and voodoo people, now that was scary.

I was learning a lot about the occult and the more knowledge I learn the more discourage I became. I had another dream or nightmare, I saw the vile creature swarming over me. I was ready for them I could see a glow surrounding me, comforting me, giving me the strength to go on. I saw myself holding my own with the undead hordes, but I was moving in slow motion. I saw them lunge toward Valeria, I was unable to do anything to help her. I saw her body lay lifeless one the floor, I screamed out in pain which seem to cause them pain. I felt the power flow out of me and into her. I was then covered in darkness, the power that once protected me seem to have abandon me. I was becoming something dark, something unsettling, I think I was becoming a monster.

I continued to search for answers but things were getting grim, there was no answer in sight. I kept having the same dream over and over again, and frankly it was taking my energy away. I was down on my luck and I felt I was losing my mind. I stumbled into to so much trouble in the weeks to come, I was just being plain careless. I gave up; I was tired and scared, for the first time I welcomed death. Because if the monster didn’t kill me all this worrying surely will.

I awakened in the middle of the night to hear knocking at my door. Quickly getting dressed I rushed to see who it was, I also grabbed my gun along the way. I wasn’t going to take any chances, I looked through the peephole and I didn’t see anything. This was getting a little spooky, I hope he wasn’t toying with me. I open the door and saw a letter propped up against the wall. It was addressed to me, I grabbed it and scan the surrounding area. Closing and locking the door, my thoughts raced with a floury of ideas as to the contents of the letter. It gave me instruction to meet a priest name Jebadiah, the location it gave was only an hour drive from the apartment. I woke Valeria and told her to get dressed we were going to take a little trip tonight. Of course we argued for about five minutes because she wanted to stay, but I would only feel good if I could keep an eye on her.

While driving to meet the mystery priest, I begin to discuss what our next move would be. I wanted her to know that whatever happened that I would always love her and do everything to make sure that she is safe and protected. She called me her Knight in Shining Armor, heck I would have given my right arm for some armor, sword, shield, stakes, and you get the picture. I was getting that uneasy feeling since I was about to get into something and I am not sure what it is.

The church looked to be very old, at least a hundred years old; it had stain-glassed windows and an overall gothic decor. Seemed to be busy, a lot of cars were in the driveway. Hmmm, I guess they were having church at 3 am, must have been a special occasion. Upon entering the church I felt different, it was as if I had been changed, I was altered someway. The priests in the church were meditating and praying, Valeria and I sat in the back so we would not disturb them. This went own for about two hours, I then lost track of time. The church was so peaceful and tranquil that it didn’t take anything special for me to fall asleep.

I heard a priest calling my name and I woke up. He introduced himself as Jebadiah and told me that he and the other priest will aid me. Still half asleep I asked how would they aid me? Jebadiah said that I was being pursued by a demon and that I had to face that demon before I could take the task at hand. Ok I was confused then, what task did I have? Jebadiah then told me that we had no time for discussion, I had to prepare to face the demon. He had a key hanging from his neck, which he used to open a safe hidden in the wall. In the safe he pulled out an old book, the text was foreign to me. If I had to guess the origin I would say Hebrew, but I can’t be sure of that.

I was told to sit and pray to concentrate on God and clear my mind of everything. It was amazing I felt at peace with myself, I had no worries and I knew somehow, someway things would work out. Then my thoughts became violent, I was losing control, and it was as if I had a beast within me. I struggled to contain it, to control it, to even channel it, but all attempts were futile. The harder I struggled the more I felt the beast within was winning. I tried to focus on God and that seemed to help, but ever so slowly a bit of me was dying. I screamed for help, but it seems everyone around me was trying to control their own beast. I saw a light, a star, something was there and I knew that if I could touch it, reach it, or hold it, it would allow me to control the beast within.

I felt a blow to the back of the head that sent me to the ground. I had been meditating for so long I thought it was reality. I turn around to find him the monster, the vampire that has brought terror into my life. He swings at me, heck I knew it was only a matter of time before he hit me, that blow broke some of my ribs. I scan the area and to my dismay all of the priest have been murder. That was it he went to far, this thing killed men of God. Vengeance was mine! I began to meditate which help me to focus. I could feel the power of God flowing through my body. I shouted God is real, because if you exist there has to be a God. He looked puzzled at my outburst and began to lunge at me. I love being graceful, I merely sidestepped him and tapped him lightly. He screamed out in pain, which was odd because I didn’t really put much force into that blow.

He ran toward Valeria and kicked her, he then laugh and said she must be dead. I shouted at the top of my lungs NO! I then concentrated and focus on him and uttered the words touch me not. I didn’t care whether he listens to me or not I went to Valeria. I placed her into my arms and began to pray. I felt that energy flow out of me and into her. She awoken and asked me why was I crying? I told her I thought I lost her and I was very shaken up about that knowledge. She pointed at our friend (well not really) who was coming right at us. I am a survivor but I did not want Valeria to die. I begged him to let her go and do whatever he wants to me.

He said that there was a Masquerade and that she would be killed, and that I was to be a part of his clan. He wasn’t sure what I had done but he wanted me. I begged again asking to spare her life and I would willing join his clan. No was the answered returned. The door flung open and a lone figured appeared. She looked at me and then at the other guy. She spoke, and said that I was hers and she had her eyes on me for a while.

Ok I am not some piece of meat to be played over and fought over. I was going to have say in this. Well there was one problem, the ordeal with Valeria left me weak and helpless. I whispered into Valeria’s ear to run away and don’t look back. I told her that I love her and for her to forget everything she saw, because there could be thousands of these creatures roaming all over the world.

Turning my attention to the task at hand the two began to fight. The female grew long fingernails that seem to hurt the other one. I was crawling to reach for my gun. I was determined to blow that first one away for all the grief he caused me. Slowing concentrating, I gently pulled the trigger and right between the eyes, I sent him a wake up call. That guy wigged out all of a sudden and began tossing stuff left and right. The female turned to me and said you idiot you sent him into frenzy. Ok, and frenzy is what? Taking a church leg, she dodged many blows and after many failed attempts managed to stake him.

I was tied up by her, and she left but returned an hour later. She said that Brujah would probably never bother me again. I asked her for her name, and she said it was unimportant. She said that I would make a good addition to the Gangrel clan, that I had been touched by faith. What of my Fiancie I asked? She smiled and said no one has to know, long as she keeps her mouth shut she will be fine. Well I guess this was it, I told her to do her thing to bite me! It was a poor attempt at humor but I was scared. I guess she sensed that and tried to be gentle. Nothing like feeling teeth in your neck, and your blood flowing from your body.

I begin to concentrate to focus and I am almost positive I heard a voice say you must make peace with the beast within. So now I am a vampire, now what? She smiled and said you are on your own, I will look over you from time to time. The mystery women explained the masquerade to me and then vanished. I gave the priests a proper burial and swore never to feed off men of the cloth. I also swore to defend humanity, that I would never sit idle by and watch the senseless killing of humans. It was hard to say humans, because I felt that I was losing my humanity and becoming a monster.

I decided to go to a somewhat small town out of the way. I chose to return to Illinois, a town called Champaign would suit my needs. I contacted Valeria and told her to never to discuss what she saw with anyone. We got together and I was so afraid that I would have a craving to suck her blood. I explain the masquerade to her and told her that her life depended on being silent. As we went our separate ways I told her that I would return to her after I have made peace with the demons within me.

I hope and pray that in Champaign I will find answers and perhaps even redemption. I know that God exist; my faith is strong now, I only hope that the experience I have aids me in attaining my goal. Through my research I have learned that there is a term called Golconda. Which means controlling the beast within, this is my quest. I Justin Lockheart will strive and reach Golconda and my faith in God will be my tool!