It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.
-Frederick Douglass

I come from a military family. Both parents are in the Army, both in for life. That’s the life they want so it’s good that they’re happy that way. It wasn’t too bad, they always managed to get stationed together, and although we still had to move around quite a bit at least I got to see both of them more or less regularly. I guess now, due to Heinrich’s power, they have to work for him and be loyal, like it or not. I bet that they’re not at all happy about that. Maybe I can find a way to get them out of it. I’ll have to think on that.

Actually, I misspoke myself a little. I got to see my parents more or less regularly until school age. That was then I got sent to a military school. They’re both firm believers in that making someone a better person and they wanted me to be strong and disciplined. It wasn’t too bad, although as I got older I noticed that it lacked excitement. Drills, all that stuff, it just got boring after awhile. I always did well in my classes, but I wanted more. I didn’t want to tell my parents that, but finally when I turned 13 I got up the nerve at Winter Break to do so. It was actually easier than I thought. They agreed and then they decided that I should stay with my aunt in New Orleans since otherwise I’d be surrounded by more of the military stuff and that I should try living a normal life to see how I liked it. My aunt was glad to take me in, she’d lost her husband the year before and her kids were grown up so she was alone. She’s cool, totally unlike my mother, which is just weird. Completely the opposite. Not that my mom’s not cool, that’s not what I mean. But my aunt is so much looser when it comes to rules and the like. It took some getting used to, but when I did it was really nice. I still tend to be rather disciplined, but now I don’t mind breaking a rule or two here and there.

It was only about 6 months after I started living with my aunt that I had my first encounter with Las Arañas. I found them really interesting, I’d never had friends that I could be so free and relaxed with and it was fun to watch them together. I guess I got a yearning for that kind of friendship, so eventually I approached them. I was surprised at how easily they accepted me and it wasn’t long before I’d joined. It was weird getting used to being part of such a group, but I adapted pretty well. I suppose it might’ve been a touch of insanity that prompted me to become a Greater Vampire. Whatever it takes to help, right? Regardless, I did it and I guess I haven’t really had any real regrets. Especially since Superstition is one, too. That’s my girlfriend and she’s something else. We got tight really fast, she’s a bit wilder than I am but we mesh really well. I wouldn’t have her any other way. I guess I like it better now that Las Arañas and Las Panteras are friendly, it didn’t make much sense to me the other way. We need all the cooperation we can get, because we’re fighting a massively powerful foe and it’s going to take everything we’ve got. In the end, I’m sure we can do it, because we’re in the right and even though we might run into some hopeless looking pitfalls, just think about how few people believed that America could break away from the English. With freedom fighters they did it, and we’re going to as well. When you’re fighting for what you believe in, you can’t possibly go wrong.

Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.
-Frederick Douglass

You don't have a peaceful revolution. You don't have a turn-the-other-cheek revolution. There's no such thing as a nonviolent revolution. Revolution is bloody. Revolution is hostile. Revolution knows no compromise. Revolution overturns and destroys everything that gets in its way.
-Malcolm X