Dramatis -- Selene Caine

[brujah_barkeep]

Name: Selene "Nott" Caine

Age: 263

Race: Vampire -- Malkavian

Selene York – who would later become Nott – was born in the year 1747 in Notting Hill, England, the first daughter of Adam York, a professor of ancient religions, and his wife Lilith York, a Parliament member's daughter. The family was surprisingly well off, Adam being from new money. Selene had a privileged childhood, she and her younger sister, Diana, being given the best of everything. At the age of twelve, Selene became an older sister again when the third York daughter, Artemis, was born.

Selene was never close to her sisters during her mortal life. She remained aloof, understanding her role better than dreamy Diana and funny Artemis. Her role was to marry and have children with little fuss. Responsibility was rather important to Selene, even if she felt burdened by the pressure of her life. Though she attempted to have a close relationship towards her father, she begrudged the fact that she was never given the same love that her sisters enjoyed. Neither of her parents was close to Selene, preferring to see that she settled into the role she soon would play. There was little reason to pamper her now that younger children were in the house. Despite her annoyance, she always wore the necklace her father had given her as a gift on her sixteenth birthday

In 1762, Selene married Lt. Nathanial Blair, a soldier in the King's army. It was a match encouraged by Lilith, despite it having little advantages socially or financially.

Shortly after Selene's marriage, her first child, Eve, was born in 1763. Nathanial did not stay long after, as he was on leave from the French and Indian War raging in America. Shortly after returning to the front, Nathanial was killed in battle.

Selene struggled to survive on the modest sum that her husband had left her, while attempting to gain a few friends in society by attending local salons. While she was not much of an academic or a philosopher, Selene gained a small amount of attention from the academic set, due more to her father's reputation rather than her own merits.

Selene was introduced to Anthony Ashley Cooper, the 4th Earl of Shaftesbury, through mutual friends. And in 1769, they were married. Three children resulted from this union. Twins, Rebecca and Esther, born in 1770, and Simon, born the next year.

Unfortunately, that happiness was brought to a quick end. In the summer of 1776, while praying at his favorite church, Adam was attacked and vanished. When no trace of him could be found, he was presumed dead.

In the autumn of 1776, Selene slowly became aware of someone following her at night. "Presents" in the form of dead rabbits and other small animals appeared in her home. She kept the secret to herself until Diana confided in her at Eve's wedding. She had also been receiving gifts, only hers were broken mirrors and music sheets. Selene convinced her sister to do nothing and say nothing, thinking that the matter would simply go away.

The strange gifts continued to appear into 1777. Selene watched Eve settle into her new marriage, proud of her daughter's strong beauty, though apprehensive of the inherited dreaminess. One evening, Eve came to visit her mother while her husband was out of the country on business, planning on staying for the week.

Selene stepped out into her garden after the household had gone to sleep. A figure stepped out of the shadows and attacked her. Selene struggled, but was easily overpowered. The last thing she seemed to hear before her life slipped away was the voice of her father, whispering, "Through the night, my children, you will go on."

When Selene awoke, she found herself in Northumberland, side by side with her sister Diana, in the midst of some sort of church ritual, but changed somehow. She felt no longer human, her heart no longer beating and her body dead and cold. She realized then that she was changed, undead. Leading the ceremony was an ancient Malkavian woman she had never seen before and, of all people, her father, Adam. She learned that the old woman was referred to by most of the cultists as "Father". She was the leader of a new movement of Kindred called the Children of Eden. Her goal was to recreate paradise on earth by creating a world where Kindred and Kine lived together in unity and where all traces of evil were erased. Adam was her chosen first, the new Adam of the Garden of Eden. Selene was baptized, becoming Caine, while Diana was named Abel. Adam explained that in time, Artemis would become Seth.

Father, who insisted that Selene and Diana call her "Grandmother" since she was Adam's sire and Adam was their sire, began to prepare Selene for her role in the scheme. One night, Grandmother goaded Selene and Diana into a fight. Anger and frustrations that had resided in Selene since her mortal life surfaced in her memories. She unleashed that anger in the fight, nearly leading her to win, but the girls gradually became aware of the fact that the fight was being watched by Grandmother's entire congregation and had become a ritual. Grandmother stopped their fight before Diana could be killed and declared that now; Caine and Abel had been reunited.

The trauma of becoming a vampire triggered a derangement in Selene, causing her to react to the stress and fear with irrationality. Unable to logically come to terms with her new state, Selene turned violent and angry, allowing the beast to take control. She regarded her family and past with intense hatred, wanting desperately to free herself from her mortal persona. Her irrationality caused her to sever the ties with violence and cruelty.

Shortly after her embrace, Selene returned to her former home. While her youngest son, Simon, slept, Selene demented him (a power that unleashed a madness), convincing him that his family were demons that needed to be destroyed. The young boy slaughtered his sisters and father before Selene descended on Simon and fed on him until his death. It was only after Simon died that Selene realized her actions and gained control. She ran from her crime, unable to cope with the guilt and remorse. Instead, Selene shut away her emotions and tried to excuse her behavior by claiming it was her vampiric nature.

During the massacre, Eve watched from a hiding place. This massacre caused the young woman to descend into insanity. She was sent to a nearby asylum where her talk of demons and strange abilities were dismissed as delusions. Along with speaking of what she witnessed, Eve believed that fairies and small goblins spoke to her, urging her to destroy the creature that was once her mother. They also imparted the belief that it was her destiny to destroy something called "The Garden" and the new "Children of Eden."

A doctor overheard Eve's ramblings one evening and confided in her. He revealed that what she had seen was the work of a vampire. He imparted all the knowledge he had on the kindred, revealing as well that he hunted them during the night.

He offered to train Eve so that she may confront her mother and fulfill her destiny. Though he warned her that she would need to find a vampire soon that she could keep locked up somewhere, ghouling herself to him. All in an effort to live for as long as it took so that she may destroy her mother.

Selene's violent nature grew over the next year due to Grandmother's encouragement and Selene's inability to cope with her beast. Selene would go into small town and dement the young children into killing their guardians. This, of course, would lead to a massacre. Grandmother used Selene's irrationality and violence as a tool, at first. While Selene would massacre the mortals, Grandmother's agents would move in and steal away the dhampir. However, Selene became uncontrollable and began to make no distinction between mortals and vampires in her violence. Sometimes, while under stress from her new nature, she would leave on her own and cause destruction.

Grandmother carefully covered any signs of vampiric involvement. But Eve began to learn how to spot her mother's handiwork. She followed one such slaughter after another, always arriving after her mother had departed.

Eve surprised Selene in Scotland as she watched the young children beginning the massacre. Until that point, Selene had no idea her daughter still lived. Enraged by Eve's interruption, Selene attempted to kill her daughter. However, Eve came prepared to destroy her mother once and for all.

The two women fought, but as Eve was still new to the world of vampire hunting, she was overpowered by Selene. Selene let Eve flee the scene, suddenly coming to her senses before she killed her daughter. Determined to keep from repeating her violent crimes, Selene worked on keeping her beast under control. Through the instruction of Diana, Selene found a level of calm that would help manage her mood swings. However, she realized that extreme anger and fear would always trigger her irrationality, no matter what methods she attempted to use to keep herself calm.

Eve, meanwhile, captured a thirteenth generation vampire named Dunstable and chained him in a trunk, using him only to keep her immortal.

In exasperation for having to cover Selene's massacres, Grandmother sent her to America with the mission to spread the gospel of the Children of Eden. Selene, however, rejected the entire idea and decided to break free of her entire past. She chose the alias "Nott", the name of the German Goddess of night. She relocated to a new town and imposed a self-isolation, at first for the safety of others, as well as for her sanity. Over time, however, Nott began to enjoy her independence and chose to continue a solitary life.

Eve, still in England, stumbled upon the Garden. For the next few days, she laid assault upon it, destroying several kindred. However, Grandmother was able to overpower the girl. Eve burned her with a crucifix, allowing her enough time to escape with her life.

In 1790, Grandmother sent Diana, along with a protégé named Jacob, to the Americas with the hopes that they would pick up the work Nott had failed at, which was to spread the gospel to the new world. Jacob tracked down Nott in Florida. As soon as Jacob tracked her down, they "exchanged words." Shortly after, his ashes were sent back to Grandmother with a note from Nott. "God is dead."

Two years later, Nott and Diana ran into each other. Despite the years alone, Nott was reminded of her love for her sister and persuaded Diana to travel together. They ventured to France, where the Reign of Terror was underway.

Diana fell in love with a mortal, much to Nott's displeasure. She felt jealous of Joseph, viewing him as threat to her relationship with her sister. Nott wished for things to remain as they were, but her attempts at communicating this failed. Diana became engaged and Nott's irrationality surfaced, causing her to roam the streets of Paris violently. As with all Kindred affairs, the Sunday wedding of Diana and Joseph ended in utter disaster. Liam and Ursula, who had followed the Children of Eden down to France, crashed the party. A fight broke out which led to several important moments.

Nott let loose, fighting Grandmother, which was something that was building from the beginning. Liam embraced Joseph and then chased after Diana when she fled. The fight between Nott and Grandmother was in Grandmother's favor, due to her generation as well as years.

Grandmother overwhelmed Nott, but was stopped from destroying her when Eve arrived and began staking any kindred in her path. During all of this, Nott was able to escape, but badly wounded and separated from Diana.

Nott roamed Russia for a time during the 1790s, brooding over the loss of Diana. Finally tired of bleak atmosphere, she moved to Spain, meeting a Brujah named Matt. The pair became lovers, spending several years together. The relationship was tumultuous, as Matt was not faithful, though he showed affection for her by calling her "Pandora". They would often fight and brawl, eventually descending into sex. Nott instructed him in , wanting a companion who understood what it was to be a beast at heart. However, Matt could never offer her stability, so she moved to the United States, running into Diana. She was delighted to find her sister again and became determined to keep Diana safe. The girls traveled to New Orleans in 1820, discussing the Dhampir as well as Grandmother's plans.

Eve, however, tracked Nott and Diana down. In an attempt to locate Diana and Nott, Eve burned down their hotel, a known vampire ground, (which was acting as their haven.)

Eve began attacking whatever vampires fled from the building. One of home was a tall, good looking blonde Brujah named Milton. Nott jumped to Milton's aid, permanently wounding Eve over her right eye. In gratitude, Milton joined the girls in their travels, amused by Nott's rough exterior and her quiet devotion to her sister. Milton attempted to act savage at first, believing that this was how vampires should behave. But soon, he became a calmer man, with an insuppressible need to help Nott. He taught her potence as a means of repayment for saving his life.

For a good long while, the trio of Nott, Diana, and Milton traveled the country. They were constantly hounded by Eve, but Nott would overpower Eve and merely send her on her way. Nott and Milton decided to battle Grandmother without Diana in an attempt to keep her safe. They traveled back to Northumberland, where the Garden was located. They attacked it, killing the vampires that they had learned were Grandmother's henchmen. Nott also began to help the Dhampir that Grandmother had collected escape, warning them of Grandmother's plan.

Milton and Nott left for Venice in 1850 to regroup and plan for another attack. After learning that Grandmother had not slowed in her progress and had slaughtered several dhampir to anger Nott. Nott's irrationality flared, which caused her to murder several mortals brutally. Disgusted, Milton fled and discovered Eve residing in a nearby convent. He watched her for the next few nights, initially trying to decide how to approach her. He slowly fell in love with Eve, enchanted by her haunting madness as well as her beauty.

He approached Eve and spoke with her about her goblins and fairies, knowing that it would be the way to gain her trust. He offered his loyalty to her and swore to protect her. Eve was initially wary, but soon after became convinced by the words of her goblins and fairies, who "told" her that Milton was her partner. She fell in love with him soon after. A few weeks later, they broke into Nott's haven, as she as trying to cover Caine's crime. Eve and Nott fought until Milton joined in. Nott barely escaped and left Venice completely. She ran into Matt again and remained with him once more, resuming the relationship as a means to settle her broken heart and frayed nerves. In 1852, he left Nott to find Dorian, while Nott traveled to California to meet up with her sister.

Eve and Milton dusted Dunstable, Eve's captured vampire. Milton fully replaced Dunstable as Eve's link to immortality, ghouling her whenever it is required. Eve returned with Milton to the Garden and destroyed what little there was left of it. On their travels about Europe, Eve made stops in various vampire cities, to team up with other vampire hunters to destroy what they could.

Eve and Milton followed Nott, intent on finishing her. They beat Nott one night after overpowering her. Luck was on her side, however, because Diana caught them in the act and managed to get Nott's torpored body away before she could be killed. Diana packed her away in a trunk and began to travel the country with her, setting up her underground railroad.

In 1951, Nott awoke from torpor. Nott, well aware of the danger Eve posed, kept an eye on the girl's movement through police reports and asylum records (as she sometimes had a tendency to be nabbed and placed into institutions, though Milton always rescues her.) Whenever she came close, Nott moved to a safer location, away from Eve's sights.

The next year, Schwartz and Diana came out with another hit, Pippin. Eve and Milton attended opening night and attempted to sabotage the performance. Together, both Diana and Nott managed to stop it, but she went a step too far, feeding off of Eve during a moment of irrationality. This enraged Milton who attempted to stake Nott. He failed, but did enough damage that Diana had to carry her sister away from the fight.

Trying to recover her calm and stability, she traveled to Prague. Unfortunately, Milton had brought Eve to Prague, in attempt to help her recover from the deepening insanity that had been the result of Nott feeding on her.

Nott discovered the pair first. For the next three nights, she transferred her blood into a wine bottle that Milton had been using for his supply, thereby blood binding him to her. He followed Nott blindly, abandoning Eve. Satisfied, she staked Milton and left him in her hotel room.

Eve frantically searched for Milton, but had to capture a vampire until he could be found. By mere chance, the vampire Eve captured was Joseph Penn, Diana's old lover. Eve ghouled herself to him, but continued to search for Milton.

All the while, Nott once more met Matt and settled with him once again, though made it clear it was a temporary arrangement. However, she stayed with him longer than she intended, as he had always been her addiction and favorite partner. After a few years, she grew tired of the constant fighting and left to meet with Diana once again.

A year later in 1990, Joseph overheard Eve rambling about Nott and Diana. Learning that Diana was alive, Joseph dominated Eve to check her into an insane asylum in an attempt to free him of her. She follows his orders, knowing that she was now without vampire blood to ghoul herself with.

Meanwhile, the Sheriff of the town stumbled on Milton, after following reports of an unidentified vampire. She unstaked Milton, allowing him to leave in a mad rush to find Eve. The pair was reunited in time and Milton continued to ghoul Eve, keeping her immortal.

Nott returned to Diana, joining her in her quest to help the Dhampir and to stop Grandmother.

A year later, something strange happened. The entire vampire population of Oakland, California vanished. Liam went to go investigate and called Diana frantic. He explained that based on the reports of a surviving ghoul, Grandmother had led a Dhampir army to Oakland and, bright and early in the dawn, the army had visited every vampire haven, opening up windows and doors to allow the vampires to greet the morning sun. Diana and Nott were appalled at such actions and crushed with the knowledge that despite all their hard work, many Dhampir had still managed to fall into Grandmother's clutches. Still, they were determined to carry on.

Eve and Milton traveled to Shaldani, Nevada. There, they too witnessed Grandmother's Dhampir army wiping out the vampires. Eve descended further into madness, but was able to be nursed back to partial health by a patient and loving Milton.

When the entire vampire population of Phoenix, Arizona was reported as missing in 2008, Diana and Nott immediately suspected Grandmother's hand and decided to investigate. Nott traveled with Diana's aid, still weak from the battle before. Her curiosity and dread boiling, for how long could she hold her calm?

Phoenix eventually fell due to politics and Grandmothers manipulations. Eve followed the women, but was helped by Jhessil's healing touch, though Nott remained unconvinced that it would last. During her time in Phoenix, Nott continued to help Diana with her work with the Dhampir, but became distracted when she entered into romance with a private detective named Marlow.

As Phoenix began to descend into anarchy, Marlow was killed during an investigation on several mob bosses. Nott's irrationality surfaced again, causing her to burn down an orphanage and slaughter several mortals.

She and Diana decided not to remain in Phoenix for the final battle. They parted ways, each heading in different directions. Nott choosing Mexico, loving the desert air and the privacy that the towns provided. Though she was devastated to be parted from her sister, who she was frightened to leave alone.

For now, she continues her travels, curious for where it might lead her in life. She remains hopeful that she will meet her sister again.