Dr. Evan Marcus

I am Dr. Evan Marcus, and I am cursed.

I do remember a life of happiness, once, long ago. My life changed when I was 8, some 25 years ago. You would not guess it was so recent to look at me, however. I look far older than my 33 years could really carry. My father worked for a pharmaceuticals corporation, as a security guard. The corporation exposed his to a carcinogin, then offered him an experimental cure. This cure took my father away from me, and left a monster in its place. My father, unknowing Kinfolk to the Glass Walkers, became a fomori and worked for his creators, Pentex. My mother was killed very quickly. I was kept. That is all I have to say on the following five years.

When the Garou fallowed my father home after a raid, my Rage got the better of me. I experienced my First Change and saved the attacking pack from my father's silver-loaded shotgun. I was quickly adopted by the Glass Walkers of Seattle, and I came to live with their Don, the Galliard Thomas Reikan. I was thrown into a pack, with whom I knew nothing of, and we were sent on a rite of passage where in order to survive, we had to learn to trust one another.

My pack was the best one could ever hope for. I have never met a better, more noble gathering. The Ragabash was a Fianna, Lhiannon MacGregor. I was the Theurge. The Philodox was a Get of Fenris, named Guthrie Swanson. The Galliard was a Black Fury lupus, named Voices-of-Rage. And the Ahroun was a Bone Gnawer named John Kelly. Never was there a more rag-tag group. And never was there ever such a band of friends. Without them, perhaps I would never have recovered from my five years with my father. Perhaps I would have always remained a recluse, never letting anyone near me.

Sometimes, I almost want to damn them for it.

I finished my basic education and went on to college. There, I met a beautiful, kind, and wonderful woman, named Carrie Lahn. Carrie and I became friends, then lovers, then, eventually, we were engaged. I was finally happy. I was nearly done with my Doctorates in Finances, and I was engaged to a woman who, we discovered through her family tree, was Kinfolk. I even told her of my other life, and she seemed willing to adjust to it.

One day, three weeks before the wedding, Carrie was hit by a drunken driver. The drunken driver walked away from the accident with a few bruises and scrapes. Carrie went into a coma. She died on our wedding day, never having regained conciousness.

The screams of that drunken driver still ring in my ears sometimes. I regret killing him now. Death was too easy for him. And it did nothing but increase my depression and anger.

I resolved never to love again. I finished my degree and came to work for Don Thomas Reikan. He owned a completely legitimate holdership company, and I was eventually made into his personal aide.

Slowly, one member of my pack managed to get me to open up. I began spending a great deal of time with Lhiannon, and I formed a bond closer to her than with the rest of the pack. When we first kissed, we realized that things were going too far. We were both Garou. We should not have such feelings for each other. And yet...

We tried to bury our feelings. But our friendship evolved despite our efforts, and soon...

I was not surprised when she told me she was pregnant. We did not take neccesarry precautions. We did not tell anyone yet, as we discussed our options. We decided against an abortion -- if Gaia needed another warrior, she would have one. But we would wait. Much could happen during the first trimester -- perhaps she would miscarry. But the first trimester passed, and we knew she would soon start showing.

Our pack, meanwhile, had been working on tracking down Wyrm-ridden drugs in the city, and we had tracked them to an address. What was more, they had come to understand that there was supernatural influence involved. The drugs were manufactured by Leeches, and we had heard the name Children of Set mentioned. But we knew that Leeches were entirely night creatures. They would not be up during the day. So once those of us with jobs were done with them, we hit the house, just about half an hour before sunset. After all, if they had any mortal guards, they would pose no threats, and any Cadavers would be long dead before the sun set. We were surprised to discover that the mortal followers had supernatural powers of their own. They were strong, fast, and tough -- and the snakes! Oh, god, the snakes were everywhere! The fight lasted longer than half an hour. Soon the Leeches were up and fighting, too. I dropped early in the fight.

When I awoke, I was in a house filled with blood and gore. There was no movement. As I limped through the bodies, soon found the remains of my pack. All were dead. All but one.

Lhiannan still lived. Yet she did not. I found her moving, and I praised Gaia for her blessing, but when she looked at her, I realized how cruel fate can truly be. For Lhiannan was crying tears of blood. And her front teeth were sharp and pointed.

Gaia forgive me, I killed her without a word.

The police never came. Those who came looking after my pack found me mourning over my fallen packmates the next day.

Several months later, Don Reikan died, and I found myself as his replacement, both in business and in scept politics. I achieved my Elder challenge and took over as the Don of the Seattle House, where I have done my best ever since. I have a qualified Beta, Chessa Relon, a Philodox from London and niece of the London Dona. I continue to work for Gaia, and I feel I usually do a good job.

Yet I cannot grow close to anyone. Everyone who I have become too close to has died. Two of my Garou wards have turned to the Wyrm, while the others have died painfully and horribly. All my friends have died. Those who grow to hate me go far and serve Gaia well.

I have almost given into my Harano so many times. I have almost given up and killed myself endless times. And yet I keep fighting. Why?

Because Gaia is all I have left.