Some weeks ago. See Blood Tears.

tonight. The court gathering.

"three months to live". The deadline set for the court by the Camarilla that night.

"black goo". The substance expelled from the body by the Tremere ritual Purity of the Flesh. In truth, it consists of any impurities present in the body, dissolved in a quantity of old blood.

Jeremiah, Greg, Ashford. Steven's truest allies in court: Jeremiah Bridger, his Sheriff; Greg Stanton, Malkavian Primogen and devout servant to the court; and Ashford, Keeper of Elysium and Jeremiah's rescuer from the Black Spiral Dancers.

the Justicar. Lucinde, the Ventrue Justicar. She had assisted Steven in the removal of traitors from the court, and held this over him when she pronounced the Camarilla's deadline.

Theo ... Jennifer Clearwater. Her contacts with the Garou; Jennifer is the beta, or second-in-command.

Spirit. Spirit Interface, her mentor in the Garou.

two weeks ago. Rebecca, Steven, and Ezra talked at length after the previous court; see the timeline.

"Aaron's mess". Aaron Maddison, a court member, had influenced UC Berkeley into releasing a study on the supernatural, a potential breach of the Masquerade. Rebecca joined with Ezra Darke to repair the damage.

"permission ... from Ezra". The Tremere in a chantry must get permission from their Regent to Embrace someone.

the Prince. The Tradition of Progeny demands that any Kindred within a Prince's domain ask permission of the Prince before Embracing.

human warmth. Most Kindred have no body heat, feeling much like corpses to the touch. Ezra Darke has a natural quirk which causes her blood to circulate normally, giving her skin warmth and color. Steven, like most Kindred, does not.

the Giovanni. An independent clan, consisting of members of the famous Italian mobster family.

"burned by holy water". A member of the court, Professor Tyferrius, had a run-in with the vampire hunters in the area, coming away with bad burns and a limp. The hunters had used Super-Soakers filled with holy water.

thirteen tribes. The Garou are also split into types, called tribes: Glasswalkers, Children of Gaia, and so forth.

rescuing Feld. Greg Stanton and Rebecca went to find the ex-prince, presumed dead, and Greg lost blood trying to revive him. See the timeline.

"when I jumped last court". Steven had touched her and startled her so she jumped nearly a foot.

the Mage. The Mage representative in the court at the time, Marcus D'Canti. Rebecca disliked and refused to trust him.

no fear of retribution. The Prince is the only one within his domain who can kill any member of his court with impunity.

baring inch-long fangs. Kindred canine teeth are retractile, extending and retracting at will. They are normally extended only for feeding, fighting, or intimidation.

careful licks. Kindred can close the wounds created by their own teeth by simply running their tongue over it; the mark heals as though it had never been.

"take away the memory". Steven has the discipline Dominate, allowing him to selectively edit the memories of others.

the same room. Rebecca stayed at the chantry after the previous court, having stayed up nearly until dawn with Ezra.