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Geoffry had spent a number of moments over the last two days worrying about how Imastious would respond to the fact he'd assaulted another vampire for what most would consider no good reason.
Maybe I can convince him I did it for the exact reasons Alexander talked about. It's a long shot, but maybe my only chance. Is Melody right, is good committed in the service to someone like Imastious eventually twisted around to serve evil regardless? I wouldn't have said so before, but I can't get the image of that burning police officer from my mind. And now it may turn out that my efforts to address that wrong will cost me everything.
It appeared however Imastious wasn't going to threaten him with death, at least not over the what he'd done to the pyromancer.
Examining the younger vampire with cold dead eyes, Imastious sighed in resignation. “I examined your work on Scorch. While I don't for a second believe you pursued that course of action out of anything other than rage that he'd killed a human, I've decided it is useful for other vampires look at you with more than a normal amount of respect and fear.”
Relief nearly made Geoffry's knees sag, but he forced himself to pay attention to what Imastious said next. “To that end, I made a quick trip to Scorch's residence, and strengthened the construct you built inside his mind. What you created was potent and inventive, but wouldn't have lasted more than a week or so. It will now last for a month, possibly two.”
Geoffry felt a brief pulse of satisfaction to know that anytime Scorch derived sadistic enjoyment from something over the next month that he'd be overcome by an intense bout of pain and sickness. His relief didn't stop Geoffry from understanding Imastious' other message.
For all that I was more powerful than Scorch, you're more powerful than me. What I can do and have last for a few days, you can do and better by a factor of eight. On the other hand, once word gets around that Scorch hasn't recovered after a few days, people are going to grant me a level of respect that should ensure there are no violations of the peace, at least not while I'm around. That should in turn ensure that there's an ample supply of cannon fodder to protect you and the other Elders.
Imastious studied Geoffry for several seconds until he seemed to be satisfied that the message he'd delivered had indeed been understood and then pointed at a folder on the table before Geoffry. Inside was a stack of photo's displaying all of the carnage and destruction that they'd both come to associate with a werewolf attack.
“Another Elder?”
Geoffry thought for a moment that Imastious was going to take exception to the casual way in which he'd just referred to the assassination, but the older vampire settled for letting his piercing gaze rest on his minion for several seconds. “Yes it was. In this case Eculdes, along with a respectable number of his servants.”
Geoffry almost thought he detected a trace of fear in Imastious' voice, but he knew better than to let that thought make it's way to his face. “Did they manage to kill any of their attackers?”
Imastious pointed to one of the pictures. “That man isn't a known vampire, and he was left relatively intact, so my suspicion is that he represents the first werewolf to be killed in an attack on an Elder.”
Imastious recaptured Geoffry's gaze. “I don't think you understand the worry these attacks are generating. There is extreme alarm at the highest levels of vampire society. Eculdes was surrounded by no less than eight men that we've identified so far, and he may have taken one of them with him.”
Imastious gestured at the heavy concrete bunker walls surrounding them. “Most of the Elders are currently hiding below ground trying to avoid being killed. Every vampire knows there is a chance he'll be assassinated by a rival, but the Elders are unaccustomed to death befalling their number in such a sudden, seemingly unstoppable manner. They are getting to the point where they will do almost anything to guarantee their safety.”
What does this have to do with me? Is he going to tell me that our efforts haven't been good enough? Threaten me with death after all?
“You personally have been involved in killing three of these creatures. You probably are unaware of this fact, but those three, and the one that Eculdes may have accounted for represent the only confirmed kills I'm aware of in the city.”
How's that possible? With all of the patrols that are supposed to be out, how is it that nobody else has managed to encounter a werewolf?
Imastious lifted a sheaf of papers from the table next to him and tossed it to Geoffry. “That isn't to say that nobody has come up against the beasts. That is a list of the patrols that have been out this last week, and the results of their efforts. As you'll see, one patrol claims to have encountered a werewolf. They apparently had it on the ropes when it bowled one of them over and escaped. Some of them have wounds which would tend to confirm that they at least ran into a werewolf. Two of their number were killed in the battle. Three other patrols of varying sizes have been destroyed and their members were found dead with wounds consistent with those inflicted by werewolves.”
Geoffry was surprised to see Imastious rise and begin pacing. “You on the other hand, especially after what you did to Scorch, are starting to look like some kind of miracle worker. You've touched the werewolves' minds and seem to have come away with an understanding of them that, while admittedly limited, is vastly superior to what anyone else can boast of at this point. As a result, the other Elders are starting to press for you to become our general in this little war. Obviously the presumption is that I can command you to give this effort your very best, and you'll do so in the name of self interest.”
Imastious' eyes came to rest on Geoffry and he could almost feel the intensity of the Elder's gaze. “We both know that isn't necessarily the case. You have motivations and taboos which most of them don't begin to understand. Consequently, I'd like to offer you something that will motivate you to give this conflict your full attention.”
Geoffry's heart seemed to skip a beat. “If you are able to wage a successful campaign, I will grant you your freedom, and provide you with suitable resources with which to set yourself up as an Elder in this city, or continue your life elsewhere. I give you my word on it.”
**
The negotiation process had taken several hours, and even after addressing every point Geoffry could think of, he still felt as though there were hidden loopholes he hadn't covered, but he'd left with a spring in his step that hadn't been there a short time previously. I have essentially carte blanch in waging this conflict, and Imastious has committed his talents and resources to making sure I'm given sufficient vampires to work with. If he doesn't manage to achieve those thresholds and I fail as a result, I'm still free. Assuming I survive.
Now I just have to figure out how to stop these things.
Venice shifted slightly from her position next to him as she adjusted the black, button up shirt she'd worn out hunting that night.
“The Elders must be incredibly worried for Imastious to make you a deal like that.”
Geoffry nodded, “I suppose so, but I'm no closer to figuring out a strategy tonight than I was last night when we made the deal.”
Picking up the folder Imastious had given Geoffry from the table Venice sighed. “I don't suppose that this is much help. There is almost too much here to make sense out of it. Any underlying pattern is drowned out by all of the rest of the information.”
Leaning back against the sofa, Geoffry closed his eyes and tried to force his mind to come up with the insights he needed. “Have there been any new developments since this was compiled?”
Venice leaned back and rested her head on Geoffry's shoulder. If she's surprised that for once I didn't move away, she's hiding it well.
The slender vampire turned her head towards Geoffry and whispered. “I love you.”
When Geoffry opened his mouth to respond Venice put a finger to his lips. “You don't need to say anything. I know you worry the darkness inside me will keep us apart, but I also know you're starting to love me too. We'll just have to see what happens, and I'm fine with that.”
Having said what she needed to say, Venice leaned back against the sofa once again and took a deep breath before continuing.
Why can't these things be simple? It would be so much easier if Venice behaved as a true villain, if Melody never questioned what I feel I have to do.
“There have been a few vampires killed recently that were either by themselves in their homes, or were serving as couriers for their masters.”
Geoffry shrugged, “That doesn't bode well for our continued survival, but is simply the expected progression of what has been happening prior to this.”
Venice nodded and the continued. “Indications are that there is a contingent of vampires and Elders who aren't satisfied with waiting while you come up with a plan. They are setting a trap which they hope to use to start thinning out the werewolf population.”
Of course. We can't find the enemy, or at least don't know of a way to do so. As a result the conflicts will aways be at a time and place of their choosing unless we can trick them into attacking on favorable ground. The one I killed by myself had me over matched, it was only because I was very lucky that I survived.
Venice had to know that Geoffry was on to something by the way his body had tensed up, but she remained silent, allowing him to follow whatever chain of thoughts he was pursuing to its conclusion rather than interrupting him.
The one that attacked Alexander's people had them over matched as well. If it hadn't been for the fact that we happened to be so close, it would have killed them all and there would have been one more instance of a patrol being wiped out in Imastious' report.
There is the pattern we're looking for, every time we've beaten them we've had forces they didn't expect who happened to be waiting in the wings. Every time that hasn't been the case, they've soundsly beaten us.
Geoffry looked over at Venice with a new fire in his eyes. “Tell me about this trap.”
“You're not going to like it.”