Prompt: Quarry


The usual spot was a little nook between two mismatched buildings visible from Luna. It was roomy enough for two, and canvas sheets provided a roof and door for both of them. Not that Lavi needed that much protection from the elements, Allen thought before a huge, jaw-cracking yawn overtook his senses. He was becoming a metaphorical night creature, with his job. The sky was already more gray than blue as he ducked into the usual spot.

Lavi was there waiting for him. "Heya, my favourite bar keeper!" He trilled like a bird.

"Hello, my favourite annoying vampire," Allen said.

Lavi beamed. "So you admit I'm your favourite! You shoulda said so earlier!" He patted the sofa seat next to him. When Allen sat the cushion sagged down and made him twice as sleepy, until Lavi grabbed him around the shoulders and shocked his neck with cool skin.

"Lavi," he grumbled, "you're cold."

"And you're warm," Lavi countered. "You're like my personal furnace."

"Thrilled," Allen said with a droll voice. He yawned again. "Can we go and hibernate now? It's my off day."

"Oh, my dear, young friend. Hibernation and off days do not go together. But maybe you can get a free pass this time," he amended when Allen glared at him then cracked his jaw yawning. "Food first?"

Allen shook his head. "Sleep first." Glutton that he was, for the time being he only wanted the loving embrace of his warm bed.

"Sleep it is!" Lavi said way too happily for this time in the night. Morning. Whichever. He tugged Allen up from the couch and pushed them through the flap that served as the usual spot's door.

The sky was a proper gray now, with some hopeful pink tints. Lavi had grabbed Allen's wrist to drag him through the criss-cross of streets. His apartment wasn't far, so Allen didn't quite see Lavi's need to walk him home these few days. Unfortunately, there weren't enough brain cells at the moment for him to figure it out.

Lavi shook his head mournfully as they approached Building 14. "I still think you need a new designer."

"Shut up," Allen said quite clearly through his exhaustion. He didn't disagree, he was just too tired to agree and then listen to Lavi's tirade. The building was in alternating shades of mud brown and faded yellow. It reminded Allen too much of the puke that covered some part of Luna every other night.

The interior wasn't much better, Allen reflected as he stumbled his way to door 49 and turned the lock. At least it wasn't brown and yellow, but the off-white had disturbing tints of red and dark pink. It felt as though a murder scene had taken place there. The bright white light flooded the place when Allen flicked the switch. Lavi had already walked in like he owned the place and was heading to Allen's room.

"Annoying vampire," Allen muttered under his breath, knowing Lavi could hear him. It took him a few strides across the small kitchen-cum-lounge to catch up with Lavi.

"Your room is way too neat," Lavi said when Allen caught up. Lavi sounded disappointed. Allen rolled his eyes and draped his jacket over the back of his chair. "Are you sure this is a bachelor's pad? Where's the floor strewn with clothes? Didn't I just throw some of your underwear around the other day?"

"Which I had to clean up," Allen said pointedly, almost too tired to be annoyed. Ever since Lavi had started walking Allen home there had been no end to his privacy being invaded. Thankfully Lavi hadn't found the important stuff yet. He had those double-locked in a private drawer. After dumping a small bag onto his chair he pointed at the door. "Out, Lavi."

"Why?" Lavi asked, distracted. He was flipping through one of the books Allen had. "Do you know I was there when Hans Christian Andersen wrote this? Funniest guy ever – "

"Lavi, I know you're convinced you're the greatest thing that the world has ever produced. But out you go."

"Does that mean you think I'm the greatest thing ever, too?" Lavi said with a hopeful expression.

Allen scoffed and pushed Lavi out the door. If Lavi had really wanted to Allen wouldn't be able to move him at all. It seemed Lavi was willing to play along. "Allen, Al, aw, come on – "

It was satisfying to close the door on his face. Allen hurriedly changed, knowing a closed door had never deterred Lavi much. By the time he had on a long-sleeved soft shirt and long pants Lavi was jiggling the door knob. He had switched off the light and was curled under his blanket by the time Lavi barged in, making far too much noise.

Lavi's face fell. "You're no fun."

"Go away, Lavi," Allen mumbled, trying to bury himself under the covers. Sleep was pulling him in. He couldn't care less about why Lavi was disappointed that he was dressed and in bed. His pillow was soft, and he had changed his sheets yesterday, so it smelt clean and fresh. He felt a dip on the side of the mattress and, a second later, a hand carding through his hair. It was strangely comforting.

"Can I hang out here?" Lavi asked in a soft voice. He sounded like he was talking from very far away. His hand didn't feel as cold in Allen's hair.

Allen pushed his head into the caress, unaware of his actions. "Whatever," he managed to slur before sleep claimed him.

.

Lavi waited until Allen was completely asleep before he stood up, gently disentangling his hand from Allen's dark brown hair. His mouth was set in a hard line.

Weak light was filtering through the curtains. He tugged them completely closed – he had already switched off the main room's lights before entering Allen's room. Now the apartment was dark except for the faint morning sun outside. Allen's breath was slow and deep. Lavi felt guilty about making Allen wait for his sleep, but it was safer this way. With the sun – however ineffectual it was – there would be fewer enemies.

He slipped out the small dagger he always kept in his belt. Taking a deep breath, he murmured, "Sorry, Gramps."

The slash stung and would be a hard one to heal. He had used a pure silver blade. But that made it more effective, he thought with grim satisfaction as the dark blood pooled in his palm. He tilted his hand and dripped three drops onto the windowsill. He had to act fast. The window was covered, then Allen's bedroom door, the main entrance, the window in the kitchen, the toilet ventilation and door…

All plausible entrances were covered before Lavi allowed himself to wash his wound in the kitchen sink. It hadn't gone too deep, but he still needed nightshade balm to close the wound. Digging around his back pocket with his right hand, he retrieved the small bottle. After drying what he could – the blood kept oozing out, and he couldn't afford to lose much more – he applied a small amount, enough to stop the bleeding. There was nothing he could do for the sting until he naturally healed.

The hard part was done. Thrice invited, thrice entered, and the protection of his blood could be used. Until Allen found a proper Alliance. Now he just had to cast a glamour on all the bloodstains. It would be hard to pass them off as old bloodstains when they were so fresh. Allen might throw a fit, and then he might actually kill Lavi when he found out they belonged to him…

Six glamours later Lavi felt exhausted. It was always harder to do anything in daylight, he thought with a fuzzy feeling in his head. The sting in his palm made him want to scratch it. He clenched his fist, winced when it tugged at the wound, and gave up on relieving the pain. It had been too long since he had felt real pain like this, small though it was. Before he allowed himself to sleep he walked silently to Allen's door and pushed it open.

Allen was still breathing deeply. He had flipped over onto his back, his hands on top of the blanket and loosely clutching the material. In sleep his face smoothened out to look almost child-like. Lavi grinned, closing the door quietly.

The tiny couch seemed good enough for the day. He had slept on worse surfaces before.

.

At his spot on top of Arkham's tallest building, Tyki pursed his lips and let out a long drag of smoke. His posture was lazy and slouched against the water tank, but his eyes were trained on a window which had curtains drawn across it, several blocks away. The sunglasses he wore protected him from the few sun rays poking through the clouds.

A whisper of cloth against skin was all the warning he got before a small girl stood beside him, her hands crossed behind her back as she bent down to look in his face. He lowered his cigarette.

"Road. Where's Sheryl?"

Road smiled, mischief in her dark eyes. She smoothed out the seat of her white dress before sitting next to Tyki. "Snuck out while he's asleep. I locked him in," she added with glee.

"That won't stop him," Tyki pointed out. Nothing could stop Sheryl when it came to his precious Road.

"Oh, it will, if he doesn't want me leaving home," Road said, all matter-of-fact tone. She had already left home thrice this past month. It had taken begging and bribes of candy (each more exorbitant than the previous time – she had even requested Bombay blood lollipops once) before Road went home each time. "Where's Allen?"

"Home. Sleeping. Like you should be."

Road huffed. "That's no fun. I didn't get to talk to him. The Earl had me doing some stupid chores so I wouldn't go to Luna."

Tyki raised an eyebrow. Road doing chores was as unexpected as Road refusing candy. Still, Tyki reminded her, "He's your blood father."

"Yours too. So why do you get to do the fun stuff, huh?" Road countered.

Because if it were up to you, Allen would be your feed already. Outwardly Tyki shrugged. Road would be appeased soon enough when she got to see Allen in Luna.

"What'd you have to do?"

Road waved her hand around. "Oh, the usual. Kill off some of those stupid hunters. The stronger ones," Road said with a smug smile. "They weren't any match 'gainst me and Wisely. Hide their bodies, destroy the evidence. All that kinda stuff. They didn't even taste nice." Road wrinkled her nose in distaste.

At least they were fresh, Tyki thought. He inhaled another puff of smoke. Now that his body was as good as dead it couldn't harm him, just deaden his senses slightly. Something for him to do when off duty. Or during low energy jobs, like this one.

"Our lil' information broker has gotten to him. Eye-patch boy," he offered.

"What'd he do?"

"Blood protection," Tyki said. That should have been what Lavi had done by now, from what Tyki guessed. Road hummed, not seeming overly concerned. She crossed her legs and wiggled one foot, candy-red bright against the dull concrete.

"No matter. That only works in some places. It's temporary too. And his Protection is almost up," Road said in an offhand tone. She flexed her foot. Reaching into her pocket she drew out one stick of gum and popped it into her mouth. In between chews, she said, "You haven't told him, have you? 'bout Mana and Nea Walker. I wanted to, but the Earl said to wait."

"If he told you to wait, there's no reason I shouldn't as well," Tyki reasoned. "The Earl has his plan. All we have to do – " he smirked – "is pull him in. Slowly."

Road smiled as well, challenging. "He's mine, Tyki. Butt outta this."

Behind his glasses, there was a glint of amusement in Tyki's eyes. We'll see about that, he thought as he continued watching the window with its closed curtains, cigarette dangling loosely between his lips. We'll definitely have to see about that.

.

Kanda's eyes snapped open the second he felt somebody looking in his direction. His hand went to his sword first as he scanned the trees and bushes. He was crouched low in the foliage, able to see but avoid being seen.

The bushes rustled as they were parted. Kanda relaxed his grip.

"There you are," Lenalee said in a relieved, disapproving voice. She stopped a few metres away from Kanda's hiding spot. "Stop hiding already," she said with a hint of impatience.

Slowly, Kanda stood up, looking at Lenalee. She cast a critical gaze over him.

"You haven't been eating," she said softly.

"What are you doing here?"

Lenalee's lips thinned. "I've been worried sick about you, Kanda Yu. So you'd better give me a damn good explanation for your disappearing act."

Kanda resisted his growl. "Just tell me what you're doing here."

"Two."

Kanda looked at her. Her voice had trembled.

"Two hunters have gone missing. Did you – I have to know – "

Kanda kept silent. Lenalee's gaze was pleading. Before it could turn to horror he said, "I don't know about this."

Lenalee's shoulders slumped. She crossed her arms, looking down at the forest floor. Her voice rang clear in the silence, "I thought, I was scared that you were the one who…" She shook her head and gripped her elbows tightly.

"They're not my targets. Only Leverrier is," Kanda said after she had trailed off.

Lenalee sighed. She lifted her gaze from the floor. There was something desperately sad in her eyes that Kanda hated. "You're still determined. They're strong, Kanda. They haven't harmed the other beings, but if you should try to, I. I don't know what they'd do," she ended in a whisper. "And there hasn't been news of Alma for – "

Ten years, Kanda completed for her in his head. Ten years since that day in the laboratory when only Kanda had managed to escape.

"He isn't dead," Kanda said, voice flat. "We were both success stories. They won't kill him. They'll use him. Until he has nothing to give. Then they'll kill him, if I don't get to them first."

"They might kill you," Lenalee said harshly.

Kanda laughed. Lenalee flinched at the hard sound. "I'd be lucky then. Better dead than one of their experiments."

Lenalee hesitated before she took one step forward, her fear and anger giving way to worry. One more step, then another. Her steps fell muffled on the grass as she approached him. Kanda watched, doing nothing, as she slowly reached a hand out and grasped his.

"Please, Kanda. Please. Stay safe. Don't…don't do anything foolish," she pleaded, her grip tightening on his hand. There were calluses she wasn't familiar with.

Kanda disentangled her grip carefully. "You've forgotten that I'm stronger than the average human," he said, not unkindly. It was the only reassurance he could offer her.

But at what cost? Lenalee thought, hand dangling by her side. His muscles were still defined, but he was so much skinnier. His hair lacked the shine she used to envy. He was harder, but brittle and hostile. She couldn't reach out to him anymore. She didn't know how to reach out to him, or stop his notions of revenge.

Before her eyes Kanda shimmered and the man disappeared. A wolf with dark fur stood before her for a second, their gazes meeting. Then he slinked away into the bushes. Lenalee watched his trajectory among the dense forest life. She watched the way he held his head with caution and the grace of a real wolf, watched him move away until she couldn't sense his presence anymore.

Closing her eyes, she sang a short tune of prayer, offering the only protection she could.

.

He woke up, not quite sure why. The itch in his throat reminded him he needed water. He could see light from beneath his bedroom door. As quietly as he could he slipped out of bed, his feet making little noise in his socks. He was tall enough to reach the door knob now, he noted with pride.

He froze as he reached for the knob. There was a voice he didn't know outside. It was speaking with Mana and Nea.

Allen knew Uncle Nea had very good hearing. When playing hide-and-seek Uncle Nea always knew if Allen was trying to sneak up on him. Allen was curious. About the new person, and he wanted to hear what they were talking about. He let his hand drop and pressed his ear to the keyhole. It wasn't very clear, but he could hear what was being said. If he concentrated very hard…

The new voice was deep, and it was louder than Mana's and Nea's. "…ness, utter madness. Fools, the both of you. Fools. What are you going to do now, huh? With a kid on your hands?"

Were they talking about him? Allen thought with his heart beating faster.

There was silence for a long time before he could hear Mana's voice. It was hoarse from a cold he had gotten. "…the Earl has…move…we could get…" Allen frowned. The cold was making Mana's words hard to hear.

Nea cut in then, in his distinct, sing-song inflection. "Cross, thank you for the news. We will do something about this."

The new guy's name was Cross. He didn't sound very happy when he said, "See that you do."

The voice was gone then. Their front door was opened and closed. Allen snuck back into bed hurriedly, unsure if Mana and Nea would come in to check on him. They sometimes did, and he didn't want them to catch him listening in. He pressed down lower into his bed.

Mana and Nea were muttering something in the living room. He ached to find out what they were talking about. A moment later the light was switched off and he could hear them heading to their rooms. Mana's room was across his, Nea's further down.

The footsteps stopped outside his room. Allen held his breath. He could close his eyes really quickly once the door was opened.

A few seconds passed in silence while Allen's heart beat a fast tha-thump, tha-thump. He tried to breathe slowly the way Uncle Nea had taught him to do when he couldn't fall asleep. He thought he heard somebody place his hand on the door knob for a while.

The moment passed. Allen saw the shadow beyond his door move away and, a while later, a door shutting quietly. The whole house was quiet except for the tha-thump, tha-thump Allen could still hear.

For the longest time he laid awake, thirst forgotten, wondering what it was he had just heard, what it was about, and why Mana and Nea had sounded so scared.

.

Allen opened his eyes in a heavy, slow motion, chasing a half-remembered dream. There was a sliver of light, shadows, a murmured conversation – a conversation he couldn't help feel was important. He didn't know why, or how, or what the conversation was about. As the fuzzy, warm weight cleared from his head the dream got further and further away. He was back in Arkham, in his apartment in Building 14. The light along the rim of his curtains was brighter. By his guess it was early afternoon.

He swung his legs out of bed and remained sitting there for a while. It was his off day in the week. He had a full day and more to do anything he wanted. And after that, he thought with a glance at his calendar, he had five days until the next full moon. He should think of something before work distracted him once more.

Walking to the window, he pulled it open to let some light in. The dawn gray had faded into something more cheerful. The mist had dissipated. He could see the back of the building opposite his and down into the dilapidated yard. Afternoons like these made Arkham peaceful, he thought, recalling what Lenalee had said about Arkham when they had first met.

Truly, Arkham was not horribly dangerous, once you knew the laws and the way around it. But he understood that humans must always take precautions, Allen thought as he picked out his clothes for the day. Once he had everything settled, his Alliance first and foremost, he could concentrate on what he wanted to find in Arkham.

He opened his table cabinet, hesitating before reaching in and moving some things around. His suitcase was shifted aside before he could trace the small, silver keyhole. He lingered there before pulling his hand out and shifting everything back into place, the Venetian mask in its front spot before he closed the cabinet and went back to changing.

After brushing his teeth he took a moment before opening his bedroom door, eyes zooming in on where a tall man was folded into a tiny couch. Lavi was mumbling something in his sleep. Allen allowed himself a small smile at the sight, and a twinge of guilt. Though it really was Lavi's own fault that he had chosen to stay here when he could very well go home to a comfortable bed, wherever it was. In the end Allen's conscience decided for him and he stepped over to shake Lavi awake.

"Lavi," he said with one hand on Lavi's right shoulder.

"Mm…no, not the wasabi…"

He raised an eyebrow. As far as Allen knew there was no wasabi to be found in Arkham. He shook Lavi's shoulder once more.

"Lavi, the bed's free for you to use."

"Mrr."

Lavi's right hand flopped a bit, revealing his left arm tucked under his body, all the way to the elbow.

It'd be numb by now, if it weren't for the fact he's a vampire –

Allen frowned. There was something wrong with Lavi's left palm. It was half hidden under Lavi's cheek. He squinted, wondering if it was his eye tricking him.

No, there was something that shouldn't be there. Something like the edge of a cut. But Lavi didn't have that yesterday, or this morning. Granted, he was too sleepy to remember much of the morning…

Carefully, he reached into the hollow and pulled Lavi's hand out, finger by finger. Lavi offered no resistance, except for saying something regarding wasabi. Allen sucked in a sharp breath at the sight that greeted him when he saw his palm.

It was a clean, straight cut across the palm. But clearly a painful one. The cut had scabbed over. It would take about three days for it to heal on a normal human. On a vampire, likely less than a day.

But who did this? And how? And when?

"Mm…" Lavi's brow creased. Allen let the hand go and stood back, watching him wake up. Lavi's hands clenched and unclenched. Allen could see Lavi frown when he clenched against his wound. A dark green eye blinked open, disoriented.

"Lavi," Allen said. Lavi's eye focused and travelled up his body. A lazy cat's smile stretched his lips.

"Hey, Al," Lavi said, voice scratchy from sleep.

Allen took a deep breath. "I was about to offer you my bed – "

"With you in it?" Lavi asked, still languid.

Allen broke off, temporarily stunned. He shook his head. It wasn't the time to entertain that. "But now I want to ask you – " he reached for Lavi's left hand, holding it in his – "what is this?"

Lavi's face closed off. There was nary a sign left of his previously languid, lazy self. He retracted his hand and sat up, using the motion to hide his face from Allen for a while. When he looked up there was nothing in his expression to give Allen a clue.

"Cut myself. Klutz that I am, eh?" Lavi said with a smile.

"That's no ordinary cut. You would have healed by now. Only one thing can cause a scar in a vampire." Allen paused to see if Lavi would react. Lavi only kept smiling. "Silver," he said.

Lavi shrugged and heaved a dramatic sigh. "You caught me, then. I wanted to prepare breakfast for you – "

"Stop lying," Allen said in a low, furious voice. He caught Lavi's eye and didn't let go. "Say you were preparing breakfast. Could you cause a cut like that? Not on your thumb, or the back of your hand, or a finger, but straight across your palm? Only you could have done that to yourself, and recently. I'm not a fool, Lavi, and I'd appreciate it if you stopped treating me like one."

Lavi smirked and stretched. Allen hated that smirk, the way Lavi curled his lips. "And what would make you happy, Allen? So what if you know what I did? Or why I did it? And what if it's none of your business why I did it?"

Allen felt as though he had been punched in the gut. He swallowed and clenched his fist. He'd never wanted to punch Lavi so much. Or shake the truth out of him. "It might be none of my business. But – nevermind," he shook his head. "Keep your secrets. Your bloody livelihood, right? Since when have you said anything that was not part of an exchange?"

He sat down on a neighbouring chair, too tired to continue this. This prying information out of an information broker, yes, but also this sick feeling that Lavi had never taken him seriously before. It was a feeling that stayed in his stomach, making him jittery, unbalanced.

Lavi flicked his gaze down and allowed the thick silence to linger. He clenched against the wound, feeling its sting. Allen didn't even look at the motion. He just looked away from Lavi in the direction of the kitchen window, still with its curtains drawn.

Thrice invited, thrice entered, three drops of blood for age-old protection. The glamour would wear off by the next moon, leaving the protection but removing its cover. Lavi sighed and gave in. He wondered when he had become so easy. "Blood protection," he said.

He thought Allen didn't hear him. The boy hadn't made any visible reaction. He realized, after a while, that Allen was waiting for him to continue.

"If, by the next moon, you still haven't chosen your Alliance, my blood will protect you for a while. At least, while you're here. The bar is safe enough, and I'll walk you home. I just wanted to…buy some time."

Allen turned around, finally looking at Lavi. His features were guarded. "Why?"

"I…I'm not quite sure what you're asking," Lavi took his time to choose his words.

"Why did you think I needed extra protection? What do I have to fear?"

Lavi couldn't help his incredulity. "You've seen Arkham, haven't you? There're laws, yes, but there'll always be those who want fresh human flesh, and they might not be able to resist – "

"There are other humans who've faced the same danger, before me. Why did you choose to protect me?" Allen explained his question.

"That…I'd rather not answer that now. Please." Lavi willed Allen to understand. He had his secrets, as did Allen. "It's not the right time. Not now. At least…until after your Alliance."

It took a while before Allen nodded. He seemed to think about something before he admitted, "I wanted to know, not because I thought it's my business." He sounded hesitant. At Lavi's curious gaze he looked away and continued, "I was just worried."

Lavi blinked. "For me?"

Allen crossed his arms, now looking a bit defensive. "In case you hadn't noticed, I treat you as a friend, not as a business partner, alright?"

"Oh."

Allen flushed. He wasn't quite sure what reaction he expected from Lavi, just not an "oh". He stood up. "I'm making breakfast," he announced before moving into the kitchen area, still within Lavi's sight. At least he had a legitimate excuse for keeping his back to him.

Unknown to him, Lavi watching Allen's back, had smiled, teeth and all, like a child who had received a puppy for Christmas.

.

It was night when Tyki saw the Earl again. He kneeled before the Earl, one knee sinking into the soft carpet. Only a fireplace illuminated the room.

"Hello, Tyki Tyk," the Earl cooed. His face was hidden in shadow.

"Good evening, Earl," Tyki said with respect. He bent to kiss the back of a gloved hand.

"Rise. Sit with me, boy," the Earl said, indicating the chair next to his. Tyki stood and took the seat, enjoying the sensual press of velvet around his body. He kept silent, waiting for the Earl to speak first. The Earl busied himself with the tea service on the small table between them.

"How is Allen doing? Well, I hope?" The Earl said, pouring tea for both of them.

"Well enough. Road wanted to go find him today, but it's his off day. You can imagine her disappointment," Tyki said. He accepted the cup and took a small sip of tea.

The Earl chuckled. "Ah, our dear Road has always been uncontrollable. She didn't go spy on him tonight, did she?"

"It's her father-daughter night with Sheryl. You'll only have to worry again tomorrow," Tyki said, taking a side glance at the amount of sugar the Earl was adding into his tea.

"Too true. We need only wait a few more days, in any case. I trust Allen hasn't found his Alliance yet?" He sounded cheerful.

"No. Lavi – the information broker – seems especially interested, though."

The Earl took a sip of tea before saying, "He is only slightly more than two centuries old. He cannot offer much protection. We needn't worry about him."

Tyki inclined his head. "He has made friends among some of the other species. He still keeps in contact with the siren Lenalee Lee," he added.

"Ah, but sirens hardly make Alliances with humankind. They are very picky, their kind. That scientist, Komui Lee, he's an exception, that's all."

"As you say," Tyki agreed.

"You know what I'm worried about, Tyki boy?" The Earl asked, leaning closer. Tyki could see the clean-shaven chin and a wide smile. He humoured the Earl by leaning in as well.

"What is it, Earl?"

"That the boy might have lost his loyalties," he said with a giggle. "Then it'll all be for naught, won't it?"

"Oh, dear Earl. With all due respect, I doubt that," Tyki smiled. "He came all the way to Arkham, after all."

"True, oh so true. Oh my, oh my. We'll have to prepare so much, won't we, Tyki? For the arrival of our grand guest," the Earl said, leaning back and taking his time to finish his tea. After he had put his cup down he asked, "Do you think he'll like his surprise?"

"I'm sure he will. He's been looking for too long."

"Yes. We've lost too much at this point," the Earl said in a tight whisper.

Tyki finished his tea in silence. He put the cup down on the saucer with a quiet clink. Outside, it was threatening to storm. A flash of lightning illuminated the room and, for the briefest second, the Earl's face. A second was all Tyki needed to take a good look.

"You're looking younger every day, Earl," he said quietly, with an ache in his chest. Blood connections held through centuries.

The Earl nodded. He touched his chin and said, in an equally quiet voice, "We have time. Not much. But we do. We've waited too long to run out of time now."