Doing what has to be done

Special thanks to: UndeadTiger, KURRYdaJIGGAmonkey, and for helping me beta read. Thanks again!

Ion sat in the cold steel chamber of the council. He stood up and looked at Ester, Virgil, and Vanessa Walsh.

"Honorable members of this council in Albion. The Empress Augusta Varadica is willing to give every person in this community of fellow Methuselah a home in The Empire. It is with the signing of the peace treaty that she will meet with Queen Esther of Albion to discuss the transport of all the inhabitants The City of The Methuselah to The Empire. Also she extends her invitation of welcome to the head of this council Vanessa Walsh, to the emissary between the Methuselah and Tarren Virgil Walsh and also to everyone who is gathered here now. Thank you."Ion sat down again.

Another Methuselah appeared at his side."Please forgive my intrusion but there is an urgent message for the Ear of Memphis waiting for him in his quarters."

"A message for me thank you. With this councils permission I will take my leave."

"Granted Earl of Memphis you may leave. This council is adjourned as well." Vanessa Walsh spoke curtly. Ion turned and left the chamber fallowed by the Methuselah members."Brother I ask you one final time are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes I am sure every relationship starts with a certain amount of distance. I believe that this will work. Now I trust that you will make the appropriate arrangements for the councils journey? I will make the appropriate arrangements for the tarren nobles journey. One more thing we must make sure that it looks like an accident. I will take care of the maid."
The Count of Manchester and the Leader of the Methuselah departed.

--------------------------------

Dinner was served at eight o'clock that night. Ms. Doubtfire sat down near Queen Esther on her left. Ion sat down to her right. Ms. Doubfire got up and demanded that Ion move! Ion quickly pointed out that there was another chair to his left. Ms. Doubfire. Sat to Ion's left. Another servant came and sat a bowl of soup in front of Esther. Another maid leaned down to put a bowl of soup in front of Ion . Ms. Doubfire reached across to the maid and grabbed the bowl the servant was about to sit down. The soup landed on Ion's head covering him and his clothes.
"Now see what you did you incompetent servant you spilt the soup on top of our guest! Now go get him a towel!" Mrs. Doubfire screeched.
"I'm so sorry for that Earl of Impotence. No I said that wrong didn't I. I meant Earl Memphis I am sorry. Perhaps you should leave and take a shower." Mrs. Doubfire said with a small grin on her face.
"Please excuse me Queen Esther I must go and change after this incident. Ion got up from his seat and went to change his cloths.

--------------------------------------------

" You are certain then."Caterina Sforza sat in an overstuffed chair in her quarters.

"Yes unfortunately both vampires are dead."
"Thank you please leave."
"One other thing your Eminence it was most unusual. The two of them were not dressed like Methuselah nobles. The two of them were dressed like agents of The Contra Mundi. It was almost like the two of them were ether spying on the Contra Mundi or they work for the Contra Mundi. However I believe that the last scenario is not the case. "
"Why is that?"
"It is because I have searched through their possessions and found this." Father Wordsworth handed Lady Caterina a jade envelope stamped with the Imperial seal of the Empire. It was addressed to Cardinal Sftorza. The Duchess of Milan opened the letter.

Dear Lady Caterina Sforza,Duchess of Milan, head of the Vatician Foreign Affairs Department, and head of the AX Agency we have not been formally introduced. I am pleased to send Lord Alucard Duke of Nigeria and of Meinz. Accompanying him is Lord Drageula Duke of Nigeria. The two of them are ordered to act as ambassadors to The Vatican. I have ordered them to act as guides, translators, and protectors for Your Eminence and His Holiness Pope while the two of you travel to The Empire.I hope to see Your Eminence and His Holiness for the resigning of the Augusta Varadica.

'Oh no! What have we done! Damn my brother either way this is disastrous for The Vatican. It appears nothing can be done to fix this now. What could the Duke of Nigeria have meant? He said "this paper contains everything we've found out about Cardinal Medici and his plan. It's encoded its secret is buried. A secret now that only fire can tell!" He also said "Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely.'--Edna St. Vincent Millay. Acta est fabula plaudite The play has been performed; applaud!"What could he have meant? A secret that only fire can tell. The quotes. The wise and the lovely, the play has been performed: applaud. It almost sounds like he meant two things. Fire, darkness, the wise, the lovely, the play. It sounds like….Fire can tell…I wonder.'

Caterina Sforza walked over to her dresser and pulled out a pack of matches. She lit a match and held it carefully near the piece of paper. Caterina could bearly make out the small minute writing that was there.

Cardinal Medici is planning to attack at the treaty signing. A missile is loaded with Calcium cyanide or potassium cyanide which will release on impact. The missile is at Assari Air force base.

"He couldn't could he? Sister Kate!"

"Yes." The blond holographic nun replied

"Get the Entire Ax on the information contained on this piece of paper at once also get Father Wordsworth and Father Garcia on The Iron Maiden. The two of them are going to the Empire. Bring the two bodies of the Methuselah lords with you. I want the Empress to identify them. The two of them will contact The Duchess of Kiev and explain the situation to her. She should be able to request a private meeting with her majesty. Have the two of them wait until I arrive tomorrow to speak to the Empress . The Pope and I should arrive tomorrow."

"Your Eminence if the information is true shouldn't the two of you stay here?"

" No if we remain it will tip him off. I want every member of AX to hunt down that missile."

End of ch14. Ch15 will be submited soon. Untill then Dogsfang