I was confused, but then I thought about it, and it makes sense.

I've received compliments (not just for this story, but others with Entreri) for keeping true to Entreri's character as shown in the published novels. People complained that in other fics he was falling in love or adopting kids or turning good. They are happy I am not doing that to him.

I am also getting regrets that Entreri and Christine won't be a couple. You guys admit that it really can't be possible, but it would be nice to see. I appreciate the compliment that you think I could pull it off, but I'm not so sure that the result would any different from the fics you have been complaining about.

So what is the answer to this question? Do we want Entreri to be a cold heartless killer? Or do we want him to get in touch with his softer side? Or do we want both? Or neither?

I think what it comes down to is that we want to know him. All of Entreri's feelings and history and emotions are only hinted at in RAS's books. It's not until Servant of the Shard when Jarlaxle tries to dig into his head that Entreri begins to spill his inner thoughts. If RAS is going to write the next trilogy about those two, it will be interesting to see how he handles it. I read an interview in which RAS says he was uncertain at first how to write the Dark Elf Trilogy because he really wanted to get into Drizzt's head and let us know how he felt, but he also wanted to be able to continue to choreograph great fight scenes. The first requires first person, and the second requires third person. So he compromised and gave us the first person introductions to each section that have become my favorite parts of his books.

That is what we want from Entreri. We want first person dialog so we can get to know him. More than that, we want to like him. So when we get that first person dialog, we don't want him to think, "I am evil. Everyone is inferior to me. I'll just kill them all." We want him to be likeable. Darth Vader had les than 0 personality until he took off his mask and became good. (Sorry if I just spoiled that movie for anyone).

Because we want him to be good everyone tries to explain why he is bad. It is a problem with today's society that we don't want to believe in Mankind's inclination for evil. We always try and explain the serial killer's behavior by saying he was abused as a child or he had to watch his parents die or he experienced social rejection. I admit those have effects on people, but if everyone who experienced social rejection became a serial killer, we'd all be dead by now. But society has to blame bad things on something. It is never our fault. If you spill hot coffee on yourself, it's McDonald's fault. If you get cancer, it's Marlboro's fault. If you get pregnant, it's Trojan's fault.

This is not my view of society or of Entreri. If I ever try to explain Entreri's past, it will be very different from everything else that is out there in fanfiction. He was a bad kid. He was faster and smarter and more skilled than everyone else and he took advantage of it. Because that is the way I feel, Entreri will have to take responsibility for what he's done. That requires a different path than coming to grips with your childhood horrors. Getting in touch with your softer side is something that comes from Oprah. I think standing up and taking responsibility for your actions is more admirable.

Does this mean Entreri can't ever love anyone? Does this mean he will always be cold and heartless? No. Will he get together with Christine? I will only tell you this: At the end of this story, they will not be married. More than that, I will not say. Now, as far as getting to the end of the story, I'm almost there.

Chapter 10
"The Plan"

Artemis,

You are alive and well! Thank the gods! But is that all I am to hear
from you? Will you have nothing more to do with me than such a
brief response? I truly regret having brought you into this situation,
and if I have thus offended you, please accept my humble apology.
But if there is something else I have done to turn you away from me,
I must know.

Dominick visited me last night. He was a different person than before,
and I am having difficulty believing that the details I remember from
two nights ago were not just a dream. He did not appear to be injured
in anyway and denied ever having raised a sword against either you or
me. He said that it was your sword and you initiated the attack. He
said that your relationship with me was only to get at him. He said that
you used me to get what you wanted and that I likely will never hear
from you again.

I do not want to believe him. Please tell me that he is wrong. Dominick
said he would likely not return to me again either, but know that if what
he says of you is false, I would choose you anyway. Please let me
know if I have not misplaced my heart. I so desperately wish to see you
again.

Earnestly,
Christine Toole

Sam stood in front of Entreri's desk with an "I told you so" look on his face. This whole encounter intrigued him more than a little. His boss was very reserved and cold, so the fact that he might have a social life with one of the most eligible single women in the city was very curious. Though, the way things were going, it didn't look like that relationship would last.

Entreri put down the letter and looked at the other pieces of paper lying on his desk. His foreman had left him several urgent memos regarding his two business ventures. If Entreri did not act soon, he would start to loose a lot of money. Contracts needed to be worked out with food and drink vendors as well as with the lumberyard. If Entreri let his vendetta with Alececarr consume him, he would lose on more than one level.

But as far as levels of importance, right now, to him, Christine ranked the lowest. "I will respond to this later," he said, dismissing the boy.

Sam did not like the answer and hesitated, but a look from Entreri sent him out of the room. Entreri picked up the note and turned to place it on his "to do" stack. He winced as his side burned slightly. He had made it home in one piece last night, but only barely. He had drank two vials of healing balm and slept through the night and much of the morning. He had taken another when he awoke, and he should be fine by midday. He had to be careful not to overdue it on the healing, for the potions could be very intoxicating if overdone.

He turned back to his desk. The papers covering it reminded him of the many things he had to do, and the pain in his side reminded him of the one he felt most passionate about. Entreri needed a plan. He did not have one. He would not get one in the next two hours, so he might as well take care of his other business while his main problem had time to bounce around in his head for a while.

The Douglas Emporium was relatively empty when Entreri walked through the front door. Victor Douglas was behind the clerk's counter filling out order forms. The bell on the door alerted him to Entreri's presence.

"Artemis, it's been quite some time. We have a few things to discuss. My store room is getting full, I can't afford to hold on to stuff this long."

"Good morning to you too, Victor."

The clerk blushed. "I'm sorry, Artemis, it's just I've had a rough week. A few other customers I depend on have been late as well."

"Well, I apologize for that, but it can't be that bad, can it?"

"It's not just that," Victor admitted. "My normal vender just came buy to drop of my weekly order, and he convinced me to get some of his newest brew. He offered it cheap so I bought four kegs thinking it would be easy to move. That was before I tried it. Man, I've never . . . well, here, have some for yourself." Victor produced a bottle he had tapped from the keg and poured enough to cover the bottom of a glass. "Try it."

It wasn't ale; Entreri could see that. As he held it up to the light it gave of a reddish tint. He shrugged his shoulders and tossed the two ounces down his throat. Instantly his throat burned like he had swallowed flaming oil. He felt his stomach reflux, but he managed to hold it down. The warmth that spread through him was like if he had just drank another vial of healing potion.

"Powerful stuff, eh?" Victor asked, a smile spreading across his face. "They call it Firewater. They are making it up in the Great Range. He said it will keep you warm in the winter. Heck, I'm thinking about using it to degrease my wagon axles. What does 180 proof mean anyway?"

"It means you shouldn't be drinking it," Entreri replied, blinking the tears out of his eyes. "And if you ever run out of lamp oil, you won't need to buy more for a while."

"What do you mean?"

Entreri reached for the bottle, poured some more into the glass, and then flung the contents into the nearby fireplace. What had been smoldering coals instantly flashed into high flames and then died again. "That's what I mean."

"So you think I should market this differently?"

Entreri shrugged. "I think we should settle my order first."

"Right," Victor said. "Follow me."

The owner led Entreri around the counter and into the back storeroom. The room was indeed overflowing, with kegs and barrels staked three high in some places. "You are overstocked," Entreri agreed.

"But after you take your share, I should be okay. You've got 8 kegs of golden ale, 6 of honey mead, 10 of dark ale, and 6 barrels of dinner wine."

Entreri located each item as Victor called them out. "You've got 8 barrels of wine here, I thought you only supplied the northern taverns."

"I do. As it turns out, you aren't the only place up north that offers wine anymore. From what I understand, they have new ownership at the Ruddy Mary, and he is trying to make the place a little more upscale."

Entreri nodded his head slowly, a plan forming. "Yes, I think I've met him. I can see how he might be a bit more selective with what he drinks."

"I haven't seen him yet, but he pays on time, so I like him."

Entreri turned to Victor. "How many kegs of that fire water did you say you had?"

"Four, why, do you want some?"

"No, but I think the Ruddy Mary might appreciate it. When do you deliver to them?"

"They had someone in here to pay last night just before I closed, so their order will go out with my noon deliveries."

"Do you have room on the wagon for four more kegs?"

"Sure, but I can't alter a customer's order without their approval."

"Add it to my order," Entreri said, "but deliver it to them. Like I said, I know the owner. Don't say anything about it when you drop them off. I'll stop by later today to explain everything."

"If you're paying, I don't have a problem with it."

"Good, let's go back up front and settle the bill then."

As Entreri went about his other chores, the plan formed in his head. As he thought, he kept an eye on the sky. Storm clouds were rolling in from the west. Whatever his plan was, he would have to do it today and very soon. Thunderstorms were like parties for vampires. The early sunset combined with the violent chaos of the storm made incredible cover for a massacre. Entreri had seen it before both with vampires and werewolves. The storm moves in early in the evening, and when it leaves the next morning, the town is in ruins. Entreri had undoubtedly roused Alececarr's ire last night, and he didn't think the vampire would stand pat much longer. Entreri decided to add one more trip to his list.

"Artemis Entreri. Please tell me you've cleared up my vampire problem."

John Irenum, the captain of the city guards was sitting behind his desk with his feet propped up on his desk going over the reports for the day.

"Not yet. I need your help."

John dropped his feet from the desk. "Raymond! Get in here!"

The youngest and newest member of the guard came running into the office. "Yes, sir?"

"What day is it today?"

"Uh, the 23rd, sir."

"Mark it on the calendar. Artemis Entreri has just asked for my help."

"Uh, sir?"

"That is all," John dismissed the boy. He nodded and left the room.

"I'm being serious," Entreri said flatly.

"So am I," John replied, the volume of his voice adding validity to his comment. "Earlier this week I had to bring a dead girl back to her father. I was told by a certain assassin that he would take care of the problem. Over 72 hours have passed, and now that same assassin is coming to me saying he needs help. I can only assume that means the situation has escalated out of your control. Stop me when you have anything to say for yourself."

"In those reports of yours, how many accounts of dead or missing people do you have?"

"I don't get reports from what happens in the north," John replied, avoiding the question. Entreri knew the answer. If there had been just one more body that had matched the girl from the river, John would have hunted down the assassin long before this.

"Yes, there have been deaths in the north. I told you I would contain it, and I believe I have. It has taken me this long to find their lair and devise a way to stop them. If you had done what you wanted three days ago, the situation would be much worse than it is now."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because you ask me that same question every single time something like this comes up and every single time I am proven right in the end."

John took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "What do you need from me?"

"Archers," Entreri replied. "At least ten unless you can spare more. They have to be good and they have to be able to withstand the sight of a vampire without losing their composer."

"When?"

"Within two hours," Entreri replied. He had taken another healing potion during his rounds, and he felt almost fully healed, though he didn't think he would have to do too much fighting. It was noon now, and Entreri wanted to make sure that Victor had an extra hour or two to deliver the firewater.

"And will this end it?"

"Yes," Entreri said. "And it needs to happen today. If the storm comes, and there are still vampires in the streets, it will turn into a very nasty party. It will be a party you do not want an invitation to."

John nodded. "You will have your archers. Now tell me the plan."

The Ruddy Mary did moderate business that afternoon. The storm clouds in the west let everyone know that if there was work to be done outside, it had better be done now or not at all. The late lunch crowd was thus very thin.

Alececarr was resting underground. He could sense the coming storm without having to see the clouds. He had eaten enough druids to gain a connection with the forces of nature around him. The thunderstorm would be here in less than two hours and it would be glorious. He had most of his army, almost 30 vampires underground. The rest worked the restaurant above.

Emma Gould, the woman Entreri had earlier marked as a vampire, nursed her injured hand as she cleared a table and brought the dishes back to washroom. Her life had not changed much since she had become a vampire. Well, there were a few drastic changes such as she now had eternal life, had the strength of an ox, and had recently eaten her fiancé, but other than that, the daily routine of her life hadn't changed. She was still a waitress, and she still took orders from the cooks, but they were vampires too, so she accepted the role.

"Emma, we need another jug of cooking oil from the storeroom," one of the cooks called.

She didn't answer verbally, but dumped the dishes in the sink, wiped her hands, and went to the back room. Though her tasks were just as mundane as before, she noticed that the lifting part of her job had gotten a lot easier. The oil was on a shelf on the back wall. She had to reach over the kegs of ale and mead that had just been delivered. It seemed like an unusually big order, but she wasn't in charge of that, so she put it out of her mind.

Motion from the back door caught her attention. The door had been reinforced and was always locked to keep out the usual beggars. Now the door was open. She didn't think anyone capable of picking the lock from the outside so it must have been one of the new young waitresses who had left it open.

She went over to close it and saw a man hunched under a green blanket. "Could you spare some food miss?" the beggar asked.

A smile spread across Emma's face, fangs poking over her bottom lip. "Oh, but I think you are the food." She reached down under the blanket and caught hold of the man's shirt, hoisting him off the ground outside, up into the building. She reared back for a bite and felt a sharp pain in her chest. She looked down to see a rapier hilt between her breasts.

From under the green blanket Entreri frowned at the older woman. "I'm sorry Emma," and he swiped his dirk over her shoulders. He quickly grabbed the hilt of the borrowed saber as the vampire's body dissolved around it, not wanting it to clatter to the floor.

Despite his silent kill, Entreri knew he had to be quick. Emma had been back here to get something, and when she didn't return, she would be missed. Entreri spotted the four kegs he was looking for right away. With some difficulty he rolled one to the far side of the room and moved two others to the center of the room. As he moved the heavy kegs, he listened to the floor. There had to be a hollow spot that led to the sewers below.

Moving the last keg, he heard the hollow thump in the floor. That wasn't all he heard. "Emma, what is taking so-"

Entreri didn't even look; he just hurled his dirk at the noise. The vampire cook had no time to dodge and flattened himself against the doorway as the blade impaled his throat and stuck into the doorframe. The stupid vampire tried to pull himself free with his head, and though he succeeded, he cut one too many veins in his neck, and his body turned to dust.

Entreri leaped forward in a somersault, rolling to a crouch, and catching his dirk before it hit the floor. He stayed in the crouch briefly and looked through the doorway. He didn't see anyone in the short hall and went back to work.

The trap door to the sewer was under a rug. Entreri had it exposed and opened in moments. Using the dirk, Entreri pierced one of the two kegs he had moved to the center of the room and spread some of the alcohol on the floor, making trails to each keg in the room.

He pulled out a rag from his pocked, soaked it with the firewater, and tied it to a long piece of string. Entreri tossed the rag up and over a rafter that hung directly over the trap door and tied it so the rag hung two feet over the center of the open door.

He had to be fast now, for he was about to make some noise. The keg he had cracked open was still 90 percent full, and he pushed it into the open door, hearing a satisfying crack and slosh as it hit the ground below and emptied its contents. Entreri lit the rag on fire and ran out the back door.

The rag burned hot and fast, the flames licking upward at the string that supported it. The string didn't last long under the heat, and after ten seconds, the weight of the rag was too much, and it fell straight through the open trap door.

Captain Irenum and his eleven best bowmen crouched in the sewers. Entreri had given them good directions and they now waited just around the turn from the vampire nest. The men had not moved quietly, but the acoustics of the sewer played tricks with the noise, often bouncing it back at them or scattering it so it sounded like there was either twice as many of them or they were half a mile away.

In either case, when they had reached their destination, John had the stealthiest of the group peer around the edge to see two guards, seemingly oblivious to their presence. Now the men waited. They were professional enough to not mutter amongst themselves, but as twenty minutes went buy, they each wanted to ask the burning question. "When?"

Entreri hadn't been specific. When they had parted ways just moments before John and his men had entered the sewer Entreri said he would give them about thirty minutes. It had almost been 50 now.

In the quiet of the sewers, the sound of the keg hitting the ground and splitting open was clear, but not overwhelming. Each of the men exchanged confused glances, eager for action, but not wanting to blow their cover too soon. John motioned to the scout to have a look.

At the end of the short branch, he saw the two guards turn around and investigate the noise. They pulled back the curtain that separated the sleeping area and looked at the broken keg with confusion. The city guard watched from a distance of about 200 feet as what looked like a teardrop of fire fell between the two vampires and the whole end of the sewer combusted.

The vampires shrieked in pain and surprise and ran away from the blaze. The rest of the city guards turned to the scout for clarification of what they heard, and they got their answer as the scout pulled his bow from his shoulder, knocked an arrow, and let it fly.

The first target was too engulfed in flames, and the vampire was already disintegrating as the arrow passed through the flaming outline of cascading dust. The archer allowed a shiver to run down his spine as he knocked a second arrow and took aim at the other vampire. He was only 50 feet away, and far less on fire. The arrow blasted a hole in his chest, and he did his best imitation of wind blown chaff as he was tossed back and disintegrated.

"What are they?" the guard cried as he knocked yet another arrow and panned the flames, waiting for another one.

"Vampires," John said as if he were an expert. In reality, he knew little more than his men did. Entreri had just given them a brief synopsis of how to kill one before they parted ways. "Shoot them through the chest. If you hit them anywhere else, keep firing. If you let one escape, any blood it sheds will be on your head!"

The rest of the men were now all looking at the flames, but only the first guard had his bow out. He lowered it after several moments. "Are there anymore?"

Twenty screaming and burning vampires came tearing through the flames.

Entreri raced around the tavern, his dirk and saber ready. The action would be delayed, and he was going to be ready for it. He expected a rush out of the tavern once the smoke started. The scared and/or stupid vampires would run as well, finding that the rays of the sun were just as harsh as the flames they were fleeing.

By lighting the fire beneath the tavern, and with most of the structure made of stone, Entreri didn't know how long it would take for the flames to reach up and burn the wooden floor of the store room. He was hoping to get some help from his vampire friends. He was not disappointed.

John and his men let loose with their arrows, striking down the easy targets as they ran screaming through the fire. A few of the vampires toward the back of the rush saw their numbers fall quickly by the bow and turned around for a different route of escape. Jumping back through the flames, they fought for position on the ladder, dancing around as their feet soaked in the flaming liquid all around them.

The most aggressive vampire fought his way up the ladder and placed his flaming shoes on the wooden floor of the tavern's storeroom. He had little time to do anything else.

Entreri watched from the outside as the back of the tavern exploded throwing chunks of stone and slabs of wood high into the air. Flames shot 100 feet into the sky, and it rained stone in every direction for hundreds of feet. Those who weren't killed instantly (there were a few) stumbled deliriously out of the front of the tavern.

Entreri ran forward, ushering the stunned patrons away, watching for those who tried to stick to the shadows. Two vampires tried to escape, but Entreri charged them with blades drawn. The scared creatures chose the sunlight over the blades and met a fiery end.

Little else came out of the building. The walls of the tavern were made of stone, and as the wooden floors burned, the walls collapsed in. Most of the firewater had been thrown in the air during the explosion and the fire settled into a slow burn rather quickly. Entreri had seen only the two vampires run out. Everyone else was standing in the sunlight watching the building burn. Most of the action must have been down in the sewers.

Vampires fell left and right. Some received a wooden shaft through the heart while the unlucky ones collected the projectiles like pincushions while their bodies slowly burned. They all screamed.

Alececarr listened to the screams from inside the caverns. The sleeping area had long ago filled with smoke, and the firewater had run inside, setting the curtains and bedding on fire. In the midst of the blaze sat the master vampire. Cicle was out, and the frost blade kept the flames from touching the undead creature. The magical weapon would normally not act that well as a fire shield, but Alececarr funneled his considerable magical energies through it, and no flame came within three feet of him.

As his minions died in the sewer and above in the explosion, he felt each one. As the demonic spirits were released to the atmosphere, Alececarr felt a jolt of energy run through him. Soon, far too soon for a random accident, the slaughter had ended. This had not been an accident, and Alececarr's list of suspects contained only one name. But like the resolve Entreri showed when he had been locked in this room with a host of vampires, Alececarr was not defeated yet. And it would take more than fire, arrows, or sunlight to take him out.

When all the air had been sucked out of the caverns and the fires died down around him, Alececarr rose slowly from the ground and walked out to meet his enemies. He would face whatever he saw, and if he died, he would make sure he took Artemis with him.

The main blaze at the end of the sewer was still burning strong as it had plenty of oxygen to draw from. Alececarr stepped up to it and the flames parted under the influence of the frost blade. He stepped through and spun into action. Twelve arrows flew straight for him, but he was moving faster than the archers could aim.

One arrow scrapped passed his thigh and the rest missed. As they all reloaded, Alececarr looked for Entreri. The assassin was not among them. These were city guards. They were all trained and armed. The vampire didn't want to believe they could be behind this attack. Entreri must be above.

Alececarr screamed in rage as he charged the group, weaving and jumping as arrows skipped off the stone walls around him. John dropped his bow and pulled his sword as the vampire closed the gap between them unbelievably fast. He called for the rest of his men to change to swords, but Alececarr was on top of them too quickly. He bowled them over, slashing out with Cicle. The weapon clanged off of breastplates and armor, doing no real damage, but sent several of the men sprawling.

John cried out for a flanking maneuver, but Alececarr wasn't hanging around to fight. He wanted Entreri, and he didn't have time to waste on these soldiers.

"Some one hit him!" John cried as the vampire was escaping down the sewer. The men were just picking themselves up, and no one had seen where he went. John dropped his sword and picked up a bow. As the vampire fled at amazing speed, the captain knew he only had one shot. He waited for Alececarr to stop dancing and let fly.

The arrow struck the fleeing creature in the center of the back, adding to the vampire's momentum ever so slightly and sending him stumbling into the muck. He disappeared from sight, and John waited for him to get up, not sure if he had found the heart. After several long seconds, nothing moved.

John relaxed slightly and checked the health of his men. No one was seriously hurt, and they all stood ready for the next vampire to come running at them. None did, and as the smoke began to fill the sewer, making it difficult to breath, they left.

Entreri met the city guards as they crawled out of a sewer grate a few blocks from what was left of the Ruddy Mary.

"Did you kill them all?" Entreri asked as John emerged from underground.

"We are fine, thanks," John replied curtly. "And yes, all the vampires are dead."

"All of them?" Entreri asked again.

"That's what I said."

"Even the leader?"

"That would traditionally be part of 'All' I believe." John gave Entreri a look that let the assassin know he didn't want to talk about it. He was helping his men out of the sewer, and there was smoke billowing into the sky. He had other things to worry about.

Entreri didn't think they would have much problem with the fire spreading with the storm coming. As he thought this Entreri felt the first drop hit his hand. He looked up and saw the clouds were darker than he had thought. It might be the smoke, but he was pretty sure they were in for a good soaking.

After John had sorted out all the details, he would come back to Entreri to talk about it, the assassin was sure of that. Entreri would bet the captain had probably seen some horrific things during that fight, and he would want more information about what he had just killed. Entreri could ask about his weapons then. Or he could go into the sewers and look for them himself. He glanced at the grate and saw the smoke billowing out of it. He could look for them later.

The rain was slow in coming. It dripped annoyingly for about 30 minutes. Then, with a deafening clap of thunder, the skies erupted. It was as if an ocean had opened itself right above the city. The burning tavern was quickly extinguished and the nearby buildings escaped with minor damage.

The streets emptied of people as they turned into rivers. The sewer grates were far from adequate for capturing all of the water. What they did catch was collected below the city in rushing tunnels of water.

The cool water washed clean a system of tunnels that was in sore need of it. Any stray object caught in the path of the flow was ripped down stream effortlessly. The flow only found one immovable object.

Alececarr opened his eyes as the water rushed over him. He had never been stabbed through the heart with wood before, but he knew he didn't like it. It had not killed him. While his body lost consciousness and was on the verge of disintegrating, his demonic spirit held it together.

He sat up slowly, realizing he was going to have to go somewhere soon before the rapids around his feet became too strong for him to withstand. With a vicious groan, he yanked the arrow out of his back and tossed it aside. Cicle was still in his hand and the vampiric dagger was secured under his cloak.

Alececarr was mad. His army was gone and he had been made a fool of. He would have to move on to another town. Though it was several hours till sunset, with the storm raging overhead there would be no sun till dawn. He could steal a horse and find another town. A town without . . .

Alececarr growled in anger. Entreri! Alececarr wasn't going anywhere. He was mad and hungry. He needed something to eat. And he knew just the restaurant to satisfy his appetite.

The storm was just getting started.