Chapter 5 ((Dian))

My briefing with the Gonyal twins ended. They brought with them pleasant news, in contrast with what the half-Malkavian had brought for me - I knew it since I laid eyes upon his blood-smeared coat, as well as the smell of gun powder and gasoline around him - so, his plan had failed him after all. That conceited old man, he would be liquidated as soon as his value was no more.

When I entered the house, Cornelius was laughing. As for Daniel, his expression was a blend of puzzlement and humiliation. Nevertheless I ignored the face and said,

"What's the source of the amusement, Cornelius?"

"Princess! Knight Danny has the gift to make the dead laughs!"

"Sure he does, you dead and undead." I said, smiling, yet my tone was cold.

Cornelius must have sensed that as well, for he had stopped laughing hysterically.

"Are you a princess, Dian?" Daniel asked me innocently.

"It depends." I answered shortly.

Daniel plays an important role in my plan, yet what was my plan he needed not to know. It would simply be pointless for him to understand it and perhaps, even taxing.

"The princess does not have a tiara." Cornelius interrupted, along with his playful eyes.

"What does that suppose to mean? That...you're a leader of another new clan! Who wants to make me your asset again?" Daniel had gone agitated.

"You're not an asset, Daniel," I said spontaneously, and he immediately fell into silence. "You have an undead life, and anything with a life is never a property to anyone's claim."

I then gave Cornelius a glance, and he nodded in acknowledgment, then reentered the side room.

Once he was gone, I continued, "You may leave once you've healed. And you may never come back once you've left. As you like it. I'll never track you down, nor would I spy you. You are a free man, but..."

"...But what?" he urged me to say what I did not say. Yet still in the end, I didn't finish those words, for I was distracted by an unexpected visitor.

I opened the door before the bell rung.

"Hmm...I was expecting a bigger party. Any dark corners for old Gary to fit in, Big Boss?"

And I grinned visibly, so was Gary the Nosferatu; for things were happening better than anticipated.

"No place but the Network Establisher." I needed not to whisper, for Daniel was quite far from us and his hearing was still weak.

"Hmm...sounds intriguing. And what's in for Gary's cup?"

"All as rumors say."

"Ah! Rumors! The painful amusement for the Nosferatus." And he giggled on that.

"With your help, Gary. Everything shall end in three days."

"The clock is ticking then, and let's not froze in time."

"Come in, Gary. We shall discuss the terms."