Chapter 17

I sat, mounted, in a tree not a hundred yards from where Rodney was showing his immense strength. Apart from his immense strength I could see that he was showing little else.

"He's an abomination to all vampires, " snorted under my breath.

I had no clue what made him so ridiculously large, and word around the coven had made no consensus either. There were many theories to pick from. They ranged from powerful, ancient magics to growth 'defects'. I wouldn't necessarily call it a defect, as the word might go. It was most definitely an advantage. I just didn't like it. It was something that someone like me could never overcome by myself, and that's what I do. I overcome things.

I shifted my gaze over to where the other passenger of the now deceased car lay. He still had not regained consciousness and he was being carted toward the road by Kale, my vampire role model, if you will. He is the man who inspired me to become what I am today. He is also, ironically, is the person who turned me into a vampire.

He taught me that all those things that morals hold dear---honesty, trust, and honor to those you hold dear---is what will make vampire kind rule the world some day, because, without those things, no vampire will ever truly be loyal to one another. He taught me that it was through unity, and not hate and blind ambition, that we will truly become one.

I watched him cart this weak mortal to the curb, and lay him down on the pavement, not harming him, yet. That was for Rodney to decide and do on his own if he sees fit, as the acting leader of this party.

Had I known that the first part of my training as a lieutenant was largely scouting, I would not have taken it so happily. I could understand the mechanics, and the genius of it. I would watch how other vampires of power perform their duties and then follow suite. But something about tonight seemed strange. There weren't any cars driving by, and there were certainly no police, which was strange.

The police were the main reason that Rodney had opted to bring along extra bodies to scout the area and phone if they saw any of them. They were scattered around the area of highway, a couple of miles up and down this stretch of particular road, but nothing.

And then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a flash, and then nothing. I watched the wooded area for some time, until I noticed a man, not very tall, and quite scrawny, walking up the path toward the road. Since I didn't have a cell on me, I couldn't contact the party of what I saw. In my eyes, no one man could ever threaten Kale, Rodney, and three other vampires they had brought with them to deal with anything else that might happen along.

My mission was simple, pure observation, nothing else. So I sat and watched.

"Listen Sid, let's be civil here."

"No Lucien, I will not be bloody civil. I have a Slayer out there, risking her life for this and I need some sort of information from you, if you won't be any other help."

"Sid, I would love to be of some help, but your story just doesn't add up. Furthermore, as I have told you multiple times tonight, even if it did, just don't have the manpower, or the resources to look into it right now."

"God damn it, mate, " I said, angry from talking to Lucien for at least an hour, "Listen, we're old friends. You can't even give me any information?"

I heard a long, exhausted sigh from the other end of the phone, "Ok, old friend. I was researching on a case before the watcher council was attacked."

It was my turn to let out a sigh, but mine was of relief, "Go on."

"I was in Germany, researching an ancient wizard, one of incredible power. I was stockpiling evidence to bring to The Council. When it was bombed, I dropped ship and left, leaving all my works there, " he paused, to take in a long breath, "From what I can remember, he was very illusive, never stayed in the same place for more than fifty years. Yes I said fifty years. From what I can gather he found a way to extend his life with his magic.

"He never left anything in his path either. People wouldn't remember anything about him. Either that or anyone that knew anything about him disappeared. Even worse, he never made a show of his power, he always stayed to himself, in secrecy.

"I deduced he was even better at manipulation and trickery than he was at magic, and he used his magic only when his other forms of power didn't suffice. Now, this makes for the most dangerous type of warlock, Sid."

He paused, to let me sit and think about it for a while, and then added, "Be careful, old friend."

"Same to you, lad."

"I'll have two beers and a special please, " I said putting a little emphasis on the latter.

The bartender slid two bottles my way and a glass of red liquid on the rocks. I walked over to where Scot and I had decided to sit, right in the middle of the bar, visible, and accessible. The perfect place for a newcomer to show that he was no threat, in fact, quite the contrary, wanted to become part of the crowd.

"Here you go, bud, " I said sitting the glass in front of him, "drink up."

He looked up from his pouting, "Thanks man, I parched," he said tipping the glass to his lips and downing it in one drink, slamming the glass down on the table.

I stared at him with wide-eyed amazement.

"Damn that was good, " he said looking up to me, noticing my expression, "what was it?"

I coughed, "Oh, you know, a little bit of this, a little bit of that."

Scot just shrugged and grabbed the second beer and cracked it open, "So, what are we supposed to do here besides sit and drink beers?"

"Well, we gotta wait for the right time, bro," I said taking another pull off my beer, smiling, knowing all too well who was about to walk through the door. He always ends up walking in the door…