Hello! Well, I called this chapter 'patches' because I combined here different topics.

Chapter 19

Patches

"Sel …"

"What!"

"It's Lorenz. His group lost …"

"Damn it!"

Selina rubbed temples furiously. For the whole week her troop has been getting calls from colleges-assassins, which always tell the same: killed one of the Council. And no signs, no traces, no witnesses …

And such murders everywhere around United States and two or three in London. So the troop 'C' had to sit in Diamonds' familial manor and watch for all doors and windows all nights, changing with werewolf-troop in the morning.

Sel was in a very bad mood, as she didn't know who killed all those older men.

She was also angry because she couldn't be with her lovely count, who flew to Washington to the extra-Council meeting.

"I hate this situation!" – Alex said words, which were in Selina's head.

"Read my minds? Well, we have photos from the place of the crime. Search."

"There's no sense! What do we have! Rivers of blood, corpses, ash! Almost nothing!"

Leader slapped him twice:

"Calm down! It's not the time for tempestuous hysterics!"

She looked into the window; it was so dark, the new moon …

'Who could do this? It's like … someone really hates noble guys …'

Meanwhile in the V.I.P.-number of one of the most expensive hotels of Washington Maya Fern was celebrating her triumph.

"Oh, it's even better than could be!" – she exclaimed, falling on the leather sofa. Terri looked down at her gloomily, crossing arms on his chest, seemed as he didn't share her point of view.

"You enjoy it?"

"Of course I do! It's my victory! At last! I so close …" her eyes sparkled; the energy was pouring over the edge.

"Happy, Maya? You're ruining my deal."

Vampiress became serious.

"I'm just giving them what they want … Blood of their enemies."

Terri turned back to her; he could hardly keep himself from hurting her.

She noticed him tensing, she wasn't a fool.

"Terri, my love, do I still have your heart, your love? It's all I need … But have you ever asked what they want? Wolf can't become a sheep. Hunters can't forget the taste of murdering …"

Maya was slowly massaging his shoulders, whispering in a sweet voice.

"You're so tensed. Relax … I'll do all the job by myself."

He became soft in her gentile hands, as usual … So easy to manipulate…

Almost in the same time Gabriel Van Helsing was talking with his old Vatican friend – Emilio Malletty – the red general. Hunters were glad to meet again, but the business which brought them to the small cabinet behind the 'Holy Order' laboratory was the worst reason.

"How do you feel, Gabriel? How's your transformation?" Malletty asked caringly.

"Normal, actually … as always unpleasant. What news here?"

"Well, we made a small 'check' in one witches' den. And, I need to confess, I looked through their books …"

Van Helsing smiled; he knew how badly his friend felt when broke the rules, just like Selin.

"So what did you find?"

"Books were written on demonic, but I could read some words in Aramaic… Guess what was there."

"A recipe of a magic potion?"

"No, Gabriel, worse …" the red general bent over the table, risking to pour off the tea, and whispered:

"A kind of a plan … In two words: we have problems here."

"There's four …"

"I'm serious … There was the detailed instruction how to release … you know whom."

"It can't be …"

"But it is! They just need to wait till the, a-a, how it calls…, a (!) 'The Ancient power' to become twenty. Cardinal knew she's too dangerous for us."

"But she's a child!"

"No matter how old is she now … One of our assassins will be sent to kill her … I don't like it, but you know: we must do everything for our faith and Saint Catholic church."

"It's not right!" Gabriel looked quite suppressed; he had seen Diana and couldn't imagine anyone from the Holy Order could harm this innocent child. Emilio Malletty put hand on his shoulder:

"And this assassin – you."

Mourning march melody filled the room and Selin took her mobile phone:

"Who's now! I'm busy!"

"Why so rudely? I did something wrong?" Dracula's cold voice with a bit of a taunt sounded.

"Oh, it's you, thanks for calling … I've already heard enough bad news today. How's the meeting?"

"Boring as usual. I miss you …"

"I …" Selina noticed her command listening attentively. She walked into the corridor to speak tête-à-tête.

"… miss you, too. When will you come back?"

"If you need me now, I'll send everything to hell."

"No! Stay where you are. Or I'll feel guilty, really."

"Alright, my queen. As you wish …"

"So why did you call?"

"To hear your voice."

"Liar."

"What did you want to hear? That I desire to have sex with you again? I thought it's clear."

"You're such a …"

"Easy, Sel! I still hope you'll send me your nude-photo."

"In your dreams, count! You have to wait …"

"By the way I've fixed the date of our wedding on the 17th of May."

"You made a decision without me? Nice …"

"Why should I ask woman's opinion?"

"I hate when you act like this!"

"It's my habit. Besides, you're a woman."

"You've already said this. And I'm the woman who heads the best troop in US, so be more polite!"

Dracula laughed on her comment, he enjoyed making her to loose control.

"What's so funny?"

"We haven't married yet but already quarreled like old spouses."

Selin smiled to herself:

"Well, the battery sets, we'll speak later alright?"

"Maybe you'll send me your photo?"

"Good bye, Vladislaus!"

Sel turned off her mobile and just in time: she had to run on Lora's call.

"What now!"

"Sel, I think we have a sign."

The troop 'C', supported with 'Moonlight' command of werewolves collapsed into the small pub, hidden between old buildings covered with graffiti. Selina, on the rights of the leader, dislodged the door out and soldiers stepped inside. The master fell on his knees at her, he was a human, but was also connected with werewolves in drug-business.

"Oh, brilliant mistress, please, come! He's in the cellar!"
The main werewolf with white fur roared:

"How dare you to leave the corpse of the great Lord LaSalle in the cellar!"

Sel stopped him softly:

"Rodrigo … I know LaSalle was your brother-in-law, but, please, calm down."

Rodrigo nodded, he knew she was right. The procession went downstairs into the cellar and almost everyone felt sick. Even stern Selin, who had seen such things before, made few gulps from the flask and only after that stared at the corpse, or what was he now, of one of the most powerful older men in the Werewolf Council.

"Well, a-a, they left … traces."

Werewolves howled loudly with their heads up, it was like a sign of respect. Vampires left them for a while delicately and ordered strong drinks to relax a bit.

"So awful, I've never thought humans can act like this …" Alex flinched, tensing to swallow the hot liquid.

"Why do you think humans did the crime?" Mirek asked quietly, he had steal nerves, even in such situation he kept coolness.

"Who else could! Bastards from the Holy Order, I'm sure!"

"If it's Malletty, I'll kill him."

Selin looked at him thoughtfully, remembering how broken he was after Karen's death.

"Where's Lora?"

"She felt badly, went out to breathe some fresh air, you know."

She really found Lora near the club; the girl bent over the edge of the rubbish tank.

"Lora …"

Lora has thrown up into the tank, then wiped mouth and said:

"Sel, I don't want to go there again. Don't upbraid me."

"You better to go home so. I don't need weak soldiers under my command."

"But, Se-el …"

"Lora, I know it's hard, but you have to fight with your fears. Assassins can't be afraid of death."

"I understand. I'll be alright."

"I hope you will."