- XXIV -

The werewolves in the cavern had not been the only ones in Hungary, and William still had not been spotted. For decades, the vampires surveyed new terrain and slew wolf after wolf, again and again. They had saved whole villages and cities of mortals from getting killed or turned into beasts, but they could not exterminate the plague. Not until they would find the root of all evil.

Amelia had loved her life as a commander at first. Working out strategies and fighting the enemy with sword and bow had been so much more exciting than staying at a castle all day, being a wife to a disrespectful husband. With time, however, she had gotten weary of the accursed, irrepressible pack of rabid dogs.

Marcus, too, seemed to get bored by the eternal war. Maybe he had expected finding William with the help of Viktor's army to be a walkover.

One night, when the three Elders were sitting at the large table in the throne room of Castle Corvinus, General Thomas walked in and bowed.

"Milady, Milords," he greeted. "The guard at the gates reported to me that there is a mortal man waiting outside the walls. He claims to be a scholar from Buda. He brings news you certainly will like to hear."

"What kind of interesting news could an ordinary mortal scribe bring to us?" Viktor's voice oozed with sarcasm. After countless battles without getting closer to their aim, he was not in his best mood either. "Send him away!"

"Exactly," Marcus approved, staring at the ceiling, uninterested. "Begone!"

"No," Amelia intervened, rising from her seat and putting a hand on Viktor's shoulder. "We could really need some distraction, don't you agree?"

She smiled softly at her lover, then turned to Thomas.

"Bring that mortal in," she ordered.

Thomas nodded, bowed and headed for the door. Amelia had acted wise as always, restraining Viktor's anger and offsetting Marcus's indifference. The general admired her for this. He admired her strategic thinking, her mental and physical strength, her elegant and regal appearance. He had been right back then in acting without prejudice, when he had chosen to serve her. She was a good leader not despite, but because she was a woman. Without her, Viktor and Marcus surely would have killed each other by now.

Viktor. The way she looked at Viktor. That affectionate glance she threw her fellow Elder always gave the general's heart a stab. She was Viktor's and he, Thomas, would never be more than a useful servant to her. With downcast eyes, he left the hall.

The moon was high in the sky and brightly illuminated the throne room, when a middle-aged mortal man with short, dirty blond hair, dressed in a plain brown cowl, bowed low to the vampires. Then he dared to look up slowly, and a subtle smile curled the corners of his mouth.

"My name is Andreas Tanis," the mortal introduced himself. "In the monastery of Buda I have learned the high arts of the Latin, Greek, and Germanic languages and so have access to the most varied sources of information. Occasionally I have heard that you, Milady and Milords, are searching for a certain beast. A werewolf who goes by the name of William. Your brother, Lord Marcus, highborn descendant of Alexander Corvinus."

With that, he half grinned at the original vampire, and his green eyes sparkled mischievously.

The Elders threw each other surprised glances. How on earth could he know all that? Amelia decided to play along in his little game.

"So you believe in werewolves, monk?" she asked in a dismissive tone.

"I do not just believe in them, I've seen them myself. And I have also proof of the existence of vampires. The three eldest of them are sitting right before me."

Andreas Tanis smugly smirked at her.

While Viktor stood up and his eyes began to glow in a demonic blue, Marcus had already lost his temper. He leapt from his seat and grabbed the mortal's throat.

"You filthy little snoop! What else do you know of us?" he hissed.

"Of you? Nothing," Tanis croaked, however didn't stop grinning. "But I know where your brother is right now."

Marcus let go of the mortal's throat and turned around to face Amelia and Viktor, appalled. Tanis stumbled back a few steps and excitedly waited for their reaction, but it didn't turn out to be very emotional.

"You will bring us there. If we really find William, you will be rewarded. If not, your punishment will be worse than death," Viktor said indifferently, while walking past him and exiting the room.

Amelia and Marcus followed him in silence.

Tanis was left in the large hall, a triumphant smirk on his features.