No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

The purpose Chapter 55 Slayers

End of August, 1975

Seth wandered in the streets of New-York with a notice-me-not charm and a hood over his head. He followed the indications from Angel for the wizarding bar, the blind pig, the only one he knew, but also the only one that existed in the city. He removed his hood and charm when he arrived in front of the door. A small trap where eyes from a figure was slid to the side to reveal real eyes. The trap closed again, and the door opened to let him in.

Goblins and elves were magic sensitive, and the music had stopped momentarily as he made his way to a table. He ignored the stares and waited for the owner, Gnarlak, to come see him. He asked for wine when an elf waiter came to see him. After just a minute, he saw an old goblin making his way towards him. Gnarlak eyed the crown, then bowed respectfully before Seth. Seth took the opportunity to set privacy charms around them wandlessly.

*You wear the legendary crown made by goblins and vampires. That could only mean… you are also a wizard, born from Nathaniel and Elena Vulken.*Said the barytone voice of Gnarlak.

Seth only drank from his glass in answer. Gnarlak sat in front of him. The goblin's fingers were bent backwards. Seth recognised the curse and knew the cure for it. The goblin probably could not undo a wizard's curse, and no one had ever bothered wanting to cure his fingers considering of who he was: a ruthless and unforgiving goblin.

*What can I do for you, vampire King?*Asked Gnarlak as he lit up his cigar and brought it to his mouth.

*Would you know anything about muggle… hm, no-maj vampire slayers?*Asked Seth, remembering Americans do not know the term muggle.

*Mm, there are sayings vampires who cannot go in the sun wander the city, trying to hide from supposed unseen killers.*Said Gnarlak before taking a puff of his cigar.*They don't come in here, nor seem to know anything about the wizarding world.*Added the goblin.

Seth's eyes wandered around, looking at a group of goblins making music. On the walls were posters of wanted wizards. Seth recognized a few deatheaters and one was depicted as cloaked with red eyes. Seth snorted at the picture of Voldemort. There were other wanted posters from wizards he did not know. His eyes went back on the pub's owner.

*I have another request, Gnarlak. There are two things I could do for you in exchange for the information I seek.*Said Seth before taking another sip of wine.

*Pray tell.*Said Gnarlak, patting his cigar over an ashtray.

*I want to know the names and whereabouts of aurors of the MACUSA, especially the ones that you would consider as dangerous. In return, I will cure your fingers and bring back to you any wanted wizard you want at your feet.*Said Seth, his eyes gleaming.

Seth could see the wild emotions passing on the goblin's face.

*You know how to deal with goblins, your majesty.*Said Gnarlak with a satisfied tone.*How many wizards are we talking about, hmm?*Added the goblin.

Seth made a grin and leaned in towards the goblin.

*Say… one complete name and address of an auror, for any wizard you want.*He paused, saying the next words slowly.*One, for, one.*He leaned back on the chair.*If you can't provide enough names for the few wizards you need, then you can seek more information about the slayers, and I will continue to provide. Do we have a deal, Gnarlak?*Asked Seth as he placed his opened hand towards the goblin.

Gnarlak took the hand without hesitation, but Seth strongly held the goblin's hand, beginning to chant the incantation to counter the curse on the fingers. The air became dense, his magic flowing and swirling around them. Gasps and screams were heard as wizards began to run away, unaware of what was really going on. Gnarlak repressed a yell as the pain shot in his hand. He looked at his other hand that was holding the cigar, that he now dropped on the floor, and another jolt of pain shot through his arms and extended towards the tip of his now straight fingers. Seth stopped chanting and let go of the goblin who fell on the floor, panting.

Seth finished his glass of wine, then placed it on the table. Gnarlak stood up, holding himself on the table, then looked at his fingers.

*Sixty years of pain… and you come here… asking for almost nothing, and you do the counter curse without waiting for what you asked for first. You are either a saint or a fool.*Whispered Gnarlak.

The wizards and goblins who had stayed and witnessed the situation now looked at Seth fearfully. The privacy charms had dissipated.

*Neither. I would say I'm a man of my word, although I am not a man. I expect to have an answer in two days time.*Said Seth, who tossed several galleons on the table before turning and making his way out as he placed his hood over his head.

*Anything for you, King Seth.*Whispered Gnarlak.

The music started again, and a cloaked wizard approached the goblin.

*Who was that, Gnarlak?*Asked the man.

*The vampire King, Seth.*Said Gnarlak, still looking at his cured fingers.

*What did he want?*Asked the wizard, half-impressed with the identity of the man.

*Nothing that concerns you, Alexander. I know not of his intentions… yet. He spoke of No-maj vampire slayers, would you, by any chance, know anything?*Asked Gnarlak.

*No. But I know whatever he asked you can't be good, for he made a deal with you and whoever does that makes a deal with the devil.*Snickered Alexander.

*Speaking of experience, right? But no. He healed my hands before even receiving anything. Vampires shall always be welcome here.*Said Gnarlak, lighting up his cigar again with his new fingers.

*So what, he would have done it with the goodness of his heart?*Asked Alexander, batting his eyes.

Gnarlak laughed and coughed up some smoke.

*With what he asked of me, I doubt that anything good will come out of any of this.*Sneered Gnarlak, squashing his cigar in the ashtray, which had been ruined by falling on the floor.*Which makes me think… it may be related to recent events in Britain. It seems Graves has met his end at the hands of a vampire.*Added the goblin.

*What? How do you know that?*Asked the wizard.

*I read the Daily Prophet, you dumb nut. All those wanted posters there with the name Voldemort and deatheaters… they are from England.*Said Gnarlak. He brought up his arm.*HEY, Gally! Bring me a Firewhiskey.*Demanded the goblin and the elf waiter swiftly brought him his drink.

*You think that wizard will come here? That they will all come here?*Asked Alexander, grabbing the Firewhiskey from Gnarlak and taking a gulp.

Gnarlak snapped his fingers and the rest of the drink poured over the wizard's head.

*Heyyy, you old bat, my drink!*Protested Alexander as he whipped his head.

Gnarlak stood up and whapped his hand on the table.

*Yeah, they will. Once they are done wiping the humans off Europe. So, you better choose your side now and get in that vampire's good graces.*Grunted the Goblin before leaving the table and shouting orders at a maid.

The wizard dried his hair with a flick of his wand and passed a hand over his face.

*Vampires… why not damn pixies and tooth fairies while you're at it?*Mumbled Alexander.

OoOoO

Can't walk in the sun.

But why?

Was there another breed of vampires? Ones that could have been created with the Fiat Lamia ritual? Or could it be for a complete other reason? Would he still hold authority over them? With the billions of muggles around the world and a few wizards that could have hidden in places and dabble with magic they should not have; it could be true. Without guidance or rulers to watch over them, it could have indeed made humans fear such vampires and create slayers.

Seth stopped in front of a library. His notice-me-not charm working as intended as he entered the store. He looked around, curiously, at all the different kinds of books made by muggles. He recognized several ones Kathleen had read to him when he was young. They were worldwide known, apparently. His heart sank at the brief memory of Kathleen. He shook his head, then went towards the supernatural section. He browsed the books quickly and stopped a finger over vampire stories. He began to read, and never stopped, even after the store had closed and the lights had gone, he stood, turning pages after pages. A small ball of light, he had spelled, illuminated the books. They all spoke of Dracula at some point, stakes, coffins, garlic, holy water, that they could not walk in the sun, or had to be invited into a home first before getting entry. Their hearts were never beating, and they all lived eternally without getting older. At what point these were related to the ritual?

The light of the passing cars in the night caught his attention as he was done reading. The cars looked more and more refined as the years passed. Wizards were barely aware of what they were all doing. Magic made them lazy, getting everything done by a wave of their wands, forgetting, and looking down upon the muggles as they only grew larger in numbers and in power. He closed the last book he read and placed it back on the shelf. His light went off and he made his way out after unlocking the door with a wave of his hand.

He walked in the streets, listening to anything suspicious. He took in deep breaths by his nose, for any smells of blood. The asphalt was damp from rain that had poured an hour earlier. Distant sirens could be heard. Screams, gunshots, banging, and loud music.

It never stopped.

He could not follow adequately his senses, for the smell of blood was everywhere, and so were intermittent screams. He passed by an alley where he heard a woman whimpering and grunts from a man. The man was actually raping the woman against a wall. He waved his wand towards the man who got ejected backwards a few meters, then with a swift move of his tail, he cut off the man's penis, then grabbed him by the neck before sinking his teeth in it while the woman screamed even louder, just like the man did. Blood splattered on his pants and on his chin as he drank in strong gulps, quickly ending the man's life. When the heart stopped, he threw him on the hard ground. He eyed the curled-up shaking woman, her panties down to her knees.

He had no pity. She was not a Vulken muggle. She did not deserve more than what he had just done for her. He turned around and left her there, beside the corpse of her rapist and without even wiping her memory. He cleaned the blood of his chin and clothes with another swish of his wand, then continued to walk down the street he had been on. An hour later, a fight had begun outside of a bar, ending in gunshots. He heard the wounded's heartbeat quicken, then slow down and stop as his blood poured on the wet street, where cars did not stop, passing beside the scene as if nothing had happened.

More sirens. More screams. More blood.

He passed in front of a church and stopped. He felt a weird tug in his magic, drawing him towards the tall building. Was it the church he had seen in the slayer's mind? He walked at the giant double door and placed a hand on the handle, but quickly remove it.

The handle had burnt his hand.

Eyebrows raised, he healed his hand, then mumbled various detecting spells. There were runes imbibed in the structure of the church, and a few weak shields. What impressed him was that the actual shields, even weak, covered the entirety of the building. He swished his wand, opening the doors. He could not enter for the shield was preventing him to. He knew he could break it easily but wondered a theory he had previously read.

*Be gone, monster. You cannot enter here.*Said the priest who had walked in front of him.

*Let me in.*Hissed Seth, pouring a compulsion charm upon his words.

*You… may… enter.*Said the priest in a sort of trance.

Just like he thought, the shield faded. Seth entered the church, his feet silently going over the hard floor. The church was really beautiful. He admired the windows and the art covering the walls and ceiling. The priest shook his head, then paled as he saw the vampire moving swiftly around and touching things.

*You are not welcome in the house of God and Jesus. What… what did you do to me?*Asked the muggle.

*Nothing less than you deserve, muggle. Why wouldn't I be welcome in any building you made? You called me a monster… have you ever taken a walk at night in your own city?*Asked Seth as he was now standing in front of a statue of a man on a cross with a crown of thorns.

*You drink blood! You kill people! You have no soul!*Said the priest.

*You slaughter your own kind with devices and pollute this planet with all the things you make.*Said Seth, now turning towards the man dressed in white robes. *Who are you to tell me I have no soul? Every living being has one, even the rapist down the street, or a child murderer you imprison in cells better than a hotel.*Added Seth.

The priest's lips trembled. Seth walked towards him slowly.

*You are not supposed to exist.*Mumbled the man.

Seth's laugh echoed.

*And who says that? Your god?*Spat Seth.*I was born this way! I was the ONLY one born and you dare tell me I should not exist?*Added Seth as he turned his head towards the stepping sounds he could now hear coming up some stairs.

The priest looked at the vampire worryingly, then at the door where he knew his slayers would be coming from.

*What do you want?*Whined the man, still on the floor.

Seth looked at him again.

*I want to know where the vampires you hunt are. I come from Britain where vampires are respected and not killed by useless muggles like you. We eat humans for dinner when we feel like it. I have servants that are happy little slaves and give their entire lives just so we thrive.*Said Seth with a twitch of his lips and the priest paled, shaking more than ever.

Of course, he did not tell him that he also gave everything they could ever desire to his servants. He first wanted to find vampires, find their slayers, and kill them all until none had ever had the desire to even touch one of his kind.

He could now hear the door softly opening from where the stepping sounds had come from. A dagger flew in his direction where his tail swiftly knocked it away. He had placed back the goblin-made weapon on his tail before leaving Britain, feeling whole again. Seth's lips curled into a grin.

*So, there's slayers here?*Hissed Seth as his eyes turned black.

More daggers flew in his direction which he easily avoided. The muggles, all dressed in black apparels, ran in specific places behind benches. Clicking sounds of guns were heard by Seth and he quickly casted a hard skin shield upon himself. He moved his wand again and all the doors shut off in a loud slam, startling the men in the room. The vampire King moved in front of the Jesus statue and opened his arms, waiting for the guns to fire in his direction. The muggles fired their weapons at Seth where all the bullets hit an invisible shields before falling on the floor in metallic sounds. Seth laughed again and slowly waved his wand around his body.

*Fiendfyre.*Hissed Seth, his eyes gleaming, and his heart filled with fury.

A roaring fire dragon sprouted out of his wand with a constant jet of fire erupting from it where small animals made of fire also appeared one after the other, burning everything in their passage as they ran around. The fire dragon went at the priest, who screamed in agony as the flames burned him within seconds. The slayers also began to scream and run to closed doors before their bodies turned to ashes. Without even stopping the fire, Seth apparated out of the church to admire the show. He looked at the burning church from the other side of the streets and could already hear distant sirens coming closer.

He still could control the fiendfyre from not going anywhere else. He thought MACUSA aurors would soon be alerted by the dark magic and intervein anyway. He would maybe make out some faces and hear their names.

It did not take more than a few seconds after he thought it, he could hear apparating sounds from everywhere. He quickly cast a notice-me-not charm again, added with a disillusion spell, which made him lose his concentration of the fiendfyre that made the windows shattered in thousands of pieces. He snickered under his breath before marveling at the action before him.

The aurors were simply powerful. They set up barriers in a perimeter, all in synchronisation, while other were already controlling the muggle population, and the firefighters. Others were chanting the counter curse for the fiendfyre. Seth admitted he had not been in a situation where aurors worked in harmony for a while. A long while. He felt a detecting spell go through him and he apparated away immediately.

OoOoO

*Freaking Fiendfyre! And it was a controlled one right before we apparated there! I'm telling you, that was not a mere dark wizard we would usually fight.*Said auror Lopez.

*If it was a controlled one, then the perpetrator must have been present. Who made the detecting spells?*Asked Porpentina.

Auror Carneirus raised a finger, before sipping on his coffee.

*I did… but it told me a magical creature was there for not even half a second before disappearing, and I don't think any of them can cast fiendfyre.*Said Carneirus.

Auror Tolliver made a grunt.

*Could have been just a witness. Why would the guy stay to control a fire in a fucking church.*Said Tolliver.

*Language, Toll. That brings me this next question: why that church? What was so special about it? Fontaine, what did you find?*Asked Porpentina.

Auror Fontaine looked through his papers in front of him.

*Oui, err, it seems a certain monsieur Caleb Harris was the priest there. He helped many homeless and was very well liked.*Said the French auror with a very thick accent.

Tina huffed and began to pace before looking at Maximilian Picquery who was frowning at his own papers.

*What is it, Max?*Asked Tina.

*Hm, there were hidden compartments in the basement that were not burnt… there were several no-maj weapons, daggers, bottles filled with water with a cross on the flasks, and the smell was awful… garlic residue or something.*Said Max, scrunching his nose as if the smell was still there.

The aurors looked at each other and Tina rubbed her face, then passed a hand through her short white hair.

*Vampires… Why would no-maj own things to kill vampires like if they were real?*Asked Goldstein.

*Because they are?*Said Tolliver.

Tina rolled her eyes.

*I meant real to no-majs.*Said Tina.

Tolliver's ears went red in embarrassment, then cleared his throat.

*That does not explain the fiendfyre.*Added Tolliver.

*Killing no-majs to sympathise with vampires?*Asked Max with a raised eyebrow, then frowned before looking at Tina.*Do we have a problem with vampires?*Added Max.

*Not… that I know of.*Hesitated Tina, her thoughts going to Angel, then to Seth Vulken.

She placed her hand palms on the table and frowned.

*You want me to go see Gnarlak?*Said Lopez as he was about to light a cigarette.

Tina sighed then shook her head.

*No... I'll go, he won't tell you a thing, you know that… and don't light that shit up here, Lopez.*Said Tina.

*Oy, language, Tina.*Said Tolliver with a wink.

A young auror specialized in the no-maj police department arrived running to their room.

*What is it, Timmy?*Asked Tina.

Timmy was dressed in a no-maj lieutenant attire. He placed an arm against a wall to steady himself and his breathing. He looked alarmed, holding a finger in the air.

*You know… I had not been in the morgue and had not seen what the forensic pathologist did for a while.*Said Timmy, pausing for a second.*But hey, the same night of that church event, a no-maj had its… sex cut, and his blood had been drained with teeth marks on his neck. I thought it could have been a coincidence with that church, you know. But no, it seems that no-majs are dying quite often in the last years with bite wounds and blood drained from their bodies. I had to actually magically compel them to speak to me… the forensics… they are vampires. They freaking hide in plain sight! They have been writing false reports for years!*Said Timmy, visibly shaken.

The aurors all looked at each other, and Tina pursed her lips. She had Gnarlak to see, then a certain vampire named Angel.

OoOoO

The blind pig

*So, that church. Found anything interesting?*Asked Gnarlak.

Seth raised an eyebrow.

*What church?*Asked Seth with a grin.

The goblin made a chuckle and lit up his cigar, like per usual. After taking a puff of his cigar, he brought out a parchment from his inner pocket and slid it across the table for Seth's reach.

*Gaspard Leclerc. Owes me a thousand galleons and five sickles. Likes to hang in no-majs bars and always knows when someone is after him for he apparates away like it is second-nature to him. Loves to gamble and only stays in the no-maj area because he can use magic against them. The hit wizards are also on his tail.*Said Gnarlak.

Seth looked at the parchment before waving a finger at it and the parchment vanished, ready to be called upon if he needed to look at it again. He took a sip of his wine glass and stared at the goblin.

*Do you have what I asked?*Asked Seth.

Gnarlak nodded and snapped his fingers, making another parchment appear on the table.

*Maximillian Picquery, second in command to Porpentina Scamander. Specializes in aftermaths, knowing the reasons behind the crimes perpetrated. Rituals, enchantments and revealing spells have no secrets for him.*Said Gnarlak.

Seth waved his finger again and the parchment vanished too. Gally, the bar-elf, approached them rapidly.

*Gally is sorry to interrupt, sirs, Miss Scamander is entering the bar right now.*Said Gally before placing a Firewhiskey in front of the goblin, then trotted away.

Seth was wearing a hood, not really hiding per se, but it did not show his crown, thus people paid him less attention. Gnarlak made an irritated face, like someone who never liked to see the head auror, who had quickly made her way to their table after spotting the goblin. She glanced briefly at Seth but could not see his features in the shadows.

*Gnarlak, I need to speak with you, privately.*Said Tina with a hurried look.

Gnarlak grunted and shared a look with Seth who drank from his glass again.

*Maybe you would prefer to speak with me, Miss Scamander.*Said Seth.

Tina sat down to try to have a better look at him, now noticing who that was.

*Seth Vulken! You are here?*Asked Tina as she placed her joined hands on the table after casting a privacy charm around them, replacing the ones Seth has set for Gnarlak and himself.

*Several days ago, I gave my resignation as the Britain's international representant of magical cooperation. There was a pressing matter that needed my attention here. Before you ask, the New-York ministry already has my immigration papers.*Said Seth.

After the initial shock, she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

*What are you doing here? Do you have anything to do with that church fire? My colleagues found objects in the basement meant to kill vampires the no-maj's way. They also detected the presence of a creature but could not identify on place… was it you? Your arrival and this event can't be a coincidence!*Said Tina with an accusing tone and eyes narrowed.

*My, you certainly did not waste any time. Accusing me already after five seconds of seeing me.*Said Seth in a sweet voice and a raised eyebrow.

Tina blinked before looking away, lightly blushing. She had been staring at him and had blurted out everything that had been in front of her mind as if she had no filters. She knew better, and yet, even with her experience, she had faltered after one look at the vampire. Seth turned his now empty glass on the table with two fingers, then flicked them on it which made a resonating chime sound.

*It was fiendfyre. I can't accuse you on that, I know. But, I am sure I can now deduced you were the detected creature on place and that you have asked a wizard to cruelly murder no-majs.*Said Tina before swallowing and licking her lips.*We have laws, Mr. Vulken. This could have resulted into something far worse with the statute of secrecy have we not been there.*Added Tina.

Seth leaned in towards the head auror, making her flinch. He had given her a scowl when she said 'creature' again that time.

*Tell me, Mrs. Scamander, what would you do to no-majs if they started killing wizards? Would you do the same with your wizard criminals? Would you use the death penalty?*Asked Seth dryly.

She stayed silent for a moment, thinking furiously.

*That is not for you to decide the fate of criminals, except for your own!*Said Tina.

Seth was now standing, and Tina let out a soft gasp, being towered by the imposing King.

*Do you want to make an enemy of me? No-majs are a bigger threat than you think, Mrs. Scamander. Being Newt's wife should have made that clear for you, long ago.*Said Seth before looking at Gnarlak, nodding curtly, and leaving.

Tina's eyes widened as Seth left the bar, his tail clearly visible, moving left and right at the bottom of his cloak. Attached to it, was a goblin-made weapon. She thought about what Timmy had told the aurors about the mutilated man found in an alley. Could this have been his doing too? She shook her head, then brought back her attention on Gnarlak, who had been listening and his finished cigar was now being squashed in the ashtray. She also noticed his fingers.

*Your fingers…*Mumbled Tina.

*You know it will cost ya if you want information.*Said Gnarlak with a snarl.

Tina smiled evilly before leaning towards the goblin.

*Oh? I thought I saw an illegal transaction of dreamless potion several days ago, Gnarlak. You want me to block its recipients?*Asked Tina with a quirked eyebrow.

*Fine. What do you want to know?*Asked Gnarlak reluctantly.

*Who cured your fingers?*Asked Tina.

*The same wizard that burned the church.*Said Gnarlak.

Tina rolled her eyes and huffed.

*Name?*Asked Tina harshly.

*You already asked your question.*Answered the goblin with a grin.

Tina grunted loudly then stood up.

*Fine, answer this then I'm out: what the bloody hell was that behind that vampire?*Asked Tina exasperatedly.

The goblin snickered and tapped a finger on the table.

*Why don't you ask your husband, he is the expert, no?*Answered Gnarlak with a grin.

Author's note: Reviews? Please? Thanks for your continuous reading of my story 😊.