Chapter Seventeen
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer holds copyright.
'Evening Ladies,'
Illie entered the room cautiously. Theoretically, there was no danger to him here. Theoretically, they wouldn't dare harm him now, but theoretically wasn't much good if you were dead. If the two women had fallen out, if they couldn't agree, they would have no more use for him and could easily turn on him. He crossed his fingers that the fact that they hadn't attacked each other was a sign that they weren't hostile. He had no doubt who would win.
'Evening Illie,' replied Maria coolly. Jacinta merely nodded, but Illie relaxed infinitesimally all the same – it could have been a lot worse.
"I trust you have the map?"
The women nodded their assent.
"And you're happy with it?"
They grimaced.
"No," said Jacinta, "but its good enough"
Illie sighed in frustration. "You do realize that once this is over you will be required to stick to it? My masters will ensure your territory. Every vampire on Earth will know it is forbidden to hunt there, but you will have to respect each other's borders. This map is final. There will be no changes to it. Ever. No wars, no power shifts. Should it become apparent that one of you're covens has made a breach, you will be punished."
"We understand" Jacinta replied.
Maria nodded in agreement, "It would be impossible for both of us to be completely satisfied with it, but whats there is acceptable and a fair trade for our security."
"Very well then," Illie held out his hand and Jacinta passed him the map. He took one look at it before stowing it in his bag and turning to leave.
"Oh, and Illie!" Maria called after him "How goes you're current mission?"
He grimaced. "Jasper's being particularly difficult. He and his mate never part from the other members of that twisted coven. We considered trying to pick the others off, making them more vulnerable, but there's too many of them. My army is too small to risk losing any and it is doubtful the Cullens would be any use to us should we capture them. The adventurer has been difficult enough. We're investigating tracking down the other that you mentioned, but we'll give Jasper a couple more tries first. He is far more ideal for our purpose'
The women nodded once again, and Illie fled.
Illie might be only be young for a vampire, but he was important. He had grown up as a servant to his masters, worshiping them for as long as he could remember. He had begged them to change him and proven his strength to them by refusing to cry out when they gave him his wish. The ties in Mexico had been wrought before he was born, but it was Illie who had brought his master's their latest ally, he who had finally made it possible for them to act. Illie was the greatest, the most successful, the hardest working, the most trustworthy of all their disciples and of this he was proud.
Still. He couldn't help but smirk at the map he carried. It would never be used. In spite of this, he carried it carefully. He knew his masters would like to see it, whether it was to be used or not.
A/N: This was originally going to be chapter twenty, but I moved it forward during my massive rewrite.
Also, I am 98% sure that there is no-one in cannon called Jacinta. If I'm wrong, please let me know and I'll change it.