A/N: Yes, new chapter! And I'm sorry it's short, but I am working on assignments and... well, I'll get a longer one up as soon as deadlines are by.
Vlad came to in a room that could really only be described by the phrase 'dark and dank', though he did inwardly scowl at his brain for jumping to this horrible cliché of a description. Really, he would have hoped to be slightly more creative than that, if push ever came to shove. He shifted, hearing clanking. Glancing up, he saw that whoever had him captive – and no, he didn't think he was jumping to conclusions to assume this – really did see the point in going all out with the horrible cliché of being captured. Vlad hung from heavy shackles, which could easily hold him off the floor with little effort. "Tch," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
"I see his Grandness has finally awoken," the voice that bore no accent spoke lightly. "How did he sleep? Does he find the accomodation to his liking, or is it too barren for his refined tastes?" The voice was mocking now, a tone suggesting it knew it could get away with it. Vlad glanced back up at the shackles, and mused that it was probably right, more's the pity. These were not exactly the type of thing from which he could easily free himself. "How rude he is, Strigoi, to ignore our kindness and refuse to talk back."
"Oh, I'm sorry, you expected me to respond?" Vlad commented lightly. "I'd just assumed you'd fallen in love with the sound of your own voice again, Melech, and wanted to share your love with the world." He scoffed rolling his eyes. He pulled at the chain of one of the shackles causually, testing the weight. "What's with the heavy metal?" he asked, not looking at his old comrade. He felt that if he paid too much attention to the elder vampire, that desire to rip out his throat might end up coming true.
"We couldn't risk you playing on of your little disappearing tricks on us," Strigoi answered, a smirk clear on his face even in the dark, dank, and dim light of the... well, it was a hole really, calling it a room would be to give it airs and graces it didn't possess. "It's taken us a while to track you down after all," there was bitterness in the tone, and it drew a smirk from Vlad. "Never thought a child could be quite to adept at concealing himself," and now Strigoi was speaking with begrudging respect and Vlad felt himself on familiar territory.
"Which Clan Elder sent you after me?" There was no point trying to hide his intentions, and the chains clinked as he shifted again, trying to find himself hanging more confortably. "I've probably irritated all of the big ones," he admitted with a shrug. "So who do I need to kill here, Barrack, Lecushka?" He paused, and allowed himself a laugh. "Oh, wait, forget clans, is this another attempt from the Brotherhood to dethrone me?" He laughed louder, shaking his head in sheer disbelief. "I knew they were desperate, but this? This is just pathetic."
"So is thinking yourself important enough to come to the attention of any Clan Elder!" Melech snapped.
"Please, I am the definition of important," Vlad shot back. The chains clinked again. Vlad noticed that neither of the two had chosen to answer his question though, and he frowned just slightly at that. "You two, on the other hand," he let his sentence trail off deliberately, looking at making out their figures in the dim. "So who is it?" He asked again. "You've pretty much confirmed it's not the Clan Elders, and I'm kind of glad 'cause those sods are buggers to get gift baskets for," he gave a theatrical sigh at this, though it was more likely just for the noise than for any practical reason or reason to irritate these people. "So who is it that you two are working wi..." He paused mid-sentence.
"Oh look, Melech," Strigoi snickered nastily. "I think his Grandness has just had a sudden flash of inspiration. How lovely for him." Melech joined in the cruel sniggers. Standard vampire practice, when you got down to it, really.
"Slayers Guild," Vlad said out loud, "you're working with the Slayers Guild." He wanted to be wrong, but then the door opened. Light flooded into the room. In the doorway, he could make out a familiar figure standing beside a not-so-familiar one. The latter was a short, blonde female, with a rough hair cut that seemed oddly flat. But beside her? Vlad's jaw tightened.
"Hullo, Vlad."
"Hullo, Jonno."