AN: Yep, definitely not 4 chapters. And oh look, they're back on the ship.
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CHAPTER 5
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"The human race has found its feet after the fall of the vampires who followed Afina's brother. We believe attempts to return to what was normal for both races will only lead to war."
"There are groups within the human governments who will most likely try to impose human ways upon you. We came here today to reach you before they come looking. To ask you to consider a compromise between our two races."
Tesla turns to look at me. "Helen, here, has been leading the fight for non-humans to live alongside humans in peace. I'm sure with her experience of dealing with these humans we can come to some sort of agreement."
Tesla stops talking and we wait hopefully.
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We're back on the yacht, waiting for a reply from Theraus and the vampires. Time seems to be moving slowly.
Will is watching the TV in the recreational room, a documentary on the life of giraffes. I don't think it was his choice.
Gerard has his usual glass of alcohol on the go as he patrols his floating empire.
I'm standing in the lab with a knife my hand, staring at the blade.
"Isn't it traditional to use a scalpel for that?"
I didn't hear Tesla enter.
"I thought you were preparing for your big night." I tease.
He's accepted his role as a sort of vampire-human diplomat now. When Theraus replies, we expect the need to set up a discussion between governments and it will be Tesla's job to negotiate between the two. I realise I'm kidding myself, it'd be SCIU taking the human side rather than the UN or others. But that's only if the reply is positive.
"I thought I'd visit my favourite English doctor." He replies in the same tone.
I smile weakly.
"There's something bugging me about this case." I tell him.
"The lamia?"
"Hm. There's something, off."
He comes to stand beside me. We look at my notes and the covered form.
"These wounds," he says studying the enlarged photos, "they don't look like knife wounds."
"That's what I thought." I agree.
"Explains why you were staring at that knife when I walked in." He adds with a cheeky smile.
At that moment, Mal arrives at the door.
"Magnus, you're needed in the control room." He says.
I thank him, return the body to the fridge and head off. Tesla follows.
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"Magnus." Will greets me.
"We've discovered a possible problem." Gerard informs me, cutting in.
"Yes."
"After we heard about the settlement, Gerard didn't call off his people." Will tells me. "They've found a way of pinpointing a group of vampires and even though we can't check the whole planet-"
"You've found another group of vampires?" Tesla asks Gerard.
"Yes. We scanned the area near the vampire stronghold, and near the new settlement. Basically anywhere we could without issues arising." He pauses and Will takes over again.
"It's near where we found the lamia. And I don't think they're friendly."
"Why not?" I ask. What had they seen?
"Theraus contacted us while we were rescanning to check it wasn't a glitch."
"Yes." I prompt again.
"They don't know anything about this other group."
"Weren't they mad? You basically admitted to spying on them." Tesla.
"No. They apparently understand and would have done so too had they been able."
"Are they going to check it out or do they want us to?" I ask.
"We've just sent a message to ask that same question." Gerard informs me.
"Turns out vampires don't have basic comms yet." Will adds.
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The message came.
We were to meet at the settlement. The same four of us as before.
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"You're information, it seems, was incorrect." Theraus says inspecting the horrific wound marring his shoulder.
We must look confused because he continues. "Afina lives."
I hear Nigella gasp. I think I hear Will and Tesla choke but I may be hearing things.
"She leads the group?" I ask.
Theraus nods and signals for one of the younger vampires rushing around the returned group to bring him a fresh shirt.
"We arrived at the location your people gave us and indeed found more of our kind. It seems, however, they do not share our plans of compromising with the current dominate race, humans."
"They did this?" Will asks, indicating the injured vampires surrounding us.
"Yes. And I believe you're statements about Afina to be correct. She is no longer Our queen."
Out of courtesy I don't speak but merely nod and smile lightly.
"We will deal with this problem ourselves." Theraus says. "Our agreement still stands. We will attempt this, harmony among our kinds."
"You don't have to do it alone. We won't interfere if you don't want us to but know that we'll help wherever we can."
"Harmony starts with helping one another in a crisis." Will states. Nigella subtly elbows him.
Theraus bows his head in thanks.
"Do we know how she survived?" Tesla asks.
Theraus looks at him.
"No. But I don't think it was natural."
Will and I trade glances.
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"Spill it."
Nigella is staring at me and Will in turn as we take the 'copter back to the yacht again.
"What?" Will asks.
"I saw that look you gave each other at the vampire settlement. So spill it."
I like Nigella, she reminds me at times of Ashley.
"We were wondering if maybe there was maybe a human aspect to this thing with Afina." Will says.
"What? Like the Cabal? But, you know, obviously not." She asks.
"Yeah. Tesla. Did SCIU do any research into vampires or similar areas while you were there?" I ask.
He thinks for a moment. "No. I don't recall anything. But then if they were really serious about messing around with things they shouldn't like the Cabal, they'd probably go out of their way to keep me out of the loop."
I agree. It's the kind of project that would be on a need-to-know basis.
"We need to look into the possibility." I tell 'copter.
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"The SCIU have an alibi." Gerard says when I tell him my and Will's theory. "They outwardly appear to have no idea about either group of vampires."
I frown. But they discovered the signs first.
Gerard reads my face. "Yes. I believe someone up top has been forcing the game in their direction. Information being distorted, cases claimed to have been investigated that have in fact not. No, I don't think it's the organisation so much as the people in charge of it."
I understand what he means and consider the implication.
"This will make negotiations more difficult." I say. "Unless we can find the fault."
Gerard makes a noise of agreement.
"I'll set my people to investigate the possibility. Perhaps you should do the same." He suggests.
It takes me a second before I realise he's referring to Kate and Henry. It's cruel in some ways, but I've deliberately not made contact with either of them.
"Maybe." I say, meaning it.
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AN: Okay this has gone off track. It's ok though, I can still follow the rough idea. I just have to steer it back in the right direction.
