Ok guys, this one will be worth the hefty weight. We have emotions AND legitimate action here in this 14k word monster. Also, I'm so sorry for how long it is. Pace yourself. Take breaks. Just don't skim read, because there's a lot to unpack.
This is a two-parter. And yes, I'm using another Reputation song which I've been DYING to incorporate for ages. The context of the lyrics can be applied in so many different ways to multiple character POVs.
Chapter 25: Tilted Stage
Song:Look What You Made Me Do by Queen Taylor
I don't like your little games
Don't like your tilted stage
It was late when Mika and Darren made their way down to the dungeon. Most of the mountain was asleep, except for the guards on duty.
"Are you sure you have time for this?" Darren asked gingerly before they took the final left turn down the corridor where Steve was waiting in a cell for them.
"Darren, I wouldn't have offered if I didn't have time." Mika replied, with faint exasperation. "I hope I can extract whatever information you need to find your family. But I'm going to be focusing on Gannen Harst. There has to be a reason he hinged the entire treaty on his apprentice's life."
"Right." Said Darren grimly. "Well, your attempt at questioning him can't go any worse than mine did."
Mika sighed and paused for a moment so he could fix Darren with a stare of polite impatience.
"You're awfully close to the situation, Darren. You should've asked someone for help. You know I'm really good at this stuff, right?"
Darren rolled his eyes, but managed a thin smile.
"And you know I have a history of poor impulse control, right?" He reminded Mika earnestly. And Mika laughed. Briefly, but it was genuine.
"I noticed." He snorted. "Like mentor, like apprentice."
When Darren's face fell, Mika frowned.
"Is Larten still holding a grudge?"
"I don't think he's ever going to forgive me." Said Darren resignedly. "We were in no position to decline Gannen's offer! And he'd know that if he'd been conscious at the time!"
"Is that why you brought Leonard back, though?" Mika inquired, shooting Darren a pointed glance. "Because if I didn't know he was holding your family over your head, I'd say this seems awfully hasty on your part. And even with your history of impulsive decisions, something tells me you still wouldn't have been so quick to accept the deal otherwise."
Darren let out a low groan of frustration and buried his face in his hands for a moment.
"I know." The younger Prince sighed, voice muffled and strained. "I'm an idiot. I just didn't know what else I could do. All I knew was that he was dying, and my only real chance at finding my family would've died with him."
"I actually wasn't criticizing you that time, believe it or not." Said Mika calmly. "Did I tell you that when I found out Gracie was in danger at the hands of the vampaneze, I willingly walked into a situation I knew was a trap? That I left the Hall of Princes deserted and didn't think twice about it?"
Darren slowly looked up at Mika, confusion on his young face.
"I know what happened, but I didn't know you left the Hall empty. I thought you called Arrow in." He replied, frowning up at Mika. Mika grimaced and shook his head.
"Nope. I just walked out. Seba called Arrow shortly after. If Seba didn't already have gray hairs, he would've after that night." Mika explained solemnly. "I think I took a year off that man's life. But when I found out Gracie was in danger, nothing else mattered. So what I'm trying to tell you, Darren... is that I get your thought process, or lack thereof. Power and family is a dangerous combination. For them more than us."
"I know that now." Darren murmured, casting his gaze downwards. "I'm also not naive enough to believe he doesn't know where my sister and nephew are. Either way, he's still the key to finding them."
"Hey. Look at me." Said Mika firmly. And Darren did. "The thing about power is that we get to play games too. Your friend may think he has the upper hand, but he's the one in the cage. And he's not going anywhere for a while. Are you ready to get started?"
Darren smiled again. It was gritty and tenacious, and Mika was reminded of a younger Larten.
"Alright then." Said Darren. "Let's go. And for the record, he's not my friend."
"Three visits in as many days?! They must not be keeping you busy enough, Sire Shan!" Leonard cackled as they arrived. "Come to shriek at me some more? I've already told you I don't know where they are. You're wasting your own time. Not that I mind, of course. Always love seeing a friendly face!"
Darren's face reddened. Mika wished he was fully blooded, then Mika could've shot him a telepathic message saying: Negotiation 101 - don't let them see sweat. So instead he raised an eyebrow at Darren and hoped it got the point across.
"I see you brought a friend. Don't be shy, introduce me!" Leonard added, grinning at Mika. The young, platinum-haired man was clearly still weak from his injuries, he was sitting on a folded-up blanket with his back against the wall of his cell. His face was pale and gaunt, but his eyes flashed with pure malicious energy.
"I'm no one special." Mika replied, offering only a brittle smile. "I'm just here to talk."
Mika had discussed this with Darren in advance, and warned the guard on duty - currently Jakob Wiles - not to bow or address Mika by his name or title when he arrived. Leonard knew the names of all the current Princes, but the only ones he could visually identify were Darren and Vancha. And probably Arrow if we're being honest. Leonard had never seen Arrow, but he was a bit notorious among the vampaneze clan and his signature tattoos make him easily identifiable in any crowd. Mika on the other hand, kept a historically lower profile and he wanted to see what Leonard would say to an ordinary vampire. Mika wouldn't play his Prince card just yet.
"Talk, then." Said Leonard, crossing his arms behind his head and grinning lazily up at them. "I'm here all night."
"Alright, Stephen." Said Mika casually. Use of the man's full name had the exact effect he intended it to, and Leonard's smile faltered. Seeing as "Leopard" was his preferred moniker, Mika suspected there were some serious delusions of grandeur here, and that Leonard was not particularly attached to his mundane legal name. "So... you've spent a lot of time in the company of Gannen Harst, is that correct?"
"Oh, Gannen and I go way back! We're practically family!" Leonard replied amicably, throwing in a wink. His tone was disarmingly chipper, but that warmth didn't reach all the way up to his gleaming eyes.
"And Harst is the one who blooded you into the vampaneze clan?" Mika added.
"Well, Creepy Crepsley sure didn't recognize potential when he was staring directly at it." Said Leonard with a derisive snort. "That's your clan's loss! Just think, you could've had the Leopard on your team! But instead you got saddled with little Sire Shan."
"Well, in a perfect world we never would've met either of you." Mika replied frankly. Darren rolled his eyes, and Leonard smirked again. "You're still holding a grudge against Larten all these years later, hmm?" Mika added.
Leonard's grin faltered. And Mika noticed.
"I was ten years old when that orange-headed fuck tasted my blood and told me I was evil. Ten!" Leonard snapped. "Who says that to a kid?"
"So... you built a giant flaming murder trap underneath a city to prove you weren't evil?" Said Mika. "Yeah, that checks out."
"Does it?" Darren hissed. "Are we sure about that?"
"To be honest, I'm not really interested in whatever psychological clusterfuck brought us to this point." Said Mika, shrugging. "I'm curious as to where exactly you fit into the vampaneze clan, Leonard. What's so special about you that Gannen Harst tied the possibility of a peace treaty to your life?"
"What can I say? I'm charming. That old bastard would be lost without me." Said Leonard, the wicked grin immediately reappearing.
"Right. I'm sure his life has been positively enriched by your presence." Said Mika. "I met Harst once, you know. At some negotiation at least a hundred years ago. He's a real straight shooter. Not one for fucking around. Honourable as they come."
"Don't I know it!" Leonard smirked, rolling his eyes.
"So I take it he hasn't changed much over the decades?" Mika continued in the same even cadence. "Still values the vampaneze honour code as much as he did back then?"
"Of course. Why else would the Vampaneze Lord deem him inner circle material?" Said Leonard. He crossed his arms but sat up a little straighter. Mika shot him a quizzical glance.
"Interesting point. Makes sense in theory, but contradicts reality - now that it's all said and done and we know your mighty Lord was never that interested in all those good old-fashioned vampaneze values. I'm sure Harst just loved the new rule about using vampets to cheat those pesky weaponry laws." Said Mika, chuckling lightly as he stared Leonard dead in the eye. He gauged the young halfblood's reaction carefully, dialled in for any indicator that there might be something deeper at play. Leonard's eyes narrowed slightly, but that was it.
"Serving the Vampaneze Lord was the highest honour of Gannen's life. He was proud to have been chosen." Steve growled. "He knew his place. He never questioned anything."
"Well, it doesn't matter anymore, does it?" Said Mika. "The Vampaneze Lord abused his power, and now he's dead at the hands of his own clan. Which means Harst is free."
"It would appear so." Leonard replied.
"So I'm sure you can't blame me for wondering what a little prick like you could possibly have over him?" Mika added swiftly. Leonard's jaw twitched as he held Mika's gaze, and Mika got the distinct impression Leonard was psychoanalyzing him back. But that was fine, because Mika had been playing these games centuries before the name Steve Leonard was relevant to anyone anywhere. And he'd still be playing them long after Leonard was gone.
"Oh, come on! Is it so hard to believe that someone would want me around without an ulterior motive?" Leonard drawled, winking again.
"Yes." Darren grunted. Mika let out a low chuckle but didn't shift his calculating gaze from the man on the other side of the bars. At least until Mika's attention was abruptly diverted by the loud rasp that came from the rusty hinges on the old door that separated this part of the dungeon from the rest of the corridor. He swung around to see Renley.
Mika knew what was about to happen, but he didn't have time to stop it. Renley didn't know how Mika was running this interrogation, that he was keeping his true identity a secret from the prisoner.
"Sire Shan, Sire Ver Leth." Renley began, nodding respectfully as Mika groaned in dismay. "My apologies for interrupting, but Sire Arrow has requested an update on the interrogation."
"Sire Ver Leth?!" Leonard murmured, his voice a chilling rasp while his eyes flickered devilishly. "You thought I wouldn't catch on, didn't you?! Well, well, well. This certainly makes my day more interesting. Pleasure to meet you, Mika."
Renley winced and mouthed "sorry!", clearly realizing his mistake. Mika ignored him and remained calm.
"I'm sorry, I could've sworn I introduced myself." Said Mika scathingly. "But let's get one thing clear. I'll continue to call you whatever I want. But you are not on a first name basis with me."
Something shifted in Leonard's face as Mika spoke those words. Like some monster woke up deep inside him. Leonard remained just as calm as Mika as he slowly stood up from the floor he'd been sitting on. Now that he was standing upright, Leonard was taller than Mika thought. They were almost eye-level with each other.
"Oh, don't be like that! I feel like I practically know you already!" Leonard murmured. Then he winked nastily as he looked Mika up and down, and added "After all, I became pretty familiar with your daughter a while back."
Mika felt every last one of his internal organs seize up and turn to ice as those words hit home. Darren inhaled sharply beside him, but Mika didn't hear it over the sound of his own heart pounding. Clearly it showed on his face because Leonard grinned even more broadly.
"Oh, yes. All those hours I spent following her around. To her snotty office job, to the club with her obnoxious girl gang on Saturday night, all those walks in the park with that lame boyfriend of hers. My god, every time I heard that man open his mouth I almost jumped the gun right there in broad daylight. That wouldn't have been very smart of me, though. Patience is a virtue."
"It was you? You killed him?" Mika forced out, his voice barely above a whisper as his body went numb.
"Oh, no. Not me." Leonard laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "I save the dirty work for the mercenaries. I'm just the idea man."
"You just can't resist using innocent humans as pawns, can you?" Mika heard Darren growl in the background. "You're despicable, Steve."
Leonard rolled his eyes dismissively, not looking away from Mika.
"I knew my plan was a long shot, that's why I didn't make an appearance at the main event myself. I watched from a distance, of course. Moral support and all. I had to save my energy for my big day in the Cavern of Retribution! Plus I wanted give my friends a chance to shine. Too bad you and yours killed them all. But damn, they got closer than I expected!" he sneered. He didn't look uncomfortable anymore - he looked positively vindictive.
"You fucking coward." Mika growled, advancing slowly towards the bars that separated him from the leering prisoner.
"Call me whatever you want. You're the one who left your precious Hall of Princes empty for the sake of one human brat. And they say Smahlt's the traitor? Hah! The only difference between you and him is job security!" Leonard continued. He winked at Mika, goading him shamelessly. "Your clan can't trust you, your own daughter can't even depend on you! I mean, she had to drive her car through a perfectly good vampaneze to save your sorry ass from getting curb-stomped?!" Even as he laughed nastily, Leonard's stare never wavered from Mika's. And those cold blue eyes sparkled as though there was no place on earth he'd rather be.
Time and time again, Mika was the level-headed one. The one who kept it together for everyone else. It was the role life seemingly chose for him, every single time. No matter who he was working with, the responsibility of being the voice of reason tended to fall on Mika's shoulders. And he was good at it. Even these past few years, when the universe tested every fibre of his discipline, he didn't yield to anger. Disassociating in blind rage was Larten's signature move, or Arrow's. Not Mika's.
Until the night he heard his daughter cry on the phone, afraid for her life a thousand miles away. That was the night Mika turned his back on the code of honour he'd dedicated his life to preserving. The night he left the Hall of Princes empty.
And now, the moment he realized the cruel, smirking man behind the bars in front of him was the one responsible for putting that into motion.
The role you made me play
Of the fool, no, I don't like you
Mika remembered everything like it was happening in slow motion. He remembered launching himself at the bars, bracing himself against them with his left hand, and reaching through with his right. He remembered how Leonard was standing at exactly the right height and distance for Mika to close his hand around that pale throat. And he remembered the way Leonard smiled sadistically, remembered the glint in those cold eyes that never wavered. Not even as Mika's hand tightened and dragged him, pulling him roughly into the bars so they were only inches apart.
It would've been so easy, almost effortless. Mika could've snapped his neck right then and there. It wouldn't return what had been stolen from Gracie, but it was what Leonard deserved. He heard the others yelling behind him, but their words bounced off him like hail against stone.
"I'm going to kill you." Mika whispered slowly. He drew out every word, tasting acid on his tongue as he spoke. His entire body burned as days worth of pent-up rage simmered back to the surface. Boiling oceans that had no outlet - until now. It all came down to Leonard. What was left of his pathetic life was literally in Mika's hands. One swift motion and he'd crumble like a rag doll.
Mika dimly registered that Darren was yelling manically in his ear on one side, while Jakob and Renley tried to reason with him on the other. It was too late. The most important job Mika ever had was to protect Gracie, and he failed. Even twenty-five years ago, the night he met her, he arrived too late to kill the vampaneze who slaughtered her family. But he could still destroy the man who shattered the life she worked so hard for. It wasn't enough, nothing would ever be enough. But it was the only other thing Mika could do for her now. And he didn't care what happened after that.
His hand tightened around Leonard's throat, and the half-vampaneze's grin only widened.
"That all you got, Sire?" Leonard sneered hoarsely. "No wonder you couldn't even-"
Mika would never hear the end of that sentence. He tightened his grip again, and for the first time the smile faded from Leonard's face. The cruel sneer was replaced by panic. Finally.
Mika heard pounding footsteps approaching, more shouting. He didn't register any of it. All he knew was the feeling of Leonard's throat slowly collapsing in his hand.
Suddenly, Mika was flying backwards, wrenched away by a strong pair of hands that had locked around his shoulders, so tightly it might've been painful if he'd been more in tune with his own body. He didn't easily release his chokehold on Leonard's neck, but he lost his grip as he was pulled too far back to hold on any longer, and Leonard crumpled against the bars and fell to the floor, wheezing in pain. But laughing. He was still fucking laughing.
Mika heard his own voice, screaming so loudly his throat burned, hurling vicious, violent promises at the cell he was being hauled away from. He recognized the arms that were suddenly around him, restraining him from finishing the job. His one job. He heard Renley's voice in his ear, low and soothing like the night he helped break up the fight between Mika, Arrow, and Vancha just before Paris's funeral. But this was nothing like that. That fight was stupid. This wasn't a fight. This was justice.
Mika twisted his body violently, breaking free from Renley's grip. He launched himself at the cell again, ignoring Darren's yell of protest. But Renley was right there all over again, and this time he locked Mika's arms behind his back. Mika tried to break away, but Renley did some pressure-point thing in his back that had no business hurting as much as it did. Mika's vision went black for a second, and when it came back he was on the floor in the hallway, propped up against the wall with Renley kneeling in front of him, face blurring in and out of focus. He felt Renley's strong, familiar hands on either side of his face. Could see Renley's lips were moving frantically, muttering words Mika's brain couldn't process because it felt like it was swelling, throbbing angrily against the inside of his skull. Or maybe that was his heartbeat he was feeling. But this wasn't panic, he knew that feeling well enough to differentiate. He wasn't afraid of anything now. This was pure rage, more than he'd ever felt. More than he knew what to do with. Leonard was the one who should be afraid.
"Why are you always around when I end up on the floor?" Mika snapped at Renley, breathing so hard he had to fight to get the words out. He knocked Renley's hands away and tried to stand. But Renley shoved him roughly back down, throwing gasoline on Mika's inferno of rage.
"Better question is, why is this the second fucking time I've had to physically restrain you from murdering someone?" Renley spat back. He was glaring with a level of anger and disbelief the likes of which Mika was not accustomed to being on the receiving end.
"Because you can't resist playing the hero!" Said Mika. "Do you have nothing better to do than follow me around and wait til I fuck up so you can insert yourself into my life?"
"Gods, do you still think my universe revolves around you? I told you! Arrow asked me to get him an update on the interrogation! I was doing my JOB, Mika! And last I checked, my job didn't include keeping YOU in line! What is WRONG with you?!" Renley bellowed, his face reddening.
"You heard him! He's the reason I had to go save Gracie that night!" Mika panted, still struggling against Renley's grip. "He's the one who tracked and stalked her to get to me!"
Renley softened, but only slightly.
"I'm so sorry. Truly, I am. Gods, Mika! Look at me! Are you forgetting I was with you that night? I know exactly what that did to you. But we made it out alive because you kept your head on straight! You didn't fail her! You saved her! It was a no-win situation and you still came out on top, because that's who you are! But now?! Ten minutes with him and suddenly you're a homicidal maniac?"
"I don't have time for this. Step aside, General. That's an order."
"No." Said Renley, with chilling determination. He looked Mika dead in the eye, unwavering.
"What the fuck did you just say to me?"
"You heard me. Sire Shan ordered me to remove you from the room. You can be gods-damned sure I have better things to do than stalk you and wait for an opportunity to play the hero. I'm following orders here. They're just not your orders. At least one of you is thinking like a Prince. I just didn't expect it to be the kid."
Renley didn't have time to brace himself before Mika launched to his feet like a missile, powered by a fresh wave of fury. He shoved Renley out of his way, but that was as far as he got.
"MIKA? What the hell is going on?!" Came an even more familiar voice from down the corridor. Mika stopped dead in his tracks. Kurda came wheeling around the corner, walking with great purpose. "PLEASE tell me I've been misinformed, and you didn't just try to kill the only leverage we have to fulfill the peace treaty!"
The blinding rage hadn't yet subsided, but all it took was that raw panic in Kurda's voice for Mika to become painfully aware of how drastically he'd fucked up. Fury was slowly replaced by nauseating dread. Renley seemed to pick up on it, because he gave up trying to restrain Mika.
"Kurda..." Mika croaked, suddenly feeling his throat close up at the mere sight of him. "I know. It was bad. But-"
"Who authorized you to be down here, Smahlt?" Renley interrupted loftily, eyeing Kurda with suspicion. "I sure hope it was Sire Arrow, because the other two Princes in the mountain are already here."
"I'm sorry, who are you again?" Kurda shot back, with a level of scathing condescension that was most unlike him. He raised his eyebrows and gave Renley a quick once-over. And even against the grim backdrop of Mika's mistake, it was kind of funny. Renley didn't glare, but his eyes narrowed.
"You know who I am, Smahlt. Don't play games with me. I'm just trying to do my job." Said Renley warily.
"That'll be all, Ren." Mika grunted. "You can tell Arrow the interrogation is still in progress, and Darren will update him later."
Renley threw his hands up in exasperation and stalked off. Kurda shot a bemused glance at him, but quickly refocused on Mika.
"We're going to circle back to that." Said Kurda drily, gesturing at Renley's retreating back. "Mika, what the hell happened? The whole mountain knows! You know the guards talk!"
"If you actually knew what happened, you wouldn't be looking at me like that." Mika muttered. "Kurda, listen to me-"
But Kurda shook his head and sighed in frustration.
"Since when do you lose your head during a negotiation?" He demanded. "We're so close to finalizing the treaty! How could you-"
"It was him!" Mika forced out at last. His limbs were still tingling ominously. "He's the one who organized the attack on Gracie. He tracked where she lived, he fucking stalked her for weeks. It was all him."
The blood seemed to drain from Kurda's face as he took it all in. Kurda was rendered speechless for several moments, so Mika finally had a chance to fill him in.
"He didn't know who I was at first. I didn't tell him my name." Mika continued, barely above a whisper. "But when he found out, he threw it in my face... how I failed both her and the clan in the same night. He knew exactly what to say. As if he wanted me to attack him."
"Okay. I get it." Kurda choked at last, heartbreak in his blue eyes. He exhaled a long, low groan of anguish and ran his hands slowly across his face and through his hair. Suddenly he looked as disconsolate as Mika felt.
Mika said nothing as Kurda took it all in. After a few moments of brooding, Kurda seemed to gather himself. He straightened his back and reached out, placing his hand on Mika's shoulder.
"Walk with me." Said Kurda softly. Mika shook his head and began to pull away.
"I can't. I have to get back in there, and-"
"And do what, Mika?" Kurda cut him off. He quickly moved his hand off Mika's shoulder, grabbing his wrist instead, holding him there. "It's over. He won this round. If you go back in there now, it'll just make everything worse. Of course he wanted you to attack him! He doesn't want peace! He wants to finish what the Vampaneze Lord started!"
"I'm so sorry Kurda. I can't explain it. I know I know better than that, he just got to me." Said Mika, hating the way his voice shook. Because Kurda standing in front of him was all it took to pierce the illusion of bravado.
"Come here." Kurda sighed. He gently pulled on Mika's wrist, and that was all the persuasion Mika needed to lean in and let Kurda hug him.
Mika had never quite understood how Kurda simply radiated peace. Or how that still held true after all these years. Was that just standard practice for all pacifists? Some mysteries weren't meant to be solved. All Mika knew was that peace was hard to come by in his life - a result of both his personality and his line of work. Honestly, peace was never something Mika thought he needed. His constant state of internal unrest was what drove him to succeed, after all. But falling in love with Kurda felt like coming up for air for the first time in his life. That was a long time ago, of course. Everything had changed since then - except the part where Kurda's mere presence could still slow his racing heart.
"If I let you go, are you going to behave?" Came Kurda's voice near Mika's ear after a few moments.
"Better wait a little longer to be sure." Mika replied, words muffled by the soft fabric of Kurda's sweater. That earned a soft chuckle from Kurda, who squeezed a little tighter for a moment or two before slowly disentangling himself from the embrace.
I don't like your perfect crime
How you laugh when you lie
Darren left the dungeon shortly after Mika's outburst. And then there were two.
"You were right." Steve smirked. "Ver Leth is all business til you bring the family into it. Then he cracks like a nut. He's as weak as Darren - just better at faking it."
"Like I said..." Jakob growled. "I know Mika well. And I know he's only breathing because the man I loved took a bullet for him. Fired from the gun of one of your vampets."
"Well, maybe your man should've gotten out of the way." Said Steve. He was laying on the floor now, hands folded comfortably behind his head as he grinned up at the ceiling.
"Go to hell." Jakob barked. He rounded on Steve, and kicked the bars of the cell aggressively. Steve rolled his eyes, unbothered.
"So what are you going to do with your life once the new age of rainbows and unicorns begins?" Steve asked, tilting his head to the side to look earnestly up at Jakob. "There's not gonna be a lot to keep you Generals busy, seeing as both clans will be busy holding hands and singing campfire songs."
Steve winked, and Jakob's scowl deepened.
"I'm not a General yet." Jakob grunted.
"Ah, my mistake." Steve replied. "I thought you were. Could've sworn I overheard someone say you were assigned to oversee my security detail because you proved yourself to be one of the best during your time in the field. Got the impression you were important or something."
Jakob slowly sat down with his back against the wall, at eye-level with Steve.
"I went from nothing to something in a short amount of time." Jakob explained coolly. "Mika gave me a chance. Reluctantly, at first. But it's safe to say I exceeded his expectations. Don't know why everyone was so surprised. I had my pick of whatever mission I wanted! I killed more vampaneze in a year than some vampires killed during the entire war. And just like that, it's all over... now I'm stuck in here with your sorry ass."
"You liked being at war, didn't you, Jakob?" Steve speculated, smile never wavering. "You liked chasing revenge for your slaughtered lover. Your life finally had purpose! You said it yourself, you were nothing before the war began."
"Shut up. I'm glad the war is over! Your pathetic Lord died at the hands of his own. It's what he deserved!" Jakob snarled.
"Pfft. Now say it like you mean it. You never cared about the Lord himself." Said Steve flippantly. "You were just happy to be out there hunting vampaneze. And I get it! You spent your life being looked over. Suddenly you have all this power in your hands and an army behind you! And now that it's over, you can't shake the bitterness. War was your time to shine, and you lived for it, didn't you?"
"Of course not! I was serving the clan. No more, no less."
"Who are you trying to convince, Jakob? Me or you?"
Jakob's eyes snapped to attention, dialled in on Steve's face as though unable to believe what he was hearing. Steve held Jakob's gaze with laser focus, and added,
"It's okay! You can be honest. It's just you and me in here. I had fun too. It doesn't have to end, you know."
You said the gun was mine
Isn't cool, no, I don't like you
"Just for the record, I will never, ever take issue with you prioritizing Gracie above anything clan-related." Said Kurda as he walked at Mika's side, leaving the dungeon far behind them. "And maybe that's bad on both of us. But I don't care. I know where my lines are drawn."
Mika nodded slowly.
"I haven't exactly been at my best these past few years, but I've never felt like that before." He told Kurda as they began to walk side-by-side, away from the dungeon. "It was like the worst things the voice in my head has ever said, coming to life right in front of me. Like he knew exactly how to destroy me from the inside."
"That's what he does." Said Kurda. "He finds your weakness and weaponizes your fears. I watched him do it to Darren when he dangled that poor girl above the stakes and tried to force him to make the choice. The man is completely without honour. All he wants is to take up the mantle of the Vampaneze Lord."
"Larten was right. We can't underestimate him." Said Mika solemnly.
"That's not enough." Kurda insisted, shaking his head. "We have to be better than him. We know Gannen Harst wouldn't lie, but something doesn't add up."
"Not only does the treaty hinge on us eventually giving the little son of a bitch back, but Darren's family is out there somewhere." Said Mika.
Kurda nodded seriously.
"When Leonard showed Darren that picture, he implied the Vampaneze Lord used him in exchange for his family's safety-"
"Which is a bold-faced lie." Said Mika, as he heard Leonard's cold laugh echoing in his head all over again. "Leonard was proud of everything he was involved in. He's a cocky son of a bitch - he didn't want to play the victim any longer than he had to. Once our medics saved him, he dropped the act."
They carried on in silence for several minutes. Mika didn't know where they were going, and he didn't care. He was following Kurda. But as they turned down the corridor that led to Kurda's cell, the logical part of Mika's brain re-engaged.
"Kurda, I can't just come hang out with you in your room like before..." Mika sighed wearily. But to his surprise, Kurda snorted and rolled his eyes.
"You really think taking you to bed is on my priority list right now?" Said Kurda. "Glad to see time hasn't dulled your ego. I want to show you something."
Mika had no idea what to expect, but his heart grew three sizes when Kurda pushed the door open. It was clear Kurda had wasted no time in re-converting his old cell to something of an office space. There were stacks of paperwork covering every available surface, even some on the floor. And Gracie was there - at Kurda's desk, with her face buried in her arms. Fast asleep.
"Wow." Said Mika. "Back for four days and you've already hired a secretary."
"This is what we were doing while you were in all your meetings today." Kurda murmured, shooting Mika a wry smile. "In case you didn't know, I've spent pretty much my whole life preparing for true peace between the clans. Gods, long before I was ever nominated for investiture I'd written novels' worth of amended law proposals in case we ever got this far. Then came Desmond's original prophecy and I never thought they'd see the light of day..."
"And now you're the one making it happen." Mika interjected, squeezing Kurda's shoulder. "Like it was always meant to be."
"It's not going to be that simple." Kurda countered, glancing up at Mika. His smile faded. "The clan will never fully trust me after what I did, and I don't blame them. I'm just as much a controversial figure among the vampaneze as well."
Mika didn't speak for several moments.
"I can't speak for the vampaneze..." he began at last. "But the vampires who still call for your death are the minority. They're a loud minority, but there's been a shift. When the war started, we thought we were ready for it. But no one really knew what it would cost us. Sure, there's plenty of vampires who'd rather pay that price than consider a more peaceful alternative... but now we've seen the other side of what you would've sacrificed everything to prevent. Most of us get it." Said Mika softly. "Even before I read your letter, I got it."
Neither of them spoke for a solid minute.
"Gracie's been helping me sort through all my original documents." Kurda explained with a weak chuckle. "It's going to be handy to have a fully trained lawyer on staff. I told her to go to bed hours ago, by the way. But apparently the Ver Leth workaholic trait is dominant."
"I was afraid of that." Mika muttered. But he managed a smile.
"You know, I'll never forget the first night you took care of her by yourself, about a week after we found her." Said Kurda. "You were so scared to be alone with her. You didn't think you could handle it if something went wrong."
"Fuck, don't remind me." Said Mika, wincing at the memory of how useless and incapable he felt in the early days.
"Then I came back from my meeting and you were sitting at your desk with her in your arms, both out cold. That was the first time I realized there was a little more to you than the egotistical, monochromatic dictator I used to know."
"Thanks, Kurda. Thanks a lot." Mika rolled his eyes, but he couldn't contain a laugh. He muffled it to avoid waking Gracie, though.
"Hey, you knew exactly what I thought of you back then. I didn't tiptoe around your moody ass like everyone else."
"I know. That was the whole reason I fell in love with you. This is all your fault, really."
"My fault?" Kurda laughed softly, nudging Mika's shoulder with his own. "You're the one who whipped out a whole new personality as soon as Gracie appeared! The way you used to let her sit with you on your throne and let her think she was opening the magic door? How was I supposed to resist that?"
"Life was so simple back then." Said Mika. "When the hardest thing we ever had to do was just take care of her from one day to the next."
"We did get really good at it. And it's not that different from what we're doing now." Said Kurda. He glanced meaningfully up at Mika as they stood side-by-side in the doorway. "Having her in the clan still scares the hell out of me - but I just keep reminding myself we know exactly what we're doing. We've done it before. At least now she can talk. I feel like that'll work to our advantage this time around." He added with a chuckle.
"Gods, I missed you so much, Kurda. And I know it'll never be the same. But as long you're on my side, that's enough for me."
"You remember that brief window of time that came after all those years of hating each other, but before the whole falling in love debacle? When we were friends?"
"Vaguely." Said Mika.
"I could use a friend. You may have noticed I've lost a few over the years. And I was never exactly popular to begin with. Unlike some people." Said Kurda, gently elbowing Mika in the ribs. Mika slipped his arm around Kurda's shoulder.
"Well, I already have a best friend. And you know Arrow needs a lot of attention." Said Mika seriously. "The most I can offer is second best friend."
"Guess I'm not really in a position to argue, am I?" He chuckled. He looked up at Mika at the same moment Mika glanced down at him. They began to walk away from Kurda's room, to avoid waking Gracie up. Neither knew where they were going, and neither cared.
"Not really. I'm still the boss." Said Mika, grinning. Kurda rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but smile back.
They walked down to the Hall of Khledon Lurt, which was deserted. After collecting some food and drink, they sat back down at their old favourite table, the one up in the corner. They'd sat here at least a thousand times, but Kurda was staring around the room as if he was seeing if for the first time.
"Do you honestly think I'm going to be part of the clan again?" Kurda asked abruptly. And there was a spark of hope in his ocean eyes that Mika hadn't seen in almost a decade.
"Do you honestly want to be?"
"I... what? Mika, why wouldn't I want back in?!"
"Because the entire lot of us spent decades belittling you at every possible opportunity." Said Mika. His voice cracked as he spoke, because it was the bitter truth. "Even me. Even during our best years, I never took your goals seriously."
"Don't say that." Kurda murmured in dismay. "You were more excited about my nomination than I was. You loved me, and you supported me in everything."
"But I didn't believe in you like I should have." Said Mika, shaking his head. "There's a difference. I said you'd make a great Prince, and I meant it. But then I turned around and told you your dreams were career suicide. No wonder you felt like you had no choice but to go below the board to save the clan."
"We said we weren't going to go down that road again, remember?" Said Kurda. He intertwined his fingers through Mika's and squeezed reassuringly. "It's over. We can't change the past."
"I know." Mika pressed on. "But every conversation we've had since your exile has revolved around how sorry you are. Sorry to me, sorry to Gracie, sorry to the clan... and I know you mean it. That's why I'm more than ready to move on forever. But first, I need you to know how sorry I am."
Kurda hadn't been expecting that. It was evident by the profound disbelief on his face as he stared up at Mika, seemingly lost for words.
"I'm so sorry, Kurda." Mika continued. He could hear his voice shaking but he pushed through it, needing to get these words out into the universe because they were so painfully overdue. "I'm sorry for not taking you seriously. I'm sorry for writing off your goals as naivety. I'm sorry for thinking you'd make a great Prince on the condition you did it my way." The words were coming out as dry sobs now, but he couldn't stop. "I'm sorry I failed you to the point you couldn't even come to me when you found out our world was ending, because you knew I'd stop you from doing the right thing. And I'm so fucking sorry you were alone in all of it."
There it was. The last piece. Mika could accept Kurda's apology a thousand times over. But that didn't change the fact that Mika had never, ever been the sole victim in this. And only now that he'd acknowledged that, could they both finally move on to take their respective places in whatever future lay ahead.
"I forgive you, Mika." Kurda told him quietly, his thumb running back and forth over the back of Mika's shaking hand. "You know I never held any of that against you. But I accept your apology. It's over now."
"I've spent seven years listening to people tell me I deserved better than you." Mika commented with a hollow laugh. "But you're the one who deserved better."
"That's where we'll agree to disagree." Said Kurda, also managing a tired chuckle.
"Whatever you say."
Kurda arched an eyebrow. And he looked so much like his old self, for a second Mika felt like it was ten years ago and they'd just showed up late for breakfast after spending a little too long in the coffin together.
"I thought you were the boss." Kurda snorted.
"Of everyone but you."
But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time
Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time
Mika stayed away from the Hall of Princes for longer than usual. Which wasn't very long, but still. He really did not want to face his colleagues after his catastrophic failure during yesterday's interrogation. But eventually he ran out of excuses, so he wandered in just before midnight. Darren was the only one around, other than a couple Generals milling around the back of the room.
"I warned you." Said Darren flatly as Mika sat down in his throne beside him. "I told you he has a way of getting under your skin. You didn't even last ten minutes!"
Mika took a deep breath, composed himself, and shot Darren a wry look.
"I told myself I wasn't going to defend my actions, and I'm not. Because I did very much fail yesterday. But he fucked with my kid's life, Darren. And if the treaty wasn't on the line, I would've snapped his neck and I wouldn't be sorry about it."
"Did you miss the part where he had a kid with my little sister?" Darren growled. "If anyone ever gets to break his neck, it's me."
"Alright, you've got me there." Said Mika. "Why do I feel like he's the only person in this mountain who wants to be here?"
"He's a power-hungry egomaniac. He wants to follow in the Vampaneze Lord's footsteps." Darren sighed. "But to do that, he needs to stay alive. He knew he wouldn't be safe among his own people now that the Lord isn't alive to protect him. The Last Stand would've killed him too."
"...And if he died, you'd run the risk of never finding your family." Said Mika.
Darren grimaced, but then his young face hardened as he stared back at Mika.
"Exactly. And I don't want him loose in the world as long as they're out there somewhere." Said Darren. "So if that means he has to rot in that cell until we have some answers, that's fine by me. Gannen can have him back when I get my family back."
Mika stayed quiet for a long time, trying to decode the feeling that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He realized eventually it was guilt. Because against all odds, he had his family back. Gracie was a vampire now - she wasn't going anywhere. And Kurda was back in Vampire Mountain on the best possible terms anyone could expect, considering the circumstances of his exile. It wasn't perfect and it would never be the same. But, in defiance of all logic and reason, Mika's wish came true. And if there was a single other vampire in this clan who deserved peace, it sure as fuck was Darren.
"Why were you ever friends with that guy, Darren?" He ventured at last.
"He was fun to be around." Said Darren quietly. "That's all. We were just kids. Being his friend felt like an adventure. If he hadn't been my friend, I think I would've been scared of him."
"Because he's been off the fucking rails since birth?"
"That part wasn't totally his fault." Darren countered, with the faintest margin of defensiveness. "I had a good home life. And he... didn't. Nothing excuses what he did, but when we were kids, he had nothing."
"Ah. No wonder he wanted to be a vampire."
"He felt trapped in his life. Our teachers wrote him off. His dad bailed, and his mom sort of just gave up on him. He wanted to be... I don't know, more than what he was. Then it all went wrong, and I got to live his dream. I didn't even want to! And he couldn't handle it."
"So he made it everyone's problem." Said Mika wryly. "Just for the record, Larten was right about one thing. That kid would've made a really shitty vampire."
Darren's face darkened at the lighthearted remark, and it caught Mika's attention.
"Yeah, that was about the only thing Mr. Crepsley got right." Darren muttered. "It's one thing that his choices changed my life... but now I find out that my sister and nephew have been dragged in? It all comes back to him."
"Would... would you like to talk about it?" Mika inquired, side-eyeing Darren with some apprehension.
"Not really." Darren sighed.
"Oh, good."
Mika almost didn't broach the topic any further. Whatever minimal paternal instincts he had were reserved for Gracie only. Darren was not, and had never been Mika's problem. At least, not in the same way that he was Larten's problem. But Mika couldn't resist. Also, maybe two and a half decades of being Gracie's dad had softened him just a little.
"Do you ever resent Larten for dragging you into all this?" Mika asked.
"Sometimes." Said Darren. He shifted in his throne to look directly at Mika, who hadn't actually been expecting any sort of answer.
"Fair enough. Sounds like you had a comfortable life before all this. Boring, but comfortable." Said Mika.
"Don't get me wrong, I feel honoured to sit up here-"
"As you should."
"But sometimes I just get... tired."
"I get it. And just for the record, it's my professional and personal opinion that Larten should've left well enough alone. You were a kid." Mika commented seriously. "He knew better, and for him to turn your life upside-down was wrong."
"Coming from the guy who sentenced me to the Trials of Initiation?" Darren snorted.
"It was seven years ago, Darren." Said Mika, rolling his eyes with feigned indifference. "Get over it."
"You know... when I first met you, I thought you were the world's biggest asshole." Darren teased, a brittle smile on his lips.
"And?"
"Nothing. Just thought you should know."
I've got a list of names and yours is in red, underlined
I check it once, then I check it twice, oh!
Mika didn't want to tell Gracie that the man who ruined her life was here in Vampire Mountain. But he'd rather she found out from him than someone else. He found her in the Hall of Khledon Lurt early the following night, eating breakfast with a group of cubs. She was glad to have some friends who looked her age, even though their fully-blooded status meant they were actually a bit older.
"Move." Mika grunted at the three cubs who'd been sitting at Gracie's table. Mika slept poorly after the disaster he'd caused in the interrogation, and he was saving all of his limited patience for Gracie. The cubs scattered obediently, and Gracie hit Mika with a carbon copy of his trademark withering stare as he sat down.
"Can you maybe not scare away my friends?" She remarked, arching an eyebrow. "There's only so many vampires in my age bracket. And I'd like to hang out with more people than just my dads."
"There's always Darren." Mika pointed out. She rolled her eyes and threw a cracker at him.
"Fine. My dads and Darren. What a lineup!"
Mika could've sat there forever, trading witty jabs back and forth, noticing the way she was smiling more than she had in weeks. But he sought her out for a reason, so he reluctantly told her about his altercation with Leonard. And when he finished, she spent a few moments gazing down at the fork in her hand, spinning it thoughtfully, before looking back up at him and replying,
"It is what it is."
She spoke with such disarming calmness, Mika didn't know how to reply. Instead he silently studied her face for a moment or two, trying to gauge what was going on under the surface.
"You said you'd have time to train with me today, can we do that now?" She added seriously, before Mika could formulate any sort of response.
"I... yeah. Of course. Anything you want."
They walked down to the Hall of Baker Wrent side-by-side, and she didn't say another word about Leonard.
Pretty much the minute she was blooded, Gracie was hell-bent learning everything she could about swordsmanship. That had always been Mika's thing, and she wanted it to be her thing too. And Mika was all about it. He was tempted to hand her one of the rare, magnificent weapons from his personal collection and dive right in. After all, he'd already let her practice with a proper blade a few times while she was a human - just for fun. But she was a vampire now. And that meant she had to start where any other cub would start. Wooden staff first, razor sharp blade later once she'd mastered the basics. As he kept reminding her, she had plenty of time to learn properly. That was the deal - she wouldn't expect any special treatment just because her dad was a Prince. And Mika would try really really hard not to give her special treatment anyway.
They trained for over two hours, and it was easily the best two hours of Mika's entire year so far. Admittedly, there'd always been a tiny piece of his heart that had always dreamed of this; sharing the best parts of his life with her as a vampire. But from the beginning he knew that was a selfish dream. So ignored it, instead devoting himself to helping her become the best human she could be. It was the right thing to do - until it wasn't. He was still unspeakably heartbroken over how her life had been destroyed over clan politics. But she was here, and she was starting to find happiness in that. So Mika allowed himself to do the same.
They sat down side-by-side on one of the long benches in the corner, completely exhausted. The good kind, though.
"You did great." Mika panted, patting Gracie's shoulder. "You're already above average for a beginner, and you have naturally good balance. You'll be able to move up to a real blade sooner than I thought."
"I have to make myself useful somehow." Gracie replied, smiling tiredly. "My law career didn't pan out, remember?"
"You sure?" Mika asked, arching an eyebrow. "I hear you were putting your degree to use, helping edit Kurda's law proposals for once the treaty is finalized."
"I used to make fun of all the spoiled rich kids in my class who ended up working for their parents." Said Gracie wryly. "Guess I should've kept my mouth shut."
"Don't sell yourself short." Mika told her. "I've read some of your notes, and I was amazed. I'm saying that as a Prince, not as your dad."
She nodded slowly, as though she hadn't been expecting to hear that. She stared straight ahead for a few moments, seeming lost in thought. And when she finally glanced up at Mika, even as she smiled there were tears in her eyes.
"I was a really good lawyer."
Mika's heart sank all over again. He supposed he should get used to that. The wound was still fresh. And it wouldn't go away just because she was one step closer to building a new life.
"I know, honey. I'm so sorry."
Gracie sighed, almost a little dismissively. But she placed her small hand on Mika's shoulder.
"I'll always wonder what would've been, but I'm a vampire now. This is where I'm meant to be. So if I have an opportunity to help make the clan better, I'm taking it."
Mika nodded understandingly, but didn't entirely relax.
"Just to be clear, I'm very relieved you're not running down to the dungeon to throttle the son of a bitch like I almost did..." He ventured, glancing sideways at her. "But you're allowed to be angry. I am."
"He's not worth my anger, or hatred. Or yours." Gracie reasoned. "Think about it. His greatest accomplishment was that he was used by the Vampaneze Lord? What kind of life is that? Before the war, he was nothing. And now that it's over, that's all he has to look forward to. I don't hate him. If anything, I pity him."
Mika exhaled slowly and ran his hand through his hair. He needed a solid minute to absorb and process that statement.
"Fuck, Gracie... just one time, can you stop handling things better than me?" He managed at last. "You're making me look really bad by comparison."
Gracie laughed at that, and gently elbowed him.
"Don't get me wrong, I really want to throw a rock at his head." She chuckled bitterly, before sobering up again. "But then I'd be no better than him."
Mika blinked a couple times, and put his arms around her.
"In case I've never told you, you're tougher than I'll ever be." He mumbled into the top of her head. "Don't forget it."
"Aw, Dad. Don't be too hard on yourself. You do okay for a three hundred year old man." She teased him when they pulled apart, ocean eyes sparkling in the same way Kurda's always did.
"You're also meaner than me." Mika added.
"Remember the argument you two got into before I went to school for the first time?" She reminisced. "Dad told me to be kind to everyone I meet, no matter what. But then you told me I was allowed to be mean to people IF they were mean first."
Mika laughed at the memory. How could he forget that particular battle?
"I stand by that." He told her. "The world is mean. Sometimes you have to fight for yourself - you learned that from me. But sometimes kindness wins - which you learned from Kurda. The hard part is knowing the difference. And you figured that out on your own, because Kurda and I aren't that smart. It all worked out in the end."
"Wow. You should write a parenting book." Said Gracie. She rolled her eyes, but she was grinning like the carefree little kid she once was.
"You know, I stood there for a minute as you were asleep at that desk last night, surrounded by pages of those laws." Mika admitted. "Laws that'll pave the way for a better future for both clans. And it's only your second full day of being a vampire. Maybe I did something right after all. I just have no idea what it was."
"You watched me sleep?" She laughed. "Weirdo."
"Okay, Princess. Easy on the judgement." Mika snorted. "It was three minutes max. You've never raised something from infancy so I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"Nor will I ever have to." She replied, grinning wryly. "So I have that going for me."
Mika couldn't contain a laugh at the irony of that.
"I'm happy as long as you're happy." He said frankly, once he'd gathered himself. "But just for the record, I said the same thing when I decided to join the clan. And yet, here you are."
"Destiny really thought you should be someone's dad, I guess."
"Yeah, right. Destiny thought it'd be really funny to see me change a diaper. That's all."
"In destiny's defence, it probably was really funny."
Mika rolled his eyes and prepared a retort. No one on this planet, not even Kurda could match his signature deadpan sarcasm as well as his own daughter. Now that she was here full-time, Mika had to be prepared to roast or be roasted at a moment's notice. He was already smiling wickedly; he had a great zinger lined up. Maybe next time she'd think twice before verbally assaulting her old man.
But when Mika opened his mouth, all that came out was,
"Just for the record, I have never and will never want to be someone's dad. But the first time you fell asleep in my arms, all I wanted was to be your dad. And that's the best thing I've ever done with my life. No competition."
Ooh, look what you made me do
Look what you made me do
Look what you just made me do
Look what you just made me
THE NEXT DAY
Mika was powerful on his own. His determination and self-reliance were the greatest weapon in his arsenal, and they drove him to succeed, til he commanded true power. But power isn't the same as strength. He'd earned his power and nobody could take it away from him. But today, for the first time in fucking forever, he felt strong. He drew his strength from Kurda's quiet courage and compassion, in spite of a clan that abused and dismissed him for decades. And from Gracie's humble determination, in spite of the true forces of evil that stole her life.
So when he slipped back into the dungeon to go round two with Leonard, he knew without a shadow of a doubt it wasn't going to end like the first attempt. Mika wore his newfound strength as armour. Leonard could take as many low blows as he wanted - it would deflect right back at him. Until he inevitably took himself down.
"Come to break the rest of my neck?" Leonard greeted him merrily. "And they say I'm a psychopath?! You're the one who should be locked up!"
Mika didn't react. He slowly sat down on the floor, eye-level with Leonard.
"I apologize for losing my temper last time we talked. I know better." Said Mika, every word perfectly concise. "But you can't exactly blame me. If your son was in my daughter's position, I'm sure you'd do the same. And if you wouldn't cross that line for your kid, then honestly... he deserves better than you."
"Hell of an apology. You're not actually sorry, are you?" Leonard growled.
Mika laughed coldly.
"You're perceptive, I'll give you that. You're right. I'm not sorry, and I'd do it again." He told Leonard. "I won't, because I'm an adult with responsibilities. Also because Darren has first dibs on putting you six feet under if the opportunity ever comes up. I just like the idea of killing you."
Leonard's face hardened, lips tightened into a thin, stubborn line. Mika observed him unassumingly.
"I know your type. Born with a chip on your shoulder, right?" Mika began. "You know, I was just like you once. Tale as old as time - grew up feeling overlooked, underestimated. So I turned all that into ambition, and now I have a fancy chair in the big glowy room." He said it patronizingly, as if addressing a small child.
Leonard rolled his eyes, and slow-clapped.
"Wow. I'm so jealous. I've never sat in a fucking chair before."
"But here's the difference between you and me. I wanted to be respected, and power came with the territory." Mika continued. "You on the other hand, you don't care about respect. You just want power. You feel like the world owes you something. Why is that, Stephen? Didn't get enough love as a kid?"
Leonard stiffened at that. It was so imperceptible it would've gone unnoticed if Mika hadn't purposely been watching for it. And even then, it was so fleeting Mika wondered if he was imagining it.
"Is that it?" Mika added conversationally. "Mommy and Daddy never hugged you? I'm right, aren't I?"
"That's rich coming from you. Worry about your own family." Leonard snapped back.
"My family's safe. And where's yours again? Oh right, the Vampaneze Lord got his hands on them and now you have no idea where they are. A parenting, Leonard." Mika smirked. "Hell, you probably would've sold them to your Lord for a shot at glory. That's what my money's on."
"You don't know anything about me. I love my family." Said Leonard. He was trying to speak as evenly as Mika was, but his eyes betrayed the inner turmoil Mika's words were stirring up. There was hurt in them. But we've moved way beyond sympathy here.
"I do, though. You think you're truly evil. But it's my sincere pleasure to inform you that you're not special." Mika informed him, revelling in how those words tasted rolling off his tongue, and in the hot, indignant anger they triggered in Leonard's eyes. "You're not important. Destiny has no plans for you. Do you think the Vampaneze Lord saw greatness in you? Please." Mika continued, rolling his eyes for emphasis. "He saw you for what you are, a cowardly little bitch who's not above lying and cheating for personal gain."
"Shut your fucking mouth!" Leonard shouted, face tinged red as his temper expired. "You have no idea what you're talking about!"
Mika watched in satisfaction as Leonard's facade began to crack. Little brat really thought he could win against the man who invented repressing emotions. He may have won the last battle, but Mika was about to sweep the board.
"You weren't chosen by your Lord, you were used. And unfortunately you took that as a compliment." Mika persisted, his steady cadence contrasting Leonard's rage-filled snarl. "You're not the next Vampaneze Lord. You're a minion at best."
That elicited an eye twitch or two from the irate prisoner.
"Don't act like you understand who I was to the Vampaneze Lord! You parasites wouldn't even know what to do with real power!"
"What is there to understand? You're not that complicated." Said Mika, with exaggerated condescension. He still hadn't raised his voice a single decibel, even as drops of spittle landed on his face from the other side of the bars. "You jerk off to people fearing or hating you. It's the only way you know how to feel relevant."
Mika made no effort to hide the cold, smug smile that was spreading across his lips. His callousness was having the exact effect he wanted it to. Leonard was speechless, able to do nothing but seethe.
"But here's the thing, Leonard. I don't fear you. I don't even hate you. And it's not because you have any redeeming qualities - trust me, you don't." Mika continued breezily. He let out a soft laugh, then paused for a moment. "You're just so pathetic, it's hard to feel anything but sorry for you. You've threatened everything I care about. And I still can't bring myself to hate you. You're not worth the energy."
And for that realization, he had Gracie to thank.
"You don't know a god damn thing about me." Leonard spat. "You have no idea who I am or what I've been through. I've tasted more power than you can imagine"
"Yeah, whatever. If the Vampaneze Lord respected you as much as you claim, why would he use your family against you? Or if you loved your family that much, why would you let him?"
"Shut up!"
The smile didn't fade from Mika's lips as he narrowed his eyes. He had Leonard exactly where he wanted him, and he was moving in for the kill. And he did it all without so much as standing up. Didn't even have to raise his voice.
"So, which is it, Stephen? Are you just using them as leverage to torture Darren? Or did you straight-up fail to protect them? All that alleged cleverness, and you didn't even try to be a better father than the one you had. You're a joke. And not a funny one."
And finally, the grand finale. Mika saw it coming from a mile away. The way a vein in Leonard's neck twitched, the way his eyes blazed with fury and loathing until it seemed his physical form could no longer contain it all. Leonard shot to his feet like a missile. He launched himself at the bars and gripped them in his fists, his pale face a twisted mask of depravity.
"I didn't fucking fail them! I'd never let anything happen to Darius! They've been at my old house for months, of course they're safe!"
And there it was. If Leonard's expression was any indication, he hadn't expected those words to come flying out of his own mouth. The young man's face hollowed in shock as he realized he'd just picked up his only remaining game piece and chucked it at his opponent's head in a moment of childlike frustration. They even had a name for the kid now. Darius.
Mika smiled at Leonard with ice-cold vindication as he stood up.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
Mika didn't look back. He wasted no time making his way back up to the Hall of Princes, where Kurda was starting to walk Darren and Arrow through some of the law proposals he'd prepared for the beginning phases of the new treaty. Larten, Gracie, Harkat, and Seba were hanging out there too, but otherwise the room was empty.
Admittedly, Mika never developed as much of a soft spot for Darren as he probably should have, given that Darren was the same age as his own daughter (and looked even younger to boot). But nevertheless, Mika had to work to keep his emotions in check at the euphoric relief on Darren's face when he found out Leonard had finally cracked. Not to mention Mika had already relayed the message to Vancha. He'd promised to check on Darren's family before starting his return trip to Vampire Mountain.
"I told you I was good at running interrogations." Said Mika matter-of-factly as Darren abandoned all stoicism and embraced Mika as tightly as he could, with tears of joy streaming from his eyes.
"Second time's a charm." Said Kurda with a light smirk. But his eyes were gleaming happily. Unlike Mika, he had a soft spot for Darren since day one.
"And how do you know he was telling you the truth, Mika?" Larten spoke up, arms crossed skeptically as he watched his young apprentice bawl into Mika's chest. Still politely patting Darren's back (albeit ready for the embrace to be over), Mika shot Larten a pointed glance.
"Because I did exactly what he did to me yesterday." Said Mika seriously. "Found a point of weakness, and applied pressure til it snapped."
Finally, Larten managed a smile. Seba shoving a pint of celebratory ale into his hands sure helped.
There wasn't an empty mug in the place for the rest of the night. It was a well-deserved reprieve for each and every one of them, no question about that.
And each and every one of them should've known better than to believe the worst was over.
Ooh, look what you made me do
Look what you made me do
Look what you just made me do
Renley Azerion was similar to Mika in a lot of ways. One of them was that he was popular. He had a lot of friends. It wasn't uncommon for other vampires to gather around him as soon as he sat down somewhere.
Also, like Mika, Renley was good at reading people.
In itself, it wasn't weird that Jakob Wiles approached Ren as he was minding his own business in the Hall of Perta Vin-Grahl. They'd known each other for a long time. They weren't exactly close, but they were friends.
What was weird was the way Jakob's eyes couldn't seem to focus on anything.
"How's the VIP brat? Is dungeon master duty treating you well?" Renley inquired offhandedly after a few minutes of forced small talk. He really did just come down here to take a bath, and Jakob was being kind of annoying.
"It's an honour to have been charged with such a high-level prisoner." Said Jakob curtly.
"Glad you're finding honour in it, I guess." Renley shrugged. "Think I'd lose my mind if I had to listen to him all day. Talk about delusions of grandeur, holy fuck."
Jakob replied with a jerky, non-committal nod.
"Think Smahlt's going to get an official pardon?" Jakob asked. A rather abrupt shift in topic.
Renley exhaled, trying to mask his exasperation. He was a reasonable vampire; he wasn't one of the hateful voices shouting for Kurda's execution. But he sure as hell wasn't in Kurda's fan club either.
"Probably." Renley replied evenly. "I mean, he ended the war. That has to count for something."
"He still betrayed the clan and broke the terms of his exile sentence!" Jakob countered, emotion flashing in his dark eyes.
Renley threw his hands up, no longer trying to hide his exasperation as it reached a critical level. He couldn't even take a fucking shower without hearing Smahlt's name. Charna's fucking guts.
"I know, Wiles. I was there. We were all there." Renley snapped. "Do I like Smahlt? No. Do I think he's a legitimate threat to the clan at this point? Also no. I trust the Princes to make the right decision about his future. It's out of our hands."
Jakob fell silent for a moment. It was an awkward silence, but in hindsight Renley much preferred it to what came next.
"You and Mika were seeing each other at one point, weren't you?" Jakob asked out of nowhere. Renley could tell he was trying to sound casual, but it was very forced.
"What makes you think we were seeing each other?" Renley had more success keeping his tone casual than Jakob, but his guard remained up. He really didn't like the way Jakob's eyes were darting around.
"Just a feeling." Jakob shrugged. "First, I saw you talking to him for ages at our homecoming feast last year -"
"Mika talks to a lot of people." Renley interjected politely, arching an eyebrow. "That shouldn't come as a surprise to you. He's a high-profile individual."
Jakob rolled his eyes.
"Well, when he left, you followed like a puppy. Most people know better than to try that shit on him." The younger vampire pressed.
"You're really not making the case you think you are."
"I'm not done. I got back to the mountain less than 24 hours after the news broke of Paris Skyle's death. I spent a lot of time in the Hall of Princes catching up with everyone." Jakob mused. "I lost count of the number of times you came in and out. Like you were... checking on him."
"I'm sorry you've never had a friend. Because that's what friends do." Renley replied. This time his tone was less casual and distinctly clipped.
"I have friends. And I had someone I loved, once." Jakob grunted. "And he's dead because he took a bullet for Mika Ver Leth. Look, I respect you, General Azerion. And you can keep denying there was something there, but I know what I saw."
"I don't know where you're going with this. But I suggest you get there quickly." Said Renley.
"Fine. I saw you... holding him in an empty corridor, few days after the funeral. Then you went off in the direction of the Princes' suites. And no one saw either of you til the next day." Jakob recounted. There was a vindictive bite to his tone that only heightened Renley's concern.
Mika and Renley had been so careful to keep their not-relationship secret. The week of Paris's funeral put Mika through the wringer. The moment Jakob witnessed had been the one time they slipped up. It had been the first true day of business-as-usual after the funeral ceremonies concluded. After countless hours of war meetings, Mika was so dazed and strung-out he didn't seem to know where he was or what he was doing, so Renley just put his arms around him and steered him back up to his room to finally get some sleep. And that tiny moment of intimacy between them spoke volumes to an onlooker. But whatever the fuck Jakob Wiles was trying to pull here, Renley wasn't having any of it.
"And of course, there was the other day when you physically wrestled him out of that disaster of an interrogation he fucked up. Not many people in this mountain would have the balls to put their hands on any of the Princes the way you did. If that doesn't suggest some backstory between you, I don't know what does." Jakob added.
"Let me reiterate." Said Renley, voice low and threatening. "Where exactly are you going with this?"
"You don't want Smahlt here any more than I do!" Jakob burst out. "I know you don't. You want Mika. And you almost had him, too! Then Smahlt waltzes back in here like he's some kind of hero, and suddenly Mika doesn't even have the time of day for you! How is that fair?"
Renley couldn't believe what he was hearing. Of course he wanted Mika. He'd fallen in love with the man, after all. But he'd also been there to witness the moment Mika pulled his kid out of the smoking wreckage of a car, and the way he'd collapsed to his knees on the pavement with his arms entangled with Kurda's as the three of them held each other in the wake of disaster. What they had was deeply, excruciatingly complicated, and Renley knew better than to touch it. And he damn well wasn't about to let Jakob Wiles touch it either. Because if Renley knew one thing for sure, it was that Jakob didn't actually give a fuck about Renley's love life. Something much more sinister was at play here.
"Whatever did or didn't happen between Mika and I is none of your business. I have nothing but respect for him. What game are you trying to play?" Renley asked, voice level and shrewd.
"No games." Said Jakob. "I have a proposition for you." His eyes were alight with a level of passion and determination that was almost eerie. Renley's guard heightened.
"And what the hell might that be?"
"Our prisoner... he isn't who you think. He isn't who anyone thinks. There's not going to be a peace treaty."
Renley's heart raced, but he kept his composure.
"I suggest you elaborate on that, Wiles."
"He's got more power than anybody realizes." Jakob continued, seeming almost hypnotized. "The war isn't over. It'll never be over. Both clans are too far gone... peace was never an option."
"You don't know what the word elaborate means, do you?" Said Renley. But as the retort flew from his lips, his blood turned to ice as a terrifying possibility crashed into him like a train. His fingers and toes went numb, and it had nothing to do with the ice water he was sitting in.
"The Vampaneze Lord isn't dead, is he?" Renley choked out. Suddenly speaking felt almost impossible. The room was spinning and he felt liable to throw up. But he didn't have time, he had to warn the others. He stood up, exited the bathing pool, and began to pull his clothes back on. He didn't waste time drying off. He couldn't want to spend another minute in here. Jakob climbed out after him, pale and shaking.
"The one that died in the cavern was a decoy." Jakob affirmed. "Listen to me, we have to-"
"Is it him? Is Leonard the real one?" Renley could hardly hear himself think over the sound of the blood rushing in his ears, could barely breathe much less speak.
"Yes."
And there it was. The truth felt like an ice bath, but he willed himself not to freeze. There wasn't time.
"I'm not listening to another word out of your mouth!" Renley snarled, shaking off the mental fog and reaching for the younger vampire's arm. "We're going up to the Hall of Princes and you're going to tell them fucking everything he told you. Charna's guts, Wiles! How could you just sit on this and not tell anyone? You should be executed for-"
"He's going to win. And it's not if, it's when." Jakob murmured, with the same glazed expression. He put his hands on Renley's shoulders and stared into his eyes with an almost lustful desperation about him. "Listen to me. We aren't the only vampires who'd rather die with honour than live in a world where scum like Kurda Smahlt gets a free pass. I'm already gathering an army of my own. The vampaneze clan has their Last Stand... and so will we."
"Don't touch me! What's wrong with you? Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?!"
"I've never been more sure of anything. Listen, there's a small handful of vampaneze that knew about the decoy Lord. Come find them with me. Because this is happening. You might as well be part of it. And I know you want Smahlt gone."
Renley's heart dropped into his stomach. He didn't recognize the man in front of him.
"You're sick." Renley murmured. "What the hell did Leonard promise you? Don't tell me you want to be his right hand man, you absolute disgrace."
"You think I'd serve the vampaneze clan?" Jakob growled, seeming to sober up for a moment. "All I want is to spend the rest of my life hunting those monsters. That's where we found common ground, actually. If I help him, we go back to war. And this time it'll go on forever. Or until the best clan wins."
"You're fucking insane." Renley whispered, limbs trembling in fury. "This is high treason. You're the snake, not Smahlt. I'd rather die than be part of your-"
If Renley hadn't been so shaken, he might've seen it coming. But his vision was blurring as every fibre of his being screamed so loudly at him to just get to Mika he couldn't process anything else. His only remaining instinct told him he needed to haul this newfound traitor back up to the Hall of Princes and throw him on the floor at their feet. Renley reached for Jakob's arm again, this time locking the limb in a vicelike grip, preparing to drag him kicking and screaming up to the Princes, halting this betrayal before it happened.
Jakob moved so quickly, Renley didn't stand a chance. Ren was a hell of a warrior, one of the best in the clan. But Jakob was trained by Mika himself. Renley felt a quick tug as Jakob yanked free from his grip, followed instantly by a crushing blow to his skull, an obliterating moment of agony, and then nothing at all.
Look what you just made me do
Welp.