Nude and near-nude men and women danced atop tables and on the floor, carrying trays laden with alcohol and other substances. Ill-thought out drinking games transpired all around the area, leading to several people vomiting on one-another and passing out. Boisterous elites in finery laughing merrily as they stuffed their mouths full of caviar, oysters and lobster. I had expected a measure of debauchery to be prevalent within Hellfire, but I had also expected the members of the organization to maintain a modicum of decorum.

It had been several days since my acquisition of my vibranium. Despite my search for information regarding strange happenings in Africa, there was no mention of even my storm in any major news outlet. All media agencies were far too concerned with the goings on of the war and its rapid spread. My actions seemingly going unnoticed, I felt it safe to attend my first Hellfire meeting.

I arrived in Moscow – with much of Europe amassing armies, it was decided the meeting would happen in the currently neutral territory of Russia – nearly an hour early and, under an invisibility spell, observed the dozens of men, and the proportionately small number women, who entered the opulent hotel that would play host to this meeting. They wore what I had expected – suits, tuxedos and opulent dresses. Each individual held a dignified air about them as they entered the building.

Only after I witnessed Anastasia Romanov enter did I banish my invisibility and join the growing number of elites on their way through the doors. I received a number of suspicious and curious glances as I approached the men guarding the door, rifles strapped to their backs. I suppose I warranted the suspicion. While I had left my staff and sword behind, I still wore dark robes and fitted scales beneath them. I never parted from my armor, and I cut a strange image as a result. When I presented my invitation, the suspicion left the gazes of those watching me; the curiosity magnified three-fold, but I did not interact with anyone immediately. There would be plenty of time for that later. At least, that was my assumption.

Sitting in a booth situated in the corner of a grand dining hall, I was beginning to regret my decision to postpone my mingling. It seemed everyone present's focus had been stolen by the alcohol, drugs, food and strippers. I had set aside the entire day for this outing, but I was seriously considering returning to Ravenscrest immediately.

"Not what you expected, I take it?"

I unfurrowed my brows as I looked up to meet the smiling face of Anastasia Romanov, a drink in her hand as she came to a stop at my table. "May I sit?"

"You may." I said with a nod, returning my attention to the floor beyond my table. A portly man in a tuxedo was in the process of mixing a helping of caviar into his campaign, urged on by cheers and chants from those around him.

"I fail to see how anything is ever accomplished at these gatherings if this is common enough for you to be amused by my displeasure." I said neutrally as Anastasia gracefully sat next to me.

"The…" She swirled her drink in her hand, eyes directed upwards as she searched for the proper word. "Enthusiasm before you is a distraction. Sons who inherited businesses from their fathers, friends brought along to experience the boons of the rich, seductresses who have ensared one of the aforementioned in their web – no one of import takes part in the base pleasures on display. They are merely a smokescreen behind which those of genuine import can obscure their dealings."

My eyes tracked away from the floor as she spoke, following a set of grand stairs that took up an entire wall up to a second level. A balcony ran all along the perimeter of the dining hall, looking down on the floor. Several closed doors led away from the second floor into areas I had not yet seen. Standing on the balcony directly across the room from me was a man in a tuxedo. His brown hair was combed over. A pair of semi-circle spectacles sat atop his nose; he peered through them intently, his gaze fixed on me.

I met his gaze evenly.

He held my eyes for a moment before turning around, stepping away from the railing on the balcony and disappearing into one of the many rooms on the second level.

"Who was that man?" I asked Anastasia, still focusing on the place he once stood.

"Sebastian Shaw. He is a well-respected doctor currently working as a researcher for the Third Reich. According to rumor, he is currently working to usurp Alastor Beckett and become the next Black King – Black King being one of the recognized powers in charge of managing Hellfire in addition to the Black Queen, White King and White Queen" Anastasia answered easily. "You will find generals, researchers and publicists from all sides of the war within these walls."

Sebastian Shaw. I recognized that name, and the position he coveted. Perhaps I would seek him out after my business was concluded.

"And the businesses that profit from the fighting, I would imagine." I said, turning to face her.

She nodded, a small smile on her face. "Indeed. If you wish to do business with the flock, this will be a wonderful opportunity to lay the groundwork for your designs."

"That was my initial plan for attending this meeting. I will admit, the…enthusiasm distracted me, but I will likely seek out any arms and car dealers present shortly."

Anastasia leaned slightly forward, intrigued. "You are arming yourself."

I shook my head, allowing a chuckle to escape me as she drew an incorrect conclusion. "No. I am more than capable of arming myself without outside intervention. I recently acquired a number of ingenious firearms as well as a vehicle that all possess the potential to make me a large amount of money if sold through the correct channels."

Anastasia sat back in her seat, a frown on her face. "May I ask where you acquired these items?"

"You may ask, but I will not answer."

Anastasia nodded easily. "I understand."

Silence fell as she took a small sip of her drink.

To break it, I said, "Has Claire recovered?"

Anastasia's smile returned, far warmer than before, as she set her drink down. "She has. You have my gratitude for saving her, Victor. There was nothing I could do, and I… I am in your debt."

"You are welcome. When you next see her, please apologize on my behalf for impaling her."

"I am sure she has already forgiven you, but I will pass along your message all the same." A cloud seemed to settle over Anastasia, souring her mood.

"May I ask what troubles you?"

Anastasia's lips thinned into a line as she faced me. "We are at war."

"I would have expected as much after Grindelwald's attack on London and Francois's passing. Why…" I ceased speaking as Anastasia shook her head.

"Were it only the wizards, the situation would not be so serious. We now fight on multiple fronts. Lenore recently informed me of a lupine assault on her people. Adonis reported a coordinated attack by mortal hunters he was able to repel. Mathias has reported a large gathering of mages in Portugal. He believes they are amassing to combat us. Many have mocked him for his concern, but I have known him for a long time. His concerns are my concerns."

My eyes narrowed as I considered the ramifications of this news. "If the wolves, hunters and mages have moved against vampires while Grindelwald is still active…" I didn't need to finish my statement. Both Anastasia and I knew what was coming – a supernatural war unlike any seen in centuries. The vampires, werewolves, wizards, mages, mortal hunters, perhaps even more were gathering their armies. While the mortals ignorant of the supernatural clashed, a far more devastating war would be waged in the shadows.

"We need your help, Victor." Anastasia said, her drink forgotten as she fixed me with an intent gaze. "I apologize for my colleagues' disrespect towards you, but–"

"I apologize for interrupting you, Ana, but I will not fight your battles for you. Grindelwald attacked my home. The wolves did not. The mages did not. My fight is not with them."

Anastasia clenched her fist before relaxing, taking a moment to collect herself before saying, "I understand, Victor. If you will not fight with us, may I assume I may still purchase your creations from you?"

I nodded easily. "You may, though the quantity may be lacking as I am focused on other projects. What would you be interested in?"

"More Sending Stones and Bags of Holding to begin, but I would also like to know what else you would be willing to sell. Kindred have gathered in force since our meeting in London. Our dealings are no longer limited to my wealth alone."

I studied her closely. She was hinting that the Princes had shared their wealth in the hopes of doing business with me. While it made sense they would all be interested in the Sending Stones, I was curious what exactly they thought I could produce for them.

"I assume you are speaking to me now on behalf of your people then?"

"If you wish to conduct business, then yes, I will be more than happy to negotiate immediately."

I shook my head. "Not now. Not here. I came here to make business arrangements with the mortals. Come to my home tomorrow night. I will prepare what items I would be willing to sell to the Camarilla."

"I will not be able to travel to your home in a single night. The Gate Stone I created near your lands was destroyed when Grindelwald's followers raided the village I anchored it in. May I ask that we postpone the meeting until two nights from now?"

Reaching into the bag at my side, I retrieved a small ring with a green gem set into it. "This Gate Stone is connected to one immediately outside the borders of my lands. I give it to you in good faith. Do not make me regret that." I said dangerously.

Eyes snapping back to mine from where they'd roamed to inspect the ring, Anastasia said, "I swear to you, Victor, I will not abuse this trust." She gently plucked the ring from my hand as I held it aloft to her. "Thank you for this, Victor. I appreciate your gesture and your trust. May I bring another when I visit you tomorrow night or would you prefer I come alone?"

I considered her request for a moment. I was not opposed to the idea. I did not believe Anastasia to wish me ill, and it was possible that this additional guest would be more knowledgeable about what her people required than she herself was. "May I ask who this additional guest would be? Were they present in London?"

"He was not present. His name is that have gathered were not present for our initial meeting. Mobilizing our society takes time, but when we have amassed our strength is undeniable. The Justicars have declared a state of war with Grindelwald and appointed Karsh Dux Bellorum. He is interested in what you can provide us to help us combat the wizard's magic and numerical advantage."

My eyes narrowed slightly as I heard Anastasia's words. Dux Bellorum, according to the memories of my lesser half, was akin to the Camarilla's wartime general, commanding their forces and oftentimes leading the charge against their foes. This Karsh was likely one of their greatest warriors. I did not think Anastasia would be involved in a scheme to eliminate me and steal my wealth, but Karsh may hold no such compunctions.

"Very well." I said at length. "Ensure Karsh is informed I am hosting him as a guest in my home." I doubted even Anastasia knew the breadth of my demonic host. So long as Karsh was of comparable strength to Mithras, I would be able to deal with him personally while my host defended me from Anastasia. I would welcome them as guests. If they spat on that courtesy, they would be dealt with accordingly.

Anastasia nodded her head. "Thank you, Victor. I too have business I must conduct with the mortals, so I must bid you goodbye for the moment. I look forward to meeting with you." She stood, retrieving her drink from the table as she did.

"Farewell, Ana. Until tomorrow night." I watched her go, skillfully maneuvering through the crowd of now half-dressed elites.

I was moments from rising when I noticed a man rapidly approaching my table. His hair was light in color, like a ray of light streaming through a window. He wore a simple suit and a broad smile as he rudely sat down next to me without being asked.

"Sorry, but I couldn't help noticing you with my friend Ana there." the man said with a grin, indicating the direction Anastasia had left with his head. "Seeing you talking got me thinking maybe you and I could be friends too." He stuck his hand out and said, "Bill Harris. I work for Ford."

My irritation was banished as Bill finished speaking. "Ford Motors?" I asked. How fortunate – I had been looking for a vehicle manufacturer.

Bill's grin nearly split his face apart. "One and the same, my friend! You'll have to forgive me, but I already know who you are, Lord Beolfag. Can I call you Victor?"

"I am a lord. I will be addressed as such." I said. I did not know this man and, unlike when I had met Anastasia, I was keenly aware he held no power in his own right to be respected. He was approaching me to conduct business with no prior relation. He would refer to me professionally.

Holding up a hand apologetically, his grin unwavering, Bill continued as if he hadn't taken any offense. "Of course, Lord Beolfag. You have my apologies. As I was saying, I did some digging on you after Ana arranged for your standing invitation to our fine little club. How are you enjoying yourself by the way?"

"While I am aware that most appreciate flattery and exchanging verbal barbs, I am not one such person. Please come to the reason you approached me." I said, my patience growing thin with the man's rapid speech that accomplished nothing.

Bill took my words in stride, once more unbothered by my statement. "Again, you have my apologies, Lord Beolfag. You see, prior to the war breaking out, Ford had been looking to expand our customer base out of the States and into Europe. Ana has been good enough to help us move certain operations into Europe, but most of those are now in jeopardy of falling apart. We can thank the Germans for that."

"I fail to see how this concerns me." I was beginning to wonder if this man had approached me merely to spout on about himself and his business.

"Well, we're having to pull a lot of equipment and personnel out of Europe. I'm sure you can understand how tricky that is what with all the checkpoints and militaries checking over everything with a fine-tooth comb. Ana's doing what she can to help us recover everything she can, but she has other business that has been occupying her time lately. So I thought, since you and her were obviously on friendly terms, you might frequent the same areas. I need someone else to help me maneuver out of Scotland and England before everything gets even worse and you might be able to help me with that. A well-respected lord's word would help us skip a lot of the most annoying roadblocks. Ford would compensate you well for your help."

I was growing less and less interested in Bill's proposition with each word out of his mouth. This mortal had truly just approached me to try to buy aid in moving his manufacturing facilities. I would be tempted to rid myself of his company were there not something he could do for me.

"Speaking plainly, I will not assist you, Mr. Harris. I have my own business to see to."

Bill's smile vanished instantly and he began to stand up.

"I was not finished, Mr. Harris."

Bill's eyes snapped back to me, calculating. He pursed his lip before slowly sitting back down.

"I am something of an inventor. I recently made a breakthrough – creating a vehicle I believe would revolutionize automobiles. If I were to allow Ford to manufacture the car for me, we both would grow wealthy."

Bill shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't help you, Lord Beolfag. For something like that, you'd need to go through our R&D people." It was clear he did not believe me, likely thinking an arrogant lord's invention would be subpar at best.

"But surely you can assist me in making my case to your research and development division?"

"Look, Mr. Beolfag. It's been swell talking to you, but I have to–" He had half-risen from his seat when I lightly smacked the table, causing his eyes to snap to my hand, then back to my eyes.

Holding his gaze, I summoned my power and said, "You will broach my proposal to your research and development division, putting your name and career behind the authenticity and potential of my proposal, Mr. Harris."

Bill Harris's eyes glazed over; his muscles sagged unnaturally. "I…I will. Th–they need to know how important your invention is."

I nodded. "Good. Enjoy the rest of your night and complete whatever tasks you came to accomplish, but contact your superiors the moment you wake in the morning."

Bill nodded numbly. "I will." He stood and slowly walked away. The further removed from me he became, the more he returned to himself, but my command was firmly fixed in his mind. He would do as I ordered.

That left only one more item on my itinerary. I needed to find a weapons manufacturer that I could sell the designs of the lesser arms I recovered from Wakanda to just as I had utilized Bill Harris to sell the vehicle's designs.

I moved to stand and seek out an individual I could do business with when I was approached once more.

A woman with sharp features in a tight-fitting, elegant, verdant green dress colored like a healthy leaf cut down her left leg to allow for mobility walked towards me, her gaze intent, sleek hair the color of polished ivory falling to just past her shoulders, high-heels clicking as she stepped across the tiled floor of the room. In her hands, which were hidden by a pair of satin gloves colored similarly to her dress, was a champagne flute that she held between her middle and ring finger.

"Would you be willing to hear a word of advice?" she said, coming to a stop at my table, cocking her hip to the side as her eyes roamed over me, studying me.

"I would." I said as I inspected her in turn. An air of near apathy surrounded her – a stark contrast to the tenseness of Bill Harris and the exuberant euphoria of the Hellfire members engaging in various forms of sin.

"Entrancing your mortal business partners is not a long-term solution. Learn to play by their rules or you're going to have problems. May I sit?" she asked, stopping only to take a sip of her drink.

Not only had she noticed the order I'd implanted in Bill's mind, but she had recognized it for what it was. This woman had just grown far more interesting. "You may." I repeated, motioning for her to sit next to me.

"Thank you." she said, setting her drink down and falling into my booth. She reached down and removed her shoes before putting her feet up on my table. Were I taking a meal at the table, I may have taken offense. As it was, I was more interested in her brazenness. She clearly had at least a semblance of an idea of what I was, yet was acting as if I was inconsequential.

"I do not believe you offered your name." I said leadingly.

The woman nodded distractedly, looking out over the floor at the mortals drinking and now openly copulating. "I didn't. Call me Estrid."

"I am pleased to meet you, Estrid. I am–"

"I know who you are." Estrid said, turning from her observation of the denizens of Hellfire to look into my eyes. "Victor Beolfag. You appeared out of nowhere a little over a decade ago now and bought your way into the nobility of Britain's wizards. Outside of selling some potions and minor artifacts, you seemed to want nothing to do with the wider world. Then you went and blasted that theory apart by openly engaging Gellert Grindelwald on behalf of the Camarilla. That little stunt is making a lot of people nervous, Victor."

She, or at least those she reported to, had stayed appraised of my movements then. It seemed I was more popular than I initially thought. If whoever she represented had kept track of my movements, it was safe to assume there were others as well.

"May I ask who exactly my actions have made uneasy?"

Estrid threw her head back as a merry laugh escaped her lips.

My eyebrows furrowed as I watched the display, but I did not take any action. I would not rise to the obvious bait.

Estrid shook her head, having controlled herself after her bout of laughter. "It would be easier to say who you haven't made shit themselves. It's not often something like you decides to show its face. Everyone is waiting to see if you're actually with the Camarilla before acting against you because they're all terrified, but they're definitely getting ready to deal with you in case they learn you're going to be a problem." Her mirth disappeared as if it was never there, expression blank as an empty canvas as she said, "Are you hitting targets for the Camarilla? I'd rather you just say yes now so I don't have to wait around for you to blow something up. If you like, we could even settle things now. Though we'd need to take our little quarrel away from the party. Hellfire is neutral territory, you see."

Clearly this woman held influence with some faction. She was not a vampire nor showed any indication of being under the power of one so it was unlikely she was sent by the Camarilla or the Sabbat. I could not smell or detect any sign that she had interacted with wolves recently, so she was likely not sent by Garou. There was no trace of magic like would be present were she carrying a wand, so she was likely not sent by the wizards as wizards never parted with their wands. She was likely a mortal mage, though I could not begin to guess at where her allegiances lay within the convoluted politics of mages. Although, the way she was casually confronting and offering to battle me, it was likely she was more than a mere mage. Estrid was an enigma, one I desired to unravel.

"I am a neutral party." I said evenly, not reacting in any noticeable way to the woman's sudden, dramatic shift. "Grindelwald attacked my home. My battle with him was personal. I am conducting business with the Camarilla, but, for the right price, I would be open to dealing with others as well."

Estrid's lip curled upwards the slightest distance, her features relaxing. "Really now? I'm surprised Gellert is still breathing if you were actually trying to kill him. Maybe you aren't the threat everyone seems to think you are."

"What you believe me capable of is your own concern. Was there a point to this conversation aside from vague threats and an invitation to duel?" Her rapidly shifting personality was making it difficult to determine who or what she was. I could not detect anything with my mystical senses, so it was entirely possible she was just an arrogant human, but she seemed far more confident than arrogant. Perhaps she was shielded from my senses somehow?

She smiled, swinging her legs off the table and tucking them underneath her as she scooted closer to me, her face now less than a foot away. In a quiet, breathy voice, she said, "I wanted to get your measure, Victor. I believe I have."

"I can assure you, a brief conversation is not long enough to learn who I am." I was detecting something from her now. It wasn't mystical but entirely mundane. I had not noticed before because the woman's scent was heavily muted and drowned out by the drugs, food, liquor and sexual deviancy abundant within Hellfire.

Estrid smelled like wild, untamed land – untrod soil, damp air after rain, dozens of animal scents carried on the wind like fallen leaves, thousands of blooming flowers arrayed against a hillside. The sensation was vast, strong.

A playful smirk touched Estrid's lips. "While that is true, I've learned enough. You see yourself as a man of your word. So tell me, Victor, will you take any action against me or mine?"

My eyes narrowed as Estrid drifted even closer to me. If she was attempting to make me uncomfortable or distract my attention away from the potential threat she posed, she was failing. "I do not know who you or yours are, but so long as you do not wrong me or mine I will not seek conflict with you unless I believe it absolutely necessary."

"Well in that case, I'll make sure you never deem it absolutely necessary."

I could not complete the puzzle. I did not know what Estrid was, and I saw no harm in asking. The worst that would happen was she would refuse to enlighten me.

"May I ask what you are, Estrid? I have never encountered anything like you."

Estrid smiled wide; her eyes sparkled with hidden power for a fraction of a moment, gone before I'd fully registered it was there. "That makes two of us, Victor. I am rather enjoying the mystery inherent in you. On the surface, you seem so simple to figure out, but when one really knows what to look for, they see you're a mystery unlike anything seen in a thousand years. It's enchanting. We wouldn't want to spoil the fun by giving the game away, now would we?"

Before I could respond, a voice cut into our conversation like a blade.

"Estrid, is there something I can help you with?"

Deflating like a pouting cat, Estrid spun around, vacating my personal space to face the newest arrival at our table. "Anastasia darling, it's so good to see you!" She stood up and shuffled forward wrapping her arms around Anastasia's smaller frame, pulling her into a snug embrace. It made for an interesting spectacle. Both women were lithe, but Estrid dwarfed Anastasia by almost an entire foot, requiring her to bend at the knees to properly hug the shorter woman.

"I would be most grateful if you would release me, Estrid." Anastasia said, unmoving from the posture she'd held while Estrid was still seated.

"Oh, you're always so serious, aren't you?" Estrid said as she stepped away. "Don't worry. I didn't corrupt your friend. If anything, you should be afraid he corrupted me."

"Do you have business to discuss?" Anastasia asked, hands gently clasped in front of her, body tensed.

"Oh, my business is concluded now, I think." Estrid turned to face me, offering me one last smile. "It has been very interesting, Victor. I look forward to seeing you again." She bent down to retrieve her high heels and began sauntering away, her shoes held in her hand as she started to twirl and dance barefoot towards the exit of the room, weaving expertly between the bodies of those occupying the floor.

"Who is she?" I asked Anastasia as I stood, both of us watching Estrid until the doors leading to the exit closed behind her.

"I can not be sure." Anastasia said, sounding supremely irritated with that fact. "She has had dealings with the mages and the lupines in the past, even going so far as to strike bargains with kindred on rare occasions, but has never involved herself directly in any meaningful affair. This is the first time she has emerged in close to fifty years."

"Was I the catalyst for this sudden appearance?"

"Given her decision to ignore all others in favor of interacting with you, I believe so." Anastasia turned to me, a slight frown on her face. "What did she say to you?"

"She wanted to know if I was wholly aligned with the Camarilla. I told her the truth."

Anastasia made a considering sound, but did not comment.

This was what I had warned Anastasia about when she had initially asked for my aid with Grindelwald. Neither of us knew what caliber of entity Estrid was, but she had involved herself in the world's affairs after a notable break because I had involved myself. There were likely others like her I would need to be wary of in the future.

"Thank you for your timely intervention, Ana. I do not mean to be rude, but I have other matters to attend to."

"I do as well. Until tomorrow night, Victor." Ana said, offering me a minute nod before turning away and walking towards a gathering of men in suits.

I focused my hearing, listening to conversations taking place around me for particular words of interest. I heard one such conversation a dozen meters to my right.

After walking over to a pair of men idly conversing as they watched the spectacle that was Hellfire's debauchery unfold before them, I said, "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear you. Did you say you work for Browning Arms?"

The men looked at each other with raised eyebrows before turning to face me. "That we did." the taller of the two said. "Is there anything we can–"

"You will approach your superiors and inform them Lord Victor Beolfag of Britain holds designs that would be highly prized in the weapons industry. You will stake your names and careers behind my blueprints and advise your superiors to do business with me."

The eyes of both men glazed over; they seemed to sway unbalanced on their feet for a moment. "Y-Yes." the taller one said.

I walked away as briskly as I arrived. While Estrid's words were true, two minor applications of mental influence would not lead to suspicion. I already knew how to deal with mortals on their terms, I simply did not desire to do so at this juncture. This meeting had already been far more eventful than I had intended it to be and I still had yet to seek out Sebastian Shaw. That was, if the man would even desire to meet with me in the first place. Perhaps it was time I ventured home.

"Excuse me?"

Holding in an irritated grunt, I turned around to face the unfamiliar voice. It seemed I was supremely popular today.

A well-put together man in a long-tailed coat with a monocle affixed by a golden chain to his breast pocket resting upon his face greeted me. His lips pulled into a thin line as he bowed respectfully to me. "My name is Johnathan Malbrook. May I ask for a moment of your time?"

I considered the man before me. Reaching out with my mystical senses, I could feel a trace of something from him, but it was muted. I could not determine the source.

This was the second supernatural entity to approach me at this meeting. However, where Estrid confronted me as a potential antagonistic force, I suspected, due to the manner in which he approached me, this man brought with him a proposition. What that proposition may be I could not begin to guess, but the idea of it intrigued me. I would see what he had to say.

"You may, Mr. Malbrook, though I would request that you be concise."

"You are most gracious, lord. If you would be so kind as to follow me, myself and my superiors would prefer our business be restricted to private quarters." Jonathan stepped to the side, bowing slightly and holding his arm out in a motion for me to follow him.

The possibility that this meeting was a trap or ambush crossed my mind, but I was confident I could either overpower it or flee if the need arrived. I walked in the direction indicated.

Jonathan briskly led me up the stairs of the west wall and around the balcony a short distance before pulling open an oaken door and holding it open for me. "In here, lord."

I stepped into the room, instantly taking note of my surroundings.

It appeared to be a small meeting room, or at least had been repurposed into one for the duration of Hellfire's gathering. A simple chandelier crafted of blackened wrought iron hung from the ceiling, casting a dull, orange glow throughout the room. A circular wooden table stood in the center of the room with several chairs around its perimeter. Three of these chairs, standing on the opposite side of the room from the door, were occupied.

The man seated in the middle was clearly a vampire. While I could not be sure of the identity of his sire, I could easily ascertain he was of one of the more monstrous clans. His ears were sharpened like spear points, his nose pulled and stretched taut up against his face, his cheeks pulled so tight against his skull it seemed as if the bone would explode through his flesh. He wore no finery, just a simple white shirt and an intense stare from his yellow eyes, studying me as I entered the room.

The second figure, seated to the right of the vampire, was dressed more professionally. The brown-haired, middle-aged man wore a suit and a tie and sat relaxed in his seat. A sharp contrast to his unliving companion. He appeared human and did not emit any mystical presence, but that did not mean he was wholly mortal.

The final figure sat next to the vampire opposite the man who appeared human. A white dress covered in hundreds of sparkling silver sequins caught and reflected the minimal light of the room in a dazzling display. Wavy, sandy hair fell down just past the base of her neck, tumbling across her shoulders as she tilted her head to inspect me, a sultry smile on her face. Her scent was heavy in the air. Packs of wild wolves roamed the lands of Ravenscrest, their smell near-identical to hers when one disregarded the flowery perfume she wore.

"Thank you, Johnathan. That will be all." the vampire said, his eyes not leaving me.

Wordlessly, Jonathan bowed at the waist and backed out of the room, gently shutting the door behind him as he did.

Jonathan was a servant then. As he took orders from the vampire and was touched by the supernatural, it was my current assumption that the man was a ghoul, but he was no longer the focus of my attention. No, that was the trio before me.

Relaxing his posture and standing, the vampire nodded respectfully and said, "Greetings, Lord Beolfag. Thank you for meeting with us. I am Leander. This is Larryn," He motioned to indicate the woman at his side. She wiggled her fingers at me as she was introduced. "And Alexander." He motioned to the man, and I received a respectful nod from the man who seemed human. "Thank you for meeting with us. Please, sit."

Stepping slowly forward, I rapidly, but subtly, inspected the area. I did not discover any traps, physical or mystical, nor did I uncover any hidden occupants of the room. I sat down in the indicated chair across the table from the trio and said, "Forgive my rudeness, but as it is clear you already know of me I will dispense with my introduction. I have completed my objectives for attending this gathering and desire to return home promptly. Who are you and why are we speaking?"

Though it was minute, I noticed a change in Alexander. His lip pulled up almost imperceptibly. Whether it was out of respect or amusement I could not determine.

"We wish to do business with you." Alexander said as Leander sat down. "I hope you forgive the eavesdropping, but my associate overheard your conversation with Estrid. If you are open to doing business with entities beyond the Camarilla, we are interested in acquiring what you have to offer."

As he seemed to have taken the lead of his small group, I focused my attention on Alexander. "And who would I be doing business with? I do not offer my services to unknown entities."

"We represent one of the largest oil companies in the world – Premium Oil." Alexander said, a proud smile on his face. "With the commencement of the war, our profits are projected to increase considerably through the next quarter. You can be a part of that, Lord Beolfag."

Though I did betray my thoughts outwardly, I felt a measure of hesitation and an alarming aversion to the idea of doing business with this company. The name "Premium Oil" was familiar to me, but I could not place it.

"And what would you ask in exchange, Alexander?" I said, my tone level, conceding nothing of my inner turmoil.

"Anastasia Romanov speaks the truth." Leander spoke once more, drawing my attention back to himself. "The Camarilla marches to war in conjunction with the wizards, the humans and the remnants of the Vatican's dogs. The war will offer opportunities. While their focus is on each other, we can eliminate future problems before they can fester."

I narrowed my eyes as I coldly said, "I will not be your assassin."

"That is not what we are suggesting." Alexander said, looking to the side and shooting a glare at Leander. "We have monitored the items you have sold from your shop for some time now. We were not aware of the full breadth of your capabilities until we acquired a pair of Sending Stones you crafted."

"'Acquired'?" I said, suspecting I already knew what he meant. Someone within the Camarilla had likely either stolen them or been killed for them.

Alexander nodded. "Acquired. What would you ask in exchange for arming us more effectively than how Anastasia Romanov has requested you arm the Camarilla?"

"Name your price." Larryn said, leaning forward into the table, smirking playfully. "Whatever you desire…we can supply."

These three were attempting to make a backroom deal with me that would put them in a position to manipulate the outcome of the war from the shadows, dictating who survived and who fell. What was their goal? Why would the goals of a vampire and a werewolf align? What was Premium Oil?

"Larryn is right, Victor. Price is no object." Alexander said arrogantly, tilting his chin up.

He did not fit. The vampire, the werewolf, the ghoul – all were touched by the supernatural. So why did it seem as if a human was the one at the head of this group?

As slowly, silently, and subtly as I was able, I raised a finger beneath the table and traced a daedric rune in the air beneath the table towards Alexander, obfuscating the sound my finger made as it painted the air by saying, "If you think to buy me with currency, you will find your offering wanting. Money is only as useful as what it can be used to buy, and I have more than enough to purchase all I presently desire."

Larryn giggled into her hand and said, "Oh, Victor, did I not say whatever you desire? We can offer you far more than money."

"Such as?" I asked as I completed my spell.

"Power, prominence, land, a seat at our table. We have been watching you, Victor. Playing teacher to snot-nosed children is beneath a being of your power. Join with us, and together we can reshape the world." Alexander said, watching my face closely.

My face was immutable as stone. My eyes locked onto Alexander's own. My body relaxed, yet professional. No trace of the two secrets I had uncovered was evident in my visage.

The first of my realizations was mundane. I had been puzzled over my memory's connection to Premium Oil since the organization was named, and I had finally established a link. Werewolves that were openly allied with vampires, mortal executives seeking to control the worlds of mortals and supernatural entities both from the shadows, offerings of power and a hand in reshaping the world. All of this added together to create a single picture in my mind.

Pentex. Premium Oil was the company Pentex would arise from. An organization bent on the destruction of the world as it was in favor of constructing a new one consumed by chaos and destruction. This was the mundane realization I had come to after putting together the pieces of the puzzle in my mind.

The supernatural knowledge I gained from my spell was different, focused entirely on Alexander. Rather, it was focused on the entity puppeting the form that was Alexander.

Though my eyes did not stray from Alexanders, my spell had revealed what was hidden from me before. A shadowy, disjointed, spasming form convulsed in and around Alexander, gripping what was once a human body with tentacle-like tendrils ending in claws that connected the spiritual body to the physical form before me like puppet strings. The vile spirit had latched onto the body, consuming and replacing the mortal that once housed the form.

This meeting held far more impactful consequences than I had thought when Johnathan first approached me. Pentex sought my aid. One of its champions was meeting with me personally. Next to the threat posed by the individuals before me and the organization they represented, Gellert Grindelwald was inconsequential. Thanos, if he even existed in this strange reality, was a concern for a time far in the future – a future that may not come to pass if those before me had their way.

I would need to proceed with extreme caution. I did not consider myself to be a good man, but I was far from the force of evil that was present before me. I would not aid them, but openly showing my disgust and antagonism would be foolish. The closer I could stay to them, the more I would know of them and therefore the more capable I would be of abolishing everything they were and stood for.

"You speak of great things, but I cannot be certain you can produce what you offer." I said, not but a moment passed since Alexander's honeyed words promising wealth and power.

Larryn opened her mouth to speak once more, but Alexander held up a hand. The words died on Larryn's lips as she sat back in her seat.

Alexander leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table before him as he interlaced his fingers beneath his chin. "You value your independence and are cautious, Victor. I appreciate and admire that. Were our positions reversed, I feel I would be just as skeptical as you, but we can supply what we offer. I invite you to New York. Come to our headquarters and I will personally show you our facilities. I will show you who we are. There is much we can learn from each other."

I sat back in my seat, adopting a considering expression. I could not appear too eager lest I raise suspicion. Nor could I show too little interest lest they lose interest in me. It was a delicate dance. "Very well, Alexander. I have business that will occupy my time for a short while, but I would be amenable to a tour and a demonstration of what you offer two week's time from today. Is this amenable to you?"

Alexander grinned an evil grin. "It certainly would." Alexander stood, walking around the table to greet me, his hand extended. "I will have a letter penned and sent through the wizard's owls with the location and details of our meeting. I look forward to speaking with you again."

I stood and took his hand, nodding minutely. "Until then. Now, I apologize for my abrupt departure, but I have a desire to return home."

Alexander nodded and snapped his fingers distractedly at Leander, his eyes not leaving mine. The blackened specter that was the spirit's true self still flickered in the air above and around the mortal body like shadows cast by a crackling, flickering fire.

"Johnathan?" Leander called.

The door promptly opened and Johnathan bowed at the waist. "You called, sir?"

"See Lord Beolfag out." Alexander said, releasing my hand and stepping back, his grin unmoving from his face.

I turned from him and followed the ghoul from the room, showing no sign I had divined the truth of Alexander's being.

In short order, the ghoul had led me to the exit door leading to the outside world. With a parting bow, he spun on his heel and returned into the building, likely returning to his master.

"You saw it, didn't you?"

A violet crystal crackling with dark energy froze just before the unseen source of the voice as my attack was halted. I slowly closed my open hand into a fist, dispelling my crystal as I felt the presence of the speaker.

With nought but a clenched fist, I silenced the area, preventing any words exchanged here from traveling to spying ears. "Estrid," I greeted in a clipped tone. "I thought you had departed."

A woman appeared in the space where once there was nothing. There was no shimmer of an invisibility spell fading, no dramatic flash or sound. One moment she was gone and the next she was there. She was still barefoot, though she no longer wore a dress. Instead, she was garbed in animal furs and linen. She stepped delicately, walking in a slow circle around me. "I had intended to…until I felt Alexander arrive." She stopped in front of me tilting her head side-to-side, inspecting me. "I should have dealt with him long ago. He has grown beyond my ability to contain."

"I assume this display denotes that you are debating whether or not to deal with me?" I said, standing perfectly still.

Estrid smiled, amused. "Yes. I do not know you. I was not lying when I said that interested me, but my game is not worth another Alexander."

"You have no reason to trust me, but I do not lie when I say I will never ally with Alexander or those he calls friends. I am not in a position to openly combat them at present, but when I am, they will burn."

Slowly, Estrid stepped towards me, each footfall letting loose a wave of power on the environment. As it was not hostile, I did not respond with violence. The effect was purely on the space around us, shrouding us in a pocket of unseen, unheard reality.

The magic on display was beautiful. I was familiar with magic similar to this, but my workings were focused in transporting, connecting and breaching, not creating.

Estrid had closed the distance. Once more, we were separated by mere inches. "This is not your true self." Estrid said, gently reaching up to touch my face.

I grasped her wrist before she could touch me. I would not risk her magic. Even so, I dispelled the illusion shrouding my form, revealing my true self.

Estrid's lashes fluttered as she took in each feature of my face. "You are unique, hailing from beyond even my reach. What are you, Victor Beolfag?"

"What are you, Estrid?" I asked in turn.

Estird smiled, extricating her hand from my grip as she stepped back. "No…The game is too interesting to spoil now." The bubble of isolated space around us unraveled as Estrid walked backwards, holding my gaze. "Beware Alexander and his followers. Do not underestimate them as you did Gellert. I will be sad if our game ends with your death." The world snapped back into place, and Estrid disappeared – there one moment, gone the next.

A portal opened to my right and I stepped through it, closing it behind me the moment I was through. My time in Hellfire had concluded. What I had expected to be a relatively simple outing had evolved into several confrontations with far-reaching consequences.

"Draip."

A snap of cracking fire and the imp was beside me. "Welcome home, master. Did your meeting go well?"

"No, Draip. It did not go well at all."

The imp's disproportionate eyes widened as he looked up at me in concern. "Master? Are you well?"

"Enemies move that threaten our very existence. Planar transits will be locked to me for some time – years at least. Flight is not an option. We must fight. Gather everyone, Draip. I will need an army soon." Altering the bindings that held my host to Ravenscrest was a substantial risk, but I needed to be ready to face Alexander and his armies at a moment's notice. I could not afford to leave the most abundant and diverse source of my power locked away in my home.

Draip's crooked lips pulled upward in a fractured, eager grin. "It will be my pleasure, master!" The imp vanished with a flash of fire.

The imp's excitement was cause for concern. Did he expect to break free from my bindings and unleash himself upon the world? It was a risk I needed to take. If Alexander and his ilk had their way, the world would burn regardless of my host's freedom.

I had swept away Wakanda with ease. Alexander and those like him would be capable of the same. I needed allies. I would start with my host. I would petition Anastasia and Karsh when they arrived, but I would need more.

It was time I sought out those I had been avoiding.