"May I speak with you?"

I said this after Sidney Ignored me for 10 minutes straight.

"I hope you know you are attracting attention right now.

This Gothic Vampire attire is not something these people are used to."

"I have my magic remember.

Who's to say any of these people can even see me in the first place?

If you notice no one is looking at me, they appear to be looking straight at you instead.

So I don't see anything to worry about."

"Oh great. Yes that's fantastic so now they'll think I'm talking to someone who isn't there.

They'll think I'm freaking crazy.

Thanks a lot".

"No problem but with that little outburst you had with Mansfield the other day, I doubt if you need much help in that department".

"Oh very funny.

I suppose I haven't been acting like I have a clean bill of health but then again this is a stressful job and it's even more stressful since I'm a vampire.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to remain professional when people treat you like you're some common human?

It's enough to make me go feral.

I almost drained the life out of the cameraman yesterday.

So my stress levels are very high.

I shouldn't even be here but you know I have to be the decent and loyal friend To Mansfield.

He's gotten me through a lot of tough times.

It's only fair that I help him with this project.

Anyhow what did you want to speak with me about now?"

"I need information, more specifically information regarding Chesso's contacts.

I need a list of his connections."

"Oh really?

How do you plan on getting this information exactly?"

"The ruins, the awnser had to be in the ruins. You said yourself it was "a treasure trove of information".

I'd like to see for myself."

"Aw you've changed your mind I see. Excellent yet first off what do you plan to do with this information?"

Sidney placed his pointer finger right under his chin and smilled as if he had been dangling bait over my head and I had now just decided to take it.

"Chesso's has some very powerful allies as you know and these allies have allowed him to live under the radar for numerous decades.

These connection have

made it to where he even is above the law, I intend to sabotage these connections yet all I need is a few names in order to do that."

"However will you pull that off?

You know scare tactics and empty threats aren't going to work on people that high up on the food chain.

You saw how resistant Chesso was with our tactics.

Our tactics almost didn't work enough as it was, so you may have to step up your game a bit."

"Yes that is precisely what I intend to do.

Fear and Threats are simply not enough yet it's nothing a few curses won't put to rest.

Curses are my specialty as you know and I know that curses are the only thing that will be these connections in line.

Tell me is Chesso completely human?"

"Yes I believe he is as far as I know. Why?"

"Then taking away these connections will leave him powerless.

I will leave him powerless just as I left Wastrum.

This will ensure Splendor's safety.

No doubt he'll be calling upon his contacts very soon, his friends in high places will use little loopholes within the law Just to drag her back to that wretched place.

So we need to act quickly.

When will you be leaving next?"

"Oh I can leave tonight if that's convenient for you".

"Yes tonight will do.

I'll be ready...for tonight."

"Perfect. Now does Splendor know about this by any chance?"

"No I haven't had the privilege of discussing it with her.

She will know soon enough".

"Oh dear don't tell you intend on telling her after the fact?"

"Noooo...no. What gave you that idea?"

"Something about your smile.

Look don't make the mistake I did with Mansfield.

I kept things from him and he in turn kept things from me.

It's a dangerous cycle and it's best not to get wrapped into it.

So just make sure you discuss it with her before tonight.

She deserves to know what you're planning because all of these schemes and plans are for her, they concern her and in a way she's involved.

Don't keep her out of the loop, you'll only lose her that way".

"Alright, alright I'll tell her.

She's busy right now, Busy with Mansfield yet again."

I couldn't help but swallow these words in a snarl.

"Down Boy, Mansfield isn't all that involved with her you know.

They've kept it professional so far."

"Oh how very interesting because that's not what I heard.

In fact she told me a very different story.

Honestly I've tried to be calm and cordial about it, I've even went as far as allowing her to take part in some sort of romantic exploits with him but now I don't

know if I can withstand seeing her fall all over him."

"Does she love you?

Do you know for a fact that she truly loves you?"

"Oh yes of course.

I know she does.

She loves me completely yet I have no right to restrain her and keep her from the experiencing the world."

"True yet if you know she loves you with all her heart and soul, she'll return to you after every exploit, after every adventure and every worldly experience.

You really don't have to worry about it, Mansfield is a bit troubled at the moment any way, he used to be a patient at Morningside apparently, he was a cutter and he still is somewhat.

He's going through a rough patch, so he's not really relationship material right now."

"You're not saying he's actually in love with her?"

"He very well might be yet we haven't really discussed the subject at least not at great length yet he seems to be sincere.

Although who knows it could just be a mere infatuation he has with her.

I don't really think they are all that compatible to be honest.

I mean I had hoped things between them would work out but that was before, before I was acquainted with you.

What's worrisome is he claims I'm the selfish and impulsive one, when really he's even worse than I am.

You see we had a certain unfortunate incident occur.

It was entirely my fault, I sometimes forget to take care of myself so things got rather out of hand."

"I am well aware of which event you are speaking of.

I've had several detailed accounts of the incident so I know exactly what happened.

You don't have to explain it to me.

It's done, It is over with, it is finished, moving on yet again, I am however entrusting her into your care and if such a unfortunate incident occurs again, I will remove her from your care permanently, is that... understood?"

Sidney was quite alarmed by my venomous edge, he even appeared to be frightened by my mild hazard warning.

"Yes... It's understood...I mean I understand.

You know I'm not complaining at all but I think you need a tiny attitude adjustment."

I spun my cape so it cascaded with a swift sweep of my arm like the angry wave of a ocean storm as I turned to face him.

I realized I was considerably taller than he was so I glowered down at him, I growled and hissed slightly as presented my fully extended fangs on full display for him to see how formidable I was.

"Speak for yourself, Sidney Slootana Salazar."

"Okay I'm sorry I was out of line.

I'll take that back, your attitude is just fine.

It's perfect, in fact it's a absolutely splendid mood...that you're in... right now.

Forget I said anything about it".

His voice was quivery, rushed and obviously somewhat terrified.

"Stop groveling Sidney.

It isn't becoming.

I'll see you tonight."

Meanwhile there was ember of anger that starting to form in my chest.

I saw Mansfield grinning at her goofily, the ember in my heart burned rageously as I saw him blush as she pecked his cheek.

I needed to get out of here, I needed to leave before I burned this place to the ground with my anger.

Mansfield had to be dealt with but I was far too angry to face him right now.

I had to be calm when I met up with Mansfield yet in the meantime I could take out all my rage on Wastrum.

Wastrum would no doubt be glued to the couch just like the useless bum he always was.

I haven't tortured him for quite awhile, clearly a visit with him was very overdue.

He could use the company and besides I needed to keep an eye on him.

I was going make myself a faithful servant and by the time I was done with him he'd be completely devoted to me.

Oh how beautiful it would feel to have him completely under ny control.

"So just where are you headed off to big boy?"

Demora was crossing her arms as if to challenge ne somehow.

"Not now, Demora.

I'm here on business not for pleasure and I'm just on my way out the door as you can see so I'd greatly appreciate if you didn't stop me".

"Nobody is stopping you Big boy yet I just want to know what you're up to and why you are in such a hurry.

You seem excited about something.

I wish I could share in your excitement.

Is it good news?"

"Good news? It will be wonderful news when I return and if you are so eager to share in my excitement, you could come with me, if you'd like".

"I wish I could but I don't follow you, I follow my Mistress now.

I'd gladly come with you but without that pin I'm afraid I won't be going anywhere."

"Oh funny you should mention that, she presently doesn't have it in her possession, I do."

I smiled and as I swiftly summoned the pin into my hand.

"You are clever after all.

Do you prepare for everything?"

"Normally yes I do.

Tell me does this pin come with any special perks besides providing protection to the one that wears it."

"It won't work for you and even though the magic is very strong it won't have any effect on you.

It only works for me and it only effects those that hold a threat to this place and to my father's kingdom."

"How was Sidney a threat to you and your Father?"

"Sidney isn't the problem, It's the unsavory ties he has attached to him."

"What unsavory ties?

Does he know someone he shouldn't?"

"Precisely, he knows someone, someone no one should ever know, she's an enemy to every free demon out there, she's a hunter of demons, a killer of anything supernatural, she is said to have no mercy towards her victims, she is evil, no amount of good can tame her.

The story of Galandria is a mysterious one but the story that is often told is she was a orphan like any other, she had no home, she wandered the streets, a skinny girl of only 16, she was beyond all help it seemed, starving, her lips cracked from thirst until she stumbled into the cemetery of a certain Vampire.

Count Tormundus Yexalla was the name of her rescuer.

He gave her the blood from his veins to sustain her yet she hungered for more.

She became accustomed to the taste and she eventually left Yexalla in pursuit for more power, the power she knew to only be in the blood of vampires and other supernatural beings.

In her ever growing lust for power she began to hunt demons, imprisoning some of them while horribly mutilating the rest of them.

She even succeeded in killing the entire council that oversaw the Vampires upon this earth.

It is said she was born in ashes.

There was a horrible fire, a fire that left her permanently scarred yet she covered up these scars with magic.

They say that there was a orphanage that was burned to the ground because of her and that is how she found herself wandering the streets.

Anyhow she is dangerous and I fear she will return, she is immensely powerful and when she returns she may destroy us all".

"Galandria? Gala...Oh dear you don't mean he was married to that monster?"

"Yes I do yet you mustn't blame him, he most likely had no idea that she was a Slayer.

He probably thought she was human.

I really do believe he is innocent yet still he is a risk to me and my people.

He still has some very strong ties to her and she may return for his sake."

"He doesn't need to know of this, not yet.

I need him, Splendor needs him and that wife of his hasn't seen him in over 20 years.

She left him, she abandoned him when he needed her most, so why would she return to him after all this time?"

"They have a common interest: Their Daughter."

"Their Daughter was never found.

She went missing 22 years ago.

There were no leads, no traces, no evidence of her being dead or alive.

She probably is dead at this point, she might as well be since Sidney has given up hope of ever finding her."

"Hope never dies especially in a Vampire.

If he were to come to him, he would be sure to follow her, just one mention of his daughter and he'd be gone."

"Oh he can't be that desperate."

"He's already desperate.

The blood cravings are returning,the feral kind and he is usually a formidable creature of discretion and discipline.

He is losing control, he quivers in your presence and his mood has become more and more erratic and unreasonable.

He's not thinking straight and I don't think he's been being himself lately."

"How would you know?

Do you know him?"

"No but my father does.

It's written in his book, see for yourself."

"I don't have time for that.

I need to get to Wastrum before he cooks up more schemes with that bastard Chesso!"

"Yes that is top priority but that is worth looking into at a later time perhaps".

"Yes at a later time perhaps".