Chapter 70

We sat at a small round table in a conference room in the Grand Hotel, Nick and I on one side and Igor and Ki on the other as I explain, 'It would make sense, Fideus is the oldest known vampire in the world. He isn't of our time and from what Nick told me, he was also a daywalker, meaning he would find it of exceptional hilarity to have a symbol that only one in the daylight could see. While we waited for your return, he also mentioned that many believe he is dead.'

'Why do you believe he is dead?' Igor asks in that monotone, emotionless way of his.

Nick glared at him and says with an edge in his voice, 'He hasn't made a new entry in his journal in over two centuries. Before the librarians could always count on a new entry every twenty or so years. So it would be a safe bet that he is presumed dead by us all. No one knows what he looks like except the Won's leader, Aname.'

There was silence for a small bit until I finally ask, 'What is his general description?'

'Tall,' Ki starts and Igor continues, 'Dark hair and eyes.'

My eyes don't leave his, because I notice something different about them. There was that look I couldn't explain again but I turn to Nick and say, 'The description matches that of the fire in Oxford, though I do find it unlikely he would do so himself. However, we may have a possible leader.'

'He isn't our main suspect?' Nick asks with a deeper frown.

'We don't know enough to be sure he is the leader of the Phantasma, he might be a smoke screen for the real one. Right now we have the pseudonym for the leader and that's all.'

'Which is? Ki asks with anticipation.

'Colton Faulken.'

'Does it ring any bells?' Ki asks, turning to Igor.

'None. However, now that Helix has been cleared of any involvement, he and another Night Hunter will be assigned to research it.'

'Are you sure that's such a good idea?' Nick asks with a growl.

'Yes.'

I was shocked myself as I stare again at Igor. He didn't seem bothered in the least about having someone who was used by the Phantasma helping and I say as much, 'He was already used once by the Phantasma and even if he was cleared by the Seekers, he could be used again.'

'That is my intent.'

Blinking in confusion, I ask, 'What do you mean?'

'He is bait.'

Now I stare slack jawed at Igor. He was looking at the information on the page I had printed out about Mr. Colton Faulken and his DNA. He was cool as a cucumber, unaffected by anything and I realize just how deadly this man was. He had nothing he loved and thus nothing to lose. Finally he looks up and says, 'Be careful a fly might get in.'

I slam my jaw closed as Nick growls, 'Is that such a good idea?'

'Yes.'

The brothers stare at each other, hot fury radiating off Nick, but Igor looked bored as Nick replies, 'Your judgement seems faulty to me.'

'Really? Since when?'

'You know when.'

Igor's eyes shift to me and back to Nick in a fraction of a second before Igor finally replies, 'So be it, but since I do not come under your jurisdiction, and I am the Commander of the Five, you can kiss my a...'

'Ok, enough you two,' Ki says before Igor can continue, 'We have more pressing matters to attend then an escalating argument between you two. Tomorrow we must leave for Kotowa, Beck has been transported to the Templar for interrogation since she woke yesterday.'

Anger surged in me for a moment, but I calm as Ki continues, 'The metal fragments from the card have been lifted and analyzed, your bio-chemist Longsworth has been a godsend. He has been invited to Kotowa by Igor to continue his research into the chemical makeup of the poison.'

This startles me and I ask, 'Has he accepted?'

'Not yet,' Igor replies.

I didn't expect he would. But Ki continues, 'The old house in Mart has been demolished and the tunnels explored. Just like in Tokyo they lead to the Curriculum. Which isn't a good sign, it might well mean that the Phantasma has infiltrated the underground cities, maybe even Kotowa.'

Igor says quickly, 'Rest assured, Kotowa is safe still. The Night Hunter's have been placed at all four entrances leading into the city and the streets are swept often by our guards.'

I blink in surprise, realizing just how little I know of this society as Nick continues, 'I wish to invite Nina into the city to continue our search for the leader of the Phantasma.'

'You know as well as I do that can not happen. She is not of a clan.'

I blink and ask, 'Neither is Longsworth.'

'He is,' Igor replies, shocking me, and continues, 'But beyond that, we have stopped all production of Tridium. This will hopefully bring the Phantasma's production of this poison to a halt if it isn't too late. As for the symbol on the card, we are still researching it. It has yet to come up on any of the clan seal databases we have.'

He was changing the subject, and doing a masterful job of it as he looks at his phone, scrolling through the information.

But it didn't seem to stop Nick as he growls out, 'Nina will be allowed into Kotowa.'

Igor sighs and says that same clipped monotone, 'No she won't.'

'Yes she will.'

'This isn't a game of who will get the last say, our rules make it clear she can't come into Kotowa unless she is of a clan, and a B rank or above.'

'I will have the last say.'

'How do you figure that?' Igor asks, and for the first time I sense an edge to him, blade sharp and dangerous.

'There is more than just one law, loopholes and amendments are always a way of life.'

The tension was building as Igor again asks, 'Alright, then how do you figure she can come into Kotowa?'

'Because we will be married.'

Silence filled the room, Ki open mouthed in shock and I just sit there stunned. Slowly I turn my face to Nick, looking up at his stone expression, eyes full of victory and say in the best articulated speak I could muster at the moment, 'Huh?'

Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone who is enjoying this story and it's progression, both in intrigue and in character development - though I do apologize for the consistent cliff hangers, something I enjoy in many books. I have been making a personal goal of completing a chapter every four days for your enjoyment and in my own experience - relief. Any and all reviews are welcome to both help in the development and structure of this story. If you do like this, I have another book I have recently started that you may enjoy called Vitiate, one of two pet project stories I have been cultivating. Vitiate will be coming weekly, while The Window will be monthly. Thank you for your support and enjoy...