INTERLUDE II
The attacks had become such a problem that Vanessa went to Paris herself to see the aftermath of the most recent one.
She stepped into the once-glamorous nightclub and immediately wished she hadn't. She'd seen some twisted things during her years as an Acolyte, even committed many of those acts herself, but it was something else when done by an enemy. This was a far more visceral and gruesome sight than any scene left behind by the Aurors during the last war.
"And no one saw who did this?" She gestured to the man who was still hanging from the rafters by another's entrails. "Really?"
Julien, her deputy regarding business in France, answered defensively. "Everyone who tried to stop them-" he gestured to the splatter of blood and flesh along the once lovely walls- "so everyone else just ran."
Vanessa pinched the bridge of her nose. These attacks had become so regular that she had no choice but to report the matter to Cushing. The massive loss of revenue due to her spies and places of business being attacked over the last year would be impossible to cover up. "We need to bring in the Aurors for this."
Julien was hesitant. "Are you sure, General? Bringing them in might alert them to the size of your overall operation."
"I know, but this is too much to handle on our own." Vanessa shook her head. "We haven't even been able to identify the attacker, much less catch them." This was the first place she had purchased after expanding her business to Europe. She would be sad to be rid of it. "Hide the coffers, the potions and the Artifices. We can reallocate them at a later-"
Vanessa abruptly stopped speaking as she felt rapid movement behind her. While training with the Dark Lord had made her incredibly fast, there were still faster Beings in the world.
A wet choking grunt left her throat as she was run through with a broken table leg, the splintered end sticking out of her stomach.
A trap, she realised much too late. They wanted me to come. That's why they made a show of it!
She would have died then and there if Julien hadn't shot a spell over her shoulder at her assailant's face.
Vanessa appreciated his loyalty, but not enough to risk death for him. Turning on the spot, she apparated through the Barrier that only allowed her to do so, leaving Julien behind as a brief distraction for the attacker as she landed in the dingy alley outside.
"Anemoi!" She whispered. A ball of white light was launched from the end of her wand and into the sky, zipping towards the nearest Citadel.
Groaning as she prepared to apparate again, she couldn't help but deplore her earlier feelings of sentiment towards this place. If only she'd been a little less nostalgic and a little faster in handing out her orders, she might have escaped without a scratch.
Damn this whole club, she thought. It's the Aurors' problem now.