115

Mercy

After we stop in the city just beyond Alistair's soaring estate, Talon and Gabriel sneak off to whatever havoc they plan to cause. I take the opportunity to check in with Gwen, changing into pants and a blouse and covering myself with a cloak before sneaking from the tavern room where the boys decided to deposit me, telling me to stay out of trouble. As if I'm the one who gets into trouble.

Luckily, the place they chose is relatively close to the shopping quarter, where Guinevere's tailor shop is located, so I don't have to travel through the seedier parts of town.

"Ah, Mistress Mercy, please, come in."

"Thank you, Tabitha. Is Gwen in back?"

"As always. I'll ensure that you're not bothered."

"Thank you."

I make my way through the maze of magically enhanced hallways to find Guinevere waiting expectantly.

"You know, for a vampire, you're quite loud, dear."

"No sense in sneaking up on one of the people most able to put me down."

"Wise child. What can I do for you? No doubt that this isn't a social call."

"Is anything these days?"

"Not for a couple of hundred years, I'm afraid."

She nods towards an empty seat, which I gratefully accept. Gwen's patient, waiting silently while I gather my thoughts.

"Talon and Gabriel are with me. They're no doubt running amok in town."

"And you're heading to Alistair's estate, no doubt?"

"Yes. Gabriel... he's behaving strangely, but Talon..."

"Talon is Talon, and you fear that his reasonings may be counter intuitive to the goals we've been working towards."

"Yes. I have this feeling that he's trying to sabotage Alistair's circle."

"Do you think he was involved in the attack?"

"I don't know... if he wasn't, I'd say he made contact with those who were after the fact and liked what they had to offer."

"He is the kind of person to align himself with that sort of evil. I'll keep an eye out. What will you be doing?"

"The same as always, I suppose... Playing the ditz while running interference on whatever bullshit he tries to pull."

"Very well. What do you need to know about the situation you're walking into?"

"Everything."

She nods and request some tea from one of her assistants before settling down to tell me about everything that's happened around here. Her tale is one that sends shudders racing through my body. Whatever is coming, isn't going to be pleasant, and now that I've followed my fool brothers here, I'm smack dab in the middle of it with them.

On the way back to my room, I spot Talon darting into an alley, a wide grin on his face.

I make a split second decision to follow him, and silence my steps to avoid detection. I pull on my abilities, wrapping the limited shadows around me and following behind him.

He darts down two different side alleys before coming to a dead end. He stops, looks around, and grins before facing the wall again and making a strange gesture in the air. The wall glows and shimmers before fading. He darts inside with me on his heels.

Once inside, he turns back towards the opening and flicks his fingers before decending down a set of stairs that plunge into the depths of the city's underbelly.

I knew that there was an extensive network of underground tunnels, but I didn't realize that Talon knew. Clearly, I need to keep a better watch on his happenings.

After probably twenty minutes of twisting and turning, mazelike, subterranean paths, he comes to a stop at a door, marked with a symbol reminiscent of the gestures made before. He knocks in a strange pattern, waits a minute, and then knocks again, in a different pattern this time. The door slowly swings open as his fist drops to his side.

I dart into the room before the door closes, careful to move from shadow to shadow to avoid being seen. The room is a large, round chamber with torches in wall sconces being the only source of light, every few feet. There's a group of people already gathered farther in the room, and Talon quickly joins them, greeting various individuals with a grin.

I skirt around the edges of the room to keep him in my sight without bumping into anyone and blowing my cover. We play this game of cat and mouse, with him hopefully being ignorant of my presence, for close to half an hour, before a figure takes their place at the front of the room on the makeshift stage. I freeze when the figure begins scanning the room, not wanting the rippling of my shadows to give me away.

The sound slowly dies down as people realize that someone is standing before them, everyone facing forward and bowing their heads respectfully.

*What the fuck did I just stumble upon?*

"Welcome, children." The man says, his voice raspy and grating.

"Greetings, Father," the crowd greets, their monotone address causing chills to race down my spine.

"I have summoned you here tonight because the time for our reign is nigh. Soon, we will make our move. Nearly all of our pawns are in place, and each of you has an assigned duty to uphold."

"Yes, Father," the crows echoes as one.

"As you know, I am Ramsey, and I am the general for this region. Each of you will receive more specific orders in the coming days. We will be making our move on the next full moon, when many of our brethren are at their fullest power."

The man's voice changed, from that grating sound that he first spoke with to a sonorous, hypnotic voice, almost like it's two different people speaking from the one body.

*Almost like he's possessed.* The thought sends another shiver racing through me. The name Ramsey is familiar, but I can't focus on that when any distraction could cost me my life, and the movement this information.

Talon moves forward through the crowd, snapping me from my daze when he kneels before the stage. The man stares at him with dead eyes for a moment before waving a hand at him. Talon rises and smiles a sadistic smile.

"I will be joining the prince in his estate tomorrow, my lord. Are there any messages you wish to deliver?"

The man, Ramsey, chuckles, that grating voice back.

"Ah, yes, you are the youngest prince, are you not?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, good. I was ever so pleased to find that you had joined our cause. Your father will no doubt be quite proud of your many accomplishments."

"Naturally."

The man's words, thankfully, confirm that father's cover within the organization that works with the rogue cthonians hasn't been blown.

"Keep an eye on the Crown Prince. His loyalty has never been with the cause. Your father made a grave error when he executed the elder two, due to his limited information. That was, of course, my error, for not informing him that the two eldest princes were infiltrating the so-called rebellion. He is now wary to move against the current prince, for fear of making another mistake."

"Of course, My Lord. That is why I have chosen to join my brother at his estate. I will also have the other royal spawn with me, so it will be a good time to determine where their allegiance lies."

"Ah, of course. Focus on the young prince. We've already vetted the princess, and she's harmless. Useless, as well, but a good figure head for some of the more vocal objectors."

"Of course. I am your servant, My Lord Sonnelion."

The man chuckles, that grating voice growing harsher.

"You know your generals, boy. Call me Ramsey, however. That is the name of this sleeve. He is a most gracious, and willing, host, much different from my last few. I find that I wish to keep this sleeve functional for the foreseeable future."

"Of course, My Lord."

"Everyone Dismissed. Await your orders if you do not yet have them, and execute them if you do. Your faith will be rewarded in the coming days."

"Thank you, Father." The crowd intones once more before filtering out of the room.

I press myself against the wall, waiting for everyone to clear before trailing after my brother once more, pulling my shadows tight against my body in an attempt to ensure I escape this dark place with my life, and soul, in tact.

*Guess we know where Sonnelion went, now. I must alert father. I'll go to Gwen, she'll know what to do.*

~~~

Author's Note: Everything is moving so fast now, isn't it?

I had planned to post a few chapters today, but I have a nasty ear infection that has my whole face swollen ;(

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So creative, I know.