“Perhaps but that’s neither here nor there.”
"Well, come, come. Speak now or forever hold that thing you call a cock," Julian sneered.
"I'm tired..."
"Uh. What?"
"I want to end this."
"End what?"
"You and I. This hatred. The rivalry. It has gone on far too long. I have taken from you. You have taken from me. I realised I have never attempted to broker peace.”
“You partnered with these armoured blood hounds to track me down to…make peace?”
“It was only when I lost Alexandra I knew I had to try."
"My father is dead. She isn't. It isn't exactly the same thing."
"Neither of us can ever see them again. You forced me to use the only means available to save her, and that was the cost. Look at you. You’re not healing. The cloud is preventing it. You can’t teleport anymore. I could leave you here. I could ask these men to kill you. But I know you always have a back-up plan. I am asking you, please, stop this. Leave my friends alone. You go your way and I'll go mine. I no longer want to interfere in anything you do."
"How could you possibly live with yourself? You and I are completely different in our thinking and our tastes. How could you sit and watch the innocents you know I will feed off?"
"Your scheme worked. You broke me. I now understand that no one is innocent. We all make choices which lead us to be where we are meant to be."
"Even your blonde human?" Dante looked down as the Night Mother’s words crept over him. Alex had accepted death by sleeping with him. It wasn't her fault but it was her choice. Just like it was his to murder the couple that infected her, and the woman tonight. Dante had headed down a slippery slope of murder and revenge. How long could this go on? How long would the ripple effect continue? More death. More misery.
"Yes. Even her."
"Well, well, Delavega, I must say I'm intrigued. While I do enjoy your pain, believe me I do, I want something from you. An insurance policy. An act of good faith if you will."
"What?" Dante asked. “The points I just made aren’t enough for you?”
"Don’t pretend Delavega. The world is based on give to get. We have no reason to trust each other, but you’ve no doubt seen the same thing I have. The weather…it’s changing us. We need the sun to heal. Our abilities are failing. Humans are staying indoors and more of us are going hungry. I know nothing about how to change it back. I wish I did…”
Julian’s voice failed. His altercation at the Police Station had very much left him the worse for wear. He certainly couldn’t be accused of faking this.
“Undeadly Desires has had security problems of late, so I’m told,” Dante said. “T thankfully is laced with waratah. But I heard there had been attacks around it. I assume coming from you. I used that assumption to find you. That is the end of my care factor on the matter. I wanted to find you and face you. Do we have an agreement?”
Julian smiled. “I’m going to need an act of good faith on your part as I said.”
“What?”
“As you know, there is a new vampire in town. Recently returned from a stint in the dungeons. Leeson Amadeus Nightingale."
Dante rolled his eyes. "What about him?"
"I want him dead."
"So do these men but no one can take him. I won’t stop you. There are many that would push you aside for their slice."
"Ah that's where things get tricky. His healing and strength are too much even for me. But if this weather affects us all, this may be the way to end him. As King, no matter how tainted your position, you have access to things I don't.” Julian nodded to the men behind Dante. “Resources to take him down."
"Nothing I know of will work unless you can tell me how you captured him in the first place?"
"Strangely enough you and Melina killed the only person who knew. My father organised his capture and told not one soul how. At the time I didn't care, happy I had a self-healing specimen to play with. But time does make one grow curious with hindsight. They say he can't be killed, but we both know everything can be. How’s this for a deal. Bring me his head and I'll accommodate your request."
“You…fear him, don’t you?” Dante asked.
“As should you. The strongest vampire I have ever encountered. A rabid dog that must be put down. He harbours ill will towards me, and in my current predicament I could not even flee. If he kills me, Melina will have to face him and you know what the outcome of the will be. Who would you rather make accords with, me or him? Who would listen to reason?”
“I’m going on your word alone?" Dante scoffed.
Julian looked straight at Dante as he raised his palm to his mouth and bit. He then held it out to face Dante. "You came to me first, remember? I'll make a blood oath. Do this, and let there be peace between us. Bring him to me and your request is granted. I will release Melina from her oath and I will never hunt down her or your blonde or your brunette ex-lovers. Even through another party."
Dante thought about his wording, and could see no out for Julian to manipulate. He pressed his hand into Julian’s and realised no matter what the dangerous situation he was putting himself in, if it ensured Alex and Michelle’s safety and Melina’s freedom, it was more than worth it. Wherever the former two were.
*
Gavin moved calmly through the
