Ezra crouched on the neighboring roof, watching the figure standing on the roof of the Ascendant Capital building.


    He''d chosen this location for different reasons.


    First, it was within Southside, his new home territory.


    Second, he knew the terrain like the back of his hand. If it came down to a fight, he was sure he knew the battlefield more than his opponent.


    The figure on the rooftop was dressed in a dark cloak, the hood obscuring their face. The weren''t wreathed in vitality which meant that whoever was under the cloak wasn''t in disguise.


    But now, he was sure that this wasn''t Helena. Why would she hide herself like this?


    Who was it? And how did they know his secret? If they knew he was a Prince, did they know anything else?


    The vampire hade alone but he couldn''t trust that they were actually alone. Which was why Olivia, Gen and Red were watching from different locations.


    He smiled to himself. He was not dumb enough to actuallye alone.


    It was time to meet the vampire.


    He stood and stepped forward, teleporting mid stride to the Ascendant Capital rooftop.


    "Ezra Matten." A male voice spoke from the hood of the cloak. "A pleasure to finally meet you."


    "I, unfortunately, can''t say the same." Ezra said.


    "I''ll shake your hand but I can practically feel the hostility you''re radiating." The cloaked man chuckled. "I see you''ve mastered the art of radiating an aura without radiating an Aura."


    Ezra sighed. "Who are you?"


    "Oh. I didn''t introduce myself." The man bowed with a flourish. "You can call me the Necromancer."


    Ezra watched the man. "You''re not from around here, are you?"


    "No. I am not."


    "And how did youe upon the information that I am a Prince?"


    "Simple." The Necromancer answered. "I once worked for a Prince so, I''m pretty knowledgeable when ites to you guys. If you know the signs, it isn''t hard to spot."


    "You''ve been a vampire for less than a year and you''re already a fourth ring vampire, Ezra Matten. You''re also the fastest ascending vampire around the same time a new relic was imed."


    "And finally, you can confidently fight above your weight ss." The Necromancer chuckled. "You have to be a Prince. There is no other exnation."


    Ezra frowned. If the Necromancer was speaking the truth, that was more of a reason to leave First City as soon as possible.


    "You see, princes like you are bound to have more than one secret. I don''t know what it is but I didn''t need to know to make youe here."


    The Necromancer began walking backwards slowly. Ezra followed, keeping the same distance between them.


    "My original n was to attack you here but I can see that you brought friends." The Necromancer stepped to the edge of the roof. "So, this is goodbye. For now."


    The Necromancer stepped back, falling over the railings and plummeting below.


    Ezra watched from where he stood. There was no need to go after the Necromancer. He was already gone.


    A momentter, his wives appeared on the roof.


    "Who was that?" Red asked.


    Ezra turned to them. "Does the name ''the Necromancer'' mean anything to you guys?"


    "Ah, shit." Gen cursed.


    An hourter, they were sealed in their apartment.


    "During my time as a peacekeeper, there was a little war." Gen began exining. "As usual, vampires began to die in the dark. Friends became enemies and enemies became allies."


    "The war was following its usual path until the dead began to appear once more." She lowered her voice, meeting their gazes. "Those who killed began to be targeted by those they killed."


    "The attacking vampires were not other shapeshifted vampires but the actual dead vampires. That was when the name began to be whispered among the vampires of the city."


    "The Necromancer."


    "It means that if he''s here, the dead won''t stay dead." She stared at her audience, eyes intense. "He''s someone that you want as either an ally or dead. There''s no in between."


    **********


    Helena sat waiting in the private room.


    She checked her watch. Ezra was runningte.


    This was her chance to study him in person. There was no need to confront him yet.


    She would speak with him on the pretext of mending bridges. If he epts, then she can get closer to him.


    If he attends the meeting.


    She checked the time again. It was long past their agreed meeting time. Was he noting? Then why did he send a message to confirm the meeting?


    Just as she was about to stand up and leave, the door opened.


    She turned to see someone she hadn''t been expecting.


    "Natalia."


    She was on her feet in an instant, ready for whatever the woman wanted.


    "No need to get up on my ount." Natalia grinned. An expression that was eerie on the face of a woman who was supposed to be grieving.


    Helena suppressed the urge to teleport out. Natalia had known she was here and had not attacked when her guard was down. She wouldn''t attack now that her guard was up. This meant she was here to discuss.


    Helena was always up for a discussion. When the enemy speaks, she listens. They might give out valuable information without knowing.


    "How did you find me?" Helena asked. She''d teleported into the area before entering the restaurant. There was no way she was tracked.


    "Don''t worry about it." Natalia sat on the empty chair opposite Helena, pouring herself a drink. "I have my ways."


    Helena frowned before sitting, eyeing the vampire warily.


    "By the way, don''t worry about Ezra Matten. He won''t be attending this…" Natalia waved to the surrounding, "meeting."


    Helena kept her expression neutral, not giving any reaction.


    How had Natalia known where she would be and who she would be meeting?


    She could have had someone watching this particr restaurant out of the thousands in the city for one reason or the other and recognized her but how would she know that Ezra would being?


    She raised her chin. Keep the enemy talking.


    "What do you want, Natalia?"


    Thedy sipped on her wine with a mischievous smile.


    "I want us to kill Ezra Matten."