Ezra paced, his steps echoing in the underground chamber that housed the Ascension Well. As always, the chamber was cool and dim, shielded from the world above byyers of earth and stone.
The well itself, disguised as a simple fountain, murmured softly in the center of the room, as the damage from the battle that had taken ce near it had already been fixed.
Illuminated by the soft blue light reflecting from the water of theke was a makeshift workspace that had been set up on one side of the room.
There was a sturdy table covered in maps and documents detailing the water distribution system of Southside. A keyponent that he needed toplete this mission.
He hadn''t hidden the fact that he was moving the well from his wives, making them aware of where he was. But since he wasn''t allowed to tell them the future location, he''d been having trouble finding a ce.
He sighed, stopping his pacing and going back to the table. He leaned over it. tracing a line on one of the maps with his finger. He had to find a hidden basement that he could build a new fountain in.
Ezra folded his arms when a sharp knock at the chamber door pulled him from his thoughts. He straightened, smoothing the front of his shirt.
Who could it be? The number of people who knew he was here could be counted on one hand. No, scratch that. Two hands.
He frowned, walking to the door. "Hello? Who is it?"
"Open up, Matten." Ivo called out from behind the door.
Ezra sighed. "Come in."
He''d found out that he didn''t need to physically open the door himself. The lock could recognize amand from him to let others in.
Ivo and Armand pushed upon the door, walking in. Ezra nodded at them, wondering what they were looking for.
The two vampires sauntered to the table, dropping gracefully into the chairs around it. "Ezra." Armand greeted with a nod, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent ofmand. "Sit, won''t you?"
"Good evening." Ezra responded, taking a seat on the other side of the table. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
The two men watched him, not speaking. Ezra stared back at them, finding the silencefortable. It seemed like they were trying to unnerve him. Too bad he could only stand them when they were quiet.
Armand leaned forward, his elbows on the table and his fingers steepled, speaking first. "We''ve found a suitable new location for the well, haven''t we?" he said, his tone matter-of-fact. Ivo nodded beside him.
Ezra frowned slightly. This was unexpected.
"I appreciate your... effort and... initiative, my lords. But the Countess tasked me with choosing the relocation site." He replied carefully, trying his best to maintain a respectful tone.
What were the two men ying at? They all knew that if Yuri wanted her husbands to choose the site, she would have just told them.
Ivo''s smile was thin, almost imperceptible, as he nodded. "Of course, Ezra. But we''ve considered several factors you might not be aware of. This location is a lot more... secure, isn''t it?" He exined, his voice holding a hint of something Ezra couldn''t quite ce.
Ezra stared at them for a few seconds, letting the silence stretch out. Just before it could turn from intimidating to awkward, he answered. "I''ll review your proposal. If it aligns with the Countess'' directives and my own assessments, I''ll consider it."
This time, the silence was heavy with unspoken threats. Armand leaned forward, his red eyes glinting dangerously. "I never said this was a proposal, did I?" he asked softly, the imminent violence in his voice clear.
The air in the room thickened as Ivo leaned forward too, his voice soft. "One might think you''re disobeying a suggestion from a superior. Are you?"
Ezra could see it in their eyes that both men were prepared to use violence to make their ''suggestion'' a reality. As it hade down to this, he had only one choice.
"Very well, my lords. I will visit this location and begin preparations for the movement of the well." He said.
He''d be leaving the city as soon as the barrier over it came down. This definitely wasn''t his problem.
"Good boy." Ivo nodded. "And one more thing. Yuri doesn''t need to be disturbed by news of this little discussion, does she?"
"She doesn''t." Ezra answered. It was none of his business.
"Excellent." Ivo grinned, the two vampires leaning back in satisfaction. "That wasn''t so hard, was it?"
They both stood, nodding in approval. Armand reached into thin air and pulled out a document. "The address and blueprints." He ced it on the table. "You''ll take care of it, won''t you?"
"Of course." Ezra stood, watching them stride out of the chamber. When he could no longer sense their presence behind the doors, he returned to his chair, his fingers drumming on the table as he considered their words.
It wasn''t his problem but he couldn''t help but wonder. What were Ivo and Armand nning? Why insist on this particr location for the well? Were they nning on betraying Yuri?
He sighed, knowing that when it came to vampires, nothing was straightforward. Every move was designed to maskyers of strategy and self-interest.
Sitting alone in the quiet of the underground chamber, Ezra nned his next steps. He didn''t want to be blindsided by something he could have prevented if he ignored this.
He''d have to investigate. Not for Yuri''s interest but for his own.
**********
Somewhere else on that same night, the Necromancer stalked the streets of Westside. The sound of their footsteps were muffled as his minions followed behind him.
Z, his Griffin avatar and Be, his pet peacekeeper.
"You know the n guys." The Necromancer conversed with them, a spring in his steps. "What''s the best way to kill a griffin than another griffin?"
There was no response from the minions.
He chuckled to himself, already used to speaking to his minions even when they were in their low vitality mode.
It didn''t matter. He was in too good of a mood. And when that happened, it meant that someone was about to die.