Sinid sat down on my comfy mattress with a thud and stretched out his arms with a satisfied smile.

"That's my bed!"

"I'm sad to see it being wasted. Goose feathers, this is the best feather that can be found on this sad plane. ”

I massaged the bridge of my nose with two fingers. I should have refused. It would be foolish to accept this waste into my perfectly controlled life. I just need to stay for another two years and then I can get justice. What's wrong with me taking such a big risk?

Ah yes, prison.

"I have a lot of questions."

"Ah, mortals, there are so many of these things. Always confused about everything and kept ......"

"Are you any different?"

"Of course," Likaea

With a shining smile he replied, "What my race cannot be inferred, it will not be free to answer anyway." ”

"Yes, well, you have to accommodate this person from a past life."

"Of course! I'll give you some pocket money, baby, talk up!"

There are many things I want to know, and one of them is relevant to me.

"Well, the first and most urgent one. How did you find me?"

I caught the pillow thrown at my head and resisted the urge to shred it.

"Oh, no, no, no! Come on! You don't get enough sunlight, so it won't be so dim! How could I not know where you were?!"

What, is he stalking me? Wait a minute...... Oh. My hand reached for the collar, and under the collar were two of my memorabilia. The first was a promissory note for my father, saying that I would outlive him. The promise may come true, but the emotion and meaning on that yellow piece of paper remains.

The second was the Rika blood from the magic silver jar I urgently injected, the most intolerable creature in the real world gave me.

"Can you really track this blood?"

"This is my most precious essence, you civilian!"

"The most precious! If I'm not mistaken, you're spreading the 'essence'!"

Pretty women shouldn't be vulgar, baby. It's a loss of who you are. ”

"You teach me lessons, despite your brazenness...... Die to shame...... Ah, brazen!"

"And below me, you will find dear Louisa Watson."

"Cinny!"

I asked, "I'm already bored, how can you blame me if I'm grumpy?" Why don't you have a decent drink in your bedroom?"

I took a deep breath. The familiar gestures calmed me down, like trusting that my place was still secure.

"I'm abstinent."

Sinid's eyes twinkled in amusement, and for a moment they shone with the gold that the poet had dreamed of.

"Yes, though not exactly. I can see that you know how to have some fun. ”

If I could still blush, I would. I usually manage to keep a certain distance from my employees and their customers. The aura of mystery works in my favor when I need to feed or avoid unnecessary attention, and so far I haven't found anyone I'm willing to sleep with. Like Debbie said, the odds are high, but the results are weird. Not so with Sinid. Somehow, he me off in just two days. Since he sent me the first envelope, I've lost my composure more than I've in the last three years.

"Your imagination is wild and impetuous."

"Really? He replied with a smug smile, then took out a book from behind him that I had placed on the bedside table, flipped a random page, and read it in falsetto.

"Oh Lord, Alejandro, I can't wait any longer. I beg you, put on your clothes......"

"Give it back to me right away!"

When I grabbed my ...... Uh-huh, relax the book, and when it came back to where it belonged, the rude rascal didn't resist. So embarrassing.

"Isn't that great?"

I turned to face him. He just stood there, doing nothing, looking very suspicious.

"What?"

"Does anyone understand you and appreciate the real you?" Mature and skilled people you can trust?"

When did he get so close?

"Wouldn't it be nice to finally be able to let go in the arms of a man you've loved?"

His perfume is seductive. Seeing him again makes me miss Rose, Isaac, Dalton...... I was so lonely here, always surrounded by staff and herds, but no friends. I can't bring someone I trust here, because how can I? How can I share my troubles with a mortal without them screaming and going to the nearest church? Nor can I expect anything of value from cattle that are only there to please me.

Mortals are downstairs, in the city, night after night. It's joy. Hug each other. Whispering about love. Make it. Sinid is unbearable, I don't believe I can be with him, but maybe it's just a kiss? Want to see what it's like to wait so long? What's the harm? I should have gotten kissed by a smart and charming guy a long time ago. I deserve it. I deserve someone to take care of me and change my taste. Witty, elegant, and experienced, Sinid was able to captivate nuns' lingerie. Probably did it at some point. Maybe I should try.

I leaned forward, and at the same time, Sinid walked away.

"Well, it can't be me. Not as crippled as I am now, anyway. I can't stand to be weak, and you can't resist the temptation. ”

Well?

"You love to tease people!"

"No, baby, I just wanted to help you. You're still too scared. You need to be in control, but when you're in control, you're only staying where you feel safe. To break your shell from the outside, it takes an older vampire with strength, delicate touch, and sincere feelings. I just wanted to help you get out of the egg yourself. ”

"You are a good soul."

"I know."

"Wait...... I have a question to ask!" How could we be so distracted!?"

"Apologies little baby. Just ask, and be quick. I'm going to try it at the bar downstairs. ”

"Don't be so fast. The second question is, why can't I smell your scent or perceive your aura?"

"Without divulging precious details, know that I have found a way to accommodate my generosity to match your dreary world." As for aura, you know they can be controlled, right?"

"Hmph. I know they can expand or contract to match our emotions. ”

"Pfeh! You speak as if you know when the tide is coming and you control the sea. Kid, I'm talking about aura control. Control!"

"But yours is gone!" It's completely gone!"

Sinid stared at me as if I were the village fool.

"I'm the prince of Ariana the Lika, why can't I be in full control of myself?"

"That didn't stop you from being captured...... "I complained.

"Really! But you see, I'm new to the concept of hiding. Not everyone has the ability to run around and survive against all odds, baby. ”

I frowned.

"I think there must be some subtle insult here."

"What do you mean?" How can I not admire your tenacity? Do you have magical tricks to avoid being stepped on by powerful people?"

"I'm not a cockroach!" Don't distract me anymore. How did you get here? I thought you were in South America. ”

"Roth sent me to Central America, baby, but I didn't stay there. I arrived here after a careful investigation and received orders from Gabriel Prison. I want you to help me dismantle it. ”

"And in return?"

"Oh, of course I'm going to come to your humble hall myself and add to your glory!"

I crossed my arms in exasperation, and the room fell silent.

"Sinid, I do believe that I am very generous in any dealings with you. You're abusing my kindness. ”

"Most importantly, I will give you a favor, yes!"

Advantage. Sinid has no money and no influence over the people who matter to me. What he has is knowledge, and for us, knowledge is priceless.

"How old are you?"

"Oh, my dear darling, I'm glad you're finally interested in me as a person. Know that time passes irregularly in the Kingdom. It is not surprising, then, that I may not be able to give you a satisfactory answer. You know, compared to us, your civilization is still in its infancy, and the civilization I am talking about here is the broadest sense. ”

Sinid's eyes sparkled like gold, and his face was contorted with savagery. In an instant, the amiable liar disappeared, and I could see the prince below. I remember the man who appeared in the dream more than twenty years ago, his hair was like fire and his eyes were like molten metal. With a wave of his hand, he emitted a sky-blue flame that engulfed the shadows chasing me, evaporating them in an instant. In the depths of my soul, I know that they are the same person. The balance of power between us is now a grotesque reversal, with what his home reality could be, no, is what it would be. Sinid continued his speech unconsciously or indifferently.

"All of us who have been caught here and used as batteries of your kind represent the intellectual value of the Library of Alexandria. Some people write poems that are so beautiful that people of lower ranks will lose their lives if they listen to them. There are also sculptures and visual works that are mesmerizing and can be admired for centuries without getting bored. They could make the statue cry, but here their voices were silenced, and their fingers were broken by the meanest greed. In your vulgar language, there are no words, no insults that are enough to bring justice to this tragedy, Ariana Nelari. ”

I was blown away in front of the incandescent light, and just as he was finishing, the moment passed. He reverted back to his old Sinid, the witty, dashing, and handsome socialite.

"But let's change the subject. I'm afraid I'm a little sensitive to this matter, and it has to do with my greatest wishes. ”

"Your greatest wish?" What is this?"

"Ah, it's to liberate every Lika on this plane and let them return to the kingdom safely."

It was so big that I almost threw up. Completely liberated? Nonsense.

"You know ......"

"I have a good idea of everything, baby. You will play a role. ”

The Lika are an incredible asset to the clan that owns them. Forcibly liberating them on a large scale will force war between the conspirators and the entire vampire world. Loth estimates that we have a little over two thousand in total. Even if only one-twenty people are lords, this still represents a force strong enough to defeat any power on earth. I saw Lord Suarez's ability. It's stupid to fight a hundred like he did. Pure insanity.

"You're crazy, Sinned. I should give up on you and drink you dry before anyone else does it. ”

"You should, Devourer, but you don't."

I glared at him angrily.

"I'm not so sure."

"Oh, I'm sure that if I wasn't good at judging people's character, I wouldn't have survived, and I wouldn't have been a prince. You have a tendency to be cruel and violent, but it is always tempered by a deep sense of justice and honor. Isn't it?"

"I don't say that......"

You didn't get angry and punish your livestock for letting me in, because they were powerless, so there was no fault. A lot of vampires make an example of them. You did not break our promise to drink my blood when I was weak, but you could. You confronted the Herald, and although you didn't have to, you took it out. ”

Cinny's approach. He moves gracefully, like a dancer, not a predator like me. I found myself staring at his iris that was too big. He slowly lifted a finger to my bare collarbone and touched my bare skin. This contact is both intimate and restrained. Respect.

"I chose you as my knight because that's you. You will help me because I will make your efforts worthwhile, but most importantly, you will help me because I will support your right to live and be free as you believe. ”

He almost fooled me.

"You have a grand vision, Sinid, but you seem to have forgotten. We are not princes and knights. We two fugitives hid in a wooden box painted gold, hiding in the middle of nowhere. There are hundreds of vampires who can wring my neck in an instant, and they are the ones we have to face. ”

"If my plan succeeds, it won't. For this, I need a prisoner that we are about to release. ”

"Who?"

"My fiancée, Princess Shivaya of the Blue Palace."

Great, one more.

"Hmph, Sinid, I don't know much about Likaea

courtship customs......"

"If the husband has already had several illegitimate children with a child younger than her, this is considered a good sign. Twenty is the best, but there are six hundred and forty-seven known descendants. ”

I have absolutely no idea what to do with this message.

"Oh, but don't worry, I'm not going to break it. So...... Anything else?"

"Yes! Don't try to distract me. This is a reward for helping me. ”

"What do you want to ask?"

I opened my mouth to speak, and then stopped. Si

EAD looks like a teacher with a predictable student. He wanted me to ask something.

"You're going to teach me how to hide my aura like you did."

"Of course!"

"You're going to help me practice spells."

"Of course, I believe we can turn it into entertainment."

"Finally, you have to ...... Go downstairs and do your thing. ”

His eyes gleamed dangerously.

"What do you mean?"

"Be yourself and make the people around you feel pleasant, witty, and charismatic. We provide a very good service. What we're missing is... Reputation. Trust. ”

"I see. You want my aura, so to speak. The figurative one. ”

I nodded. Sinid leaned forward, looking amused with contempt. I remembered that wonderful expression.

"Of course, Dad. I'm going to do it for you. ”

"Good".

"How can I entertain myself while the snow melts?"

Well. What's wrong?

Marquette (March 1832

Geraniums bloom in beautiful pink and blue. I walked from one pot to another, pouring a little water at a time.

I was amazed that they were still alive. I killed so many people that I couldn't count, the animals were afraid of me, and I couldn't have children. I almost thought that my touch would wilt the plants, and yet they were indifferent.

Pouring water is a soothing act, and in a book I read 20 years ago about politeness, pouring water was listed as a "lady's act." Maybe there is some truth to that. You can also throw a metal sprinkler head at someone else's head in a pinch.

When I was done, I went out and picked up the report that Margaret handed me. Some of the issues, mainly negotiating new contracts, have been made by Si

EAD is solved, while other issues are solved by the respective managers. I mean, Kitty evicted a girl for stealing. Harrington had to break the arm of a patron, and Sullivan made a fuss, but couldn't force it. Ah, interesting thing. A few miles along the road, a group of suspicious people camped and came to town to buy supplies and inquire about the whereabouts of some escaped female criminals. They have precise descriptions. I'll handle it myself.

I walked down the stairs. Tonight, I wore a comfortable royal blue riding suit and a royal blue scarf. John waited at the bottom of the stairs as usual. When he saw my outfit, he greeted me with his big, ugly smile.

"Shall we go for a midnight walk?"

It sounds a lot like what Sinid would say.

"Did my friend explain what that means?"

John thought for a moment, his face wrinkling in concentration.

“No.”

"Yes, we're going on a night tour later. First I have to talk to those weird people. Let them wait in my studio, okay?"

"Your will is my command," he said, standing up straight, like a grenadier under review. He saluted and left.

I shook my head in disbelief and walked down the hall. The situation has changed compared to the last time. We used to have a big scene in the back where the performers would dance or sing. Sinid turned it into an elite place, different from the rest, higher than the rest. These performances are now under his direct responsibility.

I'm really impressed with the results.

I was expecting my regulars to complain, but Sinid charmed them. He is attractive, spreading jokes, compliments, and blame to make the whole room revolve around him. Every night, he presided over the assembly, like a king presiding over a decadent feast. The men came to pay their respects, had a drink with him, and then left, and it felt special. He flattered some people in front of girls, asked about other people's troubles, patted them on the shoulder here, shook hands there. They adored him. They adored him. They are willing to do anything for him. My staff loves him too, he's just so sleek. I even saw Oscar laughing, which has only happened twice since I hired him eight years ago. Indeed, he is a miracle, a miracle that extends to the world of business. Since he arrived, our sales have increased by 20 percent, we have a wide variety of offers, and our contracts are favorable. I couldn't be happier. Theoretically, yes.

He's so much better than me and I'm a little angry. I can't even blame it on experience. Sinid is just an unbeatable socialite. He can sell rotten sausages to moonshiners, who will thank him for it and invite him to dinner. Then he would abscond with their wives.

Frustrating.

I walked into the bar and saw the festivities in full swing. A drunken duet was playing something, and the crowd laughed loudly. A few stairs and I arrived at my friend's palace.

Sofas and low chairs surround a coffee table. If memory serves, the man was comfortably relaxed, holding a woman in each arm, Janet and Hilda. They looked at me as if I had caught them red-handed. I let Sineid sleep in my room because I don't use it anyway, and most people think we're lovers. I made it clear that I wasn't jealous, but the two pretty faces in front of me were still worried. They are caught with the male leader and the female leader.

I smiled, dispelled their concerns, and approached my friend.

"It's time, let's plan our action tonight."

"Huh?"

"Sinned, stop staring at my cleavage, it's too ugly."

"Ah, but I can feel a frontier spirit touching in my heart, pushing me to explore untouched territory."

"Keep exploring, and the next thing you'll feel in your heart is my right hand. We still have work to do. ”

"Yes, yes, lead the way, baby."

To be honest, I thought he was in a hurry. After getting up from his comfortable seat, my guest took me by the arm and we walked downstairs to the basement. It takes up most of our storage space, laundry room and my studio. The chamber where I slept was hidden underneath.

The workshop is located behind a brick-walled corridor, behind a locked iron door that would keep most bank robbers at bay. Five armed men and a woman waited for us in silence.

I open the door and let everyone into my secret room.

I left Georgia with only clothes on me. Several generous "donations" from travelers and robbers gave me what I needed to live, and when I arrived in Marquette I settled down and contacted the consortium. To my surprise, Loth left most of his crafting tools to me and said in a letter that he "could go home and buy something better." A lie, of course. He just helped me in his usual rough way and tried to make me look like I was serving him. In addition to this, there are my weapons, my spare uniforms, painting tools and other raw materials. They have all found their place here.

This room is rectangular and takes up half of the area, with three exits, one behind us, a trapdoor leading to the outside, and a secret passage to my real "bedroom" with a fixed sarcophagus inside. The walls are made of dark bricks, with alcoves at intervals. The ground was dotted with support columns, and I put lanterns on them. A large table surrounded by wooden chairs occupies its center. On it, a map on yellow paper shows towns and general areas, with pins marking recently formed villages.

The newcomer looked left and right at the workbench occupied by the current project, the well-organized rack of tools and weapons. Especially weapon racks.

Sinid whistled and touched my modified boar spear. His gaze fell on the carving on the blade, then on the blacksmith in the corner, and then back to me.

"A versatile woman," he added with a smirk.

The rest sat heavily in their chairs. They are taciturn people, which is exactly what I like.

This strange team consists of two Creek brothers, two runaway slaves, an old mute, and a large woman with gray hair and a cruel disposition. They are all discrete jobs that I call for, and some people may find annoying. I can count on their caution, especially since they don't have the slightest credibility with each other. I'll admit that they're also a disciplined group, and that old lone ranger is a sharpshooter. Since we're looking for specialized monster killers who tend to bless everything around them, I guess it's time to recruit worldly helpers.

"Let's get started. Can you tell us where the prison is and what we're going to deal with?"

"Well, I don't know exactly where it is."

He raised a hand to stop my protest.

"I gained all the information I had by interrogating a member of the Order. I've never seen that compound, but I know how to get there and what we're going to find. ”

He pointed to a map northwest of Marquet.

"Two days from here, there was a small depression in the middle of the vast plain, and our destination was there. The road was completely uncovered, and was constantly under the watchful eye of a sentry corps that were fanatically loyal to the Order. Only the most determined of them will be carefully selected to guard it. I'll cover our approach until we can close the distance and eliminate the watchers. Then we need to release the prisoners, destroy the facility, eliminate all the staff, down to the last man. We can't leave any witnesses behind, or we might get more attention. ”

"Tell us about the facility itself."

"There were four dug positions at each corner, from which the sentinels looked out, and then four fortified stone buildings. One is a barracks, one is a processing building, there is a warehouse, and finally the prison itself. The captives were underground. ”

"We need to release the captives first, otherwise they will be killed by the jailers as soon as the attack begins."

"Absolutely. Ariane, there's a chance you won't be able to enter this place in person. ”

The team knows I'm not a complete person. Most people probably thought I was some kind of witch.

"That's my advice. As long as we get close enough, we silently eliminate the sentinels. Then one group went to destroy the prison, and the other went to attack the barracks. As soon as the target is saved, we detonate the explosives and destroy everything. Is that okay?"

The response I got was a shrug and a vague nod. The advantage of this plan is its simplicity.

"I'll provide explosives. Ah, hmph, since we're talking about arson, do you know if they raise pigs or not?"

Sinid raised an eyebrow.

"I don't think so, it would be against their hidden wishes. Caution is their best defense, and it's hard to do that when you have pigs screaming in the wind. Why?"

"Nothing."

Tom, one of the two negroes, stroked his white beard with his hand before commenting.

"We need something to carry the prisoners in case they can't walk."

"Good idea. We need a trolley. Anything else?"

"How many of these people are we going to kill?" Laura added.

"About ten."

"Who are they?" A Greek asked.

There was silence on the table. I don't have the habit of being questioned by my subordinates. This time, their concerns were justified, and I decided to answer.

"The Order of Gabriel is a group of religious fanatics dedicated to cleansing the world of impurities. Unacceptable people include, but are not limited to: monsters, witches, wizards, infidels, moneylenders, people who work on Sundays,+, Jews, women who do not know their place, idolaters, people who frequented brothels, girls who work there, drunkards, philosophers, artists who create indecent works, Arabs, Chinese, people who eat meat at Easter......"

"Wait a minute," Tom added, "tell us who they tolerate." I guess that would be faster. ”

"They themselves and those who live according to their version of the Bible. And Orthodox Christians. ”

"Really?"

"No, they burn Orthodox Christians as pagans."

"Hmm...... I think it's okay. ”

"Good. We'll set off tomorrow as soon as the sun goes down. Have five days' worth of supplies ready, just in case, and your weapons. Zinnid, I'll give you something. I'll also have the wagon ready, and I'll deal with the bombs. Overrule. ”

Two hours later, on the outskirts of Marquette.

Midnight. There is always a way for a flat plain to make people feel that the sky is boundless, and this time, the sky is empty. The moon, the stars, and the watchmen all gave their diffuse light to late travelers and thieves. It was a tragic thing for a couple of inbred idiots to set up a camp in the bushes by the side of the road, with three tents in a circle. A few people quietly gathered around the roaring campfire, trying to withstand the cold of the night, but in vain. The Illinois winter hadn't dissipated yet, and their breath condensed into small clouds before being blown away by the biting winds.

The arrival of the Métis silenced their conversation. The terrified gaze glanced upwards and then upwards at the rider riding on it. I.

"It's not appropriate to camp outside right now, isn't it?" The weather is bad at this time of year. ”

"Who are you?" What do you want? A student in the back asked.

"Excellent question. You can call me Miss Lethe, can you guess what I do? Huh?"

I don't expect an answer. They were caught off guard and may need a little time to regroup. Those were farm workers, who wore layer after layer of undyed wool. They are annoying. The only exception was a slightly better-dressed young man with a bowler hat. He was the one who asked me questions.

"I'm the owner of Dream Bar, the best brothel here on Lake Michigan. Do you know how I recruited? Can you guess?"

The farm workers all turned to the young man, who was clearly to blame. He has not yet recovered from the surprise, and the huge dark horse he faces should not be underestimated.

"I'll tell you. The truth is, you can't find a child who wants to be a prostitute when she grows up. Those who came to me were either desperate, hungry, or on the run. Sometimes all three happen at the same time. Under my wing, several of them were pregnant. ”

Métis took another step forward. She snorted and glared at one of the men, who swallowed nervously.

These stories are tragically repeated. The woman was beaten so badly by her cruel husband that she even broke her ribs. The girl was raped by her uncle, or her father, or her brother. The man was shunned by the community and forced to sell himself for stale bread, or starved to death. Or sold by her family to some old bastard. And so on. It's a story as old as time, really.

"They came to the big city, with sallow faces and desperate eyes, begging for leftovers. Then I picked them up. I feed them and fix them. I turn them into ...... It can be said that people who contribute to society. ”

Métis stopped just a few fingers away from the fire. The dancing flames made her red eyes sparkle like a beacon in the darkness.

"This ...... What's going on?" Clown asked.

"It's about you. Most of the time, my daughters are bad and no one wants them. But sometimes, their relatives or spouses get angry about losing their favorite piece of meat. So they came and snooped around like the clumsiest thieves in the world. Soon we learn that our beautiful city is haunted by poisoners, thieves and debt evaders who need to be returned to their owners for the sake of justice. You understand the problem, right?"

"Annabelle should be with her family!"

"I don't care about you, and I don't care about your family. You all go to hell. Annabelle is mine now. Take you clumsy fools and get back into the dirty puddle you crawled out of, or I'll bury you all. ”

"You don't have the right to command me to revolve around you, you glorious+!"

"Look around you."

Harrigan and a dozen of my lackeys came out of the shadows, guns with guns and violent expressions on their brutal faces. Outsiders gather together like sheep surrounded by wolves. They know how things end.

"You may believe that judges or religion will support your cause, but that won't change anything. I have the only important right. Power. When my men have finished cleaning up you, you lick your wounds and leave with your tail between your legs, like a mongrel, or the next time I come, I'll bring a shovel. Good night. ”

I asked Métis to turn around, and for the first time I heard the sound of wood hitting people. Pleasant music.