45 | MEETING WITH MONSTERS

At the last second I decide against speaking with the Alpha, instead heading back to the Coven to try and figure out a way to contact Nikki. What I keep seeming to forget is that the Ancient never gave me a way to contact her. She just kind of shows up at the drop of a hat. I try several ways of calling to her - both verbally and through meditation - neither works of course. Eventually, I find myself catching up on reading reports and even manage to dig up some information on some of the creatures I plan on meeting in the near future.

The Darklight community has become a priority to me, what with the deadline coming closer. I’m hoping that since Hale knows the leader personally that things will go over smoother when I finally do talk to him. From what I’ve gathered about the kind of supernatural he is - something called a *Kraken* - I don’t want to even tempt him into getting angry. There are conflicting theories as to what the being’s weakness is and I’m not sure I really could even harm him if push came to shove. Leviathan Class supernaturals are a far cry from the everyday supernaturals vampires and Wolven fall into. Even with my weird vamp ability, I know I don’t stand much of a chance against even one L-Class supernatural - let alone an entire town of them.

From what I know about the community of Darklight, all the supernaturals there are dangerous - either to humans or other supernaturals. I’d be lying if I said I’m not terrified about going to meet the Kraken on his own turf, but just like with the Elementals, I know I really don’t have a choice in the matter. Hale hasn’t been able to convince Chambers about the need for him to step down on his position as judge, jury, and executioner for his people. And though I’m not sure what I can really say to the man to make him change his mind, but if I don’t try I’m pretty much condemning the world to the early apocalypse.

Sometime between my fifth and sixth cup of coffee, I shot out a text to Hale to see if he managed to get me that one-on-one meeting with the *Kraken*. When I come back to my chair in the library, I’m surprised to see my absent father’s response waiting for me.

*Dr. Chambers has agreed to meet with you at any time, only requesting that you stop by his family’s restaurant for the meeting as he cannot leave the vicinity. I request that you take at least Zoe with you on the journey to Darklight since you will have to pass through Colton. Mikyle has reported that things in Court have been strained lately. Proceed with caution.*

I frown at the last two lines. I had almost forgotten about the tensions in Colton over the last month, the issue with the King’s loss of control taking a backseat in my mind while I’ve been dealing with the apocalypse. Chewing my bottom lip I send back a brief, less formal reply of ‘*Will do*.’ before turning my attention to the coffee I’d just prepared. Over the last few days my appetite for blood has increased, and I’ve gotten into the habit of not only spiking my coffee with sin-a-cubes but mixing in some blood from the stash of blood bags kept in the kitchens.

Zoe doesn’t answer her phone as regularly as I’d like, so I refrain from texting her, thinking the vampire might be sleeping or whatever normal vamps do at this time of night. I see her in the mornings when I’m here, she and the other vamps keep busy and are always bustling around or coming in and out of the compound to run errands.

My mind turns back to the message as I finish the cup of bloody coffee, the lingering aftertaste of the packaged blood mixed with freshly ground coffee beans making me reflect back on what happened with the King. Mikyle’s been liaison to the Court for a while now, but I’ve yet to recieve an actual report from him - either in text or in paper format. Something I should have realized sooner. But Hale seems to be handling Mikyle from that end of things, which should be fine - if only Hale would also share the information with me. Which he hasn’t.

This text from Hale’s been the first real news I’ve gotten about Court, and the fact that it’s not good news has my stomach twisting itself into knots. Not because I think something will happen to the King - I know there’s got to be some sort of protocol in place to prevent and keep him from going full-Revenant - but because Mikyle himself hasn’t reached out to give me an update on the situation. For some reason, this worries me. My overactive imagination starts running through scenarios of what may be the reason for this, fueled by the six cups of coffee and Hale’s cryptic message.

I’m saved eventually saved when someone clears their throat. I blink, looking up to see the stern face of Elliot Powell. Dressed in his usual button-up dress shirt and slacks, he’s standing with a stack of fresh reports on the other side of the table from me, a look of concern in his grey eyes. Though more than anything, he looks like a very young, disapproving librarian.

“You’re awake rather early, Lady Scarlett.” He comments, pushing up his glasses with one finger and giving the air a pointed sniff. I roll my eyes at the stuffy vampire and get up from my chair, only now noticing that the lamp on the desk is no longer needed as bright morning light is streaming into the room from the high windows.

“Good morning to you, too.” I hum back my usual response, trying not to let the dryness of my tone completely ruin my greeting. As usual, Elliot then goes back to whatever he’s up to and leaves my line of sight. I move my little mountain of research materials back into a more organized pile so I can return to them later if I get the chance, before making my exit with the little notebook I’d been scribbling in tucked under one arm.

The crisp fall-verging-on-winter air stings at my eyes as I leave the relative warmth of the library and enjoy a brief walk back to the main building that houses my office. I consider going through the kitchens to pick up what’s been breakfast these last few weeks and adjust my course when I see Zoe striding towards the same building.

“Good morning,” Zoe offers me her usual polite smile when she notices me and holds the door open for me as we both enter the kitchen area.

“Hey, uh,” I begin, shooting back a quick smile as I get to my point. Before I do, however, she speaks.

“Hale notified me about the meeting.” She looks wary when she says it, but her smile doesn’t turn into a grimace or indicate she’s unhappy about accompanying me. “When do we leave?” I let out a breath and feel my smile twist ruefully.

“I’m off ‘cause it’s the weekend…so I was hoping today…” I say slowly, half expecting the vampire to scowl at me or show some sign that she’s annoyed at the prospect of coming with me to another, possibly dangerous meeting with a powerful supernatural we know next to nothing about.

“Alright. We should take some blood bags for the road, and one of the Coven’s cars since it’s a little further than Port Greene.” Zoe nods to me and crosses the room to the refrigeration unit built into the wall. I wait while she goes in and makes her selection of blood bags and silently search for a cooler. “Hey,” When Zoe comes back out of the walk-in storage with a little stack of blood bags in her arms her expression is thoughtful. “You’ve never been to Darklight have you?” The question surprises me for a second, and stills my tongue. I shake my head in response and Zoe grins. “Don’t look so down, it’s not all that bad. In fact, I’m sure you’ll like it.” She nudges me lightly as she places the majority of the blood bags in the waiting cooler in my arms. She opens the ports on two and passes me on before leading us both through the building and out through a side door I’ve never used.

“Then why do you seem wary about the whole thing?” I ask her curiously as we walk into a large garage-like room. Six identical black cars filling the space. Zoe pauses by a wall-mounted key display case and plucks one of the sets of keys from the case.

“I’ve met the good Doctor on occasion,” This time she does grimace. “He’s a good man, but one thing h values above all else is his community. I don’t think he’ll be very happy when we talk to him about what’s coming. And if he reacts anything like Mrs. Cai did…” She lets out a breath, leading me to the first car nearest us and presses a button on the keychain. “I’m not sure either of us will be making it out of there in one piece.”