Chapter 119 - Cats, rats and assassins.

**Ambrogios pov**

“Father, you have a visitor, a woman.”
Keith, one of my high guards, the strongest of the turned second only to the generals came seeking my attention during the encounter with the wolves. It was a welcome break, my frustration had reached a point where I was on the verge of saying or doing something unnecessary so I handed over to Tony and followed Keith out.
“Who’s looking for me? I’m not expecting anyone.”
“No, she said she came unannounced.”
“Who? Didn’t you get a name?”
“No Father.”
“So, where is this mysterious visitor?”
“She’s in the small hall inside the entrance.” He seemed uncomfortable.
“What is the matter my child?” He scratched his head before answering.
“It’s just…I..hrm, it’s hard to tell what she is.”
“Can’t you feel her scent? Did you feed?” I looked at him carefully, the sense of smell could get worse if you didn’t feed when you needed.
“Yes Father, it’s not that, her scent is just...I’ve never smelled it before...nothing like it.” So, not a human, wolf, or witch..or indeed, human hunters can disguise their scents, a skill they honed over the years.
“Is she alone?”
“Yes, as far as I know. She was alone both at the gate and the door, our cameras and sensors didn’t go off either. If you want, I can send her on her way, or take her to one of the cells.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be a particularly nice welcome, would it? “Leave her where she is, don’t let anyone else into the hall.” He bowed before walking away. Many questions popped into my head about who the visitor could be. Outside of vampire societies, I didn’t have many female acquaintances. Tatiana and Zara were known to my children, so I can cross them out. I saw Hope on the screen just a minute ago, and her friend Maya. The white witches knew better than to hide what they were if they came here. It would be seen as a provocation. Zandra...no, she would never set foot here, she would use the mirror if she was looking for me, which she never would, the thought felt heavy in my heart, I would have given anything to see her, regardless of whether she was waiting in the hall or if she called me to the mirror. My mind kept searching for answers, all the hunters I had in my cells before I killed them, could one of their women come here to try to get her man free? The thought was tickling, what fun I could have with such a woman, completely heartbroken and desperate, I wonder how important such a woman’s hunter code was at that point. How far would she go to see her husband again? Would she offer up her body? Her blood? Both?
The small hall on the first floor was surrounded by a balcony on the second floor. I was on the third so I took the stairs down and went out on the shadiest part, where I couldn’t be seen. The woman stood with her back to me. Long and slender. She wore a long coat with the hood pulled up in what appeared to be black thin leather. The waist and edges were embroidered in silver. Those weren’t hunting clothes… I stayed in the shadows near the wall to remain invisible and I moved silently. The woman below moved as well. A few steps forward, a small turn and then to the side. The big hood still hid her face but I found it hard to breathe when I saw what she was swinging in her hand. A cane. I knew that cane, I saw it not so long ago, beside her bed. At the same time as I understood who she was, she turned against me. The coat hung open revealing a rather daring outfit, tight pants in high heeled boots, some kind of lace up top? A corset? Hard to tell, but it was demure, that’s my witch, she wouldn’t show off her assets to just anyone. Her silver hair was loose under the hood and fell gracefully over her chest. She was looking down at the floor so I didn’t see her face but I saw her, I couldn’t see anything else. I slowly began to breathe again and continued to watch her as she watched the floor, the patterned tiles that painted pictures. The cane in her hand started spinning and she looked a bit like a warrior, a ninja or someone from that movie my children made me watch…Assassin’s creed it was called...is that why she was here? To assassinate me? Was today the day? The day we would take our last breath together? Would the Gods allow us to be reunited in the Great heaven or would my Father prolong my punishment and send me to Hell to burn for an eternity without ever being able to feel my bond with her again? In that case, the devil would have a challenge to succeed in keeping me there. I would tear both him and every demon to pieces to climb out of the pit just to get closer to her.
I heard her sigh and mumble something so I concentrated to hear the words. “Ooo...I’m the vampire king, so important that I have to make my guests wait forever...if only he knew, I can drag him here without lifting a finger...” She was getting restless and irritated, my feisty little witch. I decided to reveal myself, at least halfway. “Hey beautiful, it’s quite a surprise to see you here.” She spun around to the sound of my voice, trying to locate where I was. The acoustics in the hall were quite special and my voice bounced off the walls and the high ceiling as I moved around the the balcony. “What are you doing here beautiful? Did you miss me?” She slowed her movements and concentrated so I picked up my pace every now and then.
“Ambrogio...are you sure you want to challenge me to this game? I’ve been training wolves for centuries.” She no longer sounded annoyed, rather playful and challenging. “I’ve been training vampires for just as long my love…”
“Okay, your loss, let’s do this.” She mumbled something and the room began to darken, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You know what I’m called huh? Father of the night...darkness is my friend beautiful.”
“Your darkness...not mine.” After she said that, the air in the hall changed. It was not only dark, it was also thick, as if a black cloth was placed over my eyes, I really couldn’t see anything, what a strange situation. Clever girl. I focused my other senses, my steps became lighter and my hearing sharper. I could feel her coat cleaving the air as she moved slowly, for now she stayed downstairs but she started to approached the stairs. I stayed in the shadows, the possibility was that she had just blinded me, that she herself still saw the bright hall. Despite her graceful movements, my ears picked up the soft sound her boots made, the sound of the heel was closer than the sound of the toes, so she had her back to me. She continued to swing her stick in a circular pattern, the sound reminding me of the moths’ wings on the roof of my tent long ago. I took a chance and left the shade, jumped onto the balcony railing and pushed myself against one of its posts. She didn’t react. God how I loved her, at this moment more than ever. Only she can come into my home, my castle and challenge me like this. I walked silently on the railing towards the next post as her coat revealed her movement. Whether she was blind like me or had full sight, I wanted to stay behind her. Her heartbeat increased, not much, a doctor with a stethoscope wouldn’t have been able to hear it, but I could. Was she scared? Nervous? Excited? Her heartbeats triggered me, was this how a cat felt when it chased a mouse? The thought came, I’ve never compared myself to a cat before but always admired their patience when they wait for the right opportunity. She was almost at the stairs now, maybe five more steps and then my chance would be lost. I jumped, she’d probably hear when I landed but I’d be there before she could register it, no matter how sharp her witch brain was.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and pressed her against me, her body perfectly shaped against mine. With my teeth I pulled off her hood and before she could draw a breath I kissed her silver clad temple and continued down her slender neck.
“My beloved witch…I have missed you so much.”