[Chapter 7] The Deep Throne

[Amalea]

Llangort’s slight rambling caught her attention. She listened carefully to what the man was saying. There was not denying he was correct that the answers they had been given thus far were riddles at best, but lemonade would have to be made from lemons. If she was a betting woman, she would have laid hers on the fact that Theodosia wasn’t likely to offer up any free information. Ironic given she seemed to want them to lean one way and it would be prudent to offer up a variety of reasons as to why they should do so. Still, she could understand how freedom was valued so highly that the woman didn’t offer other reasons; it was likely she had been down here since before the Holocaust to have survived through it.

Her eyebrow rose at the way the mysterious woman handled her rifle. While she agreed with the statement about keeping to specific questions, she wasn’t entirely sure that there was a need for firearms to be out at this point in the conversation. Her hope that this would remain a peaceful encounter; it seemed though that that might be wishful thinking. The red-head listened quietly as the woman ran though her list of potential questions. She, herself, was in a similar situation; so many questions that had to be narrowed down to just one. It was the reason she had let the others go first; there was hope that some of hers would be answered by their own. Alas, the answers only produced more questions than they answered.

She was intrigued by the woman’s wonderment at what their host planned to do once the rift was open. It was a concern, of course. It wouldn’t do to unleash a blood thirsty monster onto the city in return for the promised freedom; assuming that the promise was fulfilled. Such would only serve to fuel the unrest of the humans within the city which would likely lead to vampire hunts. That was not an acceptable outcome, nor was the eradication of the human population.

Theodosia’s answer was interesting and like her others, raised additional questions. Always one step forward and a half dozen back with this one, it seemed. Were all the creatures they encountered in the Labyrinth her creations? If so, would she one day take offense to the multitudes that hunted them daily in their quest to see what secrets the Labyrinth holds? She was more than a bit surprised by the statement that the present company would be able to reach her given she seemed to like her solitude. The idea that there were lessons to be learned or understood made her wary.

Amalea twitched as the blond thanked their host and spoke of learning from her. It was a simple statement but spoke of the woman’s motives given the offer that had been made. That was only confirmed by the woman’s next words. She sighed quietly as she considered her options for questions given she and Llangort were the only two who hadn’t asked theirs yet. Asking about the rift seemed to be pointless given the answers they had already been given. She was sure the woman thought they were complete, but they were of different times and cultures. It was also possible she was deliberately giving short replies in hopes they complied with her wishes.

The thought brought the tug of a smile to the red-head’s lips; she was nothing if not stubborn. She couldn’t have survived in Harper Rock so long if she wasn’t. Glancing around at the gathered, she smiled before turning her attention their host. Here went nothing. ”My lady, how is it that you came to be sequestered here alone save for your work, without any followers or childer for company?”

[Game Master]

The next question came from the mortal. In the time from which Theodosia had come, Amalea probably would have been slaughtered outright. A human who dared to take the power of the trayontes? And yet, it was this very concept which intrigued Theodosia. Mortals were not equal to her kind - did this mean the woman with the red hair was exceptionally strong or that she found herself in an era defined by weakness? Time would tell, she supposed.

The question was also easily the most personal, and there was a pause between the time when the words hit the air and when an answer was finally given. With the thoughts which poured into the minds of her key holders, so too came disorganized images.

“They came for me in my home and called me witch. From me, they took everything I built, that which I created with my own hands. To escape, I had to live as an animal. I, who once was amongst the greatest, was cast low and made to live in rags to survive. You cannot comprehend the loneliness I felt. I lived in the darkness to avoid the jealous demons who claim to work in service of the light. Eventually, I decided that my humility had reached its limit and I weighed myself down with stones to walk into the unending waters. I thought I might eventually slip off of the edge of the world.

Instead, I found myself in this land. There were those who feared and adored me, and this too incited the rage of the fae. Every time I turned one of my followers, they were destroyed without exception. I eventually moved north with my people to build a city. For forty years we built not only that city in the snow but also these catacombs in which you stand. Then one day, all of it was gone. All of my followers were dead, my city gone. And this became my home.”

[Ariadne]

Minutes stretched into days as question after question was asked of the bejeweled mummy on the throne. The stale air settled around the figures in the room as each of them appeared to struggle with their own decisions and questions. Each of them that is, except Freyja. Freyja was the least known to Ari, and her question had also seemed to hold the least amount of substance. All in all, the answers provided by the mummy had been extremely insufficient to assist Ari with the question at hand. Do they help the oldest living one of their kind? Do they leave her, rotting in this putrid tomb surrounded by the wealth of ages? Or, as a final resort and possibly their own end, do they try to kill her?

Ari had always been an observer. Anyone who knew her for any amount of time we knew that when she was quiet, she was thinking. Her modus operandi was to collect data, choose the best possible course of action from the data presented, and act upon it. Unfortunately, with the information given in this situation, there was no outcome that was clearly better than the others, though there were some that were quite obviously worse. Theodosia had given them riddles wrapped in vague answers and mystery. The mummy clearly had an outcome in mind. She knew what she wanted, and Ari had the distinct impression that she was willing to say almost anything to get to her final goal. Why Ari had taken the opportunity to ask the first question, the answer provided, and all following had not endowed any sense of confidence that the Ancient One was telling enough of the truth to inspire trust.

Freyja’s decision seemed… hasty. Hasty and dangerous. Ari shook her head and glanced over at Every and Amalea before attempting to find Llangort’s eyes as well. “I disagree, Freyja. It is concerning to me that you allow yourself to be wooed by what appear to be half truths and nonsense. We have been presented with nothing of substance. Theodosia could answer more questions of ours to help us decide, if she chose too. She is choosing not to in order to prevent us from understanding what it is that she truly seeks. Until she is able to provide more information, and by that I mean open discussion instead of these paltry games. I will decline my assistance.”

[Every]

She listened to the question that Amalea had, the answer that they received only furthering Every's question on what the queen's plans were. She didn't know much about the history of their kind, rumors at best. And even the rumors weren't of much knowledge or use in this situation. If anything, the answers they were getting brought more questions to the surface. However, as Theodosia had answered Freyja that they would be given the chance to speak to her in the future of more information, it didn't set Every's nerves aside.

"It's more concern to me that she's been here all this time and none of us even considered the possibility." She admitted, her arms folding in front of her chest. How was it sealed? How could they seal it? The shadow shifted slightly, as she considered it, and truthfully, how could they have remained there that long without anything catching their aura? "If she's strong enough to lure all of us down here, I doubt there isn't another plan set in stone to get her end goal."

There was also the fact that she could stop an appraisal without difficulty... her hazel eyes glanced to Amalea as she considered the heads up. "I believe our best bet will be to give her what she wants." The words were said with reluctance - the idea of someone else coming down there and potentially ******* them all over in the long run wasn't something Every liked. She then added telepathically, "If she's telling the truth, we can always use the potential information to get more significant answers and find a better way to fix mistakes. Chances are, if we don't, someone else will. And it won't turn out pretty. The cure, for example, turned out to be a real thing and now we have to deal with it. Maybe she could help us."

It was wishful thinking. Every knew that to the fullest extent, especially given the lack of answers. She didn't trust the elder in the least, but she'd rather have her to be considering them as an ally than enemy. "I don't know about y'all, but considering all of the effort that she put forth to bring us here, I'd get pretty pissed. I'd also keep quite a bit to myself." Her hazel eyes went to Llangort, Ariadne, Freyja and then Amalea. "Everything we've dealt with in Harper Rock to this point has always come back in a full circle. So it's really a question of when do we want to deal with the outcome."

She still wasn't happy about the masquerade being blown. That much was clear as she shifted her weight once more, nor the loss of the cure. At the end of the day, Every would always prefer to take the direct route of their problem. She'd already reasoned with herself that if they killed the queen, they would be unleashing one pissed off vampire that radiated darkness. Unless, by chance, with how far down they were into the ground, the shadow realm didn't reach this catacomb. "If she died down here, could she return?" And at the same thought, "Could we? Or are we as vulnerable as Lea?" The idea made her physically shiver before she ran her palms over her arms in an unconscious manner.

"One way or another, I believe she's going to get out."

[Freyja]

Turning to face the one that had addressed her directly, she offered the woman a smile, her hand lifting to push back through her golden hair. The stillness of the air this deep down made her scalp tingle. Perhaps it was something else, instead, that made her uneasy. She shrugged it off and gave a gentle shake of her head. “You say that as if I needed wooing to begin with. I sought my key fully intent on widening the rift. I’ve my own priorities, my own goals, just as you have yours. I didn’t come here needing persuading, as I am sure most of us have.”

She let one hand slip into the pocket of her jacket, the other looped lazily about her weapon, using the long rifle as a leaning prop. She arched one brow, and gave her back a slow stretch. “What concerns me is that, while our kind has made enemies of everyone around us, the vast host of humans and the vicious fae both out for our blood, their teeth bared and itching for our throats, and here we stand, some of us truly debating on making one of our own yet another enemy to add to our ever growing host of foes. Exactly how many fronts are we to eventually wage war on at once? I don’t begin to presume that this power will not come without a cost, but at the rate we have driven a wedge between ourselves and the other races of our world, to begin to dividing amongst ourselves now seems surely fatal. At some point, the noose we hang ourselves with will choke us harder than the sacrifices we are asked to make. Any edge that I can give my bite is surely welcome. Any distance that I can allow myself to move, to maneuver, to breathe, is welcome. I do not intend to lie down and die.”

She cut her eyes to Lea, then, as the one person that stood apart from the rest of them. Her spine had to be made of steel, to stand so bravely before something so ancient, demanding human blood. Freyja respected that. She offered her a smile. “The same might be of equal benefit to you. The way these two stand in front of you, like a shield, might suggest that they consider you a friend. It’s likely that, unaided, many of the friends that are like us that you might have could very well be driven from a normal life; from life at all. A source of your power, I could understand casting aside. Your friends, however? Your allies? That, I would struggle with understanding.”

She shrugged a shoulder, then. “Not that you need my understanding.”

She nodded to Every, then, glad to have her on her side. For whatever her reasons might be. She gave the woman a grin, and leaned against her rifle again. She had covered over the other face of the coin, the other half of why, she believed at least, it was an unwise decision to cross the ancient. She was thinking on her feet, as she always had, as Frey had always admired. Quietly, she looked to the others, to see what they might have to say, a sideways glance to their hostess, to see if she might have something to add, as well.

[Amalea]

Amalea found it interesting that the woman took her time in answering her question unlike the rapid responses that had been given to the others. More images accompanied the thoughts sent to them which was another twist in this never ending puzzle they had found themselves in. The red-head had no doubt that the story was mostly truths, but that there was pieces missing. Some of the phrases and words sent warning bells to her head. ‘The greatest’ told her that the woman before her thought vampires were superior to humans; that was a dangerous discovery both for herself and other humans. ‘Jealous demons’? Were those more humans, hunters maybe? Or were they the fae?

That she had walked the ocean in thought that she might slip off the world was intriguing. To undertake a feat that you felt would be your demise when there were other easier, and faster, ways to bring such around, spoke volumes. ‘Followers’ who were ‘destroyed without exception’ when she attempted to turn them really showed the depth of hate the Fae had for this woman. The red-head knew they hated vampires anyway, but they didn’t go around destroying people’s childer. That she was decidedly vague on how the city she had built disappeared was another red flag and point against the woman.

She had already known this one was not to be trusted and this answer just served to further cement her belief that all was not kosher in this situation. Now, she could easily think of another dozen questions to which she would have loved answers, but such was the game they were playing. And there was no doubt it was a game to their host, one she was sure their host figured she was winning. In a way, Theo was given they weren’t being given all the information that would allow them to make an educated decision. What they did have to work with wasn’t much and likely wasn’t even truthful.

In reality, all they really knew was that they could decline her offer and the rift remained as it was. Amalea didn’t even trust that the woman would open it just because they had given her blood. She was powerful enough to compel the five of them to come down here so why hadn’t Theo compelled a human down here to feed from earlier and open it without anyone’s knowledge? That would have been the easiest way to do it; unless the door couldn’t really be opened without all five keys. Which wouldn’t make sense for someone just hiding down here. Why lock yourself away in hopes others would release you? None of it made sense. Then again neither did the Admin’s insistence that the Sirens be stopped at all costs…nevermind how did they know about the keys? It certainly was not from seeing the door given the request to clear a path through the Labyrinth.

Eyes narrowed suspiciously at the woman seated on the throne. She had a fair bit in common with the Admin as they both really seemed to enjoy giving the barest amounts of information and making demands. Could she be the Admin herself? Or was she perhaps controlling the Admin? It be no different from some vampire controlling Bancroft. A pause in her thoughts came after that particular one. Could Theo be the mayor’s master? It was a bit unlikely given her state, but it was a thought worth exploring. Things weren’t always as they seemed.

An eyebrow raised as Ariadne took Freyja to task for her hasty decision. In reality, she suspected the blond’s mind had been made up long before she entered the chamber. Her question and reply had made it clear that power was her thing at whatever cost would be asked. That made her dangerous in reality. She nodded in agreement to Ari’s monologue as she made several excellent points. The Nordic woman’s reply only served to confirm her suspicions.

”It is a concern, I agree. But unsurprising no one has come across her or considered the possibility. There was no reason to suspect that there was anyone living in the depths below the city. We were all taught that the Holocaust wiped out all the vampires. It’s unlikely she was Cobb’s wife.”

Her nose twitched slightly as she telepathically added, Though, has anyone noticed just how similar her and the Administrator are? They both seem to love their demands with vague bits of information. Is it possible she is the Admin or controlling the Admin?

The red-head caught Every looking at her as she spoke of giving the mummy woman her desire. While she was fairly sure Ariadne and Every were safe bets, she took a half-step back, glancing at those gathered. It wouldn’t hurt to set things straight on the implication that some would have from that statement. ”Just so we’re clear, my blood isn’t up for use if that’s the end decision. No way, no how. “ She was prepared just in case; she hadn’t survived so long in the city by her looks, after all.

In truth, she really wasn’t keen on the idea of giving the tight-lipped woman what she wanted. There was too much at stake and not enough decent information to go on. I’m not convinced she’s telling the truth, she replied telepathically. It’s a huge risk that go very easily go pear-shaped. Longslade is the perfect example; people jumped without information and it was a disaster. We still don’t know anything about the cure, why it was developed and what the government planned to do with it. Do we want to find ourselves in a similar situation here?

”If I wanted someone to do something for me, after putting in that effort to get there here… I’d be ensuring they were given enough reasons to comply rather than play games with them,” she shook her head lightly as she glanced about. ”However, speaking of keeping things to oneself, it would be best if this adventure wasn’t spread beyond those you trust implicitly. No matter what decision is made, there will be detractors and they will be pissed. Best not to give them targets for that anger.”

How she managed to refrain from rolling her eyes at Freyja, she’d never know. ”The vast majority of humans wouldn’t likely give a **** about vampires if they weren’t provoked. Paladins would always be an issue, of course, but the lack of respect for the human race and thinking of them of just walking blood bags is in large part what brought the current issues.” She shook her head lightly in annoyance. ”Have you not noticed the war between your kind is already in progress? Even if it is not overly overt, it exists. The lack of communication and respect for others’ opinions is legendary. Fights seem to occur over the smallest things. The Admin doesn’t help things either, but the issue existed well before that.”

She met the blond’s gaze, not willing to be cowed by one who seemed to think they were superior just because they were a vampire. ”You preach of saving my allies and friends yet you freely admit you recognize there will be a cost for this action. A cost you seem to not have any care about if it gets you the power you so desperately crave. And what if that cost was to wipe out humanity? To wipe out my kind? Would you be so willing to sacrifice them for that power?” She paused to take a deep breath and reign in her temper at least slightly; it was simmering too much for it to be pulled back entirely. ”Yes, it may have some benefit for me. Yes, I call several vampires family, friends, and/or allies. However, the information is lacking to make any sort of educated decision. I would not risk wiping a species out just so another could have power.

Our host doesn’t exactly seem to have the best opinions of humans. Even if the cost of opening the rift spares humanity, I don’t think it’s likely that they will be safe from her. The red-head finished her monologue off with a telepathic addendum.

[Every]

"Your blood was never an option. I'd sacrifice my own thrall before letting you be hurt." She admitted quietly to Amalea. Her thrall was ill, but she was getting better. For now, at least. "Or I would lure one here." Her hazel eyes took in the door behind them once more as she considered it. "I'm still not one-hundred percent sure the government is behind the cure. It doesn't make any sense to me logically to how a shadow bleeding black blood can go back to bleeding."

As the other two spoke, her gaze remained on the queen as Amalea brought up the Administrator. There was a question lingering behind Every's lips as she felt her focus slip as she connected to the internet, to CrowNet. She ignored the others around her as her attention went to the message about the keys. Even as she didn't pay them any mind, her eyebrows creased together. Her lips fell into a thin line as she read over the words, her attention returning to the present. "I need you guys to clear the way..." She repeated out loud, her hand moving to where she kept her gun. "Oh, I don't like that..." She murmured to herself, "I don't like that at all." There were coincidences, but was this one? First, an appraisal was done on Bancroft - the acknowledgement of the thrall was overlooked quickly as her mind went to the owner.

It was something done regularly, especially the evening of the Christmas Ball. She had tried in the past to focus on the strengths and weaknesses, to try to learn something new. Instead, she focused on the aura - it'd always made her uneasy. Uneasy, but it had never given her a headache. Despite Amalea's warning, Every repeated her action on the vampires that sat upon the throne. Focusing, searching and comparing.

Powers: Technokinesis. Appraisal on Bancroft, Bancroft's owner and finally, Theodosia.

[Llangort (DELETED 6420)]

Quite clearly uncertain about what Every is doing, Llangort both figures some distraction is needed as well as remembering he had a voice.“I found mine a while ago, the key I mean. Far too much time to dwell on the issue of where it would lead me, so I spent some time mulling over what it is, that I value.” He shrugs. “To no avail really, all of the choices that I can figure here, lead me to risking much if not all that I value, and much of what those I, for want of a better term, care for... much that they value”. He paused. “But that's me. You've all? Been expressing what hopefully is some of what you each value, and it would have been good to have spent actual time conversing if not debating the merits of them with you all. But I ramble. And yet even before I ramble, weapons are readied some lines are speculatively if not firmly drawn...and yet I pondered further. There really is only one more fact that we might need from our hostess prior to our resolutions one way”, touching his head then his chest, “or the others” as he slips the not entirely well hidden shoulder slung automatic rifle from under his coat to a clearly neutral but more accessible position.

“Given that opening the rift further seems to be no small thing”, turning to Theodosia, “My question is this: How much, often, and soon do you need this human blood to open the rift how much further, how soon?”

[Game Master]

It seemed things were beginning to move. People were openly declaring their intentions. At least one had no interest in helping her, and others seemed interested in offering her blood.

Now was the time for choices to be put into action. Tension was building. Weapons had been drawn.

Who would make the first move?

When Theodosia was appraised in comparison to Bancroft's master, her aura was similar and yet clearly not the same.

"I require enough blood to move."

The response was brief, and to the point. It was frankly the only answer she had. The rest was up to the key holders.

[Every]

And there it was, something that concerned her, yet intrigued her. The aura signature. She waited long enough to focus on it so that she'd have the acknowledgement there before backing off, the splitting headache causing her to stop. Amalea wasn't kidding. She felt as if her head had been slammed back against a wall - again. Her hand lifted to pinch at the bridge of her nose, trying to pass the pain quicker before she answered her friend. When it finally passed, her gaze went to the queen and then to the others as she spoke amongst the 'victors.' "She isn't Bancroft's Master - the auras are different. Meaning we have two extremely powerful vampires in play, possibly even more if the Administrator isn't the owner. And given the fact none of us can track Bancroft's master nor the Administrator, I assume there's more than one." She knew a vampire could temporarily be bewitched to attack someone, but she didn't know how long term enchantments worked when it came to vampire on vampire action.

"And they both want to get this rift open. One of which implied they'd would be right behind us as we got these keys, as we were needed to 'clear a path' in their own words. She gave Amalea and I both a headache. Whoever owns Bancroft just makes me uneasy." Her eyes closed as she tried to consider everything, the choices that were to be made. The possibility of a fight to get to the end. She'd rather not cross blades with those she considered friends, she'd dealt with it enough. Her fingers tapped against her gun holster, her gaze turning to Llanglort first, "Honestly, until I'm pointing my weapon at something, I'm just fidgeting. I don't like standing still." Her hazel eyes returned to Theodosia, and then to the others. "Humans won't become extinct even if vampires try to push for it. As much as some don't want to admit it, we aren't the stronger race nor are we capable of surviving entirely without them. Animal blood is a thing, but not everyone prefers bambi and I can boost my blood, yes, but blood bags are still in supply. I can't feed off humans directly."

On a good day, she could still get her *** kicked by a human. She didn't have any issue admitting it. Every inclined her head lightly, "For example, even she needs human blood to open the rift. While neucratism - I hate it before anyone starts looking at me funny - is a choice, she still chooses human blood." The flickers of memories still haunted her, and she wasn't defending or contributing Theodosia, but she was looking at what they knew. "The rift opening would actually allow the Harper Rock population to stop being killed immediately. Logically, given how large the city its and the outlying towns, we're essentially trapped in a box. Toss in the human population, the blood thieves, paladin, and sorcerers. Not only do we have no room to proverbially stretch our legs, but it's expected for death to happen on all ends. Vampires just return."

Her hand moved from her holster to her chest where she rubbed over where her heart would be beating. She'd been stabbed there too many times to count. "Also, I'd like to point out I don't particularly support it opening nor it closing. I came here with an open mind of uncertainty." She still wanted more information, and perhaps that's where her desire still remained. But, the knowledge that there was more than one vampire hanging around that could stop them from appraising - one of which giving them headaches in turn - made her even more thoughtful of having an ally rather than one to consider them an enemy. "I knew what Freyja wanted, but I also know her to listen and prefer not getting herself killed for a stupid decision. She also would have just gotten the blood without allowing us to consider our options."