A Failed Promise

When she stepped outside the cathedral, Irene breathed a sigh of relief. The funeral was over, and thankfully the bats hadn't attempted to carry out any of their vile plots. It was uneventful, and that was good.

"Are you alright?" Ivy's low voice sounded. Irene nodded. "Yeah, I was really stressed out though." The sombre, heavy air inside made her want to curl up in a ball. The whole time, she was reminded of nothing but her failure to protect her people. As the Matriarch, she had failed, and it stung.

"It's over now." Ivy sighed. "What's the plan now?" She asked after a while. Irene bit her lip. "They got the blood from somewhere. And it had to be accursed blood, or it wouldn't have been able to harm Ava." She muttered as she walked down the steps leading to the plaza. Ivy followed her, and they headed back home.

"Yes." Her sister nodded. "So, the vial the thief stole was switched. The bats still have it. Perhaps it's best to ignore the chalice in the cathedral for now, Irene. You wouldn't want to incur the wrath of the Sorcerer, not right after a pureblood died."

Irene shook her head. "I'm done waiting, Ivy. I don't care what the sorcerer says, that blood is a threat only to our kind. He has no right to protect it. He is enabling these murders by doing so."

Ivy pressed her palm against her forehead. "But it's not that blood that's being used, is it?" She asked. "The Sorcerer would know if it was."

Irene shrugged. "Perhaps he simply didn't inform me of it."

"That's ridiculous. You don't give him enough credit for what he has done for you. He is not evil, and his goal isn't to undermine your authority."

"I don't care what his goal is!" Irene snarled. "All accursed blood within these city walls must be destroyed. I will make sure not a single drop of it remains. The thief will first steal the blood in the cathedral, and once we figure out who the killer is, he will take the blood from them."

She glared at Ivy, expecting a response. The other woman fiddled with her hair as she pondered. "I'll be honest," She finally spoke. "I don't think the human is going to leave that cathedral alive. The Sorcerer isn't stupid. He will be protecting the blood, both in person, and with his powers."

"You think of him too highly." Irene clenched her fists. "The Sorcerer is nothing but a power hungry zealot blinded by the Old Gods."

"You think of him too lowly," Ivy retorted. "His mind is elevated, and even mom didn't know the full extent of the powers granted to him. He has been alive for centuries, he is wise, and he is smart." She folded her arms. "He doesn't hold ultimate power over the city for no reason, Irene. Reconsider, please."

Irene pursed her lips. "No." She finally said as they reached the mansion. She pushed the door open and stepped inside. "He has lived for long, yes. But his mind is only that of a mortal. No matter how 'elevated' it may be, time takes its toll on mortal minds. And several centuries is a lot of time to dull the mind." She looked away. "Thief!" She shouted, making it clear she wouldn't change her mind.

A few seconds passed in silence as she furrowed her brows. "Thief!" She shouted again.

"He's probably scouting." Ivy said as she took off her shoes and undid her braid.

Irene gritted her teeth. "Or he thought this was a good chance to make a run for it. Sebastian!" She shouted, and a wolf dog came running from upstairs. "Fetch the thief and bring him here. Don't rough him up too much though, he needs to be able to do his work."

The wolfdog dashed out the door and vaulted over the two meter high wall surrounding the mansion with ease.

"I still think he's just scouting." Ivy muttered. "And I think you need a good night's sleep before making any more decisions." She placed her hands on Irene's shoulders. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

"No, and I'm not a child, Ivy." Irene tried to shake off her sister's grasp, but Ivy's hands remined in their place. "A bath. Now." She repeated and pushed Irene towards the stairs. As much as she felt annoyed by her behaviour, the thought of a relaxing, warm bath overcame the annoyance, and Irene soon relented. "Fine, a bath. I'm not going to sleep though."

"Deal." Irene grinned.

The sky was only a slit between the tall buildings. They were crooked, leaning towards each other, almost as if they wanted to block the sky and bury him in this dark, narrow alleyway.

As much as he wanted to get up, his body felt weak and numb. He couldn't move, he simply didn't have the strength for it. He wondered for a moment, had he broken his spine? Was he paralyzed? But then he wouldn't be able to feel the faint pain on his left leg, would he?

Clouds had covered up the city like a blanket. A cold and wet blanket. It would be unfortunate if it began to rain, he thought to himself as water dropped on his face. It took him a moment to realise that it was already raining.

He listened to the strangely calming sound of the raindrops hitting the tiled roofs. It was getting cold, though he could barely feel it over the numbness. Perhaps it was for the best.

Another sound reached his ears over the calming sound of the rain. Footsteps echoed in the alleyway, and he heard voices whispering among each other.

"…wounded. Look!

"…we should take him…"

He couldn't follow the words spoken. Why had the world begun to spin?

Odd, he though before he passed out.