A TENSE NEGOTIATION

Rebecca Hudgens, an elite vampire-class player, is on the 12th floor of the Intermediate Stage. She chased an elite orc spy of the Necromancer she caught exchanging information with a dark elf player she killed right on the spot.

These damned beasts the orcs ride are so fast. Good thing I got hyperspeed as a passive ability, and I can transform into a swift black hawk. I need to close the distance fast, or the orc will escape. Who knows what secrets the orc managed to obtain about the Vampire Guild. If the worst comes to worst, I'll have to detain him, and have him kept under surveillance.

Rebecca turned into a swift hawk, and gave chase to Inuk the Clever in a wild, breath-taking chase up and down the floors of the Intermediate Stage until she finally cornered Inuk, who stopped to rest in an inn on the 3rd floor of the Intermediate Stage.

"Inuk, give it up. I caught you red-handed. Hand those secret files over back to the Vampire Guild. Give them to me, and nothing will happen to you. you what might happen to you if you refuse."

Rebecca approached Inuk, swilling a wine-glass filled with chilled, fine red wine, took a sip, and sat down next to Inuk.

" Rebecca Hudgens, you want those files back? Why should I help you?"

The half-human orc turned to study Rebecca, drinking a huge shot of strong, black beer from a tankard.

Rebecca wanted nothing more than to take the tankard of beer from Inuk's hands, splash the beer on Inuk's expensive looking chainmail, and slam the tankard into Inuk's face to wipe out the damned half-orc's sly grin.

But she dared not. She knew Inuk was around when Celeste schemed to have her tied up in the territory of the werewolves, way back when the Werewolves Guild and the Vampires Guild were still at war. She needed the information Inuk knew. Inuk has been in the game a bit longer than Rebecca.

" I know you used to be close friends with Celeste and her little group of traitorous plotters. Most of those plotters met their ends at the hands of my friends and allies, but it was me who caused their deaths to happen. There are still about two or three traitorous vampires left, the most dangerous of their little band of schemers. Perhaps I could find a way to whisper your name to those three traitors, sit back, and watch the three of you eliminate each other. "

Rebecca smiled a feral smile at Inuk, baring her sharp, wicked looking fangs.

" I had nothing to do with that mad and dangerous plot to have you tied up and alone, in the territory of the werewolves at midnight. I told Celeste as much back then. Why would I want to harm a new and naive vampire player, a complete stranger who couldn't even go toe to toe with me in a fight, Rebecca?"

" So you say, Inuk. I'm not impressed. I've seen you in gatherings together with those traitorous vampires before. And you sent a lot of players to their deaths, the same as me. We're no different."

"What are you trying to say, Rebecca?"

"What would the Guild Leader of the Necromancer Guild do if a certain elite half-orc player got caught trading the secrets of the Necromancer Guild to the Assassins Guild? I know your secrets, Inuk.Would you like it if they got leaked to the wrong ears? I know where you live in Norway. It would be a shame if your brother met with an unfortunate accident."

"Are you threatening me? One swipe from my sword and you'll be just another corpse."

Inuk's eyes narrowed at Rebecca. His mouth frowned with suspicion.

"What if I am? You're welcome to try and take my head off my shoulders, if you can, with that fancy magic blade of yours. I see you're someone who is formidable and hard to scare, Inuk. But I can be formidable and ruthless as well. Stand in my way with your lies, and obstruct my path, and I will push and shove you down some place even your precious dead girlfriend will never find. But work with me, and you won't find me to be ungrateful. “I'll pay you even more than that paltry wage the Guild Leader pays you for spying on the guilds associated with the Minority Faction. That's what I'm offering to you, Inuk. Don't cast it away, heedlessly. Sleep on it if you must, but know that you have only a few days to accept or reject. Have a good day. "

Rebecca drained the rest of her wine in one long gulp, then tossed the wineglass aside, and paid the inkeep triple for the broken glass, then went outside the inn. She shapeshifted into a swift black hawk, and flew back to the virtual main Headquarters of the Vampire Guild.

What I said earlier should scare the shit out of Inuk, then make him turn around, and realize that he'll have a better life working with me as a double agent, than work for that stingy and unpredictable Necromancer. Inuk should be grateful I didn't kill him. I had nothing against Inuk in the first place. All I needed from him was the current information and whereabouts of the remaining three vampires who almost caused me to die in the territory of the werewolves, I never forgive, and I never forget. Their time to get eliminated shall come, one way or another.

That damned vampire! Does she think she can just casually walk up to me, and threaten me, when all she wanted from me all along is a few juicy bits of information to aid her plan of revenge? I'll play along with her, for now. I don't like being made to dance to her tune like a puppet. I should have pulled out my sword, and snicked off her head after she killed that dark elf, just like what she dared me to do a moment earlier.

Inuk banged his fist against the table, rose from his chair in wrath, coldly shouldered past players who happened to bump into him, walked out of the inn, and slammed the door so loudly, causing the other players at the inn to look at Inuk, and wonder what was the cause of the commotion.