Chapter 41

February 2, 2002

Coralis was having lunch in the mezzanine of The Bloody Velvet, with Princess Veronica, Prince Hendrick and Eva.

"Something doesn't make sense. We all know King Matthew never got along with his brother Lucas, and we suspect Lucas of working with goblins. However, I don't get why the EBEE is asking me to inquire about the Vase of Crimson Sky, instead of investigating the potential of a war, like the CMMA is tasking Eva to do. If Lucas is after it, I should be helping you to keep it out of his hands, not just inquire about it."

"If you don't mind me asking, why would anyone care about that vase? I'm assuming it's not just some antic decor?" said Eva.

"If we're to believe what our father told us about it, it's a family heirloom. It creates born vampires and fortifies bloodlines. He didn't elaborate, but from my understanding, it allows us to procreate and is basically at the root of our bloodline," said Prince Hendrick.

Coralis and Eva looked at each other.

"I think you got snakes among the EBEE, who exactly wants you to just inquire about that vase? Did they tell you why?" said Eva.

"Andrew wouldn't tell me, he just said that's what the elders needed me to do. You call me right after I ended the hologram communication with him. Honestly, I don't trust any single one of them, neither does Andrew. I'll think of something to make them believe I'm doing what they asked me to do, but I'm planning on doing what I should be doing instead."

"I'm willing to bet that as soon as you report to them about that vase, they will recall you and send you somewhere else random," said Eva.

"I won't bet on it, because I think you're right. Either that, or they'll ask me to retrieve it and bring it to them, and I don't think they should put their hands on it. I have to leave soon for my flyball game in Dallas, but I'll be back right after. Eva, can I ask you for a favour while I'm in Dallas?"

"You don't even need to ask, just tell me what you need me to do."

"Can you please search the CMMA archives to see what information they have about the Vase of Crimson Sky? I'll give a call to my friend Gus while on my way there as well. I want to dig up everything that is believed to be known about it, to have a better idea if the EBEE merely believes that Lucas could be after it, or if some elders might want it for themselves."

Coralis finished her lunch and left for Dallas, where the American flyball team was based.

"You need to run from the EBEE," said Sebastian, when they were done with their practice before the game. "I'd tell you that I'm sure my dad could help you transfer to the CMMA, but I'm sure that any of our elders would gladly do so."

"It's not that simple. Remember, I'm still an apprentice with them. Technically, the only window I'll have to walk out on them is when my apprenticeship ends, and you know that they won't let me walk out. If I leave and they come after me… I can't have them do something to Frank to get to me. I don't think they still believe that I'm with Princess Veronica. If I want to go rogue on them, then I need to leave Frank and make sure they can't ever find him."

She felt her hologram vibrating in her cloak and reached for it. It was Gus. She looked around her.

"Give me a minute, I need to take this," she said as she walked away from everyone. "Hey Gus! Found something?"

"Definitely, and from what you're telling me, think I'll pass the words to your bros, to see what we can find out on the EBEE ends. I don't know why they asked you to inquire about it, but it doesn't smell good."

"I'm listening."

"It is a family heirloom, yes. According to lore, demons forged it to create King Matthew's bloodline, his ancestor… King Phileas. We know King Phileas wasn't the first vampire in history. He wanted to get closer to the gods and made a pact with some demons, but I couldn't find anything about the pact itself. From what I read, however, if you fill that vase with holy water and a vampire bathes in it for 30 minutes, not only he will then be able to impregnate someone, but the vase would also make him as strong as a god, making him a Vampire King. It's what allows his family line to walk under the sun. Lore said that if his firstborn dies first, then whoever is next in line has to bathe in it to continue the bloodline when the king dies."

"So, someone would want it to potentially disrupt King Matthew's bloodline and place someone else on the throne before his second-born could bathe in it."

"Indeed. If Prince Hendrick wanted to turn against his family, he could just kill his brother himself and bathe in it before anyone realized what happened. I think the EBEE has a different motive for it. Think they are working for Lucas?"

"Possibly. Something doesn't add up. The vase would have more use for a normal vampire to be able to challenge the king after getting a firstborn killed unless Lucas wants to be the one to continue the bloodline. Thanks, Gus, I owe you one."

She ended the hologram communication and walked back to her teammates.

"Please don't tell me you're going to break up with Frank over what you just found out," said Sebastian.

"I don't know yet what I'm going to do with him, I seriously need to think about it, but for now, I need to find out who wants to take out King Matthew's family."

The Northerners won their game against Seventh Sky, the American flyball team. As soon as the game was over, Coralis took off and reached out to Eva on her way back to Chicago. What Eva found out about the Vase of Crimson Sky matched what Gus had told her.

"Girl, you need to run from the EBEE, this is stinky as hell. You know that if it was up to High Mage Finnas, you'd be my official partner as CMMA agent."

"Sebastian said something like that earlier, but it's not that simple. I think I have a plan for the vase, but I need to run it by Prince Hendrick. If someone is after that vase, it also means that Prince Charlie is the target."

She landed behind The Bloody Velvet and reopened the portal she initiated earlier for Eva. Her partner walked through it, she closed it and they headed to the front entry.

It was a Saturday late evening, there was a line forming by the door. They walked directly to the bouncer, who recognized them and let them in without asking questions. Eva spotted Prince Hendrick by the bar and pointed in his direction. He was alone. Coralis went to his left, while Eva went to his right.

"Can we talk to you privately?" said Coralis.

"Ahh, I surely cannot refuse a meeting with my two favourite people of the moment. Let me get you a drink, and we'll head to my suite. Should I tell Veronica to join us?"

"The more the merrier," said Eva.

Princess Veronica was already in Prince Hendrick's suite when they got there. Coralis told her about what they found out regarding the Vase of Crimson Sky. The siblings looked at each other.

"We need to tell Charlie about this," said Prince Hendrick and returned his attention to Coralis and Eva, who sat on a couch across them. "And you don't think Lucas is after it?"

"No. I think Lucas is merely a distraction. Don't get me wrong, I do think there is effectively a war brewing, between Lucas' clan and your father, involving goblins, but I don't think Lucas is after that vase. He might be second-born, but he is blood related to your father, so it'd have little use to him, unless a woman is pulling his strings and wants children from him," said Coralis.

"My uncle is a man-slut," said Veronica. "That slimy vampire wouldn't even know what to do with a child. He does want the throne, but wouldn't need the vase for it. He could just have us all killed through war, then search the place to find it and bathe in it if he wants an heir later on."

"I have an idea," said Coralis, as she chugged the drink Prince Hendrick had just poured her. "Can you show it to me? I could then create a replica and spell it with a curse instead, like something that would make his blood boil and destroy all the vampires he ever created, or make them pass out, in case some of them happen to be your friends. I would then tell the EBEE about the whereabouts of the fake vase, while you hide the actual one elsewhere."

"Blue, I like you more every time you come. You're a genius. I'm aware that the rumour between you and my sister is dying out, but if you need, I'll happily start one about you and me, just to help you protect your beloved."

"Depending on what my next order will be, after I tell my elders about the vase, I might actually it."