Underworld - Book 8 - Chapter 38

Lilith and Hadassah weren’t the only Matriarchs that met us at the transportation array. The crowd wasn’t a large one, but three of her closest allies were there as well as Lord Mystarius and Lord Zacarro. I expected the succubi to exchange gifts and have a drawn-out farewell ceremony, but it was just the opposite. Each of the Matriarchs kissed Nava and Aeris on the forehead, then proceeded to give me uncomfortable smooches on the cheek.

It was the vampire lord of the Zacarro family that gave the only gift. “It vexes me that you were attacked while under my roof. Here’s a list of vampire family names that may sympathize with our cause. Tread carefully. There’s no guarantee they will receive you if the political climate is off.”

“Thank you,” I said, bowing my head to the appropriate depth. I was in my vampire form with my Obsidian Skeleton Armor covering me.

“Take this token. It is given to merchants of high standing and should earn you substantial discounts in the right context. It is also of a general nature so its origin can’t be traced.”

It was Lord Mystarius that gave the final address. “Your journey has two purposes. You are to seek allies and advance your levels. The attention of our enemies will be focused here, but it will extend beyond. The news of the succubi’s proclamation is still raw, and the first battle has yet to be had. You are going into enemy territory. It is unexpected, which should give you a measure of safety, but do not underestimate our enemy. Elorion has experience where you are going, and you have the wisdom of Master Shamash. Make use of everything you have.

“Once the first open battle begins, I suspect there will be no end to the conflict until one side is victorious. When you return, come prepared for the worst. If you can reach a sufficient level, your return might make all the difference.”

I believe he meant what he was saying, but there was an underlying untruth. Something that was going unsaid. I didn’t need Lilith’s last reminder to protect Nava to realize what that something was.

If we could gain allies and grow powerful enough, they’d happily receive us when we returned, but this was Lilith’s own daughter she was sending away. All the talk about us being generals during the war was a taunt at best. Maybe it was even to motivate Nava, Aeris and me. I suspected that Lilith didn’t believe we would return. Not soon enough to make a difference. And not with our power fully realized to be of any help. She was a mother sending her daughter off during war under false pretense so that she wouldn’t complain.

Their low expectations would work to our benefit. When we returned, it wouldn’t be at the head of an army loyal to the succubi, they’d be loyal to me. I wasn’t sure how I’d pull it off, but I’d seen a glimmer of hope when Alexandria, Jale Tir’s aunt, petitioned me by saying, “Today’s matters are settled. In the day that you come into power, please remember our willing friendship.”

The crux of the matter was evident. Power was potential, and I needed as much of it as I could get.

Why so many powerful players had come together to wish us off was because of where they were sending us. Five Succubi Matriarch and two Vampire Lords shared in the mana cost. Portaling already was pricy, but this was an extreme. Nava and Aeris and joined with me in their shadow and wisp forms. Elder Erryl watched resolutely with his surviving family behind him. Seeing the red glow in their eyes, I knew they’d already used the potions that would hide them being Beastfeeders for a time.

It was baffling that the hurricane of mana followed the given path of the array formation, but when the portal formed, it was just as stable as any I’d ever seen.

A human light mage, wind sprite, succubus princess, lich, and a whole family of beast-feeder vampires stepped through the portal. A party of traveling vampires with a Trueblood at their lead stepped out. This place was familiar to me. The last time I’d been here, I’d watched Alexandria Tir fly off to face Ogaan Gul. I’d left Jale and Sai in the cleft of the rock.

The reason this location was chosen was because it bypassed every vampire gates. It was also neutral vampire territory. This specific location was a high traffic portal area due to there being a constant demand to leave the city quickly and in relative secrecy. Of course, any truly powerful entities would be able to sense such portals. It was exactly that reason that made it the perfect location for their arrival.

It had only been a few months since he’d been here. His time among the occupants and in the arena had opened his eyes to the complexities of the world of vampires. There were good among the bad.

“This is it?” Aeris asked through mind-speak.

“Yes,” I replied. “Welcome to Hallow.”

She whistled. “It’s like the Underworld version of Las Vegas.”

“You can definitely say that.” It was a pretty apt description. From our vantage on the outskirts, the city had a backdrop of darkness, but there was plenty of light of varying colors even if they were designed to appease vampire sensitivities to the light spectrum.

“It is likely that the Tir Family had to leave the city after Ogaan’s death,” Shamash reminded me. “Our first goal must be to glean what happened after our departure. Let’s find a place for our base of operations then we’ll go from there.”

“Understood.”

With a glance at the Erryl Family Elder, he nodded that he was ready. And so, we began our descent.

---

The end of book 8.