"There's no need to be pissy,” I spat out but quickly bit my tongue. He was baiting me. “I need you to
answer some questions."
"You attacked me, blew half my head off, and bit me,” Vlad said, gesturing to his head, “and now you expect me to help you?"
I nodded. “Yeah that sounds about right." He smiled politely. “What's in it for me?" "If you cooperate, it will reflect well when your case is judged by the Tribunal,” I answered. He raised an eyebrow. “And how can you claim that, little Vampire?" Little Vampire?“I am a Seeker,” I replied.
"Don't Seekers usually use the door,” he pointed toward the ceiling, “instead of climbing around in the ductwork?"
He had me there. I had lost my only bargaining chip. Pausing, I had to rethink my tactics. “A lot of Vampires are dead. I need your help."
"Actually,” Vlad said smugly, “I thoughtall Vampires were dead." "You know damned well that's not what I meant.” I ran my hand over my face in frustration. He was just being a jackass. “Vampires are being killed." Vlad started to turn away. “Why should I care?" "Because they wereyour Vampires,” I said, stepping closer to the glass. I wasn't sure this would work. Vampires like Vlad often had no sympathy for anyone but themselves. “They were your brood. There is something strange happening at Brimstone. I need to find out what." Vlad paused.
I waited, but decided to push ahead. “Why did you abandon them?" "I don't have to tell you anything,” he said, shaking his head. "They said you would protect them,” I pressed, “but you abandoned them. What were they doing to you?"
Vlad remained silent.
I was tired of pushing a little bit. It was time to kick down the wall. “You left them to die!" "I would have died, too!” Vlad turned, slamming his fists against the glass. A buzz like a hive of angry wasps pushed him back from the barrier. Staring at me with his coal black eyes, I saw a trickle of blood run down his nose. The security measures had done their job. Daubing the blood with his fingertips, he slowly took a step away from the glass and composed himself. “We're done here. I have nothing more to say. I will only speak to my Chithula representative."
The Brimstone Betrayal
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