"Like what?"

"Other vampires would be a suitable example." He told her his duty was hardly as simple as what they would soon face. "Normally Pyotr and I face opposition that, should we fail, would shake the foundations of this earth."

"Have you ever failed?"

He shook his head, "Aside from our folly with Constantine, no. Pyotr is an angel, might I remind you, and as such it is impossible for him to lose, or so I choose to believe."

Rachel continued to listen to him, but stopped when she saw a ma.s.sive collective darkened aura around an entire city block. "What is that?" she asked him while she pointed at the building.

Vladimir looked and told her it was a nightclub. "Do you think this is the place?"

Rachel shut her eyes, calmed herself, and when she reopened her eyes, her vision returned to normal. "If she's anywhere, I would say she's there." She looked at him and asked how they would get in.

"Normally Pyotr and I would walk in, find her, and kill her, no matter how many people were present," he told her. "However you are hardly fit for combat of any sort and as I am uncertain as to what sort of contingency Cipriana has planned, I also feel it is wise to take matters slowly and with tact." He looked at her vacant expression and simply told her he also needed her to point out which one of all of the individuals was actually her.

Vladimir looked about the building in an attempt to find a viable entrance. He focused momentarily, shut his eyes, and felt out how many people were in the building based off of his ability to sense blood. It was far from an easy feat though, as many of the individuals within the complex polluted their systems with drugs and liquors, which concealed those who were not completely intoxicated within the ma.s.ses at the club.

He managed to find a small opening on the roof and determined that it would be the best way into the building. "Rachel, am I correct in recalling that you possess a regenerative quality?"

"What?"

"Can you heal yourself if you are wounded?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

He said it was not important. "I simply want to ensure that you won't die if you are critically wounded if there is heavy opposition here."

She paled a bit and asked what his plan was.

"Basically we are going to infiltrate the building via the rooftop access point that will allow us to descend into the club through a stairwell which should also grant us a moment to search out Cipriana before she is apprised or aware of us," Vladimir told her. "The reason I asked about your regenerative skill is in case her back up is somehow more than what I am readily able to handle. In that event any damages you would incur would mean little and not hinder me too much more than killing whomever a.s.saulted you, all while allowing me to continue to watch for Cipriana without letting her slip away."

"Then I'm bait?"

"Hardly," he scoffed. "You are supposed to find our target, which I am relying on. So, until you locate her, I will devote myself to ensuring no one harms you."

"Thanks," she muttered.

He asked if she was ready and swept her up in a colony of bats which quickly landed on the rooftop. Vladimir led the way, asked her to ready herself with her ability, which she did, while he slowly opened the door.

No one lingered in the stairwell, but a raucous noise bombarded them along with a wave of heat and the odor of alcohol and sweat. Vladimir slipped inside, Rachel followed, and as they made their way into the party Rachel noticed a shade that made her sick. The aura she witnessed was in a color and shade Rachel never saw before and the sight of it caused her bowels to twist within her.

She stopped him and took a moment to compose herself. Rachel did away with her visionary ability and told him Cipriana was most likely at a table in the club on the main floor. Vladimir nodded and crept along in search of the individual Rachel described. The club was filled and Vladimir imagined that he could blend into the crowd to cover his approach toward Cipriana. He was concerned with the smokescreen, the spa.r.s.e lighting, the odor, and the strobe lights, all of which he felt hindered his progress.

He studied the group Rachel pointed out and tried to sort out who Cipriana was. A young Korean woman caught his eye and after a minute Vladimir felt comfortable enough to a.s.sume she was his target, based on what gestures he remembered of Cipriana's from centuries earlier. Vladimir paused for a moment to contemplate what he needed to do with Rachel, as he felt bringing her to the fight would create more risk than reward, yet he did not feel safe leaving her alone on the roof. He weighed the options and decided to have her return to the roof and wait for him there. "I will find you once this is over, but until then, please stay out of the building and should anyone access the roof, hide," he shouted to her through the boisterous music.

She did as he asked and as soon as she was out of sight he hurried down the staircase and into the body of the party in search of the woman. He believed he was well hidden until someone struck him in the back and five large men restrained him.

Vladimir cursed under his breath and heard the music in the room die right as he lashed out, broke free, and engaged the five men in quick combat which resulted in each person's death. Half a dozen others followed suit, but Vladimir soon realized that he was not only outnumbered, but Cipriana knew he had found her and fled. He engaged two more of the aggressors before he surmised that the entire club would combat him if he continued to waste time fighting and not flee. In a moment he transformed into a colony of bats and made an escape back to the rooftop.

He reemerged as a man at the final steps up to the roof, burst through the door, and found Cipriana with a handful of bodyguards who already subdued and capture Rachel.

The young Korean woman looked at Vladimir and commented at how lively he looked. "It must be such a blessing to never have to worry about how you look, or aging, or even dying," she began.

Vladimir let out a strained breath and told her to release Rachel. "Your time is up Cipriana and you"

"I'm not sure who she is," Cipriana interrupted, "But apparently she's with you and that means she's leverage."

"She can hardly be considered as such," Vladimir told her shortly. "For starters I am only with her because Pyotr has justified adding her to our small band of heroes. And besides," he smirked, "She can regenerate, so nothing you do to her would matter."

Cipriana retrieved a small bronze dagger from her purse, tossed it to one of the men who restrained Rachel, and told him to slit her throat. He did as she commanded, Rachel screamed, bled out, died, and revived intact. The Korean woman smiled and told Vladimir she could continue torturing her forever. "Your friend might not die, but she still feels pain and with enough force I'd imagine even her regenerative properties wouldn't spare her from madness."

Vladimir let out a breath and told Cipriana that she misunderstood their entire situation. "This is not a time for bartering. Rachel may need to endure some level of pain while I slay you, but everything boils down to your end."

Cipriana reminded Vladimir that she could always reincarnate herself and vanish forever. "But next time I'll be the one to hunt you down and I'll plunge a wooden stake through your heart."

Vladimir frowned and asked where his old friend had gone. "You were once a beautiful young woman who I was honored to know. I only wish you were still that same"

"Save your nostalgia Vladimir," she spat. "You betrayed us too, if I recall."

"And that was a mistake," he muttered, "One I would never repeat."

"How n.o.ble," Cipriana sneered. "But after Daniel died and we all wanted to find Constantine, some for reasons other than revenge I'll admit, you were the first to turn on our friends."

"That is enough!" Vladimir barked. "I will not have my sins recalled by the very cretin I have come to slay."

Cipriana smiled, "That's fine, but you will not rescue the girl."

The door to the stairwell burst open and dozens of the partygoers poured out and seized Vladimir. He fought as best as he could but was unable to resist the forces that pulled him back into the nightclub.

Yet just as Vladimir lost sight of Rachel and Cipriana, a ray of light pierced the night sky and Pyotr swiftly landed on the rooftop next to Rachel. He told her to worry no more and proceeded to snap his fingers. All of Cipriana's henchmen and the people who held Vladimir vanished in an instant. Cipriana's bronze dagger fell and Pyotr caught it in his left hand, crushed it into splinters, and wiped his hands clean afterwards.

Pyotr gave Rachel a rea.s.suring smile and asked if she was alright.

Rachel nodded and asked, "What happened to all of them?"

He chuckled and told her he separated all of the elements and subatomic particles that constructed each person and scattered the matter into the vastness of the universe. "Now," he turned to face Cipriana, "Where is Constantine? You are one of the few who has contact with him and as such I require whatever information you have on him."

"I'm not saying a thing," she spat while she backed toward the edge of the building. "You won't find him."

Pyotr folded his arms across his chest and told her it was over. "You cannot escape me Cipriana. You know this."

"Watch me," she sneered as she jumped over the ledge of the building.

Pyotr stretched his hand out toward her and lifted her back above the roof without moving from where he stood. She remained suspended in the air while Vladimir climbed back up the staircase and regrouped with Pyotr and Rachel.

"I am weary of all this," Pyotr said as he approached Cipriana. "You are going to tell me what I need to know about Constantine."

"I don't have"

He silenced her and told her he was aware of her agency. "I doubt you realize this now, but you have utilized your agency for evil measures, and as such I personally believe you no longer have that right to retain your secrets." His eyes flashed for a brief second before he let out a breath and said she knew nothing. "The last time she had contact with Constantine was over twenty years ago. In fact," he smirked, "She's been just as eager as we have been to find him for herself. Now," he paused for a moment to retrieve his blade from out of a single ray of light and proceeded to take Cipriana by the neck and recited her crimes, "You have robbed many good souls of their opportunities to come to this earth, you are responsible for murder in multiple accounts, including quite a few suicides on your own part, dissention, deceit, and a dozen other abominations I would rather not list off." He slid his blade through her chest at which point a white light collected around her, ama.s.sed into Pyotr's sword, and ended when he tore his weapon from her and allowed her corpse to drop over the edge of the building. He took a moment to incinerate her remains before he released a breath and told his friends their work was done.

Rachel blinked and discovered she and her allies were miles away, standing in the park near her home "Why are we here now?"

"I felt this was a much better place to have a chat after our battle," Pyotr told her. "And it was about to rain again in Seattle, so I opted to find a dryer area."

"And we both thank you for that Pyotr," Vladimir mumbled. "But need I remind you that we did not gain anything from her? We still have no idea where Constantine is."

Pyotr agreed. "It is quite a shame, though one part of our overall goal is finished, which still puts us one step closer than we were before. So we do have something to be grateful for."

Vladimir rolled his eyes and muttered his sentiments under his breath. "This was an utter waste."

"How so?" Pyotr asked him. "Rachel has unlocked one of her dormant abilities, we have finally destroyed Cipriana, and I know I can trust and charge you two with further tasks when they arrive."

"This has been a senseless exercise to keep us busy, even though you were more than capable of handling matters on your own," he snapped.

"Yet I chose to leave it in your hands," Pyotr told him. "Had I not had a moment to spare I would have left the task of killing Cipriana and saving Rachel to you, which I know you would have accomplished."

"I do not see the logic in p.a.w.ning what you can do off onto the two of us if it would be simpler and swifter had you handled matter yourself."

"I would if I was able to"

"You obviously were," Vladimir cut him off, "Otherwise you would not have arrived at the last second."

"I do not see why you are irritated Vladimir." Pyotr examined him and asked whether he wanted to kill Cipriana, or if he was still bothered by his requirement of taking Rachel along with him. "You couldn't have completed this or even located her had Rachel not played her part."

"Yes, but what are these parts to begin with?" he asked embittered. "You mention these roles we all have within this tapestry, yet you are the only person who can understand it all and you hide it so coyly that I have begun to believe you are s.a.d.i.s.tic and simply enjoy watching us writhe as we face this mystery on our own."

Pyotr c.o.c.ked his head sideways and asked who he spoke for. "From what I understand Rachel completed her part and ceased her complaints as soon as she was aware of her newfound skill. In fact," he turned to her and asked whether she found their adventures bothersome.

She wanted to stay out of their argument, but admitted that the obscurity behind it was annoying. "You both know so much more than I do and I think it would help me understand who we're trying to stop as well as why we need to do what we're doing. Vladimir told me a bit about Cipriana's past but not about everyone. Like Daniel, for instance, Cipriana mentioned something about Daniel. Who was he?"

Pyotr lowered his head and apologized for their secrecy. He walked over to a bench and had Rachel join him. "Daniel was one of our friends. We were a group of twelve in all, Vladimir, Constantine, Raphael, Cecil, Cipriana, Joshua, Jacqueline, Madison, Serenity, Daniel, Kirsten, and myself. We all met in eighteen-thirty-four and attended the same school and later the same university. Over time some of our members grew close to one another, as did Daniel and Kirsten, and in eighteen-forty-two Daniel proposed to Kirsten. She accepted and they began to plan for their wedding which they aimed to have in the following year. However all the while Constantine was going through his metamorphosis into the murderer, the abomination he is now. The transformation caused a great anger and loathing from within him and one day he lashed out and hurt Kirsten. Daniel stepped forward and defended her and wounded Constantine, who then fled. Shortly thereafter he returned in the shadow of night and killed Daniel. It wasn't long afterwards that we learned of Constantine's immortality and his thirst for bloodshed and power, at which point we began to look into immortality and power to combat his."

Rachel frowned, "So Daniel's murder is what you two want to avenge?"

Pyotr agreed but said she only understood a part of why they sought Constantine. "Not only has he murdered our loved ones, but he has put a great evil on this earth, one both Vladimir and I feel guilty about."

"But it wasn't your fault."

"That is true, but we were his friends Rachel, and friends are supposed to care for and tend to one another. And I fear that if we did not pursue him he may be left unchecked and could very well bring utter destruction and sorrow upon humanity." Pyotr then cracked a smile and added, "Though I doubt the Lord would allow such a thing if we were not involved."

"What do you mean?"

"He means that another would rise up to vanquish him," Vladimir interjected. "Something I am not wholly convinced would occur. But what I am interested to learn is how Constantine can evade the host of heaven for so many decades."

Pyotr's countenance grew solemn as he told his Romanian friend that heaven was a very busy place. "And I regret to add that Constantine and his followers have found a way, and enchantment, that keeps them hidden even from the heavenly host."

"How is that possible?" Rachel asked.

Pyotr told her there were many things in the world she did not know of. "Only until recently did you believe that the supernatural was nothing more than stories. There are many dark and evil things that allow anything from calling upon demons to everlasting life. And our foe has discovered something to remain veiled from us, unless we can locate them in a more rudimentary manner."

"Namely through detective work," Vladimir sighed. "I do not like your secrets Pyotr and I would like to expect you to be more forthright in your part in our cause."

Pyotr dropped his arms to his sides and shortly told his comrade that he was finished with the interrogation. "Your accusations wear on my patience and as things stand now you are in no position to berate me for withholding information. I learn what I can and tend to matters beyond your comprehension on an infinitely small frame of time and you, Vladimir, are upset because I do not have the answers you seek. I am sorry that I have not become omniscient but I am trying my best. This is not a high priority among all of my otherworldly obligations and I would go so far as to state that aside from myself, none of the other angels are concerned about Constantine. They know that in the end he will be defeated and to them it does not matter by whom." He locked eyes with his friend and reminded him that they were the last of their old friends and as such he did not want any disputation to drive them apart. "I will speak with you in regards to any further development when they arrive and after you have calmed yourself. Until then, let me thank you both for your continued a.s.sistance and faith in the matter."

A beam of light surrounded him and he disappeared within it. Rachel waited for her vision to return to normal and found Vladimir with his arms crossed and heading out of the park. Rachel ran to catch up with him and asked why he was still irritated.

"You have only been a part of this for a small fraction of time Rachel," he hissed. "I am tired of this journey and have no other desire than to bring about its end. Now, forgive me for my irritation, but I must go."

He continued to walk away from her as a colony of bats surrounded him and transported him away. Rachel stood out in the cold just as a light rain began to fall. She cursed under her breath as she started back home.

Chapter 26.

September 29th, 2029 12:03 AM.

Baltimore, Maryland A light mist covered Baltimore while Mia and Bryce waited inside her apartment. Bryce examined all of the material she gathered and posted all across her apartment while Mia sat on her couch and waited for Twelve to return.

"How long have you known him for?" she asked.

Bryce shrugged, "A few weeks. How about you?"

Mia said she'd known him since the twelfth of the month. "You didn't know that I knew him, did you?"

"No."

Mia frowned and asked, "Then why do you think he never mentioned either of us to each other?"

Bryce simply reminded her that Twelve was an odd person to begin with. "Do you know who he really is?"

She shook her head and asked if he knew.

He sighed and admitted that he was in the dark as well.

They both listened to the transmission the kidnappers aired, their battle against Cladis, the sudden turn of events that led to some indescribable change in the quarrel, and the end of the broadcast. Strangely though, the transmission simply repeated itself after the broadcast seemed to end instead of releasing the wireless communication channels. Bryce asked Mia if she thought the group was victorious, but she only guessed they lost from the sound of things.

A lone crow rapped at her window until Mia opened it and let the bird in. Twelve emerged from the form of the bird and regrettably informed them of the loss. "James Resnik is dead, along with two others from that group," he reported.

"We heard," Bryce told him. "Were you there?"