The woman appeared anxious. She kept glancing at her watch as if it could make time go faster.
She felt vulnerable and it was a feeling she hadn't experienced for decades.
She felt naked among enemies.
She was away from her base of power and almost at the mercy of the one she had been waiting for.
Deep down she knew that he would try to be late, not much, just some minutes to make her feel inferior.
It is pure strategy when you are cutting a deal with more to gain than the other.
She had used that strategy many times in her favor.
But this time it was different.
She had betrayed, and her former companions didn't forgive that easily.
She had only hours before she would become one of the most wanted persons ever to exist.
But she had made up her mind, she had no place among those other monsters, she had liked it to be one for many centuries but after many years she had something to lose, something more precious than her own life.
If betrayal was the price she had to pay in order to be free, then betrayal it would be.
Everything happened so fast after all and she barely had time to think over her next move.
For almost five centuries she hated and fought, wherever she could, the same people she was now waiting for.
She had taken stabs from both their side and hers but this fact only made her more focused to the higher purpose, the destruction of her enemies.
''Not this time, this low hit was the last I could stand, now its time for my move and I'll be damned if I make the wrong decision, again'' she thought to herself many times over the last few days.
She had survived wars, many wars to be honest.
She had survived torture and betrayal from her own family.
She had escaped certain death more times than she could count and all that for the great purpose she was serving.
And for what?
What had she asked in return?
To be left alone, her personal war was over anyway.She just needed to rest, to recuperate.
And what did they give her?
Another stab in the back.
The war was over for her even if both her enemies and her allies, had she any of them left, didn't want that.
''So be it, I have only one life to lose but with me two more lives will be lost and both are sacred to me''.
Her first plan was to escape to a city in South America, where the Night War was absent and most of the cities were neutral ground, but she knew her enemies would find her and bring war there as well.
Another option would be to go to some high ranking official of her enemies and ask for sanctuary but she was sure that they would keep her only for as long as she would be useful and then kill her or even worse send her back to her former allies.
Asia was always an option, where her kind was in few numbers and she could easily hide among them but the natives there were even fiercer enemies of her kind.
Desperate as she was she turned to one of her major enemies, the prince of a nearby town.
She had a talk with a man representing the prince and made it clear that she would provide vital information in return for sanctuary and a new name.
She would no longer be the woman she used to be. Her war was over after all.
The prince's representative showed interest and soon arranged another meeting with the prince himself, this time on neutral ground.
And there she was, already waiting for 4 minutes.
She had met Prince James a couple of times before but this time it was different, she was not a princess -or archbishop as was the title- and he was the prince of an enemy city, from whom she was going to ask a favor.
Finally, out of nowhere, two men appeared.
One of them was of regular height and build, dressed in a fine suit, while the other was a tall, thin man dressed in an English naval officer suit.
-Princess Yvet, said the officer, I present to you Prince James of Thessaloniki.
-I am honored, though I am not a princess anymore.
-You will always be one, said the other man with a gentle, noble voice. You have earned that title and with that you have earned my respect throughout these years of war.
-You honor me your majesty! You yourself were a worthy opponent. I hope you've considered my proposal...
-I did! In many ways.
-And your decision?
-If I grant you sanctuary, my city will become the epicenter of your enemies' attacks but that doesn't bother me cause, even now, your enemies, who are mine as well, are attacking my city. I am afraid that even my allies would turn against me if they knew who you are. Thessaloniki hides many mysteries and with you here the balance of power will be disturbed.
-So I guess the answer is no?
-You guess wrong princess. I like to take risks. I consider you more dangerous away from me than in my city.
-And I have the information as promised...
-Keep it to yourself. If I am going to win this war I will do it by myself. I am very thankful to you but I don't need shortcuts in order to finish first in this race.
Suddenly her respect for this creature grew bigger. He was a noble opponent for sure.
-Then what are your terms?
-No one should know who or what you are.
-I accept, it would be easier for me as well.
-I can't award you any title or status without provoking questions we wouldn't like.
-I accept, I don't want any status, a peaceful new life is what I ask for.
-You may carry with you whatever you like but no money, well no more than a normal person would have else you will have our aristocrats investigating you.
-I accept. I have some antiques I love but money has never been an issue for me.
-I don't doubt that.
-Anything else?
-No friend, ally or enemy of yours can know where you are for obvious reasons.
-I didn't intend to tell them anyway.
-That's all then. Of course you will have to follow our rules about feeding and approaching mortals.
-I am familiar with your rules and I intend to uphold them.
-Then, as far as i am concerned, you have the green light to come and stay as a friend and not a captive in my city and I stand by the "not captive" part. You may go wherever you please. Is there anything you'd like to add?
-I have two ghouls and one friend I would like to bring with me.
-Fine on the ghoul part, a fine lady needs a servant, but what about your friend?
-She was entrusted to me by her creator.
-Is she of your lineage?
-No, she's not.
-Then?
-Her clan is a reason for her to get murdered. I would prefer not speak of it in public or even at all, but I guarantee you she won't be a problem, she can spend all her time in the house if you want.
-Then I guess you wouldn't want her presented in the city's council.
-I would prefer it so, yes.
-The rules I mentioned before apply for her too.
-Of course, your majesty
-Fine then...one last thing princess. Are you really sure about your decision?
-I am, definitely.
-Alright then, Sir Nick will arrange for your safe passage and your new name whenever you are ready.
-I am now. My friend, my ghouls and everything I need are nearby and I myself can be ready in a few minutes.
-If my answer had been negative what would you have done?
-You would be crazy to refuse me, she said smiling.
-Indeed I would princess, James said smiling too.
-Okay then. Get your friend and your stuff ready.We are leaving in ten minutes. Nick do you have the papers ready?
-As always, the naval officer replied, They were ready since before we came here.
-I admire your readiness Nick! Hand them to the princess and show her the way to her new city and home. Welcome to Thessaloniki princess! I hope we will all enjoy your stay, said the prince extending her his hand.
They shook hands, with the castle of Platamonas above them making it look like a meeting of the dark ages.
After the prince's departure Nick and Yvet went to get her car.
-My lady I am glad you'll be staying in our city.
-And why is that Nick? I have been your enemy for so long.
-I am afraid something terrible is happening and I believe many elders are involved in it. I would feel a little bit safer with you here.
-Don't you remember? I am a nobody here.
-Princess Yvet de Castile can never be nobody!
-I am no longer Yvet, Nick.
-Yeah I forgot my lady, your new name is ROXANNE!
She felt vulnerable and it was a feeling she hadn't experienced for decades.
She felt naked among enemies.
She was away from her base of power and almost at the mercy of the one she had been waiting for.
Deep down she knew that he would try to be late, not much, just some minutes to make her feel inferior.
It is pure strategy when you are cutting a deal with more to gain than the other.
She had used that strategy many times in her favor.
But this time it was different.
She had betrayed, and her former companions didn't forgive that easily.
She had only hours before she would become one of the most wanted persons ever to exist.
But she had made up her mind, she had no place among those other monsters, she had liked it to be one for many centuries but after many years she had something to lose, something more precious than her own life.
If betrayal was the price she had to pay in order to be free, then betrayal it would be.
Everything happened so fast after all and she barely had time to think over her next move.
For almost five centuries she hated and fought, wherever she could, the same people she was now waiting for.
She had taken stabs from both their side and hers but this fact only made her more focused to the higher purpose, the destruction of her enemies.
''Not this time, this low hit was the last I could stand, now its time for my move and I'll be damned if I make the wrong decision, again'' she thought to herself many times over the last few days.
She had survived wars, many wars to be honest.
She had survived torture and betrayal from her own family.
She had escaped certain death more times than she could count and all that for the great purpose she was serving.
And for what?
What had she asked in return?
To be left alone, her personal war was over anyway.She just needed to rest, to recuperate.
And what did they give her?
Another stab in the back.
The war was over for her even if both her enemies and her allies, had she any of them left, didn't want that.
''So be it, I have only one life to lose but with me two more lives will be lost and both are sacred to me''.
Her first plan was to escape to a city in South America, where the Night War was absent and most of the cities were neutral ground, but she knew her enemies would find her and bring war there as well.
Another option would be to go to some high ranking official of her enemies and ask for sanctuary but she was sure that they would keep her only for as long as she would be useful and then kill her or even worse send her back to her former allies.
Asia was always an option, where her kind was in few numbers and she could easily hide among them but the natives there were even fiercer enemies of her kind.
Desperate as she was she turned to one of her major enemies, the prince of a nearby town.
She had a talk with a man representing the prince and made it clear that she would provide vital information in return for sanctuary and a new name.
She would no longer be the woman she used to be. Her war was over after all.
The prince's representative showed interest and soon arranged another meeting with the prince himself, this time on neutral ground.
And there she was, already waiting for 4 minutes.
She had met Prince James a couple of times before but this time it was different, she was not a princess -or archbishop as was the title- and he was the prince of an enemy city, from whom she was going to ask a favor.
Finally, out of nowhere, two men appeared.
One of them was of regular height and build, dressed in a fine suit, while the other was a tall, thin man dressed in an English naval officer suit.
-Princess Yvet, said the officer, I present to you Prince James of Thessaloniki.
-I am honored, though I am not a princess anymore.
-You will always be one, said the other man with a gentle, noble voice. You have earned that title and with that you have earned my respect throughout these years of war.
-You honor me your majesty! You yourself were a worthy opponent. I hope you've considered my proposal...
-I did! In many ways.
-And your decision?
-If I grant you sanctuary, my city will become the epicenter of your enemies' attacks but that doesn't bother me cause, even now, your enemies, who are mine as well, are attacking my city. I am afraid that even my allies would turn against me if they knew who you are. Thessaloniki hides many mysteries and with you here the balance of power will be disturbed.
-So I guess the answer is no?
-You guess wrong princess. I like to take risks. I consider you more dangerous away from me than in my city.
-And I have the information as promised...
-Keep it to yourself. If I am going to win this war I will do it by myself. I am very thankful to you but I don't need shortcuts in order to finish first in this race.
Suddenly her respect for this creature grew bigger. He was a noble opponent for sure.
-Then what are your terms?
-No one should know who or what you are.
-I accept, it would be easier for me as well.
-I can't award you any title or status without provoking questions we wouldn't like.
-I accept, I don't want any status, a peaceful new life is what I ask for.
-You may carry with you whatever you like but no money, well no more than a normal person would have else you will have our aristocrats investigating you.
-I accept. I have some antiques I love but money has never been an issue for me.
-I don't doubt that.
-Anything else?
-No friend, ally or enemy of yours can know where you are for obvious reasons.
-I didn't intend to tell them anyway.
-That's all then. Of course you will have to follow our rules about feeding and approaching mortals.
-I am familiar with your rules and I intend to uphold them.
-Then, as far as i am concerned, you have the green light to come and stay as a friend and not a captive in my city and I stand by the "not captive" part. You may go wherever you please. Is there anything you'd like to add?
-I have two ghouls and one friend I would like to bring with me.
-Fine on the ghoul part, a fine lady needs a servant, but what about your friend?
-She was entrusted to me by her creator.
-Is she of your lineage?
-No, she's not.
-Then?
-Her clan is a reason for her to get murdered. I would prefer not speak of it in public or even at all, but I guarantee you she won't be a problem, she can spend all her time in the house if you want.
-Then I guess you wouldn't want her presented in the city's council.
-I would prefer it so, yes.
-The rules I mentioned before apply for her too.
-Of course, your majesty
-Fine then...one last thing princess. Are you really sure about your decision?
-I am, definitely.
-Alright then, Sir Nick will arrange for your safe passage and your new name whenever you are ready.
-I am now. My friend, my ghouls and everything I need are nearby and I myself can be ready in a few minutes.
-If my answer had been negative what would you have done?
-You would be crazy to refuse me, she said smiling.
-Indeed I would princess, James said smiling too.
-Okay then. Get your friend and your stuff ready.We are leaving in ten minutes. Nick do you have the papers ready?
-As always, the naval officer replied, They were ready since before we came here.
-I admire your readiness Nick! Hand them to the princess and show her the way to her new city and home. Welcome to Thessaloniki princess! I hope we will all enjoy your stay, said the prince extending her his hand.
They shook hands, with the castle of Platamonas above them making it look like a meeting of the dark ages.
After the prince's departure Nick and Yvet went to get her car.
-My lady I am glad you'll be staying in our city.
-And why is that Nick? I have been your enemy for so long.
-I am afraid something terrible is happening and I believe many elders are involved in it. I would feel a little bit safer with you here.
-Don't you remember? I am a nobody here.
-Princess Yvet de Castile can never be nobody!
-I am no longer Yvet, Nick.
-Yeah I forgot my lady, your new name is ROXANNE!
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου