Eagan

17 1 3
                                    


April 19th

Eagan oversaw his luggage being deposited in his room. Hands on his hips, her gave the servant's directions, then bid them out when they'd finished. A quick check in the mirror showed he still looked the same; long blonde hair that fell in curls and a heavy beard. As if he thought he might transform after all these years.

He changed his clothes and headed downstairs. A servant told him dinner was over but he could catch a snack in the kitchen. On his way there, he ran into a dark skinned vampire with short hair and a beard tinged in gray. It was Bassile.

"Greetings, old friend. An' how have ya kept?"

Bassile returned his smile. "Good, good. And yourself?"

"As well as can be expected. Two days it took ta get here." The memory of the long boring flight was etched crystal clear in his mind.

"You need a faster jet. I slept while my pilots flew. It's the best way to do it."

"I kin see that. Have ya fed? It seems I missed dinner proper so am on me way ta the kitchen fer a snack o' some kind."

"Actually, I have fed, but I'll come with you anyway." Bassile brandished a deck of cards. "I was hoping to tempt someone with a game of rummy."

"Aye. Rummy. I kin play it. Let me feed and then we'll find a table."

The kitchen staff looked alarmed at their arrival, but quickly poured Eagan a large glass of crimson. He downed it in a few gulps, thanked them, and then he and Bassile headed back the way they'd come, chatting as they went.

"There's just not much ta tell since I saw ya last," Eagan said. "I don'a think anythin' has changed."

"No new covens? Or fledglings?" Bassile asked. "Not even a new slave?"

"Nay. And yerself?"

"I've moved. I have a new den near Halmstad, Sweden. It's a lovely place. And I've made a couple of acquisitions, though none as big as the one I hope to make here." He rubbed his hands together.

Eagan recognized the gleam in his companion's eyes. "Ye and Sorino are goin' a' it hammer an' tongs again?"

"Oh no, not Sorino, though he's trying to sell reproductions of a rare scroll I might think about. He claims it gives the location of the Raven Queen's temple and, furthermore, that he has been there."

The Raven Queen... "Aye, 'tis Lilith ya mean, right? She's naught but a myth."

"True, but her temple may exist. The Greeks built a temple to Athena, after all, and she's no more real."

"'Tis a good point. Though if he's been there already he'd a took anythin' worth findin'."

"And that's why I haven't bought the scroll yet. He claims most of the temple is untouched; that he didn't have time to explore because he was with a group, but I don't know. If he lowers his price I might buy it and head there myself, just for something to do after the party."

They reached the doorway to the salon when Cutter, one of Andrei's coven, caught up to them. "The master says if you'd like to see his new acquisitions he'll be happy to show them to you now."

"About time. I've been waiting for..." Bassile glanced at his wrist but he didn't have a watch. "Well, since I got here. Tell him we'll be along presently. I want to make sure to beat Sorino."

Cutter disappeared to deliver the message, and Bassile turned to Eagan. "You will come?"

"More o' yer relic hunting?" Eagan asked. "I cannae see why ya spend yer time an' wealth to collect old rubbish."

Eagan (Thirteen Guests)Where stories live. Discover now