Alcingeria

Chapter Eleven: The Bargain To Save Don And Robert

Chapter Eleven The Bargain to Save Don and Robert:

Wednesday June 23rd 1690

My heart leapt with hope upon hearing Ignacio's words.

"What's the catch?" I asked, "I don't think you'd just hand over the cure."

I heard Ignacio chuckle from within the shadows.

"I understand your curiosity," he said. "I already have your money. What else could I want?"

"Just tell us what it is, you bastard." I snapped.

Ignacio paused for a second, as though he were building dramatic tension.

"I have the box in my hand right now, but you're blocking the only exit of this room. I know that if I fight you and attempt to take the money now, you'll kill me with that stake. I'll agree to save your friends on the condition that you spare my life, and let me go with the money."

Ignacio certainly was a strange man. One minute he was putting on the face of a sadistic vampire, the next a reluctant murderer. It did seem to me, though, that he did prefer to make deals and avoid fighting when possible. He could have tried to take Macalister and I on, and I had come in here expecting him to. The fact that he didn't both intrigued me and relieved me.

I heard Macalister growl in anger. He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it.

"Do we have a deal?" Ignacio asked.

"Troll, think about it." I reasoned. "We need to give Ignacio the money if Rapier and Shadow stand a chance of staying human. Are their lives worth more to you than fifty thousand dollars?"

I silently hoped Macalister would relent. It wasn't like him, which worried me, because I had no doubt the probability of the four of us walking out alive would drop significantly if he decided to fight us.

Thankfully, Macalister hung his head in defeat. He wanted to keep the money, so did I, but we had no choice.

"Alright Ignacio, you win." I admitted, "stop the transformation and we'll let you have the money."

"And let me go?"

"And let you go."

I heard Ignacio clap once, a sign of victory.

"Wise choice!" He announced, "bring your friends in here, and I'll save them."

I nodded and looked to Macalister.

"Troll, you stay here and guard the door. Make sure Ignacio doesn't escape before his end of the bargain is fulfilled. I'll fetch the other two."

He nodded with conviction, I knew he wouldn't let the vampire through. Not so long as he was alive. I heard Ignacio clear his throat.

"One more thing."

"What is it?" Macalister asked.

"Don't even think about killing me prematurely. If I die, your friends' hopes of having the transformation reverted dies with me." He said ominously, "do you understand?"

I couldn't tell if he was being truthful, or merely attempting to safeguard his own life. Regardless, it was too large a risk to take. We had to go along with it.

"Sure," I said, half placating Macalister and half Ignacio.

With that being said, I went to get the other two. Both of them were sweating like pigs on a hot summer's day. They were on their knees, clutching their throats and panting. Don looked to me and his expression brightened. He stood up from his kneeled stance as best he could.