Space-Time of Death: an Al Squires of the Protectorate Novel

Ch. 18.2: An 'Understanding' Between Immortals and Time Travelers.

As we moved as quickly as we could up those narrow stairs to the third floor, the three of us gave out brief summaries of our own missions. With reason, of course. We gave her as much as we could about our mission without giving too much of the future away: That we were working with Ouroboros to help prevent an agent's death at the hands of a rogue time-traveler. The other details weren't necessary to give out.

From what we've got from Odette, her mission wasn't just to find the nest of this particular sect of the Sanguinis Brethren, but to confirm if the rumor that they were getting a visit from the SB's head honcho, the Hierophant himself- who is also one of the major leaders in the multiversal vampire community and 'just happens' to be one of the Protectorate's Most Wanted List. What the visit was about, she didn't know; although I had a suspicion it might've involved that 'business arrangement' Norah and I overheard Holmes and the Elder mention,

She never said if she was going to simply confirm that the Hierophant was in Chicago, or that she planned to capture him. If she did decide to capture him, she'd need reinforcements. From all the horror stories I've heard about the Hierophant, I'd know she'd be committing suicide if she did go it alone, vampire or not. However, since he is still at large in the present, I guess it was only a confirmation mission. Either that, or she missed him. That's all I have to say about the Hierophant, on account of him being only mentioned, not featured. At least, not in this adventure. Hint, hint. But I digress.

We knew we were near the Royal Suite when we saw Mik standing in front of a door inside the secret hallway. As soon as hir eyes fell on Odette, ze broke character. "It's uncanny," ze said, unaccented and looking dumbstruck. "It really is her!"

"I take it that you know me as well?" Odette asked standoffishly. "That must mean that your from...then, as well?"

Mik stared at her for a beat before I mouthed 'the future' at hir. Upon seeing that, Mik cleared hir throat, and bowed hir head to Odette "Oh, yes I am, Memsahib Ouspenskaya," ze said with both respect and hir Indian accent. "It is very good to see you."

Odette looked Mik up and down for a beat, examining the Ruomalg. "You look human," she coolly stated, "but I don't hear a heartbeat, or smell any blood. I doubt that's your real form, so you must be a shapeshifter. Please, don't bother telling me what you are or reverting to your usual form. If we truly know each other in the future, I'd rather it be a surprise."

Mik stammered a little, then collected hirself. "If that is what the Memsahib desires," ze said with another small bow before pointing to the door beside hir. "The Royal Suite is in there," ze added, "along with Memsahibs Lane and Sylvie." When ze opened the secret door to the room, we were greeted by the sound of Sylvie's moans of agony.

"How bad is she injured?" Norah asked Mik.

The Ruomalg in Sikh form only frowned. "You'd have to see for yourself," Mik said with the accent. Ze began to step through the door, then stop to turn and add, "No pun intended." Ze then went through the door, and we followed after hir.

As the name suggested, the Royal Suite was larger than the other rooms, and it was posher than the room Norah and I had. I won't go into too much detail, dear Readers; we're too close to the end to get bogged down with details. Just think about how a 19th-century hotel room might have looked like and posh it up. I will say there was a four-poster bed, however: I remember it because that's where Sylvie was when we went in. She must've been tied up there as well because I noticed ropes were tied around all four bed posts, but they were hanging on the posts like withered vines instead of tying her up Spread-Eagle style.

Lady Lane stood vigilantly by Sylvie's bedside like a nurse tending her patient. Norah and I moved over to the bed while Mik joined Lady Lane beside the bed. Odette, on the other hand, planted herself onto the suite's sofa, not looking too bothered by Sylvie's plight. Well, she did say that she'd go with us; she didn't say anything about helping us, however.