The City of Fire and Shadows

Chapter 9

I made my way into the dark recesses of our dungeon to carry out a task that was asked of me: to question Meredith Wrenley on the details of her attack on Raven's Keep. As I got closer to her cell, I felt her look defiantly in my direction, but I could also sense the feeling of defeat she must've felt being one of the remaining survivors of a failed attack. When I reached her cell, I grabbed a hold of the window bars and peered within. Seeing the commander of Reginald's army beaten and broken, it felt good.

"It's been an interesting couple of weeks," Meredith said suddenly, which startled me slightly. "We've come a long way since Canada's Wonderland. But I see you've come for a nice fireside chat."

"How does it feel to lose to us 'lowly' humans? You led Reginald's army, and lost. They're all dead. Except for you and Ashella."

"I don't feel anything at all," Meredith replied.

"Well, you have to feel something. This must be a big defeat for you," I said. "Oh, and if I didn't already make it clear, you look ridiculous, dressed in clothing from the 1980s. Like some reject from The Breakfast Club. I can't stress that enough."

From the end of the cell, I could swear I heard Meredith cough out a dry laugh of some sort. She rose from the ground and walked towards the barred window of the cell door. When she finally got to the bars, I came face-to-face with Meredith Wrenley. She had a blank look on her face, with her lips crooked up into a smirk. It was a smile without feeling. Was she trying to play me?

"You act like if I cared," Meredith said. "I should ask you why you feel so triumphant after one small victory. From what I remember, your side took losses too. The only difference is that the number of attackers we can send to Raven's Keep is essentially infinite. We can bleed you dry to the last person standing."

"More attackers?" My voice cracked slightly. I really hope the surprise didn't show in the tone of my voice. The battle we just won was a really tough encounter. Could we really survive multiple waves of attacks? No, she's trying to put me off balance. "I know you're lying," I countered. "Much of Reginald's army lies dead in the warzones of southern Mexico, along with those of Druzillia, Staunton, and Braggen.

Meredith shaked her head. The expression on her face didn't seem to change. "I'm sure you saw Reginald's broadcast on television. It was ostensibly for the masses, but specifically aimed at you people. He's given me a week to take Raven's Keep. One week to take the keep and round up any survivors for extraction to the blood camps."

"And we defeated you in two days."

"A hollow victory!" screamed Ashella from the neighbouring cell.

I moved over to Ashella's cell and struck my forearm onto the bars, causing a loud clang to be heard throughout the echoey dungeons. Ashella appeared to flinch, but only slightly.

"Quiet, Ashella," said Meredith in a threatening tone. "Let me do the talking. And don't you ever speak up like that again. Not without my permission."

"Oh, you expect to make a deal?" I replied, turning my attention back to Meredith. "We have you as a hostage. From what I know, you're a pretty high ranking member of House Wrenley. They even put you in charge of junior members of House Drakon in the attack - despite House Wrenley being a vassal of House Drakon. What makes you so important, Meredith? Will Reginald be willing to attack us with you in our hands?"

"I'm merely the Commander of New Toronto's army. If I fall, another one will take my place," Meredith said. "If I succeed, the prince will take all the credit. And if I fail, my head is the one that is on the line." She smiled wryly, the first time in this conversation she even appeared to be remotely amused. "I have no intention of returning to Prince Reginald. That palladium rapier he carries around isn't just for show. It's for torturing fellow vampires - vampires that have displeased him."