A Cackle In The Wind

If ever there was perfect timing, then that is our dear Stefan dying and not finishing his last words. Well, could the man not have told me before I so casually drove a dagger through his heart and in so ending the only, which is believe for now, but could be the only way how we shall know what this legacy is that I shall fulfill.

But, that shall be the least of my problems at the current time.

I do have a rather furious, Connor Windchaser looking at me waiting to drive his own very dagger through my heart. "I suggest you start talking about this brother of yours."

I only but shrug my shoulders at him not having much of a clue about his request, "My dear Connor." And that is exactly where he stops me, "My dear Sebastian, don't even think of starting to sugarcoat things. I want to know why did your brother cause such a rampage in Scotland."

I turn my face in the direction where Roberto and the rest of our misfit gang are talking about our recent victory. Well, perhaps by the look on Ethan's face, his victory will be ending the very life of the one that Connor is referring to now.

"Connor," I look at him rather puzzled and almost begging for an answer. "I have no knowledge as to why my brother would have done such a thing."

"Sebastian, it is not a thing. He took many human lives."

"It is only three," Well he will not agree with the way that I see human life, but still. "I do feel bad for the loss, but it is fairly acceptable."

"It was only three in one night, but…" and here I sense where the true problem is coming from and the very reason Ethan has got his dagger ready to attack Roberto at the very minute. "Sebastian it was three a night for six days. It is a miracle that the damn Vampire did not combust."

Well, this is where I topple over from laughter, not that a joke is called for at this very moment. So I swallow the chuckle that is escaping my lips and pull Connor further away to the side, "I am afraid I had no knowledge of this. We but just returned from Scotland and we did not see anything amiss."

"Did he feed while you were in Scotland?"

"Well," I start to explain. "We had a ball, and you know how all of those go, but those are consenting humans. I cannot see that he had to feed to such an extent after."

"Is there anything else that might have triggered his behavior?"

"I have not seen my brother in years. I can honestly say that I do not know what normal behavior stands for him these days."

I watch as Connor runs his hands through his hair while he struggles with what his next decision should be, "Sebastian, you do know that I cannot overlook this. Yes, the man is your brother, but this goes even against the Vampire code, and need I add, it is a code that you need to enforce. But…" Connor returns his focus to Roberto which has now been circled by Ethan and our very own Vampire Hunter. "It is a code that you as Master need to enforce without fail and that means regardless if the offending Vampire is your brother."

Yes, his words hit very true, but there shall be no way that I shall send my brother to council, let alone enforce any such harm on him. But, this is where I need to remind myself that I did send my beloved to her own council, thus being that it will only be fair that I do the same for my brother.

Yet, Connor needs to understand, "I cannot send my brother for council for I shall be sending him to the catacombs. You of all should know that his crimes deserve a death sentence."

"Sebastian, I suggest we get ourselves out of this godforsaken hole, for you Vampires does put up a stench, then we shall have to come to a decision."

With that we find ourselves traveling back up that dark road that shall lead us back to safety. The Vampire here might be dead, but those dangerous gangsters still find themselves stuck between all these, what seems to be like abandoned buildings.

So it is with great caution that we tread through these streets, that ominous weather has yet not cleared up. The streets are all but mud and loose stones scattered around, but that is not what is around…

Next…

There is the sound close to what can be explained as a cackle coming from the dark corner of a building up ahead. I turn to Connor that has been taken just aback as I have by the noise that is traveling fast through the air.

"Sebastian, I hope that you have still got some fight left in you for this is about to end in a bad way."

As I stare back and look at the rest of our group with faces that are begging for answers, I only but nod my head in the direction of Ethan. I hear him grunt and I know that he is silently cursing me, but then from underneath his breath, he whispers in the ears of Anastasia and our Vampire Hunter. There is absolute horror that comes from their minds as their million terrifying thoughts attack my mind.

I watch as Anastasia wants to step forward, yet Ethan pulls her back, "Stay behind Sebastian, Connor, and me. I am not sure what Roberto knows for the man seems on his own mission."

As those very words come from his mouth, I stare back and try to find the eyes of Roberto but as I look to where he was walking behind Ethan, I can see that he is no longer there. I immediately call for a halt. Connor looks at me rather annoyed as I am putting us all in danger by just stopping, so I immediately show for him in the direction to where Roberto is supposed to be.

"Perfect," I hear as Connor raises his voice that sends it echoing through the buildings. "Has your goddamn brother gone for a snack?"

Well, perhaps not the right attitude to have at present, but I immediately snap back, "I shall prefer if you refrain talking about me brother in such a way."

Then…

The cackle grows but an inch closer, close enough for me to smell the danger.

But…

Between the smell of what I have now become known with, there is the very smell of the one that has gone missing. I only but raise my brow and nod my head at Connor, "I believe that my brother has gone off doing more than just having a snack."

"But…" Ethan starts off as he breaks the circle that he has created around the rest of our group. "You surely don't think…?"

"Well, perhaps…" I answer.

"Though it is…" Connor adds.

Then Ethan asks again, "You think..."

And me, "Could be..."

I hear as the inner voice of Anastasia snaps and she steps forward, "Can you three idiots not speak in complete sentences. What has surely, perhaps, though, could be someone thinks?"

I cannot help but chuckle, but as she steps those two little steps closer on her towering stilettos, I refrain from letting another sound escape my lips. While this entire encounter plays itself off, I watch as Breyden only but pulls Lilith closer. The man is fully aware of what is about to unfold and he has, in fact, much to my terror, told Lilith what we are about to face.

So without having to standby and wait for the danger to hit us unprepared, we slowly make our stance forward. Yes, the absence of Roberto is making this whole situation more terrifying as per our rather weird two-word exchanges, we believe that either Roberto is feeding from what is approaching or he finds himself a part. Now in which way he can be involved, that I do not know, but I do so wish that Connor is wrong about him.

With that, we huddle together for a brief minute while Connor speaks, "Do not take that anything you see is real." I watch the horror fill the eyes of Lilith, Anastasia, and Zachariah. "Do not for one second let your guard down. That means do not get caught and for godsakes, do not turn your back on any of them. They shall deceive you. We remain together in a circle back to back."

Then as those words leave his mouth, Ethan adds the final warning that shall need to be uttered tonight. And yes, do I feel a pain sting my heart as the very words flow from his lips, "And do not, I am saying it again, do not trust Roberto."