Salazar's Tower, New Covington

[allie_vamp]

Stick was waiting when the doors opened. "This way," he said as the guards pushed them out of the elevator.

The hallway was more ornate then the lower floors. Thick red carpet lined the dim corridor, with electric lights set into alcoves on either side. At the end of the hallway stood two massive double doors, a vampire guard on either side. As they approached, Stick held up a hand and turned to them with a smile.

"Wait here a moment. I will inform the Prince of your arrival." He turned to the guards. "Make sure our guests do not move from this spot. If they try anything, shoot them if you have to, but don't kill them." Stick smiled at Allie, secure in his power. "We don't want to deny the Prince his amusement."

Jackal	"Well, he's a real charmer," Jackal muttered as the door closed. "You two must've been such great pals. I hope you don't mind when I say I'm going to rip his tongue out through his nose and make him eat it."
Kaidan	"Might even be less charming than you," Kaidan agreed. He felt the cuffs come loose around his hands; he had to twist his fingers to hold onto them and keep it looking authentic. Okay, what was the situation here? Couple of guards-- any other defenses? He didn't want to risk breaking out without knowing more about the situation.
Stick	Several Elite vampire guards, heavily armed with crossbows and guns. The odds were most definitely not in their favor. The doors Stick had disappeared behind creaked open as he re-emerged. "Bring the prisoners forward. The Prince will see them now."
Prince Salazar	The room they were led into was very large and very dim. Nearly the entire opposite wall was glass, showing the night sky and the other two towers silhouetted against the black. A huge desk sat in front of that wall, dark and shiny, but the man standing before demanded everyone's attention. "So," Prince Salazar said, staring directly at Allie. "You are Kanin's daughter." "Don't bother to deny it," he continued. "Your friend Stephen has already told me everything about you. Where you lived, where you slept, the other members of your small gang. All Unregistered, not in my system." When Allie didn't respond he raised a thin, elegant eyebrow. "Nothing to say?"
Allie	"What more do you want me to say?" Allie said finally. "You seem to know everything about me."
Prince Salazar	Salazar smiled and gestured to one of the guards standing behind them. "Release them." When Stick tried to protest, the Prince waved him off. "They are newcomers to my city," he stated as the guards moved forward and began unlocking the cuffs. "I do not wish to appear rude. The law states that I meet visiting kindred as guests unless I deem them an obvious threat. And they are not a threat to me. I do not need them in chains if I wish to destroy them."
Allie	Allie flexed her wrists when the cuffs were removed and glanced briefly at her sword, still hanging over the shoulder of one of the guards. She wanted it back, but that would probably be pushing Salazar's hospitality a little too far. Instead she watched as the others were released, releaved that they were all still alive for the time being.
Kaidan	Kaidan shot the guy who removed his cuffs a wry look as the things came apart in his hands. "Sorry."
Prince Salazar	Fortunately the guard wasn't willing to draw the Prince's attention to himself so he took the cuffs and took up a position near the door. "Mr. Stephen," the Prince said as Stick continued to look sullen. "Please inform the guards outside the room to wait in the elevator hall. Inform them that unless there is a life-or-death situation, I do not wish to be disturbed by anyone. Is that clear?" Once Stick and his two human bodyguards left, Salazar walked around his desk and dropped into the chair behind it. "Sit, please," he said politely, nodding at the collection of chairs in front of the desk. "I would offer you refreshments, but I'm afraid I have a bit of situation here and our blood supply has been...compromised. I do apologize for the state of my city. Rest assured we are doing all we can to bring it under control." His gaze went from Allie, to Jackal. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage. I know of the girl, but I don't yet have the pleasure of your name."
Jackal	"Jackal." He sat down and and leaned back in the chair, looking perfectly at ease. "Former King of Old Chicago."
Prince Salazar	"Ah," Salazar nodded. "Yes, I have heard the rumors of a vampire who ruled a city entirely of humans. They say he was raising an army to take out the other vampire lords, only it didn't work out the way he'd hoped." The Prince smiled. "I like to keep tabs on my competition," he explained as his smile turned dangerous again. "Assess possible threats before they grow too big to ignore. You are welcome here, raider king, so long as you remember who the Prince is." His gaze flicked towards Zeke and Kaidan, turning slightly predatory. "And who are the humans?"
Jackal	Jackal broke in before anyone else could speak. "They're no one," he said dismissively. "They're mine. In case I get hungry, and because they're both actually pretty good shots. Not the sharpest tacks in the bunch, but they're amusing, for pets. So I let them follow me around." He caught Allie's eye, one corner of his mouth twitching. If his words were pissing off Zeke, he was certainly enjoying it.
Prince Salazar	The Prince nodded, not interested in ordinary humans. "Well, enough pleasantries," he went on, focusing on Allie once more. "You have come for Kanin."
Allie	Jackal was such a bastard Allie thought as she bit her tongue to keep from telling him just that. But she understood what he doing and it was brilliant. Ignore the humans. They're not important. If Salazar knew who Zeke was and where he really came from, or what Kaidan could do...Jackal was right to keep the focus away from them. If only he didn't have to be so damn smug about it. Allie gripped the edges of her chair, "What do you know about that?"
Prince Salazar	"Because he is being tortured in the lowest level of this tower," Salazar continued, matter-of-fact, "and his pain calls out to you, his offstpring. Because you dream of him, starving, going mad with Hunger, clawing at the chains around him like a beast. Because he is screaming for salvation and you cannot resist your sire's call. It drew you here, to my city, and it compels you to find him. But you cannot save him now."
Allie	Allie was surprised to hear that Salazar had Kanin and she wondered how he'd gotten him away from Sarren. Had Salazar killed the psychotic vampire, or had Sarren lost interest and left Kanin for the Prince to find. Ultimately it didn't matter. Sarren was gone and they had to deal with the Prince. "Why are you doing this to him? He was trying to find the cure for Red Lung and Rabidism. He was trying to save everything."
Prince Salazar	"He betrayed our kind when he went to the scientists." Salazar's voice was suddenly hard and terrifying, his eyes gleaming with hate. "He turned on his own kin, allowed the humans to experiment on those who would be their masters, and he is responsible for the abominations outside the city." Salazar sat back, composing himself. "What he helped create has damned us all to the darkest pits of hell. Kanin will suffer for his crimes. I have all eternity to watch him writhe and scream and become that which he created. A fitting end, I believe. Perhaps you would care to join him."
Allie	No, thank you, Allie was going to pass on that offer. Allie chose her words carefully, knowing one wrong word or action would end with them chained next to Kanin. "There has to be something we can agree on," she said cautiously. "Something we can offer for Kanin's life."
Prince Salazar	"Oh?" The Master vamp raised an eyebrow, amused. "Tell me then, Kanin's daughter. What do you think his life, and the billions of humans and vampires he helped destroy is worth?"
Jackal	"How about your city?" Jackal broke in. "How about the knowledge of what's really going on out there, and the name of someone who can stop it?" The Prince sat back and looked at Jackal, indicating for him to continue. "It's not just a random plague," Jackal went on. "Someone created the virus inside your city and released it into the population. It's too similar to Red Lung to be a coincidence. We know who did it. He's the one you really want, because he's the only one who has the cure."
Prince Salazar	Salazar stood, looming over them, his expression cold and terrible. "Let's say I believe you. What is the name of the person who unleashed hell upon my city? Who is this creature who will soon regret he was ever born?"
Allie	"If we give you his name," Allie said. "Will you release Kanin?" No Allie, it's probably not going to be that simple.
Prince Salazar	"You are in no position to bargain with me, Kanin's daughter," Salazar warned in a quiet voice. "It is only my will and my own laws that have kept you alive this long. One word from me, and you will share your sire's fate. So perhaps it is your own life you should be bargaining for, not his." "However," he went on, "the fate of my city is more important than the existence of one vampire. Even one as cursed as him. Give me the one responsible for this chaos, and I will consider releasing Kanin to you."
Allie	Allie looked at Jackal, pleased when he nodded in agreement. "Sarren. His name is Sarren. You might remember him-he came to your city several months ago, looking for Kanin. Tall, bald, scarred up face, a little on the batshit crazy side?"
Prince Salazar	"Sarren." The Prince's voice was flat. Turning, he walked to the window, gazing out on the city, his reflection in the glass serious and pondering. "Serious accusations," the Prince said, turning back. His voice was grim as he turned his head, facing the corner. "What do you have to say to this...Sarren?"
Sarren	"I would say," a cold voice hissed out of the darkness, "that some little birdie is lying to you." "It isn't wise to deceive the Prince, little bird," Sarren crooned as he came into the light. One hollow black eye fixed on Allie, the other covered in blue film, stared sightlessly. "What venomous lies are you spreading, just to save your sire."
Kaidan	"Wouldn't be a day out without running into some trouble," Kaidan muttered, tracking Sarren's motions with his eyes. This could go real bad real fast.
Allie	Allie was on her feet at the first sound of Sarren's voice. "They're not lies," she shot back, wishing she had her sword in hand. Forget the Prince or the vampire Elite guards. Sarren was by far the most dangerous thing in the room and Allie didn't trust the guards and their crossbows to keep everyone safe. "We know you went to Old D.C. to the other lab. We found the room with the live virus samples, and know you took them before you came here."
Sarren	The Prince watched calmly as Sarren sidled closer. "Do you now? I think you're grasping at straws, little bird. To weave your nest of deceit. Oh, what a tangled web we weave."
Allie	"You took something from the lab," Allie insisted, refusing to let Sarren's insanity draw her in. "You brought it here and you turned it loose in the Fringe. That's why every Fringer is tearing his face off and puking blood in the streets. Why? Why would you risk another plague? We haven't recovered from the last one."
Sarren	"Can you hear him?" Sarren whispered, ignoring Allie's question. "Can you hear his screams? Do they haunt your sleep, his cries of anguish? Can you feel his pain, the exquisite torture? Oh, I envy you."
Allie	Distantly Allie could hear Jackal speaking with the Prince, promising that Azura, the Prince of Old D.C. would confirm what they were saying, that Sarren had been in the city looking for the lab. At this point she didn't care what the Prince thought, she was too focused on the madman in front of her. "Where is Kanin?" she demanded. "What did you do to him?"
Sarren	"There's nothing left of him," Sarren said dreamily, almost in a daze now. "Not anymore. His mind has broken. Just like mine." He chuckled eerily. "Only he won't be coming back. Pity that. I've enjoyed our interactions so. but now, I have a greater purpose. I do miss his screams, though. Such a glorious song."
Allie	Allie bared her fangs. "You'd better hope that he's all right," she snarled. "I swear, I'll take you apart if he's not."
Sarren	Eyes closed and swaying slightly, Sarren's mouth twisted into a smile. "You can't save him, little bird," he whispered. "You can't save anyone now. The requiem has started, and when the last melody plays, the only applause will be sweet, eternal silence. It draws ever closer now. I cannot wait till the final note."
Prince Salazar	Salazar was starting to tire of the drama. "I am still unsure of what is going on," he admitted slowly. "or who I should believe, but in light of these events, I'm afraid I must ask all of you to remain in the tower. You will be my guests here, but please, do not try to leave the floor. I will get to the bottom of this." "Guards." The Prince nodded to the vampires that had remained standing at attention in the back of the room. "Please escort our guest to their rooms. Make sure they do not try to leave. If they do try to escape, you have my permission to shoot them." The Prince turned away then, facing the window and his city below it, dismissing them.
Allie	It wasn't an ideal situation, but it beat being tossed in the dungeon. Allie hoped the others agreed, but she refused to take her eyes off Sarren to check.
Sarren	Two guards approached Sarren as he stood in the middle of the floor, swaying to a tune only he could hear. He ignored the guard's repeated attempts to get his attention, seemingly lost in his own head. Finally, the guard gave an exasperated huff and took his arm. Sarren spun with a blinding speed. His free hand whipped up faster then thought, slashing across the guard's neck. The vampire let out a startled gurgle before his head tumbled backwards in a spray of blood, held in place by a single flap of skin. Still clutching his thin dagger, Sarren grabbed the guard's crossbow and turned, pointing the weapon across the room. There was the snap of the bolt releasing, and the shaft buried itself in Salazar's chest just as the Prince was spinning around. Salazar collapsed, clawing at his desk to keep himself upright. The other guards roared with fury and lunged to attack. The one closest to Sarren pulled his sword and slashed in the same motion, but Sarren ducked the blow, stepped in close, and shoved his dagger under the guard's chin into his brain.
Jackal	Jackal grabbed one of the dead guard's swords and leapt into the fray. Sarren had dropped his crossbow but kept a bolt, thrusting it into one of the remaining guard's eye. Behind him, Jackal raised his sword and brought it down towards Sarren's neck. But the other vampire was older, stronger, and faster. Sarren spun around in time to catch Jackal's wrist with his empty hand and drove his dagger into Jackal's chest. Jackal looked down at the hilt of the blade buried in his chest as if confused as to how that had just happened, then dropped to the floor as Sarren shoved him away.
Allie	"Stay down," Allie hissed to Zeke and Kaidan as Jackal went after Sarren. She was going to take to the opportunity to dive at the first dead guard, the one with her sword. Closing her fingers around the handle of the katana, Allie whirled around just in time to see Jackal fall and the head of the last guard go flying.
Sarren	Sarren smiled at Allie from the center of the massacre, blood painted across his face. It covered his arms, his chest, running down his white skin and dripping to the carpet. "Hello, little bird," he whispered, stepping over a dead vampire and moving closer to Allie. "I believe we have unfinished business, you and I."
Kaidan	"Stay back," Kaidan snapped. Sure, Allie had told him to stay down. He didn't care - it was his job to step into the line of fire. He was a Sentinel, and while he was good at taking orders, there were limits to how useless he was willing to let himself become. Not again. His fingers slid over his omni-tool, priming a blast of hot molten metal. Not yet. "You're going to have to deal with your unfinished business on your own," he said.
Sarren	"What's this?" Sarren asked with obvious amusement. "A human? Ready to die for a vampire? What a loyal little pet you are. But your master has no control over you now." He gestured to the carnage around him and smiled. "Run, little human," he crooned. "Run. The end draws nigh, and the sun will soon set for all your kind. How long can you evade the dark, I wonder?"
Allie	"Will you two get out of here," Allie hissed, still keeping her focus on Sarren. She knew how fast he could move. How he could suddenly be right there with no warning at all. He'd just slaughtered four vampires and the Prince in the blink of an eye. "Run! Find Stick. Tell him what happened and tell him to send help."
Zeke	Zeke stood next to Kaidan, one of the guard's crossbows in his head and pointed steadily at Sarren's chest. "Allie, we're not leaving you."
Sarren	"Ohhhh," Sarren laughed. "This is interesting. A little bird, making nests with rats. Who shall I kill first? The little bird? Or should I take apart the humans, slowly? Peel the skin from their bodies, snap every bone, savor every scream, before I tear out their hearts?" He chuckled and ran a tongue along his pale lips. "Would you like that, little bird? Or...perhaps you would like to watch?"
Kaidan	"I've dealt with worse than you," Kaidan said. He didn't sound worried. Or determined. There was a particular kind of steel that Shepard had mastered a long time ago. A facsimile of it made it into Kaidan's voice now. He reached back under his cloak and pulled a chunk of metal off his back. Was it rude to hit a guy while he was monologuing?
Allie	Whatever fear Allie had vanished with Sarren's threats and she acted without thinking. Baring her fangs she lunged at Sarren, slashing at his neck. Sarren blocked the strike, reached in, grabbed Allie's throat and spun her around, twisting her sword arm behind her back.
Sarren	"Go on, little human," Sarren urged, his bared fangs inches from Allie's neck. "You can probably hit me, if you shoot through us both."
Kaidan	Never mind the gun, then. "Fine, if that's the way you want it," Kaidan said. Might've seemed like casual disregard to Allie's life-- if you didn't know what an omni-tool could do. The blast of white-hot metal he fired off at Sarren didn't fly off in a straight line like an ordinary bullet - it curved right around Allie's form... and went right for Sarren's back.
Sarren	Sarren jerked and threw Allie to floor before staggering away towards the far wall, his fangs bared in agony. There was a deafening crash and glass exploded in all directions as he hurled himself through the window and dropped from sight.
Kaidan	Kaidan let his rifle fold out into its complete state as he ran for the window. He peered into the sight and down the wall, but... nothing.
Zeke	Zeke dropped the crossbow with a muffled thump, stepped forward and pulled Allie close. "God, I thought I'd lost you," he whispered. "When he grabbed you my heart nearly stopped. Are you all right? I'm sorry I couldn't get a shot off fast enough." Apparently a near death experiences with a psychotic vampire was enough to make Zeke get over his uncertainty of the night before.
Allie	Allie was going to take a moment to close her eyes and lean into Zeke. He felt warm and safe, and she'd missed him. "No, I'm okay. We're all still here." The moment had to end far too soon, as Allie pulled away and looked towards Kaidan. "Any sign of him?"
Jackal	"Oh, don't mind me," came an extremely sarcastic voice near the wall. "You two go ahead and make out. I'll just sit here and bleed quietly." Jackal had actually pushed himself up and grabbed Sarren's dropped crossbow a moment before, preparing to fire a shot at the older vampire, but Kaidan had handily taken care of that problem. Fortunately Sarren's dagger hadn't been a fatal blow, though fuck it hurt. He slumped back against an overturned chair, managing a smirk even through the bodies piled around him.
Kaidan	"Nothing," Kaidan said. He lowered his rifle and looked at Jackal over his shoulder. "Do you need some medi-gel, or...?" He didn't really know exactly how vampire healing worked.
Jackal	Jackal grimaced, one hand pressed to his bleeding chest. "Don't think that'll work, whatever that is," he said. His voice became lower, more like a growl as he looked over to Zeke. "But you might want to get that meatsack out of here if you want his blood to stay on the inside. His inside, not mine." He pointedly wasn't threatening Kaidan, not after what he'd just seen him do. He wasn't stupid.
Allie	Jackal, being discreet and not a wise ass. Allie never thought she'd see the day. He still had a point. He needed help if he was going to recover. "Zeke can you go find Stick?" Allie asked. "Let him know what happened. Tell him Sarren's on the loose and that there's a wounded vampire who needs blood immediately." She glanced at Salazar's body, laying motionless behind his desk. "Don't mention that they're probably going to need to find a new Prince." Stick wasn't going to take that information well.
Zeke	"I'll be right back?" Zeke nodded, clearly reluctant to leave. "I'll be right back." He brushed his fingers over Allie's cheek and turned away. Stepping around bodies, he wove his way through the blood soaked room until he reached the doors and slipped through. The opened with a creak and groaned shut behind him.
Jackal	Jackal grunted and shifted to a more comfortable position. "You know you're playing a dangerous game," he said, watching Allie with glowing yellow eyes. "When are you going to tell that kid that he doesn't have a chance? You'll have to let him know soon -- looks like the poor sap has it bad." He waited for a reaction, then raised his eyebrows. "You're not going to say anything, are you? You're going to let him tromp merrily down this road until the day the Hunger gets to be too much, and then the little bloodsack won't know what hit him." He chuckled, wincing, and shook his head. "And I thought I was a heartless bastard."
Allie	"It's not like that." No, in all honesty, it was worse.
Jackal	"What, then? Don't tell me you feel something for the little.... Oh." Jackal blinked, then curled his lip back, disgust and pity crossing his face. "Oh, sister. Really? That's just sad."
Kaidan	Kaidan eyed Jackal and Allie for a moment. Thought about pointing out this maybe wasn't the time. Then decided it wasn't really his business. He moved between the bodies, following in Zeke's trail, pausing occasionally to check to make sure somebody was really dead.
Allie	"Shut. Up. Jackal." Even if he was probably right. Minutes later the doors burst open and an armed regiment of vampires swept into the room. Most of them immediately took up guard positions near Allie, Jackal and Kaidan while the rest searched the room.
Stick	Stick swept through the doors, followed by two human guards. One carried a white cooler, the other heald a gun to the back of an unresisting Zeke. "Oh, God!" Stick's face paled as he gazed around the room in shock. "Allie!" he snarled, "Where is the Prince? What did you do to him?"
Allie	"We didn't do anything," Allie protested. "Sarren did this. We were just trying to stay alive."
Stick	"Sarren? No. No, you're lying. Sarren wouldn't do this. That's..." He trailed off, his gaze falling on the desk and the crumpled form behind it. "Master Salazar!" Stick cried, rushing over and kneeling beside the motionless body. "He's still alive. Master can you hear me?" At the sound of a weak, choked cry, Stick stood and pointed towards one of the human guards. "You! The stake needs to be removed," he said as he stepped around the desk. "Take it out." "Sir!" Putting down the cooler, the guard rushed forward and dropped to his knees beside the Prince. Bending down, he vanished momentarily and then stood a moment later. the bloody stick gripped triumphantly in one hand. "I have it, sir," the guard said, looking at Stick. But Stick didn't move, didn't say anything. Just watched him with hooded, patient eyes. The guard frowned, confused, and opened his mouth to speak-when Salazar rose up from behind and plunged his fangs into the side of the man's neck.
Allie	What little bitter amusement Allie had felt watching Stick fret over Salazar's body changed to shock at the revelation that Salazar had survived a wooden quarrel directly to the chest. Any doubts she'd had about the strength of a Master vampire vanished. Allie jumped when Salazar attacked. The guard let out a strangled gasp and went rigid, the stake dropping form his fingers as Salazar tore at his throat, shredding flesh and muscle, blind in his Hunger.
Zeke	Zeke wasn't able to pull of the impassive attitude of Stick and the other guards during the attack, but he managed to contain his anger at what was happening to clenching his fists at his side.
Kaidan	Leaving Kaidan to be the only one to go-- "Jesus!" He had too much self-control to rush towards it, but that-- that.
Prince Salazar	Welcome to New Covington, where human life was cheap and strictly at the whim of the Prince. Salazar dropped the still-twitching guard to the floor with a hollow thud and turned blazing dark eyes on Allie. Blood smeared his lips, was spatterd in vivid flecks across his face, and soaked his once white collar. There was a crimson stain on the front of his shirt where the stake had been. He stepped forward, his fury evident. "Kanin's daughter!" he boomed angrily. "You! A curse on you and all your line! If my city was not in such dire straits, I would hang you outside my window to meet the sun," The Prince threatened. "As it is, Kanin's daughter, you will find Sarren, and you will bring him to me alive. I don't care what it takes or where you must go, if you have to scour the streets of the Fringe and fight your way through infected madmen until you reach him, that is what you are going to do. If Sarren knows how to stop this plague, he will tell me. If he knows of a cure, I will peel the truth from him, bit by bit. One way or another, I will get answers, and if you wish to leave my city alive, you will deliver him to me."
Allie	It probably wasn't a good idea to argue with a pissed-off Master vampire, but Allie was mildly stressed at the moment. She lifted her chin and held Salazar's furious gaze. "I'm not going anywhere without Kanin."
Prince Salazar	"I'm in no mood to play games, Kanin's daughter," Salazar said in a low, controlled voice. "You tread on dangerous ground right now, so think very carefully on your demands."
Allie	Allie didn't want to deal with Sarren again, but is seemed like there wasn't going to be much choice in the matter. "Fine," she said calmly. "You want us to find Sarren and bring him back. But he's completely insane, and he's already taken apart four vampires and nearly succeeded in killing all of us. Besides that, we don't know where he's gone and thhe more time we spend chasing him, the worse the city will get." After pausing to gauge Salazar's reaction to her words, Allie continued, fingers crossed that this would work. "The one who knows Sarren, the only one who might be able to tell us where he is, what his next move will be, is Kanin. And if we do run into Psycho Vamp again, Kanin is the only one who might be able to stop him. You want Sarren? Let Kanin go. He's your best chance to save this city."
Prince Salazar	Salazar's jaw tightened. "Very well," he said with great dignity. "I will release the damned one to you, on the condition that he will help you bring Sarren to me. However, if he tries to escape, or if you attempt to flee New Covington, I will hunt you both down myself. And if that happens, you will wish I had chosen to leave Kanin chained to a wall." "Of course," Salazar added, looking faintly pleased. "Let us hope that Kanin is sane enough to help you. We might go down to his cell and find nothing remains but a Lost One."
Jackal	"About time." Jackal stirred and pulled himself to his feet, gritting his teeth. His fangs were out, and his eyes gleamed a little too brightly as he straightened. "Don't anyone get up, I wouldn't want my near death to inconvenience you." He eyed the cooler, still sitting on the floor, then stared at the remaining human guard standing beside it. His lips curled as he struggled to hold himself back, and the human gulped. "You gonna eat that, Prince, or should I find someone else?" Salazar made a dismissive gesture. The guard quickly opened the cooler, pulled out a blood bag, and tossed it to Jackal, who caught it and, even though he was starving, took a moment to give the Prince a mocking salute before biting through the plastic. Blood spurted, ran through his fingers and dripped to the floor. Yum.
Allie	Allie knew one bag of blood wasn't going to be enough to heal Jackal and the thought of facing a starving Kanin, with another half-starved vampire at her back had her on edge. Plus, according to Jackal, he and Kanin hadn't parted on the best of terms, it was probably for the best if Jackal wasn't around for this first reunion. "Wait up here. I'll be back with Kanin as soon as I can."
Jackal	Jackal tossed the empty bag to the floor and grinned at Allie. "You do that," he said, licking blood off his bottom lip. Turning to the guard still beside the cooler, he snapped fingers at him, and the human pulled out another bag. Jackal caught it with a grimace. "You go ahead and play with Kanin," he said. "I'll be here. Oh, and the bloodbags should probably wait this one out, too. If Kanin is that starved, one whiff of human will make him absolutely nuts."
Allie	Jackal had a point, as much as Allie hated to admit it. "He's right," she said to Kaidan and Zeke. "You're going to need to stay here."
Kaidan	"Fine," Kaidan said. His eyes were still fixed on the spot where Salazar had just eaten a human like he didn't give a shit. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of helping this guy - any of them, really - but he was keeping that counsel to himself to be dispensed when they got out of his earshot.
Zeke	"I don't like it," Zeke admitted as he stepped up next to Allie and squeezed her hand. "Just promise me you'll be careful. I know we need him, and that he's important to you. But don't get yourself killed." He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You're important to me, too, so remember that when you're down there."
Allie	"Zeke." There were a million things Allie wanted to say, but standing in Salazar's blood-soaked office wasn't the place for them. "I'll do my best."
Prince Salazar	"If you are quite ready." Salazar's voice was coldly exasperated. "Wait for me in the hall. I must take care of a few things here, and then I will show you to the dungeon."
Allie	The Prince had spoken, and in this case, Allie was going to listen and do exactly what he said. She was too close to getting Kanin out to risk angering Salazar now. "Be careful," she said, catching sight of Stick watching them from across the room, his mouth a thin line and his expression hooded and dark. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Salazar started moving then, leaving Allie no choice but to follow along.