Once More With Feeling (Part 2)
Blood and Starlight Ch 9: Part 2
Blood and Starlight: A conjurer, a vampire, and a mechanical demon embark on a rescue mission.
Audience: Adults (contains violence, strong language, and sexual content)
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Chapter 9
Once More With Feeling (Part 2)
Dusk approached by the time he returned the cane to propmaster Quinn. The skeleton chevalier unbound the splint, poured him a generous dram of zaqual, and wiped invisible tears from his eye sockets while Ely played a tune on his violin. As he had hoped, the wistful vibrations released some of the anguish that had built to a crescendo in the past few days.
When he laid down his bow, Rav silently joined them. Ely had sensed the vampire lingering out of sight near the window, but he was not going to interrupt his rhapsody in the middle without reaching a satisfying conclusion.
"So?" Rav inquired.
"She gave me a starting point," Ely said.
"Where?" Rav pressed, shadowed eyes eager.
"I'll get to that. There is something else of which my visit to the University has reminded me. Something that could spoil our plot before it begins."
Rav eyed him impatiently, lips drawn into a tight scowl.
Ely continued, "The doctor has a device. A whole loft, really, in one of the University towers devoted to a machine that tracks the movements of everything in the Vale. It tells her where there are ruptures or when templars venture too deep into the wilderness. It told her where to find me when I fled Saint Lucio."
"You're certain it can track anything in the Vale?" Rav asked.
"So she says," Ely nodded.
"But you can't read glyphs, so you have no idea for sure what exactly this contraption tells her," Rav said with blunt irritation.
"She has used it accurately enough for me to know we cannot risk hoping for a blind spot," Ely answered, pretending he could not feel the jab of the vampire's contempt for his technical illiteracy.
"What exactly are you hinting at, Elyssandro?" Rav asked, pronouncing his name in lethal staccato.
"I think I should go alone to fetch the key," he said.
Rav glared, fangs flaring. "You would still be trapped in the roots of the Hollow if not for my help."
"I know that, and I am grateful," Ely said.
It was difficult to remain calm with gusts of fury rushing over him from across the room. He wondered if this was what it was like when others stood at his own side.
"I will not entrust Ariel's release to a mortal, conjurer or not," Rav spat.
"If Dr. Faidra suspects that we have conspired against her, we don't stand a chance."
"You've overestimated her cunning," Rav glowered.
"I have friends among the Etrugans," Ely went on. "They will help me recover the key."
Rav cocked his head to the side, and Ely realized his mistake too late. "So, it's with the Etrugans, then."
"Yes, but–"
The vampire shot through the window like a bullet from a pistol chamber.
"Well done, old man," Quinn said, patting him on the shoulder.
Ely rubbed his burning eyes with a sigh.
"Shit."
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