The Chronicles of the Teenage Vampires, The Beginning

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Ryder

The Talk

Now, it was obvious that Azarath wanted to kill us, but I thought that with a bit of diplomacy, we could get out of this sticky situation unscathed. When I tried to speak, she interrupted immediately. She said,

"Now that everyone is settled in, I want to get right down to business. I have a message from mistress Scarlet Willow," I was taken aback. I thought after I burned my mark, she couldn't sense me. So, I decided to ask,

"How does she know that I exist? After I burned my mark, I should be undetectable,"

"She has her ways," Azarath told me with an evil grin. I tried to make her change her mind about killing me.

"Why do you work for her?" I asked slyly, "You're much more powerful than she is. Why not kill her instead of us. If you kill her, you will become the leader of the council. A goddess like yourself surely doesn't like taking orders from that ugly old toad, do you? What do you think of that?" She seemed to ponder it for quite some time until she told me,

"I don't know that I have enough power to do that. I was very weakened when I lost my followers, and bagged blood hasn't been helping much." I tried again. Wording things just right,

"Well...you don't need to do it yourself. I'm quite powerful, as is Maddy. We hate Willow quite a bit. We can help you. The coup would go down incredibly easily." Azarath pondered this as well.

"You're absolutely right," Maddy jerked back her head in surprise. I could see she did not think much of us trying to wipe out the council, "Why should I, a nearly immortal goddess have to bow down to the will of my great great granddaughter. She should be learning how to rule from me, not the other way around. I promise you Ryder, when I become leader, you will be my right hand man, my vampire grand vizier," she had an evil smile on her face, "Let me tell you, my chère ami, Scarlet Willow's downfall is tonight, and I want you to lead the frontal assault." I was extremely happy I was alive and that I had earned myself a place on the council.