14. T H E E M P R E S S
The Empress rested her chin on folded hands as she looked at the hologram.
A three dimensional map of Paris levitated on her desk. Her eyes drifted over three separate locations within the city. Before, she had dismissed her spies, she had asked for the Rebels hideaways.
Hours passed by, but she still remained seated at her office, with a goblet of blood. The Empress was in a vicious cycle of feeding and brooding.
Her brows were hooded over her eyes as she assessed each location for the thousandth time.
"First location," she repeated "La Défense, west of Paris a major business district." She spoke, and the skyscrapers on the map rose at their mention. The Rebels had dispersed themselves in the metro area, knowing that no matter how vile she may be, The Empress would never allow the city's business district to fall under. It brought in the wealth that funded not only her lavish lifestyle, but deposited straight into the accounts, of those that aided her ascension to the throne.
She brought the goblet to her lips and drank plenty, before setting it down and turning her attention back to the map.
The second location bemused her, "what can they want with the Parc des Expositions?" The vast space of the exposition centre rose. It was located in between train stations, that now connected the entire city. "Feasible way of travelling I presume." She murmured.
Finally, The Empress exhaled while looking at the last location. The one she had dreaded the most. "What is this sudden fascination with churches?" She wondered aloud, "they're not bases to be lived in." The Empress couldn't help it, her thoughts drifted to Mira and the lonely church she slept in. She wondered what the girl was up to. "Probably weeping at the feet of Jesus, praying for a miracle." Then The Empress eyed the medieval cathedral on her map. "Notre-Dame, Notre-Dame you must feel so used housing miserable rebels, giving them false hope." The glorious structure of the church floated up on the map.
The Empress stood up, hoping that an aerial view of the three locations, would illuminate something more. She studied her tower which stood in the lonely middle, as the three locations were highlighted. An unbelievable thought occurred to her then as she stared at the addresses.
Her finger lifted, to trace the triangular pattern that surrounded the tower, "they've caged me in." She spoke, "from the west, the south, and the east."
She remembered what the boy told her.
I'd arm the Blood Bank, with your Undead Army, Empress. I suspect you'll be getting more then just citizens coming for their weekly Vial on Friday.
"Tour Montparnasse," she whispered. The 58 floor high rise, elevated on the map. The Blood Bank was in between the exposition centre and the church. Enslaved humans were taken there to have their blood extracted. Some of the humans there worked towards earning their vampire nobility. If they pledged their blood willingly, after a certain amount of years they'd be turned into vampires. Incentives, The Empress had hoped would tempt humans out of hiding.
Friday, would arrive in four days, she'd have plenty of time to prepare for whatever the Rebels had planned. "They've gotten smarter." She begrudgingly admitted, they pinpointed spots she wouldn't be able to easily send the Undead Army into. "I do love a good challenge."
A knock at her door sounded then, The Empress waved a hand over the map. The hologram dissolved into specks of blue.
"My Empress, you have visitors." The Chief spoke before opening the door.
There was an unspoken rule, The Empress was never to be disturbed. However, only on two occasions could she be bothered. The first being that her Kingdom, and the second being those of equal power wanted to meet with her. She knew it wasn't the former.
The gothic door opened and her Chief shuffled inside. Behind him, followed in two beings, one of which was the head Councilman, of The Swiss Confederation.
"Josef!" The Empress exclaimed with feigned excitement, "what a.. surprise?" She left out pleasant on purpose. Her confusion was evident as she glanced at her Chief, who came to stand beside her.
Under his breath, he whispered to her. "It seems he's come to drop his son off."
The Empress' eyes rounded in astonishment. She looked at Chief like he had grown another head. But sure enough, behind Josef Hauser's round frame was his traditionally handsome son, Elias.
"My apologies," Josef's voice was jolly as he sat his plump body at her desk. The man whisked out a clean handkerchief from his pocket. He could barely wipe the perspiration on his forehead, before he smiled at The Empress. "I realise it's quite late and so rude of me to come unannounced."
The Empress lied through her teeth, "no, no you know you're always welcome in my home. Tell me, how's Lena?" She asked while sitting across from the man.
"Oh, the wife!" Josef chortled a deep laugh, "she's quite dandy, flown out to Athens to visit her family."
She nodded along keeping up the pleasantries. "Good, good," she murmured. Josef had been one of the members to pave the way for her rise to power.
"That's why I'm here actually. I have got some business to attend to in the States," Josef's cheeks bloomed with red.
The Empress lifted her bows up, knowing full well what kind of business the sorcerer had.
"I'm unable to take Elias, so I was hoping I could leave him in your care in my absence."
The Empress blinked, "Surely there must be someone in your country that could look after him?"
"Oh no!" Josef adamantly shook his head from side to side. "Besides, Elias is to attend university here. So, before the term begins I thought'd he'd get acquainted with the city." Josef knew The Empress wouldn't deny him. France and Switzerland had good relations, and she owed him.
"The art," Elias spoke up behind his father, "calls to me." His hand waved in the air like he was trying to express a profound devotion.
The Empress glanced up at the young man, who was staring at the portrait behind her. "Right," her voice trailed off. "But Josef, you must know the state of my city it isn't the best right now." The Empress said hoping this would deflect the man. She gestured towards Elias, "not the safest for your precious."
Josef, stood on his stubby legs, "Nonsense!" He slapped his son's back, who nearly fell over from the shove. "The boy needs to toughen up, it'll do him good."
The Empress looked at her Chief, who looked just as lost as her.
"Very well then, I'll be on my way!" Josef, quickly made his way out the door.
"Wait!" She called after him, "when will you be back?"
Josef called over his shoulder, "in a month I'd say."
"A month!" The Empress wheezed while looking at Elias. He stood by her bookshelves, his fingers ran over the spine's of her medical texts.
"I shall show the young man to his room," The Chief murmured, while ushering the boy out of her office.
"Please do!" She said while rubbing at her temples. Just as the Chief, was about to close the door, she spoke.
"Send Octavius to my office will you? I need to have a word with him."
The Chief folded his arms, "didn't he tell you?"
"Tell me what?" The Empress questioned.
"Lord Octavius, took two days of leave."
The Empress narrowed her eyes as she nodded at Chief, who closed the door on her. The Empress once again began the vicious cycle of drinking and brooding. This time, her thoughts on Octavius and his mysterious departure.