The cool night air whispered across the rooftop deck, carrying with it the faint hum of the city below.
From this height, the sprawling tropolis looked almost peaceful, its twinkling lights stretching into the distance like a beautiful carpet.
Vladimir sat comfortably in a plush chair, a glass of deep red wine in hand. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes, sharp and calculating, never left the horizon.
He'd always loved this view. It reminded him of his position. Above the world, observing, controlling, manipulating from plain sight. But this ti, his mind was not on the city but on Solomon and whatever he was planning.
Solomon had half of the reason he was fighting this war in his hands and he was perfectly happy to throw it away just to have Yuri's subjects.
Sothing wasn't right.
The soft sound of footsteps approaching from behind didn't pull his attention. He had been expecting the vampire.
"You're late." Vladimir said casually, without turning around.
"Apologies." The Necromancer said as he stepped onto the rooftop deck, his dark cloak billowing in the night breeze. "You summoned , my lord."
"Yes, I did." Vladimir gestured lazily to the empty chair across from him, indicating for the Necromancer to sit. "There's been a change of plans."
"My lord?" The Necromancer sat, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. "Which of the plans?"
Vladimir took a sip of his wine, savoring the taste before responding. "Halt all operations regarding Ico and Armand. I've decided to hold off on killing them. We need more ti."
The Necromancer's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face. "My lord? Hold off? Why?"
"That is not for you to know." Vladimir said coldly, his gaze shifting from the horizon to et the Necromancer's eyes. "Understand?"
The Necromancer bowed slightly from where he sat, accepting the reprimand. "Yes, my lord."
"Good." Vladimir turned back to the horizon, taking a sip of his wine. "I have a new task for you."
The Necromancer waited patiently.
"I want you to investigate Yuri's Subjects."
Vladimir caught the Necromancer stiffening slightly in the corner of his eye. Was he that shocked by the task? It didn't matter. Whatever it was about Yuri's Subjects that is making Solomon act out of character, he needed to know what it was.
"I want to know everything about her Subjects. Their strengths, their weaknesses, where they co from, who they were before becoming vampires, their dirty secrets, everything. Use those… zombies you have lying around."
"I will." The Necromancer bowed slightly.
"Good." Vladimir nodded, satisfied. "And while you're at it, make sure no one notices. Not a sign of your… information gathering must be detected."
"Of course, my lord. I'll act imdiately."
As the Necromancer disappeared into the night, Vladimir remained seated, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. He sipped his wine, savoring the taste.
Patience was a virtue many vampires lacked, but Vladimir had always known better. Victory wasn't about speed. It was about the right mont, the perfect strike, when every thread of fate aligned in his favor.
Patience was after all, just another weapon in his immortal arsenal.
**********
The constant ticking of the clock echoed through the dim room, creating a rhythmic pulse that reverberated off the stone walls.
Solomon stood by a large, grimy window, the cold glass pressing against his fingers as he stared out over the city. The clock tower, with its loud, creaking gears, was the perfect eting place. Isolated, neutral, and filled with a quiet, ticking tension that mirrored the anticipation in his chest.
He waited, knowing this eting could be the one to give him what he wanted. With this eting, he'd get Ezra and also be able to maintain the standoff between Vladimir, Yuri and himself until Itachi gets back.
It had taken so effort to arrange this mont, but he had a suspicion that Yuri was too pragmatic to refuse the possibility of putting an end to the war. Even if the invitation had been t with skepticism, if she ca, that would be enough.
The heavy door creaked open, the sound of footsteps echoing against the stone floor. Solomon didn't turn, already knowing who it was. The air shifted, growing colder as Yuri entered the room, her presence commanding even in silence.
She approached with deliberate steps, stopping beside him and peering down at the city just like he was. Solomon could feel the tension crackling between them. Decades of bad blood, of sches and rivalries, all culminating in this mont.
"A part of didn't expect you to show up." He joked, trying to lighten up the mont.
"Cut the crap, Solomon." Yuri said, her voice cold. "I have reports of your very… public eting with Vladimir. If you didn't want here, you wouldn't have let know you were planning sothing."
"I see." Solomon chuckled.
"Why here, Solomon?" Yuri asked, her voice as sharp as a blade. "Why now?"
Solomon finally turned to face her. She was as he expected. Dressed in a stylish pantsuit, her expression unreadable but her eyes piercing. Behind that mask of calm authority, he could sense her suspicion, the careful calculation in every movent.
"I thought it appropriate." Solomon replied evenly, gesturing toward the tower's grand clock face, its hands slowly ticking away. "A place where ti is asured carefully, much like the decisions we make."
Yuri's eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "Don't waste my ti with taphors. Why did you call for this eting?"
Solomon smiled faintly. "Direct, as always." He stepped forward, keeping his voice asured. "To end this war."
Yuri's eyes flickered with surprise for the briefest of monts before her mask of control returned. She crossed her arms, her stance rigid. "You really expect to believe that?"
"I do." Solomon's voice was calm. "This war will cost both of us resources, alliances, and ti. But it doesn't have to reach the third phase. We can stop it in its tracks, right here, right now."
Yuri's expression remained hard, but her eyes reflected the calculations running through her mind. The one trait most commonly associated with Solomon was greed. He wouldn't be abandoning this war without getting sothing from it.
"And what, exactly, are you offering?" She asked.
Solomon nodded, confirming that she'd asked the right question.
"I'm offering you a deal."
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