Walking through the entrance of the cave felt a bit like going through a portal to Giovani; he felt the hair on his arms and the back of his neck stand up, a sensation he was used to causing, not experiencing himself. Despite the fact that it was still daylight outside, the cave was dark, dank, and smelled like the countryside after a rain shower. His eyes adjusted to the dim light easily, and he was able to follow a winding path that eventually led to a small chamber where the rays of sunshine could no longer penetrate. The ceiling height increased here so that he was no longer having to hunch his shoulders, and the further in he walked the more the space above him soared. Eventually, he found himself standing in a cathedral type room full of stalactites and stalagmites.
He appeared to be alone, as he could not see anyone else, and yet he had the sensation that he was not the only one in the room. He peered around the chamber, squinting to compensate for the lack of light, yet no one appeared before him. “Hello? Is anyone there?” he called quietly. There was no answer, and he thought perhaps he had come at a time when the great Vampire was not at home. Yet, he still felt as if he was being watched. After a few moments, he tried again, shouting this time. “Hello? Daunator, if you are here, I would like to speak to you!” Once again, he waited. After an extended amount of time with no response, he shook his head and turned to go. As he pivoted, he felt a cold hand on his shoulder, pulling him back sharply. He glanced down to see a bone-white hand, with spindly long fingers grasping his sweater. Giovani was not afraid of many things, but this even frightened him a bit, and so he turned around slowly, cautiously.
The face he looked into could only be described as death himself; white as ebony, with eyes so dark they seemed to be gaping holes, save the crimson outline that almost glowed in the dark. His skin appeared to be paper thin, his lips pulled back in a grimace. He wore a black cloak, and the hood slipped down stopping just short of his pencil thin brows. “Giovani,” he hissed, “you have come to me at last.”
It took him a moment to find his voice, and he was keenly aware that the skeleton hand still rested on his shoulder. “Yes, sire,” he said, bowing his head, suddenly full of respect for this ancient being. “I was hoping you might help me… solve a problem.”
Daunator’s face froze for a moment before he broke into a vicious laugh, slapping Giovani on the shoulder roughly as he did so. He drew his hand back then, and taking his time, stared the younger Vampire up and down, as if he was not yet sure if he were worthy of his assistance. At lengths he asked, “What is it that you seek?” Advice? Consecration? Malediction?”
“Yes, sire,” Giovani admitted, clearing his voice. “All three, if I am honest. I need your help. I seek to destroy the Guardian and Hunter Leaders once and for all, bringing the Vampires back into power, and ridding the world of those who would destroy us.”
Without speaking, Daunator inhaled sharply, and turning on his heels, he walked slowly to the back of the chamber where a large wooden chair, perhaps a throne, suddenly appeared; Giovani was certain he had not seen it there before. Hesitating for a moment, Giovani finally decided to follow. Daunator sat, made himself comfortable, and then after another deep breath, he asked, “Why do you wish to embark upon this endeavor? Why do you deem yourself worthy of destroying those who would seek to destroy you?”
Giovani was not ready for this question; it had never occurred to him that he might be unworthy or incapable of completing the task he had set his mind upon. After a few moments of contemplation, he replied, “I am the son of Holland. I seek vengeance on those who ended her reign; as her heir, I am both capable and worthy of redeeming her loss against those who assailed her and the rest of our clan so viciously.”
Several more moments passed in silence as the ancient one considered the response. At long last, he responded, “To defeat the Guardian Leader, you must weaken him. You must destroy the one he loves above all else. This is, of course, the Hunter Leader. You are not strong enough to defeat her.”
“What?” Giovani asked, shocked. “But, I….”
“Silence,” Daunator reprimanded, his voice still just above a whisper. “If you believe yourself strong enough to defeat her, you are a fool. And I will not waste another second speaking to one who has such little sense.”
Momentarily swallowing his pride, and dropping his head, Giovani whispered, “Yes, sire.”
“No, I’m afraid there is not a single Vampire alive who can defeat her. She is powerful; strong, swift, intelligent, passionate. You cannot destroy her. None of us can.”
“Then how…?”
“Should you choose to listen, I shall advise you in how it shall be done.” He was losing patience now, his dagger-like fingernails dragging into the armrests of his chair.
“I’m sorry, sire,” Giovani replied, folding his hands in front of himself. “Please continue.”
“There is but one way to defeat her. You must create one who is stronger than any of us now, any that have existed. One who is already so evil that the Resurrection serves only to darken his already blackened soul. Find him, and then you will have a small chance of defeating her. You may outnumber her, but even then, you will not be successful unless you can overpower her in one-on-one combat. You must disarm her--and you must find a way to lure her in alone.”
Giovani was overwhelmed with such a complicated response. “How? How would I do such a thing? Even if I could find one so evil, there’s no way that I can get her by herself, unarmed.”
“You must think. Use your resources. Consider what is valuable to her above all else. That is her weakness.”
“I’d never be able to get Aaron by himself either….” Giovani thought aloud, knowing that he could draw Cadence in if he could somehow manage to capture the one she loved.
“Is he the only one? Does she love no other the same as he?”
Once again, Giovani found himself in deep contemplation. He had already destroyed Jack, his first pawn. Elliott, perhaps, would have been enough to draw Cadence in for a rescue. But he was long dead now as well. Who else would she be willing to give up everything for? And then, a smile broke over his scruffy face as he realized exactly there was hope that he could get Cadence to surrender herself. “Sire, I know I can get her to come to me, now. But who do I get to destroy her once I have her?”
“Go, now. Continue your contemplation. Seek the advice of those most sacred to you. The answer will come in good time,” Daunator said, clearly through with his sagely duties.
Giovani was not completely satisfied with that response, but he was smart enough to know he needed to make his exit now before he overstayed his welcome. Daunator had already given him invaluable advice. “Thank you, sire,” he said bowing low. “Your assistance is greatly appreciated.”
Daunator said nothing, only waved his hand dismissively.
Giovani turned to wind his way back out of the cave. A few steps into his retreat, he turned and looked over his shoulder, hoping to offer his thanks one more time. The cave was empty, no trace of Daunator anywhere to be seen. Shaking his head in disbelief, Giovani continued on his way back out of the cave.
When he emerged, Zabrina threw her arms around him, embracing him tightly and kissing his lips. Eventually she let him go, and exclaimed, “There you are! Thank God! We thought you were never coming back!”
“What are you talking about?” Giovani asked. “I was only gone a few minutes.”
“It’s been four hours,” Nelo informed him.
Giovani realized now the sun had set. “How is that possible?” he wondered, turning around and looking back at the entry to the cave. But behind him he saw only a solid stone wall. This was strange magic, even for Vampires, and he wasn’t sure if any of it was real. What he did know, however, was how to lure Cadence Findley in. Now, all he needed to do was find someone strong enough, and evil enough, to destroy her once and for all.
