Lorelei didn't give Judy a chance to respond after whispering in her ear. She just left the room closing the door softly on her way out. The area downstairs had become quiet which most likely meant it was a good time for her to make an appearance. She had heard of Fina from her time in the facility since the researchers wanted nothing more than to capture her. The ability she had made her a one-woman army. That was one of the reasons she didn't travel with a large fleet. Fina usually only had maybe two crewmembers with her at any given time out at sea. Now was her chance to meet this woman and find out exactly what her intentions were regarding Crimson Judgement.
Her footsteps slowly echoed down the stair. Lorelei had a pair of dark red knee-high boots with a small heel. A confident smile crossed her face as she moved down the stairs walking towards the area where the party had been set up. She saw Alexandria and Fina locked in a handshake stare that almost made her burst out laughing. "Are you two posing for a painting or are we actually going to get to the terms of this alliance?"
Alexandria broke the handshake first looking over at her mother a mix of shock and agitation etched on her face. She had hoped her mother would've stayed away long enough for them to iron out the details. Of course, she had to waltz in right in the middle of everything. "I don't remember asking you to join us, Commander Lorelei. Is there a reason you interrupt important talks with a future ally?"
She was hurt for a moment that Alexandria would call her by name and title rather than mother. Lorelei let out an exasperated sigh her boot steps again echoing inside the room. They gave her moves purpose as she stopped a few feet from her daughter putting her hands on her hips tilting her head to the side. "I may be a commander and the leader of your personal guard however I'm still your mother and you will treat me with respect."
Fina leaned forward trying to hold her laughter, but it was no use. Laughter erupted from her lips echoing all over the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look over at her.
Alexandria's face had turned bright red, and she clenched her fist digging her nails into the palms of her hand. A light trail of blood trickled between her fingers. If it wasn't for Fina's laughter the light taps of the blood hitting the wooden floor would've softly echoed through the room.
“I see why you have grown so strong since the last time we met. We have a legendary shifter gracing us with her presence. Why didn't you tell me Lorelei was your mother?” it had taken Fina a bit to recompose herself however this revelation made her even more interested in working with Crimson Judgment.
The room went silent for a moment and as Alexandria was about to speak, she heard the drop hit the floor. She looked down at her fist and saw the blood. Letting out an exasperated sigh she walked over to the table, grabbed a napkin and started to clean up the blood on the floor. Once she was finished, she stopped the bleeding on her hand, got a new napkin and wrapped her palm tying it tight. She had two people to deal with now and one of them was her mother.
“I wasn't trying to disrespect you mother.” she paused putting a sarcastic emphasis on mother at the end. “I didn't want to announce that right away since you joining the meeting wasn't expected. I decided to announce you as my commander instead of my mother to keep the negotiations moving smoothly.” Alexandria shook her head wanting nothing more than to bury her head in her hands and lay down.
Lorelei raised an eyebrow looking over at Fina. She had heard stories of her but never had the pleasure of meeting her in person until now. It was time to decide whether she was going to answer Alexandria or deal with Fina.
“Shouldn't you answer your daughter and Captain instead of sizing me up as you are right now?” Fina gave Lorelei a sarcastic smirk returning the raised eyebrow that she was given by Alexandria's mother.
Shaking her head Lorelei ignored Fina for the moment and turned to face Alexandria. “I only wanted to add my expertise to the situation. You are the captain of crimson judgment and that will not change however other pirate crews are to be trusted with a grain of salt since some of them will and have worked with the walled city government in the past.”
Fina was impressed by Lorelei's knowledge, especially of the past. It was said that the legendary shifter was currently contained inside one of the walled cities' facilities. It seems that information was either outdated or a complete lie.
“Thank you, mother, I'm well aware of that fact. Fina and I have dealt with each other in the past. However, at the moment I do not have any reason to believe she would work with the walled city government. Also, all the territory I have gained was given to me or should I say taken from her own territory as a gift for helping her and vice versa.” She wasn't really keen on sharing this information right now however once all this was out of the way they could continue the negotiations hopefully without any more interruptions.
Lorelei was impressed with both of them. She turned her attention away from Alexandria for a moment and bowed her head to Fina. “I want to thank you for assisting my daughter in my absence. I also want to say that it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance after hearing so much about you.”
Fina had a devilish grin painted across her face as she moved closer to Lorelei. “No need to bow to me. The stories of how you have fought on the battlefield or what convinced me to create my pirate crew. Even though I don't travel with a large fleet due to my ability I do have a rather expensive territory. If I had known when I met her, she was your daughter I would have given it freely without a fight.”
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A playful giggle escaped Lorelei's lips as she rose to meet Fina's gaze. “I would prefer it if you did not spoil her in that manner. I prefer that she took it by force. That way she learns the importance of strategy not just from books but also from practical experience. I heard most of the conversation from upstairs, however I want to know what the true price for you is aligning yourself with us?”
Alexandria just stood there watching the two of them speak. Her mother went from interrupting the negotiations to continuing them with such finesse and directness. Perhaps she should have invited her mother in the first place and maybe things would have gone much smoother. It was too late to think about it now since it was over and done with.
Fina thought for a moment. Even though Alexandria and Lorelei posed the same question for some reason when it came from Lorelei it packed a different punch. Fina felt as though she was talking to herself in a way. Even though Alexandria was formidable on the battlefield and in the negotiating arena her mother was a completely different caliber.
A playful giggle escaped Fina's lips. She was a bit entranced at the moment, but a reply needed to be made. “You do live up to your own Legend. I want to make sure that no matter what choice I make it benefits my crew and my territory. The walled cities have not been idle since you destroyed one of them. Messenger birds have been everywhere they are looking for help.” She paused for a moment reaching into her trench coat and pulling out a small scroll with the walled cities emblem on it. “The reason I came here was because of this and I wasn't going to say anything at first but now I want to know more about you Lorelei. That will be my price. The walled cities are offering a lot of money for any one of us to take your daughter down. However, you are my idol so I cannot willingly move against you.” Fina realized she hadn't given anyone a chance to say anything, so she stopped just waving the small scroll back and forth waiting for one of them to say something.
“I do want to accept however I am not the captain. I will say that I will consent to telling you anything and everything you want to know. You however have to promise never to betray me Crimson Judgment or Alexandria ever. If you do, I will rip you apart and feed you to your crew." Lorelei's demeanor completely changed; instead of the happy-go-lucky smile and sarcastic look she had on her face it had been replaced by stern eyes and a single vein popping out in the center of her forehead.
Alexandria wasn't going to give Fina a chance to respond to that just yet. It was good that the negotiations were going in their favor however she needed to add to it. “I will accept your conditions, Fina. However, I want to add something as well. You are not just going to promise with your words we are going to form a pact, a blood pact. Of course, we will not mix our blood together through a handshake or something like that since the results could be catastrophic. We will do it on an official document and Lorelei will be the one to engrave the seal. My mother will be the glue that holds this alliance together and if any one of us breaks the pact the one who does dies while the other two are cursed. If these conditions are favorable to you to both of you for that matter, I accept.”
The air in the room became heavy and everyone went silent. There had not been a blood pact since the dawn of the pirate age. It was one of the reasons the first pirate king's ancestors had such great luck. They came out on the winning side of a blood pact. It was the whole reason Hugo was able to find his ancestors' flagship before Alexandria did. Both Lorelei and Fina looked in Alexandria's direction.
“Why would you form a blood pact with someone that you don't know inside and out?” Lorelei's eyes were fixated on her daughter as she moved closer to her.
Before Alexandria could answer the question Fina cut in. “I have no objections to forming this Alliance in this manner. The fact that you even brought it up means that you are serious, and this isn't just a ploy to take what is mine. I want nothing more than to live out my days plundering and pillaging and then once I am too tired to do it anymore retreat to my lands and grow old enjoying the spoils of my conquests.”
A low growl escaped Lorelei's lips as she stared daggers at Fina extending her hands out as claws protruded from her fingernails.
Lyric rose from her seat pulling her Cutlass a few inches out of the sheath. Alexandria's voice boomed from her mouth echoing across the room. “I will not have violence in this hall, that is enough!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and Lyric sheathed her Cutlass and sat down. Alexandria turned to her mother, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I understand your concern however you decided to accept her conditions to divulge everything about you and it is my choice to decide how this Alliance proceeds forward, and this is my decision you can either retract your claws and contain your anger or you can leave, and we will continue these negotiations without you.” She didn't want her mother to leave the crew, however if she was going to shift inside the Great Hall there was no need for her to be here.
Lorelei took in a deep breath, closing her eyes and returning her hands to normal. As she exhaled and lifted her head her demeanor returned to that of the sarcastic happy-go-lucky mother. “Very well I will accept your judgment however I ask that I be able to deal the final blow as I wanted if she decides to betray us.”
Alexandria nodded in agreement looking over to Fina. “Are all these conditions agreeable to you?”
A devious smile crossed Fina's lips. This day just got even better. “I agree to all the terms and conditions. I will also give you the scroll. I am pretty sure this same information was sent out to everyone who they believe might Aid them. How about we finish the lovely food that you have set out and afterwards we will sign the blood pact.”
“Very well let's finish the mail and then we will wake my wife, and she will be another witness to this blood pact since I now know there is no way you will betray me. It's only fair that all of our cards are put on the table.” Alexandria was pleased with the outcome and now all that was left to do was make it official. How many more allies would she be able to gain before the fierce fighting began.