Interlude VI
The Pacts
(Constance Evans)
“You cannot go there directly, due to the Pacts,” The Dark Queen stated.
Her words a commandment that burned Constance from the inside out, as she desperately fought to override the exact order given to her by the Dark Queen herself. Had the words been spoken by a proxy, Constance felt she might have been able to avoid or work around the sacred oath. But for the order to come from the Dark Queen directly meant there was no ambiguity of thought, there was no misinterpretation, no misspoken words that could help Constance convince her mind otherwise.
“I understand,” Constance responded.
“Do you? Do you truly understand the importance of the pacts? How the pacts are all that keeps us unified against the last vestiges that dare to hold out against us? How the pacts are all that keep our fractured alliance upright and operational?” The Dark Queen demanded.
Hearing the words, Constance’s mind widened, as she had always wondered how the different factions could co-mingle and exist. From the outside, that is the side of the few remaining humans, the forces amassed against them seem undaunting.
Yet, she knew from her own rescue operation, where she and her Aunt Christie and herself that the Dark Queen had to make many concessions. First and foremost, all land conquered had to be left to the control of the Corrupted Animal Kingdom, or as they liked to be called, the Akino Kingdom.
Also, all bodies of people killed directly were to be left for the animals and their young to feed off of. From the brief interaction, Constance also realized that much like the vampires, there were many different factions within the Akino Kingdom. The rats, serpents, and others all had their distinct roles and purposes.
Together they came together to fight as one, but outside of that, it was clear that tensions rose within their ranks.
Now, from just being here, a part of this new operation. Constance saw, or rather was allowed to see via the Far Viewing powers of the most capable of vampires, how the were-community was also fractured. They too only put on a front when the time arose, and until then they would fight and bicker amongst themselves just as the others all had.
Again, these were subjects that could not be spoken about or uttered, for the sheer knowledge that they existed would threaten to unravel the very nature of what has made them so successful to this point.
Taking a breath, Constance calmed her mind and answered.
“I believe I do understand,” she quipped.
Then a look of irritation filled her as she almost wanted to utter the most sacrilege of things, for a moment Constance almost thought of questioning the Dark Queen of her very actions. As the thought seemed to come to mind, the Dark Queen herself coiled inward, as if a serpent ready to strike.
It was only the slight notice of movement and the intense warning of fear that rang echoingly in her mind that Constance stopped. Then with great will of effort, she exhaled as she let the Dark Queen take on her role as leader of the faction.
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Yet, it was all so frustrating.
“Good, now you have already set your proxies into the territory to act as your behalf, let them work.” The Dark Queen commanded.
Hearing her, there was no argument, though Constance did have to wonder.
“You have questions on why your proxies can work for a cause, but not you?” The Dark Queen pressed, as even now the dark acolytes responsible for Far Viewing began working in unison. Seven dark angels at seven points, working their energies in unison to bring about one purpose, to show everyone gathered how the proxies were doing.
“Yes,” Constance admitted, lowering her head as she spoke. She knew it was her job to follow, that the Dark Queen would lead, and it would be her obligation to enact the will of her immortal queen.
“Right now, these proxies. These former elite soldiers are just being influenced by the dark, slowly being brought over to our side. Technically, they could fall to any of the seven great factions, which is why they are allowed to go freely and see which grouping is best for them.” The Dark Queen spoke.
As she did, Constance began to understand the intricacies of deception. While it was true that these beings were not fully changed and turned vampires, they were not truly capable of being swayed to one side or another. Constance knew this, the Weres whose lands these proxies entered knew this, as did every other sentient creature of the other nations. Thus, it was by technicality that they were allowed to enter.
“Yes, you see the fact that it is but a technicality that we are allowed to let them enter. While they were following our rules, how they followed those rules was entirely up to them. Also, know that if they fail, then they were not worthy of joining either sect. If they succeed and make it back here with the prize that we both covet, then we will pay just compensation for any damages these vassals took part in.” The Dark Queen continued explaining the intricacies of her machinations.
This was a lot to take in, but was important as it helped Constance understand so much.
With that Constance turned back to the rendered image that played out like a movie before them. Though unlike a true movie, this was a real time view of a slowly dying special forces unit burning through their reserves of strength, fighting off werewolves and were-birds as well.
Watching, Constance remembered when she was under similar orders. She too had been ordered to fight to the last, as she did, she felt her source of energy slowly dry up and finally shatter. At that moment she felt the most lonely.
Shiver.
Watching, Constance realized that they could be saved. At least, that was the thought she had, for the Dark Queen was correct, right now these three warriors were not fully converted, not yet at least. But by wasting away all of their mortal energy, they would force their bodies to change, particularly if they wanted to maintain some connection to their previous powers.
So far, there had only been one person who had been able to stave off the conversion process. Someone who was just as much a sample of the living, as he had always been.
Seeing that man, her Frank, there and alone on the werewolf territories caused a faint pulse of understanding to tingle awake in her mind.
“You want Frank because he can go onto any territory?” Constance finally asked, wondering why the Dark Queen favored their ancient connection so much.
“Exactly, while his connection to you is muted while on consecrated land of the other pact holders, it is still there. With the two of you, I plan on making an army of elite soldiers capable of going anywhere, at any time. Even on lands that would normally be protected by the pacts would be fully within our grasps. You see that water in the background?” The Dark Queen asked, pointing to a slightly bubbling hot spring that was in the background.
Looking at the image, Constance saw the water, but then saw how it slowly changed and altered based on her viewing.
“Yes,” Constance finally managed to say.
“That is the water of clarity, every great shaman of the tribes uses that very water to strengthen their powers of prophecy. If we could get but a liter of that water here, then every Diviner before you, would have their powers increased tenfold.” The Dark Queen stated.
Hearing that, Constance could only nod, for the werewolf shamans were known for their innate ability to divine the future. Right now, there was no such thing as divination within the vampire community, the closest thing they had were these vision walkers, or those who could project their sight outwards. By working in tandem a group could then use relics of the past to present what they were seeing, but to be able to truly predict the future, would make the vampires even more capable.
“I understand,” Constance stated.
“Do you? Do you realize this is but one of the many blessings we could get, how we could take the strengthening stones that the mighty Insectoid tribes to the east take, and more?” The Dark Queen asked.
Suddenly, Constance realized why so much attention was being placed on Frank. At least, the Dark Queen’s sudden and undisguised interest became apparent. But how long until others thought of these very same loopholes for their own factions.
The Queen not only wanted to keep the sacred pacts in place, but then to be able to have unstoppable agents capable of going anywhere and accessing all the sacred products that made each of the seven factions unique and unstoppable in their own rights.
Realizing that so much was happening, Constance turned back to the viewer and saw something that made her blood run cold.
For there was Frank, frantically dragging and working on an injured were-female.
Seeing him care so deeply for another woman made Constance’s blood boil, just before she found her instincts taking over and all but demanding her to go and rip that woman from her soul partner’s hands, echoing words of power rang out in her mind.
“Sit down, now and do not rise until I tell you to.” The Dark Queen demanded, and as had always been the case, Constance obeyed.