My Vampire Harem Will Dominate Everything

The Necromancer stared in incomprehension. Vladimir had to know what he was asking for.

"My lord. I\'m not strong enough to do it on my own." The Necromancer said. "Those are the two fifth ring vampires whose strength triples when they fight together. My horde isn\'t strong enough for them."

His words hung in the air. Killing the two powerful vampires was not an easy task, even for someone of his abilities. He knew the potential rewards but he was also aware of the risks. He was more likely to fail than succeed.

"Walk with me." Vladimir said before strolling away, his hands clasped behind his back. After a moment\'s pause, the Necromancer fell into step beside him.

"Are you saying that you don\'t think you can do it?" Vladimir asked. "How about this? The moment you succeed, I\'ll hand Ezra Matten over to you."

The Necromancer blinked in surprise. Ezra Matten was the only reason he was working with Vladimir and he was sure the man knew it too. And if he turned Ivo and Armand, he\'d be getting exactly what he wanted. This didn\'t make any sense.

Removing the two vampires would destabilize Yuri\'s personal power base, leaving her vulnerable but it would also add significant strength to himself. Why would Vladimir want that?

"In addition to that, I\'ll make Westside yours." Vladimir said. "I know you have plans. Big plans. You\'ll need a place of your own to prepare. Isn\'t Westside a good place for that?"

The Necromancer walked in silence for a few seconds. This could only mean one thing. Vladimir was after Yuri herself for one reason or the other. Removing Ivo and Armand would make it easier to get to her.

With them gone, Vladimir gets what he wants. Adding two fifth ring vampires to his horde would also weaken him and deplete his vitality stores. It would also be the perfect time for Vladimir to eliminate him.

The Necromancer\'s gaze drifted over the nearby flowers before he focused back on Vladimir. "And if I refuse to accept this task? If I know it is beyond my capabilities?"

"I never said you couldn\'t choose, Necromancer." Vladimir laughed casually. "But every action has a consequence."

The Necromancer heard the threat loud and clear. If he refused, he wouldn\'t be able to walk away without suffering some kind of loss. Vladimir might even use this opportunity to kill him.

The Necromancer nodded in the silence. "I accept the task."

"Excellent." Vladimir said, a satisfied smile touching his lips as they stopped in front of a small fountain. "Act swiftly, Necromancer. I am eager to see how the garden grows once we\'ve pruned away the unwelcome branches."

The Necromancer bowed before walking away, leaving Vladimir to his flowers. If his hammer couldn\'t handle the nail in front of him, he\'ll either have to get a bigger hammer or find another nail.

He\'d have to contact Helena. It was time to leave Vladimir.

**********

"Ready?" Ivo asked his best friend with a grin.

"Ready." Armand answered. Today was the day. They\'d be taking their first steps towards their dreams.

With a shared nod, they teleported, appearing in a room they\'d only been in once before. Back when Yuri was still an Arbiter and they\'d run errands for her.

"I see you two like courting death." A man said, stepping forward from the small crowd of vampires pointing weapons at them.

Ivo snorted, looking over the group. "A warm welcome, I see. But who is this Malachi look-alike?"

Ivo\'s smile widened at hearing a few snorts from the vampires behind the man.

The man turned to his group, a betrayed expression on his face. He was dressed in a black trench coat and had a black bowler hat on his head. Unlike Malachi, he was tall. "I\'m telling you guys. Malach copied me, not the other way round."

"Of course." Someone said. "We totally believe you."

"Shit!" The man swore, tearing the hat off his head and throwing it on the floor. "I shouldn\'t have told that punk about my upcoming fashion change."

"Enough of this." Armand spoke. "Solomon should know we\'re here, shouldn\'t he?"

The man nodded and waved a hand. Someone left the room, probably to bring news to the count.

"I\'m Michael." The man introduced himself casually, even as the men behind him watched them cautiously. "Don\'t forget it."

"Of course, Malachi." Ivo said.

Michael had to be held back by the men behind him. The chaos of the teleportation room only died down when the runner returned with Solomon\'s words.

He\'d receive them.

Minutes later, Ivo and Armand were standing in front of Solomon. The man sat behind the huge desk in his study, staring at them in amusement. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Armand frowned at the room. There were no chairs in front of the desk for them to sit.

"Do you have some sort of message for me from Yuri?"

"No." Ivo spoke up. "We\'re here with an offer that could benefit us all, aren\'t we?"

"Whatever Yuri has to say, I\'m uninterested. The only reason you\'re still alive is that I\'m in no particular hurry to enter the third phase of the war." Solomon said. "Leave before I change my mind."

"We never said Yuri sent us here, did we?" Armand said. "Why must we always be messengers to that bitch?"

Solomon blinked, taken aback, before his lips curved into a smile. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the ornate desk and steepling his fingers. "Now, I\'m intrigued. Speak. What is this offer you bring to me?"

"How would you like to own the Ascension Well?" Ivo asked, a large grin on his face.

"The Ascension Well?" Solomon asked, the greed in his eyes evident to the two vampires.

"We\'d like to offer you the Ascension Well." Armand stated bluntly. "You want it, don\'t you?"

"And in exchange?" Solomon asked.

"In exchange," Armand continued, "you\'ll help us claim Southside and Westside after we eliminate Yuri."

At their words, Solomon leaned back in his chair, an excited smile appearing on his face. He understood what they were saying. They were willing to betray Yuri to become Counts themselves.

Even if nothing came out of their meeting, he\'d have this information on hand.

"I see." Solomon said, before waving a hand, exquisitely carved chairs appeared before his desk. "Why don\'t you take a seat, gentlemen. We have a lot to discuss."