Law of Shadows

“Fighting fairly is a stupid thing to do.”

- A memory of the Old Ones.

***Carinthia***

***Magnus***

“It's horrible! How could you release the video just like that!? You could’ve warned the other supernaturals. Us! Don't you have any empathy? The humans are outraged, supernaturals and humans! Now we have to keep an eye on our own people too. Otherwise they will do something stupid to get revenge on the fae. A little warning would've been nice.” Eva waves her hands in a dramatic gesture. The beautiful vampire stormed our mansion soon after we returned from the gathering. Now she is striding up and down our living room, complaining.

I try to calm her down. It's not like I care for her problems, I've my own after all. But she is an important link to the supernatural community inside my territory. And people who aren't overtaken by their emotions are generally easier to work with. “I am very sorry, but the chain of events left me no choice. We had to go to the gathering right after my return and the elders rushed the decision in making the video public. It's not like we had anything to say after they decided that we go to war.”

Eva stops walking and pales. “War? Don't tell me that you people are going to cause another Ice Age! Please tell me that you are not going to cause another Ice Age!”

Great! Now she is hysteric. “We are not going to cause another Ice Age. Happy?”

Sely, who is sitting on the couch next to me, clears her throat. “It's not like another Ice Age isn't already on its way.”

“Oh, you are right. Damn! How am I going to protect my neophytes if the whole world goes to hell! The fae are trying to take over, the humans fight between themselves while they hunt for supernaturals. Another Ice Age. And the Old Ones go to war with the fae. I've studied my people's history books. They were very clear on what the Old Ones are capable of.” Eva sits down on the floor, hugging her knees. She even starts rocking back and forth. Her instincts as a vampire force her to protect her bloodline, so having no secure place sends her into a small emotional dilemma.

I sigh. “I don't think that helped.” My eyes wander to Eva's skirt. She always wears those tight and short ones. Her current position caused it to ride up...

Sely pinches me hard and shakes her head. Wisely, I take control of my eyes and look away. Sely returns her attention to Eva. “Eva, don't worry. Everything will be fine. We'll do our best to keep this territory safe. Our best heads are working on the issue with the Ice Age. How about telling us how it's going with the mundane world.”

Eva rubs her face with both hands and gets back to her feet. To my disappointment she corrects her attire. “The humans are obviously outraged and the fae have lost their popularity among those who believe that the video isn’t a fake. Though the fae claim that the video is fake. Once experts start verifying the video, the fae’s popularity will drop even more. I don't think that it will change anything in the countries which are already against supernaturals. Those countries will surely simply add the fae to their list of 'things to kill'.”

She takes a deep breath. “The various supernatural races are trying to take offensive measures against any fae. Even if we find one of their hideouts, Fairy makes it very easy for them to retreat. So far, the fae only show themselves for short visits to their human puppets. They also immediately return into hiding after showing themselves in public. Your people are very effective in picking them off as soon as they show themselves.” She clears her throat. “Which doesn't mean that other supernatural didn't take their own shots. So far, this whole conflict is a series of assassination attempts with a few big skirmishes.

“But I don't think that it will stay that way after your little video. I've heard from further up the vampire hierarchy, that many human nations asked to see a representative of the Old Ones. Most supernatural races are currently trying to get legal representation within human society.

“Though there is no way to tell if there is any point in achieving legal status. After having Yellowstone blow up under their ass, the USA are still in a state of national emergency. The other countries are also trying to prepare for the future, but that doesn't mean that they can stop people from doing irrational stuff. Like trying to store food for the coming apocalypse. We've seen an increase of violence on the streets. Everything is as tight as a string. Things aren't completely out of control, but any more horror news and we might have to deal with a situation of civil unrest.”

Suddenly her eyes brighten. “I was thinking that you might be willing to take another interview? Just to reassure the humans that everything will be okay?”

Sely nods. “Sure. We can do that. Though it might be a lie. We think that the fae will resort to open warfare. They have no other choice. If taking control of Earth is their final goal, then further manipulations and creation of discord won't be as effective as it has been up until now. The video will soon destroy any good reputation they might have had left with the humans. What we are afraid of, is that there must be a lot of fae.”

Eva focuses on Sely. “A lot of fae?”

I wave my hand through the air to gain Eva's attention. “Fae can't regenerate as fast as Old Ones or vampires, but they are immortal. Just think of how many of them there must be. They were breeding for thousands of years in those farms. Every fae they add to their number stays alive. Humans also breed like rabbits, but at least they die off as fast as they reproduce. Without their limited lifespan, we would suffocate under their numbers.”

I finish my explanation with a final thought. “Maybe an Ice Age isn't so bad for the planet.”

Eva pales and Sely pinches me again. “Don't worry, Eva. We are working hard on a final solution for the fae problem.”

Our vampiric guest shakes both her fists in a beseeching gesture. “That's what I am worried about! That's what everyone is worried about! Please tell me that you Old Ones aren't going to blow up the planet!”

“We discussed it at the gathering,” I admit.

Eva covers her face with both hands. “We've to dig up that old bunker which remains from the cold war. Maybe our neophytes will be safe there.”

“You have a nuclear bunker?” Sely asks surprised.

“Of course we have! Who wouldn't have one when the humans are about to press the button?” Eva sounds like it's perfectly reasonable to have such a thing. Like most people regard it as normal to have a bottle of milk in their fridge.

I like her attitude.

Sely gets up and takes her hand. “It goes without question that we'll give another interview to our locals. There is no point in creating a panic. We'll do our best to calm them down.”

Eva clears her throat. “There are just two little things which I would like to suggest.” She plays with her fingers, nervous. Is she afraid that her next words might offend us?

At last, she says it. “I would like for Sely to do the interview alone.” She looks away, avoiding eye contact with me. “Magnus is... well... he is Magnus.”

I smile at Eva. “No.”

“Yes!” Sely adds.

I take her hand. “You are pregnant. You are going nowhere alone. Not even to an interview. What if there is an attack?”

Sely rolls her eyes. “I'll take someone with me. Maybe Cecilia or Leila. I heard that they are both good at holding back when it comes to dealing with humans.” She holds up a hand to stop me from replying. “So what is the second request, Eva?”

“It solves Magnus's issue with leaving you without protection. Allow them to do the interview inside your reality marble,” Eva answers.

“No!” This this time I call out. “Certainly not! It's bad enough that I allow you to visit! This is the heart of my domain. Nobody who isn't of my clan should be allowed access. Especially not humans.”

“Please!” Eva gestures at our surroundings. “This place is marvellous! Don't you see how you can influence the humans positively? When they see how powerful you are, then there is much less chance of civil unrest. It's winter, yet this reality marble is in the middle of summer. You can grow food in here, even if there is a full blown Ice Age.”

My eyes must've flashed red, because Eva flinches. “I'll not turn my home into a glass house for humans!”

Eva raises her hand. “Nobody said that you have to. But you can create more reality marbles if the situation becomes dire. Am I right? You can offer them hope. If you sell yourselves like that, then there is no chance that they do something stupid. Of course, you would have to clean up the mess in the apartment and the entrance hall. I wondered what happened?”

Sely shrugs. “The fae attacked us and stole a device which might end the world.”

Eva’s eyes widen and she freezes.

The video was given to the humans without a lot explanation. The elders just gave the reporters certain scenes. They simply wanted to show them what's going on in Fairy. So it's no surprise that Eva doesn't know everything. Probably she doesn't even know that I am the one who made the video. I raise my hand to gain her attention. “Don't worry. I went to Fairy and got it back. I also killed Winter for stealing it.”

Eva gapes at me, searching for words. She has to try several times, but no coherent sentence comes out. “You went to... you made that cursed video... you killed Winter!? He is one of the four god damned Fae-lords! One of the oldest and strongest fae!”

“I think it's better if you take a seat.” Sely helps Eva into one of the chairs. The vampire straightens her skirt and glares at us. “Will this have any repercussions for us? Like hordes of invading fae?”

Sely shakes her head. “If they invade, there should be more important targets than us. No reason to waste their forces on us.”

Eva glares at her. “There is something that's called revenge. I have no idea how the fae regard each other, but I am sure that they won't be pleased about losing one of their legendary leaders.”

I scratch my chest. “He didn't seem so legendary when I gutted him.”

Sely lets out a deep sigh. “Just invite the reporter. I am sure that Oilell is already hard at work to fix the damage. If nothing else, mentioning that we'll get a guest will do the trick. She is a brownie after all.”

I've to hire a few people to fix the damage. Using Oilell's nature against her... that's just mean.