14. One Friend, One Foe

When they reached home, the door was slightly ajar.

"Could it be Pama?" Mira ran towards the door, but Kris pulled her by the arm and hushed her to keep quiet.

"What is it, Kris?" Mira couldn't understand the situation.

"Wait in the car, will you?"

"No, I'll go with you."

"Please don't be stubborn. Here, take my phone. If something goes wrong, call Sive. He's on speed dial."

"O.. OK."

Kris entered with caution; if it was the person he was expecting, it is indeed a formidable enemy. Kris could sense the danger lurking within.

"So scared, my friend? You were not such a scaredy puss back in the day. Tut tut. I'm disappointed."

"Jerassand", Kris uttered in disbelief even though he already had an inkling.

"Did you receive your gift yet? She must be ready now. Maybe I should go collect her. My trophy fledgling." Jerassand chortled.

Kris gathered himself,

"Sorry to say, friend, your ploy was thwarted. Pama was saved from becoming your sidekick. And as if she'd be even if you were to turn her!"

"You really don't understand the bond between the sire and the fledgling. Should I show you myself?" Jerassand bared his fangs.

"How about you get the f*** out of this house?"

"Oh are you going to say "let bygones be bygones?" No way, brother. You have reduced me to a mere monster. You've made me lead this cursed existence. I cannot let you off so easily. "

" Oh yeah? Have you, for once, thought of why it happened thus? Your evil nature had to be stopped. You were torturing thousands of humans for mere sadistic pleasure. Look at you! You're still the same. I regret letting you live like this even. You should have been erased from the face of earth."

"What about you, then? You have led to kill more people than I. Just because you're God, it becomes a "Holy war"? You made families fight among themselves. It was the most unholy war, if not anything else."

Kris chuckled.

"I don't expect the likes of you to understand noble things such as Justice or Dharma. You should quit with these child's plays. You're too old to be causing trouble after all these years. Nobody would bother to clean after you anymore, JS. Stop it already."

"I'd stop, of course, under one condition."

"Make me the king of Vampires."

----------------------------------

Mira was fidgeting with the phone when it started ringing. The name on the screen read 'Leibniz'. What a strange choice of name, she thought, wondering whether it's real or a pseudonym. She picked up the call nevertheless.

"Hey, Pama is up."

"Hello, sorry. This is Kris's friend. He left the phone with me."

"Ooh. Where is he?"

Mira explained the situation.

"Oh no. Call the number Kris asked you to call. If he has not come out yet, something is wrong."

"Uh. But."

"Call. Now."

Mira could sense the fear in his voice. She dialled Sive's number.

"Hullo."

"Sive, this is Mira."

Once Mira narrated the situation, Sive gave no explanation and simply disconnected.

--------------------------

"It's not as simple as that. I can nominate you, but I can't 'make' you anything. As you very well know, the clans and covens all work differently. You can't just appoint a leader.... because there is no one leader. There are many leaders. Educate yourself before making childish demands."

Kris was tired of him already.

As Kris and Jerassand stared at each other with much animosity, Sive appeared beside them.

"What happened to your promise that you'd stay away from human affairs, JS?" Sive asked.

"This is no human affair."

"He wants to be the "King of Vampires."

"There's no such thing. Have you been living in a hole?" Sive shared Kris's opinion.

"The make me the head of a clan. Give me power!" Jerassand demanded.

"Ah, what a headache. Okay, I'll make you the head of a clan if you can recruit 20 vampires", said Sive.

"What? You want me to go around begging people to join me? How dare you?"

"If you can't get even 20 people with you, you don't deserve to be a leader, don't you think? And oh, they mustn't be vampires you've turned yourself. That'd be cheating."

"This is cheating. This isn't justice." Jerassand retorted.

"Then, do you want me to kill you, and end your misery?" Sive was in no mood to play.

"Okay. Give me twenty days, then."

"Take thirty. Meet me in a month's time."

Both Sive and Jerassand vanished at that point.

Kris heaved a sigh of relief.

He went out to pick Mira. She was walking back and forth near the car.

"Oh! You're ok! I got so worried. I even called Sive."

"It's okay, I'm okay. Thank you for calling him".

Mira looked puzzled, not getting the implication.

"And oh, Leibniz (?) called? He said Pama is up."

"Oh. Why don't you go in. I've searched the house. Nothing is wrong. I'll go meet Pama and come back."

"Okay."

--------------------------------

When Kris appeared in Pama's home, Pama had Leibniz pinned to a wall, choking him with her bare hands.

"Tell me his name. TELL ME. I'm not going to let that mofo be."

"I.." Leibniz coughed up, trying to breathe.

"Let him down." Kris calmly ordered.

Pama looked murderous for a few more seconds, but eventually let him go.

"Why do you want to kill him when he was the person who saved you? If not for him, you'd have played right into Jerassand's hands."

"It.. It was HIM?"

"Yes, the issue has been sorted...for now. But be on your guard. Both of you. He's out to seek revenge."

"What did I do?" Leibniz moaned.

"Well, he's a vampire and he's out to recruit 20 to form a coven. Or clan, if possible. If he manages to do that, we're all doomed. Leibniz, you in particular would be affected far more than many of us. Of course, I'm his main target, but he'll be one of your masters. I'm sure you understand the seriousness of the situation."

The room grew quiet.

"I... I have a plan." Leibniz spoke meekly.

"I'm in, no matter what it is", Pama said.

"Well, let's hear it, then." Kris's face broke into a wicked grin.