Howlett Estate, one week after David's return.
Unbidden, the rain had descended upon the estate plaza, casting a silvery sheen over the cobblestones as the people gathered to mourn. Grief and gratitude filled the air, weaving together a veil of sorrow, reverence, and pride. The men to be buried here had paid the ultimate price to protect their homeland, a sacrifice that only few could fully grasp, but one the estate would honor completely.
David stood at the forefront, watching over the sea of bowed heads. He knew that the words he'd prepared needed to match the magnitude of his people's loss. Raising his voice to reach every grieving mother, wife, and child, he began, "These men fought to protect the estate and its ideals, I am alive through their sacrifice. Their sacrifice, I will make sure that it is not in vain. The families they left behind will not be abandoned or neglected. By our highest laws, their beneficiaries will receive land, a pension, and, if able, a suitable position in one of our enterprises."
A quiet awe rippled through the crowd, and many wept openly. People of the estate knew that David's words were not hollow consolations; they were solemn promises, engraved into the very bones of the Howlett's rising legacy.
His gaze swept across the mourners, his figure embodying the estate's continuity, strength, and compassion. "Their children will receive the best education and training in the field of their choosing. If their path lies beyond our borders, they will travel as scholars of this estate, supported fully until they are ready to return." He paused, his expression softening, then lowered his head in a respectful bow, signaling both reverence and closure.
A hush settled as the coffins, draped in the estate's colors, were carried one by one to the 'Heroes Graveyard,' an eternal monument to their courage and loyalty.
After the procession, David walked to the newly established research facility, a convergence point of science and the supernatural. Inside, captured vampires lay sealed in pods, their usual menace subdued by shimmering vines inscribed with shamanic wards. It was a protective layer for the researchers who are ordinary humans, carefully crafted by his allies, Mr. Greene and his daughter Vivian.
David inspected each pod, taking in the glowing scriptwork that secured the containment units. 'I should learn it from teacher.' "How are things progressing?" he asked, his voice slicing through the sterile silence of the area where the shaman and his daughter worked tirelessly.
Mr. Greene adjusted his spectacles and nodded as he checked a containment panel. "Stable, aside from one rowdy specimen which is a bit of a pain to deal with, the others are like fish on a chopping board." He glanced at David, a hint of unease in his eyes. "Where'd you find so many cold ones, anyway?"
"Cold ones?" David echoed, intrigued by the term.
Greene nodded. "That's what our tribes called them. They look like us, walk like us, but their hearts have long since stopped. Cold inside and out. We've seen their type bring ruin before, but never in numbers like this."
David's eyes narrowed. "I'm unsure but they were most likely sent by allies among British Columbia's or Rupert's Land's elites. I don't yet understand their alliance, but it's likely some twisted exchange of benefits." He gestured to a particularly restless vampire. "I need to interrogate this one soon to get a better picture on the matter. Can you arrange for basic communication while ensuring he remains powerless?"
Greene gave a reassuring nod. "I can adjust the bindings on his head. He'll be able to speak but won't so much as twitch without permission."
David offered a nod of thanks, his voice softened by appreciation. "Then I'll leave you to it."
As David departed, Greene watched him go, muttering under his breath, "The boy's grown sharper than a winter wind…"
***
Howlett Manor
In the grand meeting room, a series of folders lay spread across the long table, each labeled with the estate's territorial ambitions: Northwestern Territories, Canada, South America, the Middle East, Africa.
David addressed his closest family allies. "Our focus today is the Northwestern Territories," he began. "Though we are currently the largest faction, recent years have seen increased resistance from our neighboring territories. With backing from British Columbia, Rupertland's leaders have grown bold, stalling our railroad expansion."
He paused, letting the frustration simmer among them. "Our strategy is simple: a targeted strike at their leadership. This won't devastate the population, but it will introduce confusion. When they falter, we step in as the stabilizing force."
Damian leaned forward, his skepticism plain. "You're assuming the neighboring territories will just stand by and let that happen?"
David slid another folder across the table, revealing the face of William Dawson II, the current leader of Rupertland's opposition faction and a covert ally. "That is a valid concern, to address this we have this, Dawson II is one of ours, with the estate's cover support, he was able to rise through the ranks among the elites of Rupert's Land. What we really have to accomplish is the removal of Victoria's pawn. This will create a power vacuum that we can exploit. James, Victor, you two will enter Dawson's faction and execute a 'cleaning' operation from within. Then, you will target the leaders of the opposing parties one after the other."
Victor smirked, a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. "I'm all in. Where do I sign? Hehe."
David's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. "This is crucial. If we succeed, our control over the northwestern territories strengthens significantly. Besides, there's a possibility that the vampire council still has contact with these people. You need to be cautious. I don't want to have to rescue you from the council."
***
A few months later.
As twilight descended, David gathered with his military leaders, introducing the latest additions to their arsenal: magazines of silver bullets and silver daggers, each weapon gleaming ominously under the low light. "These weapons will give us an edge against certain opponents," he announced, holding up a dagger. "Each soldier will carry these, effective immediately. If we encounter vampires again, we'll be prepared."
The leaders nodded, understanding that their new weapons represented their commitment to the darker war brewing beneath the estate's surface.
***
*BAM!*
"Useless pests! Didn't they brag about taking care of this as child's play? We even paid them with three hundred slaves, and what did they do? Kill a handful of his guards? My men could have done better!" A rotund, red-faced man in his fifties slammed his fist on the table, furious. David's successful return had proven that their alliance with the vampire council had been worthless.
Adding insult to injury, a hundred vampires had only managed to kill seventeen guards which is a laughable failure in his opinion.
"Didn't I say these vampires were all bark and no bite?" spat another man, large and scarred, his blind eye a testament to his own hard-fought battles. "If it weren't for your meddling, my ambush would've handled things better for a fraction of that cost. I'm not paying another penny for those freeloaders."
A noble-looking man in his forties, his face tight with unease, interjected. "You all talk big, but do you really want to cross the council? If we fail to meet payment, the vampires may very well turn on us."
The room fell silent until a wiry, hollow-eyed man with a smirk broke it. "Why not make the Howlett estate pay? They've got thousands in that new city of theirs. There's no way they can protect everyone. The Howletts get a problem, we get our peace, and the vampires get their payment. Everybody wins. Right?"
His grin lingered as the others contemplated the idea. It's a twisted scheme that might be the edge they'd been waiting for.