Todor grasped for coherent thought but it eluded him. When he got close to a waking point pain pushed him back down into the abyss. His mind was awake and alert but his body was an unknown. Todor somehow knew he was unconscious and carried somewhere. Am I dead? Thought passed through his awareness. No, I don't think so. He didn't know how he knew that considering that all he felt was darkness. How do you feel the darkness, anyway? He wondered, for a second forgetting predicament he was in.

All of a sudden he felt a presence. A bundle of emotions that swirled around him like a happy child. Ezezu is that you? He asked himself, recognizing the feeling. The cloud of emotions materialized next to him in the form of a red cloud. It was the only thing he could see in the darkness. He felt the anger, the fury building up in him. How dare they attack me!? How dare they snatch me from the street like I am some common stray dog!? The thoughts disturbed him. He was never easy to anger.

Then it hit him. This was not his feeling but Ezezu's. The thoughts were his, he knew that. But they were caused by the infectious anger that Ezezu exuded. The rage cooled down as fast as it appeared once he realized from where it came.

It's alright buddy. I am alive. He thought and the flying cloud of red slowed down. Now just to figure out how to stay that way.

The pain came back, just a trickle but it grew stronger and stronger. Suddenly he opened his eyes. At least he tried to open both but only left eye obeyed. The right eyelid was shut and every attempt made pain blossom through his face. What he saw was muddy ground that waved in front of him. He moaned and rose his head to look around. The realization that he was being carried over somebody's shoulder made anger bubble up inside of him. He forcefully relaxed not wanting to alert his captors just yet. At one point he noticed someone looking at their direction but everything was shifting around him so he couldn't discern if it was a human or one of his capturers.

"Hey, what are you doing with him?" the silhouette of the person yelled. It sounded familiar, he heard that voice somewhere.

"Grab him as well, the boss said to do it quietly," growled one of his tormentors. The old man with a cane is commanding, Todor thought as his eye closed and he drifted into the darkness once again.

***

Todor gasped for air, water attacking his nose and mouth. He spat it out and greedily inhaled. The air was musty and soon after the smell of urine and cement assaulted his nostrils. The pain came back in force a moment after, like a wave crashing on to the shore. Todor refused to open his eyes, fearing what he will see when he opens them.

"He is awake," A calm and rough voice said coming somewhere from Todors left.

"I can see that," the cultured familiar voice responded.

"Why?" Todor asked. Or tried to but it came as a weak croak. He cleared his throat and tried again with more success. "Why do this?"

Midnight Breeze laughed somewhere close to him. Todor still held his eyes shut but he could imagine the pasty white skin of the vampire and his arrogant bearing.

"I don't like you. Do I need a better reason?" Midnight Breeze said amused.

"Yes," Todor said and coughed. He tried to move for the first time but other than sharp pain spreading around his wrists he couldn't move an inch. "I doubt you have enough emotions left to do something impulsive like this," Todor said the first thing that came to his mind which made him cough again. Ezezu's ball of emotions buzzed under his scalp, agitated and angry.

"True enough. Like or dislike has nothing to do with this," Midnight agreed. "You are dangerous. You don't live as long as me unless you can sense the potential for danger in your bones."

"So that is it? You had your goons beat me up and bring me here because I gave you the willies?" Todor asked, finally getting his voice back to normal.

"That and ..." he said and stopped. The sound of flash hitting flash with a resounding slap and a low whimper came to Todor's ears.

Todor opened his right eye just a bit. And he saw Midnight Breeze standing there and agent Hillard shivering on his knees clutching his cheek. The fury that came over him was just his. It wasn't influenced by Ezezu one bit. Just pure white-hot rage. He clenched his teeth in a grimace that resembled the smile. Hitting people that are down just didn't sit right with him.

What a hell is that guy doing here? Flash of a silhouette that he saw when he briefly came to consciousness. Was that him?

"You see, I pay that old bitch good money to keep her dogs out of my business. And what do I get? One of her dogs sniffing into my affears!" Midnight Breeze roared. Then he kicked agent Hillard once and he fell letting out a painful scream. "Why is your boss interested in this one? What does illustrious Governor of our fair city have to do with some shmuck that works at the jam factory? What does she suspect?"

"I am sorry Mister Breeze, but if we could sit down and talk, maybe over drinks?" Hillard whizzed out getting back on his feet.

"What a hell? Is that what this is all about? Because I met a Governer and spoke a few words with her?" Todor said through clenched teeth. Some of the numbness from his limbs retreated and he wiggled his arms and legs testing restraints. His arms and legs were tied to a concrete chair and he struggled for a second before relaxing. No reason to waste effort. I can't break this leather straps. He thought sadly.

"She has some plans with this one. He looks like a regular loser but there is an interesting aura about him. A smell I haven't felt in a long time," Midnight Breeze said moving his eyes back to Todor, "And what about your friendship with that little Sunhawk chit, Irrindonila?" he asked casually kicking agent Hillard in the groin. Todor winced at that while poor agent bent over falling on the floor again.

"You fanged lunatic. Do you want to start a war in the city?" Hillard asked from the ground, fighting agony and clutching his groin. His voice was not afraid but it was colored by a huge dose of pain. Todor couldn't suppress a wave of admiration for the agent. He stared as Hillard rose again, his suit stained by dust that covered the floor and spittle he involuntary spat out. Dark blue blotch marred agents face but his jaw was set in a stubborn pose of refusal to give in.

"You could kill me," agent Hillard said glancing at Todor, "You could kill us both," he added, "But our disappearance will be noticed. And that could spell a lot of trouble for your operations," his voice was slow and methodical. Wincing in pain at the motion he took a flip phone from the pocket. He opened it showing the line was open.

No, two lines. Todor concluded squinting at the small screen. One line was saved under 'Cappo', the other under 'Gorillaz'. Who or what are Cappo and Gorillaz? Todor wondered.

"So, you think apeling and orc gangs can help you?" Midnight Breeze said, his voice changing from superior making fun of subordinate to a dangerous tone cold as ice.

"Mister Breeze, you know I don't like to get in the way of cities factions and their affairs. But this will make a dangerous precedent hard to overlook. Your business must come through my docks," a female voice came from agent Hillards phone.

"Aye. I didn't much care for you bloodsuckers back when, or even now. But smacking humans out of the blue will make me watch ya much more. Especially if your goods come through my railroads," rough male voice joined previous one.

Is the Gorillaz a guy and Cappo a woman? Or ...? Todor wondered watching with interest when it hit him. Damn, that beating scrambled my brains. Cappo as in leader of human mafia that controls the docks! And Gorillaz is Morg gang that owns all railroads that come and go from the city. Todor spat a bit of blood out of his mouth in frustration. It took him way too long to understand agent Hillards game. He was threatening Midnight Breeze's livelihood by pitting him against two other powers in the city.

"You made your point little one. But your insolence will not go unpunished," Midnight Breeze said coolly. "You will stay here with me until I think my business wasn't disturbed by your bosses little puppet games."

"Fine by me." Hillard said nodding, "Thank you both," he said to the phone and closed it, "But I will not tolerate this kind of abuse anymore."

"You will not have to," Midnight said with a sour expression on his age-old face, "Now I am hungry," he declared and motioned one of his guards. The mook nodded and exited the cell.

A moment later he came back pushing a slight girl inside of the room. The woman was almost bold, just a beginning of fuzz growing on her scalp. Midnight made two quick steps grabbing her and pulling her towards him. She endured rough handling, shooting daggers from her eyes.

The vampire opened his mouth, much wider than any human could, and snapped his jaws at the tender neck of a furious human girl. He greedily sucked his eyes sclera turning red. The girls stiff posture and defiant stare soon changed. Moan escaped her lips, her eyelids half closing, her body relaxing. Todor closed his eyes not wanting to look at the disturbing scene any longer.

But the sounds of girls moans that so much resembled a different kind of whimpers overcame his hearing. The sickness in his stomach rose the bile to his throat. He swallowed it, disgusted. Vampires saliva is like narcotic, euphoric narcotic, he reminded himself, but it didn't help much. It lasted two, maybe three minutes, but for Todor, it felt like a month. The girl finally got silent and Midnight Breeze smacked his lips.

Todor opened his eyes and stared at the old vampire. Agent Hillard stood there looking as much horrified as Todor felt. Midnight took a red handkerchief out of his breast pocket and wiped his mouth.

"I knew there was a reason I took a risk and snatched you," old bloodsucker said, "You taste exceptionally great."

The girl growled wiping her neck with her palm and moving away on shaking legs as far from Midnight as the small room allowed.

"That is alright. Sheep hate wolves as well, I am sure," Midnight said with a smirk.

"What to do with this bloke?" the goon left of Todor asked putting a rough palm on his shoulder. Todor winced at the pain that caused.

"I don't care. Rough him up a bit more but don't kill him," he said waving his hand, "Or at least try not to. Then let him go."

"Why did you captured me anyway? It makes no sense," Todor finally spoke.

"I told you," Midnight replied annoyed.

"You didn't, you just made some vague insinuation about me being dangerous or something. Or that I smell good. Did I put wrong cologne or something?" Todor insisted.

"Shut your mouth, food. I haven't let you go yet!" Midnight responded angrily. Then he froze. Todor realized the goon next to him froze as well.

"What's that sound, boss?" subordinate asked flatly.

"It sounds like ..." Midnight started to say but trailed off.

Than Todor heard it as well. It sounded like ... Bagpipes? Are those really bagpipes? Todor asked himself listing to the tune that came closer and closer. Soon drums joined the pipes.

Midnight growled and punched the wall.

"Damn food playing with me! You all are too much trouble!" he yelled pointing at Todor, agent Hillard, and surprisingly at the bold girl who smirked at him.

"Is that music?" goon asked, surprise evident in his voice.

Agent Hillard came closer to Todor and put a shaking palm on his tied wrist.

"What is going on?" he whispered to him.

"Trouble. A power outside of the city that Governer haven't predicted," he responded before trying to untie the clasp on leather straps that were holding him hostage. His eyes darted left and right, not scared but ... expecting. Those bagpipes, whatever they are, worry him. Todor concluded.

Midnight Breeze punched the wall, fury showing veins bulging everywhere they could. Pale skin gaining ashen color while his sclera turned from blood red to angry pink. Todor finally got one hand free so he helped agent Hillard with the other. After that, he painfully managed to get his legs free as well.

"Boss, what are your orders?" goon asked, confusion evident on his slightly inhuman face.

"Inform the brood. Half of them should gather weapons and gear and get ready for a fight. Another half will come with me to retreat to our headquarters. The girl comes with me, they want her and I don't share," Midnight Breeze barked orders opening the door.

"What about this two?" underling asked as an afterthought.

"Get two boys to escort them out of here. Tell them to go the opposite way from us," Todor heard Midnight Breeze respond from the hallway.

Todor listened as the notes of bagpipes came ever closer. And drums making the counterpoint to his own heartbeat. Dum, dum say the drums, dum, dum responds the heart. He swallowed not understanding a thing.

I just wanted to go the friends party. But suddenly I am in the middle of some kind power struggle. That is why I don't like PVP. He felt Ezezu sending a wave of calmness and he accepted the help book provided. He needed to think clearly, not allowing his fears or other emotions to cloud his judgment. Sure, this was so out outside of anything he experienced before, but after the world changed under him it was hard to be surprised anymore. And yet the world provided the ways.

Vampire hireling pointed for them to wait there and exited the door closing it after him. Todor heard the lock click. He turned and glanced at agent Hillard. He didn't show any note of fear anymore, just readiness to fight he if he had to.

"Those bagpipes and drums out there. Those are coming for that girl, am I right?" Todor said, his eyes not leaving the agents face.

That snapped his attention to Todor, studying him. Agents eyes squinted at him with suspicion.

"Why would you say that?" he said slowly. It wasn't the negation or confirmation. Just curiosity.

"You were not surprised at hearing them, just annoyed. Midnight Breeze pointed at her saying she was trouble as well, and that they want her," Todor said with a confidence he didn't have. He based this on hints and vague feelings, "I listen."

Agent stood silent, his face muscles strained. Ready to spring to action and Todor knew his movement would be much faster then his dandy look suggested. Finally, Hillard slowly nodded.

"There is more to you than meets the eyes," he said with a slight curve to his lips. "Magic Seeker, was it? I still think you are a con artist and Governer is falling for your scam," he added right after.

"What a hell are you talking about? I just showed at the party because my friend asked me. I had no idea all this crap is going to hit the fan," Todor said trying to contain his frustration. He took a deep breath to relax his muscles and let blood back into his hands.

"Will see about that," Hillard said in a low voice.

"You are a weirdo agent Hillard," he said exasperated, "Why did you follow me anyway? You got snagged because you were being a snoop."

"I was following orders," he shrugged and scratched the bruise on his face, "But there is something wrong about you, mister Corpus. Why else would a vampire from the dawn of time snatch you from the streets?"

"I have no idea. Why indeed?" Todor said halfheartedly.

Because I opened the maharoon and that old fart could smell it? Made the first step in breaking the status quo between armies of men, Morgs, and Anadori? He thought worriedly. It seems peaceful times are over for me.