That evening, Howard and Catherine were alone in Howard's upstairs sitting room and enjoying a cup of tea. He took this opportunity to consult with Catherine concerning what he had read earlier in the day.

"Catherine, how familiar are you with the various groups in the DMZ?"

"Not very. Why do you ask?"

"It turns out that a vampire named Victor got Nathan killed because of their squabbling," Howard clarified.

"Hmmm, that is quite tragic. Do you know the name of the clan involved? I can do some research. I know that this matter is important to you."

"Unfortunately, I do not have a clue," it dismayed Howard to admit. "All I know is that the gang in question was headed by a vampire named Victor and had a member named jenny or Jennifer."

"You do realize that this information is from thirty-plus years in the past. As quickly as groups come and go in the DMZ it is doubtful that they are still around. Plus, thirty years is not a small period even as vampires see it. It may take me some time to get the information that you need."

"I understand," Howard answered. "If he is still around, I would like to get my hands on that wretch and teach him a lesson."

"Are you sure that you don't want to just give him his second and final death? His meddling did lead to the death of your childhood friend?"

"No, I have a plan to teach him a lesson," Howard replied with an evil grin.

"Ooh this sounds like fun," Catherine responded with a toothy smile.

"It will be my friend. It will be."

---

A few nights later, the two of them sat alone in the same sitting room, sipping tea and nibbling on some biscuits.

"So, Howard, I was able to track down the information that you requested. I had to call in some favors to get it, however."

"Thank you, Catherine. I hope they weren't anything major. I will be sure to make it up to you."

"No, they were on the trivial side. Besides, I'd do anything for you silly."

"Thank you again."

"Well, it turns out that you are in luck. There is a group called the 'Steel Fangs' in the DMZ who are headed by a vampire named Victor and who has a member named Jennifer. They just so happen to still be around despite the fact that they were disowned by their main clan Dentes Ferrum over fifty years ago for failing to carve out a territory for them in Arkham."

"How strong is Victor?" Howard asked.

"I'm afraid that he is a full Adult. Therefore, I wouldn't suggest a head-on fight with him unless you are well prepared."

"Damn," was Howard's one-word reply. They grouped vampires according to their power, which was also closely related to their age. These went from the relatively weak Thinbloods to the extremely powerful Ancients. Howard made each of his elixirs from a pint of blood from these creatures. The elixirs, in turn, gave him the strength, speed, power, and toughness of the class of a vampire from whom the blood was donated. Unfortunately, the magical process that he used could not transform blood from a vampire older than the Young Adult category. Thus, even if he could get his hands on the blood of a powerful vampire, it wouldn't do him any good.

"Do you have any Young Adult elixirs on hand?" Catherine asked.

"No. Nor do I have the blood needed to make one."

"I will see what we can do. In the meantime, we need to come up with a plan on how to deal with this wretch."

"Well," Howard responded. "I was thinking that we could..."

---

Howard, or should we say the Necromancer, melted into the shadows of a warehouse not far from the outskirts of Arkham. While not that far from Wiltshire Manor, it was like a different world. While the Manor had its nearby airport, this was near one of Arkham's major seaports. It was also in the DMZ and the headquarters of the clan that he was planning to deal with.

He easily avoided the vampire sentries as he made his way inside. There, sitting on a large, throne-like chair was the head of the clan.

Melting out of the shadows directly behind the chair, he muttered, "I have come to deal with you."

Immediately, the figure in the chair jumped to its feet and turned to face him. For a vampire, a murmur that close was like a person screaming at the top of their lungs. "Who are you! How did you get in here? Guards!"

"Wait, there is no need for that. I have come to make a deal, just as I said."

It was no wonder that the vampire had no recognition of Howard. After all, he was dressed rather peculiarly.

"Hmm, black leather trench coat, black clothes, broad-rimmed hat, and sunglasses. I will make a guess. You are the Necromancer," the youthful appearing woman said, her eyes flashing the yellow of a Young Adult. Meanwhile, five additional vampires rushed into the room, snarling and their eyes glowing from red to orange depending on their strength. With a wave of her hand, the redhead stopped the charge of her cohorts, wordlessly stopping their impending attacks.

"Bingo! You got it right on the first try," the Necromancer said with a sardonic grin. "Now, would you like to make an arrangement?"

"Don't you have more important things to do? Like mage stuff? Why would you come to someone like me to offer a deal?"

"Well, you see it involves the Steel Fang clan."

"Do tell," the vampire replied with a nasty grin. It was apparent that he now had her complete interest, and the Necromancer was going to use it to strike a deal that was very detrimental to Victor and his cohorts.

---