Things were progressing far too quickly.

James Mallory was not an unreasonable man. He knew that, since the enemy vampires started moving, it was only a matter of time before they reached the final stage of their plan. He knew that he couldn’t always have the upper hand.

That, however, did not mean he had to be happy about this situation.

He was always proactive, in control. Even five years ago, when the worst crisis of the last hundred years was near, he managed to come up with a plan to place himself, and the Association as a whole, on top. But even before that, he always managed to make himself come on top when it truly mattered. That was the reason he was at the place he was. Even if many resented him for his methods, if his soul was tainted, he had done more than enough to ensure the survival of life, of true life.

Knocking on his door interrupted his thoughts. He sighed wearily. He had locked himself up in his office, staring at the invaluable painting on the wall behind his desk. He had also explicitly asked to be left alone for a while. He had spent the last three days in the middle of the battlefield and he was frankly exhausted.

Sitting on his chair behind his desk, he cleared his throat, making himself look as intimidating as possible.

“Come in.” he said after a while. The doors opened, revealing Chiron in his human form, followed closely by Yui.

“Sir.” said the young girl with a salute. Chiron merely nodded at the old man, looking different to the last time James had seen him.

Indeed, he looked almost apprehensive. Perhaps a little afraid? No, no, that was not it. There was a challenge in his eyes. Anger, directed at the commander himself. James always carried his sword, sheathed on his left side. He instinctively grabbed it before speaking.

“I assume I am needed on the battlefield? I mean, it has been, what, an hour since the last one?” asked the old man, trying to inject some humour in their dire situation.

“In a sense. Sir.” said Yui, looking more awkward by the minute. Clearing her throat, she began explaining. “About twenty minutes ago, one of the Honourable Magesmiths led a small force in an assault against the Perlie household.”

Years of navigating the jungle-like environment of the political and military scene in the Association were the only things that allowed James to keep his mask of indifference on.

“In Atlanta, or here?” he asked, barely managing to keep his anger to himself.

“Here. Within the household was the criminal sorceress Maria Rockwell, as well as the escaped vampire known as Amdis. We were able to get Marly out of there, unfortunately not getting the rest in custody.” said Yui, although it was clear there was more to that story. Things she clearly had wanted to say.

Not to mention Chiron. The centaur was always calm and collected for as long as James had known him. Or at least he was always capable of keeping that image, no matter what news he had heard or atrocities he had been ordered to commit.

“What about the boy?”

“With them.” said the brunette, somewhat bitterly. “The Magesmish leading us deemed it for the best.”

And never once did it occur to them that something like that only served to lessen Marly’s trusting of them. Nominally the old fools were leaders of the entire Association but every time they acted they made it clear that they were more than a little removed from reality.

“Based on our interactions, I suppose that they’d be with Marvin’s family. All of them but Amdis of course. Shall we begin a new operation?”

“No. I don’t suspect the boy is under threat.” said Chiron.

To most people, his words would sound logical. The same went for James. But the way he spoke and the way he had acted since he entered, once again to most it would seem normal. The hints of wrongness were so small, that even the commander wouldn’t have figured them out if he hadn’t known the centaur for more than forty years.

“I assume my granddaughter is at the Caelum Terra. Make sure she is comfortable, and that any Magesmiths are as far away as humanly possible. Then contact Ava Mallory and have her join her sister. Even if she is in the middle of a damn battlefield. I will arrive shortly.” said James, once more barely containing his anger.

“May I ask a question, sir?” said the girl after a moment of silence.

“No more than one.”

“The Magesmith said that, as long as Marly is with us, victory is assured. What did that mean?”

“That’s classified information.”

“But-”

“Go!” said James, slamming his hand on the desk. Yui flinched under the man’s wrath, practically running out of the room.

“Too close for comfort.” said Chiron, looking at the direction the girl had left in.

“To what?”

“Your father.” said the centaur, not even bothering to hide the sadness from his voice.

Physically wincing himself, James once again clutched his sword. He would never be that man. He had sworn so over the old man’s grave. And if Chiron was desperate to pull that card on him.

“Do you remember how we met?” asked the man as he took out and drank from a flask he had hidden in the single drawer of his desk.

“Forty-three years ago.” replied Chiron with a small smile on his face. “Times were tough. We were both soldiers fighting against the vampire hybrids. I distinctly remember you being a rookie, and not really promising at that.I also remember myself saying that you were too young to be a father.”

In spite of himself, James laughed before taking another sip of his drink. “That’s right. I was a father back then. A husband too. It really was a lifetime ago. We were comrades. And twenty years ago, you ended up as my father’s confidant and assistant. Eventually becoming my own.”

“Care to explain the reason behind the trip down memory lane?”

James had to use all of his willpower to refrain himself from exploding at his old friend. Even if that meant his one hand had his sword at a white-knuckled grip while the other was close to crushing his flask.

“You are the only person left to truly know me. My story, my life. So, why?”

It would once again be imperceptible to anyone but James himself, but Chiron actually slightly tensed up for a brief moment.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” said Chiron convincingly.

“Don’t lie to me!” said, or rather screamed, James Mallory, dropping his flask on the floor. “Why did you betray me?”

“You never disappoint.” smiled Chiron sadly. “If I told you that it’d be best to back away from your current path. To reveal the truths of the Association and take them down. Would you do it?”

“Never.”

“There you have it. I hope that by stopping you, I might be able to salvage your soul. You said it yourself. I am the only person to truly know you. Which is why I know that this will destroy you.”

Destroy him? This would be the closest thing to divine retribution James Mallory would ever get. For his family, so those that took his very life would pay. He’d never be able to look the bastard vampire in the eye, but he’d at least know that he was dead. No matter what it would cost him.

“Do me one last favour old friend.” said James quietly. Uncharacteristically so. For the first time in years being truly vulnerable. “Promise me that, even if you stand against me, you will be there. When the time comes?”

“I’m not your enemy. I hope you’ll understand that.” sighed Chiron. “But who am I to refuse an order from my superior?”

“Good.” sighed James. “And may the best man win.”