A Dark Life – 1×04 – To Be or Not To Be

Sinder had a plan. Sinder had a plan, and he was very satisfied with it. This way some doubts would be cast upon him, but nothing that couldn’t be explained and disregarded after a favour or two. After hundreds of years in The Web he had a lot of favours to pull and with all his abilities nobody wanted to kill him or burn him over nothing. He was a great asset to the community even though he’d been put aside. But Sinder had a plan, and it was going to work. It had to work…

Sinder sat at his desk when Itik arrived. Weeks had gone since their last meeting and he had been checking up on the prodigies every day and he had fed them blood pills every day to make sure their progress continued in their tormented slumber. Itik sure only knew how to punish, not to reward his pupils which was a big flaw. Fear alone would never teach them the necessities’ to survive, only how to cower before others. He looked out the window, the sun were setting, good. Soon Itik would be here as promised. Today was the day, or night, when it all was going to happen. The Ancients would be so proud and satisfied with him, as for his other Master… they couldn’t know. Sinder smiled to himself.

Right about when the sun was just a line in the horizon he felt his presence and then a gentle knock and everything on the door. Since the scare the last time he had been really careful and precise with the formalities. Well, sooner or later everybody seemed to learn. Sinder answered and Itik walked into the room, bowed to him in a very precise manner.

“I’m here as promised Master Breeder Sinder!” he said and stayed in a half-bowing position waiting for a response. Sinder waved with his hand at the chair before him and smiled gently towards him as he gentled his feelings and made him hopeful. When Itik sat down in the chair he waved again at the glass before him with his most excellent Mixed Blood, a Trimix of Boychild, Galchild and Galmaiden – really good blood which he only served on special occasions such as this.

“You understand that your part is coming to and end after today?” he asked in as they both paid their respect to The One and The True before they started drinking. Itik, who obviously started to feel comfortable, relaxed and waved with his glass as he answered him.

“Oh yes! I have been hoping for this for a long time. So this will get the Spiders off me and all my guilt for killing all those vampires so long ago?” he asked carefully. He didn’t seem quite as relaxed as Sinder wanted him to be.

“Yes, their teeth are almost complete; you just need to do the last part. Teach them about their bodies, have them feed a little of each other. Then if you have time do the regular trip to celebrate. And do not punish them today. Make sure to let them know what an achievement this is, for all of us.”

Itik nodded enthusiastically and drew a large sip from his glass. That this man had been a hero for young vampires only twenty years ago was hard to believe. But that were also why the Spiders disliked him so much, he had messed around too much and he didn’t show the court any obedience at all. And the man was impossible to get a hold off, if you were a Spider that is. Sinder had the right connections and had kept track of Itik since he left The Pen; he knew he could use him one day.

“After you’re done lead them here and we’ll take care of the rest together. I will take care of the final part and then you’ll be released from all your sins. You know that you will owe me a big favour for this? One that won’t go away that easily?” Itik nodded frenetically and downed the last in his glass. Good.

“So, it’s time to wake them up now, I hope you both will enjoy your last day together,” Sinder said and stood up, Itik did the same. Sinder nodded to him and they shook hands.

“For favours, brothers between,” Itik said.

“For favours, former brothers between,” Sinder said and smiled.

And then Itik left…