PLaying the Great Game
The envelope came to my rooms via messenger. Inside was the crisp white stationery the Juliet Parr uses to contact me.
"1138 St Johns Square, 10:30. Second floor library."
I pocketed the stationery and gathered my things. An electric torch in the inside jacket pocket, knuckle dusters in my outer pockets. I slipped my lock picks and gloves into the other inner pocket. I checked that my piano wire was in the inside band of my bowler hat. I picked up my walking stick and stepped smartly out into the foggy night.
What a fog! Nearly yellow soup stuff that swirled about me. Within ten strides I couldn't see my residence nor hear the screams from inside. The fog stank of chemicals and the effluvium of the humanity that lives nearby. Several of the night women I passed hacked and coughed breathing the stuff, I truly was thankful that I no longer had to.
St Johns square was several blocks away in a better part of town, so I was happy to walk it. This also made sure that I wasn't followed. Die ältesten Gewohnheiten lassen sich nur schwer ablegen. The oldest habits die hard. If only it hadn't been Berlin...
I came up to the steps of the house, a large affair. I can see at least three stories. The door is slightly ajar. As I step up to it, I hear my name softly in the night "Warin". I froze,glancing around me. That sounded like Juliet. I see no one around me, only the fog impatiently lapping at the bottom step of the front stairs like an impatient beast waiting to be fed, swirling with my recent passage.
Calling on my heightened vampiric senses, I hear several heart beats, smell the warmth of the living inside. While not very hungry, I had not fed tonight and the smell of fresh, hot blood did tickle my insides, my beast stirring and wanting to feed. I sensed no movement though, it was a house fast in slumber, though it was barely late enough for all the mortals in a house like this to be asleep. Usually a couple of servants would be up later preparing for the next day, finishing the laundry or preparing food for the morning to come. Strange.
I turned the knob, and cloaked myself mentally in shadows. I turned my mind to that place where it told mortals "Don't look here, there is no one". Moving on cat feet I passed through the rooms. The family of the house lay in various puppet stages around the front sitting room. Mother asleep over her embroidery, two girls and a son asleep on the floor, books open to reading, one girl in the midst of working on a painting. Father sound asleep in his great chair, a cigar cold in his hands. All were breathing smoothly, props set on the stage for the next scene.
Past them in the dining room and kitchen I found servants fast asleep. Serving maids were still clearing the cutlery from dinner, asleep at the table. In the kitchen I found the butler asleep at a small table, taking an evening meal while reading the days paper that the master of the house had finished with before dinner. The cook sat across from him, her head in arms on the table. The slumber that took them seemed to work fast, and pass through the house like the plague, taking all.
I reached the servants stairs and ascended, feeling a pull from upstairs. On the second floor I came to a hall, well apportioned with family paintings, and a few hunting trophies. Gewgaws marked the shelves at the end of the hallway, trinkets from travels past. Again that hand touched my mind, and even cloaked as I was pulled me on to the library. Inside the room books lined the walls, and a small snooker table filled the south corner. A large oaken desk sat to my left. "Warin, please be seated." came Juliets voice. I found her beside me suddenly, startling me slightly. She glided to the chair behind the desk and took it, sitting upright and proper, her green eyes glittering.
"Juliet you are smashing as ususal. Thank you for the invitation, to what do I owe this honor?" I took the seat across from her, studying her petite good looks. She seemed barely older than the Juliet written so grandly of by the great Bard of Avon. Her pale skin and perfect hunters dress complimenting her eyes. Her dark hair was pulled back and braided, leaving her slightly round face unframed. A necklace of gold and opals adorned her neck, two rings with sharp, beautiful stones on her hands. She watched me as a hawk studies the land looking for prey, detached and focused.
"Warin, it has been a busy summer. With the burning of the Hellsfire club, and the various murders in the city before that, keeping the mortals from looking too deeply into kindred business has been...taxing." Juliet replied, her voice barely a whisper, though to my ears it was clearly understood.
"Indeed. The business with the Entent Cordial has stirred the Kaiser to new efforts, and Germany is always creating problems for the Kings men. I have intercepted several dispatches with the Germans trying to make pacts with the Russians, the Bulgars, and the Turks. Their ambassador to the city brought in Horst Gumbal from America, I suspect they also are making deals to place Germany better in the coming war. It is the Great Game." I replied. Part of my mind reacted in shock to what I had just said, confused as to whether these things were true, or just part of a fevered dream from the day. But as the spy soldier here serving my Sire, I knew I had spoken a TRUTH. She cocked her head quizzically.
"I was unaware, I will pass this on to the Prince. I brought you here to ask your service in a matter that is developing." She said, pushing a manila envelope to me. Before I reached for it, I held up a hand.
"I must first make sure there is no spy craft afoot in the room. Let me check." I rose, tilting my head asking permission.
"As you wish. I know you must." She replied to me with a slight nod. Aware of my tics and experience abroad as a spy (or was that a part I played on High street?) she knew I would be driven to distraction until I searched the room. In searching the room I located a valise that held some odd tools, possibly doctors tools, but I was unfamiliar with them.
