2-Chapter 7: Temporary Immunity

'Hey there Mr. Lord.

Just letting you know that problem child Lucilla is now under my protection!

Any move against her is a move against me. You know what that means right?

She even promised to help out with our mutual problem in our fine city.

Anyway, hope you're enjoying this,

All the love

-The Captain and The Scholar :P'

Drakove looked at the letter in his hands with a look of indignation, the pretty pink colored ink and the cutesy lettering seemingly mocking him. Across the desk from him was his son Vadim who was reading a copy of the same letter, though that one didn't have the same writing peculiars as the original and looked like a normal document, albeit a short one. Just like him his sons face twisted into a faint scowl.

The Captain and The Scholar. These two have been around since before Prosperty City's founding, when the place was still an outpost or the Theocracy. Drakove didn't know who they were, but his late wife was familiar with their identities. These two people had worked with every predecessor of Lady Prosperty in the name of coexistence. They were criminals to put it mildly, but the real answer was much more complicated and messier than he would like to admit.

With the contract between his children's ancestor Lady Maria Prosperty had welcomed both Fey and Intelligent monsters into her growing city. One of the five segments that surround the inner city, closest to the Enchanted Forest, houses both Intelligent monsters and the Fey. Most don't leave this area of the city because the people are still very prejudiced against Intelligent monsters.

The Fey in general is more accepted and are even treated as minor deities in some parts of the world. They are hardly seen in settlements made by people and tend to reside deep in remote parts of the world. Thanks to that rarity they are often kidnapped and sold as slaves and treated as exotic merchandise on the black market.

Part of the deal Maria made with Nielia was to help protect and shelter the fey and Intelligent Monsters of her forest, in return they would have access to many of the unique and rare resources that could be found there. One of the first segments made during the early construction of Prosperty city was an area designated solely for the denizens of the natural world.

During this time Maria met the Captain and the scholar. They were a pair of morally questionable people but the perfect bridge between her people and Nielia's. Apparently, they had a history so Maria Prosperty had requested their help in looking over the Fey and Monsters that would reside in her city. In return she wouldn't bother them and interfere with their dealings within the criminal underworld as long as they kept said criminals under control.

As a result, the city effectively had two different ruling factions ruling hand and hand. One worked in the light and the other worked in the dark. For centuries this relationship has worked without problems, the Captain and the Scholar would only work with the descendants of Maria Prosperty and only them. Until Lilian Prosperty, Drakoves late wife, died.

"Damn it. Curse them both!" Drakove yelled. "What are we supposed to do now? Can you speak with them?"

"I've only met them once myself, and they've made it very clear in the past they want nothing to do with me." Vadim said. Unlike his father who had his anger on full display, Vadim only indication that her was upset was a small frown on his face. "The Captain said I wasn't trustworthy for some reason."

To make sure the Propserty's through the generations kept true to their bargain Nielia effectively gave the entire blood line something similar to a curse. When faced with a Fey or a Monster they would always feel a strong sense of familial bond with them. To prepare her son for the future Lilian had brought him to meet two under lords. Upon meeting the two of them the Captain declared he wasn't welcomed. Apparently, the magical mark of Nielia that would mark the Fey and Monsters as family wasn't etched into his being like the others.

"Fuck. We don't really have a choice here. Until we can figure out something Lucilla is not to be touched." Drakove said with a grimace.

"... Why can't we just ignore them and go after Lucilla anyway?" Vadim asked. "We don't need to listen to these people. They're Vampires anyway."

"Do you want to cause a civil war?" Said Drakove. "They are effectively the leaders of the entire Fey and Monster population of this city. If my wife was still alive, we could probably negotiate, but with her dead those things down there won't hesitate to fight if we make any wrong moves."

"I see...."

The two Vampire Lords that ruled over the section of city - nicknamed Fey City - were the de facto leaders of it and its people. Without a proper Prosperty, the Fey looked to the Captain and the Scholar for protection. Drakove didn't want to cause unnecessary conflict with them simply for the fact that every single denizen that resided there was powerful just by what they were. The current head of Prosperty City was worried about the damages such a conflict could spark.

"Plus, there are ways to still get our hands on her. We may not be able to just target her outright, but If we can catch her in some act that goes against our laws we can interfere." Drakove started explaining. "We can't bother them outright but there are still some exceptions to that. The deal after all is for them to keep the Criminals in this city under control, so any that we deem to be causing too much harm or are caught in the act are still persecuted."

"That's true. If Lucilla does something, and depending on what it is we can claim it was an action we just couldn't ignore." Vadim spoke, nodding in agreement.

This was still a city. The Prosperty family might have agreed to not interfere with the Vampire Lords business, but that didn't mean they allowed crime to run rampant. The Captain and the Scholar knew this as well and were careful in what actions they took and what type of criminal activities were conducted in the city. One of the main things the regulated and outright restricted was slavery, no dealing was made in the city without their knowing about it. They made sure the Criminals behaved themselves to an extent and the city doesn't try to purge their existence.

"The only thing we can do now is wait and see. We can't afford to make any drastic moves right now, especially not before our preparations are finished." The older man leaned back into his leather chair letting out a deep sigh. "How are things proceeding?"

"Things are going well so far Father." Vadim answered.

"Thanks Vadik. That's all for now, I need a break."

"Of course." Vadim answered as he stood and gave his father a bow. "I'll take my leave then." With those parting words the young man left his father's office.

After his son left the Lord of the city looked at the letter again and scowled once more. "God damn it." As he said that he failed to notice a small figure scurry out of the room.

__________________________

--Lucilla's POV--

"So, what are we doing here?" Yuki asked as she looked at the building in front of them.

"I want to do some research. We don't know a lot so I figured we can come here and learn," Lucilla answered with a shrug.

"That's a wonderful idea dear. What are you hoping to learn?" Morella asked.

Judieth stayed silent as she hung back and observed.

"No idea. I just figured I could start reading whatever caught my eye." Without a change in her expression monster woman entered the library.