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"I know, right?" Ivo leaned against the wall.

"Will he even show up?" Armand scoffed.

"Don\'t worry." Ivo reassured his best friend. "He\'ll be here."

They were currently waiting for Count Solomon. The man had asked for the visit himself. Ivo smirked a little as his mind went back to the time he and Armand had met Solomon in his domain.

**********

Solomon leaned back in his chair as the two men sat in front of him, his fingers steepled in front of him. He smiled, not allowing the gravity of the proposal to show on his face.

To control the Ascension Well was to hold a key to power and control, but the cost, supporting a coup against Yuri, was not without risks of its own.

"I have to say, your offer is bold." Solomon said after a moment, his voice cool. "You want two counties in exchange for the Ascension well."

"It\'s a fair exchange, isn\'t it?" Ivo asked, a smile on his face. It was undeniable that Solomon was interested in the offer and that meant this was a negotiation.

"Of course, it isn\'t." Solomon scoffed. "Not only are you two getting a county each, you\'re also getting my support in claiming that county."

"This involves the use of my subjects to make sure Southside and Westside become yours. I\'ll have to keep Vladimir out, reign in my own people and squash any dissidents in the territories you want. All I get out of this is the Ascension well. That\'s not the definition of a fair exchange."

Ivo and Armand watched the count for a moment before Armand leaned forward. "What do you want out of this deal?"

"Give me the well and I won\'t interfere." Solomon grinned. "I won\'t join the fight for Southside or Westside. Isn\'t that fair enough?"

"Now, you\'re trying to con us, aren\'t you?" Ivo laughed. "We should give you the well, so that you can stay put? That\'s definitely not happening, is it?"

"Of course not. That would be stupid, right?" Armand laughed along.

There was no guarantee that after the dust settled, Solomon wouldn\'t just attack them, claim all territories and become City Lord in all but name. They needed something to hold him down. A fight to bleed his power.

"Counter offer." Ivo crossed his arms. "We\'ll give you the well. In exchange, you\'ll do two things. First. You won\'t interfere in the fight for Southside and Westside. We\'ll take care of it by ourselves.

But you will also maintain this non-interference for a year unless attacked first. You can do that, can\'t you?"

"And the second thing?" Solomon asked, his eyes shining in amusement.

"You keep Vladimir out of the fight too." Ivo grinned. "All you have to do is stay put and guard a few borders and after all is done, you get the Ascension well. A week\'s pay after a day\'s work, isn\'t it?"

"I see." Solomon nodded. "Very nice plan. But why should I trust that you two will follow through? Killing Yuri would leave a power vacuum. A vacuum that could easily consume the both of you. What if I bleed my subjects keeping Vladimir away and you get yourself killed?

I\'ll be left with no well."

Ivo smirked, knowing they had Solomon hooked while Armand nodded, as if expecting the question. "We are prepared to give you control over the Well\'s security as a sign of our commitment aren\'t we? Once Yuri is out of the picture and the regions are quickly stabilized, you can take the well away. How about that?"

Solomon considered their words, his gaze fixed on the two vampires as his mind worked, calculating risks, costs and benefits.

He finally nodded, making up his mind. "That\'s all well and good but what guarantee do I have that once you both become Counts, you won\'t turn against me? Power changes many people."

"We are men of our word, Solomon." Ivo said, his tone firm. "And we recognize the benefits of having a powerful ally. Our leadership in Southside and Westside will be a protection for your interests against other threats. A city united is much better than a city divided, isn\'t it?"

"Very well." Solomon finally said, rising from his seat to signify the gravity of his decision. "I accept your proposal. We will move together on this. But I want a blood oath. That\'s not too much to ask, is it? We all want to protect our interests."

Ivo and Armand stood, a mutual understanding reached. "Then we have an accord." Ivo said. "Let\'s make a blood oath."

**********

Ivo was jarred back to the present as the headlights of a hover car briefly illuminated their position as it drove into the street.

Without a single sound, it slowed to a stop in front of the building and with a click, the headlights went out.

Ivo blinked at the luxurious car. Why would Solomon even bring a car that stands out so much to Southside? Was he trying to give them away?

"What the fuck is he doing?" Armand hissed.

The door to the driver\'s side opened and Solomon stepped out, dressed in a fashionable dark suit and dark sunglasses.

"Hello, gentlemen." He greeted, a victorious smile on his face.

"What the fuck, Solomon?" Ivo stepped forward. "Did you want the whole world to know that we\'re here?"

"Gentlemen, I\'m a Count." Solomon chuckled. "You should be happy I drove myself here."

"This isn\'t Centrefield." Ivo frowned. "We\'re in the heart of Southside, now. The only reason you\'re able to stop foot in here is because Yuri didn\'t know you were coming. Let\'s keep it that way, okay?"

"Whatever you want, folks." Solomon walked slowly to the front of the building. "I\'m here to claim the Ascension Well\'s security and nothing else."

He grinned.

"Let\'s go."