Louis sat and waited. He was watched the window like he longed for the sun to come through it. Maharet had returned and Marius was running after her. He could hear what they were saying, or rather what Marius was saying.
Lestat sat up and went to follow Marius, he longed for news of Merida whom he had gotten close due to Saphira’s talents. Louis was quick to grab him, “Where do you think you’re going?” Louis questioned his lover and maker. Lestat stopped and looked at him, “Why do we wait on the elders to make their move?” “Because those are the rules, Lestat. We follow the rules. And until Marius comes in here to tell us to move, we sit. We wait.” Louis’ loyalty annoyed him but Lestat knew he was right. To question Marius’ or worse Maharet’s decisions would shake the foundation on which we built our coven and all the bloodlines in it.
“Why Maharet allows this to go on I will never know,” Lestat said as he went to sit back down. “The Draconians have been a problem for centuries; always defiant and always chaotic. If I were ruler of this coven I would squash them like ants.” Louis looked at him, “God help us all if you ever do.” Lestat looked at him, “Do what?” Louis with a small grin answered him, “Become ruler of this coven.” Lestat chuckled a bit and leaned back into the very fancy couch with his head to the ceiling. “You say that as if it was a bad thing. But in truth, I was pretty much raised by Marius himself these past few decades. Don’t think his lessons fall on death ears.” He said.
Just then Marius came into the room, Lestat sat straight up, Louis stood up and the rest of the coven that had not been sealed in the gun cellar perked up. “We do this tonight, Maharet and Khayman will retrieve Merida and I will get Carrie.” He looked to Lestat, “We need a… distraction. Think you can handle that?” Lestat grinned and said, “Do birds fly?” Marius nodded and knew he could count on Lestat to make an entrance.
Louis asked, “Marius what will you do?” Marius replied, “What I do best.” Lestat turned and rounded everyone up near the central table. A map of the Tower of London laid there. Lestat split the group into two. One coming in from the front, he would lead it and Louis will take the side. This would give Marius time to crawl through to the back in the water and get to Carrie.
Lestat asked Marius, “You cannot go without them, Marius. They’d never forgive you.” Marius said, “They’ll get over it.” “No, it’s not right. This is Armand’s wife and Va’lis’ childe. They ought to be involved in their rescue. I would kill you if I were in their shoes.” Marius looked around as others agreed with Lestat. “They are not just my fledglings, they are my sons and they are way too young for this.” Marius retorted. “I am younger than Armand and Louis is as well.” Lestat shot back. “You’re different Lestat because of Akasha and Louis has been drinking from Pandora for well over a year. I cannot think straight when I know they will be in danger, and Va’lis is volatile at best. Completely unpredictable. And you know very well Armand can go dark, very dark. I don’t want that for them.” Marius explained.
Maharet’s voice boomed behind them now, “It is not your choice to make. This is their family, they need to be here, fighting to rescue them.” Marius didn’t even turn around. “They are my boys, do not tell me what I can and cannot do with them.” Maharet, surprised again by his tone spoke softer now, “Marius. By our coven rules, you hold no domain over Va’lis Razele. Armand I cannot negate, but the other is not bonded to you. I order you to set him free. Let him fight for what is rightfully his.” The words stung Marius at his core for he knew she was right. The thought of something happening to either of them scared him in a way he had not felt in centuries, not since Pandora left him that time.
Maharet then turned to Amroth, “What is your wish for Cher?” Amroth mulled it over a second. This was the first time he has had to make a decision completely on his own in a very long time. “We are infinitely better with her at our side than without. Cherry is the only one of us to successfully hurt David through her skills in combat alone,” he turned to Marius, “set her free.”
Maharet walked towards the table where Lestat had the map, she reviewed the plan. “Let Cher take a look at this. See if she sees anything we don’t see.” Marius turned to her, “You’ll fight with us then?” Maharet nodded, “If I don’t, they’ll kill each and every one of you.” Just then Khayman joined them.
Marius resigned to allowing his sons to fight with them. Lestat rolled up the map and they headed down the elevators to the 3rd basement of the where the gun cellar was. Marius opened the heavy metal doors and let the rest of the coven in. Va’lis jumped to his feet Cherry right behind him. Armand stood up, visible tears forming in his eyes, “How could you do this? Keep us here like prisoners when we’ve got the most to loose?” His eyes locked on Marius. “If you have to ask that, you must not know me as well as you think you do,” he answered. Armand went to attack Marius but Va’lis held him back. “Be still. Listen.” Armand listened and he could hear the thoughts of his maker now clearly, the rage subsiding with every thought. The love Marius had for them rang true to the heart of his soul.
The bloodlines came together and Cherry reviewed the plans making some small changes that would put them in a better position. Maharet and Khayman would go in and placate David and get Merida out. When David sees she brought Khayman with her he’ll know she means to destroy them if she doesn’t get what she wants. While she is handling that Va’lis, Cherry, and Marius will take the sewer tunnels to free Carrie. Armand and Lestat will come in guns blazing through the front doors and clear the courtyard making their way up to where Merida would be.
Oh but the surprise they will get when they get close; when Merida feels Maharet near and tells her about Astoria. Armand will have to find her and when he does he’ll have a hell of a choice to make.