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tore the envelope open. No point putting off the inevitable. Inside was a sheet of paper equally as heavy as the white envelope, but in a pale blue. The letterhead was intricate in design and included the Sphinx again and the words, All Mighty Master of London City . I snorted at the over-the-top title. Someone had a sense of grandeur.
    I quickly scanned the type written note and felt my heart sink. I really wasn't making a good impression on my new home town. First Arthur sticks me with an inexperienced Nosferatin to train - no doubt as some form of lesson needing to be learnt, then I stumble on the leader of the local dragon-shifters making a rather poor example of my hunting prowess, and then I piss the Master of the City off. I had only myself to blame. And if there is anything I am good at, it's owning up to my mistakes.
    But this mistake was going to be painful. I looked at the wording again. Could he have been any more to the point?
    Nosferatin!
    You are in my city unannounced.
    Remedy this tonight or I shall be forced
    to expel you from my city's limits.
    Amun Nadeem,
    All Mighty Master
    of London City
    Delusions of grandeur and blindingly quick assessment skills to boot. I had been here a while after all, and he only now demands my attendance?
    I really didn't feel like eating, but facing an irate Master of the City on an empty stomach was not advised. I headed toward the kitchen and the smell of bacon and eggs on the air.
    Kathleen looked up as I entered, smiled and thrust a cup of frothy coffee in my hand.
    "You'll need a full stomach, Lucinda. I want you to eat everything on your plate," she demanded, but her voice was laced with worry.
    I tried to ease her concern and smiled brightly, placing the note on the table and digging into the laden plate she had just placed under my nose. Kathleen was used to vampire schedules and although Michel would not be eating right now - well not food in any rate - she knew I would be on a nocturnal schedule. Having just risen, breakfast was the order of the day, despite the fact that the sun was about to set.
    The slightly greasy meal sat heavy on my stomach as I returned to the bedroom to get dressed for the night. Christopher met me halfway up the stairs. "Mistress," he said in his soft English accent. I glanced up at his handsome face, dusky blue eyes, sandy blond hair tied back at the nape of his neck, all wrapped up in the standard Durand family line wear; black trousers and black business shirt.
    "Hey, Christopher." Even to my ears I sounded a little down. He cocked his head to the side and paused, one foot lifted off the ground, ready to take the next step needed. I smiled weakly and continued on my way. I couldn't really be bothered getting into the plethora of problems that lay ahead for me tonight.
    Although I planned to deal with the Master of the City first and foremost, I still had a meeting with the other Nosferatins to attend and Arthur's no doubt ill temper at how close Marie and I had come to being harmed by a rogue. Not to mention said rogue's escape and my otherwise unimpressive introduction to Sebastian.
    I sighed as I brushed my teeth and then started the shower. At least the water pressure in Michel's house was excellent, despite the age of the décor and the dreariness of the interior, the shower was hot and hard, bringing me fully awake and preparing me for the hell my night ahead was going to be.
    I dressed in my usual gear, strapped on my Svante sword, sheathing it down my back, and pocketed my two intricately carved silver stakes and silver knife. I only hoped I'd be able to face the new Master of the City fully armed, usually a Nosferatin's right in front of a Nosferatu, but you never could tell what a vampire would do. I was suspecting this one was a little more demanding than your average vamp.
    I checked my cellphone battery level, as I started back down the stairs and scrolled through to find the number for a London cab. With Michel's Rover missing