Preparations took a almost a month and a half before the coven and family of hunters travelled to Germany via aeroplane.

A blanket of white covered Munich. It was half past noon when they arrived and got off the aeroplane. The immortals were bound with silver-lined, enchanted bracelets that were popular for nabbing vampires. It bound the wearer to the creator but also burnt the wrist when defiance was involved and weighed heavy on the vampires.

In this case, Lilac Hearne is their captor. They had to keep up appearances despite the clear abhorrence of Everette to the idea. He's experienced the extreme side of having to wear such a dangerous and cursed item.

Both parties exited the airport with their luggage and hailed two cabs for the group. The married couple rode with Nosferatu while the youngest Hearne rode with Freya and Malfoy.

They had a day or two before "offering" three of the most wanted immortals to the den of wolves. The group got to the Platzl Hotel and checked into their reserved rooms. Two Journeyman's Suites for both groups courtesy of Ambrose. He refused to be captive and be treated as such for the remainder of their stay in Munich, hence the expensive rooms.

They proceeded to account for the CCTVs and searched their respective rooms for bugs that Lupin's gang may have planted beforehand. A total of 50 listening devices were found in both rooms.

Lilac set the gathered devices on fire and fried them to ash. It was currently 7 PM as she sat beside the wall connecting the rooms, crossing her legs. She attuned to the atmosphere around both rooms, feeling the shift of air and wavelength as they aligned and chanted her spell.

Ahmbr Enltcsgislea

The wind around both rooms thinned and an invisible, sphered barrier was created, extending from the living room of both rooms towards the doors.

The spell will only last til midnight so as not to arouse suspicion. We need to discuss quickly our next steps.

Lilac telepathically announced the statement. Mikael reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, while also accessing telepathy.

We'll meet the middle man with Freya just so we have proof that we have at least one of you. However, the tricky part also comes at this stage. They could ask to keep her as leverage-

A snarl echoed through both rooms.

Shut it, old man. She can handle herself and I doubt the Hearnes would allow that since they're not receiving anything in return. Right?

The couple turned to look at Henry who was avoiding eye contact. They knew full well he'd give the female vampire willingly without anything in return just to piss off the Nosferatu.

Right?

The pause from the Hearnes earned a vicious growl from Malfoy. The eldest Hearne bit his lip to suppress a chuckle. They didn't mean to tease the immortals, but he had to wait for Henry's expression to change from a mischievous grin to a bow of understanding before assuring their accomplices.

Exactly, we only agreed to the meet-up because we bargained to see Caius as well, for assurance and leverage. But we still need to force their hand. Any ideas?

The group went silent. What could sweeten the pot aside from the supposed doomed bride?

Would a vial of my blood suffice? Freya's safety is my top priority. I think she's dispensible in their eyes since she is to burn at the stake in three days.

The silence continued to permeate the room before laughter roared from the youngest male immortal.

Bloody brilliant! Why didn't you just say so earlier?

I was under the impression that one of you would eventually mention it.

The interaction was ridiculous earning a titter from Lilac, impeding her concentration and the barrier briefly cracked. She frowned squeezing Mikael's hand, regaining composure and gradually patched the hairline crack on the barrier.

Yes, that would sweeten the pot quite well. However, we cannot not bring Freya as well since they asked for her specifically. Have you not heard of the new decree? Instead of burning, they're taking her as an act of defiance against the oldest, most powerful vampire.

Anyone who can bring the newborn turned by the Nosferatu, unharmed or dead, would be paid handsomely as announced by the Vampire Council the day before yesterday. That earned annoyed groans and a giggle from the immortal's room.

Don't mind them. They're just inconvenienced by the whole situation. If given the choice, they'd rather slaughter the entire council and appoint competent and young vampires in the seats. But this way is much safer and less taxing. We just want peaceful, long lives and here we are. So, where do we meet Lupin's middleman?

By the Karolinenplatz at 3 AM. It's the boundary between their territory and untamed land. Preparations need to be made and my wife needs to rest. We can't fight an army with our mightiest shield on the verge of collapse now do we?

A snort came from the other side of the wall followed by a pained gasp.

Apologies, one of us doesn't know when to stop being a dick. Go right ahead, Mikael. I gather you have a vial we could use to collect some of Emery's blood. And if you have an extra enchanted chain I could attach to the vial, that would be great. Whoever needed to check on the blood would have harder time accessing it like that.

Lilac grinned at the suggestion. Such a sharp-witted girl turned into a lowly vampire. What a waste, she thought to herself.

Yes to both, have Nosferatu collect it since it's his blood filling it. Henry, quickly amass the objects, please. I want Lilac rested before the meet-up.

It was currently 8:45 PM, and the group had around 4 hours left to rest. Henry grumbled as he reached into their shared duffle bags and rummaged through them to find the items. With a 2in. vial and 50cm enchanted chain in hand, Henry stomped towards the adjoining door and knocked. Ambrose opened the wooden door and snatched the items in a flash before gently closing the door.

Henry was stunned at the movement and stayed dazed for a couple of seconds before returning to plop himself on the luxurious couch.

That concludes our meeting. We'll knock on your door before midnight since the travel to Karolinenplatz may take time.

Lilac released the barrier and collapsed against her husband, exhausted. "You did well, my love. Rest, I'll wake you before midnight," Mikael cooed, gingerly wrapping his arm behind her knees and beneath her neck.

He sauntered towards the four-post bed and laid her underneath the covers, tucking the ends under her chin. Mikkael's knuckles gently caressed his wife's cheek and planted a light peck atop her head. Now, all they had to do was wait for midnight.

~~~~~

In the other room, Everette was the first to "sleep". Exhausted from the bickering and nerves, he was anxious for the fate of his friend. Despite the carefully crafted plan, the mere fact that they teamed up with hunters terrified him. Experiences, whether positive or negative, manifest within an individual in the form of instincts that can't be changed unless an opposite action is actively done against said instincts. If it weren't for Ambrose's stoicness and Freya's warm and calming demeanour, he'd have frenzied through the whole hotel, aching for the calm that would never come.

The oldest immortal sighed, nicking his wrist with a pocket knife to fill the vial with his blood. The crimson liquid glowed as it filled the tiny glass. His wrist gradually healed as he sealed the vial with a cork and handed it along with the chain towards Freya. The female glared at the items before offering her palm and receiving them. It was a reminder that tonight needs to go as planned, without hitches or she'd be away from the beings she holds dear.

The silver slightly stung her hand as she positioned the chain to wrap around the vial and laid her other hand on top of it, letting her magic seal the items together. Removing her hand, the chain merged with the vial, finalizing her status as ultimate bait.

Ambrose took the newly made necklace from her palm and reached for her wrist, wrapping his fingers around it and gently pulling her towards him. He examined the vial containing his blood and sighed, putting the chain over Freya's head and positioning the necklace for her. It complimented the outfit the female vampire was already wearing.

A buttoned cream top with black jeans and her favorite chunky boots. She also wore the red fur coat he bought last month for her because it made her ruby orbs shine. Despite their status being just friends Ambrose couldn't stop himself from worrying over his bride. Freya was too naive and too unaccepting of the idea that he turned her not only out of friendship or urgency but because his compassion towards her had turned into something more, into love.

Cupping Freya's cheeks in his hands, Ambrose slightly lifted her face so they were staring eye to eye. The floral scent of anxiety accosted his nostrils as he gently rubbed Freya's cheeks to ground her. "I will not let any harm befall you come hell or high water. Understood?"

Freya's frozen heart skipped a beat as she stared into soft amber eyes. She can only nod at a loss of words. The gesture and words said were too intimate to deny the romantic bond that's formed even before the transition from human to creature. Ambrose smiled warmly and pecked the top of her head, giving the necklace a soft tug before taking a step back. Freya almost whimpered at the loss of contact.

"Get some rest or drink a bag of blood. You'll need the energy to endure what's to come," Ambrose instructed sitting by the window seal. Freya timidly walked towards their suitcase filled with blood bags and unzipped the luggage, reaching for an O+ bag. She pulled on the tab and sipped it dry before tossing the plastic into the bin for Ambrose to burn when they leave; if they leave.

Anxiety seemed to become her default emotion ever since this whole fiasco started. Who knew that turning into a vampire was such a pain in the ass. Despite the savagery of the creature, there were rules to it. Grey rules that even the council seem to manipulate to their every whim. First, she was to be burned at the stake. Next, she is to be taken in alive as a prisoner to control, to keep in line the oldest and most powerful vampire.

This is insane, I'll be rifling through the rest of the blood bags if I don't stop this instant. Freya begrudgingly headed for the bed across Everette; she was not slipping in beside the flirt. He'd most likely misinterpret the situation and she'd have to extensively explain herself. She didn't have the energy for that.

Freya shifted on the bed, trying to find the best spot to lie in until a familiar hand on her shoulder stopped her movement. "You are giving me a headache even before the hunt starts. Scoot over." Freya bit her lip in embarrassment and moved to the edge of the bed to make space. Ambrose lay on the other side and silence filled the room again. Freya was uncomfortable in her fetal position and scooted backward until she felt Ambrose's firm arm against her back. She froze again for the second time this evening.

Ambrose exhaled and she heard shuffling behind her before feeling a dip and an arm draping securely around her torso. Her breath hitched and heat seemed to envelop her despite their immortal death state. "Rest, even if for an hour. I'll be here until they have to take you for the meet-up," the older vampire whispered in her ear and for the life of her, Freya felt safe as she felt sleep fall upon her.