Chapter 74: Wards
"That's impossible. Even a bishop's connection to the wards is broken if they are turned." Sid pointed up to the halo above us. "These wards are connected to the greater wards of the capitol, the Sol Sanctum, and the Halo Invictus. If the wards should excommunicate any vampire connected to them." Sid said.
I rolled my shoulders. "Is it really that difficult to fool a system of wards? He's a priest, maybe he studied how the wards worked and found a glitch in the system. Are there items that can trick the wards?" I asked.
"Vampires can't connect to our wards. The auras of humans and vampires are too fundamentally different to form a connection. Even if they had an item that made them appear human, they don't have the right aura frequency. Can we rule out a mistake in the system?" Priest Margos asked.
I looked over at the Bishop. "Let's put our investigation on paper. Do you haven any blank parchment or scrolls?" I asked.
The Bishop sighed and stood up. He walked over to a wall and pulled a cord. A long white sheet slid down from a roll above.
"Tear off the piece you use. Be careful with my stationary." Alexander said. He handed me an ink pot and a metal quill. I looked the implement over for any runes and felt for enchantments. "I prefer my stationary mundane. Don't enchant it."
I sighed and dabbed some ink on the quill and wrote accident in large letter on the bottom before signing beside it unlikely. "Do we know which vampire turned him? Edwardo didn't seem the type. Mariana likes girls or at least prefers them to feed upon. Who does that leave us?" I asked. I wrote out the names of the only vampires I'd met and placed an X beside their name.
"Senna Cruz, Edwardo Leche, and Gloria Reyes had contact with Victor. Mr. Leche likes a wench with big titties at the local tavern. For the last years he's reported to have begged her to turn for him. Victor often shared pleasant conversation with that vampire much to my disappointment. Senna Cruz works at the hospital as a pharmacist, a surgeon, and an administrator. She took Victor's appendix out six months ago. Then there is Gloria Reyes." The old man paused while I wrote the last name down.
Alexander perked up. "If there was ever a monster put on this world to tempt even a man as old as I, it would be Gloria Reyes. Never have I met a more diabolical vampire. Her red hair, green eyes, and freckled cheeks hide her sadism with an innocent façade. If I were a younger man, I'd give her a dance she'd never forget." The old man grinned lost in his perverse fantasy.
I sighed and wrote her name down and circled it once and added a maybe beside it. "Is there anyone else? Did he have any admirers, acquaintances, or secret lovers." I asked.
We didn't have much to go on. The suspect list was bare to say the least. I didn't know Victor. Edwardo Leche might have been a true friend and Victor's turning could have been a gift. Getting away from Bishop Alexander might have been worth any price. The fact that the wards still considered him human was disconcerting. How did that work?
I thought the wards targeted vampires without exception. Being apart of the wards should only allow him to use the weaknesses established by the wards on other vampires. He should still be vulnerable. Or could the wards not differentiate human from vampire and only by being connected was someone immune. If a human was removed from the wards would they suddenly develop vampire weaknesses in human lands. Well, I had to know what the wards did. Where did I fall under these weaknesses? When I touched silver, I was unaffected. Garlic didn't bother me and I'm fine in sunlight. These are weaknesses applied by the wards when a vampire enters human territory. It could also have something to do with and transient nature of humans turning into vampires.
I stopped my train of thoughts. Until I saw the wards and understood how they worked myself I couldn't make an accurate prediction. My information was lacking. The best I could do was make a few hypotheses.
"Not that I know of. Young man isn't clever. If he had a secret lover I'd have noticed."
Alexander said.
Victor became a vampire knowing he'd be immune to the wards and wishes to abuse that immunity. Victor became a vampire knowing he'd be able to use the weaknesses of other vampires against them. Victor was turned not knowing he'd be immune to the wards and another is using his immunity to their own ends.
"Is he effected by the weaknesses of other vampires? Why can't you excommunicate him from the wards?" I asked.
"Only those apart of the wards can use them actively against others. While he is connected, he's immune. They were made that way incase a mage tricked the wards into believing a human was a vampire. Such an incident happened a little over 70 years ago. I was one of the lucky few who got to see a human burn under Sol's light. Some merchant shortchanged a rogue mage on some spices and the merchant's whole family had their designations changed. I was there when the people ripped the clothes off of the merchant's teenage daughters and nailed them to posts. All because the spices he sold some mage were a few milligrams light." The Bishop's voice grew solemn at the end. "A change to the wards had to occur. Swapping designations of a human to a vampire automatically excommunicates them from the ward's protection. If they are then perceived as a human the wards will check the excommunication list if they aren't on it, the wards will register them as a human. Victor is a vampire but remains registered as a human. I attempted to excommunicate him, but the wards won't remove him." Alexander said.
"And so, a vampire wonders our land able to invade homes, feed, and rape with impunity. This really is a scandal. Why didn't you put him down? Surely, there was signs of his turning." Sid asked.
By the function of the wards Victor was immune to the weaknesses of vampires in human lands. Sunlight couldn't hurt him, garlic wouldn't dissuade him, and he could break and enter with impunity. I wasn't blind to the implications of the wards. A society could make laws and punishments enacted by the wards. There would be no need for police. If someone broke a law the wards would turn what little sunlight filtered through the clouds into a death ray.
"He vanished long before he would have showed signs. I gave my threats and warned that I'd call a knightly order down upon my own city. I threatened to end Gendry Town with a calling of the blades. In the end I couldn't destroy this place and called for an inquisitor instead." Alexander said.
"Whoever controls the wards controls human society." I let the words slip from my lips.
Janus wasn't having it. "That isn't true. The knightly orders wouldn't tolerate a tyrant." Janus said.
Bishop Alexander pursed his lips hiding a smile. "To be young and naïve I hope you don't plan to send that boy to the blades. They'd eat him alive. I still have some contacts in the Lunar Owls, they aren't a large order, but their members are tight knit. Many Deacons join a knightly order when they find priesthood boring. Then they realize knightly orders mostly patrol and train until called upon." Alexander said.
"I don't understand why the knightly orders wouldn't fight against tyranny." Janus asked.
Sid looked pensive. "They are afraid of each other and the mages. If one order was to march against injustice, then their enemies would soon march against them. Then all a tyrant would have to do is turn the wards against them. Mages can manipulate the great ward in localized areas. They are also member of the ruling class. Anyone who manages to become a tyrant already has the support of the mages guilds." Priest Margos said.
"You shouldn't worry about it boy or you'll become as wrinkled as me. What do you think mage friend of Sid?" Alexander asked.
"Why are you asking me, I'm just a rogue mage? I wouldn't worry about its Janus you aren't able to do anything about it anyway. You can't make the decisions of other for them." The sun was starting to go down and the vampires would roam the streets soon. We new of a few vampires but it was the ones we didn't know about that might make a difference.
"What was the name of the tavern you mention? The one where Victor met the vampires." I asked.
"Its called Veins Blue and its near the hospital. A dreadful place, vampires and humans intermingle with very little supervision. The teenagers of this city frequent it often. I don't recommend taking Janus there." Alexander said.
I nodded slowly. "Well, he has a book to study. I'd like to leave him here with you. I trust housing a future Lunar Owl won't be too much of a burden. Janus is probably curious of their exploits and how you met them." I said.
A look of terror flashed across Janus's face. "I'm very tired." Janus started.
Alexander cut him off. "That's a fine idea. While the two of you investigate the underbelly of that sinful place, I'll tell young Janus tales of inspiration and the human spirit." Bishop Alexander turned to the boy. "Have you heard the time I found a werewolf in one of my deacon's beds. It was quite the scandal. I assure you. It all started when I told my deacon not to pursue a certain red-haired girl he met on the street." I shut the door after Sid.
"At least now I don't have to worry about Janus getting stolen." I muttered.
Sid nodded. "The poor boy is going to hate us for this. Alexander has turned into such a gossip in his old age." Priest Margos said.
We slipped into a coach and began our journey to the Veins Blue.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Ultimatedaywriter
Ultimatedaywriter Hey thank you for reading far. There should be another chapter tomorrow. I have a ton of free time tomorrow. I'm sorry there isn't a lot of action in this arc so far. Its coming but this one will be a little slower. I hope you are all enjoying the arc so far.
Gifts
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received Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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