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You couldn’t let the Kravinoffs or any other hunters kill innocent people. It just wouldn’t sit right with you. And Khonshu might go ahead and tattle to Cindy afterwards. You had to find a way to redirect their efforts towards something more productive.
And you think you have just the crisis to divert their attention for a bit.
<span class="mu-r">“You know…I hear that there’s going to be a massive vampire invasion someday soon. Maybe you and your fellow hunters would like to hold your ‘Great Hunt’ sometime around then?”</span>
Ana looked at you sharply, a glint of excitement twinkling in her eye. <span class="mu-g">“Vampires, you say?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“And not just any vampires.”</span> you said teasingly. <span class="mu-r">“Word on the grapevine is that the son of Dracula himself might be involved.”</span>
Ana nodded to herself, looking as if she was barely suppressing a wolfish grin from splitting her face. <span class="mu-g">“If what you say is true, then I am certain that my father would abandon his foolish quest in favor of hunting real prey.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Then let’s go tell him.”</span>
Ana sped past you in a blur of beige and gray, clearly eager to reach her father as soon as possible. But for a brief moment, you saw that wolfish grin spread across her features.
—----------
Unfortunately, neither of you were able to convince Kraven to leave Warren’s lab, so you had to drag him to a relatively secluded section of it. You just had to hope that the Chameleon wasn’t somehow eavesdropping on your conversation.
Before you’d gotten here, you and Ana decided to come up with a passphrase that would confirm the identity of the other. You couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Russian spy would try to pass as someone else in order to escape. It was kind of his thing.
While you thought about that, Kraven paced back and forth through the small room, stroking his beard as he pondered the implications of your proposition.
<span class="mu-g">“And you have fought these vampires before, Anastasia?”</span> he asked, his eyes never leaving the floor.
<span class="mu-g">“I have, father. The Huntsman and I personally killed their generals, while another party drove them from the city.”</span> she reported.
<span class="mu-g">“And you say that they will be back for revenge.”</span> Kraven said.
You both nodded.
He stopped in front of Ana and glanced between both of you. <span class="mu-g">“When?”</span>
The two of you exchanged a cautious look before Ana answered. <span class="mu-g">“We’re…not entirely sure yet. But the Huntsman says that it will happen very soon.”</span>
Kraven scoffed at her. <span class="mu-g">“Your perception of time is very different from a vampire’s, dear daughter. ‘Soon’ for them could be several months, several years, or even several decades.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“I’ve had people telling me that they’re already mobilizing their forces.”</span> you added.
(Cont.)
