Day Strife
Changing Tides

~ Please R&R! And suggestions on story improvement would be good. Don't worry; more canon characters are coming soon. There's a poll on my profile page for you to select which characters you would like to read about. And don't you feel disappointed when you write what looks a lot but then when you upload it, it suddenly looks a lot less? ]:

Thankyou to vampgal and shadowhunter4life for reviewing, especially SShadow for your tips and corrections. I'd like to credit Shadow for the phrase "Lovely Lady Lola".

Enjoy the chapter!

"This chemical you say; it allows vampires to walk out into the Sun?"

"Yes. Myself and my crew have placed it through rigorous testing. It works perfectly fine. You drink it and it lasts for three months. There are no catches." said Valkyrie. Sidorio's face held an expression of wonder.

"You realise what this could mean for my mission?"

"Yes. And that is precisely why I brought it to you." said Valkyrie, as a satisfied grin spread across her face.

"Valkyrie, do you still truly reject my offer?" asked Sidorio hopefully. "The extent of your powers and knowledge is exceptional. You would be an incredible asset to me. Would you please reconsider my offer?"

"Sidorio," Valkyrie sighed. "I would love to work with you, but I have my own crew to think of. You do not know my incentives of my actions. You do not know what I get up to when I disappear. It is better for you, if you do not know what I am doing. My work is dangerous."

Sidorio looked disappointed. Here was the best asset he could ever have, and she had rejected him. He was not romantically interested in her, and never had been, but he could not deny he felt an attachment. After all, he had been the one to make her the monster she was. Perhaps the reason he was most interested in her was because he did not know the full extent of her scientific prowess. Although Sidorio valued the original ways of the vampire, tides were changing and he needed a new kind of warfare alongside his army of fangs if he wanted to crush his opposition once and for all. They were really beginning to irritate him.

"Would you like to stay for the show?"

"When it comes to the final battle, I will be proud to assist you. But for now, my priority is my ship. I really must leave and get back to my crew, it's almost dawn."

"Do you not want to catch up on all the years we haven't seen each other?"

"Another night- I'm meant to be conducting a Necromancy experiment and the corpse is getting stale," said Valkyrie, winking, as she left Sidorio alone in his cabin once more. He wasn't used to feeling rejected. What on earth had his lovely Lady Lola done to him? He didn't like domesticity. Perhaps Valkyrie could give him something to return him to his usual self. Sidorio remembered the vial he was clasping in his fist. He grinned slyly. Well, a good old fashioned surprise bloodbath would surely help.

Sidorio's thoughts were interrupted as Stukeley and Johnny walked in.

"Well hey ho Siddy to the Dorio!" Johnny exclaimed. "Smiling really isn't a good look for you. You'll be breaking hearts with that look."

"I didn't know he had time to break them before he ripped them out," said Jez, sighing at Johnny's disrespect towards the Captain. Sidorio glared at Johnny with pure contempt.

"If you ever address me in that ridiculous way again, you'll be finding out exactly how I break hearts. And I'll break several other things while I'm at it. Now get out out of here. Stukeley; stay here." Johnny scowled at Stukeley and left Sidorio's cabin, leaving behind a slightly fearful Stukeley with a still-glaring Sidorio. Once the door closed, Sidorio turned to Stukeley.

"Stukeley, I received a gift from a close friend tonight," Stukeley was surprised that Sidorio had friends, let alone close ones. It was hard to imagined Sidorio feeling close to anyone. His relationship with Lola was just...creepy. Sidorio continued talking: "I want you to sip the smallest drop of the fluid contained in this vial," Sidorio held up the vial. "Then I want you to step out on the deck."

"The deck? But it's daylight." said Stukeley, confused.

"Just do it Stukeley. Unless you would like to further question my authority?" Sidorio threatened.

"Oh no Sir," Stukeley said quickly. "I just thought I'd point it out. You've been very busy lately and you've not been yourself. You've been reacting to things in ways you normally wouldn't and you've been forgetting important things you shouldn't." Stukeley breathed deeply, fearing a rant from his Captain accusing him of lies. Stukeley was surprised at the response he received.

"I appreciate your concern Stukeley but I know what I'm doing here. Trust me," said Sidorio as he smiled. Stukeley felt even more concerned about the Captain, but he knew if he didn't follow his orders then there would be worse consequences to suffer.

"OK Captain." Stukeley took the vial from Sidorio and took a sip.

"Now go outside for a couple of minutes. If you start to burn, come in straight away," Sidorio ordered. Stukeley, for the first time in a while, felt terrified. He walked out of the cabin, and up to the deck.