This is as good a time as any for a recap of pages 47-49, on which Samael made Tesla a dark offer. Georges Morin fails to pick her up for their date. She eventually finds him asleep in Samael's box seat overlooking the stage:

“Georges! What are you doing here? I couldn't find you.”

(Samael reveals himself) “Let him dream, Tesla. If he wakes up now, his dream could turn into a nightmare. Besides, I can't tolerate someone taking what's mine!”

“You! I'm not yours, Samael!”

“You know you're lying. You've been mine since the night we met. And it couldn't be otherwise. Because you and I should be on the same side, vampire.”

“Says who? Leave… me…”

“Not before I've used my best argument on you…” (Samael takes her in his arms, kisses her, and then whisks her up to the roof of the theater, where the setting sun does not burn her.)

“The sun! I haven't seen it like this in many years! It's wonderful! I feel its warmth on my skin! It doesn't hurt! How is all this possible?”

“Tonight I gave you a little bit of me, Tesla. If you let me guide you, you will no longer have limits, vampire. You will have the sun back… and much more. I can do what I want, for those who agree to trust me. So, what do you say?”

“Not this! Never! Ahhh!” (The sun now burns her again.)

“Here! My cloak protects you. You will live! And you will have more time to think about my offer, dearest Tesla.”

So on page 77, backstage as the opera proceeds, Tesla contemplates Samael's offer, when a squad of Nergal's Naphidim makes her a counter-offer. The dialogue runs through page 80:

“I can't believe him… I can't… I would have to betray Harlan and everything I fight for… But he let me see the sun again.”

(Anyel is somewhere nearby) “Naphidim! There are many of them… in this wing of the theatre… and they are on the hunt.” (Naphidim are fallen amesha (angels), agents of the Dark Team.)

(A voice calls out) “Tesla!”

(Tesla is blinded by the light the Naphidim emit) “Aaah…”

“This woman could be of our lineage, Armaros. I sense in her an unquenchable thirst for blood.”

“She is only a vampire, Sariel. Undead.”

“You… look like angels!”

“That is what we are, Tesla.”

“You know my name.”

“I read your thoughts. I know what torments you. We too can give you the same freedom that the prince of seducers offers you, but without asking anything in return. Come.”

“I don't understand. Are you friends of Caleb Lost? I…”

“Come!”

(Samael intervenes.) “Wait, Amaros! Tesla is under my personal protection!”

(Armaros becomes hideously demonic.) “Samael!!” (Samael banishes the Naphidim back to the Infernal Realm.)

“Who was that… Mmmf!” (Samael puts his hand over Tesla's mouth as Anyel approaches.)

“Shhh!”

This is the second time in this story that Samael has saved Tesla from an attack by his own team. I wonder whether he set this up to ingratiate himself with her, or whether it's just the Dark Team's typical infighting.

The scene continues on pages 89-90, as Harlan and Kurjak approach:

“That Samael… if I lay my hands on him, I'll tear him to pieces…”

“Unfortunately, I fear that Tesla has ended up in his clutches, Kurjak.”

“I knew he would brainwash her, that…”

“Look!”

(Anyel) “I thought you appreciated music more, Samael. What were you plotting with your Naphidim friends?”

“Since you speak to me in such a tone, Anyel, I won't do you the courtesy of answering you.”

(A sword appears in Anyel's hand.) “Then I'll stop being polite.”

(Samael transforms into a giant snake again.) “As you wish. You would have done better to attend the opera, old man.”

Anyel becomes a blinding winged silhouette with a sword. He and Samael are about to lay into each other when Tesla interposes herself: “Noo, wait!”

(Harlan appears, pistol in hand) “Tesla!”

(Tesla) “If you fight among yourselves, Nergal will have succeeded in his intent… which is to break the truce.”

(Harlan draws a bead) “Samael! Let her go!”

“Harlan, no! He was the one who saved me from Nergal's demons!”

“I do not deny that I tried to win Tesla over to my side, Dampyr. But I will not tolerate Nergal using me as he does, so I give you back your vampire… this time.”

This time, indeed! This plot thread will impact future issues substantially.

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