into me. I despise that he’s witnessing my first night alone, without Rachel. I need her to guide me through this. I need…
No. I don’t need anyone. I just need to remember who I am. I’m smart. Brave. I’m a delegate. The city’s only connection to Valentine. I think about people on the street. To Valentine, they are merely sacks of blood. But to me, they have hearts and souls, and each one is depending on me right now.
“The blood supply can be increased,” I say. “But it will take time.”
Valentine gives a small, calculating smile. “I have all the time in the world.”
Beheading, stake through the heart, sun, engulfing fire—we’ve discovered those things can kill a vampire. I’d give anything to have one of those means at my disposal right now. I’d go for Victor first.
I quickly discard the thought. I need to focus on the powerful vampire in front of me. But that’s a little difficult to do, because I’m distracted by Victor’s presence. I have to wonder whether he’s using his powers to influence me. It’s never been proven, but it’s long been suspected that vampires can control us with their thoughts. Can bend us to their will. Some call it being vampire struck. I imagine it’s nothing but hundreds of years of practice in the art of subtle manipulation.
Victor may have toyed with me last night, may be messing with me right now, but when I get back to Denver, I can mess with him. I’ll tell Rachel about him, about the theater. His sanctuary in the city will be destroyed. Maybe I should wait until he’s in it.
But then I remember how he saved me, and I feel a stab of guilt. How much do I owe him? Loyalty? To keep his secret? I don’t know. But neither do I trust his motives for coming to our rescue. Vampires never do anything without an expectation of gain.
“Miss Montgomery?”
I snap my attention back to Valentine, only then realizing that I’ve been staring at Victor. “Yes, m’lord?”
“I see my son intrigues you.”
“No, I … I’ve just never met a young vampire before.”
“Four hundred years. Hardly young by your standards, but you are correct that he is young by ours.”
“Did he fight in the war?”
“It’s rude to talk about me as though I’m not here,” Victor says, and I can hear the irritation that so often marks his father’s voice.
I turn to him. “Did you fight in the war?”
“I’m not sure what bearing that information has on the blood supply.”
Valentine chuckles, and I realize we’re entertaining him. The last thing I want to do. I angle my chin defiantly. “In your absence your father and I discussed the abductions that happened last week. Maybe you know something about them.” I shove my folder of photos toward him.
To my surprise, unlike his father, he doesn’t ignore them. He opens the folder and turns the pictures over slowly, one by one. Then he lifts his gaze to mine. “I’m sorry. I don’t.”
“They were attacked in the city. We know there are vampires within the walls. They’re fair game if we find them,” I say, giving an emphasis and meaning to my words. You’re fair game .
“I’m well aware of the conditions of VampHu, of the dangers that vampires found within the city face,” he says.
“Your Night Watchmen are apparently useless,” Valentine suddenly barks, “and I stated earlier that I was finished discussing the abductions.”
“I thought I should enlighten your son about them—since he was tardy.”
Victor narrows his eyes at me, but Valentine chuckles again. I give my attention back to Valentine. “Other than the blood supply, is there anything else that displeases you, m’lord?”
“That you do not trust the house of Valentine.”
I don’t trust any vampire. I want to remove the black gloves he makes me wear and scrub at the skin that Victor touched last night when we were running through the alleys. I want to forget every word we shared. His smile, his concern. None of it was true. It
No. I don’t need anyone. I just need to remember who I am. I’m smart. Brave. I’m a delegate. The city’s only connection to Valentine. I think about people on the street. To Valentine, they are merely sacks of blood. But to me, they have hearts and souls, and each one is depending on me right now.
“The blood supply can be increased,” I say. “But it will take time.”
Valentine gives a small, calculating smile. “I have all the time in the world.”
Beheading, stake through the heart, sun, engulfing fire—we’ve discovered those things can kill a vampire. I’d give anything to have one of those means at my disposal right now. I’d go for Victor first.
I quickly discard the thought. I need to focus on the powerful vampire in front of me. But that’s a little difficult to do, because I’m distracted by Victor’s presence. I have to wonder whether he’s using his powers to influence me. It’s never been proven, but it’s long been suspected that vampires can control us with their thoughts. Can bend us to their will. Some call it being vampire struck. I imagine it’s nothing but hundreds of years of practice in the art of subtle manipulation.
Victor may have toyed with me last night, may be messing with me right now, but when I get back to Denver, I can mess with him. I’ll tell Rachel about him, about the theater. His sanctuary in the city will be destroyed. Maybe I should wait until he’s in it.
But then I remember how he saved me, and I feel a stab of guilt. How much do I owe him? Loyalty? To keep his secret? I don’t know. But neither do I trust his motives for coming to our rescue. Vampires never do anything without an expectation of gain.
“Miss Montgomery?”
I snap my attention back to Valentine, only then realizing that I’ve been staring at Victor. “Yes, m’lord?”
“I see my son intrigues you.”
“No, I … I’ve just never met a young vampire before.”
“Four hundred years. Hardly young by your standards, but you are correct that he is young by ours.”
“Did he fight in the war?”
“It’s rude to talk about me as though I’m not here,” Victor says, and I can hear the irritation that so often marks his father’s voice.
I turn to him. “Did you fight in the war?”
“I’m not sure what bearing that information has on the blood supply.”
Valentine chuckles, and I realize we’re entertaining him. The last thing I want to do. I angle my chin defiantly. “In your absence your father and I discussed the abductions that happened last week. Maybe you know something about them.” I shove my folder of photos toward him.
To my surprise, unlike his father, he doesn’t ignore them. He opens the folder and turns the pictures over slowly, one by one. Then he lifts his gaze to mine. “I’m sorry. I don’t.”
“They were attacked in the city. We know there are vampires within the walls. They’re fair game if we find them,” I say, giving an emphasis and meaning to my words. You’re fair game .
“I’m well aware of the conditions of VampHu, of the dangers that vampires found within the city face,” he says.
“Your Night Watchmen are apparently useless,” Valentine suddenly barks, “and I stated earlier that I was finished discussing the abductions.”
“I thought I should enlighten your son about them—since he was tardy.”
Victor narrows his eyes at me, but Valentine chuckles again. I give my attention back to Valentine. “Other than the blood supply, is there anything else that displeases you, m’lord?”
“That you do not trust the house of Valentine.”
I don’t trust any vampire. I want to remove the black gloves he makes me wear and scrub at the skin that Victor touched last night when we were running through the alleys. I want to forget every word we shared. His smile, his concern. None of it was true. It
Similar Books
