Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) by Fionn Jameson Page B

you and I may enter Noir’s House without the slightest bit of suspicion. Once we are accepted into the proverbial fold, it will be much easier to do what needs to be done.”
    I matched him smile for smile. “What makes you think I’m not going to kill you at your weakest? As you said, you would be completely incapacitated. If I kill you and Reiko, that would be two less vampires for me to worry about.”
    “You won’t,” he said matter-of-factly. “You’re much too intelligent. You understand what must be done. And what’s more, I think I rather fascinate you.”
    Too close to the truth for comfort. “Fascinating? You? Hardly.”
    A corner of his lips twitched. “Liar.”
    This conversation was starting to sound rather familiar.
    Which reminded me. “I don’t suppose you’re aware there are vampires trying to warn me away from you?”
    He didn’t pause at the abrupt change of subject. “Is that so?”
    I inspected my fingernails in a nonchalant manner. “It is. Would you happen to have any idea why?”
    He didn’t look derisive anymore, merely interested. “Not the faintest.”
    “They seemed quite keen on keeping me away from you,” I said. “It was a female vampire. She said her…House was keeping an eye on you and would like to make sure that you continue living. They seem to think being around me would be detriment to your, ah, health.”
    “Good,” he said, looking rather pleased with himself. “This is good news. It means we’re doing something right. You’re making someone nervous, and that is always a good thing.”
    “Or it could be someone who merely wants you to stay alive and seems to think being around me would be the death of you,” I said dryly. “The female vampire might even be Shannon. Do you have any pictures with which I can identify her?”
    He shook his head. “No. Not anymore. But it doesn’t matter. I always figured I’d find Shannon, sooner or later. I can wait, now that I know I’ll see her soon.”
    I leaned back in my seat, watched the way the fire played with the shadows across his face. “And yet you loved her very much.”
    “I did.” He paused. “I do. May I ask you a question?”
    He was changing the subject. I let him. I figured all answers would come to the light…once we successfully infiltrated the vampiric society. So, like him, I could wait. “Can I stop you?”
    He continued onward as if I never said anything. “Have you ever killed anything over a decade old?”
    I could tell him the truth and listen to him laugh. Or I could lie and then die when the time came.
    “I have been trained to hunt vampires,” I said carefully. “I…well, I suppose you can say I have a certain aptitude for hunting them that most humans do not have.”
    He didn’t laugh at me. That was a surprise. “ I can’t do this without you. I think I am glad you are to be my Ailward .”
    Ailward. The traditional term for a vampire’s bodyguard. Never in my life. I would never protect a vampire.
    Ever.
    I shook my head. “I still can’t believe I’ve agreed to do this.”
    “I can’t believe I’ve waited this long,” he said. “Perhaps I have been waiting for you.”
    “Pretty words.”
    He flashed me a smile with his normal teeth. For now.
    This time tomorrow, everything would change.
    I was not looking forward to it.
     
     

6
     
     
    For the sixth time that night, Jason screamed.
    After the third time, I stopped barging into his room.
    And for the sixth time, Jason’s driver looked at me over his glasses which he apparently wore indoors as well. “Don’t worry. Everything is how it should be.”
    I stared down at my feet sunk deep into the carpet. “I had no idea it was so painful.”
    “Usually, it’s not. But he wants to make sure he comes back as a vampire. Otherwise, he could die.”
    Michael sat across from me. More precisely, he sat in a seat across from the double doors that opened to Jason’s room. I couldn’t sit down long enough to warrant