“She is very beautiful,” he said as if he had no regrets.“And her blood is quite intoxicating.It would be difficult to pass up the opportunity to taste her again despite knowing now that she is a coldhearted snake.But as I was saying, I didn’t realize at the time that she had renewed her relationship with Samuel.When I learned of it, I was angry.I did not wish to be an enemy of the king.When we were in France, I tracked her to the home of a human photographer.”
Again without looking, he turned the page.“Satine loves new toys, both people and technology.Today she would be called an early adopter.”He finger quoted the last two words.“Wet plate photography was her new obsession, and she wanted to play with it.She invited herself, a few of her bonded vampires, and Victor de Valois.”
“An Heir?”I guessed.
“An Heir,” he said with a nod.“Though I didn’t learn who had been in the home until later.I arrived when smoke and flame first became visible from the street.”
“You rushed in and found the place empty except for photographic evidence of a crime?”I tried to get Deagan to move to the point of his story.
“Yes.”The word was curt, almost pouty.Someone didn’t like their stories to be interrupted.“Since you are so humanly impatient, I’ll summarize.”
I pressed my lips together so I didn’t point out that his speech was already supposed to be a summary.
“Wet plate colloidal photography used chemicals to create images on glass plates.They had to be developed quickly in a dark room, which the photographer had in his home.Satine had the man take a series of photos of her, Victor, and her vampires.Most of the ones I recovered documented their blood orgy, which is when—”
I held up a hand.“No details, please.”
“Very well.”He shrugged.“The photography required them to stay still for a time.They all complied in various stages of… coitus.The very last photo depicted Satine riding Victor, and behind Victor, two of her bonded vampires carried what were undoubtedly daggers—they moved so that part is not clear.The intent, however, is.And the fact that Satine was with Victor the day he perished is incriminating.If these photographs”—he opened the book to where said photographs had been slipped between the pages—“were to make it into Samuel’s hands, he would not be able to deny her involvement.He would see that she bedded others while with him, she killed a human, and she committed arson, which could have spread throughout the city.The fire alone might prevent her from seducing her way out of punishment, but subverting his command and killing Victor?Satine will not survive that.”
He tapped his fingers on the journal, drawing my attention to the evidence.I glanced at it again, looked closer, which was a big mistake since the images instantly seared themselves into my mind.The photocopies of the photographs were obviously old and partially burned, but they still clearly depicted the scene Deagan had described—or not described since I’d cut him off.This was what my mind had pictured though, except the orgy focused more on the sex part than the blood.The human photographer must have been some kind of pornographic entrepreneur.I didnotneed to see that much of Satine or anyone else.
I looked away.It was incriminating evidence except for one issue.“These aren’t the original photos.Satine could claim they’re fake.”
“I have hidden the original glass plates in multiple locations.They are obtainable if needed.However, all you must do is send a message to Satine telling her the plates didn’t burn.She will know what you refer to.You will threaten to send the evidence to Samuel if she remains in Jared’s territory or makes any move on the compound.You’ll also arrange—”
“Wait.We’re using this to blackmail her?Why don’t we send it to Samuel now?”
“There is no time.Satine made three mistakes when she entered the compound, and she is not one to wait long to correct errors.”
That fit.She hadn’t waited one second to pursue me when I’d ditched her to talk to Aidan.“Three mistakes?”
“Three.She did not immediately kill Jared.She overestimated her prestige and menace.”He closed the book.“And she underestimated you.”
“You’re giving me too much credit.”
He slid the collection of rumors and observations toward me.“This belongs to you now.Take it to The Rain.”Then he leaned forward and dramatically whispered, “Keep it secret.Keep it safe.”
“I’ll hide it if you want me to, but it belongs to you.”
“No longer.As I said, you are the chosen one.”
“You need more blood.”I imitated his overly dramatic whisper.“You’re not quite sane yet.”
He laughed.“Youarethe chosen one, Ms.Rain, becauseIhave chosenyou.Not only do you see injustices that others choose to dismiss, youacton them.You risked yourself to save me when you should have accepted my death as inevitable.You’ve refused to bow to Lehr's demands.You are making changes to a world that is stagnant and imprisoned by its own ancient, outdated laws.And you do all this not through manipulation, violence, or deception but through a stubborn, relentless belief that things can be better.”
He lifted the book, the paranormal dossier, and placed it in my arms.“I shall fetch pen and paper to write the message to Satine.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ienclosedthedossierwithin multiple pillowcases.I didn’t know how to respond to Deagan’s observation.He made me sound like I was a savior, like I knew what I was doing and was nobly pursuing some kind of justice.In truth, I was fumbling my way through the paranormal world.I was making mistakes, makingbargains.
I took the hopefully innocuous pillow-stored dossier to the kitchen.Thordis had returned.She lounged on the couch, confident enough this time to prop her feet back up on the coffee table, pink toenails on display.She swiped through a phone, not looking up when I walked past.
“Your tools.”Deagan swept his hand toward the table.I half expected to see a quill and ink.Fortunately, he’d gathered an envelope, plain white paper, and a ballpoint pen.“Wine?”
Red liquid poured from the bottle to the glass, Deagan gently swirling to aerate it.Pretty ineffectual, and I didn’t like the way the wine seemed to cling to the glass a little too long before settling.While I believed it was wine, it still made my stomach churn.Arcuro had consumed blood from glasses.I might never drink a red again.
“No, thanks.”I set the dossier on the table and picked up the pen.“What do I need to write?”
