“Is that why your eyes are different colors? Did that happen during the process, or were you born that way?” He turned the cane and gripped both ends. “I wonder if a genetic flaw predisposed you to yet another mutation.”
“Ask me a more interesting question.”
He tipped his head to the side. “How did you steal the boy and woman out from under my nose? I haven’t quite figured that part out.”
“We keep some of the windows open,” I said, trying to throw him off. “Did you like the fireworks show?”
“It was pleasant. Up until the part where you violated my privacy. I suppose that temporarily distracted some of my men, but what were you doing in the garage? I didn’t see the boy leave with you.”
“It’s weak to use a child as a shield. You should think about the image you want to project to your followers. Maybe some of your guys haven’t thought twice about it, but I noticed a few women in your group. And if there’s one thing that women know how to spot, it’s a weak man. Perception is everything. Won’t be long before they’re talking in hushed whispers.”
“Is this what you wish to speak with me about? Dissension under my infallible leadership?”
I approached the bars. “You seem like an accomplished guy. I mean, despite your outdated taste in clothes, you’ve managed to flip this city on its head. Why do you think putting a curse on people is the key to loyalty? Anyone who joins your outfit is only doing it because you twisted their arm. And why waste your time with rich people? You could have easily persuaded the underground Breed to follow you. I don’t think most of the people at that party have the stomach to do what you expect of them.”
“Do you think I’d be better off with the lunatics who live in the Bricks?” Sparrow let go of the end of his cane and heaved a sigh. “Immortals of that caliber don’t have a reputation to care about, and a man’s reputation in good society is the only valuable item he possesses. The ones who follow me now have no place in this world, so I’ve given them purpose. And for that, they’ve given me their loyalty. Targeting the upper class was a strategic move. Those who choose to follow me will be banished from their old life—branded traitors. Their friends will cut them off. So you see, they’ll have no choicebutto stay with me. It doesn’t matter how powerful they are. The importance is building a loyal base. Once I have enough, people will be too afraid to go against my command.”
“They might kill you to get back their name.”
Sparrow sputtered with laughter. “They’ve spent their lives executing too many men to join the dregs of Breed society. And if they do kill me? There are no parades for traitors. They’ll have little choice but to support me. I suppose you see this as arbitrary, but I have been planning this for years. I’m three hundred, give or take, and so I remember a time before the Mageri and higher authority came along. Before Shifter Councils. Now every Breed wants to start up their own little group of lawmakers, and it’s”—he twirled the cane—“repugnant. Our system is flawed, and the only way to split it apart is from the inside out. Once you put a crack in the ice, it spreads far and wide.”
“Why did you steal our house? Those rich assholes at the party have more real estate than we do—not to mention a heating system. You look a little cold. I’m assuming those who join you are turning over their property, so you’ll have a lot to choose from. We don’t work for the higher authority. We’re independent contractors. You could do a lot better. So why did you take it? Is it some personal vendetta against Viktor?”
Sparrow paced away. “It’s no secret that Lenore’s infatuation with Viktor troubles me. As long as he holds power, she has a safety umbrella. I needed to take that umbrella so she would have nowhere else to go. I’ve wanted her for a very long time.”
“You and a long list of men.”
He spun on his heel and pointed his cane at me. “Exactly.”
I walked away, my fingers running along the bars. “You’re so blinded by your obsession that you don’t even recognize your weakness. Sure, maybe you have Lenore now. Congrats. But now you have mercenaries on your ass who aren’t as forgiving. Charm me all you want, but I don’t have any secrets. Viktor doesn’t always give us the full plan until we’re rolling up to the target’s house. So if there’s anything up his sleeve, I don’t know about it. Keystone will come for you someday, and you’ll be looking over your shoulder for as long as you live in this house.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a fact.” When I reached the far corner of the cage, I pivoted toward him. “If you don’t undo your curse, you’re in for a big surprise.”
He canted his head, his long hair drifting across his face. “What do you mean by that?”
“Do you know anything about this realm? Anything at all? Did you test your theory by tossing a few of your Vamps in here and watching them for a week or two? Because that wasn’t enough. You said at the party that we won’t be invisible to the living, but we are. Humans can’t see us. Did you know that? They’re a huge chunk of the planet. If you have any sense at all, you’ll reverse your actions. We’re evolving, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s making us weaker. Did you study how it affects different Breeds? Different power levels? What we might become in ten years or even a hundred? If those people are gunning for you, there’s nowhere to hide. Not even here.”
I was hoping that might rattle him enough to undo the curse. Begging for my freedom was futile, but maybe I could shake up his plan before he scrubbed my memories or did away with me. Lenore and Sparrow would make a powerful force. I knew nothing about him aside from his substantial power, but combining that with Lenore’s intelligence and direction would make them unstoppable. However, if he snipped her out of the picture, his reign might be short-lived.
“I’m not as weak as you would hope to believe,” he offered quietly.
“Why? Because you can build a fancy little wall?”
“I can do much more than that.” Sparrow walked forward but kept out of reach. “I suppose you’ve heard the rumors about Uniques. We’ve been hiding for so long that people don’t believe in us anymore. EvenIdon’t know how many different kinds of Uniques there are. Four, I think?” He quietly counted on his fingers while looking upward, but his gestures seemed more theatrical than genuine. “They call me a Summoner.” Sparrow swung his cane to the side, and it was suddenly encased in a spectacular light. After a few dramatic swirls over his head, the light showered the floor in tiny flecks of sparkling glitter. He reminded me of the guys at the circus who talk up all the performances. “Summoners can pull large amounts of energy, but the gift has limitations. I couldn’t keep a wall standing or build doorways through them. A temporary wall is impressive, but I was too afraid to use it. They used to hunt and kill Uniques. But now my power is beyond their comprehension.” He strode to the far corner and sat in the chair, his legs crossed.
Most rarely discussed their gifts, but Sparrow boasted as if he wanted the world to know. Maybe I’d learn something if I kept him talking. “Who taught you how to use your gifts?”
His eyebrows quirked. “No one.”
“What about your Creator?”
“What about her? I used her to become immortal, but I had no desire to be under her control.”
I wrapped my fingers around the bars. “Are you saying you killed her? That’s against the law.”
Sparrow howled with laughter. When he shot to his feet, he kicked the chair over and strode toward me. I got nervous and stepped back.
