“You’re right,” I said, her words sinking in. “I need to accept this is who I am, and that it’s okay to be who I am.”
“Overthinking the situation won’t do you any good,” Penn said. “Now, go wash your face and I’ll make you a latte so you can focus when Vaurice gets here.” She paused, then said, “He gives me the creeps, but I’m not leaving you alone with him. At least, not in our house.”
“I’m sorry I had to open the house to him. I would never have done so, if Seton hadn’t showed me just how important this is.” I hopped off the counter.
“I know that,” she said. “The situation is bigger than both of us. And you know we all have your back.”
Three weeks earlier…
“We need your cooperation,” Seton said. He was sitting next to Lazenti. We were all there, in Seton’s house. It was near midnight. Lazenti had slipped out of the Underground carrying only a backpack and a messenger bag. Seton had friends on the inside who had managed to sneak out more of Lazenti’s things.
We weren’t sure if Ezerian had him under watch, but we wanted him safe in case the demons decided to stage a purge on vampires. Now, Lazenti was staying somewhere secret, and Seton had decided that I shouldn’t know exactly where, in case that my brother and father might somehow find out.
We were all there, Lazenti, Dante, Penn, Sophia, Carson, and Orik.
“What do you need me to do?” I already knew the answer, but I needed to hear it aloud.
“We need you to agree to work with your father and brother. You’ll feed them vague information, if they ask for it, but you’ll bring back to us whatever you hear. If you tell them no, you’re making yourself an enemy and we have no idea what they’ll do.” Seton let out a sigh. “I hate to ask you to do this.”
I nodded. “I don’t want to, but I understand why. We have to find out what they intend, and I don’t trust talking to the cops.” The cops had very little love for the vampires, in general, and wouldn’t respond even if there was some plot to eliminate them.
“Why are they targeting the vampires, though?” I asked. “Why start with them?”
“If they are, I think I might know why,” Lazenti said. “Vampires are still on the outside of society. We’re treated like shit by a lot of groups, and the majority of people are uncomfortable around us. Few people are going to complain if we start vanishing, and some would outright cheer. We’re the easiest to infiltrate because, if we’re dead, we vanish without evidence. And that gives the demons time to establish a hold here.”
“That makes sense,” I said. “I wish I could ask where you’re staying, but I understand why I can’t.” I paused. “So, talking to the cops is definitely off the table?”
“We can’t involve them. There are several influential members of the Seattle PD who don’t like vampires and they might just reach out to help the Arosiens.” Devon frowned. “For example, the chief of detectives is a wolf shifter, and he has a brother in law who’s one of the city councilmen. Both of them are conservative anti-vamp hardliners. I wouldn’t be surprised if they aren’t aligned with Ezerian already.”
This was the first time that I heard suspicions about police and city government members being willing to work against the vampires. But then, the vamps were just coming out of the shadows. Everybody knew they existed, but a lot of people liked it better when they were the stuff of nightmares instead of being actual members of society.
Whispers of they aren’t real people because they passed through the Veil…and you can’t trust a vampire—they’re all monsters…still fell easily from a lot of people’s tongues. For a number of humans, it was that way with all Supes, but for some, the cutoff line seemed to be the living/undead line.
“So they’d sell their souls just to spite a group they dislike.” I shook my head.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Lazenti said. “I’ll be real here, some vampires are dangerously off-balance. There’s a reason why we’re feared.”
“True that, but so are some people. Look at Bundy, Ridgeway, the BTK…they made some of the vampires and demons look downright cozy,” Sophia said. “So, we play nice-nice with Kyann’s father in order to siphon information out of him? And, who do we tell this info to?”
Seton paused for a moment, then said, “You tell me and I pass it on. I can’t tell you who I’m in contact with. You’ll have to trust me. If you can’t, then say so now. Because it’s just not time to reveal all my secrets.”
Seton was ancient—half demon and half Fae, raised by Elves. He was as ancient as he looked young. And I trusted him with my life.
“All right,” I said. “I’ll do ti. I’ll call my brother and tell him that I’m in. I just hope I’m able to fool them.”
And so, I called Vaurice and told him I’d be willing to help out, as long as it didn’t interfere with my firm. But in return, I extracted a promise that all of my employees and their families were to be safe from anything he and my father did—no matter what happened.
I took a quick shower but didn’t wash my hair. It took too long to dry and I didn’t have the time to style it. I slipped into a pair of black jeans, a cobalt tank top, and then put on fresh eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss. After that, I dashed in the kitchen, where Penn had made me a double caramel latte. I could handle a lot of caffeine, especially thanks to my demonic side, and it cleared my head. Then, I made sure the cats were locked in my bedroom. I had no reason to suspect Vaurice of seeking to hurt me, but I didn’t want him to exploit any vulnerability. And if he and my father found out I was lying to them, I had the feeling it would no-holds barred war.
Penn handed me the mug, and stood back, leaning against the counter. She was wearing a black cherry swing dress with a red belt. With heavy winged eyeliner, and bright burgundy lips, and oversized cat eye glasses, she rocked the perfect goth retro rockabilly style, and it fit her personality. Auburn hair, curled in a Victory curl style up top, and a ponytail caught back in a bow that matched her dress, finished the look.
“That is an adorable outfit,” I said. “I couldn’t pull it off, but it’s cute.”
“I couldn’t pull off leather pants and a tank top, either,” she said, laughing.
The doorbell rang. We glanced at each other, then silently headed for the living room.
As I answered, Penn settled in one of the wing chairs. Though I didn’t want her around him, she refused to leave me alone with him, and I loved her for it.
