"No." Simon's voice carried an edge. "Nothing like that place. We're not conspiring with criminal organizations."
"We've had three residents so far," Charlie added. "One successful graduation. She learned to feed consensually and found a regular donor. One who decided the vampire life wasn't for her and..." He trailed off.
"Chose to end it," Simon finished. "Peacefully, on her terms."
The room went quiet.
"And the third?" Thomas asked.
"The third one is still with us and learning." Charlie took a sip from his mug. "It's slow-going." Charlie licked his lips and looked at the other vampires. "We could use some help actually, if you're interested."
Maya perked up. "What kind of help?"
"Everything, honestly." Charlie set down his mug. "Simon handles security and screening, I work with the newly turned on basic control and feeding. But it's just the two of us."
"I could help with meditation techniques," Connor mused. "The puzzles kind of work. Focusing on patterns, creating order… it helps with the hunger."
"The garden at the retreat wasn't stupid either," Maya said. "Growing things and nurturing them is sort of the opposite of taking life, you know. Psychological balance or whatever."
Thomas nodded. "And I suppose you could use some furniture."
Charlie's chest tightened with something that felt dangerously like hope. "You'd really want to help?"
"Want to? Charlie, I've been going stir-crazy." Maya drained her mug. "Do you know how hard it is to find meaning as a vampirewhen you're trying not to be evil? I've been painting landscapes. Landscapes! I hate landscapes!"
Viktor snorted. "The tragedy."
"It is a tragedy. I'm a vampire who paints happy little trees. Ugh." She spat.
"You could paint with our students."
Maya's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes. We could paint some disturbing art.Vampireart."
"That sounds ominous," Simon said.
"Good. Vampires should be at leasta littleominous." She turned to Viktor. "You in?"
Viktor shrugged. "I'll help when I can. Someone needs to keep you idiots from getting killed."
"Such enthusiasm," Thomas said dryly.
"Speaking of people who might help," Viktor said, too casual. "I tried to find your friend. The librarian."
Charlie and Simon both stiffened.
"Noah?" Charlie asked.
"No one at the library has heard of him. They have no record of anyone by that name ever working there. Nobody remembers him."
"That's impossible," Charlie said. "He was there. We all met him."
"I know," Viktor agreed. "But according to every official record, he never existed."
Connor looked between them. "Are we talking about an actual person or...?"
"He knew things," Simon said quietly. "Things no one should have known. And he had this light about him…" Simon shook himself.
"Light?" Maya leaned forward.
