That was exactly what Simon wanted to know. But he didn't. "It's complicated."
"Really? And here I thought nothing was ever complicated with you." Viktor took a long drink of water. "Remember that nest in Detroit? The youngest of them looked fourteen."
"She was a vampire."
"Right. So you staked her before I could even say anything." Viktor leaned forward. "Because every vampire is automatically a monster, right?"
Simon thought of Charlie fainting at the sight of blood. Charlie apologizing to a door. Charlie surviving on ketchup and hot sauce for three weeks because he wouldn't bite anyone.
But a few irregularities didn't change the truth.
"Why are you protecting this one?" Viktor asked.
"I'm not protecting him. I'm investigating. Someone set him up. We got false intelligence about murders he didn't commit. I want to know who and why."
Viktor made a sound that might have been a laugh. "You fed him your blood to investigate?"
"He was dying."
"Vampires are hard to kill."
"He was out in the sun."
"And that's hurt him, sure. But vampires can survive a lot of burning before they actually die. You know that." Viktor's gaze was too knowing. "You've tested it."
Simon had. It was part of advanced training. Understanding exactly how much damage vampires could take before termination. The memory sat like acid in his stomach now.
"This one's different," Simon said finally.
"Because he's innocent?"
"Because he's—" Chaotic. Harmless. Mine. Simon caught himself before any of those words escaped. "He's three weeks old. Abandoned by his sire. He didn't ask for any of this."
"Neither did we."
The words gave Simon pause.
"Do you ever wonder," Viktor said quietly, "what would have happened if Reuben hadn't found us? If we'd been left to turn naturally?"
"We'd be dead. Or monsters."
"Would we?" Viktor stood, and then he started pacing restlessly. "I've been doing research, you know, finding out about real vampires, not the Organization's version. Did you know some vampires live peacefully? They have territories, sure, but they also have rules. Communities. They don't all prey on innocent humans."
"Is that the fairy tale you're telling yourself now?"
"Do you really think that?" Viktor turned back to him. "That I'm the one falling for a fairy tale? When's the last time you questioned an assignment? Really questioned it?"
Simon thought of Charlie's file. All those murders that never happened. "This one."
"And look what you found. An innocent kid who probably would have died of starvation rather than hurt anyone." Viktor nodded at Charlie. "How long did you say he lasted on his own?"
"Three weeks."
"Three weeks without blood. Without guidance. Without anyone explaining what was happening to him." Viktor's expression wasunreadable. "And he didn't kill anyone. Doesn't that tell you something?"
Before Simon could answer, Charlie stirred on the couch, making a soft sound of distress. His hand reached out, searching for something.
For Simon.
