“Arwen was just here? Like, when, exactly?”
“Right before you. She left about five minutes ago, maybe. Zara, how do you know Cassia?”
“Cassia found me one night, and we…”
“Oh.” Iro sipped her bourbon. “Of course.”
“Iro, I know.”
“Know what?” Iro asked, and Zara watched her breathe in a moment later. “When did she turn you?”
“The night you went on your first date with Arwen.”
“She killed you? God, Zara, I am so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“I asked for this,” Zara revealed.
“We all ask her for it. But it’s never really our choice, is it?”
“I have more to say, Iro.” She took a deep breath. “I’m in love with Arwen. I have been for years. That night you two met, I had just been diagnosed with cancer and was about to confess my feelings to her. I knew it was selfish of me, but I was going to do it anyway. Then, you showed up, and it was like all she could see was you.”
“Cancer?”
“It’s gone now, obviously. It’s the reason I chose this. I told Cassia that I would keep an eye on you two because she wants you back, and she said if you went with her, I’d have a chance with Arwen. But I never really did, did I? The moment she laid eyes on you, it was all over for me.”
“Not anymore. She knows what I am.”
“What?”
“Arwen knows I’m a vampire. Cassia found her at the café after you left, I guess, and told her everything. Well, she told her lies, but Arwen didn’t believe me, so it’s over now.”
“Arwen went to the bathroom, and Cassia took her, Iro. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. If she was here, it was because Cassia forced her to–” Zara stopped herself. “I can’tbelieve I didn’t think about this… God, I’m so stupid… Iro, Cassia can shape-shift.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve seen her become a whole different person. She’s become me. I’ve watched herbecomeArwen, and it’s not just the body; the voice is real, too. If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I would’ve thought shewereArwen.”
“Cassia can’t shape-shift. She would have told me. Very few vampires have abilities.”
“I know. She told me that, too. But, Iro, I saw it. Hell, I… Well, I fucked her as…”
“You pretended she was Arwen?”
“Being a vampire is confusing. I was in pain and heartbroken, and she manipulated me, but, Iro, I never wanted to hurt Arwen. Cassia promised me she wouldn’t hurt her. She promised me that we could–”
“Be together? She told you that she wanted me back and that you could have Arwen? Fuck! Cassia has Arwen.” Iro gripped the glass too tightly, and it broke in her hand. “She came here and pretended to be–” Iro stood. “How did I not see it? I told her I loved her for the first time, and her face… I told her I didn’t love Cassia anymore.” Iro moved around the coffee table. “Fuck! When I told her about Mary, she didn’t even say anything. God, I should have known… That wasn’t my Arwen.”
“You didn’t know Cassia could shift into other people.”
“No, but still. The way she walked was off, but I didn’t think anything of it. Where is she, Zara?”
“I assume Cassia has her at the house.”
“What house? I don’t know where Cassia is.”
“I’ll take you there.”
“No, you’ll stay here.” Iro pointed at her.
