“This is what I wanted to show you.” Jo points to the fang marks. “Around the fang wounds are these other marks. Here and here. They’re very faint. I’ve gone back to my autopsy photos of Danny and Patrick, and I can see these same faint marks with an identical pattern. I think we can say that these three people were killed by the same killer.”
“Which means that there’s a killer at Sanctus.” Beth glares at me. But she can’t make me feel worse than I already do.
The Nevermore Coven all start talking at once, arguing over how best to approach solving the crime. Arabella flicks her gaze towards the door. I follow her back into the hall, but we’re blocked by Sinead and a tall woman in a black suit.
“This is Dani, the funeral director,” Sinead snaps, her eyes never leaving Arabella’s face.
“Hello, Gideon. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Dani holds out her hand, giving mine a firm shake. “I understand the deceased is a vampire? Lucky for you, our company is used to dealing with the strange and unusual. This will be my first vampire funeral, but hopefully not my last. Er…” Dani’s lip wobbles. “I think that was the wrong thing to say. You’re supposed to live forever, aren’t you?”
“That’s the goal.” I gesture to the room behind me. “Sinead will show you to the body, if you can get past all the amateur sleuths.”
“Ah, the Nevermore Coven is here.” Dani peers around me. “I’m friends with Mina, so I’ve met them already. Don’t you worry, I’ll make sure Alyra gets our best service without any Coven interference.”
Sinead and Dani disappear into the basement, leaving me alone in the corridor with Arabella.
“Here.” She thrusts the hard drive into my hands.
I stare down at it, marvelling at how something so small can hold so many secrets. Every member of Sanctus trusted me to keep their identities safe, and in a single evening, this woman found my weakness and destroyed everything.
“Why?” I grind out.
“Why did I take it? Because I think someone at Sanctus is the killer, and they knew me in my old life,” she says. “I needed to look at all of their faces, check their past names and information, and find the arrogant bastard who thinks he can scare me into submission and hurt my friends.”
I look up at her, as if seeing her for the first time.Does she think so little of me?“If you’d asked me, I would have helped you do that. Why did you think I wouldn’t?”
She looks at a spot past my shoulder. “I didn’t want you to break the promises you’ve made to the members. I want Sanctus to succeed just as much as you. People like you and me – weneedsanctuary, and I’ve come to believe that you’re the one who can make this work without the courts. If members found out that you helped me dig through their files, no one would trust you again. But if I did it on my own, it absolves you.”
“I’m not absolved!” I jab my finger at the room behind me. “If I’d caught this killer, instead of being distracted, Alyra would still be alive.”
“Then it’s a good thing you won’t have me around as a distraction anymore.” Her eyes flutter shut. “I broke every rule Sanctus has. I know I’m being kicked out. I know I’m losing my home. I don’t care anymore. I didn’t even find what I was looking for. Paul Badica is the only Upyr I recognise, and he’s long gone. We’re back where we started, with no clues about the killer. But at least you’ll be able to keep Sanctus open. The Nevermore Coven will help you find the killer. Get justice for Alyra. I’ve done enough damage. I won’t be adistractionany longer.”
“You can’t leave.” My fingers clench around the hard drive. “I can’t do this without you.”
“Gideon, this mess is my fault. Don’t punish yourself for it. I fucked it up it myself, the same way I fuck up everything in my life. I’m done blaming you for my mistakes. At least this way, I’m the only one who gets hurt.” She juts out her chin, as if to say that she has so little left to be proud of, but she’s proud of that.
You’re not the only one hurt.“Is this everything you have to say to me?”
Arabella bites her lip.
Tell me that you love me.
Tell me you love me, and we can figure this out.
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry.”
I push myself off the wall and back into the room. Arabella’s eyes follow me, the golden halo at the edges eclipsed by the gloom at the centre. Her lip quivers, and normally that would be enough to send me to her, on my knees if necessary, to take her pain away.
Slowly, I shut the door in her face.
45
Arabella
Sinead:Gideon has graciously decided to allow you to remain at Sanctus. We will keep the robbery and security breach a secret so it doesn’t cause more issues with the Conclave. Personally, I think we should be performing the Mora on you right now, scattering nine pieces of your dismembered corpse to all corners of the earth. Consider yourself warned.
EVERYONE INSANCTUSESTATE STANDSas Alyra’s coffin is carried into the Midnight Garden. For many Upyr, it’s the first funeral they’ve attended since being given the Kiss. Vampires are rarely slain these days. That’s why this husker has everyone so afraid.
One of our own is dead.
