I flashed him a cold smile. "Don't count on it."
He leaned back further against his chair. "Then, we stick to business. Tonight I've invited many of my people, but also the top suspects from the Dusk Clan."
"Dusk Clan? You think Quillan’s own clan members might be responsible for his death?"
The vampire nodded gravely. "There is no one who stands to gain more from a vampire's fall than those beneath him. With Quillan no longer running their clan, someone else will have to step up, and the most senior members are already vying for the spot."
My mind went to Bryan. Was he considered a senior member? Would he have a chance at being the coven leader?
"Was Quillan liked as a leader?" I asked, my thoughts spinning.
He laughed. "Less than any other. But that's what you get when you Turn people when their brains aren't fully developed. Eighteen-year-olds are babies. Children. But that bastard Turned them, then seemed to enjoy watching them struggle. I'm by no means a man afraid of blood, death, or somemildtorture, but the whole process seemed pointless and cruel to me."
He liked blood, death, andmildtorture. Oh yeah, this smooth guy made me wary for all the right reasons. But I guess it was good he had a limit?
"Okay, so I'll focus on them tonight and feel them out."
"Let me know anything you discover. Because although I am a vampire, I'm also a detective. And the last thing this town needs is a murderer running around on the loose."
"We agree on that, at least."
His gaze seemed to indicate that he picked up on the fact that I didn't like him very much. But before he could say more, we drove to the end of a street. A street I vaguely remember having a dead-end. This was only a short distance from my home. A wealthy neighborhood my parents always wanted me to stay out of. But as we got to the end of the road, I realized it actually didn’t end. Between two houses stood a little paved road. I blinked at it, feeling confused. Had this always been here?
The driver took our limo down the road, a road that was smooth as butter. We left behind the little neighborhood and drove down the road, the dark woods crowding us on both sides, until we reached a set of dark, metal gates. They opened before we got close to them, and then suddenly the woods were gone. Both sides of our little road were filled with roses and big trees, evenly spaced about.
I knew I was gaping at it all. Wondering how this can possibly exist. Who even had the time to tear up the woods out here and replace it with such a carefully controlled view of nature? It seemed impossible. But this place at least was all lit up so I could see off into the distance. The property spread out in both directions. And then the limo turned, and I finally saw Vance's home. A big structure made of gray marble, with modern lines, but huge doors. Like the rest of the property, it seemed impossible that this existed.
And yet, it does.
“Are you ready for this?” Vance asked. He put one hand on the door and waited patiently for me to suck in a deep breath.
“I am,” I said, even though I didn’t feel like I was. “Let’s do it.”
But my mind wasn't on the party just yet, it was focused on the weird place that shouldn't exist. For Mystic Hollow to be such a small town, I was surprised to find this property I’d never seen, and not all that far away from my own neighborhood. “How have I never seen this place before?” My words come out breathless.
“It’s spelled,” he said as he opened the car door. I’d noticed him give an almost imperceptible head shake to the driver, indicating he wanted to help me out himself. “A witch spelled it for us long ago so that nobody could find the grounds unless I wanted them to.”
"Okay." I released a deep breath. "At least I just wasn't totally unobservant."
He laughed. "Not at all."
Judging by the sounds coming from inside the house, the party was already in full swing. Music played, not at all the kind I'd expect from a vampire house, but like there was a live band inside. What was more, in my mind, I had imagined that I would have some time to get comfortable before the other guests arrived, to get a sense for the place, at least. But the talking and laughter I heard through the music had to be a large group of people. Which, again, was a surprise. I would have thought the guests wouldn't be here until we were. “Sounds like a good time,” I said wryly, trying to mask my nerves.
Vance smiled wanly and held out his arm. “Shall we, my lady?”
I kind of wanted to just turn around and run, but I took his arm.
Then, he leaned in. "And it would truly be best if we made this dating thing convincing. Vampires don't like people poking into their secrets. I can keep you safe here, but making enemies of these people might just end in your death one day. Best to be cautious of our performance."
Okay, right. I got it. If I just went "Karma investigator" on these people, I might end up dead. That was motivation if I ever heard it, so it was time to get into the spirit. I was supposed to be his date for the evening, and I would play the part. “Is it normal for your guests to be here when you’re not?” I asked, forcing a smile.
He nodded. “Yes, I was here when they arrived. We drank our meal before I came to fetch you, and now we will sit down to dinner. I wanted to spare you the potential unpleasantness of seeing us feed.”
I delicately suppressed a shudder. “Thanks for that.”
The front door opened as if by magic, when I stepped inside, a butler waited to take my wrap. Not so magical after all. Just wealthy. “Thank you,” I murmured and let Vance slip the silk from my shoulders.
“Come,” he said brightly. “My friends are all eager to meet the famous Karma.”
