She sighed. “Alek, I’m tired and I have a lot of ground to cover so, are you going to make a deal with me or not?” she demanded.
He already noticed the darkening under her eyes that spoke to the fatigue she was fighting.
“Where are we anyway? Don’t you live with the rest of the Jackals in that dorm?” Lanias asked looking out the window beside her.
He shook his head, “Not any longer, my contract ended with Tiller, and now I’m handling other business that needs settling.”
“What kind of business?” She inquired casually, but Alek knew her better than she thought. The Witch’s ears were always perked for information she could use against someone. “Aren’t you some big shot Vampire in Veil City.”
“I wouldn’t use those words exactly. My sons have done well in executing my orders and replacing the Slavic’s with a covenant of their own order.” He didn’t feel the need to hide his son’s achievements.
“You know I’ve met Sorin before and I still can’t believe he’s your son.” A smile came to her lips. “He didn’t like what I had to say very much back then, I wonder if he remembers that time, I skewered his hand to his desk for being rude.”
Alek contemplated the memory, then decided he wasn’t going to introduce her to Sorin until after she was given his mark. Otherwise, his son would act on his hatred and see only an enemy Witch. He remembered hearing the story, but at the time he hadn’t known what Witch had been so cocksure but as he now knew Lanias, he wasn’t shocked in the least.
“Anyway, if you’re intending on having me stay here, can I get a ride to my apartment so I can grab a few of my things? There are some materials I need to pick up.”
“There is one thing you have yet to tell me and that is what exactly I’m helping you with.”And why your body was protected with Surrem magic.He left that last bit unsaid.
“I’m looking for someone,” she answered easily enough.
Those dark eyes empty of anything like nervousness or worry.
“Though I have no idea where to start and I’m not even sure if it’s worth all this effort. But I don’t think I can rest easily if I don’t take some action.”
“Does this matter pertain to why I found you in a crater at the center of the city?” He probed lightly.
“Maybe, but I only think I should share the particulars with my partner. You’re not yet that are you,” she said coquettishly.
He held back his bark of laughter; she was a cool one. “Indeed.”
“Indeed.” She repeated.
“Dmitri,” His son stepped out from the corner where previously there had been no one.
“Yes father,” his son said glancing at Lanias who glanced at him with a bland look. She recognized him as the man who’d come to the room with Alek.
She found herself observing his heterochromia eyes of blue and grey.
“Take Lanias to her apartment so she can get her things, and return her here with no stops in-between,” he ordered.
“Good choice,” she said standing and walking over to his son’s side. She looked him up and down before glancing at Alek. “I can say this; you Vampires make beautiful children.”
He smirked, “Would you like to make one?”
Her eyes widened just as she was wrapped up in shadow and her shape dissolved.
Once she was out of sight, his smile dropped. “Have you looked into it?”
Andrei sighed as he walked casually from the wall. “She’s been hunting down a man named Stanthos for the last two months.”
Recognizing the name, Alek stiffened. “Why was she looking for this human?”
His son shook his head, “I’m not sure, I couldn’t find any connection between the two. Then again as you’d warned, her past is hard a puzzle, much is hidden. A lot of hexes and memory charms have been used. Some don’t even remember the case of the school bus that was hit by a land slide in the same way. I spoke to six people each had varied stories.”
Stanthos.Why would Lanias need to find the butler to the Surrem. Alek had searched for him at one time but swiftly had given up when he realized it was futile. His time was better spent killing Surrem.
Instead, he used the blood of his first kill to track them down. He clenched his jaw, what connection did Lanias have with those pests. “Keep looking, and when you find something new let me know immediately.”
