Frustrated at his lack of progress, he teleported back to the mansion.
He arrived right outside the room where he’d left Grevin.Unsure if it was safe to enter, he knocked on the door.
Jaks opened it a crack.“You didn’t take very long.”
“There wasn’t much to find.I didn’t understand most of the runes, but I took enough notes to ask Grevin when he’s awake.”
“The doctor isn’t done yet, but you can come in if you don’t interfere.”
Quentin shook his head.“No, that’s all right.I just wanted to tell you that I returned and that my investigation was pointless.I didn’t learn anything new.”
Jaks kissed his forehead.“I can text you when Dr.Wesson is finished.”
“Thanks.“ He didn’t need to stay and feel useless.“I think I’m going to go find my mother.I haven’t talked to her in a while.”Since her transformation into a vampire, he’d spent little time with her.She had needed time to adjust to her vampirism and resist the urge to drain Quentin whenever they met.According to every vampire he encountered, Quentin smelled amazing.
Right now, Trina Heart was living her best life with her cancer gone and her youthful beauty returned.Quentin hadn’t seen his mother smile this much in years.She’d confessed to Quentin that she was still uncertain about drinking blood, but she loved the increased vitality and looks.
“I’ll call you when he wakes.”
Quentin tilted his head for a kiss, pleased when it was quickly granted.“See you soon.”
Jaks nodded before closing the door.
Faced with endless hallways, Quentin sighed.He should’ve asked Jaks where his mother was staying.Never mind.He pulled out his phone and texted his mother if she was available to meet.
Less than a minute later, he got his reply and a room number.The manor was more like a fancy hotel for privileged vampires.The gold numbering assigned to each room added to the vibe.
Following the numbers, he stopped at the one that matched his text.Before he could knock, the door opened, and his mother stepped out.She leaned back in to kiss the room’s occupant, not noticing Quentin.
Must have been some kiss.
Quentin crossed his arms over his chest and cleared his throat to get her attention.“Anything you want to tell me, Mother?”
Trina Heart spun around to face him, pressing a hand to her chest.“Don’t scare me like that!”
“I told you I was coming, and don’t try to distract me, even if I need one right now.”He gave her a pointed look and waited for her to confess everything.
His mother swallowed.“Braed was just visiting.We were discussing vampire things.”
“Uh-huh.I can tell you from personal experience that vampires have the same equipment as humans.Besides, Jaks already told me he thought you two were dating.”
“Your vampire needs to mind his own business.”Trina blushed.“Wait, what do you mean, you need a distraction?What happened?”She took a good look at him.“Why are you covered in blood?”Her voice reached an octave that dogs would struggle to hear.
Quentin winced as he looked down at his blood-covered clothes.He should’ve cleaned up before wandering the mansion’s halls.“Grevin was attacked during a summoning.Someone knocked him out and freed the demon from his ritual circle.We’re not sure what exactly escaped or why.We’re waiting for him to wake up so he can give us more information.He’s in with Dr.Wesson right now.”Grevin had looked so small on the bed.The necromancer usually shed power like others shed hair or skin, his presence bigger than life, or maybe death.Finding him, broken and bleeding, had crushed his image of an all-powerful necromancer, untouchable by the beings he summoned.
A scowling Braed appeared in the doorway.”Probably playing with things best left alone.”
“Braed,” his mother scolded.
Quentin stepped around her and leaned into Braed’s personal space.“If you hurt my mother, I will invent a spell especially for you.”He didn’t say what kind of spell or what it would do.Best let Braed’s imagination fill in the blanks with the most gruesome ideas imaginable—psychological warfare at its finest.
Braed’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he nodded his head.
Quentin turned away to kiss his mother’s cheek.Her amused expression told him that she’d heard his little talk with Braed.He offered an innocent smile in return.“I didn’t mean to interrupt your morning.I should probably go and clean up.We’ll get together soon.”Usually, he would mention grabbing lunch.He let their past of sunlit cafe brunches slip away with a nostalgic pang.
“Sounds good,” she replied, a faint smile on her lips.“Call me.”
“I will.”His phone rang, and soon he was making his way back to Grevin’s room.Maybe now he could find out what really happened.After all, he couldn’t capture a demon if he didn’t know what he was hunting.
