“Which is why they’re still grumbling and not acting,” Clive said.
“They’ve progressed past complaining,” Cadmael informed him. Glancing at Vlad, he added, “We understand why you had to kill Garyn and her people. The problem is that it’s created a vacuum in our power structure. For all her faults, Garyn firmly believed we had to remain hidden from the human world. Given how she kept all her children in line, they agreed with her.”
“Most of the vampires you handed their final death,” Vlad said, “were Masters. We have positions in the Guild to fill, but more important are all the City Master positions that are vacant. Into that vacuum, there are a flood of vampires who are sick of hiding in the shadows. It’s not just politics. They want humans to know and fear them.”
Clive and I were silent for a moment and then I blurted out, “Are they undead idiots? Have they seen how humans deal with the things they fear? Jeez, if you want the military in every country around the world working together, just announce that vampires are real and they want to be in charge.”
“I must admit,” Clive said, “that shocks me, much like what we just witnessed in the meeting room shocked me. Is this contingent behind the abduction and murder of humans for entertainment? This isn’t the Dark Ages. There are eight billion humans on this planet and the vast majority have smart phones that link them with the internet and social media. In that heightened hysteria over the existence of vampires, how long would it take for a video to be posted of a dark streak across the asylum property with a door opening and slamming before hunters, armed with the latest weapons, break in, kill us during the day, and then blow up the building in case they missed anyone?”
“There’s going to be an app within an hour of the announcement,” I said, “to share nocturne locations and advice on killing you guys. Video tutorials will turn everyone into weekend vampire hunters. They can’t be that arrogant, that shortsighted.”
“They can and are,” Cadmael replied.
“You guys kill each other for being crazy and possibly breaking the secrecy rule,” I said. “Can’t you do the same for stupidity?”
“Again, can and do,” Vlad said. “The problem with whisper campaigns is knowing whether people are just talking or if they’re actually trying to recruit others. We need our people to respect and abide by the Guild’s dictates, so we can’t exterminate without reason, not unless we want to drive more to their cause.”
The vampires considered the problem silently. I let them. I was more concerned about the attempt on Clive’s life. “Sorry, but back to the poisoning. Are we thinking one of these disgruntled, I-miss-raping-and-pillaging vamps had his Renfield give Clive the poison? Because if so, I have a candidate to suggest.”
“Vamp, Renfield? Why does she talk like this?” Cadmael asked.
“She’s right here,” I said, “and Vamp-ire. That one’s pretty obvious.”
“And Renfield was that hideous, scurrying human in that book about me,” Vlad said.
“You didn’t come off well in that book, did you?” Clive smirked.
“Don’t make me make your beautiful wife a widow,” Vlad replied. “In answer to your question, though, it’s possible. It’s also possible that one of the candidates competing for the Counselor position decided to take out the strongest opponent.”
I elbowed Clive. “He thinks you’re the best one,” I whispered.
Grinning, Clive fished his buzzing phone from his pocket and checked the screen. “Gentlemen, it seems I’m being paged.” He looked between Vlad and Cadmael. “Thank you for sharing this information with us. I will listen more carefully and prod where I can. If I learn anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Wait,” Vlad said to me. “You didn’t say. Who do you think poisoned your mate?”
I glanced at Clive, who didn’t seem concerned with my sharing info. “Thomas. The first night we arrived, he went straight for Clive with murder in his eyes. When Sebastian appeared, Thomas disappeared. I saw him again tonight. I pulled a woman from his grip, and he looked as though his mind was racing with all the different ways he wanted to hurt me.”
“Interesting,” Cadmael said. “Thomas was the one who approached me, concerned about rumblings he’s been hearing.”
“What happened tonight, that had to be okayed high up, right?” I asked “I mean, this is apparently a pattern, as Sebastian talked about protocols. How long have they been telling all the rest of the vamps that secrecy is paramount and then stealing humans for snacks whenever they feel like it?”
Vlad and Cadmael shared a look. Vlad said, “Neither of us come here often. He came for Clive and I came to see you.” He shook his head. “I have no idea when this became a practice. I will say, though, that Sebastian is not acting like himself.”
Cadmael nodded. “We should have changed Guild Masters by now. When I asked about it, others seemed to want Sebastian to stay. As I didn’t want the job, I let it go. Clearly, I shouldn’t have. There’s something going on here beyond reenacting gatherings from the Middle Ages.”
Maybe it was because memories of Garyn were still fresh in my head, but I asked, “Is there anyone here—besides maybe Cadmael—who has the ability to possess, for want of a better word, another vampire?”
The men were quiet, thinking.
“You all say Sebastian has changed. Do they want him in charge because someone is controlling him and therefore getting what they want while staying in the shadows?”
The silence felt heavy.
“My head hurts,” I said. “I feel like we’re in Clue. It was Professor Bitey, in the lounge, with the poisoned cup. And possibly the Jedi mind tricks.”
“Again,” Cadmael grumbled, “what is she talking about?”
Grinning, Clive pulled me toward the door, ignoring Cadmael.
