“Virtue.”
A pregnant silence fills the room.
“Virtue,” I parrot. “What does that mean?”
Valen sighs. “There are two spaces between Heaven and Hell—think of them like floors of a house. The bottom is Hell, next up is Iniquity where you find demons and other lower dwellers, then there’s Virtue—the realm where mysister and I were positioned as … soldiers, for lack of a better word, and then there’s Heaven or Paradise—whatever you’d like to call it.”
“Uh-huh.”
I nod my head like this conversation isn’t bonkers like every other conversation I’ve seemed to have lately.
“Wait.” I tilt my head in confusion. “You said you’re a vampire. There are vampires in Virtue too?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I wasn’t always a vampire.” He rubs his shoulder faintly, and his eyes glaze slightly, like he’s remembering a time long ago. “I used to be an angel.”
I stare at the big hulking vampire-angel-alien—whatever he is—creature in front of me. “Used to be? What does that even mean?”
He sighs, rubbing his temples. “I suppose I still possess some of my original angel characteristics, but I defied my orders by coming here in search of my sister, and defying direct orders like that…” He trails off and shakes his head. “Punishment was quick and swift. I was stripped of my wings and cursed to an immortal life here on Earth, with the need to drink blood. What I am is a vampire in the purist form.”
“Does this mean vampires like Zav, ones who aren’t originally fallen angels, are … created by you? Like your children? Oh my God, are you like Zav’s vampire daddy?”
Valen chuckles, and I guess I should be happy he’s at least able to find humor in all this. “Yes and no. I could be his … daddy, if you want to put it that way.” Hearing Valen saydaddylike that in his deep, silky voice is making me feel things I shouldn’t. “Other angels have been cursed to live out their days here just as I have—as vampires. And I am sure I am not the only one who has been captured over the years by those with nefarious purposes. When I was taken… I have been used for lots of things.” He pauses and his eyes drift closed. A whole-body shudder rocks through him, and if I wasn’t currently wrapped so tightly, I’d reach out and touch him. “They would experiment to see how far they could push my body, collect blood from me, and leave me isolated for indeterminate amounts of time where I thought I was on the cusp of losing my mind.”
I cringe and decide to backpedal. “What else did they do to you?”
“They used my venom to make more vampires. I think…” He shakes his head and a muscle in his jaw pulses. “I think at first they had pure intentions, thinking they could use my healing properties to cure illnesses. But they soon realized I couldn’t die, and so I became a way to immortality, and then…”
“Then what?” I prompt when he’s silent too long.
He gives me a significant look. “I think they’re up to something dangerous.”
“Dangerous for who?” I ask, almost scared for his answer.
His eyes are distant when he responds. “Everyone.”
CHAPTER 11
AVA
“Report is on your desk, Captain,”I say as I breeze out of his office and sit back down at my desk.
Captain Barnes replies with a gruff thanks, and I get back to work. Rain pounds against the windows, and I wish for a few days off from this torrential downpour. My poor pink hair can’t take it much more. I’ll be due for another dyeing session soon. I wonder if I should mix it up and do a different color, but … nah, the pink is me.
Glancing at Celine’s empty desk, I can’t help but deflate at the sad sight. She made work fun, and even though I see her often back at the apartment, I miss her terribly. Interviews have taken place, and I know when the position is filled it’ll be even sadder to see a new occupant in her seat.
With a sigh, I send the email I was in the middle of before Captain Barnes needed me.
“Did you see the pictures?” a detective murmurs none too quietly around the corner to someone else.
Being the nosy bitch I am, I dial in to eavesdrop.
“What could do something like that?” another detective replies in disgust. “I don’t even want to mention the poor girl that disappeared seemingly into thin air. We’ve got nothing to go on. It’s just like that case from last month,” she continues as they walk down the hallway where I can’t hear anymore. “Something odd is happening in Chicago.”
The first detective lets out a gruff laugh. “You’re telling me. I told my wife to be extra careful anywhere she goes. I think we have more than one serial killer on the loose.”
“What the fuck?” I say out loud to myself.
They couldn’t be referring to a case tied to the Mayhem Murderer, a.k.a. Zav, could they? He’s still up to his usual antics, but the second half sounded more like Genevieve and her shenanigans. Zav isn’t the type to make some random girl disappear. He’s picky about his kills—choosing criminals over random citizens. He enjoys the thrill of killing, but I can’t see him being desperate enough to do this.
