Isidoro squeezes Julian’s neck so hard his entire face turns red. I don’t exactly know the specifics of vampire biology, but they do seem to possess a heartbeat and they do breathe. Maybe it’s just to appear human or keep a warmer body temperature and not rot, but I can’t imagine that being strangled feels nice.
Isidoro’s eyes flash bright red. He extends his claws too, which sink into Julian’s neck. “Watch your tone or I will slit your throat right here and now and put your head in a jar so you can’t regrow it.”
Julian grinds his teeth and his eyes blaze with a fire that gives me the shivers. A wave of displeasure rolls off him. “You can’t kill me, because if you do, you will never find out where my father is.” He laughs then, and it sounds completely unhinged. “He will wait for the right moment, trust me on that, and he will come for you when you least expect it. He stole your crown once, Isidoro, he can do it again. And this time, he won’t leave you alive. I am your only chance to prevent that from happening, so you better treat—”
Isidoro growls, digging his claws even deeper. I’ve never really heard him growl before. It sounds like a sound some wild and rampaging animal would make, so in contrast with his impeccable appearance and soft features.
Blood trickles down Julian’s neck, but neither he nor Isidoro seem all that concerned about it.
A man, Samuel I think, knocks on the helicopter’s door, then opens it, breaking the tension. He holds out a phone. Isidoro’s hand lets go of Julian’s neck, claws retracting. Taking a deep breath that can’t seem to calm him down at all, he takes the phone and shoves it into Julian’s hands.
“In your father’s absence, you will issue an order that my two friends are not to be messed with. No hair is to fall from their heads. I want your people to worship the ground they walk on, is that understood?”
Julian just frowns, but a snarl from Isidoro gets him typing on the device. He must realize this part is not worth fighting over. “Done.”
The look Isidoro gives Julian is scathing. His claws extend fully. The air charges again and for a moment, I fear that Isidoro might go through with his threat and kill Julian. But when he swings, his claws don’t connect to flesh. They cut the zip ties we used to secure the ex-king’s son.
I look outside, my heart kicking up a notch as I expect something to happen. We are on a helipad in the middle of a field. There are trees on one side, a gazebo and pond on the other, and an impressive mansion behind us. I spy a tall gate and a wall down the driveway.
Before Julian gets to attempt an escape, Isidoro grabs his wrist and hops off the helicopter, dragging him along. He snaps his fingers and the other two vampires from the night when my world changed forever appear at his side. “Allen, Dima, take Julian to the interrogation room. I will deal with him later. Make sure you secure him.”
The two vampires each restrain one of Julian’s arms as they disappear in that weirdly cool dark mist.
We walk from the field where the helicopter landed through a rose garden, emerging in front of a massive mansion surrounded by more blooming flowers.
“Samuel.” Isidoro turns to the remaining vampire, who’s been following us. “I will need help with planning and organizing the coronation.”
“Yes, Sire. I will get started on it right away. When would you like to hold it?”
Isidoro clasps his elbow and taps fingers along it. “In two months’ time. I want to secure the ruby first and find where Andras is hiding.”
Smart. It would be a shame if Isidoro’s enemy decided to show up at the ceremony uninvited and crash it. Knowing how big Isidoro has always been on public appearances, it’s probably his worst nightmare.
Samuel rocks his heels. “Understood.”
Isidoro snaps his fingers and just like that, his last servant is gone, too. He turns to Tommy. “I know our deal was that I eliminate the Crimson Crew threat, but you have my word that they will never bother you again. They will be given a choice to join my clan, and those who oppose it will be dealt with swiftly.”
Tommy shrugs. “Works for me, I guess.” He throws a look at the house, taking it in. “What are you going to do with Julian?”
“Don’t worry about that. I will make him talk, one way or another.”
This sounds ominous, and knowing Isidoro, he will follow up on it, too. Well, his affairs are none of my business. Our mission is over, Tommy is safe, I am ready to start fresh, this time as myself. That’s all that matters to me.
Isidoro opens his arms wide as we reach the base of the stairs leading inside his home. “Would you like to comein for some tea? Maybe something to eat? We can talk next steps before you have to catch your flight in the morning.”
“Our flight?” I raise an eyebrow.
“We had a deal, and I keep my word, old friend.”
I hum. “Sure. Except that we kidnapped the wrong vampire.”
Isidoro waves us off. “I am not so worried about this. I have Andras’ son. He will think twice before trying anything. Besides…” He looks at the sky, his eyes growing distant. “Andras is not one to miss his own Gala. This kind of thing is a big deal for us, vampires. There must be a reason Julian was posing as him, and I intend to get to the bottom of that.”
That is a good point. You don’t just pretend to be someone for shit and giggles. “Well, I trust you will figure this out. But if you need our help, just say the word.”
We shake on that and Isidoro guides us to his opulent dining room. His staff serves us the best tea and cakes, some sandwiches too. Doña Chela joins us, kissing and hugging both me and Tommy before she sits down.
“There is still so much that we don’t know about your kind, right, Niko?” Tommy says, putting a raspberry tart on his plate. His face radiates with excitement as he looks at it. “I’d love to learn more.”
