Viktor checked the hallway. It was still clear, but he could hear movement downstairs now. Some of the guards were recovering faster than Ant had predicted, probably riding the adrenaline of seeing their master defeated. They’d be coming to check on Claudius’s study soon, looking to secure evidence or destroy it themselves.
“Do it,” Viktor said. “I’ll watch the door.”
Ant placed both hands on the safe, fingers spread across the cold iron. His eyes unfocused slightly. Viktor felt a slight surge of power - nothing like the explosive force that had shattered the ward matrix.
He’s completely controlled even when he’s running on fumes.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. Viktor moved to the doorway, positioning himself where he could see both Ant and the approaching threat. Three guards appeared at the end of the hall - younger vampires, maybe a century old each, looking determined but wary.
“The study’s off-limits,” one of them called. “Lord Claudius’s orders.”
Viktor bared his teeth. “Lord Claudius is currently eating dirt in the garden. This place is under new management.”
They hesitated, exchanging glances. Viktor could practically see them weighing their options. Every instinct they had would insist they obey their master’s standing orders, but unless they’d suddenly arrived from outside the estate, they already knew what Viktor and his mate had done. They were also likely considering that Viktor might do the same to them.
“The Justiciary’s on the way,” Viktor added helpfully. “Do you really want to add ‘obstruction of justice’ to the list of chargesyou’ll be facing? Because I promise, they won’t be gentle about it, and neither will I.”
Behind him, Ant made a soft sound of satisfaction. “I’m in,” he said as the safe door swung open with a soft click.
Chapter Nineteen
The safe held fewer items than Ant expected. No glittering treasure or ancient artifacts - just four leather ledgers stacked beside a worn journal bound in burgundy cloth, its edges frayed with age. A manila envelope sat on top, unsealed.
It was clearly a simple record system, practical for someone who wanted to stick to the old ways, and with luck, highly incriminating. Ant pulled his phone from his pocket and opened the camera. His hands trembled - he needed food, a huge coffee, and a week’s worth of sleep, but he steadied his hands through sheer force of will. Four minutes in a safe wasn’t enough time to read everything, but Ant was taking his cues from the late Ronald Finch. Photographs would preserve the evidence perfectly.
He opened the first ledger, revealing columns of dates, names, and amounts. The handwriting was Claudius’s - the man had signed the bottom of every page. Each entry documented a transaction:March 1998 - Margaret Holston - $450,000 - Farmington Trust. May 2001 - Murray Campbell - $780,000 - Campbell Industrial Holdings.
Ant photographed each page, angling his phone to avoid shadows. The ledger spanned decades, and there were hundreds of names and what appeared to be millions of dollars funneled through shell corporations and offshore accounts.
“How are we doing?” Viktor’s voice carried from the doorway. His mate was getting edgy, and Ant understood, but he trusted his gut as well. He had to get the evidence.
“Two more ledgers to photograph, then the journal,” Ant said. “Approximately ninety seconds.”
A guard in the hallway shifted his weight. Ant heard the subtle scrape of shoe leather on hardwood.
“Back up,” Viktor said flatly. “I won’t tell you again.”
Ant moved to the second ledger. More names. More dates. The amounts grew larger as the entries progressed. It seemed Claudius had refined his methods over time, targeting wealthier victims with greater holdings.September 2015 - Jonathan Marks - $1.2 million - Marks Automotive Group. February 2018 - Patricia Morgan - $2.3 million - Morgan Estates…The list went on and on.
The third ledger documented property transfers, including details of deeds signed over and various real estate portfolios transferred to Raven Holdings LLC. Entire family fortunes had been dismantled piece by piece while the victims sat enthralled, unable to resist.
Ant’s jaw tightened. Ronald Finch had died for the evidence in these four books, for daring to expose what Claudius had spent decades perfecting.
He finished the third ledger and reached for the fourth. His phone’s camera clicked repeatedly as he worked through the pages. The fourth ledger tracked the shell corporations themselves, including details like incorporation dates and registered agents. There were even bank routing numbers - something Ant didn’t understand, but Bridget would, or someone at the Justiciary.
“We’re running out of time, babe,” Viktor said, still lurking by the door.
“One minute, forty seconds.” Ant set the fourth ledger aside and lifted the burgundy journal with careful fingers. The leather was soft and worn smooth by centuries of handling. He opened to the first page.
1847 - Spring
The gift continues to fascinate. Edward Raines proved most receptive to suggestion. I required only three sessions before he signed over his shipping company. The humans suspect nothing. They attribute his sudden generosity to religious fervor.
Ant’s stomach turned. Claudius hadn’t just recorded what he’d done, he’d actually written every detail, and was clearly proud of what he’d achieved.
1851 - Winter
Mrs. Holloway resisted longer than expected. Five sessions. Her will is strong, but ultimately futile. The land around the estate now belongs to Raven Holdings. She remembers nothing of our encounters. A kindness, perhaps, though I confess I enjoy watching their confusion afterward.
