She turns. Her eyes are clear.
She crosses the room and pulls me into a hug. Brief. Hard. Then she steps back and looks me over the way I’m looking her over.
“You got stronger,” I say.
“I had three weeks.” She shrugs. “I remember more now.”
I wait.
“The facility. The schedule. The guards who rotated in twelve-hour shifts and the one who didn’t follow the rotation. The one who brought blood when they forgot.” Her voice empties. “I remember a name.”
“Whose name?”
“His. The one who was different.” She looks at me. “Alexei.”
“Alexei,” I repeat.
“He touched my hand through the bars. Once. When nobody was looking.” She doesn’t look away. “I want to know why.”
I pull her in again. She lets me hold her this time.
“We’ll find out,” I say.
I walk out.
Julian is in the corridor.
“A vampire arrived while you were gone.” He pauses. “He’s modified. Marcellus and I ran a preliminary assessment. Dr.Dalton’s full evaluation is in the brief. I’ve been holding the rest for your return.”
Everything in me goes still. “Modified like me?”
“Different. His enhancements are sensory, not physical. Sharper senses, faster thinking. He remembers everything. The modifications are Konstantin’s work. Same methods he used on you, just aimed at a different result.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s in the secure wing. He surrendered at the gate. No resistance, no weapons. He walked up to the perimeter at dusk and stood there until the sentries responded. He put his hands up before anyone asked him to.”
Julian meets my eyes. “He asked for you by name.”
“For me?”
The hallway is quiet. The compound hums around us.
“He says he has information about the farms,” Julian says. “He says he knows where they are. He says he’s been documenting them.” He pauses. “He says his name is Alexei.”
“I want to see him,” I say.
Julian’s mouth tightens. “I briefed Maximus while you were with Simone. He wants to see him first. Marcellus agrees. The man is dangerous, Celeste. He’s modified, patient, controlled in a way that suggests extensive training.”
“Simone remembers him.”
“I know. She told me. That’s why I wanted you to hear it from her first.” His mouth thins. “I haven’t told her that he’s here.”
“Thank you for that.”
He nods.
I spendthe night on the ward reports with Seraphina, then walk the perimeter checking every change they made while we were gone. Every time I pass the conference room, Maximus is at the table with Julian. Every time I pass Marcellus’s station, his pen is moving.
