I’d never met a vampire, but it didn’t matter. Instinctively, I sensed danger. This one was thirsty.
The vampire sneered, and his thin lips stretched over sharp teeth.
I forced myself to move, clutching Chesh’s arm, as I started walking faster. Without a word passing between us, I knew that he’d seen the vampire too. Chesh matched my step.
Suddenly, the vampire was standing in front of us.
He sniffed the air.
“Fresh blood,” the vampire whispered, his eyes drifting to where my blood pulsed in the vein in my neck. I stepped away from him, and he smiled again, wider this time, deliberately showing his fangs. “We get little fresh blood in these streets at night.”
“Leave us alone,” Chesh said, trying to move around the vampire. “This young lady is the daughter of the President.”
The vampire raised an eyebrow but didn’t step away. His eyes roved over my face and body, and I saw his nostrils move slightly, as though savoring my smell.
“You? You’re the daughter of the woman who is starving my kind?”
I took a step backward as did Chesh in front of me, although I knew it was pointless. From the very little I knew of vampires, they moved faster than the human eye could see.
I pinned my glare on him, determined that I would not blink and find his fangs piercing my throat.
“What are you talking about?” I asked my voice wobbling as I spoke. “President Rowntree is not doing anything to your kind. She was the one who ensured constantly available blood supply through the blood banks.”
The vampires gnashed his teeth, showing his fangs. His blood-shot eyes darted this way and that. “Available? No one can get blood now. They locked down the blood banks.”
I shook my head. “I visited a blood bank yesterday. There are enough stocks for anyone wishing to buy.”
“Plenty of stocks for your eyes, but when my kind goes there, we get turned away. No more blood, they tell us.”
I tilted my head to the side, frowning as I considered the vampire’s information. There was no need for him to lie, but I knew it wasn’t the truth. Still, that petitioner had seen a vampire come out of the blood bank, claiming that it looked as though the vampire was still thirsty. There was no reason for that petitioner to lie either. Could it be true?
“It’s been a long time since I had fresh blood,” the vampire continued, and his words brought me back to my immediate danger. “I don’t go hunting—not since the Blood Accords—but when such a delicious meal comes to me, how can I refuse?”
“Ivy, run!” Chesh pushed me behind him, giving me a shove. But the vampire was quicker, grabbing the front of Chesh’s shirt in his fist and throwing Chesh against the alley wall before I could move.
Suddenly, the vampire was behind me. His breath tickled the soft skin on my neck where my blood was pounding underneath my flesh. Goosebumps raised over my skin.
“I prefer my meat beautiful,” the vampire whispered. “And female. The women are always softer, and their blood is so, so sweet.”
I closed my eyes and saw the flash of fangs, a memory of the dream I’d had over and over again. I spun around to face the vampire, backing away. He laughed.
“Always fun to play with my meal, too, my dear,” The vampire said. “I forgot how much less fun it is to get blood from a blood bank. There’s no thrill in sucking blood out of a tube. It doesn’t run, or fight, or plead. The blood is missing the tang that comes from the rush of adrenalin coursing through the body at the point of death. So, by all means, run—I’ll get you in the end.”
My breath came in short gasps, and I wiped my palms against my skirts. He was right—I could never outrun him, nor fight him off. Even malnourished, he was faster and stronger than any human.
My feet were planted on the cobblestones, and, though my thoughts were screaming at me to run, I couldn’t move.
“Chesh, you go,” I said. “Save yourself.”
Chesh was picking himself up from the ground, stumbling sideways a few steps before leaning against the wall, rubbing the back of his head. “I won’t leave you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I retorted. “Go. Tell Mother everything.”
I didn’t look at my friend as I couldn’t take my eyes from the vampire standing in front of me. However, I could see his figure out of the corner of my eye. He hesitated, looking from the vampire, to me, then back again.
“I don’t think—” he started, but I interrupted him.
“Go!” I yelled.
The vampire only laughed as the sound of Chesh’s footsteps echoed in the alleyway. “Too bad, your lover couldn’t save you.”
“He’s not my lover,” I replied, squeezing my fists. My mouth went dry as the vampire stepped toward me again.
“Does he know that?” the vampire purred. The pupils of his eyes widened, and he licked his lips. He took another step toward me, and I fought against a sudden urge to run, knowing it would only hasten my death. As soon as I tried to get away, the vampire would pounce.
I swallowed, seeing the hunger in his eyes. I thought of the vial of black market blood and played my only card.
“Why can’t you get blood from the white rabbit?” I blurted out.
The vampire hissed and stopped advancing, his eyes narrowing. “What do you know about the white rabbit?”
“I know that Raven is distributing it. The white rabbit’s blood,” I said, sensing that my statement had rattled the vampire, but my breath caught in my throat as I spoke again, grasping at straws.
The vampire’s eyes narrowed further, the corners of his mouth drawing into a frown that covered his teeth.
“How do you know Raven?”
I swallowed, wiping my hands on my skirts. I cast around for an answer. “He bought me a drink,” I replied.
The vampire raised an eyebrow. “Did he?” His voice had a dangerous edge.
“Actually, I’ve been looking for him,” I said, lifting my chin and straightening my shoulders, hoping to convince the vampire I wasn’t afraid of him at all.
The vampire grinned, then in a flash, he grabbed me by the throat and pushed me up against the wall of the alley. I gasped for breath as his fingers dug into the flesh of my neck.
“You lie,” he whispered.
I tried to shake my head, but the vampire held me too tightly. “Please…”
The vampire chuckled. “Your blood will taste so sweet,” he said.
“I’m not lying.”
“Raven doesn’t buy drinks for the daughter of the President,” the vampire hissed, pressing me hard against the wall. The cold of the bricks seeped through my light summer coat.
“He did. At The Tea Party,” I said. “A bar in—”
The vampire narrowed his eyes again. “I know the one.”
I tried to nod, but he squeezed my throat tighter. I couldn’t breathe. Dark spots formed at the edge of my vision as the world narrowed to the sight of his face—his dilated pupils, his thin lips, and sharp fangs.
I tore at his grip with one hand, kicking out at him in desperation. It wouldn’t be much longer before I passed out. “Please…”
As everything swam in front of my eyes, I remembered the bottle of blood that I’d taken from the counter at the Ace of Spades Apothecary. I quickly dug my hand into my clutch, pulling it out and waving it in the air.
“Raven gave me this!” I hissed.
The vampire’s head snapped around to look at the vial without loosening his grip on my throat. My eyes bulged, and my chest was on fire as my body demanded air.
Suddenly, with no warning, the vampire let go of me and stepped away. I crumpled to the ground, sinking into the folds of my skirts, gasping and rubbing at my neck.
I didn’t even notice that I’d lost hold of the vial until the vampire spoke again. I looked up at him and saw him holding up the vial in front of him. It was empty.
The vampire licked the last trace of blood from his lips and sighed. His skin seemed less gaunt
, the shadows under his eyes were less pronounced.
I opened my mouth to protest, then clamped it shut again and crawled away from him in the direction where Chesh had disappeared.
The vampire’s face whipped around to see me, then before I could blink, he was next to me, his fingers in my hair, yanking it back to expose my neck.
He took a long breath as he trailed his nose down my neck. “You would have been sweeter, but I won’t cross Raven—just in case.” He let go of my hair, standing to take a few steps away. “If you were a wise woman, you would leave this quarter, and never come back.” Then he chuckled. “I sense you’re not wise, so since that blood took the edge off my thirst, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
I was breathing hard, cowering against the wall, wishing the vampire would leave. What was it I wanted to know? My mind felt so fuzzy now that I couldn’t remember.
“To find Raven, you must follow the white rabbit.”
“What?” I blinked, but the vampire was gone. There was no trace that he’d even been there, except for the empty vial lying abandoned on the cobblestones.
I buried my face in my hands, taking a few deep breaths to steady myself. Then I clawed at the wall, forcing myself to stand. I couldn’t stay in the vampire quarter a moment longer.
Putting one foot in front of the other, I forced myself to run toward the end of the alley where Chesh had disappeared. I burst out onto the street, stumbling sideways as the darkness fluttered on the edge of my vision again.
“Are you all right, Inspector?” a voice spoke into my ear. I stumbled away, but a hand on my arm steadied me.
I crashed into someone else, who shouted an exclamation, but it sounded very distant to my ears.
Suddenly, a strange face came into my line of vision. A man with a scar down the side of his face. His mouth was moving, but I couldn’t make out the words.
“Please…” I said. “I need to get back to the Palace.”
Or at least, I think that’s what I said because after that, the darkness closed in on me and I slipped into unconsciousness.
7
18 August
Alice sat on the edge of my bed; her mouth turned down at the edges as she watched me. A bowl of steaming broth balanced on a tray on my lap. The scent of it made my stomach rumble. I lifted a spoonful to my mouth, and the warmth of the liquid spread through my body as I swallowed.
“I’m all right, Mother,” I said.
“What were you doing?” Alice clucked her tongue, glaring at me. “I checked with your supervisor—you weren’t working. Why go into the vampire quarter at night?”
I slowly savored another mouthful of broth to give myself time to answer the question. Then I cleared my throat.
“Chesh and I passed through the Spades Quarter unexpectedly yesterday—during the day—and I saw a hat for Pearl. The shop wasn’t open then, so we had to go back during business hours.”
Alice’s eyes narrowed, and she pressed her lips into a thin line. “You risked your life for a hat? Forgive me, Ivy, but that isn’t like you.”
“Not just a hat—a present for Pearl.”
“Pearl would rather—” Alice started.
“A present?” Pearl interrupted as she stepped into my bedroom. “For me? Where is it?”
I smiled at my twin sister, for once relieved at her sense of timing. “I’m afraid I didn’t buy it. I was…”
“The man who brought you back here said it looked like someone had attacked you,” Alice said. “Is that true?”
“A petty thief,” I lied. “I tried to fight him off, but I took a blow to the head, then he took the contents of my purse.”
“Yet, the thief didn’t take your clutch?” Alice raised an eyebrow.
My stomach sank as my eyes slid over to see my clutch lying on my bedside table, next to a vase with a single red rose in it. I had opened my mouth to ask about the rose when Pearl laughed.
“Not a clever thief,” Pearl said, then leaned over the other side of my bed and adjusted my pillows.
Alice gave Pearl a disbelieving look, then glared at me.
“I promise, Mother. I’m well. There’s no need to keep me in bed. I won’t collapse again.”
“What happened to Chesh?” Alice asked. “Why didn’t he bring you back?”
My mouth fell open as I remembered my best friend. “I… He… err… hasn’t called?” Sunlight was streaming in the windows. I’d slept in—it was late morning, at least.
“No, he hasn’t.” Alice’s voice was stern. “I told the staff you are not well enough for interruptions.”
“Mother, I’m perfectly well,” I protested.
“You heard her, she’s perfectly well,” Pearl said, turning to smile sweetly at Alice. “Well enough to accompany me to my hair appointment this afternoon.”
Alice opened her mouth, but Pearl reached out to take her hand. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll take good care of her. I won’t let her out of my sight. We’re only going to Lola’s Luscious Locks. It’s barely two blocks from the Palace.”
I turned to Alice, squeezing Pearl’s hand gratefully. “I can’t possibly keep to my bed all day, Mother.”
“Besides,” Pearl added. “It’s almost a crime to let Ivy continue to go about with this hair.” She made a face as she pulled at a strand of my hair. I put a hand to my hair and felt the mess of tangles. I hadn’t been in any state when I’d come to bed the night before to attend to brushing out my hair. “I’ll send ahead and make sure they have space for Ivy to get a treatment too.” Pearl smiled at Alice, then spun to me.
“It’s settled then.” She picked up the tray still heavy with a half-full bowl of broth and set it down on a table closer to the door.
“I was eating that,” I said, still holding the spoon.
Pearl rolled her eyes as she pulled back my blankets. “Get dressed. We leave within the hour.”
Lola massaged my scalp, working the shampoo through my hair as I let my eyes drift closed.
“Ivy needs a change,” Pearl said, as she lounged on the seat next to me, foils wrapped all over her head as three different shades of blonde dye set into her hair. “She’s had this hair for too long.”
“No longer than you,” I murmured without opening my eyes. “I think we both had hair when we were first born.”
“No, that was you,” Pearl interrupted. “According to Mother, you were born with a head of black hair, and it took me almost a year to grow any at all.”
“I’d roll my eyes if I could be bothered opening them,” I said, lulled into a dreamy state by Lola’s fingers.
Lola laughed but didn’t stop rubbing the tips of her fingers in small circles over my scalp. “It’s not going anywhere, darling—don’t worry! We’ll just add something a little extra, that’s all.”
“I’m thinking new color and new cut,” Pearl said.
“I’m not sure—” I started.
“Absolutely,” Lola replied to Pearl, while completely ignoring me. “Something bright. With her skin tone, she could go bright red or even white blonde. Both would look fantastic.”
“Blonde,” Pearl said. “We should look like twins for once.”
“Wait a—”
“And I’m not dying my hair that mousy brown color,” Pearl interrupted again, as though I hadn’t spoken.
Lola clucked her tongue. “No, darling. You don’t have the skin tone for it. Don’t worry, Ivy will be fantastic as a blonde.”
“Does anyone care what I think?” I said.
“No,” Pearl answered. “Keep your eyes shut—we’ll tell you when to open them.”
My eyes flew open, and I saw myself in the mirror, foaming soap all over my wet hair. “What?”
Lola laughed. She tilted my head back to pour warm water over my hair, making me feel drowsy. “I won’t do anything to you that won’t look fantastic. Trust me—my job is to make you look beautiful.”
I sighed and obediently closed my eyes, as Lola rinsed the last
of the shampoo from my hair.
“As for the cut, I’m thinking short,” Pearl said.
“What?” I said, my eyes flying open. Pearl wagged a finger at me until I pursed my lips but closed my eyes again.
“She always wears it pinned back. I think you should cut it to the line of her jaw. I saw another woman with a similar style at Mrs. Bancroft’s Parlor—it made her face too round, but on Ivy, it would be perfect.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Lola said, moving around me and pulling on the hair on either side of my face. “Yes,” she replied, slowly, as she pulled on different sections of hair and twisted them around her fingers. She sounded thoughtful. “I think it would work.”
“You don’t sound very confident,” I nodded, keeping my eyes tightly shut.
“Honestly,” Pearl said, and I imagined the eye roll that I knew matched her tone of voice. “You go gallivanting around the Vampire Quarter at night, but you won’t try a new haircut!”
“I wasn’t gallivanting,” I replied.
“The Vampire Quarter?!” Lola exclaimed. “You’re not being serious, are you? I’ve had clients telling me terrible things about…” Lola lowered her voice to a whisper. “vampires. There isn’t enough blood, and they’ve gone back to their ways from the time of the old queen,” Lola hesitated, and I imagined her looking over her shoulder to check that the late Queen wasn’t standing behind her. “Biting people!”
“No,” Pearl gasped. “Who?”
“I can’t name names,” Lola replied.
“Do you know anyone who has been bitten?” I asked.
“My clients know people, who know people,” Lola said.
I didn’t answer, but I mulled over this information while Lola snipped at my hair. I’d almost been bitten last night and, though I hadn’t met many vampires who had wanted to drink my blood, I hadn’t met many vampires.
“I have even heard rumors that the Queen is still alive,” Lola said, without raising her voice. “That she’s coming back.”
“Really?” Pearl asked. “But that’s not possible. She’s dead. Mother always said so. Didn’t she, Ivy?”
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