by E. S. Moore
“He refused to eat for the longest time,” Jonathan said. “He said a vampire threatened to kill him if he hunted. He wanted to live a good life, avoid killing or feeding at all.”
“I didn’t hunt anyone,” Jeremy said, frantic. “I swear. I fought the hunger, but it nearly killed me. They forced me to eat.” He lowered his eyes.
“We had a hard time getting him to eat anything, but after a while, the hunger was too much for him to bear.”
I smiled at Jeremy and he flinched. “I’m glad I could help.”
Jonathan’s mood darkened for an instant, but he recovered quickly. “It nearly killed him,” he said. “You shouldn’t have done that. Not even you can turn away from what you are, yet you expected him to keep from feeding his beast.”
I shrugged. “I could have killed him and saved him the suffering instead. Maybe I should have.”
I didn’t even move, yet Jeremy jerked back like I had leaped at him. His companion snickered again, drawing my eye. He paled and went silent. He was taller than Jeremy, but scrawnier. They looked to be about the same age. I wondered if they had known each other prior to the change. Neither had a Luna Cult tattoo, which indicated they were both werewolves.
“Enough of this,” Jonathan said. “Make sure no one disturbs us. Paul, make sure the Cultists downstairs leave. I don’t want any accidents. Return here once they are gone.”
The kid beside Jeremy nodded and hurried away. I could hear him yelling at everyone to get out as he descended the stairs.
Jonathan’s eyes turned toward the cowering Jeremy. “If you hear fighting inside, do not come in. Take Paul and leave. He won’t want to go, but make him. I will not be responsible for your deaths should it come to a fight.”
“What are you getting me into?” I asked, not liking what I was hearing at all.
“You will see why I take such precautions.”
“How about you tell me now?” I took an aggressive stance, my hands going to my weapons. “I don’t like surprises.”
Jonathan glanced toward the door, nervous. “Please,” he said. “Do not do anything to jeopardize our arrangement until you hear us out. It’s important that we all work together.”
“Who’s on the other side of the door?”
Jonathan opened his mouth. I wasn’t sure if he was going to answer the question or talk around it some more. I didn’t give him a chance.
“Never mind,” I said. I went straight for the door. “I’ll find out for myself.”
Jeremy scrambled out of the way. He didn’t make a very good guard dog. I yanked open the doors and strode inside, my hands at the ready.
As soon as I entered the room and saw who was waiting for me, I cursed. “You,” I said, drawing my sword without even thinking about it.
Across the room, staring at me with a face as blank as an empty page, stood Adrian Davis, Luna Cult defector.
9
“What the fuck is he doing here?” I asked, trying not to let my discomfort show. Adrian would enjoy it too much. My sword was held in my left hand and I could draw my gun with my right at a moment’s notice. It was hard not to just shoot him where he stood.
“Calm down,” Jonathan said, coming into the room and closing the door behind him. “We have a common problem and need to discuss this civilly.”
“You killed him,” Adrian said. His voice was controlled, almost casual, yet I could see the heat in his eyes. He stood across the room beside the couch. If he had been closer, I might have stabbed him simply for the pleasure of ending his miserable life.
“Your goon?” I said, putting as much disdain into the words as I could manage. “He was following me.”
“He wasn’t going to hurt you.”
“He should have thought of that before getting too close. No one follows me and lives.”
Adrian’s eyelid twitched and he took a step toward me. “Eli was following my orders. He was not to engage you. He wouldn’t have done so unless you forced his hand.”
I shrugged. “Sucks to be him I guess.”
His upper lip lifted into a sneer. “You owe me for his life.”
I laughed. “I don’t owe you shit, asshole. He shouldn’t have been sniffing around where he didn’t belong.”
“Please,” Jonathan said, stepping between us. “I didn’t bring her here so you two could fight. There is much we need to discuss, and this verbal sparring will get us nowhere.”
I ignored him. Adrian had one of his goons follow me. I didn’t care why. If I hadn’t noticed his wolf, he might have followed me all the way back home. I couldn’t let that go.
“He deserved what he got,” I said. The fingers to my free hand twitched. I so wanted to draw my gun. Only Jonathan’s frantic face kept me from doing it.
Adrian took a deep breath, shuddering with it. He seemed about as willing to sit down and talk as I was. “And the others?” he said. “Why did you kill them? No one was to harm you. They had their orders.”
Others? “Anyone I kill deserves it,” I said. “If you send people to follow me, expect them to turn up dead. Their deaths are on your hands, not mine.”
Adrian took another aggressive step forward. Even though he might appear calm from a casual glance, it was clear he was raging inside. This was the most excitement I had seen out of him since the night he had grabbed the silver bars to my cell in Tremaine’s mansion.
“She didn’t do it,” Jonathan said.
“I don’t need your help,” I said.
“Can we calm down and talk about this?”
Adrian bared his teeth. They were sharp and pointed, hinting at his age. Only older wolves or ones who spent far too much time furry had teeth like that.
“Perhaps all the talking is done,” Adrian replied.
I drew my gun and trained it right between his eyes. He didn’t even flinch.
Jonathan reached toward my gun hand and I shifted my aim so he ended up face-to-face with the barrel of my gun.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I warned.
He took a step back and my aim returned to Adrian.
“I see this was not a good idea,” Jonathan said.
“You think?”
Adrian stood stock-still, his eyes blazing. “She threatens me even here,” he said. “She kills my wolves for no reason and then acts as though it is my fault she has lost control.”
“It wasn’t her,” Jonathan said, slowly this time, as if talking to a dim-witted child. I wasn’t so sure he wasn’t. “Someone else is doing it.”
“What the fuck are we talking about here?” I demanded.
“The same person who killed Countess Telia and the rogue weres and vampires has also killed some of Adrian’s werewolves. He thinks you are responsible.”
“I’ve only killed the one.”
“She lies.”
“No,” Jonathan said. “You wanted to meet her here so you could see for yourself. She didn’t do it. You have to see that.”
Adrian studied me. His sharp features were drawn as he looked me up and down, as if he could read the truth in my posture. I wasn’t so sure he couldn’t.
“I trust her.”
The voice came from behind me and to my left. I jumped, spinning my aim toward its source.
Nathan LaFoe stood there, hands folded over one another. He made the slightest flinch when I turned but otherwise didn’t move.
I had been so distracted my Adrian, I never even noticed him standing there. I shifted so I could keep my eye on both Adrian and Nathan, trusting neither. Nathan might be a Cultist, might have broken me free of my cell at House Tremaine, but he was never going to be a friend of mine. I’m pretty sure the feeling was mutual.
Adrian nodded once and seemed to relax. It was obvious he was still angry, but at least he didn’t look as though he was going to attack me any time soon.
“Lower the gun,” Jonathan said. “We are here to talk.”
I hesitated but finally dropped my aim. I kept both my sword and my
gun in hand, however, not wanting to relinquish their comfort. “Okay,” I said. “Then talk.”
Jonathan moved slowly across the room and took a seat on the couch. It looked soft as velvet and had silks thrown over the back, making it a bit too flashy for me. He gestured toward a couple of chairs that were new to the room. They looked to be just as comfortable, if not as garish.
“Please,” he said. “Let’s be seated and try to act civilly toward one another.”
It seemed odd that I was being told to act civil by a werewolf, but there it was. I knew I was being hotheaded, but I had a reason. I trusted Adrian about as much as I trusted a vampire Count.
Nathan walked slowly past me, giving me the slightest of nods. His hair was still short, but he appeared to be growing it out from his crew cut. A scar ran down the right side of his face, following his jawline. It looked red and angry. He had gotten it sometime during the fight at Tremaine’s mansion. Even though werewolves and vampires healed faster than a Pureblood would, they still got scars.
Nathan sat down on the couch next to Jonathan, though it appeared he wanted to stand. He sat on the very edge, muscles tense and ready to spring the moment something bad happened.
Adrian moved next. He walked nonchalantly, as if he cared nothing about me or my weapons. He might be resistant to silver, but that didn’t mean a bullet to the brain wouldn’t kill him.
He took the far chair, easing himself down like he wasn’t used to sitting. His face went completely blank.
I really didn’t want to sit. It was hard to stay defensive in such a vulnerable position. But if I wanted to get out of this without having to kill a few people, it might be the only thing I could do. I was sure Adrian wouldn’t stand for me towering over him.
I crossed the room and took the chair as far from Adrian as I could get. I suppressed the urge to push it to a better angle. It would only amuse him.
“Let’s clear the air,” Jonathan said as soon as we were all seated. “We cannot have a worthwhile discussion while you are harboring misgivings about one another.”
I doubted there was anything Jonathan could say to make me trust Adrian. It was hard enough being in the same room with him, let alone the same building. I kept my eyes on the ex-Cultist, waited for him to make a wrong move. I had no qualms about killing him.
“Lady Death did not kill your men,” Jonathan said. “I believe her.”
“Other than Eli,” Adrian added, glancing my way.
I shrugged as Jonathan looked at me for confirmation. What else did he want from me?
“He followed me,” I said. “Both of you would have done the same if someone was following you.”
I had them there. Neither spoke, but I could almost see memories pass through their heads. Everyone sitting in that room had probably killed someone who knew too much or tried to tail them back to where they lived. It was in our nature.
“Adrian has told me why his man followed you,” Jonathan said. “While I understand why you are upset, he had good reason.”
“Oh really?”
“He thought you were killing his wolves one by one in order to get to him. He sent someone to find you and watch you so he could confirm his belief.”
Okay, I hated to admit it, but that made sense. I always followed wolves and vamps, checked out their homes, before I went in for the kill. I had to make sure they were what I thought they were. Could I really blame Adrian for doing the same?
“He told his wolves to stay away from you,” Jonathan went on. “They weren’t to get too close, only see what you were doing and report to him. None of them would disobey that order.”
“Other than Eli,” I said.
Adrian’s eyebrow twitched, causing me to smile.
“Other than Eli,” Jonathan agreed. “Have you had any other problems with Adrian or his wolves besides that one time?”
I shook my head. Adrian had stayed pretty clear of me since the last time we met. I’d hoped he had left town, even though I knew he had taken up living in Tremaine’s mansion.
“And has Lady Death harmed you or yours in any way?” Jonathan turned toward Adrian.
I could tell he wanted to mention Eli again, but he kept that to himself. I would only mock him if he kept saying it. “No,” he said. It came out terse.
“Then we are agree there should be little animosity between us?”
I couldn’t help it. I burst into laughter.
All eyes turned toward me. None of them was amused.
“What?” I said.
Nathan tensed in his seat and a glint of anger rose to his eyes. It was the old Nathan I knew coming back. As much as he was trying to be civil, I could tell he still hated me. This was the way things should be between us.
“Care to share?” Adrian said, his voice as dead as his expression.
“A little animosity?” I said. “I don’t think that really describes how we feel about each other.”
Jonathan frowned at me but didn’t say anything, so I went on.
“Adrian defects from the Luna Cult, sides with Count Tremaine to gain power of his own, and he nearly gets us all killed in the process. And you say there is little animosity?” I laughed again. “Why in the hell is he here again? You should have killed him the moment he came crawling to you for help.”
“We have a common problem,” Jonathan said, clearly unmoved by my amusement. “Adrian wanted to know if you were committing the murders and he knew I was the only one who could easily reach you. Since we agree you aren’t involved, I believe it is in our best interest to work together to solve our mutual problem.”
My laugher died out. “I didn’t do anything,” I said. “I’ve taken down a few Fledgling Houses and took care of a problematic rogue, but I haven’t done anything to Adrian or his people knowingly.”
“I believe her,” Adrian said. His voice was so calm it was jarring. His eyes glimmered, however, giving him away. He didn’t believe what he was saying any more than I did.
Jonathan seemed to sink into the couch as if all his bones and muscles had given out at once. I didn’t realize how tense he had become.
“Then how shall we go about dealing with this?”
All of us were silent. It might have been a good idea in theory to get us all together to discuss our mutual problem. In practice, it just wasn’t feasible. I had no reason to trust either of them, and they had no reason to trust me.
“An alliance,” Nathan said, suddenly breaking the silence. Everyone turned to face him. “We work together, comb the streets, and wait for whoever is doing this to make their move. If we all work together, we can have eyes everywhere.”
“A truce,” Adrian said, as if mulling the idea. He stared at me as he said it. “We will not move against each other until this problem is solved.”
Jonathan nodded. “What do we know about this new threat?”
I sat there, stunned. Could I actually be thinking of allying myself with the Luna Cult again? Not only that, but with Adrian as well? Just the thought made me squirm in my seat. I should have already shot the lot of them and left with my dignity.
But no matter how uncomfortable I was, I sat there, listening as they went over the scant information I already knew. Adrian’s wolves had been killed savagely by someone wielding what could only be a sword. It was the reason he thought I was involved, though he couldn’t explain the claw marks without accusing Jonathan of being involved.
With every passing moment, I felt more and more uncomfortable. I couldn’t believe Jonathan had allowed Adrian into the Den after everything he had done. If it wasn’t for his wolves dying, I might have suspected Adrian of the murders myself.
I considered just getting up and leaving. The killers hadn’t come for me. What reason did they really have other than I was a vampire? We were doing the same thing, had the same goals. I should be seeking them out in order to work with them, not turning against them so I could work with a bunch of werewolves. Again.
Of course I knew that
was faulty logic. I knew Adrian and Jonathan. I had no idea who was doing the killings. And there were the Pureblood casualties. I couldn’t forgive that.
“We should keep men on the streets, wait for our new little friend to make a mistake,” Adrian said. He was still watching me and I forced myself to pay better attention.
“I can have the ancillary Cultists keep an eye out for anyone suspicious,” Jonathan said. “Nathan can lead our weres out on regular sweeps. We can watch the Houses near us, as well as the rogues living close to the Den. If anyone comes after them, we will know.”
All eyes turned toward me and I knew I would have to say something. I was either going to have to back out of this or jump in headfirst. Neither choice sounded good. I didn’t like working with werewolves, but I also didn’t like backing away from a challenge, especially one that might save a few Pureblood lives.
“I can ride the streets and talk to some people,” I said. “I know of a few places I could check.”
Jonathan nodded, smiling. A small part of me hated him for that. He looked too content with what we were proposing to do, whom we were doing it with. I wondered if somewhere down the line, Jonathan and Adrian might work together to rid themselves of me.
I shook off the thought. I couldn’t see Jonathan turning against me, not as long as I didn’t come after the Cult. If I were ever to do that, I would make sure he didn’t see it coming.
Jonathan and Nathan rose. I was quick to follow, not wanting to be seated when Adrian stood. He took his time, seemingly amused at my sudden movement.
“This is neutral ground,” Jonathan said. “Report here if you learn anything. I will make sure everyone knows if something comes up.”
Adrian nodded, though he didn’t look happy about it.
“Fine,” I said. “Are we done here?”
Jonathan looked around and no one seemed to have anything to add. “I’ll drive you home,” he said.