Of Scions and Men

by Courtney Sloan

  “Really? Another message in a bottle. Whatever happened to envelopes?” I quipped.

  “It’s usually from one vampire to another on affairs of state or custom. It ensures matters don’t fall into the wrong hands.” His gaze moved back and forth over the paper.

  “We received one from Devon when we first arrived, inviting us to meet for dinner,” Carson added.

  Devon spoke as he continued to crease his brow at the paper. “The four of us–Nadia, Carson, Rowan and I–are invited to a dinner to discuss what we’ve found with Thomas Walton and Martha LeAngais at Walton’s home tonight. Ten o’clock.”

  “Walton is that medical examiner, correct?” Carson asked. “But who’s LeAngais?”

  “No idea,” Devon answered.

  “Walton’s been real eager to be involved. He all but humped me at the last crime scene, hinting he had information,” I said.

  Devon tilted his head, his equivalent of a shrug. “Perhaps his medical knowledge has unlocked their next logical step. From our discreet meeting at the DEC, he radiated with an eagerness for me to see his worth.”

  I nodded. “He wants to throw in, but a dinner party?”

  “Parties are often useful tools of the subtle trade,” Nadia said from right behind me. She read the invitation over my shoulder, but her sudden closeness unnerved me. Normally, she and Devon acted more… human. I began to worry the stress was getting to her.

  “Perhaps, with Walton being an examiner, he found something in one of the autopsies, but he’s too afraid to share the news officially,” Carson added, pulling Nadia back a few steps.

  “Either way, he and this LeAngais must have something we need. The dinner must be a cover to keep this out of other departments’ notices,” Devon agreed. He jotted something on a piece of paper and stuck it back in the gilded tube, sealing it. Opening the door, he handed the canister to the courier without a word, then returned to our group. With a smirk he announced, “Looks like we’ve got a party to get ready for.”

  Parties. I was so sick of parties. Vampires seemed to do more work at parties than at the office.

  I shook my head. “First, we have hospitals to check. Let’s go find us some bad guys.”

  y the next evening, frustration burned through me as I rode in the limo with Nadia, Carson, and Devon to Walton’s house. He lived on the far west side, in Bellwood. The long drive pushed on my nerves, and I didn’t have many left.

  After hours of searching hospitals–open and closed ones–paying a surprise inspection to the University, and pushing Curtis to make sure Masterson was telling the truth about no oddly-timed ghostly emigrations, we were no closer to finding Hannah than we’d been the night before.

  Devon was convinced Masterson was lying. I didn’t think so, not with his daughter on the line. We were on the wrong track. For the life of me, I couldn’t see another one. We were back to having nothing to go on, and Hannah was as good as dead.

  Of course, she already could be.

  With that happy thought, I tugged my black sheath dress, with its peek-a-boo lace neckline, back into place. I’d planned on just wearing what I had when we’d met Nadia the first time, but Devon had had this waiting for me when I’d returned from my day of questing around the city. I swear the man was more of a clothes horse than Lyle.

  No, no one was that bad.

  I was exhausted, running on fumes, coffee, and the flow of energy from Devon. I was almost grateful for being drained unconscious the other night. It was the most sleep I’d gotten since this whole thing started. Now, we had some fancy, crap-tastic social dinner to go to. They’d better have some vital information to give us, or someone was getting hurt.

  Usually going to vampire parties meant I got to see how good it was to be undead. Interest earned only goes up and all that. But the area rushing by us now was getting worse and worse. Bellwood had become a rat trap since everyone had huddled farther and farther into the city. Even as the city expanded north and south, around the lake to make room for the growing population while the remaining Mid-Westerners and Southerners fled to the new capital, this area seemed to be skipped over for revitalization. Why a vampire would live here, I had no idea.

  “Often, it’s because they never learned how to save their money. Or had debts which haunted them after they turned.” Devon’s soft voice answered my unspoken questions.

  I sighed. “I hate it when you do that.”

  “I know, but you pose a good point.” To my surprise, Devon gave me an honest smile, the kind he usual reserved for Will. It was gentle and was mirrored in his eyes. It looked good on him. Out of nowhere my chest fluttered. Nerves.

  “Walton is young,” he continued, “but fifty or more years as a vampire… He should have more than this.” Devon gestured to the broken down 7-11 we passed. It reminded me of the abandoned towns I’d driven through to get to Will, and I fidgeted. Suddenly, the shadows were a lot scarier. I hoped Walton’s place would be nicer.

  “More likely than not, it’s because Walton has never been able to curry the right favor,” Devon said.

  I gave him a harsh side-eye. “I thought you’d said you hadn’t heard of him.”

  He shrugged, the gesture making him appear relaxed. “I looked him up after he showed such an interest. He’s a capable medical examiner. Before the Reclamation, he saved many of our kind who had caused accidental deaths, but from all accounts, he’s odd. It seems he never plays well at parties with his outlandish theories and fascination with dead bodies.”

  I laughed, and they all eyed me sideways. “What? It’s funny. Vampires bickering over a bunch of corpses.”

  Carson cleared his throat pointedly and shook his head while Nadia glanced away.

  Devon leaned closer. “I thought you would have learned by now, cherie–we revel in the living, not the dead.”

  I met his eyes and blushed. Jeez, when would my mouth learn?

  Luckily, the uncomfortable silence I had created was short-lived as we pulled into the driveway of a house too large for the area. It was obvious Walton had bought the entire block and tore down the other homes to build what he wanted. His was a large, gray stone building that looked more like an institution. He’d put a high, stone security fence, full of barbed wire and electricity, around the edges. Paranoid might be a more apt description for him. This neighborhood was all human. What human would be stupid enough to break into a vampire’s house? Especially when it looked like that.

  The iron gate preventing us from entering his driveway opened as we approached.

  “Seems they were watching for us,” Devon mused.

  As we parked at the top of the circular drive, we had no chance to group or plan. Walton’s bulky form waved at us by the front door. Shahid tried to get around to open our door, but Walton moved vampire-quick and beat him to it with an overly happy smile on his face.

  “Welcome, all of you, to my home,” he announced as he stepped back from the door. “It’s so cool to have you here. Please come in.”

  His isolated, milk-toast lifestyle was obvious in his pale-even-for-a-vamp features. For a lab doc, he was huge. The arm he flung out to gesture toward the door was larger than my leg, and most of it was sitting-around-the-office flab. He had traded in his lab coat for an ill-fitted, pinstriped suit, complete with wide lapels and a carnation in the collar. He looked more like someone waiting for their prom than a sophisticated, social-climbing vamp. His squinted eyes radiated with excitement, but behind all the social ineptness, I also saw quick flashes of intelligence when he ran his gaze over each of us as we stepped out of the vehicle. He was definitely sizing us up.

  I hesitated for a moment when he extended his hand to help me out, but at a mental nod from Devon, I took it. This is a party, not a take down, I reminded myself.

  Walton grasped my hand and pulled me gently from the vehicle. Rather than letting go, he held on and moved me toward the house, the others following. I wanted him to let go, but swallowed down my ire, especially as his ha
nd took on a more demanding position while the other slid around my waist. My skin crawled and my stomach flipped. I raised my eyebrows to Devon, hoping he’d save me, but he only gave me a slight shrug of his shoulders, though his eyes and fists were tight.

  “I am so happy you accepted my invitation. My staff has been working all day to provide some awesome food for you. Rowan, do you enjoy Barreado?.” He smiled at me, the need for my approval pouring off him. No wonder he bombed at parties. He was trying way too hard, and on the wrong person.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know what it is,” I answered quietly.

  Frustration flashed across his features, but was quickly replaced by his large smile. “Of course. You should try more varied cuisine. This dish is cooked in a clay pot, its lid sealed shut by a glue made of flour and water. The beef is cooked all day in a mixture of tomato sauce and onions, garlic, and small pieces of bacon until, from what I understand, everything is so tender it melts. It’s her specialty.” His overenthusiasm for a meal he couldn’t eat was off-putting. He stood there, smiling down at me, waiting for me to say my line or something.

  I swallowed. “Sounds great, Dr. Walton.”

  “Tom, please.” He stared at me expectantly again.

  I played along though all I wanted was for him to stop touching me. “Sounds great, Tom.” My face was going to break if I had to keep smiling at him like this.

  Devon’s irritation toward Tom leaked through my thoughts, heightening the tightness in my muscles.

  Tom moved us back into motion. “Yes, yes, of course it will be. While we are provided cocktails” –he motioned to a wall of three, caramel-skinned vampires with trays of drinks–“I shall show you around my home.”

  Startled, I glanced over my shoulder at Devon and Nadia as they followed behind. Both of them seemed as confused as I was. Nadia, as the ranking female vampire, should be at the lead of the entourage, not me. I should be able to stay invisible with Carson at the back of the room. Lucky bastard got to lean against the wall, talking to a very petite vampire. Hopefully he was having more fun.

  As one of the servers offered a tray of champagne to me, I took advantage of the opportunity to step out of Walton’s arm and use the hand he was holding to take a flute. I kept moving away from his grasp. Side-stepping, I made it to Nadia and Devon’s cluster.

  Devon, what’s happening?

  I don’t know. As I told you, he doesn’t understand social situations. I think he’s trying to do what’s proper, just missing the mark. Try to find out.

  “Don’t do that.” Walton’s loud words rattled through the walls of his sitting room, and everyone stopped. He rounded on Devon and Nadia. “I know you get the privilege of speaking that way, but I can’t stand secrets being whispered behind my back. It’s bad enough that we’re involved in this business, but I have invited you into my home. My home, my rules.”

  Devon stepped forward with his palms out, moving just a half-step between Walton and both Nadia and I. “Thomas, there’s no disrespect meant. For us, speaking with our scions is second nature. We will strive to not upset you further.” Moving forward further until he was even with Walton and switching to his cheesiest ‘best buddy’ voice, Devon continued. “Thomas, I’ve heard through the department that you have quite the collection of bugs you’re proud of. Could I impose on our host to share with us?”

  Walton’s posture relaxed instantly. “My preserved arachnids?”

  Devon nodded. “That would be the one.”

  “I would be delighted.” He reached out a hand to me again.

  I faltered. Nothing in me wanted to take it.

  “How about just us guys?” Devon said. “I don’t think the ladies would properly appreciate your spiders and scorpions.”

  I scrunched my face, and Walton laughed. “Yes,” he said, “We guys have to protect them from the creepy-crawlies, even the dead ones. Am I right?” He laughed at his own joke. “But please, take your cocktails with you so we do not detain dinner.”

  “Of course. Carson, if you would join us,” Devon said.

  Each of the vampires took a flute of blood, and Carson snatched his champagne. Grateful for mine, I took a long draft. The champagne tickled my nose, but I drank it deeply, thankful for the escape it gave me.

  As the guys left the room with half of the servants following them, I couldn’t resist shooting a thought to Devon. Thanks for getting him off me, but protection from spiders?

  He’s insane, Rowan. I don’t think he’s taking the fifty year mark well. Please, just let me protect you from this.

  With a sigh, I didn’t reply, but took more champagne as I joined Nadia. She spoke to the little vampire Carson had been standing with.

  “Rowan,” she said, “may I introduce you to Martha LeAngais, our more demure host.”

  I held out my hand to Martha. Here was a lab doc who looked like a lab doc. She was overly thin–though it wore as geek chic–and still wore her lab coat as though she believed it counted as formal attire. Her hair was in a messy bun on top of her head, and her coffee-cream skin was as soft as her voice. She lightly shook my hand but withdrew it fast.

  “I’m not really a host,” she said.

  “Nonsense,” replied Nadia, seeming to ease back into herself now that Walton was out of the room. “We’re glad for the reprieve. So, I understand you are a brilliant researcher who can help us with these grisly matters.”

  “I research genetic markers and tracking ley levels in blood.”

  “You can monitor that?” I asked.

  “Yes. We’re hoping it will be able to better match blood donor compatibility. That should decrease the number needed for feedings.”

  “Amazing,” Nadia exclaimed. “Progress in that vein would shift all the blood stocks. It would be a worldwide benefit. So many countries would be given new life.”

  Oh crap, I’d forgotten–Nadia’s original mission. This was why she’d come to the States in the first place. With all the murders, it had taken a backseat. I was happy for her. We’d let her down.

  “I guess so. If everyone could accept a change in practices,” Martha barely whispered.

  “We would have to make them. International laws of exchange could enforce it. I know I could get Canada, and at least most of Europe, behind it. The lives that could be saved…” Nadia almost glowed with excitement. She toasted Martha with her glass and drank the blood down, nearly giddy.

  I saw another side and added, “What about those who have high levels? Do they just become walking blood bags, forced to give as much as possible whenever it’s demanded?”

  “Of course not,” Nadia waved the idea away. “We would make sure it was compensated on a level which would make it a lucrative position.”

  Disgusted by the line of thought, I pushed our original mission back into place. “That’s… whatever it is, but” –I turned to Martha, who flinched at the scrutiny–“can your research help us catch these killers? Do you think they are trying to figure out the levels in their targets’ blood? Did you or Walton find something in their blood levels when he examined them?”

  She nodded. “Yes, the ones who hurt the girls are definitely examining levels now. Though they weren’t at the beginning.”

  I hit the table beside me. “That proves it. They have to have access to medical equipment. We are on the right track, but where haven’t we looked?”

  Nadia choked a bit on her blood as she breathed to talk and swallow at the same time. “We searched every hospital and research facility you could think of.”

  I took her arm out of habit to let her regain her composure. It was almost funny. I’d never seen a vampire have blood go down the wrong pipe before.

  “Private residences?” Martha suggested in a small voice.

  My eyes widened. I hadn’t thought of that. “What kind of private residences would have access to that kind of equipment? Do you think you could get us a list of the specific equipment they would need? We could cross that with any private sale
s or thefts in the area.” My stomach started doing flip-flops at the excitement. We could get these assholes. We could save Hannah. The time with Doctor Crazy had been worth it to get this information.

  Martha nodded, but stared at Nadia, whose eyes were still watering.

  “A doctor’s house,” Nadia offered. “No one would look sideways if it was a doctor’s house.”

  I took in a deep breath. “With no ghost movement, it would have to be a recognized doctor, and not one of the foreigners, or flags would have gone up.”

  My stomach’s flips turned into real cramping and pain. I dropped my glass as a wave of nausea barreled into my chest. I glanced up at Martha, who wore the barest of smiles.

  “Exactly,” she whispered.

  I held my breath, and my chest tightened further. Air became a real luxury. I glanced at the servants as they reentered the room. They had the same coloring as the South Americans. Spots formed in my vision as I forced my lungs to take in air. We’d been so stupid walking in here.

  Beside me, Nadia doubled over. Instinct took over, and I held her body, trying to keep her and me upright. What had we done? We needed to get out of here.

  A male screamed from the back room.

  “Devon!” I shouted, reaching through our bond and finding equal parts panic and confusion from him.

  Run! he screamed in my mind.

  Why couldn’t he get to me? What had they done to him?

  I lifted Nadia from the floor and tried to shuffle her to the front doors. After a step, my lungs burned and bile roasted my throat and mouth. I gagged hard; everything dimmed for a moment.

  A crash sounded the arrival of Devon, practically carrying Carson while holding onto the side of the doorway. I turned to him for help, but he didn’t seem to be able to let go of the doorframe. He gasped for air to speak, but only red spittle sprayed out. Blood stained Devon’s mouth and down the front of his suit.

  He had always been immaculate, precise in his appearance; now he was barely recognizable. Nadia was a convulsing mass below me. We needed our vampires, and they were useless.