Absolution (The Penton Vampire Legacy)

by Susannah Sandlin

  Hannah started to say something, but closed her mouth and smiled instead. What was that about? Aidan had never known her to measure her words. Her tendency to share whatever insights she’d gotten through her psychic abilities was one of the things that made working with her so unsettling.

  Aidan turned back to Mirren. “OK, she’s telekinetic. Was Matthias able to get that information out of her? We sure didn’t have much luck. And how’d you get her to tell you?”

  “I don’t know how she’s able to hold onto the information despite being enthralled, but she swears Matthias doesn’t know. He was pissed that she wouldn’t cooperate, so he threw her to me instead. Hoped I’d kill her and…” He clammed up.

  “Hoped after you killed an innocent, you’d be willing to work for the Tribunal again? Or that you’d come back here and kill us?” Aidan could see Matthias’s logic.

  Mirren shrugged, which pretty much answered the question as Aidan suspected.

  “All he wants is me,” Will said. “I need to leave Penton. I dodged him for twenty years; I can dodge him again.”

  “It wouldn’t matter,” Hannah said. “I’ve seen that much. He will come after us whether you’re here or not.”

  Aidan leaned back in his chair and fiddled with his watch. Three more hours till dawn and daysleep. They needed to make a decision. “Glory’s off the drugs, and since she wasn’t a user before she was taken, she’s not likely to relapse. So let’s scrub her memories and take her back to Atlanta, give her enough money to start over.”

  “No,” Mirren said.

  Aidan stared at him. “What do you mean, no? The woman deserves to get her life back.”

  “She won’t be safe. Matthias will comb the country for her because she could hang him with the Tribunal. He didn’t scrub her memories, and she remembers everything he did and who was with him when he did it. We need to keep her here.”

  “She hasn’t been screened—we don’t know if we can trust her.” Aidan and Mirren exchanged frowns. They didn’t disagree often.

  “For what it’s worth, I’m with Mirren.” Will set his laptop aside and fixed Aidan with an uncharacteristically serious look. “Matthias doesn’t leave loose ends—it’s how he gets away with all his shit without the Tribunal ever catching wind of it. And Glory Cummings is a loose end. He’ll hunt her down.”

  Aidan waved him off. “I get that. So, we send her somewhere else. Matthias didn’t bond her—or at least she isn’t bonded to him now since he threw her in the cage for Mirren to feed on. We send her to Nashville or Seattle or, hell, freaking Timbuktu. If Matthias wants her that badly, yet another reason for her not to be in Penton.”

  Hannah’s high, clear voice cut through their deeper rumblings. “She has to stay here. I’ve dreamed of her, or at least I dreamed of someone like her. Someone who has powers she has to learn how to use.” She turned to Mirren. “Does she know how to use her powers?”

  Mirren seemed to measure his response. “She says no. I think she can, to a limited extent, but she doesn’t know how to control them.”

  Hannah nodded. “She must stay with Mirren.”

  Mirren’s jaw dropped. “What? Me? No. Hell no.”

  Aidan almost laughed at Mirren’s wide eyes and outraged expression. He likes her, and it’s freaking the shit out of him.

  “She is not staying with me,” Mirren insisted. “That woman can’t shut up.”

  Aidan grinned. “If Hannah says she stays, then she stays. But you”—he pointed at Mirren—“are responsible for her, whether you take her as a feeder or a fam, or whether you don’t. And since she gets out of the hospital tomorrow, I’d suggest you find a place for her to live and make sure she doesn’t run back to Atlanta while you’re in your daysleep.”

  “Do I look like a nursemaid?” Mirren stood up and stalked toward the door.

  “You take responsibility for her, or we scrub her mind and send her to California.” Aidan watched Mirren’s stubborn brain do war with his heart as he stood in the doorway.

  His shoulders sagged. “Fine. Whatever.” He slammed the door behind him.

  Aidan grinned at Will, who was biting his lip to keep from laughing while Mirren was still in hearing range—which he knew he’d pay for. Hannah had that little smile on her face again.

  “He’s in over his head with that girl, isn’t he?” Aidan asked her.

  She held her hands over her mouth, trying not to laugh.

  Aidan knew the symptoms all too well—a vampire male falling for a woman had its own five stages, similar to the stages of grief.

  Mirren was in the denial stage, big-time.

  CHAPTER 10

  Matthias shook the snow of a March storm off his topcoat and shrugged the damp wool into the hands of the club’s coat-check girl. “Where is the board of directors meeting?”

  “Second-floor boardroom, sir.” The girl fashed a smile and took his coat.

  Matthias took a whiff: vaccinated. Pity. He’d been summoned to New York for a special meeting of the Vampire Tribunal, which maintained a club membership as a nonprofit board. This had to be about budgets and how to police the growing black market for the sale of unvaccinated humans. Maybe they’d provide snacks, although he doubted even the Tribunal had access to enough clean humans for such frivolities. But ah, the meetings in the old days.

  All Matthias saw as he entered the boardroom was a bunch of disgruntled vampires like himself. Eleven of them, which meant he was the last to arrive. Lorenzo “Renz” Caias sat at the head of the table—not good news. Matthias hated that sanctimonious twit.

  “Sorry to be late.” Matthias pulled out the chair nearest the door and took a seat opposite Renz. Late. Hell, he’d have skipped it altogether if he didn’t worry about Renz being up to something. Renz represented the South American vampire communities, but his Brazilian heritage wasn’t the issue. It was his friendship with Aidan Murphy that concerned Matthias—that and his ability to keep Penton off the Tribunal’s radar.

  Chairman Frank Greisser, an Austrian businessman who represented the vampires in the European Union, cleared his throat. “If we could get started? Lorenzo Caias has brought up some issues we need to address, particularly regarding a Justice Council case.”

  A chill stole into Matthias’s gut. He was head of the Tribunal’s Justice Council, and he smelled a blindside attack. He assumed a bored expression that belied his sudden case of nerves. “I’d be happy to address any concerns Mr. Caias might have.” Scrawny little bastard.

  Frank opened a file in front of him, his blond hair falling over his forehead in curls. He’d been turned in his early thirties and looked more like an Austrian ski instructor than the hard-nosed master vampire he was. “Renz has brought to our attention some unusual activity surrounding the case of Owen Murphy, who was sentenced for execution last November for a number of violations. His crimes included the murder of several prostitutes in Dublin whose bodies were drained and left for the authorities to find. As I’m sure everyone recalls, the so-called Vampire Murders caused quite a stir in the media and threatened to expose all of us. As it was not Murphy’s first violation of vampire law, the Justice Council, under Matthias’s direction, issued his death warrant. Yet, in November, Murphy was set free without clearance. Can you address this, Matthias?”

  Matthias shifted in his chair. He’d had his story ready since he let Murphy out, anticipating an inquiry long before now—although not one before a full meeting of the Tribunal. “I’d long heard rumors of the army his brother Aidan Murphy has been amassing in Penton, Alabama. I sent Owen in to infiltrate the community and report back to me in exchange for commuting his sentence.”

  There was a murmur around the table. The US Tribunal leader, a sour old cow named Margaret Lindstrom, spoke up. “And you didn’t see ft to talk to me before bringing that serial killer into my territory?”

  “Why did you not get the full committee approval for this action beforehand?” Frank glanced up from his file. Matthias couldn’t read h
is expression, but Frank had been a longtime ally.

  “I felt the rumors of the size of Aidan Murphy’s scathe, and the fact that he was building a closed society of vampires and humans bonded together, warranted quick action.” Matthias felt his skin grow cold, what little feeding he’d been able to do before the meeting burned up by adrenaline and embarrassment.

  Frank’s left eyebrow raised an infnitesimal fraction. “And what did you learn from your criminal spy?”

  Matthias hesitated. He’d learned absolutely nothing useful from Owen, whose real mission wasn’t information gathering, but killing Aidan and getting Will back home. But he’d never admit it. “Nothing conclusive, unfortunately. Aidan Murphy murdered his brother before he could report back.”

  A sharp laugh from the head of the table drew everyone’s attention to Renz, who’d been listening silently until now. He was in his midforties in human years—much, much older in vampire years. How old, Matthias wasn’t sure. With his dark suit and modern salt-and-pepper haircut, he could as easily have been brokering a deal with a Rio bank executive as addressing a gathering of powerful vampires. Anyone underestimating his power would be sorry, however.

  “You find Aidan Murphy’s murder of his brother humorous, Lorenzo?” Matthias asked. “You always had a soft spot for Aidan, the self-righteous prig.” Renz might be older and hold more raw power, but Matthias was no slouch. He wouldn’t show fear.

  “A few facts are in order,” Renz said, addressing Frank. “First, Owen Murphy killed the mate of one of Aidan’s lieutenants and later tortured the lieutenant into madness. He attacked Aidan’s familiar and killed more than a dozen Penton humans in an unprovoked attack on a human-owned business. Owen Murphy also was accompanied by a girl named”—Renz referred to the sheaf of papers lying on the table in front of him—“Sherry Owens. This girl was not only turned vampire at age thirteen, but had been turned after the Tribunal passed the law forbidding new vampires to be made because of the pandemic.”

  Renz thumped the papers in front of him, staring at Matthias in fury. “This young girl traveled to America, along with Murphy, using tickets paid for by Matthias Ludlam.”

  Silence swelled as all eyes turned toward Matthias.

  “Is this true?” Frank asked.

  Matthias clenched his fists under the table, digging his nails into his palms. This was the first he’d heard of it. He should have had Renz taken out years ago, smug bastard. “I allowed Owen Murphy to bring two people with him to Penton. I never knew who they were.” Who’d have thought the fool would bring an illegally turned juvenile?

  “Irresponsible,” Frank muttered. “The whole venture. At the very least, I believe the Tribunal must vote on whether you should continue as head of the Justice Council, Matthias.”

  Renz made a big show of riffling through his papers. “There are two other issues of which you should be aware. First, Owen Murphy was in possession of vaccine-tainted human blood, which he used as a weapon. I hardly think he had the resources to obtain this on his own. Although I have no proof that Matthias provided it, he certainly had the means.

  “Second, I would contend that concern over Aidan Murphy’s scathe had nothing to do with Matthias sending Owen to Penton.” He looked up and locked his gaze on Matthias. “You sent him in to kill Aidan Murphy and break up the town so you could regain control of your son William.”

  Renz shifted his gaze around the table, pausing to make eye contact with each person. “After Matthias went to all the trouble to turn his son vampire—after failing to successfully turn his wife and daughter, I might add—he’s quite unhappy the boy pledged fealty to Aidan Murphy rather than himself. Using a Tribunal committee for such personal, petty issues is, I believe, enough for us to consider revoking Matthias’s position on the Tribunal itself.”

  Shards of panic and doubt wedged themselves into Matthias’s heart. He made a lot of money under the table through the committee and gained power and business connections through his Tribunal position. To lose it was unimaginable. The humiliation. The disgrace.

  A vampire’s worth was only as good as the power he wielded, the contacts he maintained, the favors owed him. Matthias had been vampire a much shorter time than most of these insufferable Tribunal bureaucrats, and he’d risen through the ranks because of his unblinking willingness to do anything it took to get the power he needed. Leading by fear was highly underrated, in his experience. And he wasn’t conceding defeat to Renz, ever.

  He kept his voice as steady as he could, hiding his fury behind a facade of bored resignation. “Of course I’m disappointed in my son, but William’s whereabouts have nothing to do with this, and the allegations that I would supply anyone with tainted blood are ludicrous. I simply wanted confirmation that Aidan Murphy has amassed a scathe of more than thirty vampires and more than fifty unvaccinated humans who’ve been bonded to him and his lieutenants—one of whom is the Slayer.”

  “Mirren Kincaid is alive?” Frank Greisser leaned back in his chair, shocked, and Matthias felt a tinge of relief. He could divert their attention with Kincaid.

  “Not only alive, but also has pledged fealty to Murphy as his second-in-command. Mirren Kincaid has no love for the Tribunal.”

  “Where Kincaid lives is irrelevant,” Renz said, his gaze traveling around the room as if gauging the temperature of each Tribunal member. “Vampire law doesn’t specify how large a scathe can be built by a master vampire, nor does it limit who pays fealty to whom. Aidan Murphy has broken none of our laws. And Mirren Kincaid left no friends on the Tribunal, but he, too, broke no laws of which I am aware.”

  Frank leaned back, frowning. “Still, a bonded community of more than eighty, if Mathias’s numbers are correct…Should he attempt to seize power, if vampires such as Mirren Kincaid have thrown in their lots with him, it could provide a real threat to the Tribunal’s authority.”

  Renz shoved the papers back inside his briefcase. “That number is unsubstantiated. As I have reminded you, there is nothing in our law that dictates the size of a scathe, and I know Aidan very well. He has no interest in challenging the Tribunal. God knows, we’ve tried to get him to take a seat among us often enough. You know he is honorable.”

  Matthias wasn’t backing down. With Renz out of the picture, the rest of these bureaucrats could be swayed. “In normal times, I agree that it wouldn’t be of concern. But our people are starving, and we haven’t been able to come up with a viable solution to the pandemic issue. It makes us appear weak to allow one of our master vampires to create his own little well-fed kingdom. With everyone bonded to him or his lieutenants, he can keep out anyone he hasn’t invited.”

  Renz pounded the table. “So you punish someone who’s come up with a workable solution? Jesus, Matthias—we should be encouraging others to do the same thing. I’ve visited Penton; Aidan has made it work. You’re just angry that he commands more respect than you—even with your own son.”

  “Gentlemen.” Frank rose, and his anger-fueled power rippled across Matthias’s skin. He saw Renz shiver across the table, and the other Tribunal members, who’d remained silent, shifted in their chairs. “I agree that Aidan’s group in Penton needs watching, but that is Margaret’s job as head of the US vampire communities. Unless it can be proven that the Penton scathe has broken our laws, it is not the purview of the Justice Council.”

  “I propose that we vote today, at least, on removing Matthias Ludlam from his position as head of the Justice Council and that we convene later to discuss his removal from the Tribunal.” Renz virtually preened, and Matthias had to clutch the arms of his chair to keep from lunging across the table at the bastard.

  Frank paused a long moment before nodding. He pulled a gold case from his pocket and extracted a small pile of cards. “We will take a confidential written vote as to whether or not Matthias Ludlam should be removed from the Justice Council. Matthias, if you will wait outside?”

  Matthias rose in a daze and fumbled his way into the hallway without a wo
rd. He’d kill Aidan Murphy and his lapdog Lorenzo Caias. Not right away, not while the Tribunal watched him, but he would kill them. And God help William if he got in the way.

  It took less than five minutes. The door opened, and Frank Greisser stepped out, shaking his head. “The vote to remove you from the Justice Council was unanimous—Renz had done his homework, and it left us no choice. But I’ve convinced the others to table a discussion about removing you from the Tribunal until, and if, Renz finds more conclusive evidence against you. You’ve been a valued member for many years.”

  Frank dropped his voice. “I’d advise you to keep a low profile for a while. And if there’s anything Lorenzo Caias can find to nail your proverbial coffin shut, take care of it. He thinks of Aidan Murphy like a son, so you’re in his crosshairs.”

  Matthias’s shock-numbed mind felt disconnected from his body as he took the elevator to the first floor, retrieved his overcoat, dismissed his driver, and exited the club. He set out on the ten-block walk to his brownstone along the slushy sidewalks, and gradually, the cold air cleared his head.

  There was nothing he could do about the Justice Council—the decision had been made. And before he could think about how to take down his enemies, he had to secure his continued place on the Tribunal. There was only one person who could tie him to illegal activity and put his head in the noose, literally.

  He had to track down that damned little junkie human Mirren Kincaid had taken with him before that nosy Brazilian found out about her and make sure she never, ever talked.

  CHAPTER 11

  Glory sat on the bed in her room at the Penton clinic wearing more borrowed clothes, waiting for someone to take her…somewhere. She wasn’t quite clear on where. She hadn’t seen Mirren again after he’d left her room, but Aidan Murphy had visited just before dawn and told her he and his scathe leaders agreed she should stay in Penton for her own safety, at least for a while.