“Merely making polite conversation.” He returns to his screen.
“I thought you didn’t like talking about hypotheticals.”
He loosens his red tie. “I don’t.”
“Good. Let’s talk business, then. Tell me what you know about Nice. Where did he run off to after planting that bomb?” He had to be near when it went off, but I highly doubt he stuck around afterwards. He probably saw that Michael and I survived, and wouldn’t want to risk being caught.
“My intel has informed me that Nice is making his way south. To Mexico.”
I frown. “Mexico? Are you sure? Doesn’t really seem like his style.” Nice is more of the frou-frou Paris type.
“There is a big bullfight, and he wishes to show off his new red cape.”
“Okay. That sounds like him. So we’re going to Mexico?”
“We are not. You are staying at one of my safe houses with the child,” he says.
“First of all, the child’s name is Stella. And second, I’m not going into hiding.”
Michael flashes another one of his famous stern warnings with his dark eyes, but this time, I’m not having it.
“You honestly think I’m going to let you kill Nice? He’s mine…” I snarl.
“No,” Michael replies. “I do not plan to kill him. I plan to send my men to capture him.”
“Did you say capture?” Has he been eating chocolate chip cookies?
“Yes. I plan to detain Nice and put him on trial. The law must be obeyed.”
Over my undead body! “He’ll find a way to get free. And he’ll just keep coming after us.”
“If I murder him, my people will see that I am no better than the outlaws who organized the Uprising.” Michael sighs exasperatedly and takes a calm tone. “If Nice is executed, it will be after he has been given a proper trial so the world can see what happens to those who cross me.”
Forget that! If he’s not going to kill Nice, then I will. There will be no trial. There will be no fairness for that insane frilly man.
“Well,” I say sweetly, pretending to go along, “just be sure I get a front-row seat at the trial.” I get up and go to the small galley in the back, where they have snacks and drinks. Stella is already stretched out with a blanket on one of the reclining seats, watching My Little Pony on my phone. She says they’re her only friends, that magical creatures have to stick together.
Poor thing. I know if I could just give her a normal life, she would make friends and feel like part of this world, instead of like someone who doesn’t belong anywhere. Not human. Not vampire. Something utterly unique. Like a unicorn.
I duck down and inspect the contents of the mini-fridge. There are several bags of the red stuff. I still can’t get used to drinking it, but I know I have to. My organs will eventually shut down if I don’t. Michael once told me how he’d spent several years getting a degree in bioengineering and then went to work in a lab, where he studied his blood on their equipment after hours. According to him, vampirism is brought on by a very primitive and ancient virus that can’t survive long outside the body. It combusts, leaving behind only fine carbon particles. Basically ash. So he found a way to stabilize his blood for just a short while—long enough to develop several theories based on the behaviors of the blood cells.
He believes this vampire organism somehow allows our bodies to function off very little oxygen. The lower oxygen content slows down the rate of DNA decay, so our bodies can continue making new, perfectly healthy cells for centuries. Our muscles have more stamina and power because they don’t require the heart to pump all that oxygen to function at full capacity. Our heart is also required to do far less work, beating at an extremely low rate, reducing wear and tear significantly. It also makes our bodies much colder. Less heat generation.
When he talked about it, the whole thing reminded me of those insects that go into hibernation for long periods of time, slowing their heart rates to almost nothing. Some even produce a sort of antifreeze in their bloodstreams so they don’t ever get truly cold. All very fascinating.
The downside to this phenomena, he claims, is that some of our internal organs don’t get the micronutrients they need to fully function. That’s where the nutrient-rich human blood comes in. We digest it or absorb it into our bodies, like a supplement.
Of course, it’s all just hypotheses. To really study a vampire’s blood, you’d have to make it stable. Or run lots of experiments to prove out a theory. And no vampire in his or her right mind is going to loan themselves to a laboratory to be studied because Michael is right about one thing: We must always remain a secret, living in plain sight among humans. If they found out about us, we’d be hunted.
“Miriam?” says Michael’s deep voice from behind.
I stand from the fridge and turn to face him. He’s wearing a T-shirt and exercise shorts.
Freddy. Not Michael. The pilot had his gym clothes on board and loaned them to Freddy, since Freddy was missing the back half of his suit. Interestingly, he has the same great ass as Michael.
Still, even though I know it’s not Michael, I can’t stop my heart from beating just a bit faster when I look at him. That sexy smile. Those bedroom eyes. The understated charm.
“Yes?” I say.
“I know it’s not my place, but I want you to know that I won’t let anything happen to you and Stella. She might be a very distant cousin, but she’s still family, and I will protect her with my life.”
It’s nice to know, however, “Why are you telling me this?”
“If you haven’t noticed, our king is a little preoccupied at the moment, but I know he’s doing his best to look after everyone, you included. He might not have feelings, but his sense of duty is fully intact.”
“How long have you known Michael?”
“Not long.”
“How long have you been a vampire?” I ask.
“Not long,” he repeats.
“Then why do you feel like you understand him or this situation more than I do?” It’s a little presumptuous.
“Because…he…”
“What?” I prod.
“He told me everything. Every detail. About himself. About you. About Stella.”
“What did he say?”
“It’s too much to go into, but don’t worry, I swore I’d keep everything in confidence.”
What the hell is Michael up to? If he told Freddy his deepest, darkest secrets, then there must be a reason.
Mystery! Mystery! Mystery! my inner librarian child cheers.
Stop it.
“Freddy, I don’t know what’s going on between you and Michael, or what you have planned, but it’s not my concern. I only care about finding Nice.”
Freddy stares down at me with those warm brown eyes and shrugged brows, like he pities me.
“What’s going on? What’s this all about?” I say.
“I simply thought you should know where I stand, since Michael wants me to watch over you while he brings Nice in. Maybe even after that.”
A lightbulb goes on inside my head. That SOB. Is this why he turned Freddy?
I glare at Michael, and then my emotions take over. My vampire emotions. I storm right over to Michael and dive for his seat, going for his neck. But Michael is too fast, too strong. He has me pinned on the floor of the aisle before I can mutter a word.
“Woman, what has gotten into you?” he says almost robotically.
“You planned to just pawn me off on your look-alike?” I yell.
Michael frowns over at Freddy, who’s standing down the aisle near Stella. Stella’s mop of blonde hair his poking around the seatback, watching the commotion.
Freddy holds up his palms, a declaration of innocence. “I only told her I would protect them—that I consider Stella family.”
Michael looks down at me. “He said that because I asked him to keep an eye on you while I hunt Nice. I do not trust many people.”
“Let her go.” Stella appears behind him. “You’r
e a monster. Just like Mr. Nice.”
Michael releases me, stands, and straightens his tie. “She attacked me, child, so that makes your mother the monster, now doesn’t it?”
“Whoa.” I prop myself up on my elbows and grit my teeth. “That was out of line.”
Even Freddy looks shocked, his mouth hanging open.
“You are a mean, mean man,” Stella says. “Mommy could attack you five hundred zillion times, and she’d still be nicer than you!” Stella sticks out her tongue and marches back to her seat at the rear of the plane.
I pick myself up, still fuming. “Don’t ever call me that again, Michael.”
“You started it.” He shrugs.
“Nuh-uh. You did. Stop scheming behind my back, or—”
“Or what?” he snaps back.
“Or you’ll find out who I really am.”
He folds his arms over his broad chest. “I’ve always known who you are, librarian. And I’m sorry to inform you that it does not alarm me.”
It should. He has no clue what I’m capable of, the things I’ve done. “Suit yourself. But make no mistake, I am not a piece of property you can give away to another man. I don’t care how much he looks like you.”
Michael lowers his head, putting us nose to nose. “I can do anything I like. I am your king.”
“You are nothing—”
“Ma’am,” Freddy steps in, “I’m very sorry for stirring up this misunderstanding. I promise I only meant to ease any concerns you might have—for when we get to the safe house.”
I inhale slowly, taking the hint. It seems that Freddy does have my back. He’s trying to steer me away from provoking our heartless king.
“I see,” I say. “Well, then I thank you, Freddy. So sorry about the misunderstanding.”
I look back at Michael. “I assume you’ll have additional security at this safe house, considering that Freddy is also a new vampire and not much of a defense?” I glance at Freddy, who looks so much like the Michael I fell in love with, all dressed like he’s just a college guy going to the gym. It’s hard to look at him. “No offense. But if Nice is after us, it’ll take fifty soldiers just to slow him down long enough for us to get away.”
“No offense taken.” Freddy flashes a beautiful smile. It kills me.
“Nice will be nowhere near you, librarian. You or the child,” Michael says.
Jesus! Why can’t he say our damned names?
Mystery, myster—no!
“Well,” I say to Michael, in a curt tone, “considering your inability to keep me safe in the past, you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t assume we’ll be protected.” Michael knows I’m referring to the fact that he let Nice take me that night over five years ago. It’s a low blow, but I have to know what’s what for Stella’s sake. Michael doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to have to leave her behind, so I want assurances she’ll be as safe as possible. I can’t go after Nice if I’ve got Stella with me. He’s too dangerous, and the only way I can kill him is if I catch him by surprise. Anything else would be my death sentence.
“You will be safe.” Michael sighs as if this entire conversation is boring and beneath him. “Now, if your little half-vampire and you are done with your tantrums, I have pressing matters to attend to.”
God, I can’t stand you. So pompous and rude! What’s worse is that I’m thirty-five and Michael looks about twenty. I know he’s not, but I don’t like being bossed around by any man, let alone one who looks so much younger than me. Everything about this situation pisses me off. Most of all, that I’ve lost the only man I’ve ever loved, and the person who’s taken his place refuses to kill Nice.
Fine. Don’t need him, I tell myself. But can I really catch Nice on my own? I haven’t the faintest clue, but I know I have to try.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Stop the vampire deceit train. I’m getting off! By the time we land at a private airport near Cincinnati, I have had the chance to do some critical thinking. Mostly, I’m beginning to think that Michael isn’t being honest with me about anything. My vampire emotions were clouding my mind. Now that I’ve calmed down, my librarian senses are tingling.
What’s he up to?
I poked and prodded at him multiple times during the flight, but he either ignored me or we started bickering, which then led to him also ignoring me. And, as any good Keeper will tell you, what people don’t say can be just as important as what they do say.
Michael doesn’t want to talk about where exactly Nice is going in Mexico, or how he plans to capture him at a bullfight, which makes me suspect that Nice isn’t going there at all. Good try with the whole cape story, Mikey!
Also, I’m not buying Michael’s story about him sending his men after Nice.
First off, Nice is one of, if not the deadliest vampire on the planet. No one knows for sure how old he is, but his reputation is right up there with Michael’s maker, Clive—a first-generation vampire, one of twelve.
Ironically, it was Michael’s maker, Clive, aka Cluentius Boethius, who started the Great War, wanting to bring law and order to the vampire world. It was also Clive who started the Uprising after regretting his choice to “domesticate” vampires and force them to live in a more civilized manner, blending in with humans instead of openly hunting them.
Clive’s dead now, killed by Nice in exchange for me. It was all set up through Michael’s right hand, Lula. She was also made by Clive and worked behind the scenes to stop her “father” and his Uprising. Michael, on the other hand, went publicly against his “dad,” so Clive wanted him dead. When Lula found out, she went to the only vampire who could kill Clive. You guessed it. Mr. Nice.
And what did Nice want in exchange for protecting Michael, aka killing Clive, and ending the Uprising? Me. Nice wanted me as payment.
Lula didn’t know I was pregnant at the time. Neither did I. But she thought she was killing two birds: stopping the Uprising by killing their insane leader, and getting rid of me, her competition. The truth was that Clive made Lula specifically for Michael, a mate to keep Michael company for all time. Lula never got over the fact that Michael friend-zoned her and fell in love with me.
Agreeing to let Nice take me was a decision Lula would come to regret as she watched Michael spiral into a dark depression. At first, after Nice took me, Michael was determined to find me, and he spent twelve months searching the globe. But back in the vampire world, everything was falling to shit. Clive was dead, the Uprising was over, but there were still traitors trying to undermine our system of governance. Then the council members—those who remained alive and weren’t traitors—refused to retake their posts. We were on the brink of anarchy and chaos again. Without strong leadership, the societies would simply hunker down and go back to the “every coven for themselves” model. That meant territory wars, the inability to travel for business, and humans at risk.
Michael had fought too hard and lost too much to allow that to happen, so he gave up searching for me and helped restore order. But I heard rumors he wasn’t doing so well behind the scenes. Some say he hunkered down in my library and hardly ever left it for four years.
It kills me to think about him sitting there day after day with my books, missing me. If I had known, I probably would have tried harder and fought to leave Nice instead of accepting my fate. But I always imagined my fierce vampire was off raising hell, living his life, kicking traitorous asses, and taking names. I figured he missed me; I just didn’t know that it was eating away at him, turning him into an empty shell.
I wasn’t there, of course, but vampires love to talk. About me, Michael, Lula, and Nice. We’re like the ultimate vampire soap opera.
In any case, I’ve learned that everyone fears Nice for good reason. He’s ancient. He’s fast. He’s strong. But I know how his mind works. I know how he makes everything into a game about seeking pleasure or entertainment.
I also know Michael. I heard stories about him when I was a girl. Then I got to understand him and love him. He
thinks that if something important needs to get done, he has to do it himself.
Add everything up about both vampires, and I come to the conclusion that Michael will not delegate hunting Nice to his men. Michael plans to go after Nice on his own.
He doesn’t stand a chance.
Only I do. If I can find out where Nice is hiding, I’ll be able to figure out his next move. I know his tricks. I know his blind spots. I spent five years living with him and his childlike mind.
I have to get to Nice before Michael. But where do I start looking?
My mind only offers one solution: Alex. He and Lula are close, so if anyone’s heard from her, it’s him. And it shouldn’t be too hard to track him down. Vampires are notorious gossipers. One post in the Vampire Knitting Club on Facebook, and I’ll have an address.
My mind skips over to Stella and how she’s going to react when I leave, even though I’ve prepared her for this possibility. Like my parents did with me, Stella and I have a secret language. I taught it to her while we were in Nice’s “care.” I did it because I wanted her to know what to do if things ever went sideways.
I unbuckle my seat belt and go to the back to sit beside Stella for a moment before we deplane. Leaving her in the care of Freddy and whoever else is on point will take every ounce of strength I’ve got. But if I truly want Nice dead, I have to do this. For her. For us. And let’s face it, for the lace factory employees and those two authors in hiding in Alaska—according to the latest vampire gossip.
I plop down next to Stella. “How are you feeling after the long flight?”
“Good, Mommy. I watched my favorite episodes twice.” She’s still in her pink princess dress, looking sweeter than ever despite her hair having come undone from the ponytail.
I brush her messy blonde hair from her face. “Well, when we get to the safe house, you and I will practice our letters together. What do you think if we work on your Es and Bs? You love words that start with those letters.” E is for emergency. B is for being brave.
Stella blinks up at me, and I see the fear in her big brown eyes.
The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant, Book 5 Page 5