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I lift my nose to the air and ignore the scent that would take me back to Lo-Ren. What is the point of going back to enjoy her sweet embrace for short moments if they will soon be stolen by my brother, who seeks to oust me?
No. I will come out on top, once and for all, and put an end to this endless struggle. I head in the opposite direction, toward the smell of blood and death.
* * *
The eldest vampire does not look pleased to see me when I knock on the door where his scent trail has led me.
Not that he’s the one to greet me at the door. I can barely see him past the shoulder of the two brutes in black who block the door.
“I would speak to Vlad,” I say.
The two men in dark suits glare back at me, saying nothing.
I crack a smile and hold up my hands. “I come in peace. Ready to bargain.”
“What do you have to bargain with?” Vlad asks from the room beyond where he’s seated, a young, naked blonde woman in his lap. They appeared to be necking, but as her head lazily flops against his shoulder, I see two dripping red marks on her neck.
“I have information,” I say. “Information you want.”
Vlad’s lips are red with blood that he lazily licks as he welcomes me in with a swipe of his hand.
The two men move to the side to allow me in. I take in the scene without a word. I’ve seen many dens of sin in my long life. My father loved to acquaint himself with the most powerful leaders in the world, and they usually enjoyed living as laws unto themselves, beyond the mores of society.
So, I’m not surprised to see the many naked women draped around the room. It’s only new to see them being used more as feeding fountains than for their other pleasures, though I suspect this is only the morning routine and that at night, things may. . .
Well, it is none of my business. After a brief perusal to get my surroundings, I keep my eyes locked on Vlad. “Can we talk alone?”
His eyes narrow. “Do you think I am a fool to leave myself undefended?”
“Do you need defense?” I ask. “From what I understand, you are a great warrior.”
“And you are an unknown enemy. For all I know, your family has come here with all your stories as an elaborate trap for me.”
I chuckle at that. “I have known paranoid men like you.” I bow my head the slightest bit. “You are wise. It is how you stay in power. But I will still bargain only with you. Would you have everyone in this room hear the information you are so hungry for? Because I’m ready to tell you exactly what type of creatures my brothers and I are. But I would prefer it to be for your eyes and ears only.”
He stands from his chair, the woman in his lap sliding to the floor. I don’t think she’s dead, just dazed from either blood loss or something else the vampire has done to her.
Vlad’s eyes blaze with something more than curiosity, and I look at the woman for longer than I ought. What exactly are the full powers of this creature in front of me? What sorts of magic might I gain from an exchange with him? Enough to be rid of my parasitic brother completely?
“You would betray your family?” Vlad asks, eyes still burning with intensity.
I shrug. “Betrayal is such a harsh word. Perhaps I just disagree with my brothers on the best way to work together. They’ve already decided to ally with you; I just think that means sharing all our information. I think together, our clans could become very, very powerful.”
I see his nostrils flare at that. Ah. I have hit the nail on the head. Desire for power is this man’s weakness.
He lifts his hand and snaps his fingers crisply. “Leave me, all of you.”
“But Father!” One of his sons, who also has a woman seated on his lap, immediately objects. “You can’t really—”
Vlad whips around and glares at the man. “Do you dare defy your father’s order?”
For a moment, they scowl at one another, and it’s difficult not to chuckle at the familiar power struggle between father and sons. Oh, I know it so well. In the end, like the obedient boys they are, they stand, abandoning their feedings and filing toward the door. Several shoot me killing glances, and I try to note their faces. Difficult when they all look so much alike. Romulus is the one who’s better with detail, but when I care about something, I can still do all right. I think I’ll remember which of these are the trouble-makers and who merely follow orders by rote.
Finally, Vlad and I are alone.
“Make it good. You’ve got three minutes before they come barging back in.”
I merely arch an eyebrow. “It’s in your best interest to keep them at bay,” I say. Then I drop my glamour and allow my wings to unfurl behind me to the rafters, my tail to whip free, and the angel spark I rarely allow free reign to glow from within my chest.
