Bianca shook her head. “You won’t find the vampires like that. They aren’t leaving bodies behind. When they feed, they are turning.” She closed her eyes as if going inward to see something or remembering a past vision. “They are being careful not to leave a trail. Everyone bitten is being turned. They knew you would hunt them, and the master is being careful.”
Except when he left a pile of bodies to lure us out then planted a new sekhor in their midst. I’d torn apart the sekhors I’d encountered so far, but if they were amassing in numbers, even I had to admit I could not fight an army on my own.
As my frustration mounted, I ran a hand through my hair. If what Bianca was saying was true, the master vampire was not a random generation. Someone had groomed and informed him. It was the only thing that explained such calculated moves. Someone else was behind all of this. “Then how will I find them?” I asked, hoping this was the true reason Bianca wanted to meet.
“You don’t need to find them. They will find you,” Bianca said to Vivien.
The beer bottle stopped halfway to Vivien’s lips. She resembled a deer caught in headlights. “What?”
“The master wants you,” Bianca said to Vivien.
“He sent others to come fetch her,” I confirmed.
Vivien set the bottle down with a clack. “But why me? What did I do?” Then she frowned at me. “Fetch me? Really? I’m not a ball for a dog to retrieve.”
I didn’t take the bait, though she wasn’t helping my frustration. “Why her? Why is she important?”
Bianca tilted her head at Vivien. “This one is different. She was made different. She was never supposed to be, and the master wants her back.”
Vivien and I exchanged a look. “Different how?” I asked.
Bianca played with the fabric of her dress. “That is not clear to me, but that will soon become apparent. All I can see is that the master will come for her. She is the only one who can draw him out.”
“So it’s a dude?” Vivien asked, though her voice was higher pitched than normal.
Bianca’s eyes glazed over, looking past Vivien. “Yes. The master is a man. He is impatient. He wants you back. And he will do anything to get you…even if that means making you come to him.”
“Pffft.” Vivien made a rude noise that startled Bianca. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.” She turned to me and raised her eyebrows in challenge.
“I can testify to that,” I said with a grimace. Vivien rolled her eyes next to me.
I had half a mind to lay her over my knee and take my hand to her backside to see if I could smack out some of that attitude. The image in my mind turned sexual as I considered the sound my hand would make against her perfect, spandex-covered rear.
Bianca’s eyes became vacant, and her eyes turned white as her second sight made itself known. She grabbed my arm, and I leaned in close, ready to hear any wisdom she could impart. Her whisper was so faint, I had to strain to listen. “The arm. The Original’s arm. Something is there…or it is missing. The Original is missing something.”
Bianca slumped forward onto my shoulder. I caught her, helping her to sit back in her seat. Vivien jumped up and crossed over to a table where there was a pitcher of ice water and several glasses. She poured some and hurriedly brought it back. I murmured a thank you as she handed it over. I helped Bianca sip some as she roused from her faint. She blinked and clutched my arm as if needing to borrow strength. I followed her gaze to Vivien.
“What did she say?” Vivien asked, her expression tense as if dreading the answer.
“Oh dear.” Bianca straightened, seeming more cognizant now. “I hoped we would have more time, but I must take my leave. It’s better I return to Paris, straight away.” With slow movements, I helped her to her feet and waited until she was steady enough to let go.
Bianca nodded to Vivien with genuine warmth in her eyes. “I’m so glad I got to meet you. I’m still a bit unsteady.” Then turning to me, “Grim, would you be so kind as to escort me?” There was a gleam in her eye that told me she needed more than a stable arm.
I shot Vivien a pointed look to let her know I would be right back and not to try anything. She snorted while folding her arms, then turned to observe the dancers below.
Bianca was silent until we reached the bottom of the stairs. “Grim, you must not let her out of your sight.” The gravity in her voice told me to not take her direction lightly.
“I don’t intend to,” I said. I waited for more information, but she kissed my cheeks again and then took her leave.
Bianca must have seen something to make her warn me so. Ascending the stairs, I wondered if she foresaw Vivien escaping?
Vivien was still at the balcony, leaning over the edge, elbows resting on the railing. Her derriere stuck out in a casual repose.There was something different about her than the others.Was that why I felt so drawn to her?
The surrounding air changed. Time slowed around me as I walked over to the balcony, compelled by a familiar force I’d not felt it in centuries.
My expression must have been strange because Vivien’s brows wrinkled when she turned toward me. “What’s wrong?”
The pounding, rhythmic club beat gave way to a sultry tune with a crooning woman. The song made one think of sex and cigarettes in the Riviera.
