“I haven’t seen you all summer and now that you summon me, there is another vampire here, someone is in the process of turning, and your girlfriend ismissing. What the hell, Bash? Am Isuddenly not in your inner circle?” He sounds hurt, rightfully so. It’s been me and Jack for a really long time. I didn’t want to build myself an army like so many vampires do. I do not have any interest in turning a bunch of soldier slaves. Jack is my best friend and I seem to have abandoned him for a new family I am creating.
“It’s been me and you for decades, and suddenly you’re playing house, building your own little family, and I don’t even get a warning. An invitation?”
“Fuck, Jack. I’m sorry. You’re right. I didn’t want to admit I needed help. Please help me, help us, find her. There will be time for the rest later.”
“Of course, brother, but you owe me onehellof an explanation later.”
I spot Ethan in the back watching wearily, unsure if he should leave or not.
“Hey, man. It’s nice to meet you, even under these awful circumstances.” Ethan extends his hand to Jack, a peace offering, and hopefully a way to diffuse the uncomfortable tension in the room.
“Hey.” He takes Ethan’s hand and squeezes it, based on the slight wrinkling around Ethan’s eyes, quite tightly. I roll my eyes.Yes, Jack, you’re still my number one.
“Alright, lay out the facts, Bash. I need to figure out how I can help.” I give him a quick recap of the last 2 days, which only takes a few minutes because we have absolutely nothing to go on.
“Here’s what I need you to do, Bash. Ethan will stay here and guard Sarah, since she is still down. You will walk the Quarter in a grid and see if you can catch even a hint of Elina anywhere. She has to be in the city so we will start with the most likely location. Who are your allies in the court?”
“Lessa, Gia, Minnie, and Aurora. Mother, obviously.Michael and Kellan. Amelia from Uptown, Celina from the Treme, and Samson.”
“Have Michael, Kellan, Samson, Amelia, and Celina do the same walk through their respective districts. No one will pay them any attention, they’regovernaturno. Have your cousins check out Mid-City and Bywater. In groups of 2, like they are out for a stroll. Bywater belongs to Talia, so it seems like another likely spot. I am going underground. I’ll listen and watch, and try to discover if anyone anywhere is talking about this, and what they are saying.”
My anxiety immediately lessens, knowing we have come up with some sort of plan. I should have called Jack yesterday. He’s always been far more military and strategically minded than I am on any given day.
“Thank you, Jack. Let’s go. Ethan, I’ll be back before sunrise.”
