Page 92 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“I don’t like it.”

“He has answers we need.”

Murnau sighed. “How can we even trust he’ll tell the truth?”

“What use is it for me to lie to mortals? If I don’t want to answer a question, I won’t, but it’s so much more fun to watch the hope bleed from your eyes when I confirm your darkest fears to be a reality.”

Murnau looked between them, and Caroline knew he didn’t like it. If he said no, she would find some way to sneak back in to speak with The Count. She couldn’t let this opportunity slip through her fingers. Murnau sighed, and the resolve in his eyes crumbled.

“Even if I said no, I don’t think that would stop you.”

She shook her head. “I would have picked the lock to the cellar if I had to.”

Lock picking was outside of her knowledge, but he didn’t need to know that.

“I’ll be upstairs, but I’m leaving the door open. You only have to scream, and I’ll be here in moments.”

Caroline nodded, and Dr. Murnau left her with his improvised weapon. She took it for his peace of mind, but knew that if The Count got out of his cage, there would be no stopping him. If he wanted her dead, she would be before she even had the chance to scream.

“What are you even The Count of? No one ever answered that question for me. Is it a title you gave yourself to feel special?”

He laughed, a soft sound that was at odds with his dangerous demeanor. “The title is real, but it means something different to my people.”

“And what people will that be?”

“Don’t make me regret thinking you’re intelligent. Vampires, of course.”

“Vampires have their own nobility?”

Her jaw dropped when he nodded, and he laughed again.

“There are all sorts of beings out there with full societies that your mind is too pathetic to comprehend. Humans are loud and plentiful since it takes almost nothing for you to breed. Not that I’m complaining because it is convenient.”

“A plentiful food source is important.” She hated thinking of humans like that, but she saw the cruel practicality.

“You’re not our only food source or even a favorite, but you are useful for a whole host of things,” he said, picking the dirt from under his fingernails before looking at her again. “Are these the questions you want to know? Because I will say, I’m a little disappointed.”

Caroline frowned. “Why are you disappointed?”

“I’ve heard of nothing but how wonderful and beautiful and capable and brave you are, and now that you’re here before me, you’re just chattering. Your minion caught a vampire, and you haven’t even asked me anything good.”

“He’s not my minion.” Frankly, she wasn’t sure what to ask. He claimed he wouldn’t lie to her, but she didn’t know why he would tell her anything. The one thing she knew was that forces bigger than herself were at work. “Did Mr. Andrews speak of me often? What did you do to him?”

“He spoke of you incessantly in the beginning, but it tapered off. Though he wasn’t the only one I had to hear about you from. Valeria would go on and on about you until it got to be quite annoying.”

Something warmed in her to know that Valeria spoke of her, but it didn’t matter. Not now that she had left. “What did you do to Edgar?”

“Nothing he didn’t want,” The Count shrugged.

“I think you fed on him until he nearly died.” A thought hit her that made a chill run down her spine. “Were you trying to make him into a vampire?”

The Count laughed, this time a hearty belly laugh. “No, we didn’t even come close to draining him, and we certainly didn’t want to make him a vampire. If I wanted him dead, I wouldn’t have returned him to you. Really, it’s a kindness that most others wouldn’t have afforded you. A little gratitude would be appreciated.”

“You expect gratitude for not killing my fiancé when you’re nothing more than a parasite.”

“And chickens would say the very same about humans. We’re all creatures just trying to survive.”

“Is there a way to cure vampirism?” It was her deepest hope that she could save Valeria. That one day, they could be together in the sun again.