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I stared into the darkened front lawn of House Tellier—it had a porchlight on like everyone else. I could see through one of the storm windows that some kind of basement light was on, and a light was on in an upper window—a bedroom, probably—but everything else was darkened.
I checked the daggers in my thigh bandolier while keeping myself pointed at the House as if it was the reason why I’d wandered down the street.
The last sensation of the vampire winked out, and I let myself look up and down the street.
“Maybe I’m imagining it,” I muttered to myself.
Brody whined, making me jump—I’d been so focused on my senses I’d forgotten he was with me.
When I glanced at him, he lifted his right front paw at me and flattened his ears.
“Sorry,” I said, though I wasn’t sure what I was apologizing for. I turned, heading back up towards the boar.
“Find anything?” Sarge called to us.
I shook my head as we passed Tetiana and one of the squad’s cars. “I think it was a vampire, but they’re gone now.”
Brody woofed, then loped off heading for Tetiana and Medium-Size Robert.
I bowed my head to Sarge. “Sorry, Sir.”
Sarge shook his head making his silvery light glow. “Your senses haven’t ever been wrong before. I’d rather trust them.”
“Thank you, Sir.” I saluted him again.
“Of course.” Sarge turned back to the boar.
I moved to join him, but first I glanced back down the street.
Maybe he’s right. It must have been someone. There’s no way it could have been Ruin. This isn’t his territory, and he has no reason to come down here… right?
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Considine
Ihad intended to let Killian stew for at least a few months before I finally agreed to talk. However, Jade had raised up several… notconcerns—that implied a certain amount of care—but rather…questionsthat I intended to find the answers to.
I texted his Second Knight to make the arrangements, which is why—one evening in the last week of September, I entered Club Luminary instead of hanging around Magiford’s downtown district as I was prone to do.
The elevator dinged before it opened, and when I stepped out several Drake vampires who’d been posted by the door greeted me.
The Second Knight—a shorter vampire with dark hair, a serious manner, and the misleadingly benign name of Josh—gravely bowed to me. “Greetings, Elder Maledictus.”
“Good evening, Josh,” I said. “You’re here to guide me to Killian?”
“Indeed,” Josh said. “If you would follow me.”
I strolled after him, blinking when I saw the outline of no less than three firearm holsters through his suitcoat. “I thought Club Luminary had a strict no-weapons policy.”
Josh forlornly paused, then opened his suitcoat to show his empty holsters. “They do,” he said. “I was forced to part with my dear weapons, leaving them behind. I cannot understand why anyone wouldenjoya dining experience in which they do not have the beautiful brush of cold metal against them—it is one of the few joys in life on this endlessly turning orb of brokenness that is our world.”
“Ah,” I said. “Glad to see you’re still you.” Josh was a rather unique vampire with his dark poetry, preoccupation with death, and unusual name. His uniqueness generally lulled enemies, so they weren’t aware of just how deadly he was until it was too late.
“Who else would I be?” Josh asked as he marched into the restaurant.
Club Luminary was a trophy of modern luxury, with its glass walls and stained-glass ceiling, with skylights that gave guests a peek at the night sky. The stained-glass mosaics gave homage to the various supernatural races depicting them at their impossible best, like the werewolves that actually appeared groomed and not half flea bitten peering out of a green forest.
The restaurant was circular shaped to give guests a view of the city, with the kitchens in the center adding to the décor with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Kitchen staff dressed in spotless white uniforms, who also looked beautiful enough to lure a lesser vampire into a bite, worked over the food, and the scent of garlic and basil drifted from their workstations.
