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“What are-” I heard Freya try to whisper, but I shook my head to stop her before she said anything problematic.
We were entering one of the most enormous vampire hives in the United States, run by an old friend of my mother’s, the infamous Edward. And while we were civil with him, this was still his den to do with as he wished.
The walls were streamed with blood and paint melding together. The smell was old and musty, a faint hint of cigar smoke seeping into my nose as we inched further into the hive.
Oliver was leading Tina, the two hand in hand, as they walked through the sea of hungry red eyes, watching us intently. I could practically see the vampires hanging onto their fangs, listening to our heartbeats as we passed. It made me nervous to think they might be able to smell Freya and catch a taste of her angelic side. I squeezed my hand to signal Freya to stand closer, or at least I hoped she understood what it meant.
Here in the den, there were few rules, but the most prevalent of rules was that we had to be accepted by Edward. Or, to bemore technical, the King Bee of this hive. Edward was old, as old as my mother or perhaps even older. When you age longer than most, you don’t tend to be caught up by the number of individual years but rather the centuries, and he had too many of those even to count.
He sat at the center of the club and -like most hives- was swarmed with worker bees for protection. The vampires surrounding him were wide-eyed, intent on sniffing us out as we approached. Like the cockroaches they were, they scattered as we sifted between them.
I squeezed my hand again to urge Freya that this was dangerous, but I couldn’t say anything. Not here. Not with prying ears and hungry vultures.
“The Ellisario’s. What a treat.” Edward’s voice rippled through the swarm as they parted to reveal him.
He sat on a throne with red draped around his mouth as he spoke. His hair was much longer than I had remembered, hovering over his shoulders like a cape, illuminating the hair on his chest as it spilled out of his unbuttoned linen shirt.
“And with friends. How fun.”
“It’s nice to see you, Edward.” I smiled, stepping up past Oliver, who had stopped short of the vampires who guarded him. Now that I was closer, I could see his piercing red eyes and the stained blood splattered on his collar. A single gold ring, with a golf ball-sized, red jewel lobbed on his finger.
“You look well,” I said lowly, eyeing the rest of the room that had seemingly stilled from our presence.
Edward laughed inwardly toward himself and then gestured to one of his men with his two fingers. “Would you like an appetizer? I’m sure you’re starved if you’ve come all this way from New York.”
Two brunettes sluggishly sauntered toward us, blood dripping from their wrists and necks as if they had been an entree of some sort. One was short, her face hidden by her spools of hair, while the other was taller than most girls, with a blonde stripe cascading down her messy locks.
I tried not to look at Freya’s face, but the curiosity ate at me. I could see how petrified she was from the corner of my eyes. Her face was frozen. Her eyes glued to the girl’s neck as if she feared that would be her fate.
As If I wouldeverlet that happen.
I truly hated that we couldn’t go a few days without putting her back in harm’s way, but this was the safer option. To be under everyone’s noses. To be just another cockroach in a sea of supernatural beings. Plus, we needed to know if Edward knew anything helpful.
“We’ve brought our food. I assume that’s alright with you?” I let my hand flicker toward Tina and Freya.
There was silence.
A silence I knew all too well, and the very silence that made me fearful of bringing Freya here in the first place.
“Are you not going to offer me a taste? After all, I offered with you?” Edward taunted. He always loved his games. Histests. They were typically hallow requests, meant to see if you’d honor him by playing along, but I wasn’t willing to risk that.
“I’m afraid this one is far too weak at this moment. Perhaps another time? When she’s recovered.” I smiled even though it pained me to think of what would happen if he didn’t accept my proposal.
He eyed Freya, and I watched as she hazily sunk her eyes as if trying to act as tired as she could. Her spontaneity almostimpressed me, but I couldn’t act like that. I simply gestured toward her mangy hair that spilled over her face in tangles and her shirt, which was wrinkled and worn heavily. I even took a slight whiff at her and shook my head, though that was mainly to tease Freya.
“I suppose. I assume that is why you’ve come? A place to stay for the night while yourpetrecovers?”
“That’s one way to put it. But we would appreciate a room or two if there’s availability.”
That silence again sent chills up and down my spine in anticipation. Until he finally spoke. “I have a room at a cost, of course.” His fangs tore through his bottom lip as they suddenly became very prominent. “Succubus blood is always.. interesting. Like a delicacy almost since there are so few of you.”
Ah. I had forgotten about his… craving. Mother had mentioned it once or twice, but how could I have been so stupid to forget?
I smiled even though I knew how painful this was about to be. “And if I refuse?” His games always came with a price.
“Then I suppose I don’t have a room.” His hands stretched wide as if that was all he could give.
“I’ll sweeten the deal.” I stepped forward, pulling Freya back toward Oliver as Edward’s face lit up. “I let you have some of my blood, and I’ll throw in a favor to be expelled whenever you need it if you can tell us everything you know about deathwalkers and the ancients.”
