Someone approached.
The door opened.
The grey-haired man, easily in his forties, had a weathered face, expressing a lifetime of worry, and his tall, self-assured bearing gave away his background of privilege. He oozed old money. His hand remained on the door handle.
“I’m admiring your collection,” I said. “Particularly enjoying this book here.” I held it up.
“Vampire lore?” He entered cautiously.
“It says here, and I quote, ‘The art of mind reading is common in the elite.’”
He looked like he was considering leaving. “I find it intriguing that you’d come here.”
“Stonehenge, what a way to go.”
He glanced at the jimmied lock on the wall safe, its contents of papers now strewn over the desk.
“The lock kind of gave.” I glanced back down at the book. “Captivating reading. Talking of secrets. ‘Stone Masters,’ which one of you came up with that?”
“Excuse me?” He took a step closer.
“Well, if I wanted to create a secret cult, I’d name it something a little more discreet.”
“We’re not a cult.”
“So, Stone Master, what does it feel like to drink the blood of a vampire?”
“What makes you think that I’m the Stone Master?”
I peered down at the book again. “The art of mind reading is common in the elite.”
“So you consider yourself elite?”
I smiled. “How does one become a Stone Master?”
“One earns the title.”
“Inherits it?”
He shrugged.
“What a lovely gift to bestow to a son,” I said. “I wonder, what does a Stone Master do when his wife bears him only daughters? Who inherits the title then? Which child has a lifetime of carnage to look forward to?”
His right eye flickered. “How did you get past my dogs?”
“I fed them.”
“What do you want?”
“I have something that you may find of interest.”
He gave a half smile. “We don’t do business with your kind.”
“Why ever not?”
He glanced at the door. “Your name?”
“Orpheus. And yours?”
He closed his eyes, a split second shift.
“It’s an honor to meet with you, Lord Archer,” I said. “So do tell, what gave me away?”
“You’re pale. Your irises are enhanced in color. You move in a fashion that is, how does one say, elegant and . . .”
“And?”
“And you have the ability to seduce.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Why are you here?”
“I have information that could prevent the end of the Stone Masters.”
“You have to do better than that.” He smiled.
Our gazes locked and he closed his mind.
It was my turn to smile. “Impressive.”
“Entering this house is a dangerous ploy. I hope you find it worth it.”
“I’m not so different from you.”
“How do you figure that?” Sweat settled on his upper lip.
“Well, you seek out the innocent and murder them.”
He approached the desk and gathered the papers.
“Pretty interesting stuff.” I raised my eyebrows.
“You had no right.”
“I’ll note it for next time.”
“Unless this material is read in context, it will make no sense,” he said.
“I found it easy to follow. Grasped what you chaps are up to. Let me see how to sum up . . . Capture vampire, drain their blood, weaken them, and then off to Stonehenge to get your fix. Kill the vampire and—”
“This is all conjecture.”
I sucked on my forefinger and bit into it. His gaze followed the bloody trickle. In a flash, I leaned in and stroked my finger tip across his lips.
He pushed my hand away. A flicker of his tongue was instinctively drawn to the scarlet drop. His eyes rolled and then closed, and he rested against the table. “That was impolite.”
Flames in the fireplace flickered. Wood in the hearth crackled and sparked.
He regained composure. “Was that,” he sighed, “your attempt to keep me in the room?”
“It’s addictive, isn’t it? And as only the Master himself can drink it, only you know what it feels like. The older the vampire, the more potent the effect.”
He loosened his shirt collar.
“Want some more?” I asked.
“No.”
“Sure?”
He coughed. “How does your blood have that effect?” He reached back, his fingers fumbling and then finding the sharp letter opener.
“Put it down or I’ll use it on you,” I said, calmly.
He dropped it and it landed with a clang.
I kicked it out of his reach. “See, our blood can be pretty persuasive.”
“You had a family once, yes?”
“Yes, so?”
“You know what it is to love, to care for someone. When you murder, you kill someone’s loved one.”
“You’re breaking my heart.”
He glanced at the door. “How do you sleep at night, knowing that you’ve done the unthinkable?”
“I sleep by day.”
“Under this very roof, there are at least thirty Stone Lords. You’ll never leave this place alive.”
“I’m already dead. Or is that undead?”
He backed up. “One word from me and I’ll bring down hell upon thee.”
“Nice.”
“You seem unafraid.”
“That’s because from where I’m standing, you and I will both benefit from my visit. Call in your hounds and you’ll never know what that thing is.”
“Go on.”
“In every man’s life, there comes a defining moment,” I said. “This is yours.”
He glanced at the door. “Start talking.”
I stared at him for the longest time. “Creda.”
His eyes widened.
“Their plot to wipe you out, it’s masterful.” I neared him.
“What’s your agenda?”
“What do you mean?”
“How do you benefit from giving me this information?” He turned away and went for the door.
I shoved him backward over the desk and leaned against him, knocking items, flying papers scattering. “I’m not finished.”
He glared at me.
“Being this close to me,” I sighed dramatically, “it reminds you of that desire of yours.”
He tried to push me off him.
I pressed up against him. “Don’t you want more than a sip?”
Something passed between us and we both felt a connection crackle, igniting an unexpected intimacy.
I stepped back and Archer straightened his jacket, though it didn’t need it.
“I don’t frighten you, do I?” I said.
“I don’t frighten easily.”
“You are a Stone Master.”
“Please leave.”
“And risk not knowing?” I replied. “And let’s be honest, now that you have me, I doubt you’ll let me go.”
“Orpheus, such aggression is unnecessary.”
“Mine or yours?”
He regarded me with those idealistic eyes of his. “Despite evidence of your remaining humanity—”
“Don’t demonize me.”
“You’re a hunter.” He raised his eyebrows in a condescending fashion.
“As are you.”
“This back and forward, are you trying to find some kind of approval from me?”
I folded my arms. “I don’t believe so.”
“How did this happen to you?”
“What does it matter?”
“I’m trying to understand you, that’s all.”
“That would be a first,” I said. “I hardly understand myself.”
“Your father, was he a good man?”
“Such questions, do you think the answers will make it easier to hunt me?”
“I find myself alone in a room with a vampire. There’s no guideline on how one proceeds.”
“My father was a good man. Was yours?”
“Yes.”
I gestured. “And yet he chose this life for you.”
“I accepted my fate.”
“Your father, did he show you affection?”
“Why?”
I smiled. “Just trying to understand you. That’s all.”
“Ridiculous.”
“I take it that’s a no.”
He gave a look of disapproval. “Assuming anything would be foolish at best.”
“Is that the philosophy on which you base your life?”
Archer glanced at the letter opener. “My life is not my own. I serve a greater purpose.”
“But you hate this life, don’t you?”
He softened and his thoughtful face reflected concern.
“A reluctant Stone Master.” I folded my arms. “How’s that working for you?”
Archer rubbed his eyes. “This conversation is over.”
“You’re tired. You hate what you do.”
“Mistakes have been made.”
“What kind of mistakes?” I asked.
“Please step back, give me some room.”
“It’s the killing, isn’t it? You’ve been feeling this way for quite some time.”
He shrugged. “What do you want me to say, that I enjoy the act of murder, even if it’s meant for the ultimate good?”
“What path would you have chosen otherwise?”
“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation, with you!”
“I could always extract it.”
“Please don’t.”
“A priest, well that’s original.”
He turned away. “That was rude.”
“But it’s so easy to rummage around in there. Your thoughts are fascinating.”
“You kill every night. How do you come to terms with murder?”
“They die because I want to live.”
“Has any part of the old you survived?”
I leaned against the desk. “I think so.”
“Which aspect?”
“Well, I feel the same for the most part.”
“Can you still experience love?”
“Of course.”
“What were you like as a mortal?”
“Not half as dashing as I am now.”
He almost smiled. “What does it feel like never to age?”
“Untouched by the impact of time,” I said wistfully.
“You find it romantic?”
“It is what it is. Eternity has its privileges.”
All fear had gone from him. “How old are you?”
“You’re stalling.”
“It must seem that way.”
“It does.”
Silently, he invited me to read his mind.
And I did. “You’re a man of philosophy?”
“What does it feel like to change?”
“So you’ve read the books but not actually spoken with any of your victims?”
“By the time they get to me,” he said, “they’re not really up for a conversation.”
“A part of you dies inside. But you still have a sense of the old you.”
“Can you control it?”
“Feeding?”
He nodded.
“Well, I’m not biting you, am I?”
He squinted into a smile.
“Not yet anyway.” I grinned.
“Do you hunt alone or in packs?”
“Alone,” I said. “Only your men hunt in packs.”
“We must agree to disagree.”
I smirked. “Our differences will bring us closer.”
Archer chuckled.
“I dare to believe that, although I’m different,” I said. “I’m no less deserving to share this world with you.”
“Your species has evolved.”
“It seems that it can go either way.”
“Perhaps, but your kind has developed new skills.”
“Tracking us has become harder?” I interrupted.
“You could say that.”
“That’s good.” I stared at the far shelves and wished that I had more time to read the books stacked along them.
Archer followed my gaze. “What other gifts have you developed?”
“Do you have to take a lover?” I asked.
“Excuse me?”
“Hoping that she’ll bear you a son?”
“And you were doing so well. I was rather enjoying our conversation.”
“No, you weren’t. But I do fascinate you.”
“Perhaps we could come to some arrangement. You could teach me more.”
“Visit again?”
He nodded. “I’d like that.”
“This closing your mind thing, you only seem to be able to keep it up for about one minute. Then, it’s full access.”
“Ah.”
“Your invite includes a trip to Salisbury.”
He seemed concerned. “I’ve offended you.”
“No more than most who’d like to slash my wrists and then burn me up.”