“Crimson please, and pastries.”
My requests instantly appeared on my nightstand and I practically inhaled everything on the plate and still wasn’t satisfied. I was just about to ask for something else, when a new enticing scent assailed my nostrils. Sausages, warm bread, baked apples. I threw on my robe and slid slippers on my feet before rushing in the direction of the splendid aromas.
Kate, Rosa, El and Letta were already seated at the table. That is, in their new personas. We could see each other’s truth. The trick would be to always call each other by our chosen names. I knew that our conversations were not protected and could be overheard by anyone spying on us. Therefore our morning banter had to be for public consumption.
“Good morning, Suzette,” Sarah said.
“Good morning.”
“Ava, would you like some more tea?” Sarah asked El.
“Yes, thank you. Regina. Lorelei and Sasha need some more as well.”
Now that I had been introduced, I had to remember that Regina was Letta, Lorelei was Rosa and Sasha was the name Kate had chosen.
“You seem even more ravenous than normal, Suzette,” Kate laughed.
“I know and I had something before I came down.”
“What are we up to today?” Rosa asked as Sarah brought the tea.
“We need to finalize our plans for the party. The gentleman that I met last night offered to help. He knows the city well and I plan to take full advantage of his offer. His name is Damien Daminov and he and his brother Cain should be a great help to us.”
“And customers I’m assuming,” Letta said with a sly smile.
“I would think so. They seemed very intrigued by me last night. They have contacts throughout Europe that will benefit our endeavor immensely.”
A loud knock came at the door.
“Excuse me Madam. There are two gentlemen who say they have been retained for your protection by Count Daminov.”
“Please have them wait in the back parlor while we change.”
We all went to our rooms and changed into appropriate clothing, before arriving at the doors to the back parlor a few minutes apart.
I opened the doors to see Liridon and Gruen patiently waiting inside. After closing the doors to the protected area we could talk freely.
“Good to see you both. How do you like our new personas?”
“Lovely, but nothing could compare to the forms you were born with,” Gruen said grinning from ear to ear.
“You were being watched by several Belnovus, both in front and behind the property. Gruen got rid of them, with instructions to tell whoever sent them that they are not welcome. I waited for them to leave and then followed them discretely in a new form.”
“Yes, Liridon loves to change into rats,” Gruen added.
“I found that they all ended up at the same location near the V club that is in the first district. I observed them being confronted by a Noctu who questioned why they were back so soon. When he heard their explanation he left abruptly. I then followed him to an estate just outside the city. It had protections in place so I didn’t dare go further.”
“Very interesting indeed. I knew you would be a valuable asset Liridon. Gruen, how about you? How do you like Paris?”
“It’s full of enemies. I counted twenty on my way here just this morning.”
“Well, we are here to try to take care of that problem and it starts today,” I said with determination. “I am going to the government center to pick up the permit so that we can open our ‘business’. Liridon and Gruen will accompany me. I want the rest of you to portal to Gerhardt’s, change form and take a look around all these V club locations. Ask Gerhardt to check out the estate Liridon found.”
“I’ll write down the location for you before we leave,” Liridon told Kate.
“Gerhardt told us that the elite guard has been treating the water so that the human population will eventually be safe from any vampire fledglings,” El added.
“Good. Meet me back here around four.”
They portaled out, leaving Gruen and Liridon with me.
“If you’re ready, I’ll order the coach,” Liridon said.
“Yes, I’m ready. Liridon, I’m curious about something. Have you been able to find your family yet?” I said as I put on gloves and then went to the mirror to pin on my matching hat. The image in the mirror amused me. The amount of make up on the face peering out at me was something new. I pouted my coated-in-scarlet full lips in amusement.
“I’m still searching for my parents and two brothers. My sister Yanna however, will be coming to Paris soon. She wants to help. She has been in this world for almost as long as I was in the underworld, but happened to be in sanctuary just as my inquiry came. It seems she was looking for our family too.”
“Good news about your sister, maybe she can shed some light on where the rest of your family might be. I know you were nervous about how they would react to you contacting them after such a long absence.”
“I am. This time, having a long life may serve me well.”
“Ready?”
“Ready.
CHAPTER SIX
T
he approaching coach manned by a driver and footman arrived and drew to a stop in front of us. I looked up and found that the large driver decked out in the formal red and gold uniform was actually Alex. I had to hide my smile behind my hand as I struggled to regain my decorum. The footman, also sporting a red and gold uniform, met my eyes as he held the door – Jonathan. He, at least had the good sense to deadpan his expression, saving me from laughing out loud. I climbed into the coach quickly without acknowledging either one. Gruen joined Alex up top on the driver’s seat and Liridon stepped in and sat across from me inside the coach.
“It’s very hard to get good help these days,” I said as Jonathan closed the coach door behind us.
Liridon smiled, “Yes, yes it is.”
When we reached our destination and the coach drew to a stop, I took in a deep breath, scenting for danger. I detected no Noctu and I would have to rely on Gruen to detect any Belnovus in the area. Along with obtaining a permit to do business in the city, I needed to find any of our enemies that had infiltrated the government. What I was going to do if I found any, I didn’t know yet.
“You, driver. What’s your name?”
“Alex, Mademoiselle.”
“Come back in an hour. In that time, find out where Count Daminov resides, deliver this request that he attend a meeting with me at our residence at four this very afternoon. Please wait for the reply and report to me when you come back for us.”
“Yes, Mademoiselle.”
Gruen stepped down and the three of us made our way into the building.
My father had given me a list of all of our contacts in the French government and I was here today to visit one of them.
“Suzette DeMarques to see Monsieur Rubert,” I said in perfect French.
“Right this way, please Mademoiselle,” a slightly built, officious man said inviting us to follow him.
We walked down a short corridor and into a small office to the right.
“He’ll be right with you.”
I nodded and he left us to wait alone.
Using my Jinn power, I protected the area so that I could now ask my companions a few questions.
“What are the two of you sensing. Can you confirm at least that there are no Noctu here?”
“Yes,” Gruen said. “I do detect Belnovus, but not on this floor. There are at least four here somewhere in the building.”
“I suspected as much. Go out and see if you can pinpoint them, while I take care of business here.”
I knew Cain used his Jinn power to mark our enemies He could do so as long as the individual was not a being of equal or stronger power and then he could relocate and destroy them at any time of his choosing. I wouldn’t know the strength of these enemies until I was in their presence.
The door opened and a short balding man with a thin mustache entered.
“So good to meet you, Mademoiselle. I have prepared your permit and any other papers that I thought you may need. I would have delivered them if only you would have sent word.”
“Thank you, but that was not necessary and I had reason to come here. I have good reason to believe that our enemies have infiltrated the government. Some are here in this very building.”
“I have heard such rumors in the past months and although several of our people have disappeared. I had no reason to raise doubts about any newly elected human officials. We have been informed that there is a new hybrid vampire threat. Is it this threat that you detect here?”
“I am afraid so. Would you be so kind as to give me a tour of this facility? I may be able to find these enemies so that we can decide the level of danger that we are in.”
“Of course, follow me.”
Gruen and Liridon were just coming back down the hall as we exited Monsieur Rubert’s office.
“Monsieur Rubert has graciously offered to take me on a tour. Did you find an area that you would like to see?”
“Yes, the second floor council rooms.”
“The Parliament is in session today,” Rubert said with concern.
“Then I would like to observe.”
He nodded, but he was obviously shaken by the insinuation that members of Parliament may actually be the ones we sought.
Today, many people were seated in the observation balcony. Gruen and Liridon stayed near the doorway as I was escorted to a front row seat by Monsieur Rubert. I tried to find the minute discernable scent between the humans and the hybrid Belnovus without success. In just a few moments though, Liridon came to me and handed me a message.
It read, “
The man seated just behind the speaker at this moment, is the man we seek.
I handed the note to Rubert and his hand started to shake.
“That’s the minister of war, Adolph Meil,” he whispered.
I probed the man with my senses and found immense power. I wouldn’t be able to mark him. Not alone anyway. The minister began masking his power instantly and started looking around the room. He may have detected my power as I probed him. I needed to get out of here right now!
I knew to always block my power and my scent so I calmly stood and headed for the door. Rubert was close behind.
“Is there a fast way out of here?” I whispered to Rubert urgently.
“Of course, it’s back this way.”
“We separate here. Thank you, Rubert. You better get back to your office. Gruen, find Alex and the carriage and work your way back home. Liridon, change form and follow Minister Meil.”
“What about you?” Gruen asked, concern filling his voice.
“I’ll meet you there. I have to make sure Meil didn’t trace my power.”
They left me alone in the alley and I called for help.
“
Cathos, I need help!”
Instantly I was in Althar.
“What is it? Why are you in disguise?”
“Too much to explain. I was in search of an enemy and unfortunately now he’s in search of me. It may be Auguste, but I don’t think so. Take a look at my memory.”