“So, he has to be given the Choice,” she responded matter-of-factly. “We both know what he’
ll Choose.
”
Fernando steepled his fingers, index fingers pressing his lower lip, and nodded.
“
But should he be Chosen?
”
“Fernando! I can’
t believe you
’
d say that.
”
Outrage twisted her features and raised her voice.
“Listen to me,” he countered, seriousness darkening his tones. “It’
s clear that Notus won
’
t Choose him
–
why? If, Notus won
’
t, then who will? Who will tie their immortality to the Angel
’
s and place their head on the block? Only Notus has ever done so.
”
“We’
ve done so.
”
Fernando scowled.
“
As Master and Mistress, yes, but that can change. It has changed.
”
“We have to find out the real reason why Notus won’
t Choose the Angel.
”
“And if he still doesn’
t Choose him?
”
queried the Noble.
Bridget let out a huff in resignation.
“
Then he must die or one of us must give him the Choice.
”
“I won’
t do that,
”
said Fernando, darkly.
“
If it comes to it I will kill him, mercifully if you will, but I will not Choose him.
”
“Fernando, you’
re his–” Bridget’s statement was cut off by a slicing gesture from her Chosen.
I will not have another
’
s thoughts in my mind,
he Sent.
One is already too much.
“Besides, after your shared kiss at Christmas you would be better suited.”
Bridget frowned. It was unlike Fernando to be jealous. She could not deny her desire for the Angel, but she did not love him. She loved Fernando.
“
Fine,
”
she agreed.
“
But find Notus first and see what he says.
”
“And what are you going to do?” Fernando rose.
“I’
m going to treat the Angel
’
s wounds,
”
she sighed. Rising to her feet she followed Fernando to the door.
“
Bring Notus back so we can show him what mortality has done to the Angel. Maybe that will convince him if nothing else does.
”
Fernando nodded and opened the door, halting only when Bridget laid her hand on his shoulder, their cool touch separated only by a breath of silk. Turning around, he gazed down into two pools of water. He ran his hand down the side of her face, gold strands sliding between his fingers. Bending, he caught her lips in his and drove his tongue between them. She gave way as he pressed hard, her moan vibrating through them. Breaking off as suddenly as his stolen kiss had started, he caught her wavering body by her arm, steadying her.
You
’
re mine,
he Sent.
You Chose me, but you
’
re mine. Don
’
t ever forget that.
A playful smile lifted her moist lips.
“
I love you too.
”
Fernando returned with a wry grin and a shake of his head before walking out of the suite and down the hall to hunt an immortal a thousand years older.
Closing the door, Bridget turned and leaned against it. She stared at the shopping bag filled with supplies to heal a mortal Angel and wondered if it was worth the effort.
H
e pinched the bridge of his nose and dared not close his eyes lest he succumb to Orpheus
’
call. Yawning wide and long, years of educated manners automatically raised the back of his hand to cover his mouth. Normally a yawn would be met with a closed mouth. Decorum was his livelihood and how he presented himself to the world directly affected his master
–
or so he had been taught from a young age.
Leaning his head against the head rest of the driver
’
s seat, Godfrey relaxed but did not sleep while he waited outside the coroners building. It was two hours before dawn and Thanatos would be out shortly, expecting to go home to his mansion on the Bridle Path. If traffic was amenable Godfrey would be fast asleep before sunrise. Oh how he looked forward to lengthening days and shorter nights. It was only during the summer months that he saw the sun, sleeping the hottest part of the day before waking to enjoy several hours before sunset. Many times he would sleep outside, allowing the sun to bronze his skin before the shade from the manse cloaked him. Summer was a time when he had more time to himself. There were some advantages to working for the God of Death.
Stifling another yawn he sensed his master
’
s approach. A quick check of his attire, straightening his black tie and driver
’
s cap, Godfrey stepped out of the stretch limo and walked around to open the passenger side back door.
“Good morning, Godfrey.” Thanatos stepped past and settled into the black leather seat.
“Good morning, sir,” he said, closing the door.
Quickly, so as not to make his master wait, Godfrey settled into the driver
’
s seat and started the engine. In the back Thanatos settled in with a sigh. Without further instruction Godfrey began the journey home in silence, a blessed change from the racket he had endured earlier.
“Did you find out anything, Godfrey?” asked Thanatos, his dark brown eyes closed.
Godfrey knew his master was listening for more than his verbal response. It was not that he would ever lie to the God of Death but Thanatos sometimes could read his answers more truthfully by the way his body responded. That was one thing that Godfrey had taken the longest to become accustomed to.
“
It seems, sir, that your concerns about the Vampire Dominus are well founded.
”
Godfrey turned the limo onto Bloor Street.
“He’
s the one behind the Angel
’
s transformation?
”
“I do not believe he knows the true status of the Angel. The Vampires patronizing
The Veil
were very open in their communications with one another.
”
“Oh?” Thanatos opened his eyes in surprise and waited for his servant to continue.
“Yes, sir,” nodded Godfrey, driving them across the Bloor-Danforth Bridge. “It appears that the Angel made a brief visit at the club earlier tonight and enticed two young Vampires into a fight in an alley close to
The Veil.
”
“
Go on.
”
“A couple of Mr. Haskell’
s coterie found the staked bodies. I don
’
t know what became of the Vampire corpses but I did find out that they were of Orchid
’
s coterie.
”
“
New York’
s Domina sent some of her coterie here?
”
Surprise filled the God
’
s voice
.
“No, sir. Orchid is here too,” replied Godfrey. He dared a glance in the rear-view mirror at Thanatos’
erect posture. A sense of foreboding filled him. He knew Thanatos would never shoot the messenger but the news he had to give could change that.
“What is it, Godfrey?” asked Thanatos, his voice abrupt at the pause of information.
“Stephanie and Michael are also here,” replied Godfrey, his shoulders taught. His hands clutched at the steering wheel as he descended the vehicle down the on-ramp to the
Don Valley Parkway
. He did not need to peer into the mirror to know of his master’
s shock.
“
Others are due to arrive, sir.
”
“He’
s calling in all his Dominus and Domina?
”
whispered Thanatos.
“It appears that way, sir.” Godfrey slowed down the speeding limo as they passed one of the well known sections where Metro’
s Finest lay in wait for unsuspecting law breakers.
“Corvus is consolidating his power,” stated Thanatos before he gasped, “Oh no!”
“Sir?” queried Godfrey, worried.
“He’
s not heeding my warning. Damn!
”
Thanatos smacked the leather, the sound a large explosion that made Godfrey jump.
“
I
’
m sorry to do this to you, Godfrey, but I need you to find the Angel and convince him to return to Britain immediately.
”
The idea of confronting the Angel dried Godfrey
’
s mouth to ashes. He would have to do it surreptitiously so as not to disclose his master and that may be near next to impossible. A new thought spilled from him.
“
Sir, is the Angel under that much of a threat?”
“Without the Chosen around him, yes,” stated Thanatos succinctly.
“Sir, if you don’
t mind me asking,
”
cautiously approached Godfrey. When he heard his passenger
’
s grunt of assent he continued,
“
Would it not be in the Angel
’
s best interest to take the opportunity to finally eradicate the threat?
”
Thanatos sighed and shook his head as Godfrey took the Lawrence West exit.
“
He
’
s too young.
”
“But sir, he’
s approximately fifteen hundred years old, surely–”