“Those sound like assholes, not friends. A friend isn’t just somebody you hang out with, they accept you for who you are. This works out great, more sexy Archios ladies for me,” Lyle joked. “Since they’re all so interested in you, you can be my wingman and throw a few my way.”
Aurelia and Vivian were two huge exceptions. The powerful, irresistible attraction I had to them was the complete opposite of my natural feelings. It made me curious whether Noah had that effect on Lyle.
“They’re all yours,” I laughed. It was the first time I had felt any sort of real happiness since Boston, and I definitely needed it.
“Do you think you can give me any of that food? I’m starving,” Lyle asked. I couldn’t let him suffer, but if Noah found out … But Noah had wanted me to stand up to him and be tougher.
“Stay away from the door. I have to use my powers to move the furniture he blocked it with, and I don’t want to blow you up,” I told Lyle.
“Then I won’t be hungry anymore, at least.” There was a faint noise in the hall as I let him out.
“Did you hear that?” I asked Lyle, who was busy stuffing his face. “It sounded like footsteps.”
“What kind of footsteps? You said everyone should be sleeping, right?” Lyle mumbled with his mouth full.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to check it out. Stay here.” I pushed Lyle in the bathroom with his food and barricaded it again.
“What if it’s one of those things? Come on, man. Don’t be stupid,” Lyle pounded on the door in protest.
“It’s not like I have to worry about getting infected, and you need to save your strength for those seventeenth-century repairs you offered Aurelia.” I was more curious than scared, as foolish as that sounded. The smart thing to do would be to bring Lyle for backup, but I’d endangered him enough and it would make everything more complicated if Noah found out.
The footsteps led me down a sun-dappled corridor. Judging by the casual gait of the footsteps I didn’t think I was trailing a mutant. Something about being here during the day was unsettling. There was no laughter or idle chatter filling the rooms, no orchestra inviting dancers to a waltz, no servants catering to the many beautiful guests. The house was so still, so … dead. Ironic that it took a house full of the undead to make the place seem alive.
I chased the sound down several more hallways until I was completely lost. For a guest house, it was bigger than any hotel I’d seen. Each path looked the same to me and I could have sworn I went up the same flight of stairs about three times. Shivers ran down my spine, and I felt like people were watching me from all around.
Whoever it was finally stopped moving. I approached cautiously, turning at the next intersection. A woman stared at me from behind a half-closed door. I caught a glimpse of a shadow slithering along the floor and into the room with her as she closed the door. I knew I should leave, but something was telling me to keep going.
“Hello?” I knocked lightly on the door. “Sorry I was following you. I thought you were one of those creatures that attacked here the other night.”
No answer.
“I’ll leave you alone, sorry again,” I apologized.
I had turned to leave when I heard the door slowly open. The woman was now standing in the dark doorway, screaming in fear. A flickering light in the room showed her face. It was my mother.
“Mom?” My voice trembled as I reached out to her, but she backed into the room, still screaming like I was a monster.
“Mom, wait!” I knew this couldn’t be real, but I went into the room after her. The light was coming from a TV like the one my parents had. The whole room was set up like theirs. My mom was screaming at me from the bed now and I could see my father on the phone calling for help. My skin crawled as a shadow walked through me and up to my mother.
It was Noah. I watched as my parents tried to fight him off and he overpowered them both. He injected them with something he took from his pocket and left. My mom was struggling to reach her cell phone from the nightstand.
This was how they got infected. Noah was behind this all along. He knew I’d come back if I had nothing left to run to. He followed me to Boston. He was the only one fast enough to make it there and back before me. That was why he gave me his blood and kept pushing me to learn how to fight; he just wanted to use me like I was some sword to add to his collection.
I was glad Lyle hadn’t killed him. This was personal; it was my parents Noah had taken, so it was only right that I be the one to kill him. He had wanted me to have nothing left so I’d focus on him. His wish was about to come true.
The sun was already going down. I had to hurry before nightfall or I’d miss my chance. I charged down the halls as I watched the daylight fade. My heart was pounding faster and faster in rage as I passed each door.
His bedroom was close now and so was my revenge. The arrogant bastard left his door wide open, practically asking for me to finish him off. He was still asleep when I ran in. I threw open the curtain hoping it was light enough out to turn him to ash, but the sun had just set. I grabbed one of the short swords off the wall and went for his heart.
“What did I tell you about touching my stuff?” Noah grabbed the sword before opening his eyes. Time for a new plan. I’d have to force myself to lose control.
Noah completely ignored that I was trying to kill him. He got up and stretched, then went to the window and cleaned the hilt of his sword, wiping my fingerprints off with the sheets. I launched the rest of the swords from around the room at his back one after another.
“That still counts as touching,” he said after catching and replacing each sword. “But you’re practicing, I like it.”
The cold numb feeling started spreading through my body.
“You got something you wanna say, kid? I’m sensing some more hostility from you than your usual whining.”
“You killed my parents!” I shouted. The dark veins started spreading from my arm, but I was happy. I welcomed it. “Now I’m going to kill you.”
“Not gonna happen. Where’d you get that stupid idea, anyway?”
It was too late. I was losing control and couldn’t speak. I knew what was coming next; I’d black out and either destroy Noah or die trying.
“Why is the human unconscious on your floor?”
“The back of his head ran into my fist. Don't worry, I’m all right.” I woke up facedown again to Vivian and Noah’s voices.
“Might that have anything to do with the giant hole in the wall outside?”
“It might.”
“What happened?” I asked as I peeled myself off the ground. It was amazing I didn’t have a concussion from being knocked out so many times. Noah was kicked back on his bed watching TV without a care in the world.
“You tried to kill me,” Noah said. “Now you’re blocking the TV.”
Everything was coming back to me now: the vision of my parents, the bedroom, and the bloody messages.
“You killed my parents.” I glared at him and rubbed the back of my head.
“Yeah, you said that already.”
“Noah?” Vivi questioned him with her arms crossed.
“Vi, you really think I’d go to all the way to Boston to kill a couple of humans?”
“What makes you think he killed your parents, dear?” Vivi asked.
“I saw it. I don’t know how, but I had a vision of Noah turning my parents into mutants,” I explained.
“A vision? Noah is not the cause of these creatures; if he was, I would kill him myself. To be candid, tainted blood provides no sustenance, so if humanity is compromised we would be starved into extinction.”
“But I saw it. I heard footsteps outside Lyle’s room, so I followed them and then saw a vision in one of the rooms.”
“Who is Lyle?”
“Oh shit. I forgot about him,” Noah said and sat up. “I got you a present, Vi. He was being annoying too, so I locked him in the room across the hall.”
“Is this how you take care of matters when I’m gone?” Vivian looked like she was about to knock him out now.
“I was going to handle it after this show.” Noah smiled at her with his eyes still glued to the TV.
“I have spent the past twenty-four hours impersonating everything from a government agent to a secretary, altering memories and erasing evidence, and you have not even left the bed.”
“To be fair, I was also on the roof.” Noah appeared behind her and placed his hands on her hips. “You seem stressed. I bet a drink would help. Let me remind you that your present is waiting.”
Vivian brushed him off and headed for Lyle’s room with Noah. He lifted the armoire out of the way for her and let Lyle out.
“Thanks for remembering me,” Lyle grumbled.
“I didn’t actually, the kid reminded me,” Noah shrugged. “And thanks for the lame attempt at killing me.”
“Glad you’re alive,” Lyle nodded to me. “What happened with the — ”
I thought he had gone brain dead until I realized Vivi was standing beside me.
“Lyle, this is Vivian,” I said, and moved out of the way to introduce them. I was pretty sure this would win me the title of the best wingman ever. “Vivian, Lyle’s a policeman back in New York.”
“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Lyle kissed her hand.
“
Enchanté
.” Vivian gazed at him seductively. “There is nothing I admire more than a man of honor.” She traced her finger along the veins in his arms with a smile.
“I like to help in any way I can.” He smiled back and flexed his bicep for her.
“You have my sincerest gratitude, Monsieur.”
“Call me Lyle,” he said in a complete trance.
“You are so very charming, Lyle! What a pity not all American men possess the same charisma.” Vivian batted her eyelashes at him and looked over her shoulder at Noah. I could tell Lyle was in heaven right now and I had to admit I was a bit jealous, even if she wasn’t normally my type. I didn’t think anybody would mind her company.
“All you need is one, beautiful,” Lyle said, and kissed her hand again.
“You’re making me sick,” Noah scoffed. “She’s way out of your league. Not to mention she’s older than the dirt in the garden.”
“Fine by me. I prefer more mature women.” Lyle was undeterred by Noah’s comment.
“Don’t mind Noah. If you ignore the noise that comes from his mouth he can be almost tolerable at times,” Vivian shot back with a quip of her own and primped her hair in the mirror. “I find some men are slower learners than others when it comes to being a gentleman. I still have hope for him, even if it does take several lifetimes.”
“Please, everyone wishes they could be me,” Noah said smugly. “If you’re done playing with your pet now, you can fill me in on New York.”
“Oh, so now it is time for business? The Archios, along with some hired help, have slowed the outbreak from spreading, but more buildings are being condemned every night. We have done our best to make the incidents appear unrelated to anything supernatural.”
“And they’re buying it?” Noah asked.
“This is not my first dance, you know. The mayor and police commissioner were very convinced by my performance. I left a newspaper article in your room along with a file I think you’ll find of interest. I miss the days when humans were quicker to accept whatever we told them with blind faith.”
“Is there any word on a cure?” I asked.
“I’m afraid not, my dear. The only solution has been death, followed by cremation. To find a cure you would need to find the cause, which I believe to be the Strigoi.”
“How’d you find that out, Vi?”
“Price had a blood contract with them in his effects. If you took time to investigate further when you were there, you would have known. The Strigoi offered him protection from the upcoming infestation in exchange for the delivery of our friend here.”
“Was there anything that might link him to the police that tried to kidnap Dorian?” Lyle looked at her hopefully.
“
Non
. Monsieur Price had too many connections with humans to document them all. Why do you ask? Were they friends of yours?”
“Nah, it’s nothing.”
“Noah, the rest is up to you. I must go speak with Aurelia.” Vivian smiled and nodded cordially to us on her way out.
“Damn, what a woman,” Lyle sighed.
Noah retrieved the file Vivi left for him and returned in a second. “She’s a real man-eater, all right.”
“You two aren’t involved, are you?” It was a little late for Lyle to be asking that now.
“Don’t be stupid. Of course she wants me, but I can’t be bothered with a distraction like love. She’s a fellow predator and I respect her as that. Hate to break it to you, but the only thing she’d be interested in is what’s in your veins, not your pants.”
“She’s welcome to come get some.” Lyle shot me a wink. He hadn’t stopped grinning since meeting her. “She just needs a real warm-blooded man.”
“I’m a thousand times the man you’ll ever be.” Noah smirked and went back to flipping through the file. “Nothing any human can do compares to the pleasure of being fed from. Everything else is just foreplay.”
“Who are the Strigoi?” I jumped in, antsy to get back on topic.
“They’re a coven of mages that originated in Eastern Europe and spend their immortality reading books. Real warriors fight with swords and fists, not spells and magic wands.”
“Vivian said you guys can’t drink infected blood, so why would they starve themselves by turning everyone into mutants? People are going to find out it’s them and they’ll be hunted.”
“Maybe they got tired of being a bunch of cowards, I don’t know. The other covens are all jealous of us because we aren’t a bunch of freaks. I’ve heard the bookworms conjure synthetic blood so they never have to leave their houses and deal with humans. It probably tastes like dirty water, but I doubt they know how to enjoy themselves. It’s not surprising they bribed one of our people to do their legwork for them.”
“You think they want Dorian because he’s magical?”
“Great work, detective. Like most of us, they can read auras — light that radiates from the soul. That light can indicate how powerful or healthy someone is and if they’re supernatural or not. One of them probably spotted Dorian and wanted to study him. Maybe they would have left you alone if they knew how much of a wimp really you are,” Noah laughed.
“That big dude that was chasing us didn’t look like the scholarly type,” Lyle said.
“He’s not one of them. He’s an Outsider, meaning he doesn’t have a coven, so he’s probably just another fang for hire. Being part of a coven is an exception not a rule, especially nowadays,” Noah explained. “Some Outsiders act as mercenaries, hoping they can get in good with a coven for protection or favors in the future.”
“How are we going to take down an entire coven?” I asked.
“We? I’m not taking either of you anywhere after you tried to kill me. These are the real deal, not like the runt that chased you here or those mutants. You’ll just get in my way.”
“Slow down. You tried to kill him too?” Lyle looked at me, confused. I forgot he didn’t know anything about the vision I had after I left his room. I went to explain, but Noah stopped me.
“Jealousy makes people do crazy things. You both must have been dreaming about me and couldn’t deal with your feelings of inferiority.” Noah was so self-absorbed it was amazing he wasn’t crushed under the weight of his own ego.
“It felt too real to be a dream. And for the record, you’re not my type,” I said.
“I’m everybody’s type.”
“Forget it,” I said, and rolled my eyes. “Where do we start with these Strigoi?”
“Back in New York,” Vivi said, joining us again. “The situation has gotten worse in the short time since I’ve left. Aurelia has ordered our direct involvement with purging the city of the infected.”
“How much worse are we talking about?” Lyle asked.
“There has been one outbreak after the next. During the day the city is vulnerable and it is too much for hired help and inexperienced Archios to handle on their own.”
“What if they’re infected, but haven’t turned yet?” I asked.
“Then they won’t fight back as hard,” Noah added.
“What about making a cure from your blood?” Lyle asked.
“It won’t work. It’s not strong enough to do any more than slow down the infection for a little while. Even we are susceptible to the disease to an extent. One of our kind tried drinking from an infected and grew violently ill.”
There was a sudden tremendous crash outside. It sounded like of a lot of glass shattering, followed by people screaming. Noah and Vivian immediately vanished, leaving us behind. Lyle and I went to the window to check out what was going on.
“Look.” Lyle pointed to the main house. All the windows were blown out, along with many of the lights. “We’ve got to see if they’re okay!”
An earsplitting wail ending in a woman’s laughter cut through the building. Lyle said something, but my ears were still ringing from the noise. We made it outside in time to see Aurelia calmly leaving the chateau, with Vivian following close behind. Noah appeared behind them after they left and slammed the doors shut on what looked like a roiling mass of shadows.
A limousine came racing down the path to the chateau and screeched to a stop in front of the three. The driver got out to open the door for Aurelia and sped away.
“She finally throws my kind of party and I miss it,” Noah was saying to Vivian as we ran up.
“What happened?” I asked them. The broken glass from the windows was covered in blood.
“Aurelia’s sister, Rozalin. They don’t really get along,” Noah said and lay down on the grass.
A pale woman with long black hair was watching us from a window on the top floor. “That’s the woman I saw before the vision of my parents. What is she?”
“A phantom that just killed Aurelia’s entire dinner party,” Vivian answered. “Including all of our servants.”
“She’s not going to follow us?” I asked.
“
Non
, she must have tethered herself to the chateau when she escaped the Underworld. She can’t move too far from there.”
“She must have recognized me as the biggest threat here and possessed you two to try and kill me.” Noah put his hands behind his head. “I can’t say I blame her.”
“Great, so ghosts are real too,” Lyle sighed. “I guess I’m not surprised.”
“Yes, love, but there’s a difference.” Vivian turned to him. “Phantoms are much more formidable kinds of ghosts that have knowledge of powerful dark magic.”
“I don’t get why she didn’t whack Aurelia; she had the chance. They’ve been going at this forever,” Noah said.
“You haven’t had the pleasure of dealing with Rozalin before like I have. She revels in chaos. Nothing would be as satisfying as the opportunity to torment her sister for eternity.”
Another limo pulled up for Vivi this time.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have to go find someone capable of performing an exorcism.”
“Aurelia’s calling to me,” Noah said and opened the car door for her. “Rozalin better not touch my stuff when I’m gone. That goes for both of you too.”
“What about New York?” Lyle called after them.
The limousine drove off with Vivi and Noah, leaving Lyle and me alone in front of the haunted chateau.