Of Scions and Men

by Courtney Sloan

  “Curtis was the reason we were planning to reach out to you some time soon, Rowan.”

  I stopped mid-reach to my wine glass. “Me? Why the hell would you get in touch with me?”

  “To help you, of course.”

  I swiveled my eyes between the two men. “I wasn’t aware I was in need of helping.”

  “Come off it, Ro,” Curtis said. “You can’t sit there and tell me you’re happy bowing and scraping to that bloodsucker.”

  I fought with my temper. That self-righteous, smug son of a bitch. “Listen here, and listen good. I’m doing very well for both me” –I glanced at Masterson–“and my brother. I’m not some useless bimbo who’s been waiting around these past three years for you to sweep in on your white horse and save me from my choices. My decision was made, and now I have a better life, and there is no going back.”

  Curtis ignored my rant and leaned in. “But what if there were?”

  “There isn’t.”

  “But what if there were?”

  I held his gaze, begging him to give me a chance to pummel his face.

  “How is the silence in your head treating you, Ms. Brady?” Masterson interrupted.

  My eyes widened. I opened and closed my mouth several times, astonishment zinging through me. There had been a lot said that Devon would have jumped on, prompted me on. If nothing else, he’d be yelling at me for not telling him Curtis was back in town, but there had been nothing. Nothing in my head but me. Not even the barest trace of Devon in the back of my mind, like when he withdraws.

  For the first time in three years, my thoughts were my own.

  I sat back in my seat and closed my eyes, relishing the moment. I could scream, I could curse, I could call Devon any number of names and no one would break in with their judgments and comments. A small part of me felt empty, too. Then fear joined the relief. I was alone in this. Masterson could do anything, and Devon would have no idea.

  owan calling Devon. Come in Devon.

  Nothing.

  Devon, this isn’t funny.

  Nothing.

  Devon, for Christ’s sake, answer me!

  I opened my eyes and glared at the two men at the table. “What have you done?”

  Masterson gave me another smile. If it was supposed to be understanding or kind, it came off smug and predatory. “Don’t fret, Rowan. It’s nothing permanent. I can’t offer you that, yet.”

  “Yet?” I was getting really tired of people telling to not to “fret.” “How are you doing this?”

  Curtis reached for my hand, but I snatched it away. He stifled a sigh. “It’s what I’ve been doing for the last three years. Trying to find ways to bring humanity back. At least give us a fighting chance.” He turned away and took a sip of wine. “To free you.”

  He had muttered the last line to himself, but I’d heard it loud and clear. My senses were still working full blast, even if Devon wasn’t in my head. Knowing he hadn’t meant for me to hear it, I ignored his comment, not sure what to do with it myself.

  “So, how are you doing this?” I challenged them.

  Curtis’s eyes jumped with excitement. “It all comes down to–”

  Masterson put a hand out and stopped him from continuing. “We would be more than happy to share all our findings with you and put our resources into making the separation permanent, once you agree to come work for me, Officer Brady.”

  He had to be joking. “Work for you? I have a job.”

  “One you only got through the vampires, like Devon,” Curtis spat.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “And it’s a job I love.”

  “Rowan” –Masterson leaned in–“why do you do your job?”

  “I do it to protect the people.” I waved at the huge windows toward the city.

  “Why?”

  “I get to use this power to even the playing field from groups, like the vampires, who could prey on the poor and weak whenever they wanted, and there are a lot of perks. I use this, Curtis, to be someone who makes life better for humanity and defends people like we used to be.”

  Curtis blinked at me. Serves him right. I thought he knew me. What exactly did he think I was doing with my time? Never mind; I didn’t want the answer.

  “Precisely. That’s what I thought.” Masterson nodded and tipped his glass of white wine at me. “It’s good to know I can still read people right. What you don’t understand is: I want to do the same, just on a bigger scale. We’re not working at odds.”

  “So, how is taking away the vampires’ ability to communicate with their scions going to protect humanity?”

  “I’m sure you’ve noticed how much they need the scions. What comes over each vampire once they acquire a scion of their very own.”

  “They have a solid food source. No more fighting for scraps, so they get to concentrate on living.”

  “There’s more to it than that.”

  I squinted. Was there? Carson described how a prolonged life can affect the mind. Shahid told me Devon smiled now. Maybe there was something more. There was also Carson being a grandfather and still only looking around forty.

  “And what happens to the older scions once you cut them off from their sources?” I asked.

  “Again, I would be more than happy to discuss the particulars with you once you have made your decision to come work for me full time. You could help us find so many answers.”

  I tapped my fingers on the table. “Okay, let’s assume, for just one moment, I’d even think about considering your premise. What exactly would I be doing as your employee?”

  His smile broadened, and, for once, it reached his eyes. Breathing deep, he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest in a relaxed position. “To start, you would help in the labs, finding a way for science and ley magic to solve the terrible benefits that keep the vampires on the top of the food chain. I’ve bought, under the guise of my other corporations, several old hospitals Romaric deemed superfluous when he put us all under his fascist medical regime.”

  “Extra hospitals?”

  Curtis nodded. “They may have kept Northwestern and the University hospital–and attached them to their education plans, as well–but we’ve acquired Provident and the old children’s hospital. We’ve been running research out of them while we search for others. Ro, we’ve been able to save so many humans who fell through their cracks. People who didn’t want to donate to their feeding trough just to survive. People whose blood was not deemed good enough currency to warrant their medical attention. We can help all sort of people who really need it and do research at the same time.”

  “Not to mention, we’ve also set up research hospitals in other ruined cities closer to the coasts,” Masterson added.

  I tilted my head at him. “You don’t plan to stop at mayor do you?”

  He returned my grin. “Have you ever heard of a politician who stopped at a local race?”

  “You said ‘to start.’ What would I have to do after I’m done with the fabulous life of a lab rat?”

  “Yes, once we’ve got the research going and our political collateral established, and I’m in charge of the executive functions of this city, I intend to install you as Police Commissioner… or whatever Chicago has. You would get to continue your work on a larger scale. Protect those who would be preyed on. Especially because our research is slowly declawing those monsters.”

  “And starving them again. Don’t you think that’d be ten times more dangerous?”

  “I have ideas on that front, as well, but again, it’s a conversation for a later date. Just think about it, and get back to me.” He sat back, knowing full well he’d wet my whistle.

  Could I be free? Could Will? It all sounded like a well-rapped fantasy, full with an ex-boyfriend bow. I’d learned about the strings that could be hidden in fantasies.

  After leaving me in a long pause, he gestured toward me with a flourish. “But I’ve distracted us. You came to me tonight for a reason. I assume it has something to do with the
homicide division’s recent scurrying this last week or so.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “How do you know about that? It’s been kept out of the news.”

  “Come now; you’re not stupid, Rowan. You know how. I couldn’t acquire as much information on these as I would have liked. What is it you need? Perhaps we can come to an arrangement.”

  I breathed deeply, trying not to rise to the bait. “Have any visiting foreign vampires paid you protection in the last couple of weeks?”

  “My, that is a personal question. Vampires are tricky. The older ones don’t always bother with protection.”

  “Because spirits tend to avoid them, thus cutting you off at the knees.”

  His lips tightened but didn’t lose their smile. “True enough. Thus, I am not always privy to every vampiric coming and going. Not like Romaric is supposed to be.”

  It was my turn to smile at him. “‘Supposed to be’ doesn’t mean ‘always is.’”

  “Good girl. So whatever has the DEC’s fists in a clench must be a vampire problem.”

  “Potentially.”

  “And this incident has caused the DEC to wrangle blood theft scions into homicide. Very interesting.” He sat back, drumming his fingers in thought.

  After a few minutes of waiting, I huffed. “So?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  “Have there been any foreign vampires moving into town of late?”

  Masterson pursed his lips. “This is a very touchy business you are asking of me, especially as we don’t have any kind of working relationship or agreement between us.”

  Catching his drift, I wilted. I was afraid of this. “Mr. Masterson, I don’t have the kind of money you are usually accustomed to. Devon has offered to cover what–”

  He waved me off. “No, I don’t want Mr. Shuvalov’s money, especially if you end up taking my offer. It could make things messier down the line.”

  I frowned. “Then I guess this was all a waste of time. I don’t have anything you’d find remotely acceptable.”

  He opened his arms wide and smiled at me with a slight twinkle to his eye. It was the scariest move he’d made yet. “Rowan, my dear, have you learned nothing? Money I have. You have something much more precious to me.”

  “You want me to agree to work for you–for this?” Intriguing, but I would be burning a lot of bridges without much of a safety net.

  “Not at all. If you come to work for me, it will be your own decision. I don’t force allegiances from those I want trust from.” I noticed the caveat on his statement.

  “Then I don’t understand.”

  He leaned forward. “I want information from you. It is my bread and butter. And, as you say, due to certain involvements in this ordeal, my information on this case is lacking.”

  My pulse rose. “So what information would I have to give?”

  He sat back, triumph showing on his face. “In order for me to break the confidence of any group there may or may not be, I would require you to tell me what the crime scenes have looked like. What about them have drawn the attention of those so low in the DEC’s levels?”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s it. You would be saving me a lot of trouble.”

  I put a hand on my bag. I had brought the crime scene photos with the intent to try and appeal to his humanity. They were here–and they were exactly what he wanted. It was too easy, but he seemed earnest in his request.

  I ran scenarios in my brain, trying to see his angle. Why did he care? If Devon were in my head, he’d be able to see it.

  “All right. I’ll give you the details,” I said.

  “And please be specific.”

  “Trust me; I’ll give you specific. You just give me ‘specific’ details on any person–or persons–who fit my description.”

  “That’s the agreement, and, mind you, I’m not saying anyone does. My answer may be that no such people approached me.”

  Finding no downside, I nodded. “Deal.”

  “Wonderful. What can you tell me?”

  It was my turn to be smug. “I can do better.” I reached into my bag and threw the series of photos between them. “Every detail, but I need those back for the files. You get to look.”

  Curtis had the decency to turn pale, but Masterson glanced up at me with appreciation. He smiled at me like the Rottweiler who ate the housecat. Did nothing faze the prick?

  “Outstanding,” he said. “I look forward to seeing such initiative benefitting the human race again.”

  I made a dismissive gesture to him. “Your turn.”

  “Yes, it is.” He gathered the pictures together and tapped them on the table until they were even. “Curtis, take these to my side office and use the photo printer to make me copies.”

  I raised an eyebrow as he handed them over Curtis. “You will get them back. Just saving time by–” His eyes widened, and he hung onto the pictures when Curtis tried to take them. Pulling them to his nose, he examined the top one closer, up at me, then back to the photo again.

  He was as close to shock as I had seen him. Good to know he could succumb to emotion like the rest of us. He knew what it meant. He knew more than it was safe for any human to know. Without being able to spy on vampires, how did he know?

  As Curtis made an interested noise, Masterson let the pages go and waved him toward the office. Once we were alone again, he gave me a tired sigh. “Now I understand.”

  “Yeah, and for your own good, even with all your leverage and protection, I’d keep that one under your hat.” I made a get-on-with-it motion with my hand.

  “Yes, your information. A group of three vampires did come into our fair city a month prior to last Sunday. Dark skinned, with a heavy accents that they were attempting to cover up. They didn’t adhere to my usual protocols, but they did pay for protection from my network.”

  “Do you know where they’re staying?”

  “That would be more than your wonderful pictures could buy you.”

  “Really, that’s all your vast army of invisible spies can come up with?” I flounced back in my seat, not caring how juvenile it appeared.

  “These vampires were serious about their privacy.” I continued my pout while he smiled blandly back at me. “I will tell you this: I did exert effort to find where they went in the city. They did not check into any hotel, motel, or even quaint B&B around town or the ‘burbs. To do that, they would have to have someone in town to help them.”

  “They already had people in town?”

  He rested back in his chair with a blank stare. “Well, that’s just my opinion on that one. To disappear so cleanly in my city, someone knows what they’re doing. It may be best to leave this one to others a little less interesting than yourself.”

  I faltered at his phrasing, but continued. “Thanks for the concern, but I’m going to take these guys down, one way or another.”

  “I know you think you will. Do be careful in this. I’d hate to see anything happen to you before you could come under my protection. You’d be of great interest to whoever did what I’ve just seen in your pictures.”

  ow did he do it? Who the hell does he think he is? He has no right. I need to call Romaric and have him shut down,” Devon screamed. He had been since I’d come back to his estate. I’d expected him to be upset, but one more round of this, and I was going to put him down, even if I felt the blow myself.

  I sat alone on the couch while Carson and Nadia huddled together on the loveseat. Seems Devon had gone a bit berserk when Masterson cut us off and had driven Lyle to leave with Norman and John in tow. I’d called to let them know I was all right, but from Lyle’s voice, I figured it would be a while before he’d be coming anywhere around Devon’s place. Probably for the best. Devon was getting too chummy with people in my life as it was.

  Tired of waiting out his temper tantrum, I stood and took a step into his pacing path. He clenched his fists and, without missing a beat, stepped around me as if I wasn’t th
ere. This wasn’t my fault, dammit.

  I spoke to his retreating back. “I told you: I don’t know, and he wasn’t willing to share the details with me. Unless you have something I can offer him to go back there, I’m not sure we can find out.”

  Devon turned on me. For the first time since I’d been scioned to him, I faltered at the sight of him. His lips were pulled back, revealing the elongated canines usually hidden behind them. His eyes glowed brighter, and they only lit up like Christmas lights when he was extremely hungry or extremely pissed. He continued forward, this time stalking toward me, his finger pointing like a dagger.

  “You will never set foot there again.”

  The terrified proto-human center of my brain made me take two steps back before I realized what I was doing and stopped. Though everything in me wanted to run from the stampeding vampire, the angry stupid part of me met him halfway and poked him in the chest as I went off on a rant of my own.

  “Don’t you dare start lecturing me when this wasn’t my fault. He’s a freak, okay? He did something, and I couldn’t hear you, but my senses were still heightened. It’s not like I was helpless. There was a room full of civilians, for God’s sake. I can take care of myself, so have a little faith, and back off.” I narrowed my eyes at him and tried to center all my thoughts away from my fear so he wouldn’t be able to read them.

  He drew up taller and didn’t step back. His face drew up into a cruel smirk. “Oh, you can take care of yourself? You can’t play his game, Rowan. You don’t know how, and he’s a master of it. If I’d been able to listen, we’d know a lot more.”

  Oh, hell no. I was not about to start playing poor damsel for him. “Yeah, I can take care of myself. Done it before. Can do it again. It’s not like Curtis can play the game, and he was fine.”

  “You really do not want to bring him into this right now. How could you not tell me he was back, making threats? You really have no idea what you’re doing, do you?” Beads of blood sweat formed on his brow.