“You needed voter support, too, but no … you took action without it. Once the council knows what you’ve done, I don’t think they’ll have a problem with me hastening your end. Now get your ass to the sanctuary if you even want a chance to plead your case.”
“You make it sound like I don’t have much of a case to plead.” Virginia eyed the door like a trapped animal looking for escape.
“We all want the same thing—at least I thought we did,” President Kitchings answered.
“We do,” Virginia supplicated.
“Then you better be ready to prove it.” The president walked out.
Jasper loved watching Virginia being stricken from her pedestal.
Virginia glared at Starling. “What did you do to Devon?”
“Nothing you wouldn’t have done,” Starling replied. Her shoulders had lightened and some of the color had returned to her face. The president’s words must have lifted some of her fear.
“Such a bitch.” Virginia turned to Jasper. Her eyes had grown darker. “You will never make it out of here alive. Regardless of what happens to me.”
“At least if I go down, I know you are going to go down with me.” Jasper stood up and moved toward the door, Starling close at his heels.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Virginia growled.
“We’re going to the sanctuary. You don’t have power over us now that the president knows we’re here.”
Virginia slid open the top drawer of her desk and pulled out a 9mm. The black handgun fit in her hand like it was made for her and her murderous grip. “You will not go against me.”
He pushed Starling behind him. “You are wrong about so many things.”
“No, I’m not!” Virginia cried, dropping her finger from the side of the gun to the trigger. “You don’t know anything. I’m going to get my army. We are going to take down Zeus!”
“You want to take down a god?” Starling peeked around from behind him. “That’s what this is all about? What in the hell does fertility have to do with taking down Zeus?”
“You’re not the only set of supernaturals he cursed.” The gun trembled in her hand.
“How did he curse you?” Starling rested her hand on his shoulder. She probably wanted him to move, but he refused to budge. Virginia held the gun. She could fire at any time. Starling wouldn’t die from a bullet, but he couldn’t let her be hurt like that. Not now. Not ever.
“You may not be able to fall in love with a man, but our curse is so much worse. We can never have children. Our demigod line is coming to an end. Soon there will be none of us left. And that’s exactly what Zeus wants. He only wants a select few of his favored demigods to survive. He doesn’t want us, the scavengers of death, to have a place at the table. He hated our Titan grandmother, Gaea, and our mother, Alecto, a fury. Zeus believes we’re evil like others of our lineage. But we aren’t devoted to the wicked—only death. We need death to live.”
“How is feeding off death not something wicked?”
“How is seduction not wicked?” Virginia countered. “Look, we’re not killing anyone—usually.” She lowered the weapon slightly. “We just need the souls to power our bodies. That is why we live here,” she said motioning upward, “under the graveyard. We need the dead’s energy to live.”
“And the drugs.”
“Yes, if we get the GX 149 we can strengthen our numbers. Maybe one day we can grow large enough to mount a force against Zeus. Maybe we can get him to lift his curse.”
“Why didn’t you and your council just go to the Sisterhood to gain access to the drugs?” Starling countered.
“Really? You don’t think we’ve already done that?”
“When?” Jasper stared at the gun in Virginia’s hand. Even though she had lowered the piece, they weren’t out of danger.
“We met with Kat a few years back, when we first learned about the drugs. She made it abundantly clear that you and your kind would do nothing to help us. She treated us with nothing but hatred and derision—like we were trash just because of our penchant for death, like we were some kind of untouchables.”
“Have you met with Ariadne?” Starling asked.
“She and her crew killed one of us before those meetings could take place. You and your kind,” she said, glaring at Starling, the gun trembling higher, “started this war.”
Jasper stepped forward and gently laid his hand on the gun, pressing it downward. “Virginia, we can figure this out. We can work out something where both groups get what they need. But you can’t keep flagging us with that gun. Let me have it.” He stared into her eyes; in the shadows of the room they looked almost completely black.
She let him pull the gun free of her hand. Jasper took the gun and slipped it in the back of his waistband and away from Virginia.
“I didn’t start this,” she pleaded. “I just want to have a baby. I promised my sister. We were going to do this together. And then … and then you killed her.” Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. “You … you are the reason you’re here. You deserve to die.”
“She attacked a nymph. I was only doing my job. Dr. Redbird would have killed Harper.” He stepped between Starling and Virginia.
She shot a look of hatred at Starling. “I know you would be willing to kill to get something you wanted. So was my sister. And so am I.” Virginia lunged toward Starling, reaching for her hair.
Jasper jumped after her, grabbing her by the back of her cloak before she could reach Starling’s sacred locks. He threw her to the concrete floor at Starling’s feet. “You. Will. Not. Touch. Her,” he said between breaths.
A speckle of blood dotted Virginia’s lip as she glared at him with a look of hatred and disgust. “I just want to have a baby … ”
Jasper grabbed her by her wrists and lifted her back up to her feet. “Let’s go. Let’s talk to the council. Maybe we can make someone see some sense. We don’t have to continue like this, killing each other over old blood.”
“It’s only old because it wasn’t someone you loved. You’d feel differently if it was her,” Virginia said, with a soft sob as she motioned toward Starling with her chin. “But you … you killed my sister.”
“And your sister killed my mother.” Starling gave him a pitying look, probably her way of trying to absolve him of any of residual guilt.
“I … ” He opened his mouth to speak, but he didn’t know what to say. “Let’s go, Virginia.” He pushed her forward, past Starling.
“Should we really do this?” Starling asked.
“What else are we going to do, sweetheart?” He paused mid-stride. “I don’t have a clue how to get out of here, and they already know we’re here. I think our best bet is to go in there, make a case for trade, and get the hell out of here.”
“It seems too easy,” she said.
The knot in his stomach told him what she said was probably right. It was too easy. Something about it seemed off. The council must have had some kind of role in Virginia’s plan—if nothing else, they turned a blind eye to some of her behavior. She had perpetuated an attack on a nymph in Crete.
“Virginia, you need to tell me the truth,” Jasper said, still clenching her hands behind her back. “The council must have known what you were planning. Why didn’t they stop you sooner?”
“They want the drugs, too; they just didn’t want me to bring you or the nymph here.” Virginia tried to pull her hands from his grip, forcing him to hold strong. “They had been working with Walter. He had a man tracking Starling, and when we found out she was coming here, we took a vote. The council decided against making a move and getting their hands dirty. They didn’t want to escalate the conflict with the nymphs. Obviously, I didn’t want to bring you into the headquarters either, but then Little Miss Snoop was in that mausoleum. Why do you think I let her listen in on us taking the White? It was too easy, laying a trap for her.”
Starling drew her face menacingly close to Virginia’s. “Where is it? W
here are the books?” she asked in a dangerous voice.
“Get me out of here. Then make sure Harper gives me all the drugs and the formula. If you do that, I can convince Steve … er, President Kitchings that he and I can get pregnant. And maybe he will take me back.” Virginia stared off into space. “He and I can rule indefinitely and our lineage will take over the council when they come of age.”
“What happens if we go around you?” Starling challenged.
“I don’t know, but it probably won’t end with you both alive.”
“I doubt that our chances of staying alive are any better staying with you. Why would I give you anything—all you’ve done is threaten Jasper. In case you missed it, I lo—” She stopped mid-word. “I care about him. And no one threatens the man I care about.”
Jasper’s heart stopped in his chest as she said the words. She had to know that to love him was dangerous. Her love was cursed—it would only end in his death. He would gladly die to be loved by her, without question. But he couldn’t accept the heartbreak it would cause her.
“Let’s go, Starling. We can’t trust Virginia. She’ll say anything she can to get out of this mess.” He opened the door and led Virginia into the hall.
Voices bubbled out from underneath a set of double wooden doors at the end of the corridor. “Is that the sanctuary?” he asked, motioning toward the door.
Virginia’s gaze remained pinned to the floor.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Jasper pushed her down the hall.
“Are you sure, Jasper?” Starling looked at him with panic.
“It’s okay, Starling. I will protect you. And there’s only one thing I’m sure of—Virginia’s word isn’t worth the air it takes to speak it.”
Some of the panic disappeared from her eyes. “If you think this is the right move, I’ve got your back. And no matter what happens, I know you did this for the right reasons.”
“I … ” He wanted to tell her that he loved her, that he wanted to hold her in his arms forever, but it he couldn’t make himself say the words. He had to protect her.
“I know,” Starling said, her voice quiet.
“Oh my God,” Virginia grumbled. “Are you serious? Why don’t you just fuck and get it over with?”
His cheeks burned.
Virginia laughed as she looked at him. “You already did … And you still can’t tell her that you love her?” She motioned to Starling. “He says I’m not the one to be trusted, but come on. He’s the one who is pathetic.”
“Shut up, Virginia.” She strode toward the sanctuary and threw open the doors.
Standing in the middle of the room, her arms behind her back, was Harper.
Blood dripped from Harper’s chin, but she smiled and her face brightened as she saw them. “I thought you guys were dead.”
President Kitchings walked toward them. “So glad you could join us. You’re just in time to see your little friend die.” He stepped beside Harper and raised a knife to her throat.
The man’s words echoed through Jasper, drawing on his memories of Dr. Redbird and the night he’d killed her when protecting Starling. He shouldn’t have quit killing there. He should have wiped out this entire species of death mongers.
Chapter Twenty
Starling’s hands slipped from the door handle as she stared at the room full of black-cloaked vultures. Some of the birds were seated around a long, rectangular table in the center of the room, while others were gathered in small groups. All their eyes were on her.
“She’s come,” one of the vultures whispered to another.
She looked away from the mass of black birds to Harper, who had tears in her eyes. What had the vultures done?
“Are you okay?” Starling asked, moving past the table.
“Stop right there, girl,” the president ordered.
Starling froze as the president’s furious gaze pinned her.
“You should have left, Starling. You shouldn’t still be here.” The tears streamed down Harper’s face, mixing with the blood on her chin, and dripped to the floor. “You have to let her go. She doesn’t have anything you want.” Harper tried to struggle, but Kitchings stopped her with a push of his blade. “You made me a deal.”
“Be quiet, Harper.” The president’s silver knife cut into Harper’s throat and dark red blood dotted the edge of the blade.
Jasper shoved Virginia in the room, making her sit in a chair at the table. A bird was etched in the black surface, matching the one Starling had seen in the mausoleum.
“You kill her, I kill Virginia.” He reached behind him and pulled the gun from his waistband. “You should have heard her in there, talking to us. She told us all about her scheme and your involvement.”
Starling stepped beside him, following his lead.
“Virginia … ” A flicker of pain moved through the president’s face, but he quickly took control over his tell. “Put down the gun, Jasper. And let go of Virginia.”
“Only if you let Harper go. Do we have a deal?”
President Kitchings moved the knife back from Harper’s throat, leaving behind a thin bead of blood. “Let her go.”
Jasper let go of Virginia’s hands. “It doesn’t have to be like this. We just want to negotiate.”
“Negotiate?” President Kitchings glanced around the roomful of council members. Most of the group nodded, but a few shook their heads in refusal. After a long moment, he turned back to Jasper. “Put down your gun. There,” he ordered, pointing toward the middle of the table, near the feet of the vulture carving.
“Harper, get behind me,” Jasper said, motioning for her to stand beside Starling.
“You guys should have left,” Harper said in a whisper. “I had everything under control.”
Starling pointed at the thin line of blood on Harper’s throat. “Looks like it.”
“Okay, so not everything was going to plan,” she murmured.
“Gun. Now.” President Kitchings motioned for one of his guards. Moving forward, the man grabbed Virginia by the arm, led her to a chair behind the president, and sat her down.
“I want us all to get along here. No need for anyone else to get hurt.” Jasper raised the gun above his head as he moved through the crowd. Starling rested her hand on his back as she followed him. His body radiated nervous heat and sweat built under her touch, but she couldn’t be sure if it was him, her, or the combination of both their fear.
He stopped at the designated spot and sat the gun down on the end of the table. This vulture had the same crimson-red color as the bird in the mausoleum, the eye that had been an elevator button. Was it possible this table was an elevator as well?
Just to the right of the carving was a thin seam. To the left of Jasper’s gun and the carving’s feet was another.
Some of her fear dissipated. There was a way out. Maybe.
“Shall we sit?” the president motioned to the seats. “Let us start again.” He walked to the head of the table, his bodyguards flanking him, and sat down. His men stayed standing at each of his sides.
She, Harper, and Jasper moved to the front of the table where the president motioned. Starling couldn’t take her eyes off the gun they were leaving farther behind with every step. No one got near it as they all made their way to the seats around the rectangle.
“Now, I want to extend to you my sincerest apologies about my wife’s behavior.” He looked to his right where Virginia sat. “She has a habit of interfering—even after there has been a vote.” He eyed her dangerously. “I assure you that she will be dealt with accordingly. And so will Harper for infiltrating our den.”
“I was told to come here. I infiltrated nothing!” Harper challenged.
“Be that as it may, the council and I were not expecting a nymph to walk into our chambers spewing hatred.”
“Your wife is threatening my step-daughter. My spewing hatred is the least of what I plan to do to Virginia,” Harper spat.
Jasper leaned toward her in his chai
r. “Stop,” he warned.
Harper glared at him. “Fine, you handle this.” After a moment she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest.
Jasper nodded and turned back to the president. “President Kitchings, we—”
“We offer no apologies,” Starling interrupted. “We did exactly what we needed to do. Your people have done nothing but try to steal my things, kidnap me, and hurt me since I arrived in Savannah.”
Jasper’s mouth was still open and his eyes were wide with surprise at her taking the lead. She laid her hand on his, in an attempt to reassure him that she didn’t need him to do her dirty work.
“I know the Catharterians broke into Jenna’s safe deposit and stole the Libros Umbrarum. Those were intended for me.”
The president shifted in his seat. “I will not give you—”
“Stop.” Starling raised her hand, putting a halt to the president’s possible refusal. “After all I’ve been through to get the books, you are going to give me all three. Without the books, there’s no way you will be getting the GX 149 or its formula.”
The president laughed. “We had to take down a bank to get those books. Do you really think we are going to give them to you just so we can get some silly drugs? Drugs that we already have?” He pointed to a woman sitting three chairs down, on his right. She reached into a bag at her side and pulled out a familiar orange bottle.
“You and I both know that there aren’t enough pills in there for your kind to get what they need.”
“But there are enough pills to study and find out what makes them effective in fertility,” the president challenged.
“And that could take years of research,” Harper retorted.
“Do you have years to waste on research?” Starling continued. “We have the formula. But first, I need the books.”
“We’re aware. But you aren’t getting those books.” The president’s face tightened as he tried to handle his emotions. He glared at Harper. “And it just so happens that you, Harper, and your friends are prisoners—and if you want everyone to make it out of this room alive, you will do as we wish.” He sat forward as he tried to control the situation. “If you’re smart, which I think you must be, you will take one of my teams back to your lab and we can keep you under watch while you make us a supply large enough to help with our population issues.”
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