by Diane Darcy
He understood that with her sheltered background, he needed to ease her into his world. Would it be too much for her to take?
Besides which, he didn’t want her to start asking awkward questions, such as his age, until she’d known him longer. Better, was perhaps married to him for a few years.
They went down the huge spiral staircase and, fortunately, she was distracted by the architecture.
“Oh, my stars!” She ran her hand along the rounded stone walls of the staircase. “I love, love, love this stonework. And these lights! They look like lanterns with candles. How very atmospheric.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad ye like it.”
“Like it! It’s like we’re inside a haunted house or something. Will things jump out at us when we reach the bottom?”
William chuckled again, relaxing a bit. “Not while ye’re with me, I can guarantee ye of that. But I’ll be glad tae scare ye, if ye’d like, and ye can jump directly intae my arms.”
Lena laughed again and he found himself smiling.
They arrived at the bottom where the three tunnels split. The one in the middle went on throughout the city. The two on either side ended eventually.
The middle one, perfect for travel, was strictly regulated, and had locks and safeguards in place. No one traveled along it without his express permission.
Down the tunnel on the left, was where the werewolves stayed. Normally, the large steel door would be shut, as no one stayed there unless the moon was full. The accommodations were completely bare as anything would be destroyed during that time.
Now, however, the door was open, and he could hear Dimitri and Heath complaining and calling out as they must have heard them both arrive.
“Get us out of here! The smell is unbearable!”
William was quick to move forward to shut the thick, heavy door, blocking their voices completely.
Lena raised her eyebrows. “Um…residents of your dungeon?”
“Aye, but I can torture them later.”
Lena chuckled, a bit nervously, and he led her down the right tunnel, which didn’t have a door and was never closed. “I can keep an open mind,” she said. “I really can.”
He was having second thoughts. Mayhap he should not have brought her down here.
She reached out and wrapped her fingers with his, clinging.
On the other hand…
They passed by arched doorways, the luxury apartments for residents like Sophia Darrow, the manager of The Hemlock, and for visitors, as well. Many would be down here sleeping during the day, but older vampires could be out-and-about if they so desired. As long as they didn’t go out in the sun.
The thickly carpeted, curved tunnel, was lit with more lanterns dotting the stone hallway here and there.
Vampires liked, and expected extravagance.
William finally stopped at the correct door, took out a key card and opened it. They went inside, and Lena gasped.
William looked around the place with new eyes. A well-lit fish tank lined the entirety of one wall, with coral reefs, exotic fish, and white columns along either side.
Gleaming hardwood floors, plush carpets and furniture, and luxury beds could be seen through two of the three doorways on either side of the sitting room they stood in.
William flipped on the canned lights, illuminating the place even more.
“Oh, wow. I mean, it’s gorgeous. Seriously, I’ve heard The Hemlock is nice, but this is insane!” Creamy white walls, a gas fireplace, sleek, modern and inviting. Just stunning.
“Shall we search the place?”
“What are we looking for?”
“Poison, specifically, but anything suspicious.”
They worked together, going through the sitting room, the first bedroom, and finally to the attached bathroom. “Where is the toilet?” Lena asked.
“What would they need that for?”
Lena pressed a hand to her forehead, and then released it with a sigh. “That’s right, vampires.”
“Aye. They’ve nae need for such facilities.”
Lena admired the stone, walk-in shower, while William quickly searched the drawers and cupboards.
“This is amazing.”
“Vampires expect their luxuries.”
“And you don’t?”
William thought of the bare cell he lived in once a month, and then to his penthouse apartment and chuckled. “Ye’ve got me there.”
Now, if he could only get her up to his place. It was already nice, but perhaps he could make it nicer? Mayhap he should hire an interior decorator to make sure Lena was impressed? So she could see herself living there? Something to consider.
They finished searching the second room, but, didn’t find anything suspicious.
They went into the third bedroom, and when they flipped on the light, Lena pointed out the closet. “It looks like a woman is staying here,” she crossed the room to pull out the bottom half of a turquoise dress.
William was searching the bedside table drawer when he heard the front door open and, within a moment, a beautiful pale-skinned redhead with flowing red locks stood in the doorway. She took one look at Lena holding the dress and, claws extended, attacked.
Lena screamed.
William roared from his spot across the room by the bedside table, but he was too far away to reach her in time.
A large stone dropped from the ceiling, ramming into the vampire, who screamed as she was knocked against the other wall before she fell to the floor.
Lena straightened from her semi-crouched position to see the stone that had fallen circle around the carpet for a moment, and then roll quickly in her direction.
Before she could move, it attached itself to her leg, and she screamed again, absolutely horrified by whatever had glommed onto her.
She couldn’t move, couldn’t even shake her leg, though she tried. “William!”
William, muscles bulging larger, grabbed her by the shoulders and stared down at the thing on her leg.
Their gazes met, and he looked astonished.
“What?” She tried to shake her leg again. “What is it? Get it off me! Get it off!” She couldn’t move that leg at all, and William seemed stunned into disbelief.
“Help me! Help me!”
William finally reached down and touched the top of the thing, and started to pet it. “Tis all right. Tis fine. All is well.”
Lena’s heart was about to pound out of her chest and she looked between William and the stone.
It slowly seemed to relax its hold, and unfurled from around her to squat at her feet and blinked up at her.
It was the gargoyle she’d seen earlier. And it seemed to be … gazing at her adoringly. It let out a loud croak, and she flinched even as she recognized the toad-like sound.
William had her by the shoulders and he gently squeezed. “Tis all right, lass. He’ll no’ harm ye.”
She looked up at William. “It’s a gargoyle.”
“Aye.” He wiped a hand over his mouth. “Aye. They dinnae bond easily, and rarely without mystical assistance. This one seems tae like ye.” Amazement was playing on his face as he slowly pulled Lena toward him and she moved past the thing and clung to him.
“It was trying to eat me.”
“Nae, lass. They’re protective, and they swallow their charges whole and run off with them, keeping them safe when they sense danger. Twas instinct. Tis just was no’ big enough to swallow ye whole.”
The thing rolled into a ball again, only to block the doorway.
The vampire girl was trying to leave.
William put Lena behind him. And said over his shoulder, “Are ye hurt, lass?”
“No.” She gave a strangled laugh. “I told you something was going to jump out at us.”
“What is going on here?” Lena glanced around William to see the girl’s fangs and claws had receded, and she looked imperious, and seriously pissed off. “Why are you in my room? Touching my things? Where is Emilio?” Lena detec
ted a slight French accent in the last words.
“I’ll ask the questions here,” William said, in a deep, seriously ticked off tone. “Who are ye?” William asked.
The woman’s chin rose, as did her darkened eyebrows. “Bianca Russo. I’m staying here with my friends. This is my room. Why are you here, and where is Emilio? I can’t find him anywhere. Dimitri and Heath are gone as well. What is going on?” The girl’s voice rose. “What has happened?”
William sighed.
Lena blew out a breath, and leaned her forehead against his back.
She couldn’t see any way that this was going to end well.
A while later, Lena was starting to think she should’ve gone home with her sister.
Still down in the vampire room, she sat in a plush armchair, and watched the fish swim in the huge tank across from her.
The light from the tank lit the area, and the red rug over the hardwood floors in front of it.
She tried to act like everything was all right, while William arranged to have one of his men come down.
She felt sorry for Bianca. When William had told her that Emilio was dead, she cried for about five minutes, sobbing his name, her French accent stronger now.
When William told her about the murder earlier, she hadn’t really felt anything but mild concern, and excitement about being on a new case.
Now, faced with the aftermath of his death, his sister’s grief in particular, Lena felt really bad.
Both for her cavalier attitude, and for the girl.
Life was just so weird right now. She was trying to keep an open mind, and going home wasn’t going to change what she knew about this place.
It had, after all, been her idea to come down here.
Excited to see a real live dungeon, it hadn’t even fazed her when she’d heard men calling out to be released, or William shutting the door on them.
She’d agreed to search the apartment.
She was joining witch covens, and trying to assimilate into this life.
She glanced down at the floor beside her. When the gargoyle noticed her gaze, it croaked, happily? She wasn’t sure.
The thing was watching her every move with big eyes, and, it really did sort of look cute and sweet.
She reached out to pat its rough head and it quickly swallowed her hand. She took a quick breath, and then slowly blew it out.
It was fine. Fine. It wasn’t hurting her, and when she tugged against its bumpy lips, it released her and she looked at her hand, both front and back. It wasn’t even wet. The thing really did seem to be made out of stone.
A knock on the door had Quinn quickly coming inside. He nodded at Lena, and then turned his attention to William as they spoke.
“I want ye tae stay with Bianca,” William told him. He held out his hand, and Lena stood, crossed the room, and took it.
She cast a wary gaze back at the gargoyle, only to find it had followed her.
“Wait!” Bianca jumped up. “Where are Dimitri and Heath?”
William’s face was impassive. “I still need tae question them. When I’m done, I’ll send them tae ye.”
Bianca, arms wrapped around herself, red hair falling forward, looked broken.
William and Lena left the room together and her throat tightened as sympathy for the other woman coursed through her.
The gargoyle followed, climbed the wall, and crawled along the ceiling, defying all the laws of gravity.
Lena swallowed past the lump in her throat, determined to keep an open mind.
Chapter 5
William led Lena up to security. He was hoping that Alistair had discovered something by now, because he wasn’t going to be able to keep Bianca, Heath, and Dimitri from calling Dorinda for much longer.
And once the vampire queen got involved? It was going to be chaos.
Before they reached the top, William was hailed from behind. “William. I need to know when I can take care of that paperwork.”
William turned to see Felix, looking sour as usual, at the bottom of the stairs. “Not until the investigation is finished. I’ll let ye know.”
“I’m going to need to inspect the car. To make sure all is in order.”
“After the investigation.”
With a nod, Felix walked off grumbling to himself.
As soon as they walked into security, Alistair lifted his hand and beckoned them over to his cubicle. “I’ve got something here for you, Boss.”
“What is it?”
William gestured Lena into the only other chair next to Alistair’s, and leaned down to look at the computer screen.
“Watch this.” Alistair pulled up a video of Emilio playing the slot machines before he’d won. He couldn’t see Heath, but Dimitri was seated next to him, playing as well, laughing with Emilio. A moment later, Dimitri handed Emilio a drink, which the man tossed back.
“Where did he get the drink from?”
Alistair paused the video and shook his head. “I haven’t found it in the footage yet.”
“Keep looking.” But it rang a bell. “I think I remember the three of them taking drinks off a blonde waitress before we went intae the back room. Find her.” It bothered him that he couldn’t remember who served the drinks. He was distracted a lot lately.
Alistair nodded, pushed play and a moment later, Bianca, red hair gleaming, a stunning black dress fitted to her slight curves, walked up to the two of them and started chatting.
He wasn’t surprised that Bianca wasn’t listed as a member of their party. Female vampires were rare enough that they were kept hidden and protected. It was rare to see one wandering around like she was.
She lifted something and showed it to Emilio.
“What is it?” Lena asked.
Alistair shot Lena a quick look, his gaze darting away again. William realized that it was probably making him nervous to sit between the two of them, no doubt worried how William would react if he got too close to his mate.
“Well?” William asked, his tone neutral.
“I’ve already zoomed in on it.” Alistair pushed a few buttons, the screen changed, and the frozen image of Bianca’s hand came up, revealing the silver coin in her hand.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Could she have given him a poisoned coin?”
Alistair shook his head. “I doubt it, because, watch this.” He pulled up the former screen, and played the video. Emilio was laughing at something Bianca said, and then Bianca kissed the coin, grinned, and tossed it in his bucket.
“Maybe she was taking an antidote, and it didn’t affect her.”
“Mayhap,” William said.
“Anyway, that’s not all. The test came back for the shot glasses the three vampires were drinking from before Emilio keeled over. Only Emilio’s held poison.”
“What kind?”
“Vitamin D, encased in a thin capsule that softened within minutes. When the outer layer dissolved, it poisoned him.”
So, not really poison to anyone but vampires. “Were there any prints besides his on the glass?”
“Only Max’s. The waitresses all wear gloves.” To Lena Alistair said, “One of our bartenders. He’s been with us forever, so the chances of him doing this aren’t high.”
William straightened and tried not to glare at his friend. He wanted to be the one to tell Lena things she didn’t know. He didn’t need Alistair or anyone else talking to her when he could do it himself.
Alistair shot him a quick glance, probably sensing his change of mood, or smelling the anger coming off him. “Sorry, Boss.”
William shook his head. “Anythin’ else?”
“Nae, that’s all I’ve got.”
“All right. I’ll let ye talk tae Max, though ye’re right, I’m no’ expecting anythin’ there. Look at some of the people on the tape that are close by, and go question them and see if they saw anything.”
“Will do.”
William offered Lena his hand,
was gratified when she took it, and he hurried her along to his office.
He needed to question Heath and Dimitri, but didn’t think the dungeon would be the best place to do it with Lena at his side.
He settled her on the couch and called Berkeley. “Bring the two vampires up from the dungeon, and put them in separate interview rooms.”
“Will do, Boss.”
William crossed to the small refrigerator he’d recently had installed while he tried to think of a way to keep her interested. With everything going on, everything new she’d seen, he didn’t want her deciding to go home, with evening coming up. He wanted to keep her here as long as he could.
He grabbed out one of her favorite sodas, another for himself, and quickly joined her on the couch.
Much to his gratification, she took the soda offered. “Thanks.”
“Will ye help me think of some questions for our erstwhile guests?”
When she smiled, and said, “I’d be glad to,” he was able to relax a bit. He quickly grabbed up a notebook and pen on the small round table beside the couch.
Pulling her close so they could both see the notebook — that’s what he told himself anyway — he wrote out a few questions, and then looked at her expectantly.
With her against his side, warm and curious, he’d draw this out as long as possible.
When William got word the vampires were situated, he walked Lena down the hall. “Who would ye like tae talk tae first?”
“Maybe Dimitri? Since he was sitting next to Emilio at the slot machines?”
“Good choice.” William was soon opening the door to the first interrogation room where Dimitri sat slouched in a miserable heap on his chair. He didn’t think the guy looked much better than he had earlier, gaunt, devastated, his cheeks smeared with pink from the tears he’d cried. His hair still stuck in spikes here and there, but was flattened in other spots. He looked a mess.
William set the notebook down on the table, helped Lena into her seat, and then started to pace behind her.
“Do ye need anything?” he asked the younger man.
