“I’ll allow you to arrange it,” Frederick said. “Don’t make me regret it. Don’t let this become another Order incident.”
“I’m thinking clearly now,” I said. “I’m not acting irrationally. But I’d appreciate a little more control when it comes to my daughter.”
“The portal comes first,” Frederick said. “Always has, always will. Once I get to see it for myself, everything else will fall into place. I already have ideas of coaxing Matthew away with a Galt Foundation charity banquet.” His eyes moved from me to Sean. “But we’ll discuss details later.”
“That would be best. I want to get him situated, then return to my daughter,” I said, already starting to wheel Sean toward the door.
Frederick didn’t say another word; he simply watched me leave. He tried not to show it, but I could see he was fighting with inner conflict. I believed he really did care for me, but he was starting to question my loyalty. I had to make sure I could bring him back around because I didn’t want to start losing my seniority now. I’d worked too hard to be cast aside just before the unveiling of Vampire Nation. I needed to ensure Fiona got us to that mythical portal Frederick had been seeking out for decades. I, too, was eager to see if it really existed.
I wheeled Sean into a spare, currently unused office down the hall. It had all been emptied out except for its larger pieces of furniture, now sitting free of any sensitive equipment or information. There wasn’t a bed in the room, but a long couch Sean could sleep on. It would have to do.
I quickly untied him and removed his makeshift gag, but even once he was freed, he didn’t move from the chair.
“Whatever you do, don’t scream. Don’t make noise. Don’t bring any attention to yourself,” I warned. “Lie low and this should be over quickly and without any more harm coming to you.”
“I won’t tell anyone. I swear,” Sean said. He remained glued to the chair like he was afraid I’d attack him if he stood. He was looking at me the same way he’d looked at Frederick, but I didn’t blame him.
“I told you to keep your voice down,” I demanded. “I’m sorry you got wrapped up in all this, but you’re going to have to remain here until the mission is complete. Why did you come here anyway? How did you find out about this place? I spent years keeping their sights off you, and now you’ve gone and shone a spotlight on yourself.” I shook my head, as frustrated with myself as I was with him.
“My friend got us a ticket—a keycard of some kind. He said it would be cool.”
“These are very dangerous people, Sean.” I stared him straight in the eyes. “I need you to understand that.”
“Why are you working with them? Can’t we get the police involved?”
“Do you really not know what you’re up against? Be sure, these people will kill police officers without thinking twice. If Fiona doesn’t cooperate, they won’t think twice about killing you either. It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. But I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Who are these people?” Sean asked, tears forming in his eyes.
“If you don’t already know, then it’s best we leave it that way. Just do what I told you. Be quiet and don’t bring attention to yourself. Don’t give them any reason to want to hurt you more,” I said and stepped into the adjoining bathroom. There was nothing in there he could use to cause too much trouble. Once I crossed back into the office, I continued. “I’ll get some more toiletries and food sent up. I’ll also request a small TV or an e-reader or something, so you don’t go completely stir-crazy.”
“What happened to my car and all my stuff?” Sean asked, regaining a bit of his composure.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
“I rented a U-Haul trailer—”
“I’m not concerned with a few extra rental charges. They’re the least of your worries right now.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Sit tight, okay? If you do as I’ve told you, then everything should be alright.” I gave him a nod as I exited and locked the door from the hallway. None of these rooms were strangers to prisoners, all the doors equipped with key locks both inside and out.
Before heading upstairs, I notified the catering manager of our new guest and asked him to take care of securing the items I wanted for Sean. Then I raced out of the club and jumped onto the freeway, wondering if I could catch up to Fiona if I really stepped on it. But then again, there was a good chance she wasn’t heading home, but back to the True North Society compound where I suspected Matthew lived. I didn’t think she’d go to her other friends, probably afraid she’d accidentally get them involved too.
But when I got home, I immediately saw Fiona’s new Society-issued SUV. I’d already memorized her license plate to easily distinguish her vehicle from Matthew’s.
The apartment was quiet when I stepped inside. In total darkness, it gave the illusion no one else was home. I came to Fiona’s closed door and tried the knob but—as expected—it was locked. I wasn’t going to push her.
“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” a sweet, young voice said—the voice that always reminded me of how we’d gotten here. It was my beautiful little adventurous girl, the one who’d never had the opportunity to realize her potential. She’d deserved to grow up with her sister—to go to school, make friends, develop interests, kiss boys, and grow up into a beautiful young woman like the one I was now disappointing. She was just a child who was ripped down, and now she’d be one forever.
“I know,” I said. “She’s not happy with me, Becks.”
“She says your guardian angel isn’t a good angel.” She sounded so innocent and curious.
“Maybe not, but it’s who we have to protect us—the only one standing between us and an army of monsters.”
“You’re not one of the bad people, right?” The expectancy pulled at my frayed heartstrings.
“I don’t want to be, baby,” I said. “I know it’s hard to understand, but sometimes, even good people have to do bad things.”
“Have you done bad things?”
I nodded, my voice catching in my throat. “I do them for you—for you and your sister.” I reached for the closed door to support my shaking knees. Then I dropped to the floor and leaned my back against the door. “I’m sorry, kid. I know we never talk about it—but I’m sorry to you and your sister. I know she’s here with us. I hear her too. We’re still a family. It may feel like the whole world is against you right now, but it’s not. I’m still with you. I’ll always be with you.”
I stopped and listened. I could hear slight movement inside the room, but Fiona didn’t say a word.
“You don’t have to believe me,” I continued. “But I didn’t know about Sean. I’ve worked to keep him off Frederick’s radar since the two of you were little. I didn’t want the day to come when he could be used as leverage—like today. I still don’t know how he found out about that place if you never mentioned it to him. Don’t worry. I’ll check up on him—make sure he’s doing okay. And soon this will all be over. He can continue on to school. You’ll never have to see Frederick again, and Matthew can finally be out from under his watchful eye. The two of you will be free.”
“How can you seriously think we’ll ever be free?” Fiona finally spoke up. “I’ll do this and then he’ll just want something else. We’ll always be on the hook for one more favor.”
I shook my head, even knowing she couldn’t see me. “After this, you’re done. I’ll see to it.”
“Like you’ve seen to things so far?”
“That’s not fair. I’ve had to sacrifice a lot to keep you safe. I was too late for your sister, so I did what I had to for you.”
“I’m tired of hearing you’re doing all this for me.” She sounded more resigned than angry now.
“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth,” I said, thinking back to the choices I’d made to keep my remaining daughter safe. I couldn’t help but think I’d make the same ones all over again. However, m
aybe they were wrong. Maybe I was going to lose her no matter what I did.
25
Matthew
Syrithia scheduled a meeting at the B.A.D. bookstore—at the office of the Los Angeles Vampire Order Consulate—forcing me to make the long drive on the 5 North again. I always loathed the drive into the city. And this time I wasn’t alone, which was worse. I had a few members of the strike team joining me—Finn, Trent, and Octavius—who were all I could comfortably fit into my Land Rover.
We probably looked like a strange gang entering the store and heading straight for the horror vault. I instructed Octavius to close the vault door, so I could open the hidden one to reveal the descending staircase.
“I can’t believe we’re actually going to meet a Vampire Order official,” Trent said. “I’ve only heard rumors.”
“Yes; it’s all very exciting,” I said, sarcastically. I didn’t think any humans would be allowed down there, but Syrithia said she’d gotten them cleared. “But remember, this is information you take to your grave.”
“We won’t breathe a word of it to anyone,” Finn said, glancing over at Trent who provided a confirming nod.
When we reached Gideon’s office space, Jeremy was sitting lazily behind his desk and the door to Gideon’s office was closed. The humans were looking around in awe, even though there wasn’t much to see.
“Are we the first ones to arrive?” I asked Jeremy, who still hadn’t looked up from his smartphone.
“The others are already in the conference room,” he said, still not raising his eyes.
“And the conference room is?” I was getting frustrated with this seemingly millennial vampire.
“Through the picture,” he said like it was the obvious answer.
Trent pointed to the picture of the crow flying through the full moon—the only picture adorning the walls. “This one? What is it?”
“Corvus oculum corvi non eruit,” I said, then translated when Trent and Finn gave me blank stares. “It’s Latin. A crow will not pull out the eye of another crow. An old Vampire Order maxim.”
“Sounds medieval,” Finn said.
“It is,” I said, walking up to the picture. I tilted it one way and then the other until a hidden wall panel opened and the conference room was revealed.
I immediately picked out Syrithia’s voice among several others, confirming we were in the right place.
“Matthew! It’s about time you got here,” she exclaimed amidst the continuing conversations.
“I arrive when traffic allows,” I said as I led my team into the secret room. “Will Mr. Brent be joining us?”
“No,” she said. “He’s just allowed us to use his space.”
“So, we don’t get to meet the consul?” Trent asked, sounding almost comically disappointed.
“Afraid not.”
An ornately carved circular table was positioned in the center of the room with a single chandelier above. Two of the walls were adorned with portraits of important-looking people, though I only recognized one face—Chairman Blackwater. They must be portraits of the chairmen throughout the ages. The wall opposite the hidden doorway was equipped with a large SMART Board, with a projected image of what looked like architectural plans of the Beverly Hills Hotel.
We went around the room with our introductions. Syrithia had brought the vampires from our earlier team—Kaden and Thaddeus. But she had added two replacement angels, both as striking as herself. These were Avelina and Lucia. Then we all took seats around the table.
Syrithia was operating the wireless keyboard and mouse. “We were just discussing the best access points around the hotel. When celebrities need privacy, they’re brought in and out through this back entrance. We’ll have to monitor the main entrances as well but try to funnel them out through the back—get them out through the loading dock.”
“We’ve received information of which limousine service they’re planning to use and we’re currently leveraging favors to get some of our people on the inside,” Lucia said.
“We want to grab them before they even realize anything’s happening,” Syrithia said.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, which surprised me to be getting service down here. While the women continued to talk, I checked my phone and found I’d received a text from Fiona asking if she could come to my apartment.
You can, but I’m not there or nearby, I replied.
Just as the room quieted, I looked up and jumped in before anyone accused me of not listening. “Do we have a schedule of the event?”
“Let me bring it up.” Syrithia scrolled through a few folders, then popped open a new window with the colorfully formatted schedule.
I was hoping to see you, Fiona wrote.
I’m in a meeting in LA, but I’ll be back later this afternoon, I wrote.
“They’re also bringing in an outside catering company to aid the hotel staff,” Avelina said. “We plan to infiltrate them as well, so we can have people stationed inside and outside the event.”
“We’ll be everywhere,” Kaden added with an enthusiastic grin.
Would you like me there waiting for you? Fiona wrote, adding a winking emoji.
The thought of you waiting for me makes me want to leave right now, I wrote. I probably should have added an emoji, but I didn’t.
I’d love for you to come home right now.
“What do you think, Matthew?” Syrithia asked.
My eyes shot up to the group. “I think there will be a lot of moving pieces.”
“How astute.”
But before she could make another criticism, I added, “We used to have a security connection at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I’m not sure if he’s still there, but I’ll reach out to him.”
“That’s good,” Kaden said. “I think we should have the human contingents stationed inside the event to blend in better. There shouldn’t be any show of force inside, anyway.”
Patiently waiting for your soft lips to be on mine, Fiona added.
With her recent moodiness, I certainly hadn’t expected that kind of banter from her. She was distracting even when she wasn’t in the same room as me. Dangerous, even.
“Matthew, are you even listening?” Syrithia snapped. “Is there something you’d like to share with the group?” She held out her hand as if asking for my phone.
I dutifully stuffed it back in my pocket. “No. Sorry. I’m here.”
“Remember what’s important. The Order is counting on us to succeed. We can’t have another failure,” she said before jumping back into the agenda. “Let’s talk diversions.”
I was far too excited to see Fiona. She was in a better mood than she’d been in for some time and I didn’t want to squander it. I found her curled up on the couch watching a rerun of the show Friends, smiling and laughing, seemingly free of whatever had been bothering her.
“Honey, I’m home,” I said, unable to suppress the silly grin.
“Come sit with me,” she said, her bottom lip protruding into a pout. “I need your strong arms around me.”
“That can be arranged, but first things first.” I made a beeline for the kitchen and ripped open a bag of blood, chugging it down without warming it. It tasted like crap, but I didn’t want to prolong our time apart any longer than necessary. The bag was just enough to calm the monster inside, nearly ensuring her safety while nestling against me.
“Would you like anything while I’m in here?” I asked.
“I’m good,” she replied.
As soon as I sat on the couch, Fiona cuddled up against me. I wrapped an arm around her and pivoted just enough to allow her to lay her head on my chest and still comfortably see the television.
“Your hair smells wonderful,” I said as I breathed in the scent of her floral conditioner, then I kissed the top of her head.
“I did some training earlier, so I freshened up with a bath,” she said, glancing up at me. “I hope that was okay.”
“Of course,” I said, though I had really wa
nted to say, I wish I could have gotten home faster. I still didn’t know how exactly to handle her. I’d tried to distance myself from her in the beginning, and now that we were together, I told myself I was all in… but there was still something holding me back.
She brushed her fingers along the rough skin of my forearm, over the slight ridges of the compass tattoo like she’d done when I first showed it to her in the coffee shop. I watched her trace the lines like a child learning to draw. Then she made her tattoo appear and placed it next to mine. Hers was smaller to better fit her arm, but the designs were identical, due to the magical angelic process.
“Look, it’s like we have matching tattoos as symbols of our love and devotion. Mine even points to you.” She glanced up again and gave me a curious smile.
“If only we were the only two people in the world to have them,” I said.
“Is that a possibility?”
“Not likely,” I said. “We’d have to get rid of a lot of people who currently wear this symbol.”
“No, silly,” she laughed and playfully backhanded me in the stomach. “Would you be able to get another one—something just the two of us could share?”
I thought about what she was asking. “I’ve never considered that before,” I said. The constant pain radiating from the tattoo was more than I wanted to carry with me, and another one would zap too much of my concentration and self-control. “I suppose it’s possible with the right proportion of angel blood in the ink. It’s the angel blood that gives it the properties to help you sense vampires and keep mine from healing.”
“Why doesn’t my compass tingle as much around you as when I’m around other vampires?” she asked.
“Maybe you don’t love me as much as you say you do,” I laughed.
“No. Seriously.”
“Well—seriously—when have you been around other vampires since you’ve received your compass?” I asked, growing a little concerned.
“I… umm… I’ve gone back to the hospital a few times… to visit the orderly who helped us while we were in there. Kelsey. Do you know her?”
Angeles Betrayal Page 13
