Page 69 of Silent Stalker
SIXTEEN
I hate feeling like we’re flying blind.
While I waitedfor Emerick to finish his preparations, I carved a new stake from the nest branch. It became the roughest of my creations, although I loved everything about its sharp planes and angles. Everything about it promised a quick end to anyone unfortunate enough to cross its path—if it perceived some darkness within. I also appreciated its other possibilities, in some strange way representing possibilities for the future.
I sanded it with the understanding time ran out before we needed to leave, especially if we wanted to greet my mother upon her arrival.
“We’re ready,” Emeric announced, coming into the conference room I’d claimed as my workshop. “Did you truly finish that entire stake in the twenty minutes it took me to coordinate everything?”
“I wanted this stake.” I put it in one of my hip sheathes, giving it a pat. My toothpick hung from my neck, and I gave it a fond pat as well. “I also have the little one, just in case it’s needed.”
The rest of the stakes I carried had been carved by someone else, and while they warmed at the touch, I got the feeling they lacked the potency of mine.
I figured they’d been carved from branches that had fallen out of the sun’s light, where I carved mine from the ones that had not yet fallen from the tree. One day, when we had more time, I would ask more about how others carved their stakes.
“Excellent. The place we’re going to check is a warehouse ten minutes from here. It appears to be empty, so we might be done within an hour. When my maker lands and checks his phone, he will find an invitation to make himself comfortable at my home while he waits for our return, and that he is welcome to take over one or two guest bedrooms as he sees fit. I also informed him he may not steal our bed.”
I giggled at the idea of Clarke stealing our bed. “What do you think the probability of us getting in and out without incident are?”
“It’s unfortunately high. We’re going in hopeful we find clues on what these vampires left behind, but that’s it. While we suspect they’re a young brood, they’re ambitious and smart, and that spells trouble for us. They’re also one step ahead of us. We’re scrambling to understand what they do, where they have been planning the entire time. There is no shame in us struggling to keep up—for now.”
“Initially, we thought my father might be a younger vampire,” I pointed out.
“That’s before we learned the truth, but yes, you are correct. Most of those we have rescued indicated their kidnappers are younger vampires, though. If they are older, I do worry what this will do to our society. In any case, they’ve angered many, and they will be the subject of quite the hunt—a hunt I don’t think they’ll appreciate. It’s been at least a hundred years since the majority of broods have rallied for a common cause. I foresee the ball becoming more than just an opportunity for men to win women—and women to win men. It will become a battleground and a place to forge alliances.” Emerick rubbed his hands together. “It will likely be the place we hold our ceremony to simplify things. I will be very curious if your father decides to reveal himself.”
“As what? I can’t tell if he gets the worst father or best father award at the moment, truth be told.”
“It’s complicated seems to apply, yes. I am, admittedly, quite amused he has opted to shower you with gifts. You were raised in such a way where you have no idea how to handle the acquisition of gifts without great confusion.” He gestured to my office, which still had wrapped presents waiting for me. “I’ve caught you being quite curious about the gifts but not sure how to approach opening them.”
Damn. “We don’t have time to debate if we should end wagers temporarily right now, Emerick. I can’t just go to bed and fling off my clothes right now.”
“I have once again lost this verbal sparring and may become overwhelmed with disappointment.” Sighing, he headed in the direction of the reception. “Come along, and bring your collection of stakes with you. I hold hope we won’t need them, but it’s always a possibility.”
“I hate feeling like we’re flying blind,” I complained.
“We are flying blind. There is no like to it. We are flying blind, and I rather loathe it myself. I suspect our adventure tonight will bear no fruit, but we will get to come home to meet with your mother, which will make the outing a necessary evil. It gives Salania a chance to prepare the penthouse for their arrival without us getting in her way.”
“Can I ask a weird question?”
“Ask.”
“Is it normal for vampires to make arrangements for a child? Like my father did with my mother?”
“It used to be quite common, yes. It is something older vampires tend to do, especially if they have no interest in turning the woman they wish to become the mother of their child. To the older vampires, doing it this way makes it about the love for the child and not the marriage that produced the child. I expect both of your parents wanted a child, your mother had a need in the form of caring for her parents, and your father did not desire the burden of a mortal woman—or the risk of losing a mortal woman trying to turn her into a vampire. That he accidentally uncovered some of the secret to a successful turning of a modern woman is a benefit to us all, but I do genuinely believe he had never meant to turn her at all—or make her addicted to his blood.”
“They weren’t blood bound, were they?”
“No. My maker would never accept a blood bound woman, and he would have been able to tell with a sip of her blood, especially in the case of a pairing together for as long as your parents. They both went into that aware you were the product of two people who wanted a child, albeit for different reasons. Had things worked out a little differently, I expect you would have had a joyful childhood.”
“But it didn’t, because of my predisposition.”
“And a defective heart, which is no fault of yours. We’ll go over the documentation your father sent later, perhaps with your mother tonight. I’m certain she will have things she wishes to tell you, too. I am certain my maker is going to be highly annoyed when he discovers your father essentially tossed your mother at him.”
“But if they had an arrangement to have me, why would he care what she does after their agreement is over?”
“We vampires do treat our debts seriously, and he likely felt she did not get a balanced compensation. It’s ruthlessly brilliant, really. If he is as old as I believe him to be, he would be very aware of my maker’s ethics, and he would understand your mother would be cared for and cherished for however long her second life is.”
“I take it you learned your equally ruthless and romantic ways from him.”
