Page 24 of Eternal Surrender

I tried to read him, but his mind was elsewhere. “Listen, you don’t know anything about something poisoning vampires, do you?” I watched his reaction.

Marcus wore an incredulous expression. “I can see why Orpheus never mentioned you.”

He clearly knew nothing.

A dark shadow appeared a little way off behind him.

“Well it’s been a pleasure.” I kept the phantom in my sight.

“If you happen to see Orpheus again⁠—”

“You’ll see him before me, I imagine.”

“If you do see him,” Marcus massaged his brow. “I need to know what he wants us to do with the girl.”

“Who?”

“We have a police inspector sniffing around Belshazzar’s,” Marcus sighed. “She’s threatening to shut us down.”

“Not Ingrid Jansen?” I asked, trying to act casual.

“Yes, you know her?”

“She’s of no consequence.” I turned away, as though not caring. “More of a playful distraction, apparently.”

“Ingrid was the lead detective on the Stonehenge case,” Marcus said. “You know of it?”

I gave a shrug. “Two girls murdered within days of each other. One corpse positioned at Stonehenge, the other at Avebury. Orpheus placed the dead girls there to mess with Jadeon’s state of mind.”

“Orpheus told you that?” Marcus asked, surprised that I knew so much.

“Yes,” I answered casually. “It was Orpheus’s way of drawing Jadeon and Ingrid together, hoping they’d destroy each other. Of course, after they had fallen in love, first.” I caressed my chin thoughtfully. “Masterful.” And yet inside me raged a silent war of remorse, a self-loathing for all the suffering I’d caused. A selfish game where I’d ironically become the victim.

“The plan backfired,” Marcus said disapprovingly. “Jadeon and Ingrid are in love.”

“Still, she’s ever obsessed with Orpheus,” I said, trying to appease him.

“The last time I saw Orpheus he was about to turn her.” He pursed his lips, evidently troubled she was still mortal. “He must have changed his mind.” His face was full of regret for saying too much.

Turning away, I hoped he’d not caught my thoughts, though avoiding eye contact was equally risky.

Marcus kicked up some dirt. “Anyway, Ingrid seems to have forgotten much of what she knew about him.” He shook his head warily. “Her memory’s been wiped.”

“How can you tell?”

“She’s asking questions about Orpheus like she’s never actually met him. And she doesn’t remember me.” Marcus frowned his suspicion. “You didn’t ask me who wiped her memory.”

“Well?”

He hesitated, mistrust smoldering in his gaze. “Whoever did the deed is an ancient. She seems to have a selective memory.” Marcus was scrutinizing me. “Orpheus is so incredibly private. I’m surprised I’ve never met you before.”

“Feel the same way about you, Marcus.” I gestured my frustration.

“You seem to know an awful lot.”

“So do you.”

“I’m Orpheus’s best friend,” he snapped.