Victor becomes somber, almost mournful as we walk back to the study. What he did to her may be worse than death. Only time will tell.

"So how did it go?" Richard asks, lounging on the couch.

"She didn't talk," Victor says, putting the case onto the table. I sit in a chair. Faith drops down on the couch next to Richard.

"But then, you didn't expect her to," Richard says.

"No, I didn't."

"She worships Sin," I say. "She would die for him."

"She'll break," Faith says. "Her vanity is worse than my own."

"She may not get a chance to talk," I say. "She may be turning already."

Victor smiles. "I doubt it."

"How can you be so sure?"

He taps the case with his palm. "It's cranberry juice. Nothing more."

Shaking my head, I laugh lightly. Victor's plan is perfect. We couldn't take the chance of her succ.u.mbing to the Thirst, because then she'd be useless to us, not to mention much more dangerous. Yet without any blood at all, she'll begin to starve, and that sensation will trick her into thinking the Thirst has kicked in. I have a hunch that Eris hasn't been starved for decades, not while under the watchful eye of Sin, who rewards loyalty with lavishness.

"Unfortunately," Richard says, "even if she talks, it doesn't solve our lack of blood problem."

"No, no, it doesn't," Victor says. "Our capturing Eris was a good faith gesture. I'll talk to Clive tonight. Tomorrow we'll start inserting the chips."

I hate that idea, can hardly fathom that he's still considering it. "Victor, you will get so much more blood if the people feel safe."

"You've always said that, but it's never worked."

"Think about Crimson Sands."

"I'm sick of hearing about Crimson Sands," Victor says. "It's a mirage in the desert. It would never work on a large scale. Too many vampires need feeding, and too many people are willing to pa.s.s the responsibility on to their neighbors."

"Because they see it as a duty, not a privilege."

Victor studies me, obviously confused by my wording choice. "We have to change their att.i.tude toward vampires," I continue.

"That'll be hard to do when vampires in the city are slaughtering them," Victor says, frustration running through his words. Though whether it's aimed at me or the vampires inside the walls, I'm unsure.

"The Day Walkers are the enemy," I say. "Let your vampires be the heroes."

Victor nods. "I'm listening," he says, eyes meeting mine.

"Clive says he doesn't have enough manpower. So here's my proposal: Let the Night Watchmen guard the city during the day, and then let your Lessers guard it at night."

"The people will never allow that."

"We won't tell them," I say. "You said that you have the Lessers' loyalty. Tell them that they are to guard the people and kill the Day Walkers. It'll only be a matter of time before the Day Walkers are finished. Afterward we can tell the citizens who are the real heroes and who are the real monsters."

Victor sits back, eyes on me, then upward, looking for answers in the ceiling, contemplating all the ways my plan could go wrong. But I hope he sees all the ways it could go right. He then looks at Richard and Faith, who both subtly nod.

"I'll send Clive a letter tonight," Victor says. "Only those most loyal to me will be allowed into the city. They'll be led by Anita. None of my Lessers will question her."

"How will they get in?" I ask.

Victor just smiles. "I have a few connections among the guards, those willing to look the other way for the right price."

"No," I say. "No more secrets. Get them together, and we'll march up to the gate. I'll have Clive meet us."

Victor stands. "You're right, Dawn. Clive needs to trust me, now more than ever. We should all probably try to get some sleep. It's going to be another long night."

Upstairs, I clean up in a bathroom down the hall from Victor's room. It's all marble, luxurious but cold. Everything that can be gold or silver is. I'd love to spend an hour in the ma.s.sive tub fitted with lion's feet and gold fixtures, but that'll have to wait for another time. I put on silk shorts, a tank, and a robe that Faith found for me. It feels so wonderful against my skin. Maybe she's right. I should let the flannel go. I make my way back down the hall.

It wasn't long ago when I dragged Victor down this corridor, bleeding from the strike his father delivered, a strike that wasn't fatal, unlike the one Victor gave in return. When I enter Victor's bedchamber, my heart gives a little flutter. He's waiting for me, standing beside the fireplace, where flames crackle.

I walk over, sit on the couch, and tuck my feet beneath me. "How long do you think before Eris talks?"

"Impossible to know. Sin instills loyalty in those he turns."

"How can someone so evil be so charismatic?"

"Throughout history, those who start wars usually are. Take Roland Hursch, for example. You and I both know that what he is doing is not for the greater good, and yet the citizens believe in him."

"I figured you named him delegate because you wanted to keep an eye on him."

"I did. It was poor strategy on my part."

"So we're just going to wait Eris out?"

He sighs. "I don't see that we have much choice."

"I hate the chaos that the Day Walkers are causing in Denver, but we don't need her information to destroy the V-Processing center in Los Angeles."

He joins me on the couch and puts an arm around my shoulders as he presses a kiss to my temple. "I don't like that you're going. I'm going to send some of my Lessers to watch over you."

"The others aren't bringing Lessers. And the more vampires we have, the more blood we'll need to travel with."

"Then we'll get more blood."

"Victor, if I'm claiming to be equal to Old Family, then I can't be given special treatment."

"We're going to disagree on this."

"Yes, but in the end, you'll recognize that I'm right."

"Maybe," he grumbles. He combs his fingers through my hair. I could become so lost in the gentle sensations.

"When do you think the Old Families will arrive?" I ask.

"Sometime in the next night or so, hopefully."

"Then I need to go to Denver tomorrow," I announce. "I need to let Clivea"everyonea"know that I'm leaving . . . and why."

He places his hand on the back of my neck, begins kneading my tight muscles. "It won't be easy."

"Nothing in my life is. Even falling for you was hard."

His eyes glitter with understanding. Having me in his life hasn't been easy for him either.

"Will you come back tomorrow night?" he asks.

I shake my head. "No. I'm going to arrange a little dinner at the apartment for everyone. I'll tell them afterward."

He c.o.c.ks his head to the side. "I didn't know you cooked."

I shrug. "I've watched Rachel. You heat a pan or the oven and put stuff in it until it's cooked."

He grins. "I'm sure it will be a very special meal."

I narrow my eyes. "Why do I think you're mocking me?"

His smile widens. "I would never mock you."

"Better not." I lean into him. "I can take your message about sending in the Lessers to Clive."

"I've already sent it. I knew once you started getting ready for bed that I would have plenty of time."

I straighten. "It didn't take me that long."

"It always takes women a long time. Faith needs at least two hours."

"It took me twenty minutes, tops."

"That's all I needed." He threads his fingers through my hair, holding me near. "Your friends won't turn against you, Dawn."

He voiced one of my biggest fears: that they'll look at me differently. I remember Michael wiping his hand after he touched me in Crimson Sands. I had to fight for my place in the vampire world. Now I may have to fight for it in the human world.

Chapter 18.

To my surprise, I wake up feeling fully rested. I roll over to see Victor lying so peacefully, as still as death. I listen for his breath and hear it softly flow in and out, his chest barely rising at all.

My stomach growls and I worry it'll wake him up. It's not that loud, but to a vampire's sensitive ears it could sound like a thunderstorm in the distance. So I slip out of bed, deciding he needs his sleep and I need breakfast.

I quietly shut the door and head toward the stairs. I don't know where the kitchen is, but I a.s.sume that it's near the dining room, the infamous place where I used to meet Lord Valentine.

Down the stairs, through another hall, and I'm greeted by the two ma.s.sive Greek sculptures that flank the doors. I guess that hasn't changed. But when I open them up, I'm greeted by something new. Someone.

Eustace is setting the ma.s.sive table.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I say, suddenly uncomfortable that I'm alone in a room with a vampire. Everyone else is asleep. Shouldn't he be as well?

"Ah, good day, Miss Montgomery," he says. "I heard you coming down the hall. I suppose you're here for breakfast."

"Yes, and please call me Dawn."

"Yes, Miss Montgomery. Please, have a seat, while I go inform the cook."

"Thank you."

I sit in the nearest chair, the flames crackling in the fireplace. The room, like much of the manor, has huge windows that are kept under blinds and curtains during the day. Tiny bits of sunlight slip through the bottom, but the room itself is brightened slightly by gas lamps along the wall. I always figured vampires wouldn't like windows, but I guess they like to look out at night. An oil lamp is suddenly placed in front of me by Eustace, who seems to appear out of nowhere.

"Please forgive the darkness," he says. "Normally the moon and stars help alleviate that. But I'm afraid the windows must be closed for now."

"It's no problem. I hate being a bother. I'll just take some food back to the room."

"No, no, I won't hear of it."

He continues setting the table, the napkins and silverware lined up so perfectly that I'm surprised he doesn't have a ruler to measure the exact angles and distances. I guess he's had a lot of practice. He looks to be in his late forties but could be hundreds of years old. I have no idea when he was turned, or even by whom. All I know is that once he was human.

A moment later he brings me coffee and orange juice on a silver platter. "I do hope that coffee or juice is your thing," he says, reminding me of our exchange about the tea.

"I love coffee. Juice? I can take it or leave it."

"Take it or leave it where?" he asks.

I fight back my laughter because I don't want to insult him. Obviously he doesn't get out much. "It's just an expression. I'll drink it."

"Very good."

"Everything smells wonderful," I say.

"You're a guest of the Valentine house. The servants are here to serve."

A female vampire sets a plate loaded with pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit in front of me. I quickly take a few bites, only realizing how hungry I am once the aromas. .h.i.t and the tastes explode in my mouth.

"I hope this is adequate," Eustace says.

Is he joking? "More than adequate," I say. "It's amazing."