"You went into Hursch's residence with the Night Watchmen," Victor admonishes her.

"And dragged out Lila," I add.

"You're wrong."

Victor sighs. "Faith, no other Night Watchman would dare go into battle wearing red heels."

She shudders. "I just couldn't put on those hideous boots they wear."

"You're not supposed to be placing yourself in danger."

"But it's all right if Richard does?"

"He's a soldier."

"So am I."

"You're next in line for the Valentine throne."

That seems to bring her up short.

"If something happens to mea"" Victor begins.

"Nothing is going to happen to you," she interrupts.

"I'm not planning on it, but you also need to step back."

"While Richard risks his life?"

"I admit what he's doing is dangerous, but he's not going to battle Sin. It'll be a covert operation. Destroy the V-Processing center, stop Sin's ability to ma.s.s produce the Chosen, and return here."

"Sin hates you. He's not going to leave Denver alone."

"No," Victor agrees. "He won't leave Denver alone."

"Now that we've dealt with the Day Walkers," I say, "we need to start preparing for Sin."

Victor nods. "I'd hoped we'd have a few days, but until we can figure out exactly where Sin is, we have to be ready."

"I can do that," Faith declares.

My eyes widen. "Do what?"

"Prepare Denver."

Victor gives her a kind smile. "Faith, you've never been in a real battle, like we had during the war. You're not experienceda""

"I know how to throw a h.e.l.l of a party. How is this any different?"

He shakes his head. "It's different."

I know she needs a distraction from her worries over Richard. "Not really," I say. "I think she can do it. It's scavenging, getting everything organized. I think she'd be great at it."

"Then it's settled," she says. "I'll work with Anita, get a list of what's needed and get things organized here. When Sin arrives, I'll throw a surprise party for him."

I can tell that Victor is going to object again. I squeeze his hand, communicate with my touch that he needs to let her do this.

He nods. "All right, then. You'll represent us here in Denver. I'll talk to Clive and Jeffa""

"I can handle that." She turns her attention to me. "Thanks for believing in me, Dawn."

"Anytime."

"Don't expect me at the manor. I'm going to stay in the city." She strolls away.

"What am I not understanding?" Victor asks.

"She's worried about Richard. She needs to do something, to have a distraction." I glance around. "Until Sin arrives, she should be safe here."

"Everyone should be safe."

As the party progresses, Victor and I find our place on a couch. I watch the groups move like a single organism. Without the masks, it's impossible to tell who is a Night Watchman and who is a vampire. Fangs aren't being lowered. The most beautiful sound, though, is their laughter. Despite what happened tonight, despite the years of hostility, despite the war and the bloodl.u.s.t and VampHu, they can laugh together.

The room slows down and I marvel at what I'm seeing: humans and vampires having fun together. With every handshake I see potential for change. I remember standing atop the Agency in Los Angeles, looking down at all the Day Walkers that surrounded us on the streets below. I remember Sin saying we were looking at the New World Order. And I compare that fear and grandiose design to what's in here. One is created through blood, the other through laughter. I know which one I want.

"What are you looking at?" Victor asks.

"The future."

Chapter 23.

The next evening Clive gives a speech from a makeshift platform just outside the Agency building. A crowd of citizens has gathered. Rumors have been spreading all day about the great betrayer Roland Hursch. TV cameras are locked on Clive. Reporters are anxious for details. I wanted desperately to be there, but everyone convinced me that it was too dangerous, there was simply no telling how the crowd would react. So instead, Victor and I are watching it from my apartment.

Sitting on the couch with him, I'm suddenly glad I didn't go. I want to support Clive in whatever happens next, but I also can't deny the simple pleasure of being here, with Victor by my side.

On the screen I see Rachel sitting in one of the chairs lined up in a row behind Clive. She'll be taking over the delegate position once again now that Hursch has been ousted, so she needs to show her loyalty. Beside her is Jeff, doubling as both date and bodyguard.

"You should have gone," I say to Victor.

"I want the Lessers to be shown without Old Family beside them. I want everyone to see that they are loyal and tame, they can control their bloodl.u.s.t without an iron fist ruling over them."

"Roland Hursch's crimes are unforgivable," Clive begins. "He hid the Day Walkers in his home, sheltering them from discovery when they returned there from attacking our own. He toyed with our lives, using his fellow humans as p.a.w.ns in a game that none of us were aware he was playing. He sold his soul to the devil, and he signed his name in the blood of those taken from us."

I sometimes forget how good of an orator Clive is, how pa.s.sionate he can sound when he believes deeply in what he's saying. I always see him behind closed doors, where he's the tired leader, the exhausted man who's weary of looking for the right decision among so many bad options. But up there, in front of the crowd and cameras, he's completely in control.

I wish I could see the crowd, but their perfect silence may tell me more than their faces. No boos, no jeering, no rushing to the aid of their beloved anti-vampire delegate.

"Remember this day and remember it well, citizens," Clive says, hands held up high as though in praise. "Behind me sit several of our Night Watchmena"unmasked at the invitation of Victor Valentine. From him, we have no need to hide. Because of him, you can now know who has been keeping you safe.

"Last night, the Night Watchmen delivered us from evil yet again, but their eyes were not the only ones watching over us, nor were their hands the only hands at work. They were helped, every step of the way, by the Lesser vampires loyal to Victor Valentine."

A low gasp comes from the audience, and I feel Victor tightening his hold on me, his tension matching my own.

Behind Clive a Night Watchman stands up from his chair, as does the vampire next to him. He's wearing a suit and looks like any other employee of the Agency, which is perfect. He isn't threatening or menacing. If anything, he's a bit cute. And then they shake hands.

"Let this be the new model for all to follow," Clive says. "These Lesser vampires have proved themselves not only to Lord Valentine, but to us human beings. They protected you while you slept. They lost their lives, lives that were once human, lives whose hearts beat just the same. Let their sacrifice and cooperation serve as an example.

"They need our blood," Clive says, putting emphasis on each word. "But they are willing to protect us all from those who would take it by force. For that, we must be both grateful and giving to our friends. It is time we roll up our sleeves and show our appreciation . . . by donating."

Cameras flash as Clive waves goodbye and everyone retreats back into the Agency. For a moment I fear a riot may start out of nowhere, the hushed tones during the speech nothing but anger waiting to be unleashed. Instead, there are quiet murmurs and then a slow dispersion of the crowd.

I turn off the television and call Clive. It's his voice mail, like I expected, but I tell him he did a great job and he looked ten years younger on camera.

"Tomorrow will be the real test," Victor says.

"I know. If they give blood, it'll be the start of something new. If not, it's back to the beginning."

A knock sounds. I unfold myself, go to the door, and peer through the peephole. Faith.

I open the door.

"I'm looking for Victor," she says, before I can greet her. "Thought he might be here."

"Yeah, he is. Come on in." She seems a little unsettled as she glides through in her characteristic red.

Victor is immediately on his feet. "What's wrong, Faith?"

"Something strange happened." Sitting in a chair, hands between her knees, she's having a hard time meeting our gaze.

I return to Victor's side on the couch.

"What happened?" he prods.

She licks her lips, looks around. "I'm not sure how to say this, but, well, I had a dream. I . . . I dreamed of Richard, but it was like I was with him."

I catch my breath. Dream-sharing between Old Family vampires supposedly only happens when the vampires are in love. She's finally truly opened herself up.

"Faith, that's wonderful!" I a.s.sure her.

She nods, but her reaction doesn't seem so wonderful. "I've never dreamed before. It was a strange experience, frightening even. I don't know how you humans put up with it."

"You'll get used to it. But what was the dream about? What happened?"

Faith rubs her hands together nervously, completely out of character. "Richard showed me where they were. In Crimson Sands."

My heart lurches. "Is the town all right?"

"Seems so, from what I saw, but here's the thing. Some old guy named George told Richard that his scouts spotted Sin and an army of Day Walkers heading into the mountains. Richard thinks they were looking for someplace to rest before moving on to Denver."

Victor scoots up to the edge of his seat. "Richard isn't thinking of trying to take them out, is he?"

Faith shakes her head. "No, he knows that they are outnumbered and wouldn't stand a chance. He's following through on his orders to destroy the V-Processing center."

Victor is visibly relieved. "Good."

"Did Richard say anything about Ian?" I ask.

Faith's lips flatten. "Yes. Unfortunately, the vampires dislike him even more than they did during the war."

"But why?"

"Apparently, whenever they've taken time to rest the horses, he's won a good deal of money off them playing poker."

I laugh, imagining how much Ian would enjoy beating his former enemies in so civilized a manner. "They're Old Family. They can afford it."

"Still, no one likes to lose."

I grow somber. We certainly can't afford to lose against Sin.

"How much time do you think we have before Sin gets here?" I ask.

"A couple of days, maybe," Victor says.

Faith stands. "I guess I'd better get to the Agency and start working with Jeff and Rachel to devise a plan for organizing the city."

Victor shoves himself to his feet. "Clive's message tonight was a good start. I think the people will be receptive to working with vampires just as the Night Watchmen now are."

"I hope so. I'll stay in the city, get things mobilized."

"If you need a place to staya"" I begin.

"I'm using Victor's theater." He used to live in an abandoned theater in the city. Its absence of windows makes it a perfect hiding place. We once watched an old movie there together. "But thanks, anyway," she says, before taking a step toward the door.

Victor touches her arm, stilling her. "Richard will be all right."

"He'd better be. If he dies, I'll kill him."

With her head held high, she strides from the apartment. I lock the door behind her. When I turn around, Victor is standing on the balcony, gazing out on the night.

I join him and say, "It's been a while since there's been a feeling of peace in Denver. Maybe never."