know about that?” Samuel asked, emphasizing each word.
Damon shrugged, seemingly unperturbed by Samuel’s violent outburst. “I overheard you and your minions discuss your search for a purebred witch. Stefan has Mary Jane.
And now, thanks to his foolish rescue, I know exactly where she lives. She’s defenseless and gul ible. It’l be easy for me to get her for you.”
Samuel tapped his slim, tapered fingers together as he scrutinized Damon.
“So my torture wasn’t in vain. I’m glad you came to your senses. But I’m stil not sure if I’l let you go free. After al , what of your brother?”
Damon smiled chil ingly, a look I knew al too wel as one he gave before he was going in for a kil . “I’m sure you can remember from when we were…friends,” Damon said, choking on the word, “how little fondness I had for Stefan.
While he was of assistance recently, I can’t say his help has made me like him any better. He’s made his choice about how he wants to live, and I’l be damned if he drags me down with him. He’s nothing to me,” he said dismissively.
“He’s not one of us. Here he is, playing the hidden hero to fal en women of the East End when he could have the world at his feet. I can’t associate with a vampire who doesn’t embrace his true nature. Even if he was once a brother.” Samuel nodded once. “Wel , he’l be easy enough to take care of. Tel me more about the girl.”
“I’l do you one better,” Damon said. “I’l bring you to her tomorrow night. She lives in a two-bit slum with a few other witches, but I’l make sure none of them are around. Come alone. That is, if I have your word that you’l clear my name alone. That is, if I have your word that you’l clear my name of these sil y charges and stop trying to kil me.” Samuel’s eyes gleamed like two lanterns in the darkness. “You have my word. I’l exonerate you of al this Jack the Ripper nonsense as soon as the witch is in my possession, alive and wel .”
Damon stuck out his hand for Samuel to shake.
Samuel grabbed his hand, and I expected a crash of thunder or spark to ignite as they shook. But there was nothing except for the whistling of the wind through the bushes.
With a final nod of agreement, Damon turned and walked down the path.
Had that been too easy? I imagined what it would be like if Samuel were able to compel other vampires. The idea fil ed me with dread. Compulsion, control ing the desires of another soul, was worse than kil ing. And when creatures already stronger and more lethal than any normal human being were compel ed…I didn’t want to imagine that. It wouldn’t happen. We’d make sure of it.
Across town, Hyde Park was lush, empty, and prime hunting ground, especial y since the Lord Mayor had imposed a curfew on the parks in the wake of the Jack the Ripper murders. That was perfect for me—the fields were free for squirrels, sparrows, and groundhogs to roam.
I stood behind an oak tree, ignoring the rustle of squirrels darting from a leaf pile. I needed something more substantial than a squirrel to quench my thirst. I real y needed human blood, but drinking from Lady Alice had made me more determined than ever to refuse it. Her blood had left me feeling more alive and more out of control than I had in years. And I couldn’t take that kind of risk right now, especial y when Cora and Mary Jane were depending on me.
Drink human blood.
Ever since Cora had said it, I couldn’t stop thinking it. If Cora, a human girl, could imagine—no, encourage—me to feed on humans, what was holding me back? It was my true nature. I was a vampire.
A rustle in the bushes caused me to whirl around. It was a woman, laughingly leading a man through the trees. Her sleeve exposed a milky-white shoulder. Their clothing was faded, but clean, and I imagined they were both servants at one of the large houses surrounding the park.
Unbidden, blood rushed to my gums and my fangs elongated. It would be so easy. I wouldn’t even have to kil . I could compel. I could approach them saying that I was lost and looking for directions. Then, I’d quickly attack, drink, and leave.
“Freddy!” The girl grabbed the boy’s arm tightly. “Did you hear something?”
Al I heard was the quickening of the girl’s blood.
“Just a squirrel, most likely. Besides, I’m here to keep you safe. Give me a kiss?” the man asked.
“Let’s go,” the girl said nervously. She guided him by the hand back through the gates, their feet crunching on the fal leaves.
I could have run after them. I would have enjoyed the hunt, in fact. But that extra step—needing to take that action
—stopped me from making a huge mistake. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Couldn’t give in to that desire. Not now.
I trained my eyes on the ground, but I was no longer in the mood to hunt. Final y, I grabbed a squirrel from a nearby branch, drained it, and threw the carcass to the ground. I kicked a few leaves over it and wished that I had someone to share my hopes and fears with. In a city of a mil ion heartbeats, I was on my own.
10
“Ready for the big day, brother?” Damon asked as he tweaked a bow tie around his neck.
I pul ed out my pocket watch. Three o’clock.
“Where are you going?” I asked. Damon wasn’t supposed to go to Samuel’s until six thirty, and I wasn’t due to meet the witches for the praesidium spel until five.
“An errand,” Damon said. “I’l be back.”
“Don’t get arrested again,” I said sulkily. He was stil a wanted man.
“Can I come?” Cora piped up from the corner. She’d been quiet ever since the coven meeting.