“Don’t kill him yet,” Damon said, wrapping his fingers around the branch. “He needs to talk first.”
I held the stake out toward Damon. It may have been my battle, but it was my brother’s war, and I wouldn’t stand in his way.
“I don’t talk to trash,” Henry said petulantly. Instantly, Damon launched the branch forward and pierced Henry’s throat. Blood bubbled at his throat, but the wound quickly healed when Damon removed the stick. Henry must have fed recently.
“You disgust me,” Damon spat.
“Well, I can assure you the feeling’s mutual,” Henry gurgled, hate evident in his eyes. “And you wanted me to talk, so I’ll talk. You and your brother are both stupid and impulsive, and have no idea who you’re facing. Is that what you wanted to discuss?” He smiled as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the blood off his neck. An owl hooted in the distance. Where were Samuel’s bodyguards? Could this be a trap?
As I was about to voice my fears, Henry twisted out of Damon’s grasp.
“You think you can kill me? That’s rich,” he said as he smiled at us. “You boys will try anything, won’t you? It’s the American way, I suppose.” He circled around us like a dog, sniffing a stranger that crossed his path. I watched every step, my entire being ready to attack, should it be necessary. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Although I think, in your case, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try and die again’ might be a bit more accurate.” Henry chuckled at his own joke.
“What does Samuel have to do with Katherine?” Damon asked, his voice low. I could see him struggling to control his temper. I wanted nothing more than to pick up where he left off and fight Henry to the death.
But Henry continued, unconcerned. “It is unfair to be hunted without knowing why, isn’t it? After all, it’s so much more enjoyable if your victims can take some time to ruminate on their choices. So, why do my brother and I hate you?” He paused and pretended to think. “Well, for one, you two are awfully pushy. In this country, we value people who respect our social rules. And that does not include elbowing one’s way in with compulsion and lies. So there’s that.”
“What about Katherine?” I interrupted.
“Katherine,” Henry said, chuckling to himself. “Well, Katherine’s a category unto herself. One of a kind. The type of girl you see once and remember forever. Which is why my brother can’t forgive either of you for killing her.”
“I didn’t…” Damon sputtered.
“That’s not what we heard,” Henry said in a low voice. “I knew the move to America wouldn’t be good for Katherine. Samuel knew. But she was insistent, and when that girl got an idea…” He shook his head and snickered ruefully. “It was supposed to be temporary. She called it her ‘Grand Tour,’ a chance to see the world and live a bit before she settled down,” Henry said, glancing toward the main house. “My brother was devastated when she didn’t return. He loved her. And I love him, so I’m going to do whatever it takes to help him take his revenge. Is that clear?”
“She would never have returned to Samuel,” Damon said, disgust evident in his voice.
“Oh, but she would have,” Henry said, a sly smile on his face. Was it true? Had Katherine simply been biding her time in Virginia? Every statement Henry made brought up more questions. “She was going to make her name in America, and he was going to lay claim to London. Then, they’d combine their fortunes. But of course, they’d also have their fun. United, the two of them were unstoppable. You couldn’t tie them down. They were ambitious, beautiful, and powerful.” Henry sighed. “And then you ruined it.”
“How about I help you both by putting you out of your misery? I’ll kill Samuel, so he can join Katherine in hell,” Damon growled, his eyes narrowing. They were pacing around each other as I looked on, forgotten for the moment. This truly was Gallagher’s circus ring all over again: two vampires pitted against each other, and only one would survive. As much as I hated to admit it, Damon’s odds didn’t look good.
“Don’t you want to hear more? I haven’t told you how Katherine used to write letters to my brother, laughing about the two country bumpkin boys she’d met in Virginia,” Henry taunted.
Damon lunged at Henry and threw him to the ground. “Katherine loved me,” he screamed into Henry’s face. But Henry only chuckled. Then, with incredible force, he pushed Damon off him and against a tree. In a flash, Henry had Damon’s wrists pinned to the trunk. He reared his head back and spat in Damon’s face.
“Katherine would have killed you eventually, you know. That was always her plan. And now, it seems I have to finish her job.”
Gathering my strength, I surged forward and pushed Henry away from Damon, intending to get him to the ground. But he was stronger than me, and shrugged out of my grasp as easily as slipping out of a cloak. The two of us stood facing each other, panting with exertion. His arm hung limp by his side, and I felt a jolt of surprised satisfaction. At least I’d managed to injure him.
“I’m not wasting my time with you right now,” Henry hissed, cradling his elbow. He turned to head back into the party. “Try to have better manners next time. And that, of course, includes not staking your hosts,” he called over his shoulder.
Damon stood. “Coward. Let’s go, brother. I’m not going to waste my energy on that twit.”