Scarlet Mirror (Rise of the Vampire Princess Book 3), page 19
A round coffee table separated the blue furniture from a highback black chair. Stephanie sat down on that one and put a tape recorder on the table and then motioned for us to sit down on the blue couch and chairs.
I sat down, and Levi sat to my left. Zayne and Mario remained standing at our backs. I wondered what it was like to be on the other side of this, staring down the vampire royal family and their guards.
“Shall we begin?” Stephanie asked, and Levi and I nodded. She leaned over and clicked the button on the recorder and I heard the whirl of machine parts. I let that noise fade into the background as I leaned back against the couch.
“Interview with Abigail Collins-Felcos, the Princess of Vampires, and Levi Felcos, the King of Vampires.”
Sounds of footsteps came from outside the door loud enough that even Stephanie hesitated for a moment. I glanced back at Zayne, asking a silent question of what was going on, and he nodded and stepped closer to the door.
“Go on,” Levi encouraged her.
There were other offices here, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it was just someone passing by to another room.
“Thank you for this chance to interview you about Abigail’s secret.”
I tried not to wrinkle my nose or snap at her. With us being recorded, I didn’t want to give her any more ammunition than she had with us. Heaven forbid the Princess of Vampires loses her temper on tape.
“I received and an anonymous letter saying that you were ready to release news to the press about your origins.” Stephanie leaned forward. “What do you have to say, Princess?”
I glanced at Levi, and he nodded. I knew I didn’t need his permission, but it was better to show that he had some sort of hold over me, even if we were just now getting ready to say that he wasn’t my actual sire.
“I have no sire,” I said, keeping my voice calm and collected. I met Stephanie’s eyes, and I saw some disappointment in them.
“You’re kidding.”
I could taste the disbelief on her tongue and the disappointment.
“All vampires have a sire. It’s how vampires are made.”
I let out a short laugh. “Not me. Buckle up Stephanie, because you wanted this exclusive, and I’m going to lay it on you. It started when my mother met Levi and worked for him…”
I told her most of the story, leaving out that my mother also worked for Ira, leaving out Oliver’s part in it, and keeping the spell vague. I recalled what it was like to fight and kill Samuel, even though I died in the end. I even kept in that I was an elemental but didn’t clarify that I kept those powers.
Stephanie drank it all in. Every word of it.
When I was done, she was grinning. “Any questions?” I asked.
She beamed at me, and the moment she opened her mouth, Zayne stepped up to my back again. “Sorry to cut this short, but we need to leave now.”
Stephanie looked shocked. “You can’t leave. I have so many questions.”
“There are vampires outside the building waiting. That’s what we heard before. They aren’t being quiet about the fact that they are waiting for the King and Princess. So, we must take them to safety.”
Stephanie paled. “And what about me?”
I really wanted to throw out ‘what about you?’ but I didn’t. “She’s right. We just gave her some information everyone is going to be after.”
Levi nodded. “Mario, take her to safe house seven. Make sure it’s stocked for a good amount of time. She can write her article there.”
Mario didn’t look pleased, but bowed his head. “Of course, my king.”
“Zayne, Abigail. You know where to go.”
I nodded, and Zayne put his hand on my shoulder.
“Mario knows where to find.”
Stephanie’s office disappeared around me and, to my surprise, we reappeared outside my house. I glanced at Zayne. “Is this really where I’m supposed to go in case of an emergency?”
He nodded. “The vampires found you at Stephanie’s because of a tipoff. They don’t know where you live. One was talking about how your house would be impossible to get to anyway because of the rumored protections you have.”
“I don’t like how loud they were. You could hear all that from the door?”
Zayne nodded, and we walked into the house. “I don’t either. It felt like it was probably a trap. Mario and Levi will go to a safe house. You will come here. And we’ll touch base with the council soon.”
I went back to my papers in the living room and picked up the list I’d been finishing up when we left. “Something’s not sitting right in my gut.”
Zayne raised a brow. “Is it the human food you’ve been eating?”
I shook my head. “Not literally. Like I have a feeling something’s going on and I can’t put my finger on it.”
The rest of the night was quiet except for a text from Levi saying he was safe and we would discuss my case tomorrow night.
I nursed my cup of coffee, staring at my phone.
“He will not change his mind, you know,” Zayne said and sat down next to me. “That you two were caught at the same place once already was bad enough. If the vampires had attacked and took you both out…”
“There would go the ruling vampires. Yeah, I know.” I set my coffee down. “But I have a feeling I’m on to something, and I need to pass it by him. Tomorrow night we’re both supposed to go to Valencia’s. How is this going to affect that?”
“That’s different. We’re going in under a truce, for one. And no one other than the council and Valencia’s people know we’re going there.”
I sighed. “Okay, fine.” I picked up my coffee again right as the front door opened.
Liz walked in with a file in her arms. “We need to chat.”
I raised a brow. “About what?”
“About that attack at the park.”
Damn, I’d forgotten she was working on that. “I was told I wasn’t allowed to help with that investigation.”
“Yeah, well. You are now.” She dropped the file in front of me. She flipped it open, and I found several grainy pictures of people there. I frowned, not knowing who I was looking at.
“Next page.” She told me as if reading my mind.
She went to the coffeepot and poured herself a mug.
I turned the page and looked over the names. Each one rang a bell, but I couldn’t exactly place it.
Until…
I ran to the living room and dug for a list I’d found in Grayson’s files and then back to the kitchen, almost sliding into Zayne as I tried to stop. “There’s no way…” I put my list down next to Liz’s list and let out a string of colorful curses that ended with the word ‘fuck.’
Zayne looked over my shoulder. He pulled his phone out and the next thing I knew, he was speaking in another language. The only word I could catch was Catalina and fuck.
I glanced at Liz. “So, you recognized the names, and now I’m allowed to work it.”
“Agent O’Donald has already authorized it. We’re just waiting for Levi to approve.”
I wasn’t sure if he would considering how Zayne was going off on the phone. I wasn’t sure if Catalina would be on my side with this or not.
“Levi is in a safe house right now,” I said, and flipped the next page. The victims were laid out in a row. I didn’t know any of them personally, but Levi had told me that two of them were donors.
The next page was information on the first of five on our lists.
I scanned past the name and basic information, but stopped when it was noted that he was supposed to be in vampire custody. Yet, no one knows how he ended up back on the streets.
I flipped the next one, the same thing.
And the next.
All five.
My trip to The Compound came back to mind ‘You have enemies in here. Vampires you put away as part of PIB, vampires that Agent Yorkingson put away. You better hope we don’t get out of here.’
I sat down and shook my head. “This…this is…”
“Catalina is checking with the complex now.” Zayne shoved his phone in his pocket. “And then she’ll inform Levi.”
“How did they get out? That place is locked down tight with magic surrounding it.”
Except I knew how they got out…
“They had to have had help,” Zayne muttered.
Liz leaned against the counter. “Now what?”
Her phone rang, and she sat her mug down and answered it. “Agent Jefferson speaking.”
“The vampires are taking the case.” Agent O’Donald’s voice came over the phone. “I have requested that you help them since it has been your investigation.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll work with them,” she stated and met my gaze. “I’m with the Princess now. We’ll start pulling our sources together.”
“Atta girl, Jefferson.” O’Donald said, and the call disconnected. “Catalina didn’t waste any time on that.”
“She won’t want to admit that something went wrong.” Zayne nodded. “So, it’s easier to just say the case is now ours.”
I stared down at the list. “I didn’t put any of these people away. Not even in minor cases.”
“So, it’s not revenge driven then.” Zayne assumed. “Maybe it’s not personal and they are just causing havoc.”
That didn’t sit right. “Liz, have there been any more?”
She shook her head. “No, but of course there haven’t been any big support events like that held yet.”
There was that.
I sighed. “I wonder if this is connected to that lab Catalina wanted Levi and I to investigate tonight, or if that’s a completely separate problem.”
“Who knows? And that investigation is off the to-do-list until Levi feels it’s safe enough to go.” Zayne sighed. “Right now, why don’t you and Liz go over files or drink coffee or something?”
“I want to know what you were talking to Catalina about.” I picked my mug back up. “You rarely switch to an unfamiliar language around me.”
“I can’t tell you right now. You just have to trust me.” Zayne shrugged, and I tasted no lie from him, but there was a hint of regret.
There wasn’t much for Liz and me to go through at this point. We had the two lists, and all the Grayson files, and his list of travels.
We had nothing else we could go on until we got the all clear that I could leave the house.
“How’d the interview go with Stephanie?” Liz asked as she reached for a slice of pizza. I’d broken down and cooked one of the frozen pizzas that Merick had bought.
“She didn’t believe me at first, but then she ate up the entire story. She’s currently sitting in a safe house because of the vampires that were waiting outside of her office.” I snorted. “So, she gets some quiet time to write the article. We’ll see what she comes up with. She thinks it’s going to take her from the tabloids to the actual news.”
“What do you think?”
I shrugged. “I think people are going to have a hard time believing it. It sounds insane and is against everything we know about vampires. Without further proof, any news outlet that is worth their salt won’t chase it. Let the rumors fly. We’ve dealt with them before.”
Liz nodded. “I think that might be an excellent tactic. How are you holding up?”
I glanced at her and set my pizza down. “I’m keeping busy. I haven’t heard anything more about the case or from the wolves.” A wave of grief hit me, but I shoved it down. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to the pack and the pups. The third in charge, he wasn’t near as strong as Simon or Travis.”
“Hopefully, the vampire they allied with can help them recover.”
“Or help them find other packs. Which would leave this territory open to a new pack.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to think about werewolf politics right now. I just want to eat my pizza.”
“You can’t just keep shoving down your emotions,” Zayne said. “Eventually you’re going to break.”
I glared at him. “I’m dealing with my emotions just fine.”
He held his hands up and I realized he might have a point.
“I’m grieving. It’s just a lot of internal processing. Okay? I wait for Simon to call me or show up. I miss curling up with him on the couch and watching stupid tv, and the way he stroked my hair as he fell asleep while we watched. I miss our jokes, and I miss his wolf. I…I have to deal with the fact that my time with him has been cut short.” My vision became blurry. “I knew I would not get to spend eternity with him, but I thought I had at least a few years left.”
I pulled a pillow toward me and hugged it. “And someone took those few years away from me.”
Liz pulled me into a hug, and I swore I could feel her glare at Zayne over my shoulder, but I said nothing. I closed my eyes to get control over myself.
Zayne’s phone rang, and I heard him get up and leave the room. I’m not entirely sure why he still did that. I could still hear him from the living room. Maybe it was the illusion of privacy.
I pulled away from Liz and wiped my eyes. “Sorry.”
She shook her head. “Nothing to be sorry for.” She leaned forward and picked up her pizza. “Let’s turn on some stupid television and unwind for a bit.”
I held up a finger as Zayne’s voice sounded from the other room. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Has anyone found the vampires that were outside of the office?”
I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but Zayne’s reaction was all I needed to hear.
Lots of cussing.
“Okay, I’ll bring her, but she’s volatile tonight.”
I rolled my eyes at the description. You break into tears once and suddenly you’re ‘volatile.’
“Understood.”
A moment later, he walked back into the room. “We’re going back to The Compound.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Like hell we are.”
“You’re the only one who knows if someone is lying. If we want to find these vampires, it’s our best chance.”
Maybe volatile was the right word because I wanted to lash out at him.
“Fine.” Was the answer I finally gave him. “Does Levi know I’m going this time?”
“Yeah, he’s agreed to it.” Zayne held his hand out. “Let’s go.”
I glanced at Liz. “I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll hang out for a bit.” She raised her mug. “And make sure that you have fresh coffee for when you get back.”
“If you get bored, there’s a notepad on the counter with some information on it. Look at it and use PIB’s resources?”
“Sure.” She nodded. “Have fun playing with the baddies.”
I snorted, and Zayne took us away.
We made it through the enchanted forest and into the interrogation room. Catalina was already waiting there for us with another vampire.
This was a woman, not the man from before. Her blond hair was chopped short, her eyes red and dangerous with bloodlust. Her hands were chained to the table, and I knew without touching the shackles that they were silver by the leather cover on them.
At least she wasn’t getting burned.
I sat down in front of her. “I’m sure you know who I am.”
She sneered at me. “So confident of your new title?”
“Really, I’m just trying to get past the fake niceties, because we both don’t want to be here.”
“On the contrary, Princess, I’ve wanted to meet you since you’ve changed. Since that bastard of a sire you have came out to the public as King.”
There was not one taste of a lie in that sentence. I wasn’t sure how to respond. “Do you know why Catalina pulled you?”
“She seems to think that I know something about vampires who escaped here.” She grinned at me, showing fangs. “Why she brought you in here, I don’t know. I feel like interrogations are Levi’s thing.”
“Do you know something?” I asked, already tired of this conversation.
She titled her head to one side and her tongue darted over one of her fangs. “I know something about it. But I want a good meal if I tell you.”
“No,” Catalina stated before I could even respond.
I glanced over my shoulder at her and then back at the woman in front of me. “Why are you in containment?”
Her eyes flickered to Catalina and then to me. “I’m being punished because I killed someone in bloodlust. The same as you did, Princess. I was starved and then given a bleeding human. I lost my control and…and…” She hung her head. “I killed the human.”
It probably would have resonated more with me if she’d been telling the truth. The bitter taste of the lie hit my tongue and anger filled me. “Try again,” I snapped. “This time, don’t lie.”
She laughed. “Not falling for my attempt to make you sympathize?”
“I’m over your bullshit, that’s what I am. Why are you actually here?”
She wouldn’t say.
“Catalina?” I asked, my voice cold and hard.
“She killed children by feeding from them. Four in total,” Catalina stated. “Her feeding schedule is part of that punishment.”
I turned back to the woman. “So no, no feeding.”
“You’re so cruel, Princess. Don’t you want information?” She asked, her head still tilted to the side.
“I do.” I nodded. “But I don’t negotiate with monsters.”
She cackled. “You’re a monster now, Princess. You need blood to survive just as much as the rest of us. Children’s blood is the best. It’s sweet and delicious. Not tainted. I have no regrets—”
My power lashed out without me realizing it, and she jerked back into her chair, hands still tethered to the table.
She let out a cry of pain and then looked at me with a blood-stained cheek. “See, a monster.”
“I’m not interested in your feeding habits,” I snapped. “I’m not here to ask about your favorite foods. I’m here about the five vampires that escaped this place.” I snarled, trying to rein my power in.
Catalina was still behind me. If she was upset about the power, she said nothing. I had no way to read her without seeing her or without her speaking.
“Those five are just the start.”
