The vampire from the Land of the Phoenix series meets the vampire and hunter from the To Cure series
“Blood rage,” Tay says, standing defensively in between me and Lothaire. “We should end this extremely soon.”
But the red-eyed vampire is inspecting the other vampire in the room.
“You don’t feel like a vampire,” Abby Rormton comments, stepping closer to Lothaire.
“You don’t smell entirely vampiric yourself,” he replies.
Tay looks over at me and the message he wants to convey is clear: as long as Lothaire is more interested in Abby than he is in us, then we will be okay—for now.
I nod to show my understanding. He turns his full attention back to Lothaire.
“You’re right, I’m only a partial vampire.”
Lothaire raises his eyebrows and leans closer to her. “Truly? How is that even possible?”
Abby casts her gaze to the side. “Uh, science.”
“Science has come a long way since I was human.” And suddenly his eyes are back on me.
Tay tenses, pulling out a chain whip.
I look around my room, hoping it’s not about to be destroyed. “Tay, he’s not in a blood rage,” I whisper. “That’s just how his eyes are.”
Tay nods, but doesn’t relax in the slightest.
Lothaire focuses on Tay, seemingly finally noticing the extremely powerful—and armed!—human in the room. “And who are you supposed to be?”
“I’m a vampire hunter,” Tay growls. “A very experienced one.”
“A hunter?” Lothaire asks, excitement lighting his face. “Wow, I’ve never met one. I bet you and Sinnafain would get on well.”
“I don’t care,” Tay retorts. “There’s a hard line that I won’t let you cross. No one is to be harmed in these meetings, alright?”
Lothaire sighs dramatically. “This is the most fun I’ve had in years. Do you really think I’d destroy all this by attacking the one person who allowed me to come out and play?”
Tay and Abby both turn their accusing eyes on me. I shrink a tad in my seat. “He’s just here to meet Abby. And you too, Tay.”
“Why me?” he asks.
“Well, it’s nice to have at least one other human in these meetings. And he is a vampire and you’re a hunter and …” I trail off, not having anything else to say to justify this particular meeting.
“So if you’re not in a blood rage, why are your eyes red?” Abby asks Lothaire. “And …” she goes silent, staring at his hair. “How … I can see stars in your hair,” she whispers.
“Well, if you were a full vampire, you’d know how,” Lothaire replies smugly.
That snaps Abby out of her awe. “If I were a full vampire, I’d be dead by now.”
“Yes, we aren’t the best liked immortals, are we?”
“Wait, there are more immortals? As in different types of immortals?” Tay asks, alarmed.
Lothaire’s amused gaze lands on him. “Oh, there are so many you won’t believe it.”
Tay and Abby exchange horrified looks.
“How many exactly?” Abby asks, going pale. “And do they target humans?”
“Ah,” Lothaire says, a light of understanding coming into his eyes. “I did wonder about why you seemed to be on the Hunter’s side in this. Your mortal half still feels compassion for your victims—I mean, humans. Perhaps you and Lumina would have more in common than I thought.”
A muscle feathers in Tay’s jaw.
“I don’t like seeing anyone getting hurt.” She focuses on Tay. “Even if they spend their lives tormenting me.”
Lothaire bursts into laughter. “Oh, this is getting interesting! He torments you yet you still ally yourself with him?”
“He’s the lesser of two evils.”
“I see,” Lothaire says, eyeing Tay now. “Well, I don’t, actually. Tell me more about the two of you. I want to know everything.”
Abby and Tay exchange another glance.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Tay answers.
“What?” Lothaire almost whines. “But you’re the most interesting dynamic in this meeting!”
I can’t say I disagree with him on that. Mainly because I’m just sitting here, not interacting and just documenting everything that’s going on.
“Come on, tell me. How does he torment you? Wait, does he smell delicious?” Lothaire closes his eyes and sniffs the air.
Abby slaps her hand over Lothaire’s mouth before he can answer his own question. “We are not going to say anything about his smell, okay?”
A look of pure mischief enters Lothaire’s eyes. “And that reaction should tell the hunter everything he needs to know.” His voice is muffled through her hand.
Abby’s eyes widen in horror and she darts her gaze near Tay, then quickly away.
“If you think that’s a revelation that could destroy this … alliance, then you’re wrong,” Tay says. “I know what vampires drink. It’s why I’m a hunter.”
Lothaire brushes Abby’s hand away from his mouth and he almost pouts at Tay. “You’re no fun.”
“I didn’t come here to be fun,” Tay snaps.
“No, you came here because Jade wanted it.”
All eyes turn to me again. I hunch. “Well, uh, this was a great meeting. Thank you all for coming and bye now!”
Tay drops his jaw, as if discovering that I wanted this awkwardness and tension all along.
But before he can say anything, he disappears, back to his world with Abby.
Lothaire hangs about, smirking at me. “I see what you’re doing. You want to troll us. But the tables can always turn.” Then he too disappears, returning to his world, leaving me wondering if this was an entirely good idea.
