High Society (The High Stakes Saga #3)

Before they realized I’d moved, I knocked two of the men’s skulls together. They fell over onto the ground while I bit the third, holding my hand over his mouth to stifle his screams. His hot, panting breaths were like music to my ears. Panic was power. God had given me the ability to hold a man’s life in my hands, to transform him into a weapon to fight the evil cancer that had been propagated and was already spreading over this land, quicker than it had in the past we’d learned about.

I pushed venom from my fangs into his veins and released him, his body falling to the ground with a thump. Turning the other two, I left them to be found by their compatriots. It was only a couple hours until dawn. The regiment would awaken, pack up the camp, and move along without them, at a faster clip than they would have without the influence of depraved vampires nipping at their heels. When the sun rose, my new sires would awaken with a certain amount of discomfort. Their skin would sting where it was exposed. Their gums and head would throb.

Then, I would find them and command them to follow me. We would grow my company and I would prepare my sires to fight Asa’s company of them.

This would be no skirmish. To Asa and Enoch, I would bring war. I would bring death.

* * *

Eve

What originally was a mass of candles spread across the surface of the desk, was now a dried, lava-like flow of wax. The candle holders sat empty, their bases encased in a waxy goo, while Titus snored. His body was slumped in the uncomfortably small chair and his head and hair were plastered to the dewy window. Dawn was creeping over the horizon.

Someone softly knocked on the door twice. I threw the blankets off and hurried to move the chest that blocked it. Asa was on the other side.

“Breakfast is ready.” He glanced into the room over my shoulder at Titus. “I don’t know how he can sleep like that.”

“Me either. I need to get dressed, but I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

Asa opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but promptly closed it again and then turned and walked away. I pressed the door closed, hurried to dress as neatly as I could, and slipped out the door. Asa was waiting for me at the bottom of the steps.

“You look well this morning.”

I jogged down the stairs. The weakness in my muscles was gone and my head didn’t feel like it was being cleaved in two this morning, so I had that going for me. And judging by the growling of my stomach, breakfast was exactly what I needed.

Down the hall was a small dining room where a table was set for three. “I assume one of these settings is for Titus. Does that mean Terah won’t be dining with us?” I asked.

“Terah is busy and I’m glad Titus is still asleep. I’d like to have a word with you in private before my brother shows up.”

He pulled out my chair, pushing it in as I sat down. It was a gallant gesture, but it left me feeling awkward. “Thanks.”

Asa laughed. “You don’t have to be polite if it bothers you.”

“It doesn’t bother me.”

“My brother told me you were a terrible liar. He was right.”

Well, his brother told me he was evil, and I’m pretty sure he was right about that, too. Asa folded his napkin over his lap and poured each of us a glass of water from a carafe. I didn’t bother to thank him, but that didn’t stop Asa from laughing at me.

“You wanted to talk?” I asked, tired of his games.

“I should have known you wouldn’t bother with pleasantries if politeness offends you,” he began ruefully. “To answer your question, yes, I have a few things to say to you. First, Terah will not bother you again.”

I couldn’t help but interrupt. He was right. Politeness be damned. “You can’t guarantee that. You didn’t sire her, and you have no control over her. She is your equal.”

“She is my sister, but beyond that bond, Terah is at my mercy because she lives here. If she wants to continue living here, she will do as I say.”

“Why doesn’t she have her own home? In every time we’ve traveled to, she’s lived with Enoch. He mentioned that she had her own ship at one point, but that didn’t seem to last long.”

“Well, that could be because her first mate committed mutiny and stole it the first time she dropped anchor to visit Enoch.”

“That’s another thing…why did Edward owe Enoch? I get why Terah hated him, but Edward kept talking about this huge debt he owed to Enoch. Enoch forgave him, but I never quite figured out what he was forgiving.”

Asa smiled as a woman brought us each a dish filled to the brim with piping hot food. Golden knots of bread, eggs with sunny middles, rice, and swirling sweet rolls. She placed a platter of fruit on the table between us and asked if we needed anything else. Asa thanked her and told her we were fine for now, but that he would call for her if we did. She curtseyed and left the room.

“Do you feed from them?”

Asa gave a hearty laugh, but I kept my fingers near my knife. “To answer your first question,” he began, “Edward stole something from Enoch. Nothing as big as a ship, mind you, and not an amount that should matter to my brother, given all he has, but even if Edward had taken only one coin, Enoch would have sought restitution. My brother feels there is a distinct line between right and wrong, and he takes great offense to anyone who wrongs him.”