Page 18 of Caution

The door being demolished out of the framing.

It was only a matter of time, then that crowd would be on me, doing… whatever it was they sought to do.

“Cassius,”I called out with my mind. “Why did you bring me here?”

“To get you the answers you sought.”

I blinked.

How did he get in here?

“I only have more questions and still no answers,” I snapped, propping my hands at my waist. “And now, what? I’m about to die here?”

“No you're not.” He chuckled. “Don't be dramatic.”

“Dramatic?” I scoffed. “Do you hear that?” I asked, pointing to where there were now hands pulling at the drywall separating this room from the hall. “They want my head.”

“All they know is one of their own was injured. They don't know what you are.”

“The one I injured,hesaid I was human.”

“He is mistaken.”

“So what am I, then? Are you telling me… I'm a vampire too?”

My mind went back to the conversation I’d overheard, between him and Elias. Me being a vampire didn’t make sense. That was something I’d be aware of… right?

If I was a vampire, why would they talk aboutturning me?

“You're neither, and also… both,” Cassius said, breaking into my thoughts with an answer, albeit, an insane one. “You can’t be compared to the lesser vampires, which is why they don't know what you are.”

“But you do?”

He nodded. “Because I am descended fromFirstvampires… original ones. I can smell it on you, as can the vermin who came for you out in the alley.”

“Are they not lesser vampires?”

“They are beneath them,” he said. “Leeches obsessed with, and addicted to, blood.”

“Aren’t all vampires addicted to blood? It’s kinda the definition.”

Cassius chuckled a bit. “I guess you could say that, but… not exactly, no. Not like them. But, that is for another time. We have more pressing matters right now.”

“What do you think could be more important to me than getting my questions answered?”

“Getting the crowd to leave you alone?”

Oh shit.

Somehow, I’d tuned that out in favor of focusing on the conversation.

“How am I supposed to do that?” I asked, as the door finally came crashing down, and people—no,vampires—came pouring in.

“You tell them so.” He shrugged.

“Why would they listen to me? They’re more likely to listen toyou,you're the one with the power.”

“Yes, I could call them off. But what fun would that be?” He smirked. “It has to be you.”

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