Page 66 of All Your Bloody Lies

Achille runs his fingers through his short brown hair, his blue gaze fixating on the bag I’m holding in my hand. “I’ve wrapped up the high-stakes serial killer case,” I announce as I stride across the white-tiled floor, which complements the room’s all-white aesthetics. The only hints of color come from the yellow pillows adorning the couch and the scattered paintings depicting mountains and forestson the walls. The expansive floor-to-ceiling window floods the room with light, a detail I appreciate despite my love for the dark. “Here’s the evidence, both for your records, and for my payment.”

The smile that crosses his thin lips grows and grows until it can grow no more. “My boy, I knew I could trust you.”

The duffle smacks onto the painted white wooden desk, and I unzip it to expose the evidence of death. For a man probably in his fifties, his eager approach toward the bag annoys me.

Black hair fills nearly the entire bag, the woman’s skin inside is purple and ashen, her expression frozen in shock with parted lips and bloodshot eyes. “I do love a trophy,” he comments. “Where is the rest of her body?”

“Burned.” I watch him lean closer, inspecting as though he knows what Xeraphine looks like to confirm that it is truly her. “I figured the head would be proof enough.”

“It is. The other Hauses’ will be thrilled, and so will the authorities.” He zips up the bag and takes it from the desk, carrying it around to his whisky cart and placing it beside it. “This one has been quite the problem across state lines,” he continues, and I’m eager to hear more. “Do you know what she was? I assume Dylox, the blood smells sour.”

I nod. “She was a Vampire.”

The sympathetic expression that crosses his face has me shaking my head. “I am not attached to my own kind. I’m sure you do not cry when you kill a Mundane, sir.”

He laughs heartily, throwing his head back. “Very true, very accurate, boy.”

I inwardly cringe at being referred to as ‘boy,’ but I restrain the snarky retort I was going to counter with, which was‘Do you call me boy because I’m black?’My purpose here is to deliver the head of a woman who bears resemblance to my little demon, not to engage in verbal sparring with Achille.

“If I may ask, when did these killings start? When I first took on this assignment, I was investigating incidents from just the previous month. However, it seems this has been an ongoing issue.” I maintain a composed demeanor as I stand while he comes to sit in front of me at his desk, lighting a cigarette.

“For years, if she indeed is the same individual,” he replies after taking a drag. “Her head is surprisingly small. Miles was massive, and he wasn’t even the largest victim she claimed. If it’s the sameperpetrator, she once took down a rhino Shifter. Ever encountered one of them?”

I shake my head. “Personally, no.”

“Imagine the strength,” he continues. “They could tear someone apart even in their human form, let alone their Shifter form.”

I struggle to suppress the pride swelling within me at the thought of my little demon taking out such a beast. Despite the rush of excitement, I maintain my composure, ensuring Achille doesn’t notice any physical reaction.

“I’ll inform the other Hauses’ that the trash has been taken out,” Achille declares, oblivious to the internal turmoil his words provoke in me. I remind myself to remain neutral; losing my temper here won’t serve my purpose. She is not trash, and if he isn’t careful with his mouth, he’ll soon be joining the wasteyard.

I simply nod and bow slightly.

Today, Xeraphine goes back to work, and I need to be there when she leaves. This plan only works if they believe she’s gone, so any deaths she causes need to be different from her previous killings.

“Thank you, Achille.”

As I turn to leave, he asks, “Two things before you go. First, what was the girl’s name?”

“Tabatha Whiles, but my guess is that is probably a pseudonym. I took her to Isabella; her blood has no traces either. Her entire history was gone, which would make sense considering everything you’ve said so far about her.” There, that should subdue it even more.

“And what about Mathas?”

I groan under my breath,shit, I completely forgot about that. “From what I’ve gathered, it was some random bar happenings. I don’t believe it was connected to the girl.”

“I see,” he hums, the smell of his cigarette now filling the room.

“I must get going. I’ll expect the money in my account this evening?” I peek over my shoulder, and he’s typing something on his phone, his cigarette hanging lazily from his mouth.

“Done, should be there now. I’m sure the other Hauses’ will be gracious enough to send a thank you as well. I’ll make sure they are aware you were the one that did all the work, Sirion Monroe.”

Doubtful, each Hause is just as much of a piece of shit as the next. While I don’t hate Achille because he is far better than his father wasas far as getting things done, I’m starting to only like my little demon. Everyone else can fuck right off.

Okay, not Sydni. I do enjoy that little fluttering butterfly. It’s such a night and day to Xera, and watching her get angry at her showing up randomly is endearing.

I need to go now; it’s been a few hours since I’ve stalked my girl.

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