Page 77 of House of Crimson Hearts
I focus on where Cordelia’s hand is on the Chief’s and brace myself to have to intervene. If Mother is right and we only have three weeks till the door eradicates itself, then we don’t have time for them to fight, sulk and make up. But to my surprise, the strangest thing happens. The Chief snaps out of it and her eyes drop to Cordelia’s hand.
“It’s okay. They are here consensually. You have my word,” Mother says.
“The word of a drainer.”
“The word of your enemy, if you like, but a word of honour no less.”
Mother’s eyes darken. There’s a pregnant pause, the room as thick and heavy as the stake in the Chief’s hands.
And then, just like that, the Chief drops it away from his chest and the vampire beneath her breathes. He speeds out from under her lap, knocking her off balance as he races from the room. Cordelia catches her, one hand landing on her back and the other gripping her arm.
The Chief’s eyes widen as she rights herself, pulling out of Cordelia’s grip. There’s a moment where the pair of them stare at each other. They hold each other in a vice, a thousand things passing between them. Secrets, memories, hatred and something else. I’m still not sure whether they’re going to go for it and kill each other.
“Thank you,” the Chief says, though it’s through gritted teeth. Cordelia merely nods, as if them being civil is commonplace.
The room is now empty save for us ten, the Chief and Mother, who makes her way to her desk as if nothing happened.
Even I am surprised by this exchange. I glance at Red, whose mouth has parted like she’s catching flies as she surreptitiously glances at Lincoln. I tap her chin closed, pleased to know that I’m not the only one shocked here.
Mother takes a seat on a throne-like chair at one of the meeting tables. Sadie stays where she is, quietly observing us like normal. Our hunter partners dutifully sit next to their paired vampires, Fenella moving to stand near the desk with Sadie. The Chief takes the seat opposite Cordelia.
“Well, that was a little distracting,” Xavier says, taking a seat next to me.
“I enjoy the entertainment,” Mother says.
“It made me hungry,” Dahlia whines.
“And me horny,” Gabriel adds, winking at Keir.
“Get a room, Gabe,” Dahlia says.
“Oh, I will later,” he replies, making Dahlia roll her eyes and the Chief give him a nasty glare, which he ignores to continue berating Dahlia.
“Oh, sweetie,” Gabriel starts, “don’t be bitter just because your vagina is a perpetually barren landscape of death. If you weren’t so angry, darling, maybe you’d get laid once in a while.”
“I think the problem is that she keeps draining everyone she fucks. Makes it a little hard to form a relationship when you have the self-control of a four-year-old,” I say.
Dahlia picks up the mug in front of her and launches it at my head. “Don’t be a cunt, Octavia, at least I’m not in love with a fucking hunter.”
Xavier catches the mug millimetres from my head.
I’m standing, about to launch myself across the table when Mother’s voice cuts through me.
“You will sit down now, Octavia, or I will disqualify you both. We will not have any more squabbling this evening, you two have embarrassed me quite enough for one night.”
I want to scream that Dahlia is a lying cunt. Instead, I’ll plot my revenge, knowing that when I am done making her life a living hell, she will willingly walk into the sun and ash herself.
Dahlia leans back in her chair, folding her arms over her chest as if she just won a prize.
“Now, we will have calm before we begin, or Iwilllose my temper, and we all know me losing my temper isn’t good for anyone.”
“How do you want to begin?” the Chief says.
“With an understanding between us, that the most important thing in this competition is securing the cure. This will be a political minefield. There will be many who don’t want you to secure it. But it’s vital for the safety and legacy of this city that it’s found,” Mother begins.
“That goes for us hunters too,” the Chief adds. “We’ve dealt with enough protests and riots over the years to know that whatever the result of this, the city is divided. Which is why we must work together.”
Mother folds her hands in front of her. “The first trial is the trial of the map. Your task, teams, is to find an ancient map.”
