Page 62 of How to Stake a Vampire
“Ouija boards and pamphlets advertising summoning circles are so passé, my dear,” Melody said.
Her low laugh made Titania shudder.
“So is inherited snobbery,” the demon shot back.
“Come now, there’s no need for trash talk,” Daria protested.
No one was listening to the witch.
Finnic raised a drinking horn half his size. “How about we get this show on the road? I have places to be and barrels to drink.” The dwarf’s voice had an edge to it that said his battleaxe may soon make an appearance.
“How aboutyoutry not to drink at every damn meeting?” Wendall snapped, his nostrils sparking with irritation.
“It’s Friday,” Finnic growled, as if that explained everything.
“You lot are giving the Alliance a bad rep,” Cornelius said icily.
Titania bobbed her head, gossamer wings fluttering agitatedly.
“He’s not wrong,” Portia contributed with a sniff.
“Indeed,” Pearl sneered.
“Word,” Bo muttered.
“The next one who interrupts is going to be saying ‘ribbit’ for the rest of the weekend!” Daria snarled.
The speed at which the room fell silent indicated she had made true on this threat in the past.
“Are these really the most powerful people in Amberford?” Ellie whispered doubtfully to Virgil.
I could see why my best friend would think this. Trying to deal with the Alliance felt a bit like trying to herd a roomful of cats, most of them snooty Persians.
Daria rubbed her temples. “Samuel, you raised this emergency agenda item. The floor is yours.”
Samuel stood and waited until he had everyone’s attention before addressing the room.
“You’ve all probably heard the rumors about what’s been happening in Amberford this week. The blood bank robberies Gregory reported to us at our last meeting in fact escalated and he rightly assigned Hawthorne & Associates to carry out an investigation into the matter.”
“He just told us about it.” Wendall flashed a dark look at Gregory.
“You could have sent a text on the group chat, Gregory,” Portia complained.
“If he’s anything like Samuel, he probably deleted the group chat,” Pearl said nastily.
Guilt danced briefly in Samuel’s eyes. Gregory’s face tightened.
Finnic raised an eyebrow. “So it wasn’t just a newborn fledgling?”
“No. And things have taken a bad turn since. Several prominent vampires have also become the victims of the perpetrator.” Samuel frowned. “We almost lost Lord Chudwell on Wednesday.”
“I heard about that funeral,” Titania said.
I earned some wary looks from the Alliance as they began talking animatedly.
Daria scowled, magic bursting into life in her right hand.
The noise died down abruptly.
