Page 64 of Villains and Vengeance
I can’t quite believewhat’s happened.
Actually, that’s not true. Where Jayce is concerned, I can completely believe it. But, I suppose I hadn’t realized how far gone he was. Alone in my room, I rub my face and shake my head. I dealt with this same thing with Krase and I made the same mistakes, not seeing the madness until it was too late. Why didn’t I learn? Why couldn’t I see it in Krase? Why can’t I with Jayce?
Maybe I just don’t want to.
But that stops now. No more hiding from the truth. Jayce, like his brother, may be well on the way to being lost to us now. I only hope that Axel is alive. Jayce might promise that he is, but I’m not sure we can trust what he says now. She’s got her claws in him, poisoning his already fracturing mind.
I’m seething. For fuck’s sake! I should have taken her straight to the demon king when we had her and sorted getting out of here afterhe’dmade her tell him where the hidden portal is. Instead I’ve made a blunder that will likely cost us more than one clan member. I put my head in my hands, trying to exorcise these thoughts. I can’t afford them in here and neither can my clan.
But I can’t help but wonder how many of us will even be left if we get out of this?
I stand up and straighten, putting my emotions away for the time being. This is NOT the place to fall apart. There will be plenty of time to grieve for my brethren after we’ve pulled the tatters of our lives back together in the outside world.
At least when we get out of here, my estate is still somewhere we can go since I entailed it away to one of our shell companies years ago. Julian Maddox might be a wanted criminal at the moment, but that name doesn’t appear anywhere near where most of where our money comes from these days and, with some time, I know that wealth can buy us out of a lot of the trouble we’re in. That’s just how it works.
I leave the room and find Iron at the table sharpening a half-rusted long sword.
‘Where did you get that?’ I ask.
‘Traded with an orc for it.’
‘You shouldn’t have bothered. Looks like it’s been a thousand years since it saw battle. Thought you’d have got something out of Dante for winning that fight.’
Iron scoffs. ‘No, he was pissed that I didn’t go down when he wanted me to. He bet on the other guy. Anyway,’ he keeps up his slow movements, ‘beggars can’t be choosers. We might need to fight our way out of here before long.’
I nod my agreement. That’s true enough, especially with how things are going with Jayce and that bitch, Jules.
‘We know they’re in that tunnel in Arania Alley,’ I say. ‘Go with Daemon and try to pinpoint exactly where so we can get as close as possible.’
Someone rings the bell out in the passage and I once again lament the fact that this place has very little actual privacy. There’s no locking someone out and waiting for them to go away in the Mountain.
‘I’ll meet you up there and tell you the plan.’
I fling the curtain open though I already know it’s Silas, Dante’s pet vampire.
The pale bastard grins at me. ‘He wants to see you.’
I’d love to stake the blood-hungry cunt here and now, but I resist the temptation. I also just stop myself from mocking him over a little human so easily blinding him with garlic. Instead, I give him a regal nod. Let him think I’m ready to take my place beside his master. That way he won’t try to look past the façade to see the true plans I’m beginning to lay.
‘Lead on,’ I say.
He bows with a practiced flourish and I briefly wonder his age. I’d guess at least three-hundred years or so, but it’s difficult to tell with the ones who’ve embraced the modern age, which Silas, in his faded jeans and Motorhead tee, clearly has.
‘How long have you been here?’ I ask, making a bit of conversation to see how the land lies.
He twists his head back to glance at me, not breaking his stride. ‘About twenty years.’
‘What for, if you don’t mind me asking.’
‘Not at all.’ He grins. ‘One evening I was at a loose end. My sire had just gone into a long sleep as the bored, elder ones sometimes do and, I don’t know, I guess I got excited that I could do exactly what I wanted for a change. Went a little off the rails. Anyway, I gave in to the urges and I broke into a college frat nearby. They were having a party. I ended up killing every single person I could find in that house.’ His eyes lose their focus for a moment as he remembers. ‘And I took every pleasure I felt like. It was a helluva night.’
‘Ah,’ I say, noncommittally. ‘Suppose the authorities weren’t impressed.’
A smile that might be considered chilling to a hapless human takes over his face. ‘No, they weren’t. Didn’t think they’d find me, but it turns out I missed a girl who was hiding in a closet.’
He shakes his head, looking sheepish. ‘Can you believe that? What an idiot! Those were good times though … before the humans knew we existed.’ He shrugs. ‘At least I went out with a bang, I suppose.’ He chuckles at his own pun and I roll my eyes while he isn’t looking.
An invasive thought crosses my mind. Will Dante give Victoria -Jules– to Silas when he finally has control of her? And if he did, is Silas even one of the worst monsters in here? I doubt it. I steel myself to the unwelcome thoughts of being merciful where she’s concerned. I’m a demon and Jules isnotan innocent. She knows the score in the supe world.
