Page 40 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

I don’t know the voice. Chiara snarls and gets up. She pulls me after her before shoving me back against the table and disappearing off the balcony in a cloud of fog.

I awkwardly come up onto my elbows. ‘Thank you, erm...’

The man before me, half-glaring at the spot where Chiara disappeared, is easily the most casually dressed person at this party, because he’s wearing what might actually be black pyjama trousers which disappear to the knees under a warm-looking grey fleece. I guess the July heat doesn’t mean much to a vampire. He doesn’t look like he’s sweating but like he was incredibly comfy until Chiara interrupted him.

‘Saif. And you are Esta Anderson.’

His style is so different to Anton’s that I want to see them side by side. Anton’s pale skin, light blond hair, and blue suit would be a stark contrast to Saif’s dark skin, black hair, and loungewear.

Saif gives me a warm smile that I happily return—he likely did just save my life, after all.

‘I am.’ I remember what Anton said about Saif researching in the library, and my heart drops. ‘I wasn’t interrupting you, was I? Anton said I could come in, and I didn’t see anyone, so I thought—’

His chuckle is so much calmer than Leverett’s—no less full of joy, just more relaxed. Like he has all the time in the world, which I suppose he does. Like he knows exactly that neither I nor Chiara could threaten him. It makes me wonder what makes a vampire powerful. Is it something that comes with age? Experience? Neither Chiara nor Saif look like they’ve been in any fights, but how would I tell? Vampires heal so quickly. Chiara would probably be too worried about breaking a nail. Saif seems too relaxed to start anything, but that doesn’t mean he can’t defend himself. Do vampires need to train in, I don’t know, martial arts? Wherever his confidence comes from, I doubt it’s misplaced.

‘I was taking a short break,’ Saif says. ‘When I came back, Chiara was already here. I’m glad I didn’t have a second drink after all, or I would have been too late.’

It’s starting to sink in that she might actually have killed me. Sure, I put on a brave face, but now that she’s gone the reality of what just happened washes over me. If Saif hadn’t arrived when he did...

And there’s nothing I could have done about it.

‘Thank you,’ I say again, less stunned and more honestly this time. Or maybe I’m more stunned? I don’t know. I don’t often have to face my own mortality like this. Or I never had to before I stepped into that void lake, anyway.

Saif nods. ‘What do you think of our library, Esta Anderson?’

I can’t tell if he’s trying to wind me up.

‘Just Esta.’ I feel like I’m asking him to drop some fancy honorary title. ‘It’s... big. How do you find anything in here?’

He smiles patiently. ‘After a century or two, you know what’s where. Anton and I have added every single book to this collection ourselves. It may not look like it, but we have a system.’

‘May I ask what you’re researching?’ It’s none of my business, but my mind lingers on Chiara. What if she sniffs me out? What if she follows me? Next time, I won’t have Saif there to step in. Next time, she might find me, Bonnie, and Lady.

Gods help her if she hurts my sister or my dog.

Saif thinks for a second. ‘You, to be blunt. Leverett asked Anton and me to look into your very curious circumstances about a week ago.’

I blush. It feels weird knowing they’ve been looking into me without me knowing; they haven’t really been researching me, have they? They’ve been trying to figure out who’s after me. Anton said something along those lines earlier, that he doesn’t have any answers. What is he discussing with Leverett? If it’s about me, shouldn’t I be there? Unless they’ve found something so horrific or so dangerous that they deem it safer if I don’t know, but that’s probably pushing it. I just can’t get myself to believe that anything so powerful would come after me. Chiara is right about one thing: I am nothing, at least in the grand scheme of things.

‘Find anything juicy?’ I ask.

Saif motions at the chairs, and I sit. He joins me. ‘Nothing new, I’m afraid. Just repetitions of the recurring hope—or prophecy, if you will—and the fears of our ultimate end.’

I shiver. ‘What prophecy?’

Saif cocks his head slightly. ‘You really don’t know?’

‘I know that the Dreamcatcher and the Mara were sent after me to stop me from exposing the Veiled.’

Saif nods. ‘That is part of it, but it’s also more complicated. As you’ve seen for yourself tonight, many Veiled live with humans just fine—malicious vampires notwithstanding.’ He winks at me, and I feel better. That’s all Chiara is—a spoiled brat. A very powerful spoiled brat compared to meek little me, but still just a child annoyed that she didn’t get the cookie she wanted. ‘Some Veiled keep lifelong friendships with humans—that’s one human lifetime, of course. Others even marry. It’s rarer, but not unheard of. You’re not the first human to know of us, which makes the attempt on your sanity all the more fascinating.’ I frown, and he adds, ‘No disrespect intended.’

‘None taken.’ Well, maybe a little. ‘Is that what Anton is discussing with Leverett?’

‘I believe they may be discussing ways to protect you, but even I can’t be sure. It seems to be a new plan. Anton hasn’t told me more.’ My heart warms a little at that. Still, I feel I should have been included. ‘Don’t begrudge them their privacy,’ Anton adds. ‘We Veiled have many terms and customs that are much easier and faster to discuss with other Veiled. It would slow things down considerably if they had to explain every other phrase to you. I believe they will fill you in if they come up with a viable strategy.’

I nod, but I’m unsure how to feel. I get what he’s saying, that they’ll make more progress faster without me there, but I still wish they’d at least told me. Unless they worry that me knowing might put me in more danger? If that’s the case, they didn’t tell Saif to keep the secret. I know now, though it’s not like I know details. So maybe this isn’t enough to put me in more immediate danger.

I see a bright flash of vibrant blue from the corner of my eye. I turn just in time to see Anton enter the room with Leverett right behind him.

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