her shoulder.
You have been summoned to attend a masked ball and feast to celebrate the arrival of Elder Bishop, on Saturday the twentieth of October, at the Eldersâ Council Hall at the hour of midnight.
You will attend at the invitation of the lady Ysandre, and are required to accompany her at her pleasure.
ââWhoâs Ysandre?ââ Eve asked.
Claire was too busy worrying about the phrase at her pleasure.
They located Sam Glass at Common Grounds, sitting and talking with two others Claire didnât recognize, but Eve clearly did, from the nods they exchanged. Humans, because they were wearing bracelets. They said their good-byes and cleared the chairs for Eve and Claire.
Sam looked a lot like Michaelâa little older, maybe, with a slightly wider chin. He had red hair to Michaelâs bright gold, but a similar build and height.
That had nearly gotten him killed, not so long ago, when heâd taken a stake meant for Michael. He still looked drawn, Claire thoughtâtired, too. But his smile was genuine as he nodded his greeting. ââLadies, ââ he said. ââItâs good to see you. Eve, I didnât think youâd ever come in here again, not voluntarily. ââ
ââBelieve me, if it wasnât for you, I wouldnât,ââ she said, and tapped dark purple fingernails on the scarred table in agitation. ââDo you know where Michael is?ââ
Samâs ginger eyebrows rose. ââHeâs not at work?ââ
ââHe left last night, didnât say where he was going. We havenât seen him, and heâs not at work. So? Ideas?ââ
ââNothing good,ââ Sam said, and sat back in his chair. ââDoes he have his car?ââ
ââYeah, as far as I know. Why?ââ
ââGPS. All of our cars are trackable.ââ
ââWow, good to know in case I ever go into the grand-theft-auto business around here,ââ Eve said. ââWhoâs got the supersecret-spy tracking gear, and how do I get my hands on it?ââ
ââYou donât,ââ Sam said. ââIâll take care of it.ââ
ââSoon?ââ
ââAs soon as I can.ââ
ââBut I need to find him! What if heâsâââ Eve leaned even closer, dropping her voice to a whisper. ââWhat if someone has him?ââ
ââWho?ââ
ââBishop!ââ
Samâs eyes widened, and all over the coffee shop, other heads snapped up. Mostly vampires, Claire thought, who knew the name, or at least knew of it. And who could hear a whisper across a crowded room.
ââQuiet,ââ Sam said. ââEve, stay out of it. Itâs nothing for any of you to get involved in. Itâs our business.ââ
ââItâs our business, too. The guy was in our house . He threatened us, all of us,ââ Eve said. ââCanât you find out right now? Because otherwise Iâm going to call up Homeland Security and tell them that weâve got a whole bunch of terrorists skulking around in the dark.ââ
ââYou wouldnât.ââ
ââOh, I so would. With glee. And Iâd tell them to bring tanning beds and conduct interviews at noon out in the parking lot.ââ
Sam shook his head. ââEveâââ
Eve slammed her hand down on the table. It sounded like a gunshot, and every head turned in their direction. ââIâm not kidding, Sam!ââ
ââYes, you are,ââ he said, deliberately quiet. ââBecause if you were serious, you would be making a threat against people who control the destiny of your next heartbeat, and that would be very, very stupid. Now, say youâll let me handle this.ââ
Eveâs
You have been summoned to attend a masked ball and feast to celebrate the arrival of Elder Bishop, on Saturday the twentieth of October, at the Eldersâ Council Hall at the hour of midnight.
You will attend at the invitation of the lady Ysandre, and are required to accompany her at her pleasure.
ââWhoâs Ysandre?ââ Eve asked.
Claire was too busy worrying about the phrase at her pleasure.
They located Sam Glass at Common Grounds, sitting and talking with two others Claire didnât recognize, but Eve clearly did, from the nods they exchanged. Humans, because they were wearing bracelets. They said their good-byes and cleared the chairs for Eve and Claire.
Sam looked a lot like Michaelâa little older, maybe, with a slightly wider chin. He had red hair to Michaelâs bright gold, but a similar build and height.
That had nearly gotten him killed, not so long ago, when heâd taken a stake meant for Michael. He still looked drawn, Claire thoughtâtired, too. But his smile was genuine as he nodded his greeting. ââLadies, ââ he said. ââItâs good to see you. Eve, I didnât think youâd ever come in here again, not voluntarily. ââ
ââBelieve me, if it wasnât for you, I wouldnât,ââ she said, and tapped dark purple fingernails on the scarred table in agitation. ââDo you know where Michael is?ââ
Samâs ginger eyebrows rose. ââHeâs not at work?ââ
ââHe left last night, didnât say where he was going. We havenât seen him, and heâs not at work. So? Ideas?ââ
ââNothing good,ââ Sam said, and sat back in his chair. ââDoes he have his car?ââ
ââYeah, as far as I know. Why?ââ
ââGPS. All of our cars are trackable.ââ
ââWow, good to know in case I ever go into the grand-theft-auto business around here,ââ Eve said. ââWhoâs got the supersecret-spy tracking gear, and how do I get my hands on it?ââ
ââYou donât,ââ Sam said. ââIâll take care of it.ââ
ââSoon?ââ
ââAs soon as I can.ââ
ââBut I need to find him! What if heâsâââ Eve leaned even closer, dropping her voice to a whisper. ââWhat if someone has him?ââ
ââWho?ââ
ââBishop!ââ
Samâs eyes widened, and all over the coffee shop, other heads snapped up. Mostly vampires, Claire thought, who knew the name, or at least knew of it. And who could hear a whisper across a crowded room.
ââQuiet,ââ Sam said. ââEve, stay out of it. Itâs nothing for any of you to get involved in. Itâs our business.ââ
ââItâs our business, too. The guy was in our house . He threatened us, all of us,ââ Eve said. ââCanât you find out right now? Because otherwise Iâm going to call up Homeland Security and tell them that weâve got a whole bunch of terrorists skulking around in the dark.ââ
ââYou wouldnât.ââ
ââOh, I so would. With glee. And Iâd tell them to bring tanning beds and conduct interviews at noon out in the parking lot.ââ
Sam shook his head. ââEveâââ
Eve slammed her hand down on the table. It sounded like a gunshot, and every head turned in their direction. ââIâm not kidding, Sam!ââ
ââYes, you are,ââ he said, deliberately quiet. ââBecause if you were serious, you would be making a threat against people who control the destiny of your next heartbeat, and that would be very, very stupid. Now, say youâll let me handle this.ââ
Eveâs
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