It was easy, too easy, she thought as she did a walk around of the parking lot. Those vampires had been some of the weakest she’d ever fought before. Lily would join a beauty pageant if any of those vamps were over a hundred years old. “This was not fun,” Donovan, the large muscular fairy complained. “Hell, I’ve seen fairy babes that fight harder and better than this lot,” he continued to complain.
“Yes, something isn’t right. These were all newly turned. I even suspect that this was their first night for some,” Dorin said, frowning.
“What does that mean?” Lily demanded, starting to cross her arms over her chest but pausing when she remembered the blood on her hands and arms. She looked at herself and realized her clothes were just as bad so she finished the gesture.
“It means,” Evangeline said, walking over to them. She was the only one who was free of blood but then as a succubus, her powers didn’t rely on violence. “That this was a distraction. Lord Etienne, the alphas, and James went to check the vampire prisoners. The Crow has checked on the human girl. She’s fine, well as fine as one can be considering the situation she’s in.”
“Maybe it was just a test of our strength,” Lily said as she looked over the dead. “This Vincent knew he could take on Nick’s pack when it was just Nick but it’s him, his brother, a few other packs, James, me, and Lord Etienne’s bunch.”
“That’s quite possible,” She heard Nick say and Lily turned to face him and the others.
“But it was also a distraction so that Vincent could recover the captives from the lab or at least the vampire ones at least,” Lord Etienne jumped in. “The lycans and the human captives were executed,” he added, not looking pleased with the news. Lily wasn’t too happy with it either. They’d lost Veronica and her chance to find out just how far the vampire had betrayed her. Lily growled out her frustration.
“I’m going to kill that vamp,” She declared as she looked out towards the busy parking lot. As these vamps were so new they didn’t crumble to dust like the older ones did. They would have to dispose of. Lily rather felt sorry for the vampires; especially those had been just turned. With what she knew of this Vincent, she was sure they hadn’t asked for this. They were just more victims to add to the list.
“Why didn’t he go after Tristen,” James asked, voicing Lily’s own unasked question. “He went through all the trouble of going down to Miami to kidnap her, bring her here, and keep her alive. So why didn’t he come for her first?”
“Because he knows the girl isn’t going anywhere,” Etienne replied. “I have a feeling tonight was most about eliminating the threat the captives posed to him. I’m guessing they knew something that he didn’t want us finding out.” The vampire stood still, unnaturally still, with a thoughtful look on his pale face.
“What could they know? I think we covered pretty much everything in the interrogations,” Lily asked.
“I have a few theories but it doesn’t matter now. It is something we’ll never know. The captives are either dead or freed. The only we can do now is continue with our own plans,” Etienne stated.
“I suggest with James, and the trackers should begin searching the woods to see what they can find. Especially with the scents being so fresh,” Dorin offered.
“I should go. I know Veronica’s scent. It would be easy for me to follow,” Lily jumped in. She watched to catch that little vamp so bad she could taste it and maybe if she was lucky Vincent too.
“No,” Lord Etienne spoke. “You need to stay here, Lily,” he said with a tone that made her frown.
“Why? Why the hell do I need to stay here?” She demanded, doing her best to stare him down.
“Because either you or James should remain here to help protect the others at all times and second, you’re hungry,” he replied. How did he know she was hungry? Did she smell or something?
“I could eat first and what does being hungry have to do with anything,” She shot back, full out glaring at him now. She couldn’t help but feel a little smug when he gave her a look that hinted towards irritation. Lily was starting to get to him.
“My first argument still stands then. Either you or James should be here or if you must insist, being hungry makes you unpredictable and dangerous to those around you,” he replied.
Lily just scowled at him. “Fine. Go run around in the woods see if I care,” she demanded throwing her hands up in the air. “But you are so off my Christmas list,” she added. Lily sent the vampire lord one final glare before walking back to her hotel room, silently cursing him along the way.
Lily took a shower and changed clothes before addressing her hunger. She decided to boil water in the microwave to warm up the blood without destroying its properties. Maybe that would make it tasted better or at least that’s what she was hoping for. She sat at the table, waiting for the blood to warm up in the large bowl, wishing it wouldn’t take so long when she heard someone knock on the door. “Come in,” she called out, leaning back in the chair. Maybe it was true about blood what they said about boiling water.
Lily straightened, seeing Tristen walk into the room. “Tristen? Uh hi,” she said, feeling a little awkward. The girl gave her a brief and small smile as she closed the door.
“Hi,” she said, sitting down next to Lily. “I was wondering if you could tell me what’s going on? Everyone else seems busy”
“Great, just put salt in the wound there, kid,” she said sourly.
“What?” Tristen asked, looking confused and Lily sighed.
“Nothing,” she said begrudgingly then glanced towards the bag. She hoped Tristen didn’t notice it or maybe thought it was something else than a bag full of blood.
“Vincent made a move against us tonight,” Lily said and the teen’s eyes widened.
“W-what happened,” she asked, a tremble in her voice.
“We pushed him back easily,” Lily told her, not exactly lying. “Though he did take the vampires we captured back.” Therefore, it didn’t happen exactly like that but the girl had enough to worry about the last two months.
“So… uh… what’s next?” She asked, hugging herself.
“We’ll find Vincent and make him pay for what he’s done to you and Nick’s pack,” Lily replied, glancing over at the blood.
“I see,” Tristen said, chewing on her lower lip in thought. “So, exactly how are we supposed to be related?”
Lily’s jaw dropped in shock. What the hell! “Wha… who told you,” Lily demanded, feeling anger lick at her again.
“You have a bag of blood sitting on the table and I know you’re not a vampire,” Tristen told her in a “well duh” tone. Lily glared at the bag for a moment, grabbing it. Now the cat was out of the bag there was no need for her to go hungry.
“Point noted,” Lily said, leaning back in the chair. “I know it’s hard to believe, right? I’m so Indian to your cowboy, right?”
“Well yeah but I was thinking something a little more politically correct,” Tristen replied with a shrug.
“Eh, I’m the minority when I use insulting slang or terms it’s all good. It’s like when a black person calls another nigger,” Lily said before biting into the bag. She began then scrunched her nose in disgust. Man it still really tasted like crap.
“I am not so sure about that,” Tristen said, mimicking Lily’s nose wrinkling as she watched her. “Feel better?” She asked when Lily finished.
“No, not really,” Lily said tossing the empty bag on the table. “It’s like eating a soggy TV dinner lasagna when you were expecting the Mama’s homemade stuff. I’m not starving anymore but I still have that itch for more.”
“Oh, why don’t you drink like in the movies? Well not like kill people but you know,” Tristen asked.