Scarlet and Kayla landed in Washington, the next day she would know which direction she was going to take. It took them almost six hours to get there. It was late they decided to go straight to their hotel for some rest the exploring would have to wait until the next day. While Scarlet prepared for her interview, Kayla was flipping through the city guide she had bought from the airport.
She planned to drop by the Washington Post, to get a feel of the place in case she got in next fall and also in case she didn’t. She wanted to know how it looked like if her plans fell through. Her almost admittance did not guarantee her a spot during the next intake, she needed to scope the place out. Scarlet turned in early leaving Kayla to her planning. She had never been this nervous as she lay in bed she rehearsed what she was going to say in her mind.
***
They had a couple of hours to hunt and only had two days to get the others to their side. He knew it would take a lot more than a mere conversation he would have to figure out how much he could give them. When they got back to the car, Vincent had gotten his color back. His skin was clear of any marks when he stood under the bright sun. They were all well fed and they could last for a week. When they got back to the car they drove towards San Jose. Vincent was nervous about dropping in on the other vampires but didn’t have much of a choice.
When they got there Solara noted that nothing had changed. They still lived in the dark dirty place he wondered how they could stand living like that. Since he had been with Kayla he got accustomed to the human way of doing things. He was much neater and was aware of his surroundings. Scarlet was a neat freak so whenever he was at the house he picked up after himself. They waited at the door, they knew that the others had sensed their presence. When the door opened the same old man opened the door. Solara wondered whether this was the only reason they let him stay with them, to open the door for strangers.
He stood aside, giving them way into the house. It was just as stuffy as the last time they were there. They made their way to the living room the old vampire walking behind them. The odor of dried up blood immediately hit them. They couldn’t help but breathe it in, they may be against the killing of humans but they still were vampires. They watched as two of the vampires stacked up dead bodies while two others carried them out to dispose of them. Considering that the dead bodies were still fresh the stench wasn’t so bad.
Stephan hoped that they would burn the bodies to not draw suspicion to themselves. He was evaluating his idea of asking them to join with him. He wasn’t too sure he wanted to be associated with them. Bringing them into the fold may compel him to tell them about Scarlet and Kayla. What would stop them from making a meal out of the two girls?
But he needed them to help against the Conselho he would keep the humans to himself for the time being. They stood there watching them feed on the last of their prey, Stephan was relieved that they had thought of hunting before they came here. He didn’t know if they would have had the restraint that they did now.
From a dark corner, they heard someone speak his voice was deep and cracked. “I see you are back and you came with the mighty Stephan Jeraldi.” A burst of evil laughter escaped his throat.
Stephan stiffened he knew that laughter all too well. He took a step towards the dark corner trying to see the face of the voice. His eyes widened in shock.
The man stepped out of the shadows with his arms stretched out as if waiting for an embrace. “Now my old friend won’t you come and greet me as you should.”
Stephan’s body grew hot he was livid. His silver eyes turned blood red and he clenched his fingers into fists at his sides. His shoulders heaved up and down in tune to his ragged breathing.
“Mathias!” he took a step towards him.
Vincent reached to grab his arm to pull him back. They weren’t here to fight on the contrary they came to ask for help and attacking the vampire who seemed to head the clan was not wise. Solara grabbed his arm and shook his head.
“They served together for the Conselho. It was before your time but it didn’t end well.” Solara tried to explain to Vincent.
“You got Zen and I kicked off the guard. You can’t hold it against him for what he did can you?” Loath dripped from Mafias’ tone. “I had nothing to do with what he did. We parted ways after he turned you into Marquis.”
Stephan kept his stance. He looked like he was about to attack him he tried to calm himself down. Phasing wasn’t in his best interest at the moment. Mathias being the leader of the clan posed a problem he wasn’t about to ally with the person who killed…
He heard a feral growl from behind him, when he turned he saw Vincent struggling with Solara. Stephan had forgotten about that small detail. He stepped back to restrain him, a fight would not end well for them, and they were outnumbered.
“YOU KILLED MY SISTER!” He was still fighting against their hold, his arms stretched out towards Mathias trying to grab him.
Mathias took a step back he was in shock, “Your mate was his sister?” he was looking at Stephan a questioning expression on his face. “I think it would be best that you leave. And if you do come back please leave the young one behind or tell him to control his temper.”
Stephan and Vincent each took one of Solara’s arms. They dragged him out of the house him resisting as much as he could. Stephan knew he would have to go back he didn’t have a choice in the matter. He shoved Solara into the car and walked back into the house.
“Mathias! We need to talk.” Stephan went back to where he had left him, he was still in the room but was pacing now. Stephan stood toe to toe with the vampire. He was a foot shorter than Mathias but was bigger. He knew that he would not be able to defeat him if he was just a vampire especially because he only fed on humans. But Stephan wasn’t just a vampire and the combination of both species always worked in his favor when it came to strength.
“We need to talk about the Conselho. They are reeling all their former guards back in.” He didn’t give him a chance to answer anything he was saying. “If you are interested in joining forces to resist this call me.” He dipped his finger in a spot of blood on the floor and used it to write his number on the wall.
“Then and only then will we fight side by side. But if you ever come to me without good reason I will kill you for the sins of your brother.” He wiped his finger on one of the seats before he turned and left.
Back in the car Solara had calmed himself down he had a faraway look and Stephan knew what was on his mind. He recalled the day he came to him at the diner. He was focused on avenging his sister’s death and now he had come face to face with the one vampire that linked her with the perpetrators.
***
Scarlet was in a taxi on her way to nine hundred twenty third street northwest. She rehearsed the speech in her head, she almost had it remembering to pause and breath. She had left Kayla back at the hotel now she wished she had brought her along. When the taxi stopped in front of the hospital entrance she began to hyperventilate. It took her a while before she composed herself.
She stepped into the hospital and she was in awe at how big and sophisticated it was. Although it was painted white like all the other hospitals, the walls at the reception were adorned with pictures. The heads of the hospitals, the important people who visited the hospital, and the volunteer causes they were involved in. She pictured herself walking through the halls, helping the little children deal with loss or the confusion of it.
She went to the reception desk to hand over the appointment card the university had forwarded to her. She was immediately led to another reception room where fifteen other hopefuls waited their turn. She was nervous about the odds she wondered whether she could beat the other fifteen to get a place in the fellowship. She took a seat and waited for her turn.
***
They were halfway home and all that Stephan wanted was to crawl into Scarlet’s bed. To lie where she did every single night they were together and take in her scent. To him, home was where she was.
“Stephan I hope you are not planning to team up with the man who killed my sister.”Solara finally broke the silence in the car.
He didn’t know what to say to his anguished friend. When Push came to shove they wouldn’t have a choice but to rely on Mathias’s numbers. “Only if we have to. So let’s hope that we don’t.” He hoped that they wouldn’t.
All he wanted was to live a quiet life with Scarlet without wondering what was coming after him next. It wasn’t the kind of life that he wanted for them or her. He had no plans of uprooting her life. He was glad that she was in Washington chasing her dreams. He hoped that she could catch it, it was something that she wanted for herself. It did mean that she would have to move but he didn’t mind he would follow her wherever she would go as long as she wanted him.