I knew you guys were territorial, but I didn't think it actually meant having defined territories.
Why do you think there is such a wide spread of vampires? Unlike werewolves, we can not easily live in each other's shadow.
Which had to make life in a nest interesting. Obviously, though, emo vamps had no such problems. To Vinny, I said, "Would you even have a say in him setting up another nest given you're one of his creations?" Surprise flitted through her eyes, and I smiled grimly. "Yes, we know all about it. The council is not so staid and set in their ways that they wouldn't feed the Directorate information when someone is killing them off."
Yeah, they totally wouldn't, Quinn said, his amusement running through my mind—a river of warmth that made me want to smile.
"I did warn him of that danger," Vinny said, her sincerity almost believable. Almost. "I tried to talk him out of his plans, but to no avail."
"Then why did he wait six months to begin his revenge?"
She snorted softly. "Why do you think? If he'd begun straight away, the culprit would have been obvious. He is many things, but a fool isn't one of them."
"So what was he doing in the six months since the council wiped out his nest?"
She shrugged, pulling against my grip. "I didn't ask and didn't care to ask. He keeps out of my way—mostly, anyway—and I keep out of his."
"But you know where he's currently residing?"
"No. As I said, Nasser isn't a fool." Her brief smile was amused. "Apparently, he doesn't trust me."
Obviously, Nasser was well aware that he'd raised a snake. "Is he a mirror wraith as well as well as an emo vamp ?"
She smiled. It set my nerves on edge. "Yes, he is. I'm surprised you discovered it, because not even the council would have known that."
"Why not?" I asked, more out of curiosity than any real need to know.
"Because he came into this country illegally, and therefore would not be listed on the council's books."
Wouldn't have mattered if he was, Quinn commented. The council wouldn't have shared the information with you.
The council are rather large pains in the butt. To Vinny, I said, "So why did Nasser come here last night?"
"Because he supplements his feeding by feeding off of us."
I raised my eyebrows. "And you let him?"
"I have no choice." She almost spat the words. "He is an old and hungry soul who cannot be satisfied with feeding off a woman or two. He needs the energy supplied by a nest."
Maybe that's why Vinny's nest has grown substantially in the last few months, Quinn commented. She's been supporting her creator's needs as well as her own.
She's using him as an excuse. She wants her own empire, and would be growing as fast as she could anyway. To Vinny, I added, "So he has fed apart from the nest?"
"Yes." Something flickered in her eyes. Amusement, perhaps. Or cunning.
"And is he capable of killing?"
The cunning in her brown eyes got sharper, and I suddenly realized that she wanted her creator out of the way. She'd give us what we wanted, all right—not only to save her skin but to get rid of his.
"If you're asking me if his feeding killed Renatta Bailey and Janette Crowley, then the answer is yes. He boasted about it."
"And why would he do that when he knows you're as trustworthy as a snake?"
Her smile was bitter, hard. "Because it was a reminder that he could and would do the same to this nest if I stepped out of line."
I frowned. "How could one man kill an entire nest? Even if that man is your creator?"
It might be possible to kill Vinny, but there'd still be an entire nest to cope with, and even Quinn with his Aedh powers wouldn't have an easy time of that.
"It is because he's my creator that he can do it. I cannot deny his demand that we feed him, and he could, if he wished, drain us so completely that we die."
Hence her sudden desire to use us to get rid of her master.
"And you have no idea where he is staying?"
"No. I would give him to you if I could, but I really do not know."
She telling the truth? I asked Quinn.
Unfortunately, yes.
I grunted and released my grip on Vinny. The movement was so sudden she staggered backwards and fell into the chaise lounge. The toga-clad teenagers instantly began to caress her skin, and the soft humming I'd heard early resumed.
"I appreciate your help, Vinny."
It was sarcastically said, and the old arrogance flared in her eyes. "And I'd appreciate it if you leave and never come back."
"I'm afraid that is never going to happen. It's the price you pay for empire-building."
She didn't say anything to that. I turned and walked for the door—and felt safe only because Quinn was at my back. Had I been alone, I probably would have had a dozen silver bullets in it long before I ever got there.
The outside guard swung the door open as we neared, but before I could exit, Vinny said, "Riley?"
I paused and glanced at her. "What?"
"There is something else about Nasser you might want to know. Something that is vital if you're to have any hope of tracking him down."
I met her gaze and saw the cunning in them. "We're not paying you for the information, Vinny."
"Oh, consider this a freebie."
I snorted softly. "Hardly, when us getting rid of your creator means we'd actually be doing you a great favor."
"There is that, as well." She smiled benignly. I didn't believe it for a second. "Mirror wraiths have two interesting sets of skills. In vapor form, they can use reflective surfaces to travel through, therefore releasing them from the usual restraints of blood vampires."
Which explained how he managed to attack Sal during the day. "And the second?"
"The second will make your hunt more interesting." She paused—just to be annoying, I'm sure. "You see, they are flesh shifters. They can mold their skins to resemble any person they touch."
Chapter Eleven
"Well, that sure puts a spanner in the works," I grumbled, once we were clear of Vinny's building. "He could be anyone and we'd never know it."
"I think you would," Quinn said. "You've crossed paths with him several times now, so even if he assumes another form, you'd probably pick up his scent."
Maybe, and maybe not. There were ways and means of covering a base scent, and if he were an old vampire—or wraith—then he could probably also tone done his energy 'vibe' or whatever the hell it was. "At least it explains how he managed to use Martez's identity for so long without anyone picking it up."
"The obvious place to look is Dante's. That's where the murders happened."
"And that's where Martez went when I was following him last night." I raised my face to the morning sunshine, letting it warm my skin. "He could even be Dante himself."
But could an emo vamp who was also a mirror wraith constantly exude the sort of sexual allure that Dante did? Vinny could seduce just about anyone, but it was a power she could switch on or off and one that drained her after a while—unless she was feeding while using it. Dante was simply 'on' all the time.
"That is very possible."
For the first time, there was a note of weariness in Quinn's voice and I glanced up at him. His normally tanned skin seemed redder than usual, suggesting the sunlight was beginning to burn him even though midday—the dangerous part of the day for him—was a ways off yet. I lightly touched his arm. Despite his color, his skin was cool, which was unusual considering it generally only happened when he wasn't feeding enough. "Are you okay?"