‘I know of the Ancient One.’ His face lost all expression. ‘The reason you cannot locate her is because she is dead. The Earl killed her nearly a year ago, over some trifle she refused to give him.’
Damn! And I’ve been paying her every month for the spell too! Briefly I wondered to whom the money was going, and whether Rosa could be traced that way, but Data Protection and red tape made me dismiss that as the long-winded solution. As Malik had pointed out, with Moth-girl’s appearance my problems had indeed multiplied. And with all the rest, like finding Tomas’ murderer, the quicker the vamp ones were sorted the better. I gazed at the beautiful vampire now staring out of the taxi window. He was centuries old, he had to have considered all the possible ramifications—like what would have to happen if he couldn’t find the real Rosa ...
I sat back, giving him a quizzical look. ‘So that’s Plan A out the window.’
He turned to look at me with an enquiring expression.
‘C’mon, Malik.’ I drummed my fingers lightly on the seat between us. ‘Whatever it is you want to happen, you had it all worked out, and all you needed was Rosa. I bet that’s why you’ve been keeping tabs on me, hoping I’d lead you to her, wasn’t it? Then things got complicated by this murder thing.’ And wasn’t that an understatement! ‘And your little memory trick or whatever it was just now didn’t get you anywhere. Shit, you even thought about bargaining for the info back there at HOPE—but then you decided to do the psychological bit and gamble on me being obligated instead.’
Something unreadable flickered in the depths of his eyes. ‘And are you feeling obligated?’
Obligated? Yes, but also relieved, now I knew Rosa was the reason he’d been doing the stalker bit, and eager to get on with whatever his plan was if it meant finally ridding myself of all the vamps and their schemes—other than him, of course—which was my aim even before Tomas’ murderer had thrown us back together.
‘I can make “Rosa” put in an appearance,’ I said, the calm words belying the sudden apprehensive thud of my heart.
He regarded me in silence, then finally said, ‘This is not how I wished to resolve this matter.’
‘It’s not really my idea of fun either, but to be honest, not much to do with this business is.’
‘One point, Genevieve—’ He paused. ‘It might be better to settle this issue first, then deal with your alibi later ...’
‘Just in case the police don’t believe you and decide to lock me up,’ I finished drily.
‘It is an unlikely scenario, but it is always a possibility.’
Knowing DI Crane’s less-than-positive attitude towards me, it was more like a probability, I thought glumly. Then there was the other reason why a trip to the police right now wasn’t as appealing as it might be: my morning meeting with Grianne, the phouka and whatever info she might come up with. An alibi was good, but an alibi and evidence, maybe even a name, was way better.
‘So what’s going to happen next?’ I asked.
He leaned forward and knocked on the glass partition. ‘The Blue Heart, Leicester Square,’ he called to the goblin, who nodded.
Then Malik sat back and gave me a considering look. ‘We will need to put on a performance for the others. Are you sure you wish to do this?’
My heart thudded again and I wondered if I should ask what sort of show he meant, then decided maybe it was better not to know until the time came.
‘If it will stop that happening again to some other poor human,’ I said firmly, ‘and get rid of my vampire problems, then yes, of course.’
‘It will be dangerous,’ he warned.
I laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. ‘So what isn’t around vampires?’
Chapter Seventeen
Leicester Square was an assault on the ears and eyes: voices high-pitched with excitement, the slap of shoes on the pavement, the background rumble of late-night traffic and bursts of music from the bars, bright lights reflecting myriad colours in the wind-ripped puddles, damp air chill against my skin. The evening tourists and party-going crowds parted around us as water flows around a boulder in a rushing stream, not even registering we were there—Malik’s mind-tricks at work. He closed his eyes, lifted his chin and sniffed the air, checking for vamps.
I’d left my jacket back at HOPE and now I shivered in the cold October wind that rustled through the trees in the central garden. As I stuck my hands in my jean pockets I told myself it was the wind causing my jitters, not the prospect of going in to play games with a nightclub full of suckers. Still, at least I’d be out of reach of the dryads, or any other fae; no fae would be reckless enough to enter a vamp club without some sort of guarantee of safety—and mine was the silent vamp standing next to me. I took a steadying breath and scoped out our destination.
The Blue Heart had started life as a multi-screen cinema before the vamps turned it into the hot-spot for meeting the fanged A-list celebs. Two-foot high silver letters stood over the entrance, with the ‘A’ in ‘HEART’ replaced by the club’s blood symboclass="underline" a large heart in blue neon that pulsed like it was alive. A huge screen mounted above the letters (a new addition since my last visit) was showing a close-up of Bobby’s face set in his trademark Mr October expression, all smoky eyes and sulky, sexy lip-quirk. Meet Mr October on All Hallows’ Eve in the Starlight Lounge scrolled in blood-red script across his face, followed by sold out. The screen switched to a dozen grinning Bella Lugosi lookalikes in full evening attire under a slowly spinning mirrored ball—Fangs for the Memory presents: The count’s Hallowe’en ball ~ tickets still available.
‘Doesn’t look like the ballroom dancing crowd are too keen,’ I said, looking back at Malik.
He was staring at the entrance. There was a stillness about him, almost as if he wasn’t there, as if he didn’t exist.
‘Earth to Malik,’ I waved a hand in front of his face.
The slight line between his brows deepened. ‘Genevieve, we should go in now.’
‘What?’ My pulse skittered into my throat. ‘No, just wait a minute; I thought you wanted me to change into Rosa.’
‘There are private rooms inside the club.’ Malik caught the back of my elbow and started guiding me towards the entrance.
I tugged my arm from his. ‘Hold up. I’m going to need clothes too—the shirt’s okay, but’—I tapped my thighs—‘these jeans are way too small for Rosa.’
‘There are any number of costumes inside for you to choose from, Genevieve.’
Costumes? He had to be kidding, didn’t he? I shoved the thought away. ‘There’s the goblins too,’ I said. ‘Remember they can sense past the Glamour. Do you really want to advertise the fact you’re bringing me, a sidhe, into the main vamp club?’
‘I cannot fool the goblins’ minds, but I can mask their small reactions to you.’ He gave me a considering look. ‘Do you not want to do this, Genevieve?’
‘What?’ I frowned. ‘I told you I would.’
‘You are delaying us.’
‘No, I’m trying to be practicable ...’ My mind froze as he lifted his hand and traced a gentle line down my cheek, then tipped my chin up.
‘I may not like this guise of yours ...’ He reached out and wrapped my blonde ponytail loosely round his hand. The magic reacted to his touch, raising goosebumps over my skin. ‘... but it will make it easier for me to cloud others’ thoughts. They will not know you are sidhe. Besides, it is better that Rosa does not make her appearance too soon,’ he said softly, then lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me. His lips were cool, a coolness that invaded my mouth, muted the small throbbing pain of his earlier bite and slipped down my throat like numbing ice water on a parched summer’s day. He raised his head and smiled at me.
I smiled happily back at him, wanting to kiss him again, to taste him again.
He took my hand and laced his chill fingers with mine. ‘Come, we will do this together, Genevieve.’