After Daybreak

“You did the right thing,” I say, meaning every word of it.

I hug him. He’s resistant at first, upright and tight, his body stiff and cold, like it hasn’t felt a soft touch in years. After a moment, he puts his arms around me. They are strong. Like my father’s were.

When he releases me, Jeff and Michael move in to shake his hand. I glance over to the corner. Huddling together like the cool clique at school are the vampires: Victor, Richard, and Faith. Even when we’re all together, there’s a distance, a knowledge that they are different from the others. They look the same, more polished and beautiful maybe, but still human in appearance. Their hearts beat, blood runs through them, but that blood is so different, and they need our blood to sustain them.

I approach and Richard steps forward, circling me within his sturdy arms. He almost smells as good as Victor.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he says. “We wanted to go back—”

“I wouldn’t have been happy if you’d returned for me,” I interrupt him.

He smiles. “As you well know, I live to please the ladies.”

Faith growls. I think he flirts with me to tease her or maybe just to get her attention. It’s always been obvious to me that he has strong feelings for her, but she maintains that vampires can’t love. Although considering that her father was one of the most ruthless vampires to ever exist, I suspect she knows very little about the gentler emotions.

She stares at me, trying to decide what to do. So I give her a little help and open my arms. She flicks back her red hair, as if to say what the hell, and steps into my embrace.

“Victor would have never forgiven me if something happened to you. I never would’ve forgiven myself.”

“You’re sweet when you mean to be.”

“I know. I should really stop.”

She withdraws with a smile.

“So what are you two doing here?” I ask. “I figured you’d be at Valentine Manor.”

Richard exchanges a glance with Victor, before looking over at Clive. “We were strategizing how best to handle things until Victor’s return. Now that we know Sin has an army of Day Walkers—”

“It’s worse than that,” Victor says.

“How could it be worse?” Clive asks.

“He’s using a V-Processing center to not only create more Day Walkers but to infect them with the Thirst,” I say.

“What does he hope to accomplish?” Ian asks.

“He’s creating an unstoppable force,” Richard answers. Victor once told me Richard was good at strategy, so I’m not surprised he sees the potential of Sin’s scheme. “He doesn’t just want to control humans, he wants to control vampires.”

“Exactly,” Victor admits. “We learned that Sin has every intention of marching across this continent.”

“With each city that would fall, he would gain more soldiers, more power,” Ian says. “It’s how the vampires won the war against us. There’s no reason the strategy won’t work again.”

“So what’s our next step?” Clive asks.

Right now, vampires and humans don’t seem to exist; the line has been erased. In this room, it’s us versus Sin.

“We need to go to the Vampire Council,” Victor says. “We need to warn the Old Families. But more than that, we need to convince them we’re at war against an enemy they’ve never imagined. They can mobilize and destroy the V-Processing center in Los Angeles; it’s the heart of Sin’s entire operation. It’ll slow down his acquisition of Day Walkers and converting them to the Infected.”

“Do you really think they’ll listen?” Clive asks. “I’ve heard the Vampire Council is a collection of stubborn old fangs.”

“Unfortunately, Director, you’re correct,” Victor says. “That’s the reason we’ll need Dawn to come with Richard, Faith, and me.”

My heart stops, and I feel the warmth heating my cheeks. It’s nerves. Very bad nerves. I always knew this was big, that Sin’s plans were real and potent. But Victor wanting to take me to New Vampiria, to see the Vampire Council, suddenly brings home the enormity of all that is at risk.

“I’m not sure why Dawn needs to go with you,” Clive says.

“Because of what she saw and learned from Sin. A report coming from her directly will carry more weight. She was in the V-Processing center, she saw it for herself. The Council is full of ancient vampires who believe the Thirst is a myth.”

“Dawn, we just got you back,” Clive says. “How do you feel about this?”

“I need to go, Clive. I want to go.”

He sighs. I know he’s not happy, but I also know he won’t stop me.

“Well, the one piece of good news I have,” Clive says, “is that Eris and her Day Walkers haven’t been seen since you left. Maybe she’s waiting for the right moment, but for now we can all breathe a little easier.”

Eris came into Denver in a white carriage, walked straight up to the Agency in the bright sun, and requested I surrender myself to Sin. At the time we didn’t understand. Now I see why: He wanted to reveal my past to me; he wanted to give me the chance to face the New World Order by his side. When I left on the Night Train, I thought I was protecting myself and my city. Instead, I ended up falling right into Sin’s hands.

“Why do I have a feeling there’s bad news?” Victor asks.

Clive clears his throat. “Blood donations are down.”

“How much?”

“Nonexistent.”

I see a flash of anger in Victor’s eyes, and I understand his reaction. He wanted to be different from his father; he wanted to gain blood through peace not threats. But the second he leaves, suddenly there’s no blood.

“Why not?” he growls.

“Hursch isn’t encouraging anyone. That goes against his duties as the delegate. No one knows that better than Dawn. I think you should replace Hursch with someone more competent, someone who believes in what they do and understands the value of increasing the blood supply.”

“I think delegates have outlasted their usefulness,” Victor says. “I already have a plan in mind for getting more blood donations.”

Oh, no, the microchipping. During one of our shared dreams, Victor told me he was considering it. When he saw how bad things were, how little blood was being given. No, Victor, please, not here, not now.

The door flies open and in strides Roland Hursch. I’m surprised his own slime hasn’t stained his expensive gray suit or his perfectly styled hair. He spoke out publicly against me being a delegate every chance he got and now that he’s finally got the job, he’s making a complete mess of it.

“Unbelievable!” he shouts. “You should have informed me the moment Victor arrived.”

“That’s Lord Valentine,” Victor reminds him with a stern voice that would be foolish to challenge.

Hursch gives a smile and mocking bow. “Of course, Lord Valentine. Why am I the last to know about his visit? Why are there other Old Family vampires in the Agency?”

Clive rubs his eyes, maybe wishing this would all just go away.

“Roland—” Clive begins, opening his eyes.

“That’s Mr. Hursch.”

Clive sighs. “Mr. Hursch. Perhaps now isn’t the best time.”

“He’s come into our city and our agency. I demand a meeting with him right now.”

Clive holds up his hands in an attempt to calm down his belligerent delegate. “Fine. Perhaps you are right. Faith, Richard, if you will be so kind as to wait outside.”

“In the parking garage!” Hursch shouts. “Vampire ears are a little too keen.”

Faith is about to protest when Victor gives her a sharp look and confirming nod. She shoots him a glare that says, “I’ll do it, but I won’t like it.” Then she and Richard leave.

“Michael, Jeff, Ian. Could you three go speak with the head guardsman downstairs? I believe you may be able to give him advice on how to tighten the city’s security.” It’s a ridiculous task, but Clive shows his diplomacy by