children. But Esmerelda had enough Old Family in her that she could carry Murdoch’s son. A son who would grow up to become . . .
“Sin,” I say.
“That’s right. A horrid name given to him by Murdoch. He hated the child from the outset. And he hated him even more when I arrived at his doorstep with the Confirmation Decree, showing that Esmerelda was part of the Montgomery family. Imagine his anger at knowing that he helped to continue that blood line by complete accident, a family his own ancestors had tried to eradicate.”
“No wonder he hated Sin.”
“Yes, and his hatred only grew when he found the child’s gift of day walking. He hated him so much that he did away with the boy’s mother.”
I cringe at that. Victor puts his arm around me.
“I’m so sorry, Dawn,” Lilith says. “I had no idea Murdoch would do that to her. The Valentines were the most powerful family, and they led the charge to compose the death warrant. I thought that if Murdoch’s son were a Montgomery, he would have to do the only honorable thing: embrace the Montgomerys, call an end to the destruction of their family. I thought, at the very least, he would protect Esmerelda. But I was wrong on all counts.”
I think back to the family tree I saw but now fill in the lines myself. Esmerelda Montgomery and Murdoch Valentine, the parents of Sin Valentine. But there was another branch to that tree.
“Esmerelda’s brother,” I prompt.
“Yes,” Lilith says. “The Montgomerys were always to have at least one
“I’ve kept watch on the Montgomerys from afar,” she continues. “By my count only three remain. You. Sin. And the last full-blooded Montgomery, Octavian. You should meet him. I’m sure he can provide many answers for you. I heard he was somewhere far west of here, somewhere in—”
“The mountains,” I say.
“That’s right.” She pauses. “The mountains.”
I shake my head. “He’s dead. I met him when Sin took me there. He said that we were the last remnants of an Old Family bloodline. He said that, just before killing Octavian and draining his blood.”
Lilith nods, her hands clasped together as though mourning at the man’s funeral.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says. “But I’m afraid Sin is more insane than you imagine. The hate inside of him festers without bounds, and it was a hate that began at the hands of your father, Victor. It pains me to say this, but in some ways you shoulder the blame for what Sin has become.”
I’m about to defend Victor when he says, “I know. I knew my father had another son, but he rarely spoke of him. I also knew how strict my father could be, especially if it was a child he did not want. I could have gone back. I could have taken Sin away somehow. But instead I was young, afraid of my father’s wrath, and just left him there.”
“But we can still right it,” I say. “Sin is beyond salvation, but we can still stop him.”
“Perhaps,” Lilith says. “But for that, I believe we must reenter the council chamber. And Dawn, your right as an Old Family vampire I will defend with my life, but that may not be enough to get you the seat you deserve. I see that now. The Council may demand that only full-blooded vampires be allowed onto the Council. But we shall see.”
“Lilith, I don’t know what to say. Everything you’ve done . . .”
“I’ve only played a small part in this. I’ve set the stage, I’ve put the actors out, but you, Dawn Montgomery, will now step into the leading role.”
Chapter 13
Back in the council chamber our welcome isn’t exactly warm. No telling what they’ve been talking about since we left.
Lord Paxton rises. “Miss Montgomery, we have examined your documents. We cannot deny that you have some trace of vampire blood in you, but you are not a vampire. Only a full vampire may sit on the Council. Are you willing to be turned?”
“No,” Victor says adamantly.
“Why, young Valentine? If she would join us, then surely she would want to be like us.”
Victor places his hands on my shoulders, turns me, and gazes into my eyes. “I’ll die before I let you be turned.”
“There’s no need for me to be turned,” I say, speaking with the conviction of truth. “I have Old Family blood in my veins. I can trace my lineage back as far as anyone at this table. Those facts alone give me the right to be here.”
“She is right,” Lilith says, standing as well. “She is of the Montgomery family. Her blood gives her a right to sit on the Council.”
“Perhaps,” Lord Paxton says. “But the concern exists that she will be more interested in her human side than her vampire. Dawn, you’ve spent your entire life living in the world of humans, yet if you would have a voice here, we need to be assured that your loyalty would be to us vampires. Perhaps a test is all that is required. Would you be willing to agree to that?”
“No,” Victor says at the same time that I say, “Yes.”
Victor turns to me. “You don’t know what the test will be, Dawn.”
“I know I can’t vote if I’m not sitting on the Council. We need their help to defeat Sin.” I face Lord Paxton. “I’m willing to be tested.”
“Tomorrow night, then. Leave us now, all of you. We have much to discuss.”
Victor, Faith, and Richard bow. Because they do, I bow as well. Then we turn and walk from the room.
No one says anything as we drive back to the hotel. When Victor parks the car, we all climb out, so silent, so somber, like the city. The rain has stopped, but a heaviness weights the air.
I look at the decrepit hotel. I can’t face going in there right now. “Can we walk for a while?”
“We need to talk,” Victor says.
“We can do that while we walk.” I start out, not waiting for them, but I’m aware they’re following. Victor quickly falls into step beside me, his nearness protecting me from any vampires who think I might be “unclaimed property.”
We walk along in silence. I want him to take my hand, but I know he’s upset with me. Vampires are out on the streets, but they give us a wide berth. A few are Old Family, descendants of those we just left. But most are Lessers. They bow as we stride past them.
“I can’t believe that you agreed to a test without even knowing what it is,” Victor finally says.
“I didn’t really have a choice.”
“One vote on the Council isn’t going to make any difference.”
“Eight to seven, it will make all the difference in the world.”
“We could’ve reasoned with them, laid out our case in more detail and convinced one of them to change their vote.”
I turn sharply and he stops in his tracks. I stare up at him. “Old Family are stubborn. They would’ve debated for a decade before finally noticing that their heads were in a guillotine. Sin could be weeks, maybe just days from marching. There’s no more time for talk.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders, squeezing me lightly. It feels nice.
“I know. But they’ll never see you as equal as long as you’re not a full vampire.”
“Before we went to the Council, you said it doesn’t matter what’s in my blood, but it does. You saw the Council’s reaction. Can you imagine when the citizens of Denver find out? Whenever they see me, they will only see the fangs I don’t even have. They will only see the enemy.”
He moves his hands down until they’re wrapped around my own. “I don’t see the enemy in you.”
“But can you see how screwed up everything is? Vampires don’t want me because of my human blood.
