“Yeah, just ran into a Day Walker in the city. It’s getting worse, isn’t it?”
“Their attacks have become random, unorganized. In some ways that makes it worse.”
Unorganized because now we have Eris. I so wish that I didn’t have to leave the city, that I could be here to fight.
Once I step into the apartment, I’m hit with the realization that I haven’t been back here since the night I left for New Vampiria. I’ve changed so much and yet I relish the comfort of home. Rachel’s not here, so I’m sure she’s at work.
I go to my room and grab my cell phone from where I left it on my desk. I didn’t take it with me. Who would I have called? I send out texts to Rachel, Michael, Tegan.
I add a note to the one I send Clive:
I don’t text Jeff. Rachel will know the invitation includes him.
I’ve taken two steps when I get a response from Tegan.
As much as I miss her, as much as I want to see her, I need some alone time to psych myself up.
I ignore her question and just reply:
I wander into the kitchen. It’s always been Rachel’s domain. But really, how hard can it be?
Hours later, I’m ready to scream. I used Rachel’s recipes, but she must not list all the ingredients because nothing tastes the way it does when she makes it. The cake is flat. The cheese dip keeps hardening. When I take the chicken out of the oven, it is almost as cold as it was when I took it out of the freezer. Is the oven not working?
The doorbell rings and I jump. I look at the window. How did I miss night arriving? And who’s here already? Tegan? I still have an hour to go.
I march to the door and yank it open. “Go away, you’re too ear—”
I stop. It’s not Tegan. It’s Victor, dressed in jeans and a black button-down shirt. He’s holding a large box.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
He gives me a soft smile. “Did you really think I was going to let you do this alone?”
I blink back the tears. “I’m so glad you’re here. What do you know about cooking?”
“That my chef is very good at it.” He steps through the doorway and I shut the door.
“What’s in the box?”
“Prepared food. All we have to do is put it in the oven—good God. It looks like one of the Infected came through here.”
I punch his shoulder. “It’s not that bad.” Although it kind of is. “While I appreciate you bringing food, I really wanted to make it myself.”
“You are making it. You put it in the oven, it cooks. You can even stir it if you want to get industrious.” He sets the box on the counter.
“I’ll show you industrious.” I flick some flour at him.
“Hey! I can take my unwanted food and go.”
I leap forward and grab his wrist. “No. I don’t know if I’m distracted or what, but I just couldn’t seem to make sense of the recipes.”
“Then cook what I brought.”
I nod. “You didn’t happen to bring someone to clean up the mess, did you?”
He pulls me in close. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
Although a little tension exists at first, when everyone realizes that Victor is here, it soon dissipates as the food is served. They’ve never had a meal as flavorful as the one Victor and I present. But then, Denver doesn’t have any chefs. Victor explains that the chef is a French master cook. His only regret in life is serving Murdoch Valentine years ago at a party held in Versailles. The vampire was so impressed with the food that he decided to turn the cook and keep him forever.
After dinner, people congregate in little groups to talk: Michael and Tegan, Clive and Ian, Rachel and Jeff. They are relaxed and smiling.
“Your chef didn’t put something extra in the food, did he?” I ask Victor. “You know, something to alter the state of their minds?”
“I think they’ve just had a good meal for the first time in a very long while.”
Clive and Ian amble over.
“Just wanted you to know,” Clive says, his voice low, hushed, “that your Lessers have been immersed into one of the Night Watchmen units.”
“Was there any trouble?”
“Could have been,” Clive acknowledges, “but we have a young Watchman who has considerable experience fighting alongside vampires. He convinced the others to give this idea of yours a shot.”
Michael.
“I’m impressed with Anita,” Ian says. “Wouldn’t have wanted to encounter her during the war.”
“She’s one of my best,” Victor assures him.
I remember Anita. I saw her in a dream I once shared with Victor. Her hair is nearly white, and she has a striking presence, like she was cut from a beautiful block of marble.
Ian and Clive wander off to get more wine.
“I guess I need to do this.” I exhale my breath.
“Remember you’re not alone.”
I squeeze Victor’s hand. I try to imagine how I would react if Tegan told me she was a dhampir. But I just can’t envision it.
“Okay, everyone,” I call out, “I have an announcement to make, so if you could please gather around.”
Tegan drops into a chair, pulls her feet up. Her smile is so big, her eyes so bright that I know she thinks my announcement involves declaring that Victor and I are a couple, maybe even engaged. Rachel and Jeff sit on the couch and hold hands. Clive takes a nearby chair. His feet braced apart, Ian stands at the edge of the circle as though he isn’t quite sure he belongs here.
Michael’s steady gaze is on me. I think he knows what I’m going to announce. He’s leaning against the door, his arms folded across his chest as though he’s preparing for battle.
Victor moves in behind me, places his warm hand on the small of my back, steadying me, strengthening my resolve.
Tegan gives the tiniest little squeal. She’s probably envisioning what she wants for her bridesmaid’s gown.
I swallow with difficulty. The words—
“Okay, there’s just no easy way to say this. Michael already knows.”
He unfolds his arms. “Dawn—”
I shake my head. “Sin didn’t lie, Michael.”
He takes a step forward. “You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.” I turn to the others. “I’m part vampire.”
Tegan’s smile remains, but it is as though she’s frozen in shock and can’t get her muscles to move. Rachel and Jeff are looking at each other. Clive is shaking his head. Ian is as still as a statue.
I take another deep breath and rush on. “You know there are fourteen Old Families. Centuries ago, there was a fifteenth. The Montgomerys. I’m a descendant, the result of a vampire mating with a human.” Could I get any more clinical, sound any less emotional? “I’m what they call a dhampir.”
“Bullshit,” Tegan finally says. “If Sin told you this—”
“He did, and I didn’t believe him. But my father left me a recording saying the same thing. He had documents to prove it.”
Victor slips his arm around my shoulders, brings me in close. “The Vampire Council recognized her claim when we were in New Vampiria. But it does not change who she is.”
