At the sound of Olivia's calm plea, the harsh, alien light faded from Valori's eyes. She blinked twice and her gray-blue orbs radiated her usual friendliness. "I—I'm so sorry for my outburst. Olivia dear, please believe me I wouldn't harm you or anyone ever. They did warn me the treatment might bring on some unwanted side effects."
"Here I thought breaking out in itchy splotches from an antibiotic cream I used once was a bad side effect." Olivia forced a chuckle. "Delusions of grandeur are much more interesting."
Valori turned her face away. "I'm ashamed of myself for scaring you. I've kept my true heritage a secret from others for many years, hoping it would come to no consequence, but it seems late in life it wishes to manifest itself fully. I don't blame you if you never wish to converse with me again."
"Of course I'll want to speak with you. You're one of my closest friends on BloodDark—in the entire universe, for that matter." Olivia came to her friend's side and dragged the ottoman back beside the couch. "Forgive me for reacting the way I did when I came into the room."
"You are forgiven, my child. I sensed your surprise and horror at the sight of my treatment. It wasn't what you expected."
"I suppose the trip to Earth might have triggered your...metamorphosis?" Olivia raised an eyebrow at Valori's nod of confirmation. "I'm really glad we transported to BloodDark now. The medics here knew exactly what kind of help you needed to feel better. Will the transfusion help?"
Valori cringed, still avoiding Olivia's gaze. "They said I needed more Pure Blood genetic materials in my system to stabilize my powers. I quite impressed the medics when I told them how I'd put all those men on the aircraft to sleep with my mind. It's a feat which hasn't been witnessed in a very, very long time I'm told."
"You're special, but then again, I always knew you were." Olivia smiled. She hoped the tinge of sadness she felt at discovering Valori's frightening alien side wasn't noticeable in her voice. "Will they keep you here for much longer?" she asked, trying to sound optimistic.
"I don't know. They told me they will monitor me for several cycles and see what happens. The ancient texts aren't clear on what all might happen if the treatment doesn't stabilize my condition."
Ancient texts? Stabilize your condition? Olivia took a deep breath, trying her best to remain calm and supportive. Was her friend in danger of becoming something even more alien? Something the Pure Bloods with all their vast genetic and technical expertise couldn't explain or—worse yet—control?
"Don't worry, child. I will recover. You will be safe. I will make certain of it."
Olivia startled from her musing. "Oh, I forget you read minds."
Valori laughed. "No, this time I only had to read your face."
Chapter Eight
"Annara has been in a so-called briefing in the security committee room for hours. What part of brief doesn't she understand?"
Olivia muttered to herself as she paced the long hallway of the council chambers. Here she had taken a long nap, discussed their situation with Caveman and Hernando and then walked across the city to visit Valori at the Alpha Clan House and then walked back to council chambers—and Annara was still discussing security issues concerning BloodDark and Earth. Didn't they ever take a bathroom break?
She would have stayed longer with Valori, but a nurse had interrupted their visit and shooed her out, reminding them both Valori needed her rest. Fine, her friend's recuperation was understandable, but if Olivia had known Annara would still be tied up in a committee meeting upon her return, she would have stayed longer at the Alphan house. She would have stayed longer to observe the golden-hair god she'd first seen at the festival...
He was an almost angelic apparition in the otherwise dark and gloomy clan house. She caught sight of him coming down the stairs in the entrance chamber as she stood partially hidden by the tapestry covering the service hallway door. Her eyes were immediately drawn to his fair features, his intense blue eyes and halo-like hair. What was it about this particular Pure Blood who captured her imagination so?
He's different from the rest. It's not just his coloring or attitude, which seems a thousand times brighter than his peers' dark, sullen natures. His whole manner of movement and his presence is practically glowing. He takes over the space, including one as massive as the entrance hall, whenever he steps into the room. Charisma. A vampire with true charisma, not mere glamour. What makes him different? Why is he different?
It was all Olivia could do to steal her gaze away from him and slide further behind the tapestry before anyone could notice her. She didn't wish to give herself away or engage any of the Pure Bloods in conversation. They were a suspect clan, and she was only here to check up on her friend, she reminded herself. Still, a part of her wanted to rush up to the golden-god and introduce herself in a flurry of giggles and blushes.
What's wrong with me? He's not a movie star—he's a bloodsucker. Stay away. You're acting like one of those wannabe mail-order vampire brides. Hey, now there's a good idea on how we could infiltrate and spy on Pure Blood activities...
She had pinched herself hard until she winced to bring her mind back to the present. She waited for the Golden Boy and his group to exit the entrance chamber so she could slip out the front entrance undetected and head back to Hernando.
Hernando, your boyfriend. Remember him?
The guilty feeling didn't go away. An hour later, Olivia caught herself wondering what Golden Boy's favorite song was, or if he was into sushi like her friend Brittany or anchovy pizza like her friend Jace or spicy Thai foods like she
