Olivia scrunched up her nose in thought. "I don't think they did send any visuals. They had to keep it all very low tech since we don't seem to have the DVD player in common."
"We'd need to find an applicant who hasn't sent them a self picture or given them a description. The more vague the applicant's personal details the better. We'll have the freedom to substitute our agent into her place without anyone the wiser."
Olivia searched her brain for any scrap of information she had overheard her mother or Jace say about the process. "Knowing Lauren, I doubt she even sent a recent photo of herself. The poor girl has put on some weight and dyed her hair in a hideous fashion. She's super sensitive about her looks, too, Jace tells me. Her ex left her for someone better looking according to him."
Annara rubbed her hands together. "I think we've found our in with your friend Lauren's application. Now, who to take her place?"
"It can't be either one of us. The Pure Bloods are familiar with you as you've been keeping a close eye on them here in the city, right? Don't forget Murnau sniffed me out when I was abducted. The Alphans would recognize me straight away."
Annara stopped and leaned against the wall, carefully considering her friend. "Would they? Would they recognize you, Olivia? Think about it—Murnau is dead. No one else tested your scent, did they? Think hard. Was it only Murnau?"
Olivia furrowed her brow. "Drucinda sniffed me out before we were sent to the farm. Does she count?"
"If she was indisposed for a time period or sent away on a long trip..." Annara shrugged. "If you could get into the clan house and find out what was going on and get out again before she returned..."
"Those are two 'ifs' too many for my tastes."
"Yes, it's a risk." Annara threw up her hands. "I'll admit it's risky, but the entire operation is risky. The stakes are high, but then again, the stakes are high if we don't find out about this rogue Portal and what the Alphans are up to. What are our choices?"
Do I actually want to live in the Alphan's clan house? Olivia felt her heart beat galloping in her ears. No, I can't do it. The chances of her being found out were too high. She'd jeopardize the mission—then what? The Pure Bloods could use it against the ruling council as a political ploy to gain more concessions and things could become worse than they were now, couldn't they?
But who else could they trust with such an important task? Who else would be willing to become a pawn of the Pure Bloods in order to infiltrate their stronghold? Who wouldn't put her safety above the welfare of all of the people of BloodDark?
Who else would be able to talk Jace into convincing his sister to stay put while she took Lauren's place?
Olivia sighed. "You're right. I'm the only logical choice to be the mail-order bride spy. I know what to look out for, and I would hope the ruling council would trust my judgment and discretion."
"About the ruling council..." Annara bit her lip. "They will not approve of such a plan."
"They won't?" Olivia frowned. "How do you know until you've asked?"
"I have asked if we could use espionage techniques to keep an eye on the Pure Bloods before, and the esteemed councilors have declined. They're afraid of causing more trouble with the bloodsuckers than we already have. They want to coddle them into cooperation."
"They're afraid of upsetting them?" Olivia harrumphed. "I find it hard to believe. We rebelled against them. We won. Why should we kiss up to the Pure Bloods now that we have them under control?"
Annara crossed her arms across her chest and slumped against the wall. Her entire being denoted unhappiness. "I wish they'd believe you, but they won't. The entire council acts like we have to bribe the Pure Bloods to behave, like the bloodsuckers are a bunch of naughty children like your nephews at the dinner table, and not the cold and calculating beings they are."
"Huh! Just look how good that's working—they're selling things illegally and running a shadow government on the side." Olivia stood. "I think I need to talk some sense into Hernando, Caveman and the others. The ruling council can't afford to keep this wimpy attitude forever. The vampires respect power, and offering them concessions gives them the wrong idea."
"Agreed, but they won't see it that way."
"It's what happens after every revolution in history—the rebels are too afraid of losing their new found independence to risk another upset too soon." Olivia shook her head. "Okay, I'm out of here. I'll talk to Hernando first and soften him up so he'll back our plans to infiltrate the Alphan's clan house."
Annara reached out and touched her arm. "No, don't say anything, to anyone. Not yet..." She tilted her head and observed Olivia closely. "Have you ever thought of dyeing your hair?"
"Dye my hair?" Olivia made a face. She hated the smell of chemicals. She'd watched Britt dye her hair one too many times. "You mean dye my hair as part of a disguise? I suppose I could."
"How about cutting it?"
"Now you're going a bit too far. It took me ages to get it this long. Maybe I can add extensions to make it longer? Straighten the kink out more?"
"Possibly." Annara smiled. "Anything to hide your true appearance. Do you have glasses?"
Olivia stuck out her tongue. "Yuck! No, I'm not a four-eyed geek or little near-sighted bookworm. I hate that stereotype with a passion."
"We could get you some on Earth for part of your disguise, right? What about
