injected with the drug and virus combo. The vampires who drink from the infected humans get a feeling of euphoria, driving them back again and again. After a few visits, they begin to bleed internally. They need more drug and they need the treatment, and they'll give anything to get it."
I figured that VR was the metallic scent I had detected early on, in victims of the disease, but saw no point in saying so. I could identify the drug by its smell. Not that it would ever do me any good.
A vamp raised his hand, and I covered a snort with a fake cough at the sight of an elegant undead requesting permission to speak, like a kid in class. Gregoire asked, "Are all of the blood-meals offered by Blood-Call infected?"
"No. Most of the humans are healthy," Alex said. "I've traced indications that special transportation is arranged to the city of choice when de Allyon is ready to make a move on it. He uses a charter company based in Atlanta, and flies his infected humans into the city for dinner."
Gregoire, Leo's secundo and heirs' heir, nodded, one finger in the air. "So, perhaps we can trace the location of the next attack by the movements of this special charter service, oui?"
"Good idea," Alex said, typing into his little electronic tablet thingy. "I'll see if I can get into the system and trace down the accounting. That way we can tell when a flight is being activated by de Allyon. In fact, I can take a look-see and find out how many have been sent here." The silence in the room was intense at that, as the vamps all considered who they had sipped from recently who might not be in their own personal menagerie.
Into the worried silence, Katie said, "Leo owns two small research laboratories, one in Arizona, one in Houston. They are currently working on a cure to the disease and an antidote to this drug. We have Sabina and Bethany, two of very few priestesses in his land, both of whom have the power to heal, even to cure this disease. Few masters of the city have such outclan at their disposal. We also have the Mercy Blade, with the power to heal. This new information will accelerate the process of finding a cure. Our people need not worry, should any become ill with this plague. We will care for our own."
Alex looked up from his keying. "Sorry. Okay. So. How does the virus work? The vampire immune system is attacked by the Ebola variant and VR combo, and other bacteria quickly take over," Alex went on, "the same way that bacteria would break down any dead body."
I almost groaned. He had just called some of the most powerful vamps in the nation dead. Which they were, but still. I glanced around, gratified that none of them seemed to be taking offense. I'd hate to have to stake someone for hurting Stinky, and I was already in enough trouble with the vamps.
"It makes the victims look like plague victims. The important thing to remember is that the vamps are addicted and sick. That's why the masters of the city in Sedona, Seattle, and Boston gave up without a fight. De Allyon owns them undead body and soul."
I spoke up. "And do we know who from Asheville, um . . . dated a Blood-Call escort?" All the vamps in the room turned as one to me and stared.
Finally Leo said, his voice all Frenchy and stilted, "An internal investigation will take place. Those who need to be notified of the results will be informed. Please continue, young man."
Ah, I thought. As in "not me." Gotcha.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Vampires Are Like Boars. And Like Kits
An hour into the meeting, my phone vibrated in my jeans pocket. I stood to slip out of the room. So did Bruiser, holding his own cell. We met in the hallway and both of us took the calls.
"Jane. Derek here. I just got word that Sabina is sick. The crazy nutso priestess, the one with loose marbles, that Bethany chick, wants to go to her, but I'm not risking one of my men to take her."
"Wait, wait. Sick? How sick?"
"She woke up this evening and she was bleeding. She called in, but my men are not driving Bethany. And Leo's cars all got torched along with the house."
"Bleeding," I whispered. Sabina had healed the once-sick vamp Callan. Now she was sick. "I'll make sure that