Feast of Fools Page 0,54

her, but then the vampire said, "Yes, I suppose we must talk about it. I will meet you upstairs at your home. You know where."

She meant the hidden room. "When?"

"I am, of course, at your convenience," Amelie said, which was winter cold and utterly untrue. "Would an hour suffice?"

"I'll be there," Claire said. Her hands were shaking, fine little trembles that were a sign of the inner earthquake. "Thank you."

"Oh, don't thank me, child," Amelie said. "I shouldn't imagine you'll find anything I have to say will be of the least comfort to you."

The house was empty when Claire got there. She checked every room, including the laundry room in the basement, to be absolutely sure. Eve was still at work; Michael was at the music store. Shane - she had no idea where Shane was, except that the house was Shane free.

Claire pressed the hidden button in the hallway on the second floor, and the paneling opened on the dusty steps leading up to the hidden room. She shut the opening behind her and trudged up, feeling sicker and more isolated with every single stair.

At the top, color spilled across the walls: Victorian lamps, all jeweled hues and pale, watery light. There were no windows, no exits here. Only a few nice pieces of dusty furniture, and Amelie.

And the bodyguards, of course. Amelie hardly ever went anywhere without at least one. There were two this time, lurking in the corners. One of them nodded to Claire. She was on nodding terms with scary bodyguard dudes. Great. She really was moving up in the social ladder of Morganville.

"Ma'am," Claire said, and stayed standing. Amelie was seated, but she didn't look as though she was in any mood to indulge the fantasy that Claire was her equal. It was hard to determine Amelie's feelings, but Claire was pretty sure that this one qualified as impatient, with a possible upgrade to annoyed.

"I have very little time for soothing your ruffled feathers," Amelie said. She shifted a little, which was surprising; Amelie was usually very still, very composed. That was almost fidgeting. There was something else unusual about her today - the color of her suit. It was still classic and beautifully tailored, but it was in a dark gray, much darker than Amelie usually preferred. It turned her eyes the color of storm clouds. "Yet you've done more than I asked with Myrnin. I am inclined to forgive your impertinence, if you understand that it's an indulgence on my part. Not a right on yours."

"I understand," Claire said. "I just - this masked ball. Myrnin called it a welcome feast. He acted like it had something important to do with Mr. Bishop."

Amelie's eyes, which had been regarding her with impersonal focus, suddenly sharpened. "You've spoken with Myrnin regarding Bishop's arrival?"

"Well - he asked me what was happening in town, and - " Claire broke off, because Amelie was suddenly standing. And her bodyguards had moved out of the corners of the room and were very close, close enough to hurt. "You didn't tell me not to!"

"I told you to stay out of my affairs!" Something pale and hungry flickered in those eyes, as scary in its own way as Mr. Bishop. Amelie deliberately relaxed. "Very well. The damage is done. What did Myrnin tell you?"

"He said - " Claire wet her lips and glanced at the bodyguards hovering terrifyingly close. Amelie raised an eyebrow and nodded, and Claire felt rather than saw them move away. "He said you both thought Bishop was dead, so he was surprised to find out that he'd come to town. He said that Bishop wanted revenge. Against you."

"What did he tell you about the feast?"

"Only that it was part of some kind of ceremony to welcome Bishop to town," Claire said. "And that you weren't going to fight him if you were putting on the feast."

Amelie's smile was quick and cold. "Myrnin knows something about the world and its politics. No, I'm not going to fight him. Not unless I must. Did he tell you anything else?"

"No." Claire sucked up her courage. "Ysandre's taking Shane. And Michael - I just found out he's going, and he's taking Monica. Not Eve."

"Do you imagine I have the slightest concern for how your friends arrange their romantic affairs?"

"No, it's just - I want you to invite me. Please. All the vampires are taking humans. Why don't you take me?"

Amelie's eyes widened. Not much, but it was enough to make Claire