Sleeping in their own dirt? Myth. Mirrors and garlic, myth. I think it amuses them to keep spreading the rumors. It makes them seem weaker than they are.”
“And their fear of the cross?”
“Myth.” Alfonzo sighed. “Traces to a vampire lord in Ireland who convinced himself he would burn if one touched him. But it isn’t true.”
“Fascinating…what of the sun?”
“That remains true, to a point. It will burn the young ones. The older the vampire, the more durable they become. I have seen some walk in the day without pain, although it weakens them and their powers.”
“What of Dracula himself?”
“We do not know.”
“I see.” She spun her glass in her fingers, watching the alcohol swirl a little as she did. “Then to answer your question, I do not know why he did not show himself in. He likely knew I was without protection and asleep in bed. He could have done far worse than slip a note beneath my entry door.” The thought made her shiver. She knew she was in danger, but she hadn’t really understood how much until that moment.
“Yet he did this instead. I don’t know this city. Where is this?”
“A home on Beacon Hill behind the State House. The estate of one of the bourgeoisie children of the city. When I asked the footman what the occasion was, they said they were hosting a dignitary who had come to ‘save the city.’”
“Mmhm.” Alfonzo let out a long, tired sigh and leaned back in his chair. “He’s set a trap, then.”
“It seems so.” Maxine sipped her whiskey. She usually did not drink it straight, but it helped settle her frazzled nerves. “I am the bait, after all.”
“He asked you to attend.” Alfonzo held up the card and re-read it, as if it would give up more information from that method alone. “Why?”
“I see it as a command. I do not see a question mark, or anything of the sort.”
“No. He could have kidnapped you, Maxine. He could have robbed you from your bed, and that would be the end of it.” Alfonzo placed the note down on the tablecloth. “This is a request. He wants to see if you will walk in there willingly. Why?”
“I honestly do not know.” And it wasn’t a lie. Yes, she had left out Vlad’s strange flirtatious behavior with her—and the kiss—but she did not know why the man who considered himself a veritable god on Earth had not simply snatched her up. “I suppose we are left to decide what we will do about the matter.”
“Do you wish to attend?”
“I do not wish to die. If I go into that place, I am walking into the jaws of a lion. But I find myself already within the easy reach of its teeth. It is only by the benefit that the beast has not bitten down that I am still alive. I suppose I am curious as to why, same as you.”
“Then you will agree to go?”
“If it benefits you three in your endeavor, yes. I fear I am following your lead in this regard. I have no experience hunting vampires.”
“When it comes to Dracula, I fear we are all novices.” Alfonzo rubbed his hand back over his short hair, scratching at his scalp. The poor bastard was exhausted. “I doubt the invitation extends to us. Nor would they let us in as we are. As you can imagine, we didn’t exactly pack suits.”
Maxine chuckled. “And I do not own men’s clothing. Although,” she looked over to Bella, “I have a few gowns that might fit you. It is expected for someone in my profession to dress the part of a Lady Spiritualist. I hope you don’t mind wearing black.”
Bella looked more than a little excited. “I have never attended a ball before.”
Eddie was clearly displeased. Worry flared in him like a flame so suddenly she felt it easily from across the room. His young love burned like the sun in the sky. “This is a bad idea. Sending them both into the viper’s nest. Who knows who’ll be there? How many he’ll bring?”
Bella shot the young man a withering look. “I can handle myself.”
“That’s not what I meant. I meant—”
“I’ll watch the perimeter. Eddie, you’ll be nearby to provide cover. When he shows himself, Bella will give us a signal, and we will storm the building. Miss Parker…do I need to tell you how dangerous this will be?”
“That I will likely not live to see tomorrow? I understand. I’ll either die by