"You want immortality, too?"
"I want power," he said.
Great. "And it doesn't bother you that the thing will kill children? That it's already killed some?"
"We feed, Bloody Bones feeds, what does it matter?"
"And Bloody Bones is going to just let you feed off it?"
"Serephina has found the spell that Magnus's ancestor used. She controls the fairie."
"How?"
He shook his head and smiled. "No more delays, Anita. Drop the gun, or Kissa will taste him before your eyes."
Kissa ran a hand through Jeff's short hair, a caressing gesture. It pushed his head to one side, baring a long smooth line of neck.
"No!" Jeff tried to pull away, and Kissa yanked on his arm hard enough that he cried out.
"I will break the arm, boy," she growled.
The pain held him immobile, but his eyes were wide and terrified. He looked at me. He wouldn't plead, no begging, but his eyes did it for him.
Kissa's lips pulled back from her teeth in a flashy snarl, fangs visible.
"Don't," I said, and hated it. I tossed the .45 to the ground. Larry threw my gun down. Disarmed twice in one night. It was a record even for me.
Chapter 36
"Now what?" I asked.
"Serephina awaits us at the party. She sent suitable clothing for you. You can change in the limousine," Janos said.
"What party?" I asked.
"The one we have come to invite you to. She is delivering Jean-Claude's invitation in person."
That didn't sound good. "I think we'll pass on the party."
"I don't think so," Janos said.
Another vampire stepped out of the trees. It was the brunette that had tormented Jason. She stalked forward in a long black dress that covered her from neck to ankle. She slid her arms around Janos, nuzzling his neck, giving us a glimpse of her pale back. Only a fine webbing of black straps covered her back. The dress moved like it would slide down her body at the least movement, but somehow it stayed in place. Fashion-plate magic. Her dark hair was in a looping braid to one side of her face. She looked good for someone I'd seen ripped to rotting bits of flesh.
I couldn't keep the surprise off my face.
"I thought she was dead," Larry said.
"So did I."
"I would never have risked Pallas if I truly thought your werewolf could kill her," Janos said.
A second figure came out of the dark woods. Long white hair framed a thin, fine-boned face. His eyes glowed blood-red. I'd seen vampires with glowing eyes before, but they always glowed the color of their irises. No one who had ever been human had red irises. He wore a proverbial black tux and tails, complete with a nearly ankle-length cape.
"Xavier," I said softly.
Larry looked at me. "This is the vampire that's been killing everyone?"
I nodded.