has terminated? A few family members, friends, associates, possibly.”
“What about the brother of the hunter Selena killed while protecting the vampiress?” Atreides wondered why no one had mentioned this to him, that a pregnant vampire had needed protection. Maybe because it had happened so quickly and no one had known about it, or maybe she had worried he would find fault with her for carrying a hunter’s child. “Cliff now vows revenge and intends to kill Selena.”
Rosa’s eyes widened. “He wouldn’t dare. She might be a borderline rogue hunter, but no way would he incur the League’s wrath if he killed her out of revenge. He would have to have their sanction, or his own death would be ordered. Even though she has been ostracized for what she did, enough of our people stood by her, because when she protected the vampiress, the hunter had attempted to kill Selena. It wasn’t right. And what the hunter had planned to do to the vampiress wasn’t right.”
“Why hasn’t the League declared Cliff a rogue?” Atreides asked.
“No hunter witnessed him killing an innocent vampire. At least none that would tell on him,” Rosa said. “And the same if Cliff vows revenge. It might be hearsay, but unless anyone has real proof he intends to? No one can do anything about it.”
“What if Cliff hired a vampire to kill Selena?” Atreides asked.
“I wouldn’t think one would work for a hunter. Even so, how is she alive if one of them had attacked her?” Rosa asked.
“We’re not sure why either. He was dead, at least we think so, by her own sword. I’m certain he was trying to send us a message. Who does Cliff run with? What about the other hunters who might be involved in this?” Atreides wanted her to verify who else might be in on this.
“Perry Rochester, Harry Canton, and Lonnie Wilson? All of them are great hunters, as far as their kill ratio. Those who believed Selena was protecting the vampiress—still couldn’t believe a hunter would kill a vampiress unprovoked. Not all hunters agree with what she did. She had turned on one of our own kind—even though he was in the wrong and wouldn’t capitulate. It was kind of a wakeup call for some. Kill innocents and you could be put down for it by one of your own kind. But there are some who feel killing any vampire is justified. And Cliff and his brother and their friends are just arrogant enough to feel they can pull something like that off and get away with it. If they’re responsible for the other vampiresses’ deaths, they’ve done just that. I’ve heard the lies they’ve told about Selena or the others who vouched for her. The bullying, rallying of other hunters to bully and threaten her, only caring about making money off the venture, and not giving a damn about who it could hurt.
“I’ve heard they’ve even threatened to take over the League and run it right, unless the League changes its way of doing business. More money, fewer vampires, and anyone who stands in their way is coerced to change their thinking or else. I would like to believe I would have stood up to Cliff’s brother and done what Selena had, but I wasn’t there. I can help your cause now, doing whatever you need me to do in regard to ferreting out the murderer or murderers of the vampiresses.”
“You didn’t believe your sister could be in serious trouble after she killed a hunter?” Atreides would have been there for his brother in a heartbeat every step of the way if something like that had happened to him. He couldn’t believe Selena’s sister would be so insensitive about her sister’s current plight just because Selena did what she knew was right. Hell, Selena wasn’t even supposed to be wearing weapons and anyone who had wanted to take revenge against her meant she’d been at real risk.
Rosa cleared her throat. “Once her actions were backed by the League, I didn’t worry about her. I guess I should have. But I did approve of what she did and that’s why I offered to help your people learn who the murderer of the vampire women is or are.” She let out her breath in a huff. “I want to see my sister.”
“Now?” Atreides still was perturbed with Rosa for not watching her sister’s back.
“Yes, now.”
“What about your brother? He threw Selena out of a club.”
“I told you, a lot of hunters