to their precious technology and then proceeded to show them why our kind is superior by forcing the humans to essentially fight with their hands alone.”
However, the problem with employing this tactic now was that I didn’t require Lilith’s electricity or power to fight. I had my own.
“She assumes I require her resources,” I added out loud. “Proving she knows nothing about me.” I bent to evaluate Rick’s position. He was in bad shape in there. Sighing, I opened my bag to retrieve a knife, then went to work on cutting him free from his belt and the bags around him.
“You’re fucking heavy,” I groused, yanking on him to pull him free. He wasn’t breathing, his neck twisted at a bad angle from the accident. It was going to take him hours to recover, marking him as useless in our plight.
I stood and went to the closest establishment to bang on the door. A few of the patrons had peeked out through the windows during the whole situation, none of them trying to help. Further proof this region had gone to hell under Silvano’s reign.
A short blonde human answered the door with her head bowed. “Yes, Sire?”
“Do you know who I am?” I asked her.
“My superior,” she replied immediately.
“Your royal,” I corrected her. “Look at me.”
Her fear permeated the air, her limbs beginning to shake. “I-I’m sorry, My Prince. I didn’t… I didn’t know…”
“Look at me,” I repeated.
Her tremor became a full-on quake of obvious nerves as she attempted to draw her focus up to me. She got as far as my mouth, her head seemingly unable to lift any higher.
I decided to let it go since I didn’t have time to waste on this nonsense. “Where is your owner?” I asked her, hating the question but knowing it was one she would understand.
“Here, My Prince,” a feminine voice replied from the stairs as a dark-haired vampire navigated the dark with flawless ease. “To what do we owe the honor?”
“A bunch of Vigils decided I needed to make a detour,” I growled. “Or did you miss the chaos outside?”
“I heard it,” she admitted, her cheeks blossoming with red splotches. “I… I didn’t know how to react.”
An honest answer rather than an excuse. That fact alone just saved the woman’s life without her ever knowing it was at risk due to my growing wrath. “I need your help,” I told her.
“Anything, My Prince,” she said.
“I hope you mean that,” I replied, taking in the rest of the room. There were five other humans, all appearing to be in relatively decent health. Another point in the female’s favor. “What’s your name?”
“Patricia,” she replied.
“Patricia,” I repeated, glancing around. “What kind of an establishment is this?”
“A hair salon and spa.” She moved from her perch on the stairs, heading down the rest of the steps before turning left to go open a door toward the back of the lobby area. My night vision allowed me to see the series of chairs and supplies beyond.
“Your humans cut hair?”
“They do,” she confirmed.
I glanced at them again. “They don’t offer blood?”
Her eyes seemed to cloud over. “Only when a client demands it.”
“Like Silvano?” I guessed. Several humans visibly trembled at the mention of his name.
“He was a former patron, yes.”
My jaw clenched, aware of what he probably required during his visits. “I see. Well, I have a task for you. Come with me.” I turned to find Willow kneeling beside Rick. She’d arranged him in a way to facilitate his healing. “I have two tasks, actually,” I said as I walked toward her. “My pet needs functional clothes and tennis shoes, and I need someone to watch over Rick while he heals.”
Patricia gasped upon seeing Willow, her eyes narrowing at what she would recognize as an illegal creation.
“Are we going to have a problem?” I asked her, arching a brow.
“N-no, My Prince. No problem.”
“Good.” I went to Rick and carefully picked him up so I wouldn’t undo Willow’s attempt to reset some of his disjointed bones. Yet after a few steps, I realized that was futile. He’d need to be completely realigned again.
“I’ll find her some clothes,” Patricia said, disappearing into her establishment again and up the stairs as I entered with Rick.
The humans inside quickly moved to the side, one going as far as to open the door at the end for me with his head bowed. “Is there a bed or something I can lay him on?” I asked the male.