A Shade of Vampire 79 A Game of Death - Bella Forrest Page 0,96

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Zoltan Shatal was a Scholar of the Darklings. It was safe to begin with that, and to wonder who else knew, among those around him. This was a huge secret to keep from everybody. What were the odds the Darklings operated down here independently and unbeknownst to anyone else?

Whether people knew about this or not, it still terrified me.

“Scholar Shatal,” Trev finally said. “My apologies. I’m just surprised. I’m sure you understand why.”

“Oh, yes, it’s only natural,” Zoltan replied.

“Thank you for the honor and the opportunity to serve the Darklings. I will do everything in my power to rise to your expectations.”

“Welcome,” one of the Darklings said—a young Aeternae woman with amber eyes and long ginger curls framing her oval face. “We are your people now. But you will not serve us.”

“You will be serving the Master, like the rest of us,” Zoltan added, nodding at one of the empty chairs. “Have a seat.”

Trev didn’t hesitate. He entered the room and sat in a chair—the farthest from the Darklings and Zoltan. I would’ve kept some distance, too, if I’d been him. Moving around the room, I analyzed each of them carefully as they took their seats. Some seemed familiar. I must have met them, or at least seen them, perhaps in the palace or the Blood Arena. They all wore long black leather hoods over their courtly outfits, their gazes cold and emotionless.

“What brought you to the Darklings, in the first place?” Zoltan asked Trev.

“I’ve already answered that,” the former Rimian replied, his brow furrowed. “Shall I say it again?”

“I do not need you to recite any mantra you must’ve practiced before coming into our fold,” Zoltan said, his tone clipped. “I need you to be honest. I can smell liars from a mile away.”

I’ll bet you can’t smell an invisible vampire, though.

There were too many people in the room, and dampness was imbued into every inch of stone here, so it was nearly impossible for my scent to stand out. As long as I kept quiet, I would be okay.

Trev took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Scholar Shatal, I know the Black Fever is threatening to return. I have sources inside the palace, much like most of you. One of the reasons I became an Aeternae was so I could work with you, with the Darklings, so I can enjoy eternal life without the fear of the Black Fever taking me down, eventually.”

Zoltan smiled, his gaze never leaving Trev. A few minutes passed in deafening silence. The other Darklings stayed quiet, looking at Zoltan and waiting for him to respond. The decision to let Trev into this faction rested solely with the chief councilor, the so-called Scholar, it seemed.

“Your motives seem pure. Admirable, even,” Zoltan said. “I’d be inclined to open my arms wide as I give you access to all our secrets and knowledge. My heart wants you to become a good and honorable Darkling.”

Honorable. What an odd choice of words for a faction that assassinated innocent people. But Zoltan’s expression shifted from lukewarm to arctic cold and deadly dark, his voice changing, thickening, as well.

“However, I have been watching you since you joined the Red Threads,” he added. “Given that you’re friends with people of importance, I thought I should have eyes on you. Needless to say, I have not been disappointed. You’ve been doing exactly what I assumed you’d be doing. I know, Trev. I know you’re still hurting over Luna Visentis. I know you’re planning to hurt us. I know you’ve been secretly meeting with Lord Kalon Visentis and his new vampire-lady pet, Esme Vaughn. I know everything. Therefore, although my heart says yes, I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to walk out of here alive.”

In an instant, the Darklings shot to their feet, their claws extending from beneath their leather folds, and Trev was alone against them. My heart leapt into my throat. I tried to think of a way out for him. The door was open, sure, but I doubted it would be easy for him to get out of here. Like Zoltan had just said, they had no intention of letting him leave this place alive.

“This isn’t going to work out in your favor,” Trev said, slowly getting up and baring his fangs. His cover was blown. Hell, it had been blown since before he’d set foot in the underground. His fate had already been sealed. The purpose of tonight’s meeting had solely been to lure him down here,