CHAPTER FIFTEEN #2
“Oh, yeah. Before you get any crazy ideas, let me answer some questions I know others have asked. They have paid members of staff who will donate on the spot out of sight. We don’t order people.
We just order blood and pay for it. We don’t choose the staff member; we don’t learn who it was.
They go through great lengths to make this impersonal. ”
“Fantastic. I’m a blood bag drinker. I don’t want personal.”
“That’s the least surprising thing tonight. Of course, Alexius practices all of Jacob’s lessons. But there’s something better about the vein…”
I remembered the first time I drank from a vein and shuddered. I had been hungry, out of control, and surrounded by murderous out-of-control new vampires.
“No thank you,” I said, smiling tightly.
The second time was better. The final test in my control training before Alexius would allow me to wander Savannah.
Hunt one person. Drink them. Make sure they wouldn’t remember, and evidence of the feeding was gone.
Don’t leave them somewhere that would make them a body. People need to find them and help them.
I had passed with flying colors and promised never to do it again. I hadn’t liked it. The blood had been wonderful. The feeling of being a predator of something so helpless was disturbing.
We ordered. Just a serving each, something to drink.
As well as booze, a tasting set. Nothing that would affect us in the long term.
Once everything was there and we settled in, there was a long stretch of silence as we fed.
Henry kept glancing at me, but I tried not to get curious, but there was clearly something he wanted to say.
Once the blood was done, he spoke.
“Do you want to meet tomorrow?”
“I can’t tomorrow. Maria has kindly requested my presence at her blood club.” I rolled my eyes. “And when they request…”
“You treat it nonchalantly, like a burden, but there are vampires who would literally kill for that invitation,” Henry said, shaking his head. “And since you are so used to it, you have no idea the access to power you have.”
“I’m the new toy to them. I’m only interesting because Alexius took an interest in me,” I said, frowning. “This invitation is not based on my own merits. It’s her being nosy into his personal life and the one vampire he’s willing to keep close.”
“Be careful. One might be part of your bloodline. Well, Isaiah and you are mostly certain not in the same line, but—”
“I’m not in anyone’s line, Henry. I’m an Orphan, capitalized, big O, like Isaiah.
Alexius was killing everyone left in Jacob’s nest who could be the enemy.
He got to me and the new Master, Edwin. I had just sent him the information to prove that Edwin and others had a hand in Jacob’s death.
Not a suicide but a murder. He was killing Edwin, and I was already dead, but not long dead.
He used Edwin’s blood to bring me back. Edwin had been a long-time blood lover of another, more powerful vampire than himself.
I came out more powerful than Alexius thought I would.
It caused some problems for me early on.
But the important thing is, Edwin died. I’m an Orphan.
Thank the gods,” I said, chuckling at the end.
“I’d probably kill anyone who tried to order me to do fucking anything against my will. ”
“I had heard you might be an Orphan, but for some reason, I just didn’t want to believe it. Everly, Orphans don’t have it easy.” Henry seemed worried. “I was hoping that it was exaggerating, maybe… something that added to the mystique of the vampire Alexius was training.”
“I know. Isaiah and I have had a lot of talks about it. From what he explained, he normally oversees the training of any Orphans he finds since he is one. A well-established one. Alexius and I didn’t want me in New York, though.
I like Savannah. It’s not a nest full of politics and intrigue and gossip.
It’s just a household, just a place to call home.
And I listen when I need to, even if there’s no one with the real power to order me into compliance.
Why would I actually want a bloodline with someone like Edwin?
And Alexius has only made one vampire ever.
We both knew him. Why would he risk making a second with how much power he has?
Imagine what someone he made would be like without Jacob’s temperament. ”
Like mine. All of my newfound temper with Alexius’ power? I’d be dead already. They would have had to kill me.
“Those are fair points…” Henry said the words, but he was clearly still on the side of Orphan being the worse choice. “But you don’t know…”
“You know and lost something. I never wanted it, and I’m glad I don’t have it. There’s a difference.” I shrugged. “And I think I’m tapped out for the night. I need to find places open for wealthy vampires and get something to wear for tomorrow. I don’t have anything presentable for Maria.”
“Since it’s a trip to the blood club you’re planning for, I hope you’ll forgive me in saying I will not be joining you. The things you’ll be looking for are things I can’t see you in.” Henry sipped on the tasting whiskey brought to us.
“I didn’t invite you,” I said, beginning to stand up. “Feel free to finish up what we got, but don’t order anything else.”
“Here are a couple of places to shop,” Henry said, pulling out his phone.
He typed fast, and the text got to me immediately.
“I know of them through passing from my friends interested in the sort of thing you’ll be doing tomorrow.
Though… feed a lot before you go. It’s not a place for blood bag drinkers. ”
“I got that vibe,” I said, looking at the names. “Have a nice evening, Henry. Let me know when you have time to talk more. This was… enlightening.”
“It was,” Henry agreed.