Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
JADEON
Deep in thought, hands in pockets, I loomed in the shadowy alley opposite Belshazzar’s, waiting for Alex.
We had arranged to meet just outside the club at midnight.
That way we could watch out for each other.
After several long discussions, I had deemed Alex ready to face all of this with me.
However, having no need for timekeeping, Alex was not particularly good at it.
And after thirty minutes of observing the club’s regulars arriving, I doubted he would show up.
Perhaps the thought of seeing Orpheus again had put him off the idea.
Someone lingered behind me. I spun round to face Marcus and several of his minions. He stepped into view, danger etched in every line of him, but I met his glare unflinching, strong, and entirely unwilling to let him near me.
“It’s addictive, isn’t it?” he said.
“If you’re referring to the club, then no,” I said.
“Orpheus sends his regards.”
“What is it that you want, Marcus?”
“I have a message for you.”
“What is it this time?”
“He’s paying her a visit. He was wondering whether—”
“Ingrid! He better not touch her.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll burn this place down. With him and everyone in it.”
That got his attention, and for a brief moment, he saw I was ready to do whatever it took to protect the innocent.
“Anyone who crosses Orpheus doesn’t stand a chance. Personally, I’d follow that power anywhere.”
“That’s because you follow blindly,” I snapped. “Ever tried thinking for yourself?”
Marcus peered past me and stared over my shoulder. His expression lost its arrogance, his eyes widening in a mix of terror and disbelief “Snowstrom?” he said.
I spun round and followed his gaze. In the shadows at the end of the alley was a tall man, dressed in a priest’s attire, who stared back at us with piercing blue eyes.
“Who is that?” I asked and turned to face Marcus again.
Marcus and his men were gone.
I stared back to view the priest.
He too was gone.
“Fabian?” I echoed into the night. “Fabian Snowstrom?”
His name has haunted me since I had seen it written inside our castle. Snowstrom’s book had been presented to me by my father, back when I was mortal—over two centuries ago.
Whoever he was, he had rattled Marcus.
With no time to search for the mysterious priest, I flew toward Ingrid’s flat, fearing for her safety. With concentrated thoughts, my mind studied Ingrid’s home. I viewed the apartment with clarity.
From the shadowed alley across the street from her flat on New Canal, I felt her presence—like a faint whisper threading through my thoughts as our minds connected. The TV flickered in the background, but her focus was fixed on a newly assigned case.
Still, an unease tugged at me.
Something darker was stirring beneath the surface.
Danger loomed within her home.
Him. Orpheus watched over Ingrid while she slept. He had been tracking her. If unable to follow her himself during daylight hours, he arranged for his mortal devotees to.
I see exactly what you're doing—I sent him the stark warning. Sensing if I flew in there, I would put her in more danger.
You will cease this—before it’s too late.
Now get the fuck out!
Orpheus closed his mind to me.
Waves of anxiety threw me into a panic. I shot through Ingrid’s sitting room window toward her. Hearing me enter, Ingrid awoke. I skidded and caught myself seconds before stumbling into her bedroom. She leapt out of bed and peered into the sitting room.
Orpheus had disappeared before Ingrid had even caught sight of him.
Upside down, I clung from the light fixture suspended from her vaulted ceiling, staring down at Ingrid as she walked about the room.
Do not look up.
Ingrid checked both the kitchen and her front door, reassured not to find anything out of place. The phone’s shrill ring almost sent me hurtling. Ingrid answered the call and spoke rapidly into the handset, her expression stressed.
“Where is he now?” Ingrid asked the caller. “That name again?”
Alexander?
“Keep him locked up until I get there.” She headed into her bedroom to get dressed.
She was talking about Alex, and my grip loosened on overhearing that he was imprisoned back in Ingrid’s station.
With sweaty palms, my grasp slipped, and I swayed on the fixture.
Where the light was secured into the wall, cracks appeared in the ceiling.
Dust fell into my eyes, hinting that the light was about to give way. A jolt confirmed my fear.
Ingrid passed beneath me and a sprinkle of dust trailed behind her. Without noticing, she headed out of the apartment.
I did a back flip and landed on the floor.
I hesitated at the window, moments before exiting, astonished by the book titles strewn on Ingrid’s coffee table and disconcerted that all referred to vampires.
Several beige folders lay nearby, and I peeked inside those too, dismayed by the content of the police files.
Ingrid was investigating vampire-style murders.
Did she know who I was—what I was?
No, impossible.
Within minutes, I had followed Ingrid to Salisbury Police Divisional Headquarters on Wilton Road. I flew past the guards, making a discreet leap toward Alex’s cell undetected and tapped on his door. The place was awful, and it was terrible to bear the thought he was in here.
“Jadeon!” Alex jumped off the prison bunk and peered through the door’s grate.
“Shush.” I checked for the guards. “What the hell happened?”
“I couldn’t do it anymore. I can’t bear their thoughts,” Alex said.
“You’re not making any sense,” I snapped.
“I heard it was possible to get blood.”
“Alex?”
“The hospitals, they extract it for humans. And they—”
“Who told you about such a thing?”
He peered sheepishly through the bars.
“Alex, haven’t you learned by now. . . ?”
“Get me out of here.”
I subdued my fury. “I’m working on it. What happened?”
“I was taking a unit of blood from the—”
“Dear God!”
“I got attacked by this burly security man. He had this taser thing and zapped me.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, please don’t be angry,” he said.
“Sometimes, you just need to—”
“What’s the time?”
“I’ll get you out of here before dawn, okay?”
“Your word?”
I nodded. “Look, you need to know that Ingrid is working on a murder case. It’s connected somehow to the blood you stole.”
“How?”
I turned to see Ingrid advancing toward me.
“Jadeon?” she called out. “How did you get in here past the guards?”
“Ingrid, there’s been some mistake. Alex—”
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said sternly.
“Perhaps that’s a question for your men,” I said.
She rested her hands on her hips. “Look, I need to interview him. I know this is difficult for you. It’s difficult for me. I’m seriously considering handing him over to a colleague to interview because of our . . .”
“Relationship?”
“Friendship,” she said.
“There’s been a mistake,” I said, “but let him out, and I won’t take this any further.”
“No mistake has been made.” Ingrid frowned.
“Ingrid, you must listen to me.”
“He’s a suspect in a murder case. I could get into a lot of trouble for just talking with you. Look, I’m sure this is some huge misunderstanding and we’re going to sort it all out. However, you have to let me do my job. Okay.”
“Ingrid,” I whispered, “surely after everything that you and I have done together—”
“Don’t you go there, Jadeon.”
I lowered my voice. “Perhaps if I could invite you back to—”
“You’re trying my patience now.”
I was shocked at her response. “I need to get my brother out of this place. How do I do that?”
“Step away from the cell and come with me.”
“Ingrid, I’m not negotiating with you. I am telling you that my brother is innocent. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“He’s part of a bigger investigation. Alex is not going anywhere tonight.”
“No.”
“Unless the murderer himself turns up and confesses tonight with corroborating evidence, your brother is staying here for now.”
“There must be something else?”
“Look, I know this is difficult for you.” She softened. “Here’s what I’m going to do. I’ll start the process with the paperwork for Alex’s bail and as soon as I can legally release him, I will.”
“It’s not enough, I need to do more . . .”
“Get Alex a lawyer. I’m sorry I can’t do more. I’ve probably said too much already.”