Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
You have got to be fucking kidding me. I look at Antonio, mouth agape, not believing what I’m actually seeing. We get up and go to the side of the little courtyard, looking out at the street.
“Are they all coming here?”
Looks like it,” he says, and then turns to me, amused. “You know what they say. If you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble comes to you.”
I stare at him blankly. “Nobody says that.”
He laughs. “I just did.”
“Hilarious,” I deadpan. “Wait, are those news vans?”
“Oh, shit. The news doesn’t follow along behind the cops unless it’s something interesting.”
“We should get back inside. Where I will stay put.” Antonio and I grab our empty plates and go back to the event hall. I find Xavier, telling myself that whatever is going on is none of my business. Law-enforcement exists for a reason and they can do their job and handle it.
“There she is. You're a pretty bride,” the old man Xavier was talking to coos as I come over. “I was just telling your husband here about our supper club.” He claps Xavier on the back and he laughs. “He’s such a good politician I forget he can’t eat.”
“Oh, he eats,” I say, looking at Xavier with lust. “All the time.”
The old man doesn’t get it at first but then laughs and congratulates Xavier on having a young and active wife before we are able to get away.
“Did you hear the ice cream truck?” I ask Xavier, linking my arm through his. Being physically close to him brings me a comfort that I cannot explain.
“I did. There were several. You didn’t get any ice cream.”
“I know. Even though I could really go for a Dilly Bar right now.” I can tell by Xavier’s blank stare he has no idea what that is. “It’s a kind of ice cream.”
We’re making rounds again when Xavier stops, turning to look at the main doors. A few seconds later, security comes in, finding whoever is in charge of the event. I nudge Xavier, silently conveying my concerns.
“There is a domestic dispute between hotel guests,” he tells me, able to hear the conversation from across the room. “Doesn’t seem demonic.”
“That’s a relief.”
“One guest has a gun and is threatening to shoot the other and anyone in their way.”
“Okay, I take my relief statement back.” No matter how many monsters I’ve faced, an active shooter will always be one of the most terrifying things to come up against. It’s such a cowardly way to hurt people.
“Listen to me carefully, my darling,” Xavier starts. “Stay here and let me handle it.” He kisses my forehead and speeds out of the room before I even have a chance to react. I stand there, more or less stunned.
I find Antonio talking to Delphi and they’re both rather comfortable in the way they’re talking and laughing for people who just met. My brother better not be hitting on my friend.
“Guys,” I say urgently, going over. Security makes an announcement that they are locking the doors to the event hall for our safety.
“What the hell is going on?” Delphi asks.
“There’s some sort of domestic dispute going on inside the hotel, presumably between two guests,” I reply quietly. “One of them has a gun and is threatening to shoot the other as well as anyone in their way. Xavier is going to handle it.”
He’s already out there, I’m sure, and as I scan the room, I don’t see Theo, either. Mabel catches my eye, and I wave her over.
“Is it demons?” she asks, and loops her arm around mine.
“I don’t think so. Not this time at least.”
“Humans can be scarier than demons,” she says.
“You’ve got that right,” Antonio chides. “If there is a gunman in the hotel, maybe we should barricade the doors or something.”
“Assuming it’s just regular bullets,” I start, “the vampires would be able to protect the human .
“But would they?” Antonio asks.
“I’ll protect you,” Mabel says. “Zeke and Devin will, too.”
“There’s more humans than vampires at this hotel,” Antonio mutters and I’m not sure if he’s talking to himself or not. I grab another glass of champagne and drink half it right away.
“Fuck, I hate this.” I down the rest of the champagne and look at my brother. “It’s killing you not to do something, isn’t it?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, putting his hand on my wrist as a joke. “Stay. I know it’s killing you, too.”
“I’m bored and it’s weird to not run toward the danger.”
“I feel like I should be more scared,” Delphi starts, looking at us like we’re crazy. We probably are, seeing most people run from danger. Wanting to preserve your life as a basic human function that we have repeatedly ignored.
Silence falls over the room as the rest of the crowd learns about what’s going on. Everyone gathers away from the doors. Security goes around securing all exits.
It really is hard to sit still and not spring into action. But I promised myself, and Xavier, that I wouldn’t go running off and put myself in danger tonight. Plus, when it comes to this sort of monster, letting Xavier handle it is best.
And he does.
Within ten minutes, Theo and Xavier have apprehended the gunman, disarmed him, and held him spellbound so he will confess everything as well and cooperate with the cops who put him in cuffs.
Not surprisingly, Xavier gets stopped by someone from Channel Nine News.
I stand at his side, not having to put on a show to look like I am in awe of Xavier, because I am.
There is no denying that Xavier brings a bunch of advantages to being the next mayor, and the current mayor lets it “slip” during his interview that he’s ready to retire but already has someone he’s fully ready to endorse.
As the crowd cheers, something inside of me tells me to look down the street. I do, and what I see makes my heart drop. I blink once. Twice. Three times, Yep. I’m actually seeing what I think I’m seeing.
Marie Dubois.
She’s standing against a building wearing an oversized black hoodie and jeans. Marie’s gaze meets mine, steady and knowing. How long has she been standing out there? The look on her face makes me think she knew exactly where this night was going to lead.
A bad feeling starts to form in the pit of my stomach.
Get it together, I mentally scold myself. I’m on camera and need to look the part of Xavier’s supportive, loving, human wife. Which I am, of course.
Everything fades around me, though, and uncertainty settles into my chest. The news anchor repeats how this was an isolated incident and the people of Charlotte have nothing to fear and thankfully, Xavier Malus was in the right place at the right time and was able to intervene in ways no human cop could.
My stomach tightens.
This wasn’t the work of demons, but was it actually random?
Marie doesn’t smile. She just watches me…like she’s been waiting for me to come up because she knew exactly what was going to happen tonight.