Secret Bloodline

Vegas

Camila, Zayn, Lauren, Dinah, and Shawn sit in Zayn's private jet as it soars towards Las Vegas.

"Okay, how did I not know you had a private jet?" Camila asks Zayn.

"Can't you imagine how it would've sounded if I'd told you?" Zayn speaks.

"You mean you didn't want to come across as a rich douchebag?" Camila smiles.

"That's one way of putting it," Zayn smiles.

"If you're done ogling now you should pay attention," Lauren speaks. She clears her throat as she looks at everybody. "I ran a background check on Robert Downey Jr. among other things, he's a casino mogul, a known actor, he is eccentric, and a collector of antiques," Lauren explains.

"Isn't 'eccentric' just a nicer way of saying 'cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs'?" Dinah asks.

"Cocoa... Puffs?" Lauren furrows her eyebrows in confusion.

"I believe Dinah is expressing some concern for Robert's mental state," Camila says.

"Ah. Well, I can't say much about that. What we need to focus on is his collection. Specifically, the Amulet of Nero he possesses. He's agreed to meet with us to discuss a potential sale of the Amulet of Nero. It should be quick. We go in, buy the Amulet of Nero and leave Vegas immediately," Lauren explains.

"What if it's more complicated than that?" Shawn asks.

"Worst case scenario, we'll probably have to rub elbows with Robert for a bit," Zayn says.

"Oh, I can think of some worse scenarios than that," Lauren's face hardens.

"So long as we beat Niklaus there, that's all that matters. It wouldn't be a problem, considering Niklaus has spent nearly a century in a coffin, and Ross is a luddite who refuses to use computers," Zayn says.

"It sounds simple enough and yet what if Niklaus is there?" Camila asks.

"Then we fight," Zayn says.

"And most likely, we die," Lauren adds.

"You two have a harsh way with words," Dinah says.

"If I go down, I'm taking that asshole with me," Shawn says.

"Good luck with that. At his prime, Niklaus could take all of us with one hand," Lauren rolls her eyes.

"And now?" Camila asks. 

"Two hands. But he'd still do it," Lauren says.

"Well, I-"

Before Camila can finish her sentence, Lauren turns back to her laptop, tapping away as she does more research.

"So I guess Lauren is done being social for the moment," Camila says.

The brunette sees Shawn at the far end of the plane, sharpening his sword and frowning, refusing to talk to anyone.

Dinah is at the bar nearby, making a drink for herself, and downing the entire thing immediately.

Camila sees Zayn sitting by himself in the back as he's staring out the window, silently.

She stands up from her seat and sits down next to Zayn which snaps his attention to Camila.

"Camila," Zayn says.

"Is everything okay?" Camila asks.

Zayn sighs as his gaze drifts back to the window and the city lights far below.

"I can't help but feel that this is all my fault," Zayn finally speaks.

"Your fault? How?" Camila asks.