Reunion

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Sitting in a small reception room, Marise stared at the telephone and waited for her nerves to settle before she made the call. The room was lit by a single lamp on the desk beside her, throwing long shadows across the room. She stretched out in the worn armchair and told herself that whoever answered the phone wouldn’t be able to tell something was wrong with her from what she was going to say. It was a perfectly acceptable course of action in a situation like this. She had a duty as a Law Keeper, but she had a duty as a leading member of her bloodline too.

She picked up the receiver and dialled the number of her headquarters. It seemed to ring for forever and she mused that if she still had a heartbeat, it would be rocketing right now.

“Hello,” a man said.

She swallowed and told herself not to hesitate. She had to be straightforward and sound as though she was in command or he would suspect something was wrong.

“It’s Marise,” she said, cool and collected.

“Marise, are you home?” he said and she recognised him as Vincent, the Caelestis Law Keeper.

A part of her was thankful that it was him. He would be easier to fool than the Aurorea or Validus Law Keeper.

“I’m here and have made contact with my lord. It appears we are not dealing with a vampire attack. It is something far worse. Two elite guards were killed and a third was beaten to the point of death and now lies dying, unable to recuperate from such extensive injuries.” She paused and swallowed the tight lump in her throat. She had to continue sounding as calm as she had done so far. If she raised suspicion, he could tell her to return and not continue on the case. “Timur was injured, and is now forcing his bloodline to remain indoors.”

“What was responsible for the attack?”

She smiled, glad that he sounded concerned. Her chances of remaining here were increasing.

“Not a what, but a who. It seems to be a message from a human, a vampire hunter.”

He laughed. “No vampire hunter could do this to four of our kind.”

“I assure you they did. I have seen the guard that was left to die. He has confirmed that it was a vampire hunter. I fear that someone has been playing god, but need more time to get the evidence required.” She paused and shifted the phone across to her other ear. “Vincent, I am going to remain here and find this hunter. I will judge for myself whether they are human and if they have been enhanced somehow. We must assess whether they are a threat to us and, if they are, inform the bloodlines.”

“We have our hands full here,” he said and her heart sank as she thought he was going to ask her to come home and assist them. “Investigate, and if you believe this hunter is a threat to our species, kill it.”

She nodded, relief filling her. “I will.”

“Report back when you have determined what we are up against.”

The phone clicked and went dead. She placed the receiver back into the cradle and leaned back into the chair, sighing out her breath and relaxing. She wondered what had her comrades so busy, and then raised her eyes to the ceiling. Tynan would have returned from his hunt by now. Jascha would finally be getting the blood he needed in order to heal and get strong again. It would only be a few days before she was heading back to headquarters. Could she keep it together that long and resist the temptation Jascha presented? She still needed to see him again and finish her questioning.

But more than that, she needed to make sure he was all right.

* * * *

Marise looked both ways along the empty corridor and then went still. She reached out with her senses, trying to detect whether anyone was awake yet. It was early afternoon, still hours before the sun would set. There were a scattering of guards around the house, but none of them had paid her much attention.