JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

21. Small but heavy.

Meera slogged through the crowded part of the city.

She was about a mile from the Cabana, following the scent of Caiden's cologne. Every two steps, she stopped as if interested in products displayed in different shops while, in fact, checking for tails.

It was about 45 minutes since Caiden struck that deal with Benedict, and Meera had used that time to make sure the vampires knew they were doomed if they so much as sneezed wrong. Before she healed the humans and compelled them to forget the ordeal and return to their homes with a variant of convincing stories.

And now, finally, here she was, searching for Caiden's unmistakable profile among the busy crowd.

It was so typical of him, blending and hiding in a group of humans.

It was his favorite hideout: in plain sight.

The very place you wouldn't think the strongest, oldest, and deadliest creature in the world would be.

It was why she didn't so much as blink when she ended up walking into a drugstore. And there behind a glass counter, swallowed by the odor of medicine and tonics, surrounded by small white boxes and brown bottles, his dark hair neatly gelled behind his face, the eyes she adored shining through thick-rimmed glasses, wearing a white coat, and a warm smile he welcomed her in.

Like he was some nice human pharmacist, and she was just another client. He looked the part while she looked completely out of place in her dark and tight leather attire, smoky eyes, and bright red lips.

Still, she flipped 'closed' on the door and locked it before she sashayed his way, a seductive smirk in place. Caiden maintained his warm smile even when she stood right in front of him, and perched a leathered hip on the edge of the glass counter.

"I'm not tailed." 

Was her opening statement when he kept looking at her like a stranger, that polite smile still in place. But before she said another word, he stopped her with his hand. Then he took his phone from his pocket and played an audio that would make supernatural eavesdropping close to impossible.

Finally, he faced her, and all humanity left his face. Meera shivered. 

"Why did you spare them?"

At her question, a stiff shoulder lifted. "We might need the extra hands in the future and I'd rather keep willing volunteers than turn newbies or recruit oldies."

"You're making this Benedict kill his friend. Both of whom we know nothing about and you reckon they won't betray us?" All the sensuality in her eyes was replaced by frustration as she scowled at him.

Caiden remained eerily calm as he answered her. "Amara is tailing them as we speak. The kid will keep an eye on the humans you've just compelled, in case you missed something. I'll start using the listening device on Sienna and Angela, while you continue with your usual duties."

Meera shook her head. He was not listening to her. "You have ordered him to kill his friend. That never results in loyalty."

"I need any vampire I consider dangerous dead. At this moment, a vampire who gets visions about the past, present, and future tops that list. Benedict is going to do the honors. If he hesitates, Amara will kill them all." He peered at his phone and then glanced right back at her. "I've to go. We'll continue this later. But mentally prepare yourself: If Benedict does his part well, he and his rookies will be under your watch and training."

Meera had guessed that part. She was the only one they'd seen, she'd be the only one they would be seeing. It was how Caiden kept his identity a secret. All those who knew who he was, he had either approached them himself—like her and Raphael. Or they had uncanny abilities that enabled them to discover his identity—like Amara and this seer vampire.