Lost in Shadows

Chapter Three

It was always a bad idea to take a mortal into a vampire's lair, even if it was only a tiny apartment. There was a strong chance they would never make it back out.

Not alive.

That's why I never brought visitors over. So my roommate dropped her book in surprise when I led Charlotte Gold into our home. I gave Elizabeth a warning look as Charlotte crept after me, her determination to find her sister overcoming her survival instinct. Her nerve impressed me. I wouldn't have been as brave when I was mortal. But like when she met me, she seemed underwhelmed by everything. Our apartment had average, if a little older, furniture. Nothing about it seemed like a house of horrors. If someone looked closely at our books, they would see we had very early editions of classics. Other than that, everything was ordinary. Elizabeth even had a glass of wine out. Most wouldn't realize she included blood. Everything appeared ordinary.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth had no interest in appearing ordinary.

"Luke." Elizabeth tilted her head, her shining red hair tumbling over her shoulders. "You don't usually bring food home."

I scowled when Charlotte's eyes widened. "Don't listen to her. Elizabeth knows I don't like hurting mortals."

Elizabeth scooped her book up and gave me a lazy smile. "You don't like cleaning blood from the rug."

That was true, but it usually happened because of Elizabeth's bloodplay with consensual partners. I doubted Charlotte would believe or even understand, so now wasn't the time to argue over particulars with my friend. "I take it you didn't get my message?"

Elizabeth yawned. "I always forget unless there's an emergency. Was it about your shaking mortal?"

"Don't be rude." Wasted words on Elizabeth. Rudeness came as naturally to her as breathing to a mortal. I turned to Charlotte. "That's Elizabeth, my roommate. She won't bite." I gave a warning look to Elizabeth, hoping she got that message. "This is Charlotte Gold. Her sister went missing. It looks like one of us might have been responsible."

Elizabeth snorted and changed a page. "When people know about us, we're always blamed. No one should ever underestimate human depravity. If we're fucked up, it's only because we started out as them."

She had spent three decades perfecting icy indifference, but my eyes never missed much. There was a slight reaction, a tightening of the shoulders. A lost sibling was a sore spot for her.

"Do you know an Anna Gold?" I asked her.

Elizabeth reached for her wine. "You know I never ask the name of food. It ruins the meal."

Charlotte held up her phone. "I can show you a picture. She's twenty-five. Her whole life is ahead of her. It would kill my dad to lose Anna."

"Take a look, Lizzy," I said. "It won't kill you."

Elizabeth gave me a dark look. "But it might get her killed. And I won't cry about one mortal, but I'll have to put up with your moodiness for another ten years."

I frowned. "No one is dying."

"You're right. Because I'm not helping," she said.

Charlotte exhaled. "Please. My dad... this is really hard for him. He's still hoping Anna is alive and I... I'll do whatever it takes to find the truth."

I flinched at the last words. Humans were too ready to sacrifice themselves.

Elizabeth curled her lip. "If it weren't for Luke, I would have killed you by now. Your father is going to lose two daughters if you don't give this up."

Harsh, but true. If I couldn't convince her, maybe Elizabeth could.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes and took a step forward. "Were you the one who did it?"