A New Meaning to the Night

Chapter Thirteen: Actions and Consequences

Two hours later, the three men found themselves sitting in a hotel room, watching each other suspiciously. "Would either of you care to enlighten me on how you've been passing your time for the past year?" Henry inquired, breaking the silence between them.

Damien's expression remained hard and he presented no such explanation. William's mouth turned up into a disinterested smile. "I believe Damien has started attending a university in an effort to better himself. For myself, I have done a great deal of traveling. I find it quite intriguing, to see how things have changed in the last hundred years. You should try to get out more Henry."

Henry's pale blue eyes hardened. "What do you know about the girl, William?"

Feigning ignorance, William's brow furrowed in confusion. "Corilynn Matthews? Nothing, I'm afraid. She doesn't remember who turned her, but I've taken the liberty of mentoring her so-to-speak. I'm surprised you've already heard about it."

Henry's eyes began to glow and turned to cat-like slits as he bared his fangs. "Don't take me for a fool, William. I know you've been in touch with Samantha Burton."

William cut off Damien's snarl with an expression of surprise. "Burton? As in Derek Burton? How did that slip by Jacob, I wonder? No doubt, he'll want that taken care of at once."

Before anyone could have prevented it, Henry had William by the throat and Damien shot to his feet, his own fangs out and ready. "If word gets out she exists, her life will be put at risk. Should word get out, I will kill the both of you, do you understand?"

Understanding suddenly left Damien floundering, but William's expression hadn't changed. "You knew. I had suspected as much."

Although Henry let his hand drop and stepped back, he didn't look any less dangerous. "The rebellion isn't strong enough to overthrow Fisher. Getting her involved would be signing her death warrant."

"She could be precisely what the rebellion needs," William countered. "In less than a year, she will be immortal and─"

"And she will be a young, inexperienced half-vampire with no training. Stay away from her. You will not be dragging her into this."

"She'd Derek's daughter, do you truly think anyone could force her into anything she wasn't interested in? Would you rather she live as an outcast for the rest of eternity? Surely you wouldn't be stupid enough to think that Jacob wouldn't catch on when it came to light she was a witch, or that she has her father's eyes. Without this rebellion, she'd be just as welcome by her kind as she was by her mother."

"You know nothing about her mother," Henry growled, violence in his every movement. "You'd do well to keep your opinions to yourself in that regard."

"And you know nothing about her," William replied, not looking the least bit concerned. "Before you allow yourself to be manipulated by a witch, perhaps you should go and see the girl."

"You'd be risking her life for a rebellion she is not a part of."

"You were Derek's closest friend. Would Derek simply stand by when there was something he could do to resolve something?" William countered.

***

Derek leaned back in his chair, his green eyes alight with humor and intelligence. "It's time that we stepped in to do something, Henry."

Sitting in the chair on the other side of Derek's desk, Henry clenched his jaw. "Derek, if the wolves want to wage a war with Slayers, I hardly see how it is any of our concern. We have our own problems to consider, and─"