4
Decisions and Revelations
Jordan jumped down out of his truck, slamming the door behind him. The darkness around him made this abandoned warehouse near the East River even more eerie than he had imagined when Praetor Scott had called and arranged the meeting. He'd hated lying to Maia about where he was going, but he knew that if the alpha of his pack had told him to meet him someplace secret, that had to include keeping it from his girlfriend too. He looked around, peering through the blackness, wondering if the older werewolf had already arrived.
"Hello, Praetor Kyle," spoke a voice from behind Jordan. He spun around and saw the outline of a man, dressed in a well-tailored suit and silk tie, his hair graying.
"Praetor Scott?" Jordan asked. "What's going on? Why did you ask me to meet here? Why not at the Praetor House?"
"Because," replied Scott, "this is a conversation I wish to keep private, just between you and me."
"When you called, you said that you had a job for me? You said it was urgent."
"Yes. A very urgent and very important job for you."
"A job so secret you can't even talk about it at the Praetor House?"
Jordan could just make out the features on Scott's face as he grinned slightly. "Come with me to my office and I'll explain everything."
The leader of the Praetor Lupus turned on his heel and strode off into the darkness, Jordan following closely so that he would't get lost. Eventually, the two of them turned a corner, and the path was blocked by a door, the lock for which Praetor Scott quickly produced a key. He pushed the door open to reveal a surprisingly modern looking office, complete with a large mahogany desk and all the lush furnishings of a rich doctor or lawyer's office. "This is my workspace," he explained. "That is, when I don't want my work to come under scrutiny by any. . . unsavory parties, you might say."
"You're worried that there are spies in the Praetor Lupus?" Jordan asked disbelievingly.
"Spies?" The older man laughed shortly, walking over to sit in a leather chair behind the desk. "No, of course not. I trust those people with my life. It's just that one can never be too careful when discussing certain matters, such as the ones I am about to discuss with you. Please," he continued, indicating a chair across the desk from his, "have a seat."
Jordan sat down, eyeing the alpha wolf cautiously. "And what, if you don't mind my asking sir, is it you wish to discuss with me?"
"You are aware that your assignment, Simon Lewis, created a fledgling vampire that is now the leader of the Manhattan Vampire Clan?" Scott had said it plainly, as a simple question, but to Jordan, it felt like an accusation. It felt like a placement of blame on him for not being able to better control his assignment.
Jordan nodded. "Maureen. Yes, I know she's trying to assume command of the other vampires in the clan."
"And you are also aware, I know, that this vampire later killed the Praetor agent we sent to watch her? Your former roommate, am I correct?"
Jordan swallowed against a lump in his throat that was making it hard to breathe. "Yes," he replied hoarsely. "What about it?"
"That girl has to be handled. She is outside of the Covenant law and I intend to make sure she is held to the due punishments of her actions. My problem is that the Shadowhunters of the Lightwood Institute won't persecute her for fear that it will reflect badly upon them. But, I have a feeling there is more to this than just Isabelle Lightwood dating the vampire that created this menace. I think the Lightwoods are turning against the Clave. I think Maryse and Robert Lightwood are returning to their old ways from the time of the Circle. And now, with Valentine's daughter and the boy Valentine raised as his own son living under the Institute's roof, they have opportunity. Do you think they won't take it? Do you think they'll continue to fight against Valentine's real son? Do you think they have the strength to keep brother and sister away from each other?"
