BLOODBOUND II

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After the wild events of Vegas, the group return to New York.

The evening after they come back, Amy, Kamilah and Lily wait in the conference room at Raines Corp.

Amy: God, what an ordeal. I feel like I should write a scathing review on TripAdvisor or something.

Lily: Caution: supernatural beings, evil CEO, avoid the Cordonia Grande?

Kamilah: Not that it matters now.

Remembering how Adrian snapped Langdon Kavinsky's neck, a shiver creeps down Amy's spine.

Amy: Yeah, that was... something else.

She takes a glance at the clock hanging above the door.

Amy: Adrian's been down in the lab for a while now. Should I go check on him?

Kamilah: Best to leave him alone when he's deep in his work.

Lily: Remind me what he's doing, exactly?

Kamilah: Running tests on the vial to make sure it's authentic. We're not sure what properties the First Vampire's blood has. Better to be safe.

Amy: Is it okay to run tests on?

Lily: Yeah, will it explode or turn into a symbiote or something?

Kamilah: I don't know what that means, and no.

Amy: Kamilah... I understand why you're upset. Gaius coming back must be a hard blow.

Kamilah: You have no idea.

She takes a moment to consider the situation, eyes hardening.

Kamilah: But that won't stop me from doing what must be done.

Amy: Gaius is really that powerful, huh?

Kamilah: Yes. Powerful... brilliant, cunning and disarmingly charming. He's the only vampire I have ever feared.

Lily: So, you mentioned before that you and Gaius were, like... together?

Kamilah: Yes.

Lily: What's that all about? If you don't mind my asking.

Kamilah sighs and leans back in her chair, exhausted.

Kamilah: We were close, yes. He called me his Queen.

Lily: Yikes dot yikes.

Amy: Did you know, then? That he was capable of doing terrible things?

Kamilah: Oh, yes. I knew. We all knew.

Lily: But... why stay with him, if you knew?

Her expression darkens.

Kamilah: The most terrifying thing about Gaius wasn't his capacity for evil, but rather, his ability to make it so tempting. So dark and delicious that you wanted... no, needed to take part in it.

Amy: Oh, Kamilah...

The doors fly open as Adrian walks through, full of energy.

Adrian: The test results... they're like nothing we've ever seen before!

Amy: What do you mean?

Adrian: It means that the blood in that vial... it's the real deal.

Lily: That's awesome!

The group eagerly stare at Adrian, but he looks concerned, deep in thought. Lily suddenly reads the hesitation on Adrian's face.

Lily: This... is good, right? That we have the real thing, and not a fake?