He stepped aside and she went into the bathroom. She took a quick shower, hoping by the time she opened the door Adrien would have some idea where they should go next.
* * *
“We need to go see a man in the north?”
Adrien sat on the floor outside the bathroom, still in his jeans and nothing else. He stared up at Lily having forgotten how pretty she was, with her large haunted hazel eyes staring down at him. His chest squeezed up, making it hard to breathe.
“A vampire?” she asked.
“Actually, he’s a half-breed, and an Ancestral, rare in our world, but it happens.” Just like Adrien actually. His mother was human, but the vampire genetics were dominant in his father’s line and though he didn’t have Ancestral status, and never wanted it, he had the potential.
“Half-breeds? As in human and vampire?”
He rose to his feet and narrowed his eyes. “Sure. Has been throughout history. Where do you think all your lore came from? And men of wealth? A lot of them are half-breeds.”
“But far less powerful than a pure vampire.”
“Not necessarily.”
“That doesn’t make sense. We’d know about them. There would be reports throughout the entire history of the world.”
“Think about it, Lily. Most of the world still lives deep in superstition, but imagine just a few centuries ago when witches were burned at the stake. Do you honestly think a long-lived human would ever make his parentage known? He’d never have survived. The human population not so long ago wasn’t mobile like it is now. Nowhere to hide.”
“Then you’ve protected your half-breeds.”
“You could say that.”
“Why are you smiling?”
He sought about for a reason not to tell her about his parentage. On the other hand, it would be enjoyable to see her reaction. “You want the truth?”
“Yes. Of course.”
He’d give her that much. She stood up to things. “I’m a half-breed. My mother was human. She was a good woman.”
Her mouth fell agape. “You’re kidding.”
“Which part? That I have a few human genes kicking around in me?”
“That and how is it if you’re part human, you hate us so much?”
“Because we’re headed on a collision course with your world. It’s inevitable and human nature tends to exploit, to grab, to destroy an entire population to get at its wealth.”
“But vampires are more powerful, physically and you have so many other abilities that we don’t.”
He chuckled, but even to his own ears it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “Look at the numbers, Lily. We have under a million in our entire population, spread out over the globe, and no central government to speak of. You’re seven billion and growing. What are the odds of survival for us?”
She grew very quiet and very still. The chain was strangely silent against his neck.
He’d given her a lot to think about.
“Adrien, what happened to your mother?”
“She died when I was very young. Murdered.”
“Oh, God, I’m so sorry.”
He felt her swell of empathy but shook his head. “It was a very long time ago. Remember, I’m long-lived.”
“Four centuries then.” She frowned, and he could almost feel her thinking it all through. “Was she trafficked?”
“No. I mean, that’s a new word these days. She was kidnapped, stolen from her life in Paris, which is one reason I have a place here.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“There are worse things.”
“I don’t think so.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not.” The information was four hundred years old yet somehow, with Lily asking the questions, suddenly he was a little boy and his mother was put in a long wooden box and lowered into the ground.
This was not exactly useful given his current situation. He gave himself a shake. “All right, I’m going to shower now, then we’ll head north, at a snail’s pace for your sake.”
“Okay, that’s fine.”
He stepped aside and she dropped to the floor to wait, having already grown accustomed to their routine because of the chains.
He showered quickly, dried off, then passed by her to return to his bedroom. When he felt the chains tug, he called to her, but she was already moving and his chain grew slack.
He pulled a pair of black fighting leathers off a hanger, one with plenty of weapons sheaths so he could get better armed. One gun and a dagger wasn’t going to cut it.
The pants were specially designed with slots for battle chains and several daggers. He wore a snug black tee, tucked in, another harness for his Glock, and a black leather jacket, free of holes. Travel at night in black was the only way to go. “Have you got any dark clothes you can wear?”
She moved to the bed and searched in her satchel. She changed out of her clothes, all in black, now wearing a turtleneck, jeans, and loafers. She plucked at her shirt and turned to meet his gaze. “We almost look like a couple of ninjas.”
He smiled. He didn’t want to but he couldn’t help it. “Sorry, Lily, but the last thing you look like is a ninja.” Her hair flowed over her shoulders. She was so beautiful, with sudden unexpected laughter in her eyes.
He cleared his throat and inclined his head to the door. He spoke in a sharp voice. “I need to get some more weapons, ammo for the Glock in case you decide to use it again, then we’ll leave here.” He narrowed his gaze and asked, “What does your locating ability tell you right now?”
Lily focused on the weapon, and as before, he could sense her reaching out. The tendrils of her tracking skill headed in several directions at once, but were unable to connect to an end point. He felt the level of her concentration and saw the lines of tension around her eyes, but nothing happened.
Glancing at him, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can feel the ability there; I know it exists. But it’s as though I just don’t have enough power to propel the search forward, if that makes sense.”
“It’s new to you. I’m sure in time it’ll come. For now we’ll just keep following our leads.”
As she set her jaw once more, he brushed past her, leading the way back to the office and his armory.
* * *
Lily buried her face in Adrien’s shoulder. She still didn’t understand how the process worked, how she, as a human, could pass through anything solid. Though she kept her eyes closed, she could feel the difference between air and a mass of any kind, but it felt more like the difference between dry air and fog, the solid parts a soft clinging to the skin.
Adrien flew slowly for her sake, and though her head pounded, no sharp stabbing pains threatened to split her brain apart. Even the nausea at such a slow speed remained a faint queasiness. Still, she took deep breaths and tried to relax.
They must have left Paris behind, because for several minutes she’d felt only the texture of air. Though retaining her tight hold on Adrien, and her left foot balanced on his right boot, she set her gaze across his broad chest to see what they passed by.
Not much since it was the middle of the night, but as she looked up through a now thin layer of clouds she caught the occasional star, more wisps of clouds, more stars.
At one point she relaxed against him and his hand shifted on her waist, circling her even more fully. She felt his need to keep her secure and maybe that’s why she let loose with a sigh and permitted her head to actually rest on his shoulder.
In this moment, the reality of her situation stunned her: that she flew in a state of mass that could pass through other masses, that a vampire built like a tank held her in his arms, that she watched clouds and stars pass like it was any other nighttime outing.
We’re almost there. And now his rumbling voice in her head. He had an interesting voice, very deep and resonant. Her husband’s voice had been like that. She missed him so much, the comfort of his arms around her, making love, even arguing with him about how to raise their children.
Now she was alone, trying to save her son if she possibly could, trying not to get killed in the process.
Don’t be sad, Lily …
What did you say? So he knew she was sad and didn’t want her to be.
Nothing. More gruffly this time, even in her head. I didn’t mean to say anything.
Fine.
Fine.
She felt the descent and as she looked down, her acquired vampire vision warmed up the country setting below: a small French town, a nearby river, trees, lots of trees, farm country in broad stretches surrounding the town.
Adrien shifted direction, and as buildings raced toward her she closed her eyes. She felt them pass through a few buildings. Finally his boots hit a solid spot and the warmth of the air told her she was indoors.
We’re in a home at the edge of town. Oh, my God.
She stepped off his foot and opened her eyes.
The house had been ransacked, papers strewn everywhere, furniture overturned. Adrien moved toward a doorway to the left, and she followed behind quickly.
Once more, he spoke straight into her head. Someone got here before us.
No kidding.
For now, stick with telepathy.
I sort of figured.
Good. At least you don’t lack for brains. Then, Oh, God, no. He picked up his pace.
She saw the body lying in a twisted mass.
The Ancestral? she asked.
No. His servant, though, a half-breed who’s been with him a long time.
She stayed on Adrien’s heels as he put his feet in motion again. She ignored the body on the floor, holding her breath as she moved by. Surely death had an odor, and she didn’t want to smell any of it.
One hallway led to another room, another hall, a narrow staircase, a real rabbit warren.
Lily stuck close, resisting the urge to hold on to the bottom of his coat. Her back itched with the thought that someone could attack her from behind. She felt jumpy and as her chain vibrated, and she reached out to sense what he was feeling, she knew Adrien felt the same way.
When she stepped into what had to be an attic, she heard the sound of movement on the rooftop above, someone walking or sliding on tiles. Then a thump and a harsh cry.