Lucius
"WHAT IS IT?" I snap as soon as I enter my office. Most of my sired have jobs at the club, and even if they don't, I require them to report to me in person regularly. I have a list of vampires who avoid or delay these meetings. Theophilus isn't on it, but he better not disappoint me tonight. I have little time left with Selene, and I don't' want to waste it.
"It came in an unmarked package, delivered to the club's doorstep an hour before opening. We've got footage of the delivery, but the person was on foot in a ski mask. Male, Caucasian, probably human. We're still tracking him."
"So what was the package? A bomb?"
"No. This." He holds up a jump drive. "We've already done a virus scan and it's clean. Empty except for one video."
"Play it." I cross my arms and turn to the blank TV at the end of the room. To the side of my desk, a row of screens give me a view of the entire club via security feed. People gyrate on the dance floor, human and vampire alike. It's impossible to tell the vampires apart unless you are one yourself. By midnight, the vampires will have chosen their victims and herded them into a private booth to enjoy a drink in private.
"Sire," Theophilus calls my attention to the main screen. The mysterious video starts with a flash of familiar white blonde hair. Selene strides on screen, dressed in fatigues and a black sports bra. She's barefoot, unarmed, except for a wooden stake in her hand. Someone off camera must direct her, because she nods and turns, heading to a man chained down on the floor. She grabs a hank of his hair and draws his head back far enough I see his fangs. He's a vampire and she has a stake. In one movement, she plunges the weapon deep into his heart. She cuts off his head and holds it up for the camera. The shot ends, and another begins. Same set up. This time, the vampire is female.
"Your Majesty," someone calls. Theophilus waves them away and closes my office door, muffling the sounds of the club, people having a good time. The security feed shows bright-eyed, happy horde of humans, laughing, talking, dancing on silent repeat. I want to destroy this office, burn the club to the ground, with everyone in it. Torture Theophilus for being the messenger, for witnessing my humiliation.
Instead I remain still and silent, watching my lovely pet staking vampires. Again and again and again.
The video ends with a close up shot of Selene's perfect face. She's younger, cheeks flushed and hairline sweaty from exertion, but it's her. She looks straight into the camera, a defiant expression that's all too familiar.
A garbled voice breaks the silence. "Who are you?"
"My name's Selene."
"What is your mission?" The camera zooms in further.
"Find Lucius Frangelico."
"And then?"
She doesn't hesitate. "I'm going to kill him."
Selene
TEN MINUTES WITHOUT LUCIUS, and I'm bored out of my mind. Watching vampires try to seduce unsuspecting humans isn't my idea of a good time.
"I'm going to the bathroom," I tell the guard.
"Frangelico says you stay here."
I roll my eyes. "It's either that, or I pee on the seat."
The guard touches his earpiece. "We'll clear it first," he says. Good call.
The bathroom they clear has a luxurious sitting room attached to the room with the stalls. There's a couch and huge mirrors. The sinks are set into fancy marble topped vanities with gold faucets. I primp and freshen up, feeling a little bad that there are women waiting in the hall to pee while I have the entire room to myself. Lucius is paranoid about security, seriously. It's not like anyone can get to me and even if they could--
"Hello, Selene," a deep voice makes my head snap around. A whimper escapes my throat as a giant shadow pushes open the door and enters.
Xavier.
"What are you doing here?" Any minute my guards should burst in.
He prowls to my side and sets down a glass filled with amber liquid on the fancy vanity.
"Drink," he orders. "You'll need it."
I've swallowed half the glass before I realize I've obeyed without question. Old habits die hard.
I finish off the drink and set it down.
"You can't be here," I whisper. I stare in the mirror at my own reflection. Xavier's doesn't show, but I feel his eyes on me all the same.
"Frightened for me?"
I start to turn and he grips my neck.
"Have you forgotten who you are? What he did to you?"
"I've... gotten to know him. He's not like that…" I feel stupid even as I say it.
"He's a monster."
I blink as Xavier uses the word Lucius so often uses to refer to himself.
"He killed your pack with no remorse."
"Is there proof?"
"You've seen the photos. What more proof do you need?"
That's not proof, I want to say. But vampires can't be caught on film, so if there is any proof, it's lost. "Why did he do it? He can lure any victim he likes. Why would he need to massacre an entire pack?
"Who knows why the killer kills? Boredom in his old age."
I bite my lip because Lucius has said the same sort of things. I almost tell him Lucius has a search team looking for my old pack but Xavier speaks first.
"There's more. I have eye witnesses. He took the youngest and the strongest to his lair. Lucius took them to his lair where he drank from their neck, forced them to drink from him, then tore out their hearts."
I shake my head.
"Yes," Xavier booms. "It's true."
"Why would he do that?"
"To turn shifters into vampires."
"He can't do that. He wouldn't."
"If he can do that, he'll be the most powerful vampire on earth." He sets the stake on the sink. "Unless you can stop him."