I'd expected Caravass to be wearing some kind of goofy robes like a monk or something that would show off his position as leader of all the vampires in the world. Instead, he wore a crisp black suit with clean modern lines to it, paired with a navy blue shirt and silver tie. If not for the pale, superthin skin and color-changing eyes, which kept shifting every few seconds from icy white-gray to blue and then green, I might have had trouble recognizing him as a vamp.
Savannah, remembering the last time she had faced the vamp leader in this room, had no such trouble. She knew all too well exactly who he was and the power he wielded.
"And then I killed Dylan," Savannah blurted out.
I turned to stare at her. What are you doing?
You're my fledgling and my responsibility. I'll take the blame.
I silently cursed. Turning back to the council, I said, "No, I killed him."
"He's trying to take the blame for me, your...er, honors. But the truth is I lost control and killed him, and I'm really really sorry." Savannah had a death grip on my hand.
This was ridiculous. I opened my mouth to argue again.
Caravass raised a hand. "So what you are saying is that one of you two killed Dylan Williams after he and his father and their allies attacked your family and both of you, as well?"
"Yes, but it was me-" I started to say.
"I believe we have heard enough," Caravass said. "Please step outside while we deliberate."
"But-" I said.
"Outside now," Michael murmured, half turning and jerking his chin toward the door we'd come in through.
Savannah hesitated then tugged me toward the door, her dad's firm hand on my shoulder a second propeller pushing me to make my exit.
Growling under my breath, I stepped out into the tunnel, its curved walls and ceiling lit an eerie greenish hue by the f luorescent lights that ran along the ceiling for as far as the tunnel went until it turned at either end. The metal door to the council's chambers clanged shut behind Michael.
He turned to gape at it.
"What were you thinking in there?" I asked Savannah.
She rolled her eyes but didn't answer, either out loud or silently.
Women. Even when you could read their minds, they still managed to make no sense sometimes.
"Look, I don't care how much blood you gave me to turn me. That still doesn't make me or anything I do your responsibility."
I love you, she said silently, her chin poking out. If I have to lie to the council to save you, then that's what I'm going to do. I won't see them hurt you.
Oh, but it's okay for me to see them hurt you?
We were still glaring at each other when the door creaked open again and Caravass stepped out. He pulled the door shut behind him with a small smile.
"The council is in agreement. This Jim Williams has clearly staged a coup within the Clann. It was unfortunate that your human family was involved and you were forced to kill a descendant in self-defense. But you have been cleared of all wrongdoing against the Clann."
My family...involved? They were a heck of a lot more than just involved. My mother had been murdered! I crossed my arms and stared at him, my back teeth grinding together.
Easy, Tristan, Savannah thought, resting a hand on my upper arm. He doesn't understand. He thinks you probably hated your family for casting you out of the Clann. Not to mention he's like two thousand years old and doesn't even remember what it's like to have a human family in the first place.
I took a deep breath then let it out slow through my nose.
"Then we are free to go?" Michael asked.
"Soon. However, the council has asked for a...shall we say, show of good faith on your part?"
Michael froze.
I read the council leader's mind. "They want to know that we're on your side."
Caravass froze as well, losing all trace of humanity in the process. I'd seen wax figures at museums with more life to them. Finally he forced an attempt at a smile. "I forgot that you two are able to read all vampires' minds regardless of whether they are your elders." His Adam's apple worked as he swallowed. "I would prefer to discuss the council's...requests in a more comfortable venue, if you will permit."
We need to get back to Mom and Emily, Savannah thought, her fingers tightening on my arm.
I know. But Caravass and the council seem to be trying to play nice. For now. Let's see where he's going with these new demands. Maybe if they're not too bad and we can play along, we'll get out of here soon and keep the council off our backs. The last thing we need is to have both sides hunting us down in the middle of a war.
"Lead the way." I worked to make my tone and smile as diplomatic as I could, an accomplishment managed only by Dad's endless speeches and my brief stint as the Clann's leader.
"Wonderful! I promise you will not regret it." Caravass led us down the tunnel a few steps, then hesitated and turned back, his smile sheepish now. "Ah, I nearly neglected a bit of security measures. I deeply apologize, I realize this is completely inhospitable, but unfortunately it is also necessary to maintaining the secrecy of our humble chambers' location."
A nearby guard vamp blurred over to us with two blindfolds.
I held my smile in place. "Of course. Your caution is understandable now more than ever."
We allowed the older vamps to tie our blindfolds back into place before leading us out of the tunnels through a different route than before and back up to the street level. We were guided into a car, which smelled and felt like the same one that had picked us up from the airport. But this time, Caravass got into the front seat with the driver, and Mr. Colbert sat in the back on the other side of Savannah.
Caravass gave directions to the driver. Twenty minutes later, the car stopped.
The front passenger door opened then shut. Mr. Colbert got out, as well. Then he and Caravass helped Savannah and me out of the car, four steps over what felt like cobblestone and through a glass revolving door into some sort of building, gauging by the way the air pressure changed around us. A hand at my elbow-Caravass's, according to his thoughts- guided me forward across soft carpeting and through a wide opening of some kind into a room I could instantly tell was cavernous because of how every sound seemed to echo on and on. Ahead, a bit of light filtered through the black cloth over my eyes, and I could hear music and the murmur of voices.