Chapter Nine

I hardly had the composure to make it inside the Hunter’s HQ. The moment the door shut us in, I blew up.

“What the hell was thou thinking!? Does thou realize how much danger we were in? Does thou realize how much danger thou put all of us in simply by going around asking questions? How could thou be so stupid!?” I screamed.

“What does it even matter to you anyhow? You’re always in my business, you’re always so concerned about what I do. If you leave me the fuck alone then you wouldn’t be in danger.” Anthony was sulking on the couch, something he did often.

I got right up in his face. “This revenge thing of thine has gotten way out of hand. Tell me why I shouldn’t take thy power away right now!”

“Because you obviously need me! You guys are always giving us hints as to how to help kill vampires, you’re always protecting me. You wouldn’t have chased me right into The Cave if you didn’t need me some how.”

I slapped him, harder than I would ever slap a human, but nothing to a vampire. “Thou foolish, naive, selfish child. Thou really has NO idea what part thou plays in all this!”

I was about to say more, when Jack interrupted. “Elanor!” he urgently called, but with polite restraint. “It’s time.”

I looked out the small window that was the only source of outside light for the small warehouse. Too faint for humans to see, but we all could see the sky begin to lighten.

“We will discuss this tomorrow.” I warned him.

“It is tomorrow.”

“THE HEBREW TOMORROW!” I roared back. I grabbed Jack by the elbow and we ran back to my basement as fast as we could. We got back to my place with time to spare, but I joined Jack in the black basement closet for a moment.

We stood silent for a while. Jack was the first to speak. “Are you okay?”

I sighed and nodded.

“Why did you go after Anthony?”

“He protects the boys. They really are stupid children, but they’re good. They were all friends, Anthony, Patrick and Lee, before Anthony was stolen. Romulus had a plan for him, but none of us know what. Anthony was always stubborn, so he ran off, came back to his friends, and they all vowed to do away with the ones who turned Anthony. Frankly, it helps with numbers. Lately, we’ve been unable to keep up with the killings, the turnings, the overall destruction. But he’s so rash and uncooperative! I’m not so sure that it’s a good idea to let him loose any more.”

“You want to change him back.”

“Yes. He’s only been a vampire for four years. He would barely be any older. But it’s not fair to do it without his permission; which he will never give me because he would never be able to go after Romulus if he was changed back.”

“Why do you think Romulus wants him?” I wasn’t sure I had an answer. I was silent for some time. “You know that there’s a good chance that Romulus is just biding his time. He won’t go after Anthony as long as he knows that Anthony will keep coming to him. But if you change him back... there’s no guarantee that Romulus won’t come for him. Kill all of the Hunters. Break Anthony.”

There was always an advantage to talking to a telepath. “Yes. But thou knows as well as I, that’s only speculation.”

“Speculation is all you can do. Romulus is experienced and clever. He’s old... almost as old as you?”

I was jarred by this comment, and quickly closed off my mind.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to see something I wasn’t supposed to.”

“No, it’s fine... Just,... it troubles me; the fact that you can discover so much about me, where I can’t know anything more than you tell me.” I slipped into the formal... he didn’t notice.

“I’m sorry.” He apologized again.

“I should let thee rest. I could use some rest myself. I will have a lot on my mind tonight, I should enjoy the free time I get this evening.


André’s classes were all scheduled in the afternoon. It was frustrating needing to wait until 7am to call him, but it was so comforting to hear his voice. I told him everything that had happened since Jack’s arrival, though not in distinct detail.

“I want you to come stay with me.” He commented urgently.

“André, be rational. This is the time they need me most.”

“I don’t like the idea of some strange vampire staying in our house, I don’t like the idea of Romulus’s men coming after you, and I really, really don’t like some strange vampire staying in our house.”

“Thou mentioned Jack twice.”

“I really, really, REALLY don’t like him staying in our house.”

“Green is a bad color on thee, love, just so thou knows. Besides, how many fresh young co-eds has thee lured into thy bed by now?”

“I’ll have you know, I’ve been good. No lady has graced my bed-sheets. Not even you, I might add.”

“Yes, and thou has only been gone for two days. Thou hasn’t even met thy students yet. Don’t try to be coy with me sir.”

André laughed, and I could just see that impish grin on his face. “Seriously though,” and his voice grew grave, “I’m very worried about you love. I know that I should be able to trust your judgment on the new guy. Just promise me you’ll be careful...”

“...I promise.”

“... But I’m not comfortable with the Romulus situation. Anthony is getting out of hand, even for you all. Something needs to be done to insure you’re all safe.”

“I’ll speak with my kindred tonight. We’ll make a strategy, I promise.”

“Speak with them today. I’d feel better if you did so when, what’s-his-name... Jack wasn’t around. I don’t think it’s impossible that he’s a mole, or may double-cross you all.”

I sighed. “That’s fair.”

“Elanor...” and then André switched into early Saintongeais, his mother tongue, “ ... I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to thee.”

“Please, my love. I could never stand to break thy heart. I love thee more than all the words of all the languages could say.”

“Come see me soon?”

“I will.”

“I love thee.”

“Forever.”

Our conversation returned to American English, and we spoke of lighter topics for a few hours. “Come visit me this weekend? If you can get away?”

“I can’t make any promises, but perhaps thou could come here? Thou could meet Jack? I suppose thou are safer here than even we are.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Sorry.”

“Maybe. We’ll see.”


When we did hang up, I immediately went over to see Anna & Celeb. André was right, I couldn’t get too trusting of Jack. I didn’t believe that he was a mole, but it was true that he had no due loyalty to us. If the enemies got a hold of him, it would be bad.