"It won't do very much good, you know," Georgia cautioned. "He pledged me his support, vowed to protect me against all others, but it was never intended as protection against his own actions. At best it might buy us a little mercy, perhaps a swifter death. If we wish to be safe, however, we'll need something a little more compelling."

"For example?"

"A bribe of sorts? Or something with which to barter?"

Christian shook his head. "You keep holding out for such things. That's all well and good, but as I've told you before a cure would be a far better solution. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if we wish to permanently remove the sword hanging over our heads, a cure is a vital necessity."

"Why wish for the impossible? Why hold out hope for what can never be more than a long shot? The likelihood of a cure being found was never very good and the chance for it grows slimmer with each century that pa.s.ses. If one could not be found when there was a pressing need for it, when people were searching desperately, actively for one, what makes you think it will be found now? Where are the scientists among us?"

"You know where they are," Christian replied bitterly. "As well as do I. And you know at whose hands and by whose orders they met their demise."

"I know." Georgia sighed wearily. "But you see my point, don't you? Who is left now to seek a cure? And what cause has anyone to even continue the search for one, when they all believe the disease has been eradicated?"

"What of this woman for whom you hunt? If she could decode the old texts and recreate your precious elixir-"

"Hush!" Georgia glared fiercely at him. "Do not even speak its name. You put us both in peril."

"And yet you said Conrad had no problem speaking of it in front of Damian. Why is only he exempt from the rules?"

"For the same reason that power is ever exempt. Who is going to challenge him?"

"Point taken. But my question remains. How do you know this woman, whoever she is, is not capable of developing a cure? Or was not on the brink of doing so?"

"Why do you think I am so anxious to learn more about this supposed scroll?" Georgia shook her head. "If only I'd been thinking more clearly the night I first searched the warehouse. But my timing was off, as usual, and I was thinking only of fulfilling Conrad's request and departing again as swiftly as possible before he could notice there was aught amiss. I still do not understand how he failed to sense the changes."

"You know what they say, 'Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds,'" Christian quoted, smiling softly. "Perhaps you underestimate how much he cares for you? Perhaps his love for you makes him blind where you're concerned?"

"Perhaps. But I'm still unwilling to risk both our lives to find out."

"'He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing.'"

"Who is it you're quoting this time?" Georgia asked, frowning crossly.

Christian chuckled. "An American boxer from the last century, I believe. What matters it? I take my inspiration where I find it."

"Indeed. I hope you are not suggesting I am without courage?"

"Of course not. You are the bravest girl I've ever known. The bravest person," he corrected quickly. "But 'desperate times call for desperate measures', do they not?"

"Words, words, words." Georgia sighed. "And never your own, I can't help noticing. Is that all you have for me? I have oft thought, if one cannot find one's own words to speak, perhaps the sentiment one is attempting to express is likewise borrowed, or else does not deserve utterance in the first place?"

"Careful, love. 'Less my ears deceive me, you were coming perilously close to quoting Eliza Doolittle with that last statement."

"Oh! Really!" Georgia scowled. "Only you would have the temerity to dare make such an odious comparison. In truth, I think perhaps I have been far too lenient on you. I should have been harder on you from the start. Never would I have dared speak to my own sire in such a fashion."

"Yes, Mother. Whatever you say."

"Christian," Georgia snarled in warning. "Don't!"

Christian chuckled and hugged her tight. "Sorry, darling. I will try and behave, but it's just so hard to see you in such straits and feel helpless to aid you in any way. I must do something to relieve the tension, at least."

"I understand. But it just... It all seems so hopeless at times and talking only makes it worse."

There must be something that can be done. Some method we have yet to consider."

"It needs only a miracle, my love." Georgia smiled sadly. Rising up on her toes, she brushed a soft kiss against his lips. "Nothing less than that. And those, I'm afraid, have always been in very short supply."

Chapter Fourteen.

There was a decent-sized crowd in Akeldama tonight. Not as large as in years past, perhaps, but there was enough of a crush that Drew felt faintly relieved as he scanned the room. He'd been worried when he'd first learned of the competing party his sire was hosting. On the one hand, he'd felt a tad put out that he couldn't be there to join his brethren. On the other hand, the fact that Georgia would doubtless be in attendance made him twice as happy to be spending the night elsewhere. On the third hand, if he'd had a third hand that is, he'd been worried about the possibly negative effect Conrad's party would have on his sales.

Why couldn't the Quintano event have been held here? Why couldn't the family have thrown some of its money his way? Although, to be honest, the thought of Conrad actually holding court in Drew's little club was more than a little disconcerting.

On balance, he supposed things had worked out for the best. He was even reaping an unexpected advantage. It hadn't escaped his notice that more than a few of the vampires here tonight were allied with rival Houses. Apparently, even though the club remained a Quintano clan holding, the relative absence of actual Quintanos had made the other vampires bolder. Drew had absolutely no problem with that. He saw nothing wrong with taking their money or profiting from their curiosity.

"Interesting crowd tonight," his bartender observed. "I'm not seeing a lot of familiar faces though."

Drew shrugged. "It's the holiday." Being as Danny was human, there was no reason for him to know about the intricacies of Vampire politics and Drew saw no reason to enlighten him. "Don't worry about it." Before he could say another word, a change in the room's energy sent the now all-too-familiar chills dancing down his spine. Once again, conversation ceased as power approached and everyone seemingly held their breath.

"Oh, s.h.i.t." Danny's grunt of surprise neatly echoed Drew's thoughts. "What's this now?"

"Not again," Drew sighed as he turned away from the bar. This couldn't be happening. What had he done to deserve this? What? But the sight that met his eyes was not the one he'd been expecting. Not even close.

Marc had come. And he hadn't come alone. Looking every inch the favored son he once had been, he strode through the club at the head of a troupe of ferals, a somber-hued formation that bore an uneasy resemblance to a flying wedge.

"Evening, Drew," Marc said, bringing his army to a stop in front of the bar.

"Marc." Drew replied cautiously. He didn't care for the wry smile on his friend's face. He didn't find it at all rea.s.suring. When Marc's gaze strayed past him and he smiled in genuine pleasure, Drew liked that even less.

"Danny. Hey, man, how's it going? Long time no see."

"Hey, Marc. Nice to have you back."

Suspicion about the curious warmth in Danny's voice had Drew turning to shoot a swift glance over his shoulder. Sure enough. An eager smile graced Danny's lips and, good lord, the man was blushing.

"What's all this?" Drew turned back to Marc. He nodded at the ferals. "We have policies about who we let in. You know that. There's a reason they're in effect."

"Not anymore," Marc stated flatly. "They're with me now. And I'm rewriting the rules." He turned his head, raising his voice so that everyone could hear. "These vampires here are with me. They're mine-my people, my family. If anyone has a problem with that, or with their being here, either with or without me, I'm the man you want to take that up with. Not one of them, not anyone else, just me. Everyone got that?"

After another moment's startled silence, the buzz of conversation resumed. Drew closed his eyes and groaned. "Marc. What are you doing? You can't just come in here and pull a stunt like this. We need to talk."

"Nothing to talk about, bro, and it's not a stunt. It's like I said. They're mine. We're here. I'm vouching for them. End of story."

Drew snorted. "Oh you sure as h.e.l.l are vouching for them." He opened his eyes and glared at his friend. "Trust me on that. If anything happens here tonight, you're definitely the one who's going to be held responsible for it. s.h.i.t. I did not need this c.r.a.p. It's not what I signed up for."

Marc met his glare with amus.e.m.e.nt. "Dude. Chill, okay? Nothing's going to happen. We're cool. Everything's under control."

Drew's temper flared. "Why is it you never heed anyone's advice? You always have to be different. You always have to do things your own way, don't you?"

A broad smile creased Marc's face. "Drew, man, you have no idea."

"But why? Aren't you in enough trouble already?"

"Am I?" Marc eyed him inquisitively. "Who with?"

Painfully aware that he never should have opened his mouth, Drew shook his head. "It's like I said. We need to talk." He glanced at Marc's shadow, the little girl who'd started it all, and added, "In private."

The girl stiffened and clung tighter to Marc's arm. Marc met Drew's eyes for a moment then glanced down at the girl and smiled rea.s.suringly. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'm just going to go and talk to Drew for a minute. I won't be far. You stay here with Hawk and keep an eye on things for me, all right?" He c.o.c.ked his head at the feral on his other side, the man Drew remembered from his visit to the warehouse. "You got this?"

The big man glanced around, a.s.sessing the room. He licked his lips and swallowed hard. "Yeah. Sure. I got it."

Marc grasped his arm for an instant. "Good. I'm counting on you. You need me for anything, just holler." Then he turned to the rest of his crew. "We came here to party, right? So go have fun. And remember what I told you." He motioned at the bar. "This is Danny. He can set you up with whatever you need. But no pestering him for a snack while he's working. The management frowns on that sort of thing. Besides-" he shot the barman a smile and added, "-I think that's gonna be my job tonight."

Drew rolled his eyes as another blush climbed Danny's cheeks. He'd forgotten how much charm Marc could exert when he wanted to. No wonder Georgia was so worried and so unwilling to act against him directly. Tattoo or no tattoo, Drew could easily imagine Marc eclipsing her in Conrad's eyes. It seemed likely the only reason Damian did not feel similarly threatened was because he'd already fallen under the Fischer twins' spell.

"All right, so what's so important we had to talk in private?" Marc asked as soon as the door to Drew's office had closed behind him.

Drew regarded his friend wearily. "What are you doing here tonight, Marc? Have you lost your mind? Why would you bring ferals into my club?"

"Actually, I didn't," Marc said as he came and sat across from Drew. "Perhaps you didn't hear what I said out there? They have a House and a sire now. Ipso facto, they're no longer feral, are they?"

"What are you talking about?" Drew stared at him, mystified. "What House? What sire?"

"Me. I've claimed them. They've elected me as their sire and I'm establishing my own House."

"Your own House," Drew repeated in disbelief. "That's preposterous. You don't just start your own House. Even if Conrad has chosen to gift you with a demesne of your own, you'd still be operating under his auspices and you still would only be populating it with your own issue. And ferals...you can't claim them, Marc. They have no loyalty. They may be grateful for the help you've given them, they may even be willing to do as you ask, if it suits them, but you can't trust them. They owe allegiance to no one."

"Care to put that to the test?" Marc nodded at the door. "You know, that's a big part of the reason I brought them here with me tonight. For as long as I've known about them, you and everyone else has been telling me what I can and can't do with ferals. And you know what? Every d.a.m.n thing I've been told was wrong. They're not that different, Drew. They're not wild or crazy or out-of-control. They're just vampires. Same as you and me. They just needed a family and now they've got one. We're here tonight to prove that to you all."

"I don't know what to tell you, Marc." Drew shook his head. "I can see you believe what you're saying, but everything you're telling me is impossible."

"Just because everyone says something is impossible, that doesn't make it so. Besides, think about this. There are a lot of devices and inventions that we live with every day that people once thought were impossible. But, never mind that for now. Tell me what you dragged me in here to say. Who am I in trouble with?"

Drew sighed. "The lady Invitus. I probably shouldn't even be telling you this. If word of this gets back to her, I'm a dead man."

"Relax, man. She's not gonna hear it from me. Besides, you're not exactly telling me anything I don't know. She already came to see me herself, remember? What's she done now?"

"She's been in a couple of times, asking questions, disrupting my business."

"Which is the real reason you're upset," Marc quipped.

Drew frowned at him. "I'm being serious. You shouldn't take this so lightly, Marc. She's dangerous."

Marc nodded. "Noted. But so am I apparently. What did she want you to do, spy on me?"

Drew considered prevaricating, but what would be the point? "Something like that. And, as I've said, it's not a joke. She's looking for information, what you're up to, what you have planned. Also...I may have mentioned something to her about the scroll you were looking at when I saw you last week. I didn't think it important. I rather hoped it would throw her off your scent. Instead, she seemed most interested in the subject."

Marc grinned. "I'll bet she did. I'll bet she's kicking herself for not finding them first. Well, let's see, what should you tell her? I already told you what I'm doing. I'm establishing my own House. I know you don't think that's possible, but don't let that stop you from pa.s.sing along the information. I'm not hiding it. As to what else I have planned, tell her 'nothing less than total world domination'. She probably won't believe that either, but at least it will give her something to think about. And, as far as the scroll is concerned, I'm glad you brought that up. I was gonna mention it anyway. I need a favor. I need your help interpreting them."

"Them? As in plural? More than one scroll? Why do you need me? What languages are the others in?"

"Definitely plural and they're mostly in Latin, but that's not the problem. I can read the words well enough, but I'm having trouble putting some of the concepts into perspective and I think I'm missing a lot of the nuances."

Drew shook his head. "Marc, think about what you're asking. How can I possibly do this thing-the very thing the lady has asked me to do-and then lie to her about it? She'll kill us both if she finds out! Maybe you don't care about that, but I do."

"Nah, blood, don't worry about it. No one's getting killed. Go on and tell her about it. I don't mind. Makes both our jobs simpler, right? I'm planning on turning the scrolls over to Conrad anyways, once I've learned what I need to know. The sooner you help me, the sooner I can do that. And that helps both of us, doesn't it?"

"Very well," Drew sighed. "Just tell me one thing. Why is this so important to you?"

"Because," Marc replied as he got to his feet. "In the past couple of weeks, I've learned a lot more about what it means to be Vampire than I ever knew. I've come to realize that a lot of the things I grew up believing, things I'd taken for granted my entire life, were false. I need to process that so I can figure out where to go from here. You can understand that, can't you?"

"I'm not sure I do," Drew replied slowly. In fact, he was almost altogether certain he did not understand. What had Marc just said?

"Well, whatever," Marc said as he moved toward the door. "Stop by sometime in the next few nights and we'll talk some more, okay? Right now, I want to get back out there. Wouldn't do for us to cause a commotion on our first night here, right?"

"Your first night here?" Drew groaned and shook his head. "Oh, that's just perfect."

Marc just chuckled and left the room, leaving Drew to ponder what he'd been told.

Just because everyone says something is impossible, that doesn't make it so.

It did seem as though, at least where Marc was concerned, the impossible occurred with almost frightening frequency. And what were these beliefs and preconceptions he'd had about vampires his 'entire' life? Drew had never noticed any p.r.o.nounced tendency toward hyperbole in his friend before, but that had to be a most egregious exaggeration. Unless it wasn't?

He seemed most interested in learning everything he could about the Infragilis.

What could have put him in mind of such things?

In the past couple of weeks, I've learned a lot more about what it means to be Vampire than I ever knew. I've come to realize that a lot of the things I grew up believing, things I'd taken for granted my entire life, were false.

Just because everyone says something is impossible, that doesn't make it so.

"Preposterous," Drew murmured. He shook his head angrily. "I don't believe it. I won't believe it. It's impossible." And, yet...

Just because everyone says something is impossible, that doesn't make it so.

It would explain a lot.

How is he to know what's real and what's not real, unless one of us tells him?

Drew felt the blood draining from his head, leaving him dizzy with conjecture. What if 'what was real' was not what everyone had always supposed after all? What if, just this once, the fairytales were true? What then?