Page 17 of Winterfall Destiny

"She hasn't read Dracula," says Ash. "I hinted once, Maeve."

Okay. This gets more surreal, and I'm hit with one of those times that the world around feels like a parallel universe. I'm one step further than when I have a vision, because the sick disorientation comes from knowing I'm not in a horrible dream.

I'm speaking to real vampires about mythical ones.

"Tepes," Dorian says from behind me. I spin around to give him a mouthful about his teasing. "That wasn't a joke, Maeve. And it's why I reckon Andrei will survive."

Usually, Dorian regards me the same way as he does everybody else—occasional mild interest but mostly disinterest unless we mention one of his obsessions. Now, he's looking at me with something bordering on sympathy. He steps backwards from the room and inclines his head.

I hesitate before following and bet that the almost-dead vamp in the corner hopes Dorian stopped his questioning.

"Yeah. So. Andrei isn't good." Dorian pushes hair from his face as we stand away from the doorway.

"Wow. You're perceptive, Dorian."

"Really, Maeve? I'm trying to be nice." He jerks his chin. "Andrei will live, I'm sure. He's linked to two original families—Tepes and Petrescu."

"You think?" I breathe out, shoulders slackening. "Could you feel that from him?"

"Well, he isn't dead yet. Four days?" I nod. An eternity. "I told Andrei that I plan to kill Gabriella unless he gets his act together and reaches her first. I bet that'll help rouse him."

"And all the times I've told Andrei I love him and need him back won't help?"

"Yeah, that too." He rubs his cheek. "The First knows he'll survive. She's screwing with you. Perfect distraction, huh? Because I think I know where the First went."

"To find Gabriella?"

"To check on the original originals."

"How could you possibly know this, Dorian?"

He taps the side of his head. "I know almost everything."

"Of course you do," I mutter sarcastically.

"In case you hadn't noticed, I've superior intelligence, and I have spent years researching the people I intend to remove from the world. That involves knowing everything, and I never, ever forget a fact or a myth. One myth claims there're four originals that the First keeps somewhere."

"Why? Where?"

"The First never wrote either of those things down," he says. "Although… if the creature's headed away to kill them, hopefully all the hemia vamps don't die too." He chuckles at my shock. "Just part of the myth. Could be wrong."

"And you didn't tell us this already, why?" I say through clenched teeth.

A sparkling smile. "Maeve. I never, ever give away all my knowledge."

"For fuck's sake!" I half-shout and both his brows rise. "Anything else I need to know about this damn world that threatens me?"

"This myth doesn't threaten you. You're not a vampire. Tobias isn't full hemia. Andrei's protected by the First's 'gift'. Me, Eloise, and Mia aren't full hemia either." He shrugs. "Makes no odds to all of us."

But the vamps I knew at the academy who already survived one attack. They're people, not just abstract myths in books or movies.

"Hey, if the First kills these originals before we meet Gabriella, and hemia die, that saves a job, although one I very much want."

"Is that why the First delayed us?" I straighten. "Until it's strong enough to... do whatever to these vampires."

He points at me. "See, you're pretty smart too."

"But what if the creature does the opposite?" My voice rises. "Unleashes them."

---