Page 17 of Because the Night

Lucas shakes his head. “Enough. I’m not having this damn conversation with you.”

“Since you have Henry here to help you adapt to this new age, do you still need me, or am I free to go?” I ask, sounding far braver than I feel.

Lucas’s gaze turns hard. “And where exactly would you go?”

“Sweetie,” says Henry. “Trust me when I tell you, you don’t want to be alone out there on your own. Not right now. In a couple of days they’ll probably be relaxing the rules, and no one is quite sure what’s going to happen. It’s been like living in a dictatorship, being here for the last thirty years. Having to watch over your shoulder for the board’s bogeymen all the time. But is tyranny truly any better than anarchy? I suspect we’re about to find out.”

“We can discuss it later,” says Lucas. “Henry, why are there rips in your clothes? Did you run out of money?”

Henry gasps. “Excuse you. These jeans are designer. I invested in Apple in the late seventies and made millions.”

“You invested in fruit?” asks Lucas.

“Computers, Father. Apple computers. Please try to keep up!”

I sip my blood and stay silent.

“So, spill the tea. What was all of that decapitating about last night?” asks Henry, crossing his legs and getting comfortable. “I’ve been living quietly in this city for decades, and now all of a sudden I’m back in the limelight because of you.”

“I highly doubt that.” He smooths his palm over the arm of the chair. “A show of strength was required.”

Henry nods. “Archie has been salty about your GOAT status for years.”

“Am I supposed to understand a word of what you just said?”

“GOAT means greatest of all time,” I explain. “He’s paying you a compliment.”

Lucas looks toward heaven. Though, I doubt any of us are welcome there.

“This is so much fun,” says Henry. “You should have made a Skye years ago. Not only is she decorative, but she keeps the peace. Having a sister like her is fantastic.”

“I’m so glad you approve.”

“What shall we do together first?” asks Henry. “Oh, I know, have you ever been to Paris?”

I set the empty blood bag aside. “I’ve never even been out of the country.”

“Well, you’re rich and immortal now. It’s time to start thinking big,” says Henry. “Where do you want to go first?”

“I’m rich?”

“Oh, yeah.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Not even taking into consideration all of the money Shirley made. That woman was a genius when it came to finances. Be it the stock market or properties…she ruled them all. But what do you think Father has in all of those wooden chests out there?”

“Bodies?”

“No. Though, that would be hilariously macabre.” Henry laughs. “Father is almost as old as the hills and has plenty of wealth to share.”

“Do I now?” asks Lucas.

“You’ve been hoarding gold long since before the first crusade.”

“You’re that old?” I ask with wonder.

“Older. But it’s a sensitive subject. He doesn’t like to talk about his age.”

“Wealth is easy when you live for centuries on end,” says Lucas. “You hold on to knickknacks or books or weapons for nostalgia. And before you know it, they’re considered priceless relics. Human lives are so short, they’re willing to pay anything to connect with their past.”

“True enough.” Henry carries on, “So, Skye, you’ll probably want to hang around town until after your funeral. It’s good to get your mortal life out of the way. Put it all behind you and make a clean start. We could take the private jet next weekend and head over to Europe for a while. It’ll be great.”

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