Page 83 of How to Entice a Fiend

Orin is seated across from them, looking extremely tense, and another vampire I don’t recognize is seated next to him, his head bowed like he can’t even manage to look up with the aura Abel is exuding.

Abel smiles as he watches me. “Such a sweet girl here, Ender,” he says as he pats her head again. Rylee hugs her cat as she gives me a desperate look, obviously wanting to run to me but aware she can’t with Abel by her side.

“Orin and I were discussing his possible position as head of the US council. At first, I wasn’t certain, but I think he’d do well,” Abel continues as he stands up and walks toward us.

I want to kill him. I want to rush over and cut his fucking head off, but with how weak I currently feel, I know there’s absolutely no way. And even with Marcus, Claude, and Alexei here to back me up, I’m aware that there’s no chance Abel would put himself in a position where he’d be at risk. He must have vampires surrounding the place to protect himself.

“Pleasure to meet the rest of you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” he says as he stops in front of us. “I know Ender, of course. We go way back. Marcus, I don’t believe we’ve ever met. For being such an influential and impressive man, you sure don’t like to stick your head where the power is, do you? It’s good to finally meet you.”

“You’re under arrest for the abduction and attempted murder of Mads and Ender,” Marcus states.

Abel smiles. “Come on now… I’m the head of the council—creatorof the council—and that man there is one of the most wanted vampire killers, while the other created a drug to wipe out vampires. Do you really think they’re going to take their side? How exactly is that going to work? You think the council won’t back me up when I simply state that we were apprehending two known killers?”

Marcus grits his teeth. “I’ve never come across your name on the council.”

“I guess as the founder I never really thought I had to tack my name on something I own, but I could be wrong.” His attention shifts off Marcus like he’s already bored of him. “Oh, and you are the infamous vampire hunter. You were quite the pain in my ass. Killed a couple of friends of mine,” he says as he eyes Alexei before moving on.

“Claude, right? We meet again. It was always a pleasure dealing with you,” he says, then turns to Finn.

“And Watson’s little pet?—”

“Stay the fuck away from him,” Marcus growls.

“Watson was good to me, and even though this nasty little human killed such a great man, I would never destroy something he adored.” He reaches out to pat Finn’s head, much like he had Rylee’s, but Marcus tries to smack his hand away. The room becomes so suppressing that Marcus just barely manages toslide Finn behind him as Abel’s aura fights against Marcus’s. If Marcus can’t defeat me, I can’t fathom he could defeat Abel.

Abel chuckles as he starts toward the door. “Ender, come along now. You know it’s time you returned home.”

I grit my teeth as I fight against the aura that once was capable of controlling me. I’m drawn into the darkness the moment I feel it, dragged straight down, and I know the only way out is to do as I’m told?—

A hand presses against my chest and my eyes snap open. Mads’s fingers dig into my shirt, giving me the strength I need to pull away from Abel’s control.

When I look up, Abel is watching me as I focus on Mads’s hand and the strength it gives me to stay in control. Abel merely grins, but it’s a look that tells me he’s not happy. He walks out of the house as I question why the fuck he left us all alone… and what he has planned.

Rylee bolts out of the chair, setting her cat down before rushing over to me and grabbing me. Only then does Mads’s hand pull away from me, but now I have Rylee to ground me.

“I was so scared. He was so scary. What’s he want? Why was he like that?” she asks as I pick her up and squeeze her.

“It’s okay,” I assure her. “You’re okay.”

“What the absolute fuck was that?” Finn asks. “Why was he so strong?”

“Because Watson created him. I don’t know how, but I know he called Watson his maker. Maybe using Miller’s research? Maybe using Miller himself? Fuck if I know. They didn’t exactly share their findings with me,” I say as Rylee’s fingers dig into my shirt. “You’re fine.”

“You okay, River?” Finn asks.

“Y-Yeah. I just… that was terrifying,” the vampire I didn’t recognize whispers.

Finn wonders, “Why’d he just walk out? If he wants Mads… why just leave?”

Well, that’s easy enough to figure out. “He’s confident he has or will have Grady. As for the rest of you, he’s giving you a chance to join his side. Same with Orin. It’s a threat. Do what he asks, and he’ll reward you. Don’t and he’ll kill you. He knows that all of you are influential and useful. So why dispose of you when he could use you? You’d be wise to do as he asks,” I say. “I will deal with him myself. If you will just watch Rylee for a little bit longer?—”

“You are not doing this yourself,” Mads insists. “How exactly do you think that’ll turn out with you doing everything alone?”

“Hopefully, it’ll turn out with him dead,” I say as I set Rylee down and try to guide her back to Orin, but she refuses to let go of me.

Finn protests, “He can’t just… take over. He can’t just… he should be arrested and… fuck.”

“How are you going to arrest him?” I ask. “He’s literally the creator of the council which stands at the very top. Nothing the VRC can do or say matters to him.”

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