Page 61 of A Vow for the Vamp
“I can and I will. You have always been a better fit for the role. You help me make decisions. You have lived longer than me and you arewiser—”
“I highly doubt that.”
“And you want this more than I do.”
She purses her lips and crosses her arms, thinking about my words.
“If you don’t want it—”
“I do.”
“Good. Then once Henry is taken care of and Teddy is turned, I will relinquish the throne.”
We don’t speak the rest of the drive, and I’m sure it’s because Layla is in shock… or she’s attempting to accept my proposal to hand over the righteous title.
We pull up to WOVE Council Hall within five minutes. My security team surrounds us walking in, not taking chances with Henry lingering in the shadows somewhere in the city.
The council hall is inside one of New York City’s oldest buildings with drab marble floors and boring brown and tan walls. Artwork of old, important vampires hang on the wall—including an oil painting of me from when I was first named queen.
The meeting takes place in a large room with a circular table that reminds me of a secret society or a team of villains meeting to plan world domination.
The council is already seated when I enter. The main purpose of this advisory body is to create, maintain, andenforce the rules of our kind. There are ten vampires in total and every member is older than me. Ten voices, with mine being the deciding factor.
It’s too much pressure. Too much responsibility. I like control, but not when it’s deciding important outcomes of other people’s lives. I never wanted this role but felt I had a duty to fulfill it.
Everything is about to change.
I approach the table and stand to address the group.
“Thank you for joining me for this emergency meeting. As you all know, Heinrich de la Nova is the vampire responsible for the many human deaths across our city over the past two weeks. He has escaped capture, and we can no longer allow this rampant killer to remain loose and threaten our existence.”
The men and women around the room nod in agreement.
“My plan is simple, and it will not be up for discussion.”
Everyone leans forward because this is the first time I’ve refused their council. I am allowed to do so as queen, but I never felt a need to override their decisions.
“Heinrich is my sire. Therefore, it is my responsibility to end him. I will be the one to draw him out.”
Raised voices fill the room as the council adamantly renounces this plan. I hold up my hand and they hush.
“As I said, this plan is final. I’ll visit the summer night market in Bryant Park. It’s no secret that it’s one of my frequent haunts. If Heinrich is tracking my whereabouts, he’ll follow me there.
“I will need an undercover team ready with stakes and guns… snipers on rooftops. I’ll wear a stake-proof vest as well.”
Angry and disagreeing voices raise up again.
“I know he is stronger and faster, but if we get him out in the open, then I can wound him or distract him while the team moves in. They can deploy sunlight chains to capture him.”
WOVE researchers created the UV infused metal a few years back to help vampire soldiers take down FVs in a more efficient way. It’s still in testing phases, but it’s the one thing that will keep Henry down while I stake him in the heart.
“And if you die?” a vampire named Heidi asks. She’s a petite blonde from Sweden who was turned at age eighteen but has lived eight hundred years since.
“Then I have my replacement written in my will.”
More head shaking and grumbles reverberate through the room.
“When will this plan of yours happen?” a vamp named Zeke asks. He’s a svelte man from Ghana who was turned at age thirty over six hundred years ago.
