Page 3 of Addicted in Blood
If her growing anger worried Sergi, he didn’t show it, but I found a seat closer to the fireplace and out of everyone’s direct line of sight.If I had any sense, I’d sneak out before the discussion heated up, but I didn’t for two reasons.The first was that it was like coming upon a traffic accident.Some need to quench a morbid curiosity.The other should have been a concern about my future in a world without Devon, and perhaps part of it was.But the more honest truth was that he’d become a fixture in my life.One who I was becoming to know and understand.Someone who would be missed.I blinked.How could this have happened?
Sergi released a long sigh and gripped his tablet.It appeared even the cadre kept secrets from each other.“Decker told us about his fighter the night we tracked Underwood while you and Cressa were in Los Angeles.We met with Elijah, the alpha of the Humboldt pack, who was acting as The Wolf’s representative.He was the one who’d heard of the drug cropping up in SoCal.But it was different this time.
“No one had purchased it.From all accounts, each vampire had been secretly dosed.Some, like Decker’s cage fighter, just once.Others more often.We don’t know why or who was doing it.”
“Do they think the shifter killings were related to the Magic Poppy?”Lucas edged up in his seat.If the cadre had been anxious about Devon’s disappearance, this new mystery, and whatever implications it held, refocused the group.This appeared to be something they could work with—or distract them from the more critical issue of Devon being at the scene of a gruesome murder.
“We believe so, but the initial blood samples from the scene were inconclusive as to whether it was shifter-on-shifter attack since the dead shifters were rogues, or whether vampires were involved.”He ran a hand over his head then sat up and straightened his collar, as if suddenly remembering he was Devon’s head of security.“Devon was concerned about two things.The scene at the shifters’ house mirrored the shared dream of the shifter massacre he’d had with Cressa.It just wasn’t the northern pack.”His gaze locked on each vamp in turn.“He worried about his own past with the Poppy and wanted more information before bringing it to the rest of the cadre.”
I watched the group, not understanding Devon’s history with this Magic Poppy.Then I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.“Does this have anything to do with the Blood Poppy?”
All heads turned to me, and I reconsidered a swift exit from the room when a couple of them seemed to have forgotten I was there.
“Most vampires believe the Magic Poppy is created from the Blood Poppy, though no one has been able to determine how.”Simone gazed at me with one of her looks that said she was trying to figure out what to do with me.Or more accurately, how I could be used in this current dilemma.“What you need to know I’ll keep brief.Some time ago, Devon was addicted to the drug, and it took him many decades to get clean.The House was almost lost during that time.Once on the highly addictive drug, it brings out our beast to a point where it can’t be controlled.Devon will be very dangerous.I can’t emphasize that enough.”
My initial concerns just torpedoed to nuclear proportions.“So, someone dosed Devon.”My analytical mind took over, considering the situation as if I was planning a job and searching for the best way in.My worry for Devon temporarily pushed aside, giving me something I could work with rather than fall apart.I could freak out later with a bottle of tequila at Ginger’s condo.For some reason, I still couldn’t think of it as part mine.“The obvious person would be someone who knew he’d been addicted before, which is why they left the vial in the sedan.The question is why would they do that?”
“To get him out of the way,” Bella quickly responded as she continued to wear a path in the carpet.“Who’s the dead Council member?Did he side with Devon or Venizi?”
“We’re getting ahead of ourselves, though I think you’re on the right track.”Simone stood and turned to stare out the window, the blinds barely open to the morning light.
“We need to consider all possibilities.”Sergi seemed to have regained his composure now that the initial shock was wearing off.“We know what Devon is capable of.We also know his restraint, which is why we know this wasn’t him, but we aren’t the ones that have to be convinced.”
As if in answer to his statement, the desk phone rang, and Simone turned to pick it up.“House Trelane.”She listened for a few seconds and responded with, “I understand,” then hung up.
The excitement at having a lead to work with had been sucked out of the air.I didn’t understand why.
“That was a summons.”Her tone was even, almost robotic.“The Council has scheduled a meeting to determine the fate of the House Trelane.A representative has been ordered to Council chambers this afternoon.”
Everyone began talking at once, something I’d never seen them do.My earlier anxiety returned as if turbocharged.
“Enough.”Simone stood with fists planted on her hips like some comic book hero.
“This is too soon.”Sergi was angry.
“Well, it tells us one thing.”Lucas remained levelheaded, suggesting what everyone else had to be thinking.“Venizi isn’t losing any time.The question is whether this was simply good timing on his part or he’s behind the murder.What better opportunity to seize control of the Council and destroy the Trelane name in its entirety.”
“When a House leader goes missing, the Council has waited months before making such a decision.”Bella’s pacing had increased until Jacques put out an arm that didn’t stop her but slowed her down.
“It’s been some time since a member of the Council has been implicated in the killing of another.”Sergi was back on his tablet.“I’ll send you the background.That event was witnessed by several others, and even then, it was months before the Council made a decision on the House.”
“I’m not sure I’m familiar with that incident.What was the final decision?”Simone pulled out her own tablet and appeared to be taking notes at the speed of light.
“It was a hundred years ago.The House was a smaller one but had deep roots going back centuries.The House survived under the leadership of a distant cousin.”
Their legal precedents wouldn’t matter.I wasn’t sure why I believed that, but the infighting between the Houses had grown deep.Maybe the Council didn’t see it—or didn’t want to see it.
“Didn’t you say there was an outbreak of this Magic Poppy?”Although I’d asked the question, I’d expected to be ignored.
“Your point, Cressa?”Simone’s steely gaze caught mine, but underneath it was a flash of hope.Unfortunately, I was going to disappoint.
“If a vial of it was found in Devon’s car, and the Council gets wind of this Poppy outbreak, will someone connect the dots and assume Devon is creating the drug?”
I’d expected denials or anger, but the room turned deathly silent.
“I believe the outbreak to be small enough to miss the Council’s attention, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Venizi is aware of it.”Sergi’s earlier emotions were neatly tucked away as if he’d never had a momentary lapse.This was his area of specialty, and his focus had returned.“Devon had a theory that all the various issues we’ve been working—Venizi’s increasing control of the Council, removing Devon’s censure as a Council member, the Poppy breakout, this illusive book, theDe første dage, written centuries ago—were all somehow related.He couldn’t explain why.It was instinctual.”He turned his gaze to me.“Even the myth of dreamwalkers, which apparently isn’t a myth at all.”
“Then the path ahead is clear.”Simone returned to the desk chair and reviewed a sheet of paper she’d pulled from Devon’s spiral-bound calendar.“Devon had listed assignments before his meeting with the Council member.”She lifted her hand when the others began grumbling.“We’ll assume for the moment that he chose to attend this meeting, regardless of who requested it.Sergi will attempt to determine that answer.We need to see if there’s a traceable link that can confirm Devon’s suspicions.I’ll work with the Council and buy as much time as possible to find answers.”
