Page 6 of Addicted in Blood
I wasn’t sure why I had to think about it.“No.”
After five minutes of crying and Ginger’s encouraging words, we hung up, and I stared at the dying embers for another five.Then I stood and shook it all off before changing into slacks and a light sweater.I was Devon’s Blood Ward and thief.I didn’t wallow—I reacted.
In my haste to be proactive, I screeched to a halt when I reached the first floor to consider the best place to start.I detoured to the kitchen where Cook was playing with dough, and Letty was in the corner washing dishes.
“I wanted to thank you for the scones and coffee.”
Cook gave me a sympathetic nod.“Comfort food keeps the brain functioning in harrowing situations.”He gave me a long look.“These are dark times indeed, but our Father is strong.He will be found, healed, and brought home to us.It has happened before; it will happen again.”
His words pulled me farther into the kitchen.I helped myself to another cup of joe from the urn that never went dry before dropping onto a stool across from him.
“Can you tell me more about those earlier days?”
He considered my question as he folded the dough, broke it into pieces, and continued to knead a section.“I wasn’t here during that time and only know what I’ve heard from others.I’m not one for telling tales.”
When I just nodded, obviously disappointed, he leaned toward me and lowered his voice.“But considering the current situation, it’s probably best you know what little of the facts I know.”
I nodded and glanced toward the door to ensure no one was eavesdropping.“I’m not interested in rumors.Before this morning, I’d been aware of Devon’s addiction to Magic Poppy.What I can’t remember is where I’d learned of it—one of the cadre or one of my dreams.”
“Well, no matter.”He continued to work the dough as he spoke, his furry brows drawn down.“Devon’s parents were killed in a freak accident about, oh my, it must be a hundred years ago now.It was a terrible tragedy that rocked the foundations of this great House.Devon had been away for several years, building relationships with other Houses as he began filling the role as the successor.But that is another story.
“The word at the time was that he wasn’t prepared for taking control of the family business and the stress wore him down.In truth, there were many stories on why Devon took his first dose of the Poppy, but that’s all it takes.It’s quite addictive and weakens the mind, giving the beast more control.After a time, the beast takes over completely, leaving little of the man behind.
“It required sheer mental willpower to come back from that.Decker helped, though I don’t know the specifics.He gave Devon a place to live and a job.Eventually, Devon returned home and filled the House seat on the Council.”
He placed the dough in a bowl and covered it with a towel.“If he did it once, this cadre will see him through it again.You must trust in them—and in Devon.”
I laid a hand on his arm.“Thank you.Before I came here, I lived close to the Hollows.I’ve seen firsthand what addictions can do to a person.This time, the Poppy wasn’t his decision.I’m convinced of that.He’s strong.We just need to find him and bring him home.”
He patted my hand.“And perhaps that is all it will take.”
“Maybe so.”I picked up my mug and was almost to the door when I turned back to him.He was already cleaning off the counter and pulling over a basket of apples.“Thank you again for the scones and the information.”
“Devon has one more thing he didn’t have that first time.”
“What’s that?”
“He has you.”
ChapterFour
I strolledout of the kitchen, sipping coffee and thinking about what Cook had told me.Devon’s parents had been killed while he’d been building House relationships in preparation for becoming the successor.I wasn’t sure what that all entailed, but Anna could fill me in on the succession process.It hadn’t been part of the course material up to now.
Losing parents was a horrible tragedy and could lead one to finding comfort in drugs or alcohol.I’d seen it happen before, but somehow I didn’t see it with Devon.I snorted before taking another sip of coffee.It wasn’t easy to wrap my head around it, but the tragedy happened a hundred years ago.That was a lot of years for a person to change.But I was thinking like a human.Was it the same for vamps?That seemed like a question for Lucas.
I must have been meandering without any thought to a destination because I ended up in the solarium.No one had lowered the shades, and the sun filled the space, the ocean sparkling in the distance.The warmth of the room drove away any remaining chills, and I credited the strong coffee for removing the fuzz from my brain.
I’d stopped by the kitchen to get directions to Sergi’s office then forgot after Cook agreed to tell me about Devon’s earlier addiction.I stared out the window, my mind whirling with ideas as I considered how I could help with the current situation, until a sound spun me around.There was no one there.
Whether from the quick spinning motion or a stab of sunshine, a headache slammed into me so hard I dropped to one knee.Somehow, I didn’t spill a drop of coffee.For a split second, an image of a forest came to me, and just as quick, it was gone.Before I could question what happened, a scraping sound came from the far side of the room.
I followed the noise to an open door across the hall.Curiosity overrode any thoughts about the headache that was already gone.When I peaked in, expecting to see Greta or Letty, I found Sergi searching through boxes.
“I was on my way to find you but realized I didn’t know where your office was.”I inched my way into the narrow closet that held rows of shelves that filled the walls.Sergi pulled down a box from a back shelf before turning around.
“It’s across the hall from the security room.Something tells me you know where that is.”He never looked my way as he set the box on the floor and dug through it.
I smiled.I’d searched the entire first floor for the security room the first day I came to the mansion.Sergi knew his way around security systems, which had been confirmed by the top-of-the-line system most financial institutions and museums would wet their pants over.I vaguely remembered a closed door across from the room, but the mansion had dozens of doors, and I’d only peeked through a handful.
