Page 30 of Obsessed in Blood
“Let’s give Remus’s people a couple more days.” Decker searched the cabinets behind the bar before pulling out a plastic container and pouring more nuts into a bowl. He was eating them by the handful and chasing them with ginger ale.
Devon glanced at Sergi, who had been more quiet than usual since they’d returned from New Orleans. “Anything to worry about with security?”
Sergi shook his head. “We’re following the plan, changing shift times and routes every day. But it’s quiet.” He scrolled through his tablet, then glanced up. “I would advise against calling Venizi. That would only play into his hand.”
“What makes you think I’d do that?” Devon wasn’t sure whether to be irritated by Sergi’s insight or by the glances he got from the rest of the cadre.
Before he had time to respond, Sergi’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the cell then answered it. “Yes?” He listened for a few seconds before shifting his gaze to Devon. “There’s a limo at the gate. Colantha Dupré and her two vampires are with her.”
Lyra popped up to a sitting position and held her head for a second. “Let her in. Lucas, can you ask Greta to prepare three rooms?”
“They won’t stay,” Devon said.
“Maybe not. But I’d rather be prepared.”
Sergi kept his gaze on Devon, who shook his head. “Don’t look at me. Lyra is the House leader.”
“And we don’t have a choice.” Lyra stood and reached into her pocket, pulling out a familiar medicinal tube that Madame Saldano would have given her for her headaches. “Besides wanting to meet her myself, I believe her to be our only hope in getting Cressa back.” She drank half the vial then replaced the stopper before shoving it back in her pocket.
Devon rose and offered her the desk chair while he moved to a barstool on the other side of Decker. When they passed each other, Devon took her hands.
“Are you sure about this?”
“We won’t get on that island in time. Cressa needs to remember who she is and find her own way back to us.”
“Do you need us to wait elsewhere?” Simone asked.
Lyra looked to Devon. “Will it be too overwhelming for everyone to be here?”
“She’s come to us. This is our House. But I will warn all of you. She is quite powerful and might want to converse with one or more of us in a dream construct. If that happens, you’ll do nothing.” He wasn’t sure how else to warn them, unsure of Colantha’s plans. He was shocked she came without any warning.
“How will we know if someone is in one of these constructs?” Bella asked. She hadn’t paced during the meeting, but she was at the edge of her seat as if ready to take flight.
“Because they’ll look frozen in time. As will I.”
Everyone turned to the door they hadn’t heard open.
Colantha Dupré stood in the doorway, regally dressed in a red linen, tailored pantsuit. A matching red head wrap was accented with gold threads and beads. Her two vampires hovered behind her.
Lyra stepped from behind the desk and smiled as she opened her arms wide. “Welcome to House Trelane.”
When the three visitors stepped forward, one of the vampires shut the door and locked it.
Sergi and Simone rose, and everything went dark.
A flame burst to light. It came from a single candle and grew until most of the room was aglow. The candle sat on a stone table, and Devon was surprised to see everyone who had been in his office sitting around it dressed in long, forest-green robes with hoods, though their hoods were down.
Colantha presided at one end of the table. Her vampires were nowhere in sight.
Everyone glanced around, and then Sergi and Simone rose as one but, within seconds, fell back onto their seats of stone.
Colantha wore a white robe, and her medallion lay around her neck, plainly visible.
“What is this?” Simone asked, clearly irritated, her struggles to rise slowly quieting.
Devon sat across the stone table from Colantha. Lyra was to his right, then Lucas and Bella. Simone sat to his left with Sergi next to her and then Decker. He waited, letting Colantha answer since she was clearly in control of the situation.
“I could have waited, but time is of the essence, and rather than try to explain what a dreamwalker can do, it seemed easier to show you.” Colantha’s wicker chair looked a great deal more comfortable than the stone chairs. At least they had armrests.
