Page 18 of Betrayed in Blood
“Just cautious. Venizi somehow figured out we’d come here, or he simply keeps a few men here to keep an eye on Aramburu. He knows a House as large as this can sway other Houses that play both sides. He’d prefer Aramburu continue ignoring Council business.”
“That makes sense. Gregor and Sonja appear to be vamps who look to the future.”
They rounded a corner to find Gregor and Sonja waiting for them in addition to their three sons and Mariah. And for a split second, they all appeared nervous before they smiled. A practiced smile as if preparing for a family portrait.
A shiver of a warning played at the hairs on the back of Devon’s neck. That slight shift in his stomach before a battle that said he hadn’t prepared for every possibility but was unable to determine what he was missing. For a split second, he wished he’d stopped at the closet that held his weapons. A single dagger could go a long way in making a warrior feel confident.
He brushed it aside and returned their smile. “So, what do you have in store for us this afternoon?”
“I have two golf carts ready to take us to the community center.” Gregor took Sonja’s hand, and they turned for the door.
A tour of a community center didn’t seem to warrant anxiety in vampires, but he set it aside as they exited the building. Gregor directed Devon and Cressa to the second row of the first cart. Then he and Sonja climbed into the front. The other four jumped into the second cart.
Cressa glanced at him as they approached another fortified wall with guards. From what Devon had observed of the other buildings and places he’d been taken, this appeared to be the most highly secured facility. A fort within a fort within a fort. Yet, the gates were open, and people walked in and out of them without paying attention to the guards, who appeared alert, yet they smiled and nodded to everyone.
“This is our art and music community center.” Gregor waved to the guards as they passed through the gates.
“You must have some expensive art here.” Devon nodded to the guards, who smiled in return.
“Our most precious treasures are here.”
The main building was a two-story high Spanish adobe with large archways along the front porch. When the golf carts drove around the circular drive, Devon caught a glimpse of another three-story building in the back that looked like apartments.
Oak trees dotted the front and sides of the building, cooling the air, and Devon grasped Cressa’s hand as they walked through the front door. Though the massive wood doors remained open, he noted the iron gates behind them, adding additional security.
They entered an open foyer that took up a quarter of the building. The ceiling was a glass dome that provided natural light for a pond and waterfall surrounded by potted plants and trees. The rest of the area was filled with pedestals and glass cases that, based on the signage he was able to glimpse, displayed statues and artifacts from various eras.
“This is beautiful. The artwork on the walls, are they from local artists?” Cressa asked.
“Sí,” Sonja responded. “We have artwork from all over Spain, some from contemporary artists, some that have been collected through the centuries, and the rest from artists within our community.” She stopped at a glass case. “These bracelets were created here. Ones similar to these are sold in galleries in Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville. The proceeds go directly to the artists.”
Music could be heard from somewhere on the second floor. “You have musicians here?” Devon asked.
“Yes.” Gregor turned them down a hall where the walls were filled with landscapes, portraits, and wall sculptures. “We have courses in most of the arts as well as several crafts. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to attend. We also organize several events throughout the year—concerts, plays, poetry readings, and such. The library is located on the far side of the building along with a bookstore.”
Halfway down the hall, they exited the building into an interior courtyard. A breezeway with open arches extended around the entire four-sided perimeter, and glancing across the grassy field, Devon could see doors and windows along the other three sides of the building.
The first thing that appeared out of place were the casually dressed vampires positioned around the courtyard. Devon didn’t see any weapons, not like at the gates, but he knew a security detail when he saw one. And he had no doubt they would be experts in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat.
Cressa nudged him and nodded toward one of them. He nodded in return, proud that she’d observed the security. But it was a rare moment when she wasn’t fully aware of her surroundings. Her innate behavior, honed during her time as Pandora, had taught her to monitor security wherever she went.
Gregor led the group to a small seating area with several benches and tables. “Please, take a seat. The reason for our visit will become apparent in a few minutes.”
Devon guided Cressa to a bench facing the courtyard near play gyms and swings. Something you’d see at any daycare, and he assumed they were for the worker’s children. Then he noticed several picnic tables on the other side of the swing sets with boxes on them.
Gregor and Sonja took the bench to their left, Alejandro and Mariah the one to their right. Miguel and Ernesto leaned against the archways just behind them. Devon didn’t pay them much attention, but it wasn’t difficult to discern the increased tension.
What the devil was going on?
Cressa must have also sensed it because she scooted close until their shoulders and legs touched.
A moment later, a small chime sounded, and a minute after that, doors on the other side of the courtyard opened, and young children of various ages raced toward the gym sets and swings. The teenagers were more casual yet appeared just as eager as they strode to the tables with the boxes. They opened them, pulling out pads of paper, pens, brushes, paints, and what looked like jars of beads and other unidentifiable items.
Gregor leaned over. “This is recess for the school. The young ones love to climb on things. This seems to be normal behavior based on the school in the village. The older ones enjoy free time for arts and crafts.” He nodded to their right. “We have a few bookworms.” A mix of boys and girls, five in all, had either dropped onto the benches or the grass and already had their heads in their books.
“Do these children attend this school because of some instinctual love or passion for the arts?”
Gregor’s expression became grave. “No. These children are here for another special reason.”
