Page 58 of The Vanishing
“Agreed.” Haruka knows from personal experience how impactful first-generation blood can be to an old-blooded purebred’s health.
“Tell me this.” The detective sits straight, her gaze serious. “Why did he abduct you in the first place? What is the root of all this?”
Haruka shifts his eyes to his mate, apprehensive.
I think we can tell her. It’s safe, Haru.
Nodding, Haruka takes a breath. “My clan has established a collection of data surrounding vampiric bonds. It goes back almost five centuries, and thus helps to create meaning and insight with regard to mating.”
“Sounds interesting…” Detective Cuevas says thoughtfully. “And nerdy. So Lajos wanted this book?”
“Correct. He abducted Nino and demanded the book as ransom. How he learned about it, we are uncertain. But there is a connection between us and a former manservant from his clan.”
“Is this book so important?” she asks. “It sounds impressive but… it’s just a book, right? Is it made of gold and rubies and shit?”
“No. In truth, I was also taken aback by Lajos’s drastic actions regarding my family’s research. However, based on everything else we know about him, it seems as if radical actions are his modus operandi.”
“And you think this creature is responsible for the Great Vanishing?” Detective Cuevas asks. “That he’s got all these disappeared vampires in some mud-hut village within the mountains of Socotra?”
“I’m pretty sure,” Nino confirms. “But I couldn’t tell how many there were. It was hard to sense their distinct numbers.”
“Crazy… we thought they all died, didn’t we?” the detective says. “Do you think he took all the British purebreds, too? Could this also be the answer to that mystery?”
“We cannot be certain, but it is possible,” Haruka says. When he and Nino met a little more than a year ago in England, they were the only two purebred vampires in the entire country. Purebreds of English descent have been extinct for almost two hundred years.
Or so they have been led to believe.
Detective Cuevas stands from the sofa, pulling her bag up onto her shoulder. “Alright, we’ll have Lajos transported to New York within the week, so he’ll be out of your hair. I’ll keep you up to speed on our progress with the search.”
“I do not think that will be necessary.”
“What?” The detective frowns.
Tesoro…
My love, as I said before, I do not wish to interfere with this creature’s realm.
But if these vampires need help, we should help them.
We cannot know that for certain. Perhaps they are content—
“Hello?” The detective blinks. “Is something happening right now?”
Asao speaks as he walks into the room and toward the low table laden with cups of green tea. “They have this awkward habit of talking about things in front of people, but inside their heads.”
Haruka straightens, clearing his throat. “My apologies. Yes, please keep us abreast of the situation.”
“Thanks.” She nods. “I’ll try to get more answers out of Lajos, too… once his brain heals a little. If we need your help locating his realm, I’ll let you know.”
His eyes wide, Haruka recoils. “Locating his realm? InSocotra?”
“Apparently,” the detective says, lifting her chin. “Sorry to ask you to leave your swanky estate. Think of it as your civic duty to the safety and well-being of our vampiric society—or maybe an adventure?”
Haruka sits back and folds his arms, thoroughly hating the sound of both of those things.
You know, you’re pretty damn sexy when you pout… Makes me want to bite you.
Despite his frustration, Haruka smiles, chuckling.You can. Later.
