Page 67 of Blood from the Marrow
Beingin Narine’s house with a hundred vampires from other cartels made it impossible for Elena to relax. As her inner circle gathered in the primary suite that was akin to the residential apartments of a modern castle, Elena reminded herself that every person sitting under that roof had passed her loyalty test under compulsion.
No one was secretly working with Sayah. No one was going to catch her off guard. Not here. She needed to get used to the idea of so many desperate loyalties aligning against a common foe. As the members of her newly allied cartels arrived over the coming days and occupied the outhouses and temporary housing they were erecting, the feeling would only get worse.
She strode into the over-decorated sitting room acting as the center of the four-bedroom suite. Deciding that sleep would simply be off the table for the coming days, Elena focused on the topic at hand.
“How did it go?” Marisol asked from where she sat next to Zuri on a sofa fit for King Louis XIV.
Behind them, Sofia and Librada stood with their backs to the wall and their eyes on the door. The weight of their collectivehope should have been crushing, but for the first time in weeks, it filled Elena with the will to fight.
“You look like you just survived an HOA meeting from hell,” Zuri said with a laugh.
The rich sound seeped into Elena’s chest and dripped down to ease the acidic burn in her stomach. “It went better than I hoped,” she replied with a chuckle before taking the hideous chair across from them. “There was only a single death threat,” she added before telling them about the compulsion.
“And somehow you don’t look relieved,” Marisol said when Elena was finished, her eyes peering at Elena like she might see into her. Might find the place where she’d stashed her doubt and fear.
“Vampires love to brag how they don’t fight like this, Bambi.” Zuri rummaged through her memory to toss Elena’s words back in her face. “Squabbling and infighting are pointless,” she said like she’d been waiting for a chance to show her that vampire cartels weren’t more civilized than rival covens.
The reminder stung, but Elena couldn’t disagree. She’d misjudged her kind’s capacity for stupidity and indifference. She didn’t expect that volatile mix would blow up their stability based on a single person’s whims.
“What about the others?” Marisol asked. “This can’t be all the vampires out there.”
“Librada will reach out to the undeclared cartels,” Elena said, referencing the remaining third in limbo. “Offer them a chance to choose a side before things get bloody.”
“And if they refuse?” Lib asked.
“Then they’ve chosen Sayah.” Elena’s voice hardened. “Not choosingisa choice. One they will undoubtedly regret if Sayah wins.”If I fail.
“Why would they refuse?” Marisol shook her head. “They’ve heard what Sayah did by now, right? What she’s capable of? Who would choose that?”
Elena softened. She’d never met anyone like Marisol. Never known someone who saw the light in everything.
“Fear is a powerful motivator.” Elena’s mind was on the near three hundred years she’d lived. On the whole of history before that. “For some, fear makes them brave. Makes them turn and face the predator threatening the ones they love.” Her gaze lingered over her two daughters and her two loves. “For others, it makes them run at top speed to avoid danger. Makes them think they don’t need to outrun the lioness… They just have to be faster than the person running next to them.” She shrugged. “In this case, many will join Sayah precisely because they fear her turning their attention to them. They think they can submit and not be prey. As long as they’re not on the menu, who cares?”
“That’s so gross,” Marisol decided.
“Vampires started as people, Bambi,” Zuri said with a defeated sigh. “We’re the fucking worst.”
“With six blood daughters, Sayah is formidable,” Elena half-muttered to herself.
“Oh, hell no.” Zuri stood.
Elena furrowed her brow. She’d barely formed the thought yet. “Does that new tattoo let you read minds?” she asked, only partly joking.
“I know you well enough to sense when you’re concocting some bullshit, Elena. And I’m telling you right now, absolutely the fuck not.” Leaning forward, Zuri looked like she might fight Elena’s thoughts.
“Anyone want to fill me in on what the heck you’re talking about?” Marisol’s attention darted between them.
“Go on.” Zuri crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell Marisol and Librada and Sofia that you’re considering turninga daughter to cut Sayah’s advantage in half.” She gestured dramatically like a magician revealing their best act on stage. “You remember the picture of her vampire mother in Venice. The only one you’ll ever see because the womandiedmaking a daughter.” Veins in Zuri’s neck bulged but it was the scent of panic that filled the room, not anger. “Because it takes nearly draining her entire body?—”
Marisol sprang to her feet. “Elena?—”
“Mother, you cannot be considering this.” Lib’s auburn eyes were wide and heartbreaking. “You cannot weaken yourself?—”
“What if Sayah attacks while you’re recovering?” Sofia interrupted. “You’d be so easy to?—”
“Gods, calm down.” Elena stood because being the only one seated made her feel like a scolded child. She put one hand on Zuri’s hip and reached for Marisol’s wrist with the other. “It was just a thought?—”
“Well it was a stupid one,” Zuri said, leaving no room for argument.
