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The vampire Alyssa had sent to follow Ryan felt the call of the hunt himself as the smell of fresh blood hit him.
He pulled himself under control, but the struggle cost him precious moments, and when he turned to find Ryan
again, the other vampire was long gone. Alyssa would not be pleased with him, but at least he could report that
Ryan had met Cherise tonight. He would go back to Ryan's rooms and wait for her to return. After all, what
did it matter if Ryan hunted the slums tonight?
Ryan smiled when she checked behind her. There was nothing like fresh blood to confuse another vampire. She
knew she had been followed. She knew that the man had seen her meet Cherise, but undoubtedly, Cherise
knew it as well. It was no secret that Cherise sometimes shared her bed, and Ryan needed to have some reason
for skulking around the city tonight. Let Alyssa make what she would out of her assignation with Cherise.
Ryan found her contact deep in a filthy alley. He had a kind of nest under the stairs leading up the side of the
building. Ryan waited while the man dealt with two customers. Then she took her place on an upturned barrel
that was marginally cleaner than the littered ground.
The Rat was as gray as his surroundings. He stank of cheap gin and other less savory smells. He was a forger of
great skill, and Ryan had used his services from time to time over the ages. If the Rat had a real name, only he
remembered it. He was not so old as Ryan, but a good two hundred years older than Alyssa. Some of her court
wondered why she tolerated him. Others wondered if Alyssa was merely the Rat's figurehead, for no one would
follow a man with so little charisma. With all his knowledge and power, he lived like the poorest, filthiest of the
mortal poor. While many vampires could charm their victims into their beds, the Rat had all the charm of his
name. Thus, the Rat's other peculiarity was that he had never made another vampire in all his long years. Why
give a mortal the power to become a rival when the Rat could not command his or her allegiance?
The Rat looked up from the document he was working on. "I wondered when you would arrive," he said in a
surprisingly melodious voice. He wore a pair of half glasses perched on his beak like nose. Ryan knew they
were a pure affectation since vampires did not suffer from such bodily weaknesses. The Rat took off his glasses
and looked closely at Ryan.
"Is she the one?"
"I think so. I suppose only time will tell. Meanwhile, I hear Alyssa has her knickers in a snit over her."
The Rat laughed. "That she does. One minute, she thinks you've gone soft and taken a pretty girl to revive your
juices. The next minute, she is sure that your pretty pet is some sort of demon you conjured to end her rule."
Ryan snorted. "I'm the one who put Alyssa on her throne. Why, after all this time, would I want to displace
her?"
"Haven't you learned yet that reason has little to do with a vampire's actions. Ryan, you are old enough to
know how addictive power is, and how it can addle the mind."
"I know, Rat. Why do you think I have refused to get caught up in those games all these years? I tasted enough
power in my youth. I held life and death in my hands. how could the petty ploys of Alyssa's court attract me
now?"
"Ahhhh, if I had your face, Ryan, if I had your power, I would be king of the world. There, you see, I'm not
immune either. Why should Alyssa think you are?"
"Why do you serve her, Rat?"
"Who else would I serve? You refuse to be served. And look at me, Ryan. Even the humans shun me when they
have no need for my services. I tried being a hermit, but I'm a social person. That surprises you, does it?"
"No, not really. Hermits have a different kind of drive, Rat. I suppose, since Alyssa needs you, the court has to
tolerate you, but is that enough for you?"
"Oh, they don't just tolerate me. They fear me. Do you know how I enjoy that, Ryan? If I can't have respect, if I
can't be liked, then fear will serve me well."
Ryan nodded. She knew that Alyssa herself always treated the Rat with respect and even a distant kind of
affection. Ryan did not ask why the Rat helped Ryan if he valued Alyssa's patronage so much. The line was
clearly drawn between the two. The Rat knew Ryan had no intention of harming Alyssa. The queen was
actually very good at keeping the vampire population in line. That saved Ryan the trouble of having to police
her own small domain herself. Ryan and the Rat shared a common goal, However, and to that extent, the Rat
would help Ryan in any way he could. But if Ryan ever threatened Alyssa herself, then his loyalty would
disappear.
"Has she sent out messengers yet?"
"Yes, just this week. Three to Europe and two south to England."
"No one to Ireland?"
"You think he is there?"
"I heard a rumor that he might be in Dublin."
"I will pass it on to Alyssa. If it turns out to be right, she will be very happy with me. But meanwhile, Ryan, you
need to disarm some of her fear. Give her a week so that she can send someone to Ireland, and then make
arrangements for her to meet your pet. She needs to feel that you respect her, otherwise, you may find yourself
with a war on your hands." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]