Chapter 3

Drew slipped in the door, kicking off his boots. He slipped through the house, about to take a seat on the black leather couch. He didn't even care that the light wasn't on. He would have liked to just sit there in the dark and mull.

Now that he was broken up with Dana, he was free. He didn't really know what to do with himself. His ready supply of blood was gone. He'd have to find a new girlfriend fast—or just chase down a few dark alleys for the next couple of weeks. The thought of tapping into the veins of a dirty homeless person didn't sound all that great, but it was better than the alternative. He didn't know if he could stomach another girlfriend. He'd had one every month for the past two years and he was sick of it.

He was about to slump down to allow his mind to wander, but a sound caught his ears. The grandfather clock ticked audibly in the background, but there was another sound just within the threshold of hearing. It was the buzz of voices coming from the meeting room.

It was probably his dad, having a chat with some of the city counsellors. Marden Redfern was the local Night World authority for the San Fransisco district. It was his job to see that night world law was being enforced in the area. He was quite a bigwig—all chummy with the elders whenever they came for a visit.

He might as well give his pops a little hello.

Dad thought he was the less responsible of his two sons—which was probably true. But even Drew followed the two cardinal Night World rules to a tee. And if he decided to hijack a few cars along the way and drive them off bridges, more power to him.

Marden Redfern didn't really care that much about the destruction of human property—but he had a reputation to uphold. But Drew was careful enough. Besides, it wasn't as if his father didn't have the money and connections to make inquisitive policemen lose their interest.

He knocked lightly on the meeting room door. He wasn't technically supposed to bother his father when he was in the middle of his meetings, but Mr. Redfern rarely reprimanded him for breaking the rules. He ducked his head into the room.

"Hello fath—"

Drew stopped mid-sentence. Those were definitely not his father's counsellors. Of course, Rigby and Dross were there as well…and a couple of Night World elders. It was the woman who made him stop stalk still, the breath caught in her throat.

The woman turned to look at him her long glossy hair fell down her back. She was still letting off a throaty chuckle at something one of the elders had said. Her green eyes took him in appraisingly. A smile curved up her lips. With it, her eyes changed to glowing amber, reflecting the light in the room. Drew knew instinctively who she was and couldn't stop the soft gasp that escaped his lips.

"I'm sorry to interrupt!" He said quickly and apologetically. "I'll just go now so that you guys—and woman—can get on with your meeting."

As he was about to step out and shut the door, the woman lifted a hand to stop him. "Just a moment, grasshopper," her violet eyes twinkled. "You must be a Redfern. Drew if I'm not mistaken."

Drew was speechless, so surprised that she would even know his name. This was the first time he'd ever spoken to her in person. Sure, he'd seen her a few times…generally at Theirry's giant parties on the Solstice. It was a surprise that Theirry even allowed her on his grounds. Word had it that the two were worst enemies, although few people knew exactly why. But even Thierry was bound by propriety. No one, not even a powerful elder, could refuse to invite the head of the council to an event.

"Yes, that's me," Drew replied. He couldn't help the glow of pleasure.

"Sit," Maya suggested, draping her arm over the unoccupied chair next to her. She sent him an expectant glance. "We are not speaking on private matters tonight."

Drew sent his father a look and Marden Redfern nodded his acquiescence. Drew shut the door behind him and sat down at the chair to Maya's left. Her scent was flowery, almost intoxicating. He tried not to breathe too deeply so that it wouldn't short-circuit all of his senses. Maya wasn't only the first vampire to ever walk the earth, but she was also a very skilled witch. The ylang-ylang was emanating from her form to dance lazily in his nostrils. He tried to keep a clear mind.

"It's good to get your son involved in politics, don't you think?" Maya suggested to his father, her blood red, expertly manicured nails dropped to his shoulder. "Sooner or later, one of them will help to take over the family responsibilities. It's good to acclimate him into the trade."

"Yes, of course," Marden Redfern was saying with a strained smile.

Drew almost felt sorry for his dad. He was as affected by the ylang-ylang concoction as his son was. He was straining to keep up a business-like manner. At least Drew wasn't expected to keep up friendly chit-chat under such circumstances. He could just sit there in silence and listen if he chose. He supposed his father would prefer that—seeing as Marden didn't know what would come out of his son's mouth next. Contrary to his father's belief, Drew did have a fair idea on politics and diplomacy.

"We were just speaking on the new laws that need to be brought into effect," Maya was explaining to him, her eyes a forest green. There was inquisitiveness in her gaze, as if she were trying to read Drew. As if she were trying to size him up—find out what mettle he was made of.

"New laws?" Drew swallowed. His throat was dry.

"Yes," Maya was saying. "There has been a rash of made vampires showing up lately—much more than in previous years. I think the Night World Citizens are becoming lax. They just make any old bum off the street a vampire if they found out about the Night World. But we can't have that. It's too dangerous."

Drew nodded and made the mistake of breathing in too deeply. He blinked back the water that rushed to his eyes.

Maya seemed to realize what kind of effect she was having on him. She let out another throaty chuckle. "You didn't get something in your eye, did you?"

He shook his head, knowing she knew just as well as he.

"Anyway," Maya returned to her explanation. "Some of these made vampires are causing trouble—trouble that could expose our world. So we need to clamp down on the production of vampires. From now on, to make a human into a vampire, the night world petitioner must have an acceptance letter from one of the Night World elders, hunter, or myself."

"So what brings you here?" Drew asked.

His father sent him a warning look. He had no right to ask the head counsellor what her business was. He returned the look with an apologetic one. The only excuse he had to defend himself was that the ylang-ylang was taking over his senses.

Maya didn't seem offended in the least. She leaned back in her chair, examining her blood-red nails. "I thought it would be a good idea," she informed him, her silver-blue eyes looking out through half closed lids; "to speak to all the separate city counsellors myself. I thought it would help to bring a sense of community back to the Night World. The night people do pretty much what they please because our lack of enforcement. We have only two cardinal rules in the Night World and it's about time we banded together to make a stronger world. The human people aren't what they used to be. We need to adapt to fend them off."

Drew was still rather surprised that a dignitary such as herself would take the trouble. He was surprised that she wouldn't send Hunter to do the work. He was her main man. He took over council leader duties when she was off chasing after Theirry for various reasons. But it wasn't his job to question her motives.

"And I'm so glad you did come to visit," his father simpered. "It's been so long since I've had the honor to speak with you."

The expression on Maya's face told Drew that she didn't remember their last meeting. She smiled diplomatically. "It's always a pleasure. You will see to it that the new law is enforced in San Francisco?"

Marden Redfern's neck bowed in a nodded. "To the best of my ability."

"Good!" I smile curved up Maya's cheeks and reached her icy-grey eyes. "And you know what to do when the law has been broken?"

"Swift action will be taken," Marden replied.

Drew knew what that meant. The next person to break the law would be made an example. That person would die, to prevent further transgressions. Maya wanted to instil some fear back into Night World reign. Drew couldn't say that he disagreed. He was tired of the pansies who were worried about human rights and treatment. Humans were vermin and the Night People needed to remember that again.

Night people needed to remember the burning times. Humans were ignorant, stupid and intolerant. Night people weren't real, just cheesy characters out of bad horror films. There was no telling what humans would do when they found out that a night person existed.

What Drew couldn't figure out was why the face of a medieval princess kept playing through his mind. Her fine-boned face lifted with laughter. Could someone so beautiful be so stupid and intolerant?

Yes, he told himself. She could.