Chapter 5

Drew slipped in the door, kicking off his muddy shoes. There was a clambering down the stairs and he looked up to see his father coming down at a half-run. Actually, the noise couldn't really be considered a clamber—it only sounded that way to Drew's sensitive ears.

"Another banquet?" Drew asked.

Marden Redfern nodded. "I have to keep up appearances. It's all part of the job." He slipped on a pair of loafers deftly.

Marden Redfern looked like any other good-looking middle aged man. The look suited him well. Drew had the feeling that Marden would keep this age for the next couple hundred years. He looked old enough to command, and yet young enough to avoid the wrinkles that would affect even a vampire who aged too much. His features were softer than Drew's. Brakken looked more like their father than Drew ever had.

"You're home already," Marden raised his eyebrows.

Drew shrugged and sat at the foot of the stairs. He had been feeling particularly anti-social lately. Besides, he couldn't go and hang out with Jordan after he'd twisted all his fingers. The stupid human—he found himself thinking vehemently and had to suppress the sharp thought. He didn't know why he'd hurt Jordan. Something about the way he had been harassing Clara had made his blood boil. Why he should give a care about some human girl was beyond him.

Why Clara still occupied a most of his attention even now...that was the real mystery. She was all he could think about for the rest of the day. He didn't even understand what had happened in the gym. She had justlooked so beautiful, so...inhuman.His eyes had been transfixed to her form as she had moved through the routines. She was so small and graceful—not like some regular human bumbling around on awkward feet. He had watched her every movement with a hunter's eye for agility.

And then she had landed funny. When she looked up to smile at him…something had happened. He couldn't explain it. It was as though the very air between them had become alive with electricity. He almost felt that if the bell hadn't interrupted them…they would have gone someplace else. They would have been in a place he didn't know existed.

He shook the thought from his brain. He must be going crazy.

"You're not going to get into any trouble tonight, are you?"

The words washed over him. For a moment, he didn't realize what his father had said. He looked up suddenly. "What? No."

"Good. Because Maya's still in town," Marden said with a warning look.

"Father? What's going on?" Drew asked, perturbed.

Marden sighed. "Exactly what she said, son. The Council is taking more direct control over the city-states."

"And what does this have to do with me?" Drew challenged.

His father sent him a condescending look, marked with warning. "It's got everything to you. Drew, I'm sorry, but you were born into the Redfern family. You have a certain duty to uphold family reputation. You have a certain duty to uphold family reputation. You have a duty to our family and to me."

Drew sighed and stood up. He didn't want another one of his father's you-have-a-duty-to-this-family-so-start-acting-like-it speeches. "So what if the council is taking more control? This has to do with made vampires. We're part of a lamia family…and I am not, and will never make a human into a vampire. So this new law will have no effect on our family."

"You don't seem to understand the underlying message," his father grated. He sent Drew a hard look. "That visit wasn't just about bringing the city-states together. That visit was aboutintimidation. She was reminding me of my duty as city Governor. If you set a toe out of line, it reflects on me."

"The Night People don't care about humans!" Drew protested. "Nowhere in the laws does it ever say that I can't play with them—use them. They're not real people anyway—just pets. Playthings."

"Yes, and I am proud of you for continuing to believe that. Your brother has become a little softer than I would have wished. He sympathizes with humans too much. But you—I'm proud that you can make the distinction between people and vermin," Marden explained, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "I just wish that you would throw out those no good friends of yours and take your place in the family. I need you to stop with all the pointless vandalism and learn to be a real Redfern. I need you to help uphold Night World law."

Drew folded his arms across his chest and looked at his father. He was actually surprised by this speech. Usually, father praised Brakken non-stop while he got all the complaints. "And this is what you really think?"

"This is what I really think," Marden returned.

"Why haven't yousaid anything about this before?" Drew questioned. "Why did you always try to make me more like Brakken?"

"Because I do want you to be like Brakken." His father spoke with irritation in his voice. "Don't you understand? Brakken has a seamless record. Everybody loves him because he's always doing the right thing. No one would ever suspect what he really is. That is what I want you to be—just don't lose your ideals along the way."

"Why are you telling me this now—after all this time?" Drew asked suspiciously.

"Because I want to get rid of Rigby and make you one of my counsellors. You'll be graduating soon. It's your rightful spot as an heir in the family."

Drew leaned into the banister, his mind floundering with all this new information. Of course—it wasn't really new. He'd known his father would want him to take some charge someday. But now? It was all happening too he go off and party for a few years—maybe go to college? He'd never really cared enough to be a leader. It had never been his thing.

"What if I don't want to get into politics?" Hesuggested. His voice soundedstrained, even to his own ears. "What if all this isn't for me? Couldn't you train Brakken instead? I think he'd like it. He's been class president for the last for years, so this wouldn't be any different for him."

"I intend to make Brakken my other counsellor," Marden responded, tapping his foot impatiently. He looked at his watch. "Drew, do you think we could continue our little conversation later? I have a meeting to get too, and I'm running a little late…"

His father buttoned up his suit coat as he was speaking.

"I don't want to take it," Drew replied softly but stubbornly. He slowly got to his feet, standing a couple inches taller than his father. He and Brakken had both outgrown their father a couple years ago--but Drew had the real advantage in height.

For a moment, he thought he had spoken too softly for his father to hear. But Marden's fingers stilled on the button he was working on. His voice was quiet—his features deadpan—but there was a steel core running beneath his words. "What did you say?"

"I said I don't want to take the position," Drew said again, this time a little louder. He stood up to face his father.

"What if I said I needed you to take the position?" Marden suggested, his blue eyes flashing with silver light.

"You don't. Rigby's been a good counsellor." Drew smirked. He was used to these what-if mind games with his father. They were nothing new. "You just always expected me to jump into the minor position below you."

"It's my right," Marden responded to the challenge in Drew's voice. "I've been here much longer than you have…about two hundred years to be exact. I should take the position of seniority. Would you try tosteal itfrom me?"

Drew laughed softly. He knew he'd gotten a rise out of his father. "No," he said seriously and soberly. "I wouldn't take the position away from you. You know I've never wanted to rule. Then again, I've never wanted to be ruled either."

"There is no good solution in anarchy," his father replied.

"Dad," Drew replied, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm sick and tired of politics. It's all I've heard growing up. Sure, I'm glad that there's no anarchy—but I don't want to be involved with rule either. I've never cared about politics and you know it."

Drew emphasized the last part of it.

Marden looked at his watch again with a sigh. "You know you have to enter the family trade someday. You have no choice in the matter."

"But you're going to give me a couple years—to go to college." Drew suggested.

Marden snorted. "You've never applied to college. You've never cared about school."

"You can't make me," there was an underlying violence in both their voices.

Marden flipped a shiny card from his pocket and let it dance in the light that fell from the chandelier. "I could cut you off," he suggested menacingly.

Drew's eyes dropped down to the credit card and he shrugged. He was the vision of indifference. Inside, he felt a little perturbed. His father had never threatened to take away his access from the credit card before. He'd always been given everything he wanted and more. He knew he was a spoiled brat and revelled in that fact. The idea that his father would take that away bugged him.

Logically, he knew he didn't need the money. He had friends--connections. He could find a well-paying job to take care of his needs. Reed had made him an offer just today. The paper was still sitting in his pocket, burning a hole. Drew didn't even know why he had been contemplating the offer for so long. Something about it just bugged him.

"And?" Drew asked, feining ignorance. "Your point is?"

"You will take your spot in the family," his father growled.

Drew snorted in return.

With an impatientsigh, Marden glanced at his watch. He looked back up at his son with an exasperated glance. He pointed a stiff finger in Drew's direction. "We'll talk about this later." He barked

"Never is too soon for me," Drew replied, folding his arms across his chest.

Drew twiddled his fingers in a good-bye gesture. He was not looking forward to the repeat of this discussion. It wouldn't happen for another couple of weeks. His fatherrarely had time for what he called their "heart to heart"s. In the meantime, Drew would have to think of a more intelligent way to dispute his father's point of view. Brute denial never worked with the old man.Maybe he would apply for college—if he could get in. It would get his father off his back for a couple of years anyway.

"You're going to be late for that banquet."

His father grumbled and hurried out the door, nearly slamming it behind him.

As soon as he was gone, Drew leaned back into the staircase. He took a long and relieved breath. Why did he have to be born a Redfern? Why? He would have been better off being born vermin.

He snorted at the thought, know he didn't believe it.

There was a knock at the door.

Drew grumbled slightly and got to his feet. He moved to the door, pulling it open. Whoever it was, better have something important to say, because he really wasn't in the mood to entertain.

The door slid open to reveal a fine-boned girl with a lank of auburn hair and a regal features. Her eyes widened at the sight of him.

His heartbeat began to pick up speed.

"Clara," he said.