Chapter 9

The ride to Nick's mansion was strained. My body was stiff with fear from the power that eeked from him. Purebloods were terrifying to all, but to vampires in particular. They were old world wealth and antiquity. Each house had vaults of treasures from past lives. The Elrics had the legendary sword of King Arthur, and his round table. The Zula had dismantled and rebuilt the ancient city of El Durado deep in caves found in the Sahara dessert. The Dracul had the most extensive collection of gold from the Egyptians, if anything the Purebloods enjoyed history and the treasures it provided.

During the entire ride, the Dracul Pureblood, Nick was on his phone speaking in the old tongue, the language of the Vampire, it was a mixture of Greek and Latin that seemed to murmur to you. Newer generations of the Vampire race did not know it.

However my phantom mentor had taught me the tongue and I listened. It was mostly business. But one conversation was something different. It lasted only a few minutes in which he said, 'It was a decoy, but Etienne was present. He is neutralized, but I have acquired an asset.'

So I was an asset now, an object to be studied. I would have to run soon, or face worse torture than I had experienced at the hand of the French sadist. My mind went back to the torture and I shrink inside at the memories. I had been tortured before, but it hadn't been for as long. As we pass a bank I notice the date and realize I had been locked away for longer than I thought. A new record for me in not having blood.

Before long we were going up a winding road, and at the end was a building I could only describe as a castle. Coming around a fountain and up to the entrance the limo stops and Nick steps out, my relief at him not being so close short lived. My door is opened by Crow and I slowly step out. The mansion was on the top of a hill with miles of forest surrounding it. The sound of a waterfall beyond the mansion. I was wealthy, but beside this, I felt poor.

'Come,' Nick's seductive voice calls and I look at him.

He nods and walks up the steps. On either side of the stairs are A class vampire bowing to their leader. He had to be a high borne Dracul for them to do this. I follow a few steps behind him and feel the flash of menace from the eyes of the A ranks as I pass. I was an outsider here, and I was walking into the wolf's den. My hands shook from the collective power of them all, but I clench them and follow him into the Dracul lair. The Dragons.

Nick poured me a glass of my food source and says, 'Hunger I can't allow.'

He pours some for himself and hands me my glass. This giant study felt more like a meeting hall. It was covered in mahogany panelling, carved into the art deco of old France. I watch as he takes a sip and sits down in a leather chair in front of me in a small corner of the giant room. A large desk set at the end down the way but he seemed to want to make me comfortable. But how could I be with his power making me stiff as a board.

Slowly I take a sip of the liquid and feel my hunger reaffirm itself. I try to take it slowly but end up gulping down the rest of the red liquid. Sighing, I look up at him and ask, 'How did you know my last time.'

'I am Dracul, we can glean thoughts. Though you seem to hide them well. I seem only able to glean the ones you allow Ms. Nina Simmons.'

He rotates the glass on his hand, seeming facinated by the blood and I worry I might have fallen into a trap by drinking the blood he had given me, maybe laced with tridium, a drug of chose by many a damaged vampire.

But he takes another sip and continues, 'My manners escape me at times.'

Just then it feels like a heavy cloak is removed from my shoulders and I gasp. All his power that had flowed over me from our first meeting in the warehouse disappeared. I still felt the underlying current that told me he was a Pureblood, but not it's immense pressure. Blinking, he stares at me, before stating, 'Humanity still flows through you.'

It was rhetorical, so I don't reply as I set the glass on a side table and look back at him, asking softly, 'Will you tell me how you found me?'

'As I stated previously, you were a unforseen addition to the situation. However, you were not our target.'

That was obvious and I ask, 'Why were you there?'

'To find clues.'

'To what?'

'Someone who seems to be planning a war.'

'There is perpetual war among the five great clans. You and the Elrics are prime examples of that from two months ago in the night club.'

But he just looks at me, his wolfish blue eyes narrowing as he stares at me. The silence was ear splitting, just the rushing sound of my own blood through my veins and his calm breathing sounded in the giant office. My stare unflinching, I ask, 'The Elrics have diplomatic immunity in NYC, as do all royals of the five great clans, but they c lookut off my blood supply. Is that why they took me and tortured me, because I was seen with you?'

He continues to stare, but finally says, 'The Elrics may have cut your blood supply, but have nothing to do with what happened to you there after.'

'Then who did, why did they, and what were you doing there?'

I knew my voice had risen with the question out of frustration. He had been deflecting all my questions. Abruptly he stands and I flinch back into my chair. He comes forward, taking the glass from the side table and back to the stand with the pitcher. He pours more and returns as he says, 'As to the first of the three questions, the person or persons that kidnapped you were part of a group that have taken it upon themselves to rid the world of the Five Great Clans.'

This makes my eyes widen as he returns to his chair, but doesn't sit, instead he keeps his back to me as he continues on, 'We have affectionately called them, The Silent Phantasma. They lurk quietly, more so than even we phantoms. As to why they took you, that is the real question. Etienne was what I have gathered an important player in this group. As for why I was there, it is simple, to kill them. Call it revenge for what they have done to my family and clan.'

I frown at that last statement, 'What have they done to the Dracul Clan?'

Slowly he turns and looks at me, his hands clasped behind his back. I could see a tick in his jaw, but he doesn't answer. Instead he continues, 'The night I met you, I was there to meet with the Elrics Leader, Dominic. However we were ambushed and he was killed.'

This shook me further and I ask, 'How? Vampires are hard to kill as it is, and a Pureblood even more so?'

'It seems this Silent Phantasma has found a way.'

Slowly I take another sip, starting to feel the high of a full stomach as I say, 'It said there were three killed in the attack on the night club.'

'Those were just human lives.'

All I could do is stare at him. His eyes were shrouded by so many layers, I couldn't figure if what he said was true. Instead I say, 'So Dominic's son is now taking his father's place, Tyberius?

'Yes.'

That's when I realize he is very sneakily trying to enter my mind. Without his power suppressing me, I had let my guard down. Instantly I slam down on my thoughts. He chuckles and says, 'Very interesting. You will tell me why they took you, but until then you shall stay here. Lilac!'

I jump at his booming voice at the last word. A young woman comes out of no where and bows. Nick gestures, 'Lilac will show you to your room.'

There was no point in arguing with him about myself leaving. So I nod and follow Lilac from the room. Just before I leave Nick says to me, 'I will learn your secrets Ms. Simmons, it's just a matter of time.'

The glint in his wolfish eyes said it was a promise. I would have to escape this Dracul Pureblood soon.