Chapter 75

Sitting at the giant picture window, I stare at the city beyond. Nick had left for his first meeting with the other Royal Clans Leaders'. He had made it very clear I had to stay behind, yesterday had been a fiasco. I was a shivering mess with all the A ranks in the house and any Pureblood would have left me dead if it hadn't been for Nick. He was unable to give me a time he would be back and I could understand. Things were tense and on edge in this city. From my window I could see the guards walking the marble wall's perimeter.

My mind was racing both due to awe of this city covered in glistening white marble streets and the highest of luxury, but also with information. I needed to get to the library here, but Nick was reluctant. I could understand considering my low rank, a simple snap of a finger would have left me dead from just the sheer power of an A rank. But I was antsy, I needed work. I wasn't good with simply sitting and biding my time, that was something the Silent Phantasma has spades of, I didn't.

A knock at the door makes me jump. Letting out a breath, I had held waiting for something, until a mechanical voice calls out, 'Nina, my brother sent for me.'

It wasn't necessarily my first choice, but I felt a small piece of relief flood my system. Igor.

Walking over to the door, I open it and feel the void that was Nick's brother. My eyes land on his black soulless ones and say, 'Hello Igor, please come in.'

Leaving the door open, I step away and into the spacious sitting room that adjoined the master bedroom. I could hear the click of the door closing but nothing else. Coming to a chair, I sit down and look at him once again, trying to give off a sense of nonchalants I did not feel in his presence. He still stood by the door and though he was still I could sense something different about him, a slight sadness in his eyes and then nothing as it cleared. He steps forward and says as he stand before me, dipping his head for a moment and then says, 'My Lady, my brother has sent me to ask that I take you to the Grand Library to continue the investigation. He will be busy today and won't be home until late tomorrow.'

I jerk at the 'My Lady' at its emotion and then just as suddenly how cold and mechanical it had changed to. The last sentence made her uneasy and she says slowly standing, 'Till tomorrow?'

'Yes.'

Why I felt so uneasy about that I didn't know. But I bolster myself with a deep breathe in and say, 'Ok, let me change into something more appropriate for... this place.'

Leaving Igor's still form standing there in the sitting room, I run and change into a one piece black body suit. It felt strange to have to dress up just to go do investigations in a library, but I also knew why. I would be watched every minute I was in the elite vampires eyes. So quickly breading my hair into one of the fashions Nick and his fashion people told me, I walked back out. Igor stood there, face still as placid as always, but I see his hand is clenching the silver cane with white knuckles. He turns and walks to the door. I was surprised by that, usually he barely held onto the top of the cane and now I realized he used it to speak his emotions. This was a revelation as I say, coming up to him, 'I know babysitting me isn't in your job description, but thank you.'

'It isn't an imposition.'

'I am curious how I'll do outside the Dracul mansion.'

Igor glances down at me, before saying in that mechanical way of his, 'It will be fine, I can shield you from any pheremones or power another vampire can sling at you.'

Looking up at him skeptical, I ask, 'How?'

He doesn't even look at me as two A ranks open the door to the large circle drive saying, 'I may not look it, but I'm just as powerful as your husband and unlike him I have been trained to suppress my power and at the same time suppress others. I am your best bet besides your husband.'

The way he said 'your husband' felt like it was meant to sting or accuse but I couldn't understand why as he opened the door to a sleek black SUV and I get in.

Why did he feel even more hostile to me now? For the last few days prior he had seemed to be warming up to me. I didn't understand. He gets in, and says to the drive, 'To the Grand Library.'

A nod from the driver and we were in motion. I stare out the window, the silence stretching until I feel a file landing in my lap. I start, looking down at it. My eyes lift to Igor, having seen it was my folder, and I ask, 'I thought Nick had this to explain it to the other rulers of the clans.'

'He did, and asked me to return it to you. Your theories are solid.'

'Thanks,' I say, looking down at it. It had grown thick with the new info from Longsworth and would continue when she went to the library.

'It wasn't a compliment.'

My eyes dart to Igor with a frown and I stare at his placid face. There wasn't a hint of anything emotional about him, not the icy anger in France, or the soft look on his face in Mart. He was an enigma I couldn't figure as his eyes cut to me and I jerk, looking away. I mumble, 'Is there something wrong with it?'

'No, its too linear, and needs more depth.'

'I haven't seen you find any leads,' I accuse.

'So you say,' he says as the car pulls up to large stairs leading up to an enormous pillared building and I frown at him.

What had he found? What was he not telling me? And why did his opinion matter to me so?!

Quickly sweeping that from my mind as he opens the door for me. I step out, look up at the massive structure, and ask, 'How will we even find what we are leaving looking for?'

'I know where it is, as I was here yesterday looking through the book you desire.'

This shocked me as he closed the door of the SUV and starts walking up the steps with the grace of the predator I knew he was. My mind told me to be cautious of this man, because I couldn't even be sure of him.