Until Dex passes new ones to each of us, it hadn’t even occurred to me that I lost my phone in the crash. “These are burner phones. They are only to be used in an emergency. Don’t use them to contact anyone, it’s just for texting the code.” He looks at each of us in turn. “Not anyone. Not even to let someone know you are safe. We can’t know who’s compromised.” 

Emma and Kate and I exchange wide-eyed looks. A chill runs down my spine as I stare at the simple tech in my hand. I can’t even let my Dad know I’m alive? 

“No one,” Dex emphasizes as he lifts a remote and a white screen descends from the ceiling. 

I’m still reeling that our fully human loved one’s could be in danger when Dex points another remote to the screen and clears his throat and my attention moves fully onto what he shows us.

“Agrippina the Younger,” He says as a head-on image of the marble bust of a large-nosed woman appears on the screen. She’s crowned with curly ringlets which drape around her neck, and her pupiless eyes stare blankly at us. That bust is replaced with images of several more, all taken at different angles, all showing the same face and ringlets. The same treatment is given to multiple busts of the woman, carved in different stone. Following those come statues of her alone and with other people. Next are coins stamped with her face and name. Lastly, paintings depicting her in realistic and fantastical scenes fill the screen. Dex continues talking as the images appear, one after another at a kind of hypnotic pace. “Julia Agrippina. Granddaughter of the first Roman Emperor, sister to Emperor Caligula, mother of Emperor Nero. She attained her lifelong desire when she became the first true Roman Empress with a strategic marriage to Emperor Claudius. 

“In her human life, she was known to be ambitious, powerful, and driven. She poisoned at least one of her three husbands and a rival or two who got in her way. Still others she coerced into killing themselves. Nero, knowing his mother coveted his rule and wanted to depose him, decided to have her killed. By that time she had made a lot of enemies. And she’d met a handsome vampire who promised her greatness beyond her dreams. She was 44 when her son attempted to murder her not once, but twice. She survived, but prudently saw the writing on the wall. On his third attempt Julia Agrippina had the vampire change her before someone else could get to her. He thoughtfully arranged to substitute a body for them to cremate. They left Rome for his home in the Carpathian Mountains. A century later she returned, paying street children to loot the cave, collect her ashes and bring them to her to scatter. 

“The Empress was ruthless as a human. As a vampire, she reigned terror with her maker on the entire eastern European region. Sometime in the late 1400s she killed her maker and branched out. While most vampire were trying to survive by not being noticed, she left a trail of bodies in her wake. In the late 1500s the vampire governance finally bestirred themselves to do something about her. She was banished to the barren land of North America. Ever heard of England’s first settlement, the Roanoke Colony?” All three of us nod, enthralled and horrified by his tale. “She found them, a few months after they’d settled on Roanoke Island. She picked them off, as well as some native peoples. After a year or so, she set about building herself an army with the few left in case anyone should come after her. Of course, they didn’t. The vampire world was glad to see the last of her. 

“What did happen, was true to her form. Over the next decades she managed to incite various native peoples and enough scrappy new Americans to violence that they succeeded in chasing her all around the country until she finally retreated deep into the Appalachian mountains with only a handful of her newly made vampire left to her. Isolated and forced to find other ways to feed themselves, she tapped into the way things had been in her human life. She carefully picked out a few humans to keep as food slaves. Not much has changed since then. She has to replace them frequently - humans don’t last long with her. She endangers all of us with her carelessness, and we’ve wanted to deal with her ourselves. Sadly, our hands have been tied because our governance is happy as long as she stays put hidden away in West Virginia, and they won’t sanction ending her.”

Emma narrows her eyes at Dex. “How are they going to take if we do? End her, I mean.” 

Dex shakes his head. “Let me put it this way. If by some miracle we actually manage to kill her there isn’t a sole who would be willing to even think of opposing us for a long, long time.”

“You don’t sound very confident in our capabilities. I mean, I heard you, I did. But she’s ancient. Thousands of years old. I mean, isn’t she just a little bit frail?”

Dex’s smile doesn’t meet his eyes. “No, Miss Libby, I’m afraid that isn’t how it works. Most of us die long before we get that old, which is probably for the best. We live pretty violent lives. But how I look today is how I will look when I finally leave this Earth. And I will still be just as strong as I was the day I was reborn.”

I think about Jo. Because she was born half vampire and grew much more rapidly than normal humans do, she’s looked the way I met her since she was a teenager, well over a century ago.

Dex clears his throat unnecessarily. “Alright, we’re going to make a pitstop.”

Janelle’s head jerks up, her eyes full of suspicion. “I didn’t know we were going to make a stop. Where?”

Dex busies himself getting a couple of glasses and cans of soda. “Chicago.”

Janelle swears under breath. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Dex won’t look at her. Opening a can he asks, “What?”

 

“I don’t believe it. You’re actually going to go looking for her.”

I’m lost and by the looks on my friends’ faces, I’m not alone. “Looking for whom?”

Dex looks at me. “We’re going to pick up a passenger.”

Janelle growls, “So help me, if you put that woman—”

Dex passes a drink to Emma. “It’s not a woman.”

That brings Janelle up short. “So let me get this straight. We’re stopping in Chicago to pick someone up, not a woman, but someone you haven’t bothered to tell me was going to get on this plane, and that’s all we’re doing there?”

Kate asks, “Why are we picking someone up in Chicago?”

Dex ignores Janelle in favor of answering Kate. “I thought he’d come to the villa. But he specifically asked if we could meet him here.”

In a blur Janelle stands between Kate and Dex. “And isn’t that convenient we’re going to meet someone in Chicago? You really are going to look for her, aren’t you?”

Dex squares his shoulders and faces her, his eyes stormy. “Yes, Janelle. Yes I am.”

“Why? After all she did—”

“That’s enough!” Dex slashes his hand in a ceasing motion. “I’ve heard your side. I know very well how you feel. But I’ve known Beatrice longer than you have. Do you really think so little of JN Securities that you think they’d miss someone’s potential for a betrayal like that?” 

Janelle scoffs. “People can change, man, you can’t know she’s innocent.”

“And you can’t know she’s not!” Dex bellows.

“How can you be so dense? Beatrice’s hand print was on the wall beside the computer that also had her prints, that sent the virus to Kate’s computer.” Kate sucks in her breath at the reminder, but doesn’t say anything, in favor of staring at the vampire with wide eyes. “In the face of such overwhelming evidence, tell me how you can turn a blind eye to her guilt!”
Dex puts himself between Janelle and Kate. “No. You know what? No. I won’t hear another word against her, do you hear me? I know Beatrice. We came into JN at the same time. We went through advanced defense, cyber-security training the whole bit, together. I know her. She would never make such amateur mistakes as to leave her prints behind. I’m telling you she did it on purpose.”

“To what end? Because from what I saw it sure as hell looked like she helped the evil bastard who attacked Kate!”
Emma jumps to her feet so close to Dex and Janelle who were all but butting chests, that they startle and move apart.

 

“That’s enough,” Emma says quietly. 

After a second of looking at Emma, Janelle’s head doesn’t move, but her eyes dart to Kate. I look at Kate, too and immediately reach for her hand. Her fingers are cold.  

Janelle deliberately backs up until the backs of her knees hit her seat and she drops into it. She bends her head for a minute before looking up at him. “Okay, Dex. Fine. Do what you feel you need to do. I’ve said my piece. The fact remains that I trust you, and if you say we need to find Beatrice, well, that’s what we’ll do. You can count on me to have your back, no matter what.”

With a terse nod to her, Dex sits in his own seat. Emma settles back into her chair and we exchange glances over Kate’s head. 

Janelle looks at Kate. “I’m sorry if our argument brought up bad memories. The computer virus wasn’t your fault and the fae cursing you wasn’t your fault either.”

“Oh, I know that.” Where a minute ago she looked a little fragile, now at least Kate sounds irritated. “Geez, I’m not about to shatter, y’all,” Kate grumbles. “Honestly, whether this Beatrice was involved or not is immaterial to me. If she can help us find Mac, it’s all good.”

I look down and watch Janelle under my lashes. Her vociferous dislike of Beatrice has always surprised me. When Beatrice was one of my protectors, I felt so safe. She and Dex worked well together and Beatrice went out of her way to make me feel better about having body guards. In my mind’s eye she sticks her tongue out at me through the Jeep window, then she crouches in front of me and helps me put my shoes on when I hurt too bad to do it myself, telling me the story of a time she needed help so I wouldn’t be so self-conscious. Like Dex, I can’t reconcile the Beatrice I know with the one Janelle sees. 

We taxi down a private strip sheltered by a wall of tall trees on both sides. Thick razor wire coils atop a fence taller than the airplane. The fence forms a perimeter around the trees on one side and continuing beyond the hangar we park inside. I wonder why whoever lives here needs a fortress. I wonder who we’re picking up. 

Dex opens the door and pulls the lever to lower the stairs. The sudden silence after the pilot cuts the engines echoes in my ears. The minute the stairs unfold a figure appears in the doorway. 

“Mademoiselles! Ah, seeing your beautiful faces makes this old heart so happy.”

“Louis!” Tears fill my eyes as I run to him. His strong arms envelop me and he whispers sweet comforting French into my ear. The Frenchman was in his late 50s when he asked Niall to turn him so that he could continue to care for Jo. He was an employee of Jo’s royal mother but has always been the closest thing Jo has ever had to a father and I’ve come to see him as a grandparent. When he releases me, I step back, wiping my eyes and clearing my throat. As tempting as it is to indulge in a good cry, it’s not the time. 

“I thought you might want to have this, Mademoiselle.” A familiar wooden box appears in his hands. Beatrice gave it to me the last time I saw her. I take the box and hold it, not intending to open it. But a compulsion to see the beautiful deadly relic is unharmed grips me and I rock the snug lid gently back and forth until it finally comes off. Inside, nestled in the purple silk I’d added, rests an ornate dagger. 

I stroke a finger from handle to tip, much the way Darcy likes to be petted. Oh, hi you. I missed you. I smile at Louis. “Thank you.”

He bows his head. “This purple is new, oui? Pourquoi silk?”

“Why silk?” I frown and look down at the box in my hands. Why did I buy the fabric? It seemed really obvious at the time, but I don’t have the foggiest idea why I bought it now. But I have to admit, all that inky black with silver etchings looks great lying against it. “I don’t know, actually. I guess I just thought it would make the dagger…” At the last second I decide not to say it would make the dagger happy, because that sounds completely crazy. “Ah...look pretty.” 

Louis cocks his head, his brow furrowed. I know he knows I just lied and he opens his mouth to say something, but after a second, his closes it and his brow clears. “Quite pretty, yes. And here,” he hands me the sheath Chris helped me pick out for it to celebrate how well our lessons with it had been going. 

Chris. I glance at Emma. Chris is wherever Jo and Mac are. We’ll find them, I vow. I lift the box and scabbard to Louis. “This is so thoughtful. I feel better already. Thank you, Louis.”

Again, he inclines his head. “The very least I could do, mademoiselle.”

Emma steps into Louis’ open arms and they share a tight hug. He rubs her back soothingly, murmuring to her, too. When Emma takes a step away, she blinks to keep the tears shining in her eyes from falling. His eyes move to Kate. He grasps his hands behind his back as he regards her with his head tilted, as if he needs to restrain himself from reaching for her. He’s known Emma almost as long as I’ve known him, but he’s only seen Kate once or twice. Still, when he regards her, his eyes hold the same kindness and compassion that made me tear up. “Kate, my dear. I am so very glad to see you, too.” 
Kate smiles at him. “Louis, it’s a pleasure to have you with us. I’m so glad you could make it.”

Louis purses his lips and blows. “And where else would I be, mademoiselle? I am needed here, oui?” He steps away and nods at Janelle and then Dex. His gaze lingers on Dex. “Our benefactor gives us 2 hours here.” Dex starts to say something but Louis raises a hand and stops him. A grave look darkens his face. “As you disembark, you are to leave through the door directly in front of you. A car is waiting for you and will take you anywhere you say. You may depend upon the driver’s silence.” 

My head spins as his gaze lights on each of us in turn. Why’s he acting so weird? What’s all this about? Instead of clearing things up, he continues. 

“The rest of us may exit the plane, but we are to remain inside the hangar at all times. Eyes and ears are on every inch of this property, including inside the hangar. Here inside the jet you are free to say or do whatever you desire. Out there, only get your exercise. There is to be no wandering, no attempting to open doors or look through windows.” He looks down.

 

When he looks up again his bright jovial smile is back. “There. I have delivered the dire message as I promised I would do.” He turns back to Dex who hesitates in the doorway, a calculating look on his face. “Take Janelle with you.”

Janelle starts to protest but Louis stays her with a hand. “I assure you we are in no danger here so long as we stay inside this hangar. The search will go faster with the two of you working together.”

Dex frowns at Louis. I expect him to protest her coming along, but apparently Louis ranks higher than Dex does. Instead he asks the most important question. “What happens if this takes more than 2 hours? If she’s not where I hope she is, I’m not even sure where else to look.”

Louis shrugs. “You know Beatrice better than most. You will find her if she wants to be found. The fact remains, we may need to leave without you. I have hopes of, well, it is best not to test fate. We are here as guests. Do not mistake any of this as generosity. It is a favor begrudgingly repaid. If you cannot be back here in time, I advise you not to come at all. You could endanger us all if you disobey. Get word to me. I will instruct you where to have the driver drop you off. We will come for you if and when we can.”

With a nod, Dex disappears down the stairs. Janelle hesitates. But after what I can only guess is a heated mind-to-mind exchange with Louis, she shakes her head at him in such disgust her locs dance, then follows Dex down the stairs.