Adrien had grown very still but he finally said, “We have permission to go inside.”
She had no idea what he meant, but when she shifted toward the barren land, a sight like nothing she could possibly have expected met her eyes. A several-stories-tall entrance, made of stone blocks, framed a massive cave entrance on an even taller grass-covered hill. What had appeared barren to her human eye was actually the entrance to the Trevayne system.
The beauty of the entrance stunned her, and for a long moment she couldn’t make her feet move. The stone had dozens of magnificent carvings, something that probably spoke of the history of the system as well as the vampires who’d lived here throughout the ages. But across the top of massive columns lay an enormous curved stone, settled deep into the hill and also carved.
She felt her jaw had dropped, and there it stayed. The cavern in the Himalayas had been an uncivilized hellhole, a perfect representation, from Lily’s limited point of view, of vampire society, violent and unclean.
But here, rising to such an incredible height, carved with great beauty, was something else altogether. The stones, massed together and decorated, meant civilization.
“Not what you expected?” Adrien’s words held a sharp, sarcastic edge.
“Sorry. Not even a little.”
He led her up a series of steps, but each forward movement bit at her conscience. Humans weren’t allowed in this place and for good reason: Her kind usually meant death and destruction, and here she was looking for the one thing that would destroy the few hundred vampires undoubtedly living here.
But as she moved deeper into the entrance, her eyes widened. She thought a five-star hotel couldn’t have been any grander. The several-story theme continued, the sculpted walls rising to a massive domed ceiling with more intricate carvings. A granite mosaic of a huge oak tree decorated the entire eight-foot wall to her left. Dozens of white linen-covered round tables and tall-upholstered chairs took up the main body of the room.
Straight ahead, a vampire stood at attention, meeting neither of their gazes.
To the right, a long hotel-like desk, though unmanned, flanked the wall. From the same direction, a tall, lean vampire with large eyes and his dark hair cut businessman-short moved in her direction, his lips pinched tightly together.
“Well met, Adrien.”
“And you, Alfonse. May I present Lily Haven.”
Alfonse turned his piercing gaze on Lily. He didn’t smile and she didn’t offer her hand. “We don’t usually receive humans here, madame. But you probably already know that.”
“I do.”
He then shifted his attention to Adrien. “Sebastien gave specific instructions that I’m to take you directly to the vault. Our people have retired, at my request. I’m not happy about this, on any level, but Sebastien indicated that a difficult situation has arisen and he trusts you. I do as well, but if you could see to your business then leave, I’d offer any favor in return that I could.”
Bribing Adrien to get rid of them?
“You know about the imprisonment of me and my brothers.”
Alfonse shook his head, and his frown deepened. “We’re unsettled by these events and by rumors that Daniel has been stripping some of our most powerful leaders of their businesses, selling them to humans.”
“I wish I could tell you differently.”
“Doesn’t Daniel understand that if our wealth departs, so does the ability to feed those in each system? We’ll be forced out into the open. That can’t be his plan.”
Adrien’s voice grew quieter. “I’ve never understood his mind.”
Alfonse clapped him on the shoulder. “Of course not. No one can understand the thinking of a madman.” He glanced at Lily. “I’ll show you to the vault.”
A woman’s voice sounded to Lily’s right. “Now, is that any way to treat guests that Sebastien has sent to us, my dear? I insist they receive refreshment, and if you continue to stand there like a statue and scowl at our human visitor, she will no doubt make a report that will do none of us any good.”
Lily found herself swept away by the woman, who took her arm, introduced herself as Giselle, and drew her back down the way she’d come. She felt the tug on her chain, which quickly relaxed since Adrien moved to catch up.
“Giselle, we can’t stay for your hospitality,” Adrien said. “Time is critical.”
“So I understand, but you haven’t seen how my grandson has grown. You’ve been a favorite of his since birth and he’s missed you.”
Lily’s astonishment grew. Grandson? Which meant children. So there were vampire children here.
Her gaze took in the walls as Giselle led her away from the entrance. They appeared to be decorated with some kind of elegant polished quartz, and went on and on, for at least an eighth of a mile, with many offshoots of more halls, or tunnels, more carvings and more crystals, more beauty and civilization.
This wasn’t a cavern system, this was a palace.
After a series of descending steps, taking them deeper into the earth, the hall opened up into another vast underground cavern, also carved and gleaming with a soft light from several oil lamps. Her vision adjusted, so that once more she saw the space in a soft glow. She also felt the flow of warm air, fresh air. “You have electricity.”
“Some, and as carefully hidden as possible.”
Lily turned in a circle. “This is a magnificent room.”
“And Alfonse works hard in his business so that we, and all the families living in our system, can maintain the necessary repairs. We’re constantly battling the effects of water, and of course the moment a stalagmite appears, I’m calling in a work crew.” She laughed as she spoke.
Giselle had long black hair with a straight line of bangs. Her skin was very pale. Her clothes were casual enough, but she looked stunning in a pair of black tailored pants and a soft, clinging purple top. She wore thick silver bands on her wrist and a matching piece around her neck.
She led Lily to an elevated living area on which were grouped red velvet sofas and chairs. Beneath the furniture lay an enormous carpet.
“Please, sit down. My husband is glaring at me but I insisted on inviting you to our private quarters.” She had wine waiting and goblets.
When she offered, Lily accepted because to do anything else seemed wrong. But Giselle had knocked her off-stride. She’d had one opinion of vampires, and little about Adrien’s powerful presence and temper had altered that.