"I have been married twice," tree man declared.
"Lie," Jayd proclaimed. I was enjoying this—I'd never seen Jayd work.
"I have been married four times," tree man went on.
"Lie," Jayd said, crossing arms over his wide chest and glaring at tree man. I just hoped Jayd could keep his Thifilathi in check—if he started blowing smoke, we might all have to leave.
"I have been married six times."
"Truth."
"It really does work," tree man was obviously impressed. "And you're not worried that the vampire will use this compulsion on him?"
"No spell or compulsion works on High Demons," Jayd answered. "We were made that way. We will have the truth from any criminal."
"Ask him why he's here." I nodded toward tree man. Tree man backed up and swallowed hard. He hadn't expected things to turn in his direction.
"Why are you here?" Jayd smiled nastily. He smelled it, just as I did. The guests had to undergo rigorous screening to come to Le-Ath Veronis. The media didn't.
"I am here for the same reasons the others are," tree man pointed around him.
"Lie," Jayd pronounced. "Why are you here?"
"I don't have to answer that," tree man whined. Now all cameras were on him, including those of his crew.
"I think it would be wise if you did." Gavin was there quickly, standing before tree man. Drake and Drew were backing him up.
"I took the money—it seemed harmless enough," tree man quavered.
"Truth," Jayd said. "What money and from whom?"
"They didn't tell me, they said it was a secret society that wanted to learn about the vampires."
"Partial truth," Jayd proclaimed. "You have a guess. What is that guess?" Damn—Jayd was good at this. Well, he was nearly a million years old. He ought to be.
"I think Solar Red is reforming," the man whimpered.
"Fuck," I muttered. All the cameras turned back to me. "Detain him and ship him to the Reth Alliance," I said. Solar Red was supposed to be out of business. The Reth Alliance had outlawed them two hundred years ago, according to Gabron. Anyone having information on the sect was held for questioning. If they practiced the religion, they could be imprisoned for participating in or condoning human sacrifice. Gavin, Drake and Drew hauled the reporter from the room.
"Thank you, Jayd," I said. He gave me a regal nod and skipped away.
"This is the most exciting interview I've ever done," a reporter chortled.
We were back to business after that, with normal questions pertaining to the new gambling district. Until we arrived at a tricky area.
"Have you seen the casinos on the light side of the planet?" A female reporter asked.
"Yes," I replied, without thinking.
"You can walk in daylight?" She sounded incredulous.
"Her Larentii mates may supply a shield for her, if it is needed," Connegar replied stiffly. He wasn't lying, he could do that—he just didn't have to.
"Oh my, we have a Larentii speaking during an interview," another reporter sighed in bliss.
"You have Larentii mates?" Someone else asked.
"I have two," I said.
"These two, here?"
"Yes."
"How many mates do you have?"
"Thirteen, I think," I said. That got chuckles. Reth Alliance worlds recognized multiple mates.
"Are the other eleven vampires?"
"No. Only three are vampires," I said. "The others, well, one is Kifirin—I assume you recognize that name?" They nodded—they'd seen the tapes of my coronation, I'm sure. "Two Larentii, two Falchani, one Karathian Warlock, one High Demon, one Grey House Wizard, one Refizani and one comesula."
"Can you get us a discount with Grey House?" Someone joked.
"I don't have any influence on the pricing structure for Grey House," I said. That got another laugh. The interview was over shortly after. I shooed the reporters and their crews into the state dining room, where food and drinks would be served. I had to go, too, unfortunately; it was a reception, after all, and the crews were still filming while the rest of us mingled. Wlodek, Adam and Merrill were talking business with one reporter, who wrote for a gambling vid-magazine.
"Your husband died on the same day you were turned? These are delicious," the reporter was eating an oxberry tart. A specialty of Cheedas'.
"Yes and yes," I said. "My comesula cook loves to make those for my non-vampire residents." He made them for some of the vampire residents as well, but we weren't going to let that cat out of the bag.
"Raona, Reemagar said you were thirsty before he left." Roff was at my side, handing me a bottle of blood substitute. I took it and smiled at him. He leaned down to give me a quick peck. Well, that was going to be plastered all over the news immediately.
"How does that taste?" The reporter asked, curious.
"Like blood," I said. "It's the best substitute I've ever had." I drank from my bottle. Also something that would be plastered on the news.
"May I try some?" Well, he was an adventurous soul. I nodded to Roff, who motioned for someone to bring another bottle. These were room temperature—better if you liked blood. Worse if you didn't.
"Yes, it tastes the same as when I cut myself," the reporter grimaced and handed the bottle back to the comesula waiter.
"Thanks," I told the comesula. He smiled at me and took the bottle away.
"These are the next wave of vampires?" The reporter meant the comesuli.
"Yes. They normally live a life span of six hundred years, barring accidents. If they are worthy when they are dying, the turn is attempted. Not all will be turned."
"Have any been turned since Le-Ath Veronis became inhabited again?"
"Not yet, but we are watching some of the older ones closely. When the time comes, we will act." I drank more of my blood substitute. I thought briefly about calling it BS before reconsidering.
"If they don't want the turn?"
"We will honor their wishes." That was a flat and final answer.
"What about humanoids wanting the turn?"
"Highly unlikely, at this point. I won't say impossible, because very little is impossible. I will not entertain applications for vampirism. Those will be returned unopened," I replied. "Female humanoid vampires are very rare. The mere attempt at turning a female humanoid almost always results in her death. It is suicide to attempt it."