"How much of her blood remains?" Xenides asked, causing Rafael to start and grip his cell phone tightly.
"Only five vials," Rafael admitted reluctantly.
"Then do not use any more for frivolous activities. I will see that you have a credit card to use quickly. No more robberies. You may be detected, and we cannot risk this. And I want two vials of her blood sent to me. Make sure it is packed safely and securely."
"Of course. The package will be sent tomorrow, sire," Rafael felt chastened. "We have enough money to feed the humans and enough blood to feed us. It is fortunate the older human had an apartment that does not appear on any of his records," Rafael smiled. "We are staying there until our mission is complete."
"Remember, if you see the little female, place compulsion immediately to do only as you instruct. I will come to retrieve her as quickly as I can."
"I will, sire," Rafael said.
Chapter 10
I dreamed of the High Demon's planet again, only this time there was a different king. The comesula was addressing him as Raoni Jaydevik. The king was handsome, with thick brown hair that curled slightly, dark eyes and a sensuous mouth. A beautiful woman with a river of platinum hair hanging down her back stood beside him.
"Glindarok, avilepha, say you will have my children when this is over," Jaydevik put his arms around the woman after the comesula left them.
"Jaydevik, if we can defeat the Ra'Ak and the rogue High Demons, I will be more than happy to have your children," the woman sighed.
I knew, though I had no idea how I knew, that she was already pregnant. Not pregnant long—perhaps a month or two—but pregnant all the same, and holding that information back from the king for some reason. And what was she saying about the Ra'Ak and rogue High Demons? That sounded like a conspiracy of some kind. Dragon told me that only the High Demons' planet survived out of all the dark worlds, because the Ra'Ak could not defeat the High Demons. Yet it seemed that some High Demons had thrown their lot in with the Ra'Ak. What had they been promised? I couldn't imagine that High Demons would ally themselves with the enemy unless they wanted something very badly.
A phrase whispered into my mind; answering my question in the dream—rule of the dark realm. Was I looking at something in the recent past or something that had yet to come into being? That question wasn't answered for me as I was shaken awake by a frowning Gavin and hauled back to our room. He grumbled softly, even as he planted kisses on my brow.
* * *
Roff woke me this time; right at ten a.m. Winkler was with him, a standard Secret Service uniform in a plastic bag slung over his shoulder.
"Rise and shine, baby. We have to get you cleaned up and ready to go before Director Bill has an aneurysm." Winkler offered a wolfish grin.
"Raona, I was upset that you left me last night," Roff grumped.
"I didn't, sir schmuck over there came and got me," I sat up on the bed, rubbing my eyes.
"Ah," Roff said, nodding slightly. He wasn't about to argue with Gavin. Most people, vampires included, wouldn't argue with Gavin if they knew what was good for them.
"This is yours," Winkler handed the dark suit and white shirt over. I showered and dressed as quickly as I could. Winkler was dressed in a nice suit and was going as a guest—go figure. His name was recognizable; I guess Vampire Queen wasn't a title one could throw about at the White House, so I was going as hired help.
"Lissa, I want you to turn to mist or whatever it is you do and scout out the place," Bill told me later while we were going through an employee entrance. The reception was being held in the Blue Room at the White House.
I saw it from above everyone's heads; some of the biggest names in computer technology were there having tea and cake with the President and the First Lady. Winkler fit right in, wouldn't you know? There wouldn't be any other vampires there; my ability to walk in daylight had been given to me by Griffin and I hadn't been able to do that when Larry Frazier took my blood. He'd never get his hands on me again—not if I had anything to say about it. The reception was a bust, as far as attacks went. The worst thing I saw was one of the guests slipping a snack into a coat pocket.
Bill was waiting for me later in a hallway near the door, after the President and First Lady had gone back to their quarters. I materialized right beside Bill. "Nothing," I told him, shaking my head.
"Yeah. It was a long shot, anyway," Bill agreed. "We still have the one at five, and the dinner at eight." I didn't get a vibe off either of those things and figured it would be unimaginative of Xenides to attack the White House again. I didn't say that to Bill, though. He had enough on his plate to worry about.
Bill and I were served a light meal in the kitchen, where Winkler found us. The second reception was held in the East Room with a handful of foreign ministers from the European Union, who also represented member nations of NATO. That was over after an hour and a half. I didn't find anything during that one, either, but I misted into every nook and cranny anyway, just to check.
Gavin, René and Tony showed up for the dinner and it was a yawner. If I hadn't been mist, I think I would have cracked my jaws yawning. My long day and lack of sleep was telling on me. Bill had two of his vampire agents squirreled into the Secret Service for night duty, along with four werewolves for day duty. I'm sure the President had been briefed.
"It's all your fault, René," I teased him on the way to the hotel. "If I show up alone, all kinds of stuff happens. You come along and we get nothing."
Gavin shook his head but René laughed. "Little rose," he said, "you and Anthony make me feel young again."
"I hope that's a good thing," I said as we crawled out of the van at the hotel.
* * *
"We know where they are staying—our informant has given this information. You will go there tomorrow afternoon and kill the one in this photograph," Alphonse handed the photograph to Larry Frazier. They had everything they needed from Frazier now; he was expendable if he died. The Admiral was still under their control; his position of importance would become an asset very soon.
Larry Frazier stared at the photograph he'd been given and felt ill.
* * *
I'd slept through the rest of the night, waking around eleven. Roff was straightening the room—he'd gone downstairs to exchange our towels for clean ones and was restocking the bathroom when I woke. Roff pulled me against him when I wandered into the bathroom and gave me a gentle kiss before letting me go. I was so attached to him now, and I think he felt the same way about me. He offered to help me bathe, but I shooed him out of the bathroom and cleaned up.