"They offered much money," Hartolz growled. "And a place as a priest afterward. They promised me blood and frequent sacrifices."
"Hartolz, I see that your last prison stay did nothing toward your rehabilitation," Gabron said, sitting down. "Does anyone else wish to ask questions? There were no questions from the Council and without realizing, I had my hand in the air.
"We will strike the prisoner's testimony from the record past this point," Gabron said. "Lissa, come forward and ask your questions."
I looked at the seats surrounding me. The aisle was far away and I'd have to walk around and disturb quite a few vampires to get where I wanted to go. Well, what the hell? I misted to the round stage, disappearing from point A and appearing at point B. That caused a few gasps in the crowd.
"What do you know of the ritual that is coming in three weeks?" I asked Hartolz.
Hartolz's eyes widened when he saw me, and then he blinked several times in astonishment. "Answer the question," Gabron commanded, compulsion heavy in his voice.
"Many sacrifices, on public communication," Hartolz replied, "so there will be no doubt as to who is truly lord of Refizan. I was not given information on exactly how it would be done, but the high priest was quite satisfied over the whole thing."
"Will this ritual take place during the day or at night?" I asked.
"In the evening. I was promised at least one of the sacrifices to show the people how great and powerful the priests are."
"Really?" I had nothing but contempt for this guy. I was close enough to smell the taint on him. He'd been hanging out with Solar Red too long. If werewolves could get a taste for killing, the vamps could get it, too. Hartolz had it bad. "How long have you been associated with Solar Red?"
"Six months," Hartolz replied.
"When were you captured?"
"Two days ago. I was sent out to investigate the disappearances of priests sent to pick up sacrifices from down the river. That's how I was apprehended." I wanted to snicker at his words but held it back.
"And did you find any evidence of the missing priests before you were taken?" I schooled my face toward non-expression.
"Some sailors on a nearby boat swore they saw the van with the priests inside it disappear."
"Did they, now?" I crossed arms over my chest. "Did you pass this information to Solar Red?"
"No. I was captured before I could contact them."
"Gee, that's too bad," I muttered sarcastically. "Did you ever get to see the god?"
"No. The high priest said that he did not want to lose my services."
"Yeah. I can understand that," I said. I wondered what vampire would taste like if the god gulped one down.
"I have never seen a female vampire," Hartolz spoke out of turn. He was around three hundred; I got a good whiff of his age.
"It's not likely you'll see another, either," I said. "I have no other questions. Thank you for your indulgence," I dipped my head respectfully to the Council and misted back to my seat.
"Very well," Gabron said, not even blinking at my disappearance. "We will take the vote, now." The votes racked up on the screen—all of them guilty. I wondered how they were going to do this. I had mixed feelings when a section of the stone floor slid aside before the Council's table. Bright reflections of fire shimmered against rock walls as the circular stone cover rolled back. Cuffs were removed from Hartolz's wrists, compulsion was laid for him not to resist and he was shoved into the hole. The cover slid over the chasm quickly. I could hear a few screams before they were terminated suddenly. Well, thatwas different.
"Is there further business to be brought before the Blood Council?" One of the two assistants came forward and addressed the crowd.
"We wish to speak with the Queen." Two vampires stood in the back.
"You must address the Queen yourself, we do not command her," Gabron said. "It is my understanding that she is merely visiting. Do not offend her."
"I want to invite her to my home," one of the two said. They were far enough behind me that I was having difficulty making out their features. Their words brought on a spate of hisses.
"Lissa, do you wish to respond?" Gabron asked. I really didn't—what was this guy planning? Dinner and a movie?
"I am quite busy," I said. "What are your reasons for inviting me?" I squinted, trying to see him better, but he was hidden behind a crowd of other vamps.
"Just to talk," the vampire said. More hisses followed that answer.
"I'm sorry; I really don't have the time. Perhaps we will talk someday." I turned in my seat to face the Council again.
"Briden, will you escort Lissa to the stage?" Gabron was taking charge, now. "The meeting is dismissed."
"I'll get us down there," I said, as vampires started moving all around us.
"How--?" Briden's voice was cut off as I misted him to the dais where the Council members now stood.
Gabron and the two vampires who'd escorted the prisoner came to stand next to Briden and me. "We will go out the other way," Gabron said quietly, motioning the two guards to follow behind us. They herded me off the stage and through a side door that closed as soon as we got through it—the rest of the Council were already inside the antechamber.
"Lissa, tell me again that you are not a Queen," Gabron hissed.
"I never said I wasn't, I just said you didn't know that," I reminded him grumpily.
"I have never heard of any vampire doing what you just did," another Council member was staring at me. Briden hadn't spoken at all; I think he was still in shock.
"And you probably won't hear of it again," I said. "Are we done?" I studied Gabron's face. Not a muscle twitched.
"I would attempt compulsion, just to keep you here for a while so I might ask questions, but somehow I get the idea that it would have no effect," Gabron replied.
"What questions do you have?" I didn't know if I wanted to hear them or not.
"Please, come this way," one of the assistants was there at my elbow and Gabron was already moving ahead of us, along with the rest of the Council.
* * *
"This is blood, mixed with wine," A glass was offered to me. We were still far below ground level but in comfortable quarters; it was someone's home and we were inside a spacious library. Shelves lined the cavern's walls, with sofas and chairs placed throughout. Low tables were scattered here and there, generally in front of the sofas.