Page 16

He braked before the gate to the maroon building, where the crimson words “House of Vampires” stood out above the frame of the twin doors.

5

“Go on,” Prince Louis said with a wicked smirk. “That’s the house I rule. You’ll live there as a member of my household.”

The gated stone building in the center of a lush lawn occupied half of the street, a narrow high window in each room designed to admit minimal sunlight.

Everyone knew that the sun weakened vampires.

Vampires hung around the splendid building, many of them wearing students’ uniforms. We’d passed a few who were patrolling the perimeter and moved like fast shadows. A human eye wouldn’t spot them, but I wasn’t exactly a human.

I could detect all supernaturals just fine.

The vampires in sight bowed to their prince before sliding their attention to me. As Louis purred his encouragement and urged me on, his underlings flashed mean smiles, as if they all expected me to fail big time and be tonight’s entertainment.

I squinted, studying the house, and saw why the vamps thought I’d fall on my ass.

The building was heavily warded. The vampires didn’t take their security lightly. Other than wards and spells, I could sense that the magical house was also sentient. It wouldn’t accept an outsider. It’d do more than spit out an intruder, as it was the bloodsuckers’ first defense.

Not being given a list of the house rules, I had no way of knowing how the magical vampire house would decide whether to admit someone. But I understood magic, and no spells and wards could stop me.

The gathering vampires, including their prince, waited eagerly for me to make a big fool of myself and to get a good laugh. They hadn’t a clue what I could do.

“You’re the prince, sir.” I glanced at Louis and insisted, “You go first.”

He chuckled, not missing the sly calculation in my eyes. The gate slid open for him automatically, and he strode through like he owned the land. I followed him gingerly, not meeting any trouble yet. The vampires’ smirks didn’t drop, which meant shit was coming.

We crossed the lawn. I liked the soft grass under my bare feet, and the wind sent a sweet, flowery scent from the cherry trees that adorned the landscape. As we reached the bloodstone stairs, the transparent metal doors swung open for the vampire prince, magic greeting him. He strolled in, very much at home.

I halted by the doors, tilting my head and regarding the red sheen of light over the doorway. I doubted that even the vampire prince could see the color of magic as I did.

Louis turned, wiggling a finger to beckon me forward.

“Come, little Bob,” he said. There was an undertone of menace in his invitation. “We don’t have the whole day, do we?”

Even though we’d struck a verbal deal, I was still an outsider in the vampire world. I knew that; the prince knew it too. There must be a ritual to initiate me into the house, but he wasn’t doing it. The prince wanted to punish me for my bold bargain with him and intended to let his magic house put me in my place.

I’d once seen a local Chicago witch coven’s magical house repulse and drive away humans, and when anyone still insisted on entering the house, it’d maim them. If the invaders carried on with sinister intent, the house would kill them.

Magical houses were all territorial.

“Chop-chop, little Bob,” Louis called impatiently. “What are you waiting for?”

“Just taking a moment to enjoy the view and smell the cherry blossoms, sir,” I said and jogged through the doors that stood open deceptively while the prince stood behind them.

No resistance. No rejection. It was as if I were a ghost. And then I was on the other side of the door, joining the prince.

A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes before he frowned, then smirked again. He’d gotten his money’s worth, as I’d proven to be more than met the eye. I hoped that he wouldn’t get a bad, bold idea by sending me to do his dirty work or spy on his rivals, since if I could enter his house without being initiated, I could just as easily get into other houses.

The vampires around widened their eyes in surprise. Their grins dropped.

The interior appeared even more splendid than the exterior. The hall looked like a five-star hotel, yet more luxurious. The color tones were creamy white and soft gray. Large round columns in the lounge served as decoration while providing security coverage.

If enemies breached their house, the vampires could hide behind the columns while regrouping to take down their foes.

My gaze swept across the hall. An older vampire was playing a piano solo in the north corner. Two beautiful vampire women armed to their teeth stood behind an upscale front desk. A few vampires perched on the gray sofa under chandeliers, chatting quietly and sipping blood from glasses. The male vampires were dressed in suits and the women in gowns.

Every eye turned to their prince before snagging hungrily on me. They could smell my blood, which always smelled damn good to monsters. Sy bolted up, on high alert. As fatigued as we were, we’d have a hard time fighting off a horde of vampires if they all came at me at once.