Page 30 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"We meet again," the mysterious man says, amusement dancing over a face that's much more handsome when it's not dark and he's not drunk.

"Hopefully with less wine involved this time."

He chuckles. "I don't find it necessary to drink to deal with the horrors of the library."

"Are there any horrors here?"

"For books, I believe the room where they restore old manuscripts seems somewhat like a torture chamber," he replies.

"Then I believe it's a good thing I'm not a book. Or old."

"Likewise." The way he says the word does funny things to me.

I clear my throat and step back. "I'm sorry for running into you."

"Should I be worried that you're trying to get in my way?"

"Considering I don't even know your name, it would be a strange thing for me to be trying to do," I counter.

He chuckles. "Fair point. I'm Linc." He holds out his hand.

"Beatrice," I respond as I take it.

His hand is warm and welcoming, and there's something about his touch that almost makes me want to linger, even though I know I shouldn't.

He drops the connection, only causing disappointment within me. "What brings you to the library?"

"I want to know more about vampire politics," I admit, not seeing any harm in it.

"Ah, a worthy topic."

"In all honesty, I don't really know where to start. I thought that when I arrived here, it would be obvious."

"Normally it is," he responds, pointing to a few blank spaces on the back wall. "That's where the blood charts normally hang."

"Where are they now?"

"They've been taken to be updated. When they return, you'll be able to find yourself on them. It happens after every Golden Moon. The newly turned must be added, and those no longer with us must be removed. You can learn a lot from them."

"Though not if they aren't here," I say.

"They'll be back by the next full moon. They'll be waiting until the coming betrothals have been announced," he says. "There are always a lot of them after the Golden Moon. New heirs in need of wives, new daughters in need of husbands."

A horrible feeling settles in my stomach. I'm one of those daughters, and somehow I'm not convinced that Bastian is telling me the truth about what he agreed I'd do in order to come here.

"So, without the blood charts, where should I start on vampire politics?"

"It's a broad topic," he says. "What part of it do you want to know?"

Anything that's going to help me stay alive or find a cure. I don't think either of those answers are wise to say out loud to a virtual stranger.

"What do you think is the best place to start?" I ask instead.

Surprise flits across his face. "I suppose a brief overview of the history of the major families. Potentially the royal family."

"Where will I find that information?"

"How about I show you instead? I can help fill in any of the gaps," Linc suggests.