Page 87 of Inhuman Nature

“Where have you been living all this time, Kit?” she asked.

“I’ve stayed out of any major cities. Remote islands or places in the Highlands, most often.” The respondent, Kit, had a faint Scottish accent, if Shaun wasn’t mistaken.

Lynette hummed. “All places that don’t have a territory leader close by?”

There was no further response. The door to the room was thrown open, light from the hallway streaming in. Shaun covered his eyes as they adjusted.

“You said you had him locked up, but was a cage necessary?” That was Kit again, his formerly polite tone now tinged with irritation. Shaun uncovered his eyes to get a look at his potential defender.

Kit wasn’t much taller than Lynette, of a similar height to Shaun, with black hair and thick-framed glasses. It struck Shaun as odd that he was wearing them, as he was mostdefinitely a vampire, so wouldn’t have any need for them. A fashion statement, then.

“He broke the rules. This is what happens to those that go against Lynette,” Boris said. He and Steve hovered around, orbiting Lynette as usual.

“And as I told you all when I arrived last night, there is no doubt in my mind that he’s innocent,” Kit said.

“Let him out of there,” Lynette said.

As Boris unlocked the cramped cage, Shaun stayed wary. He clambered out and stretched his limbs, gaze darting between Lynette and Kit.

“Are you familiar with one another?” Lynette asked.

“No,” Shaun responded.

“I’m Kit. One of Lawrence’s other creations. From before you, of course,” Kit said.

Shaun did a double take. “You’reChristopher?”

“Oh, he spoke of me. How awful.” Kit sighed. “He never did deign to call me by the correct name.”

“Lawrence told me you were gone.” Shaun shifted his attention to Lynette. “Permanently. Lawrence made it sound like he was the one who did it. Warned me I’d be in for the same fate if I turned against him.”

“How did you spend so long with him,” Kit said, “without realising that he’s a compulsive liar?”

Shaun couldn’t help but be offended. “Of course he lies. But I had no reason to believe that your fate was one of them.”

Kit raised a brow. “Fair, I suppose.” He and Shaun shared a weighty look, something unsaid passing between them. Maybe it was some sense of brotherhood, of that common thread tying them to Lawrence. Or perhaps it was somethingdeeper: a mutual understanding of the scars left in his wake.

“Kit, you claim you have some evidence that may sway us into believing Shaun’s version of events?” Lynette said, breaking the moment.

“You do?” Shaun asked, trying not to sound pathetically optimistic.

Kit smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I do.” He turned to Lynette. “Contact the vampire who runs Plymouth and ask him about Lawrence. We were there in the early nineties. He’ll tell you what kind of vampire Lawrence is, and what he’s capable of.”

Lynette narrowed her eyes. “Weston never said that he had lived in Plymouth when we carried out the vetting process.”

Kit gave an insouciant shrug of one shoulder. “I believe you ought to refine your vetting process, then. Do you have the contact? It was a lifetime ago for me and we weren’t there long, so I’ve long forgotten the name.”

“Of course I have the contact,” Lynette snapped. She held out her hand to Boris, who took a phone from his pocket and handed it to her. Shaun supposed there wasn’t much space for pockets on the outfits Lynette favoured.

She scrolled for a while before looking up at them both. “Richard has been leading the Plymouth vampires since the fifties. I’ll ask the questions, but I’ll put it on speakerphone.”

It wasn’t necessary, given their hearing, but it would make it easier. Shaun nodded, whilst Kit just stood there, unruffled.

Lynette made the call, the phone sitting flat in her palm. It rang three times, and then a gruff voice spoke. “Lynette? What’s it been, a decade?”

“Twelve years, Richard,” Lynette replied. “And so you’reaware, we’ve got an audience in the room. All people I trust enough to listen to the answers you can give me, but nothing more.”

“Well, in that case, shall we get down to business? What do you need?” Richard didn’t sound annoyed, just pragmatic.