Page 57 of The Night Firm

"When?"

"Right now," he says.

Dracula enters the library and pauses when he hears what we're discussing. "Lilith and I had a special bond," Dracula says, and it takes a moment for the name to register.

"Lilith?" I ask. "TheLilith?"

Dracula nods. "I was human when we met and fell in love. She, of course, was the first of our kind, created by the Night herself, when a moonbeam hit a rare black rose at just the right moment, and that rose turned into a beautiful woman, pale as moonlight, lips red as blood, hair black as the night herself, teeth sharp as thorns. The first vampire. And the first woman, before Eve. Adam's true love."

He has us spellbound with his words, with his voice, so hypnotic and melodious. "But Adam betrayed her, and she left him in the garden alone while she roamed the earth in search of others like herself. When she found none, and as humans began to populate the world, she realized she would have to turn them herself, to create her own family. And so she did. First Able, when he was left for dead by his jealous brother. They were lovers for many centuries. Then many after. Until me. But alas, we wanted different things in life. I wanted children, and so we divorced, and I met Mary and gave her what was left of my cold, undead heart."

So Lilith is the mother of all vampires. And I'm about to meet her.

* * *

Once the decisionis made to visit Lilith, we don't waste any time. Derek and I climb into the carriage and Lily gets us underway without a moment to lose.

I stare out the window as we leave the lowlands behind and climb high into the mountains to the east. The road is narrow, with a staggeringly steep cliff falling away to one side as we make our way into the dark peaks ahead of us, and I'm suddenly thankful that our trusted steeds have an extra pair of legs each to keep their footing secure as Lily drives them onward.

After what feels like forever–at least to my height-addled nerves–we pass through a narrow canyon and emerge into a wind-swept valley high in the mountains. A Mediterranean-style villa sprawls across the lawn ahead of us, lights beckoning from its windows like a thousand sparkling fires. Dozens of servants work the grounds, tending to roses and lavender, trimming shrubbery into the shapes of dragons and horses. The tail end of a dark coat catches my eye, then disappears instantly behind a pillar of white stone. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re being watched. Our movements accounted for. After all, a manor like this must have security.

Lily stops the carriage in front of a grand red door, and soon Derek and I are seated in a spacious gathering room inside the main building as Lilith's servants bring us drinks. Everything is gold-crusted or rimmed or framed, and I feel a bit like I've been transported inside an Oscar statue.

Lilith herself is nothing short of divine. Her long black hair is worn in tight curls beaded with gold stretching down her back. Gold powder on her lids brings out the gold in her tiger-like eyes, and gold lipstick shines against her pale skin. Her gown is a matching gold, flowing down her slim frame like a waterfall of sunlight. To look upon her is to look upon something sacred.

"He was a terrible husband," Lilith says frankly of Dracula, to the disappointment of Derek and myself. "He had an unparalleled thirst, which is my fault, really. I knew the kind of man he was in war; the blood of his enemies flowed in his veins. I just overestimated my ability to control him. He was violent, prone to flashes of temper that required me to use compulsion on him. He could never harm me, of course, but by the gods he tried." Lilith takes a delicate sip of blood from a gold-rimmed wine goblet before continuing. "I'm convinced he killed his wife and child."

Derek sighs and looks at me. I shrug. We both know what this means. Not only is she not going to be a good witness for us, she'll be a great witness for them.

Then she grins. "Is that what you fear I'll say, when the prosecution calls me to the stand?"

Derek blinks and I narrow my eyes. She's playing with us.

"I could say that," she says, leaning back gracefully and crossing one leg over the other. "There is truth in my words. We all carry within us shades of dark and light. What fun would this drab world be without it?" She glances at my fingers. "You know, my dear, do you not? An artist, more than anyone, appreciates the shades of gray."

I glance at my fingers, but I can't see any visible charcoal smudges on them. "How—"

"You have the eyes and the hands of an artist," she says, leaning forward. She reaches for a parchment and hands it to Derek. "The Van Helsings are out for blood. They want me to say what I just told you. With as much emotion and wringing of the hands as I can muster."

I wondered when I'd see the corruption creeping in. You can't have a legal system without corruption. It's partly why I chose business over law. Both are corrupt, but at least business doesn't try to pretend it's upholding something sacred.

"What did you tell them?" I ask.

"I haven't decided," she says. "There are so many sides to the man you call Dracula. Who am I to say what's the truth?"

"What's the other side?" I ask.

She winks. "All in good time. First, tell me, what are you?" Her gaze is locked onto mine and I hold it, playing this game of wills with the oldest vampire in the world.

Lilith smiles at me like a cat playing with a mouse and she walks over, sliding up against me on the couch, draping her arm around my shoulders. "You are a curious creature, are you not?" She slides a finger down my cheek so gently I almost don't feel it, then licks her finger, closing her eyes.

"Curious. You are a tasty little mystery, aren't you, my dear? What I wouldn't give for just one true taste, to know for certain—"

Derek stands and pulls me against him, leaving Lilith on the couch alone. "That's enough. You know the rules, Lilith."

She licks her finger one more time and stands, sighing. "I wasn't going to hurt her, Derek. Not without consent. You Night brothers are all far too serious."

"However," she continues, turning to us with another mischievous smile. "I will make a deal with you. Give me a taste of your blood willingly, my dear, and I will tell the court the story of a loyal and kind man who was the love of my life. But for his desire to have children I could not give him, we would have spent eternity together. But I loved him too much to tear him from his fate of fatherhood and so I set him free. He will make a strong and yet tender father, just as he did a husband. I will have the jury and judge alike eating out of my hands. What say you?"