Page 39 of Vampire so Virtuous (Boston Vampires #1)

“This is an illustrious gathering,” Antoine said, barely above a whisper, just loud enough for Gabriel to catch.

Gabe laughed lightly.

They stood in a large hall of a house in Weston, about fifteen miles from downtown Boston.

What it lacked in gothic styling and gargoyles on the roof, it made up for in size, modern architecture, and privacy.

Secluded far from other properties, the grounds were patrolled by a small army of thralls, with more loitering discreetly outside the doors.

An open-plan space stretched before them, its central area marked by four pillars.

Sofas and armchairs ringed the focal point—a central dining table on a raised step, its seats vacant.

The vampires of Boston waited, alone or in small groups, for the Curia had not yet emerged.

Antoine recognized every face in the room—after all, it was hard to live in the same city for decades and not be aware of one another.

Some he had met through past interactions, both friendly and not, while others he had encountered only occasionally or knew primarily by reputation.

There were four vampires from the territories directly north of the river, the only notable absence being Roberto, whose house this was.

He was likely with the Curia, playing host. He was the oldest of the Boston vampires, and one Antoine kept his distance from.

A dozen more held periphery territories—Melrose, Winchester, Lexington and so on.

Minh was there too, of course, studiously ignoring both Antoine and Gabriel. Antoine glanced at him, wondering why he’d been so quiet the past week.

Minh wasn’t alone. Two vampires stood near him—Tobias, who held Dedham, and Nico, whose territory, Milton, lay south of Gabriel’s. Both were older and more powerful than Minh, yet surprisingly, they looked to him with a hint of deference.

“Looks like we’re not the only ones who have formed a recent alliance,” Antoine muttered.

Gabe had noticed too. “That little gathering makes me glad I didn’t have a chance to put a move on Minh.” He spoke even more quietly, barely words on a breath, making every effort to keep their conversation private when every vampire present had phenomenal hearing.

“Yeah. And they’re all smiles, aren’t they?”

“They seem to be rather focused on you.”

“Why do I get the impression this is related to what we’re going to discuss tonight?”

Gabe gave a short laugh. “Because you’re not stupid, I guess.”

Matteo, from Newton directly to Antoine’s west, brushed past him and joined Minh’s huddle. He said something, and the others glanced over at Antoine.

“It seems your new power levels are no longer a secret, my friend,” Gabe murmured.

Antoine gave no reply; it had been unavoidable. Not all vampires had the ability to sense power—he didn’t—but enough here could. With any luck, it might give Minh and his new alliance pause.

“On your left, too. Lena and Valeria hovering around Anastasia like bees around their queen.”

Antoine didn’t bother to look. “Almost as if the arrival of the Curia has made some uneasy,” he said dryly.

“I wonder which Curia members are here.”

“We’ll find out, soon enough.”

“And why there is a member of the European Curia, too.”

“Because that is exactly what we needed?”

Gabe gave a dry chuckle.

“Good evening, and welcome to my home.” The voice came from above, and Antoine looked up to see Roberto’s bulk on a balcony. It was a convenient place from which to address all present, if a little melodramatic. “Uphold our traditions, and keep my domain tranquil.”

“Your trust is met with solemn commitment,” Antoine replied, the response echoed by all those present.

Roberto turned away, then descended the stone staircase.

Antoine had seen him only once before, and he hadn’t lost any weight.

He was the only corpulent vampire Antoine had ever known, and he wondered how he managed it on a diet of only blood.

But there was muscle beneath the fat; his phenomenal strength was well-known.

The switchback staircase, largely obscured by the walls of the living area, forced Antoine to take a few steps to see those following him.

Gabriel moved too, though most of the other vampires remained where they were.

Curiosity is not our strong suit , Antoine thought, observing their ambivalence.

Why would it be, with patience enforced upon us?

Roberto led the Curia down the stairs and into the hall, his large bulk blocking Antoine’s view, offering only glimpses of three men and a woman.

The first man was an unremarkable figure wearing a tailored suit, but appearances meant little at these power levels.

The second wore a leather jacket and leather jeans, over a shirt that looked suspiciously like it might also be leather.

As Roberto descended the steps and walked into the hall, Antoine was at last able to see those behind.

And there was Belle.

It was as if she knew he would be there.

Her eyes found his as soon as a clear path across the room opened, her lips curling into a smirk.

She looked just as he remembered, though her dress was no longer the height of fashion for eighteenth-century France.

Still black and lacy, though. He realized he’d frozen in surprise and forced himself to relax.

“Apparently, they’ve arranged some kind of exchange program with the Europeans, as if it were all a jolly old school trip,” Gabriel had said.

I should’ve guessed it would be her.

She hadn’t been a member of the Curia when he’d left France, and maybe that had blinded him. But too much time had passed, and Belle had always enjoyed power.

“For those who don’t know,” Roberto said, walking into the room, “this is Leonard,”—he waved one large arm to the slim man in the suit—“Raphael”—the one dressed in more leather than even Antoine would consider—“Jorge”—a tall, swarthy man—“and, from Europe, Belle.”

There were no welcoming smiles. Instead, eyes narrowed, and jaws tightened. An uneasy stillness.

Roberto led them to the table. Leonard took the seat at the head, with the other Curia members and Roberto flanking him. Some of the other vampires sat as well, but there were not enough seats for all. Antoine leaned against the wall nearby, trying not to stare at Belle.

Leonard took in the room, briefly meeting the eyes of everyone present. “Thank you for coming.” As if we had much choice . “The Curia is touring the major cities, ensuring the stability of vampire territories.” He rested his hand on the table, his fingers lightly curled against the wood.

He paused as the other Curia members watched the room, gauging responses. ‘We’ve decided there are too many vampires in America. From this point forward, we’re relaxing the rules of conflict within the Code. ”

There was an intake of breath from many of those gathered, and Antoine fought to keep his face impassive. They’ve just declared a no-holds-barred free-for-all .

“The primary mandate remains: we stay in the shadows. Beyond that, the strong shall survive, and the weak culled.”

He leaned back in his chair, his message delivered.

Anastasia leaned forward, having taken a chair, as was her right for holding one of the larger territories north of the river.

“An interesting proposition, my lord. A question, if I may?” She waited for Leonard’s nod.

“The Code allows for subverting territories through economic and political means, or through direct conflict. Resolution by submission, not death. Is the intent to remain within these principles but allow combat to the death?”

Leonard smiled coldly. “We want to encourage… consolidation.”

“Yes, my lord.” She leaned back, her face impassive.

Gabriel cleared his throat softly, and Leonard looked at him expectantly.

“It occurs to me, my lord, that a consolidation of territories and the culling of the weak—while very practical policies—are rather… at odds with remaining in the shadows. What steps will the Curia take to mitigate our exposure?”

“The Curia trusts that you will all take appropriate measures to keep this from becoming a concern.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Or, in other words, that’s a firm, ‘Do what you want, we don’t give a shit.’

The message was clear: the Curia was setting them against one another and wasn’t planning to stick around to referee.

Minh spoke up from where he stood on the far side of the table.

“It is a time for change. For too long, we have been stagnant, growing complacent and lazy, while the world around us has transformed. Chattel have achieved more in the past five decades than in nearly their entire history combined. If we don’t innovate, we risk being left behind.

Worse, we risk exposure. Conflict drives innovation. ”

Suck up .

Leonard didn’t react, but Roberto, to his left, spoke up. “Exactly that, Minh.” He snorted, the sound dismissive. “Finally, someone willing to say it.”

Gabe broke his impassivity to glance at Antoine, akin to an eyeroll under the circumstances.

Antoine briefly flicked one eyebrow up in wry acknowledgement.

Minh’s little gathering made a lot more sense now, and it was clear who their target was.

How they’d learned of the Curia’s decree in advance was a troubling question.

“While we are on the subject of change,” Leonard said, “I’m sure all here will welcome the news that Roberto has ascended to a seat on the Curia.”

This revelation caused little stir. Vampires were not prone to compersion, and there was no risk of a spontaneous round of applause.

On the other hand, jealousy and avarice ran deep, and a few eyes subtly narrowed at the news.

It did, however, elevate Roberto above the level of the conflicts the Curia had just invited—not that he had ever been at much risk, given his power and age.

Roberto held the largest thrall army of any vampire Antoine knew, with some hundred or more under his control.

“And finally,” Leonard continued, “we welcome Belle d’Aubigny.” He bowed his head, a gesture that placed her status firmly above his. Was she really so powerful? “The European Curia has chosen to take a more active position in respect to North American affairs. My lady?”

“Thank you, Leonard.” She gave the assembly one of her smiles, using her beauty to its full advantage.

“The European Curia recognizes the growth here in America, and we have all profited through investments or businesses. Many of you were once European yourselves, your age and power a testament to the strength of vampires.” Traces of her French origins still lingered in her accent, but her English was flawless.

“But with growth comes risk, and power breeds laxity. In recent years, the American people have been less inclined to question than many other nations, and their docile subservience had aided our cause. Yet even that is changing, and a resentful people question more. There have been… issues in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.” She inclined her head for emphasis.

“We have therefore decided that this change is necessary.”

A thoughtful silence descended, then Leonard tapped the table twice.

“Thank you, my lady. That concludes the formal part of tonight’s gathering.

No doubt some of you may wish to linger and catch up with old friends”—his lips pressed thin into a line that could hardly be deemed a smile—“while others may prefer to leave and consider what we have discussed in solitude.” A beat of silence, then: “Stay in the shadows.”

The assembly began to break up. Some vampires went straight for the door, while Minh and those in his alliance headed for a far corner of the room.

Belle rose from the table, glancing his way, but Leonard engaged her in conversation.

“I think that’s my cue,” Antoine said to Gabe. “I’ll leave you to do the mingling—you’re much better at it than I am.”

“Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to practice those skills.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” Antoine said. “I’m feeling the urge to recruit more thralls.”

“Very well.” He clasped Antoine’s arm. “Stay in the shadows.”

“You too.”