Page 110 of Vampire so Virtuous

Marcel inclined his head. “Of course, madam.”

Twenty-six – Antoine

“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 havea 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 othervampires 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.