Another uncomfortable thought. With every year spent in immortality, vampires grew more distant from the human theyonce were. They didn’t have much of a choice, not with them having to inflict pain to sustain themselves. At some point, the humans they fed on turned into simple sustenance and entertainment rather than people. It could make them cruel.
By the shining, unblinking black stare the vampire gave her when she entered his cell, she suspected he’d embraced that cruelty quicker than most.
“Oh. There you are.” The vampire grinned at her, showing a cracked fang. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come. That would have been very unfortunate.”
Natalya eyed the vampire. He was thin and handsome, though his body was bloody. He was seated on a steel chair, and he wasn't restrained beyond a set of silver cuffs around his wrists. They weren’t even necessary. His legs were a silver-produced mess of torn flesh and splintered bones. He couldn’t walk, and he was clearly in pain. It made his smile look a bit mad.
“It’s not common to find Night vampires this far into Chains territory,” Natalya said. “Even less one who requests to speak with one of its rulers. You assaulted a patrol team. That doesn’t make me feel very talkative.”
“They interrupted,” the vampire said, spitting blood on the floor. “And we weren’t ready for the Chains to put up so much of a fight. That meant we had to make a change of plans.”
“From what?” Natalya was rapidly losing her patience. Maybe this vampire had just wanted to waste her time. “You just admitted you were here with a plan. One that wasinterrupted. Out with it.”
The vampire tried to look innocent. His black, wicked eyes meant it wasn’t possible.
“All the King wanted was the corpse of his spawn.” He widened his eyes in mock sincerity. “He told you as much. I know he did. He would have backed off had you just done that. But you robbed him of his ability to grieve his progeny. It could almostbe considered a provocation. A risky thing to do when you have something of his.”
Natalya mirrored hisinnocentexpression, brushing a finger over his skin. He cringed away from her touch and the agony it produced.
“She no longer belongs to yourKing,” Natalya said, voice icy. “She’s been freed, and you sneaking into Chains territory will not change that fact. No one can move on the high-rise.”
“Maybe not.” The vampire chuckled cruelly. “But we got pretty close, huh?”
He really was just there to provoke her. He’d said he wanted to talk only so he could rattle her with wheedling words. Taunt her by reminding her that Evie wasn’t safe.
Natalya focused again. Evie was still sleeping. A trace of fear tainted her rest.
“No matter how many fangers he sends, it will never be enough.” Natalya eyed his bloody legs with a scoff. “Chains can be quite efficient as ruinating weapons. And aweaponisn’t great at engaging in useless small talk.”
She turned away, making for the door. She had better things to do than listen to the provocations of a captured Night vampire.
“I have information for you,” he said loudly. “From my King. It’s the kind you’d probably be very interested in.”
Natalya ignored him. She opened the cell door, stepping across the threshold.
“Do you know how my King treats his slaves?” the vampire shouted.
Natalya stopped. She stilled in the open door, fingers tightening around the handle to the point where it dented the metal. She stood still for long enough that the vampire started laughing. When she turned to face him, he grinned at her madly.
“They are well-trained,” the vampire continued. “The slaves, I mean. Very polite. Very good atservice, of all kinds. After they’rebroken, of course. That usually happens quite quickly at his estate. He uses them hard, does King Varro.”
The vampire kept smiling as a faint red light spilled over the room. Natalya’s eyes had flared scarlet.
“Guests are encouraged to make them scream,” he said, delight making his black eyes look evil. “Humans have such pretty screams. They go so high. Can last so long. Especially those coming from pretty girls with green eyes.”
Natalya crossed the room so fast the movement was a blur. She grabbed the vampire by the throat, producing such searing pain he would have screamed had her hand not squeezed him so hard it stole his voice.
“Silence,” she snarled, her teeth growing into needles. “You don’t speak of her.”
“Why… not?” the vampire said. The words came out broken. Butsomocking. “Are you not… curious? Varro… wants you… to know.”
Natalya lessened the pain and strength of her grip enough that the vampire could speak without hindrance.
“Why? Just to show me how vicious he is? I already know the Heartlands harbor nothing but snakes.”
“She was reserved for him,” the vampire said, ignoring her question and grinning with wild glee. “Varro didn’t want to share the little Seraphic. He kept her all to himself, only lending her to his most valued subjects and guests. Such as yourself, demonwhore. The rumors within your Court have spread all the way to Night, if you weren’t aware. It seems my King isn’t the only one who likes the taste of an angel.”
Natalya squeezed the vampire again. Crimson light spilled over his face. “Donotmention her.”
