"We don't have long," Lowen said in his squeaky voice. "Your friend wanted us to give you this."
He held out a note that had been folded until it was roughly the size of a finger and nearly as tall as him. I took it and stuffed it in my pocket. Just in time too, as Nathan stuck his head in the bathroom, his expression annoyed.
"You about ready?" he asked.
I grabbed the toothpaste from next to Lowen. "Yup. Think this should do it."
Lowen grinned at me and gave me a thumbs-up. I gave him a small smile in return, shutting the medicine cabinet door, but leaving it ajar so he could escape. He probably had his own way in and out, but in case he didn't, I didn't want to leave him trapped in there until I returned.
"I don't know how you deal with having those pests around," Nathan said as I followed him back to my living room. His neck sported a welt the length of my forefinger—courtesy of the small sword Inara carried. I suspected her sword was covered in something poisonous, as a wound from it would smart and sting for days.
"They don't bother me," I said with an inner smirk.
We entered the living room to find Inara standing on my coffee table, engaged in a staring contest with Liam. He was still in the same position he'd been in when I left to pack, slouched back with one arm laying across the couch back and his legs slightly spread. He regarded the diminutive pixie with an expression of slight amusement.
I slung the strap of my bag over my head and adjusted it, so it was laying crosswise over my chest. Liam's gaze lifted to mine. His electric blue eyes held a fierce light of victory. I frowned at him. He might have me where he wanted for now, but as I'd proven in the past, I rarely stayed where I was put.
Inara made a sound of victory, in her mind, no doubt having won the contest.
Liam stood and stepped toward the door.
"Don't forget, vampire. She's ours. Make sure she comes back to us in one piece," Inara warned, sounding fierce and deadly despite her small size.
"I understand, pixie. I will make sure she comes to no harm," Liam said, his voice and eyes oddly formal. He gave her a small bow, the movement graceful and straight from an older time.
Inara snorted, sounding just a smidge impressed despite herself. "See that you do."
Liam smiled, radiating charm and turning his already handsome face into a work of art. He held his hand out to me. "Shall we?"
I grunted and moved towards him, snagging my keys off the kitchen table. "Not like I have a choice right now."
"We always have choices. It's just a matter of whether they are good or not." His voice was a rumble against my ear as we walked outside.
*
Eric drove us to a hulking mansion close to downtown Columbus. You'd think these vampires would want to be somewhere secluded, somewhere they could let their fangs out without worrying a nosy neighbor would see them. Not these vampires—the gothic mansion they called home looked like it was straight out of the turn of the century, complete with pointed buttresses and a dramatic roof overlooking a topiary garden that was open to the public during the day. The place even had a wrought iron gate surrounding its manicured lawn that Eric had to use a remote to open.
The building itself fit my idea of a vampire stronghold, the location less so. If you walked a few streets over, you'd be on Broad Street—the main artery of downtown Columbus. Not just Broad Street, but on one of the busiest sections of the business district. At least during the day. At this time of night, this part of the city was deserted.
"Welcome to the Gargoyle," Nathan said in a cheery voice. "Your home away from home for the foreseeable future."
The neighborhood surrounding the mansion was not the nicest; there was a derelict home with boarded-up windows right across the street. Next to it was another, with an overgrown yard and paint that was peeling.
I looked back at the mansion, noting how many windows were lit up. Looked like they had a full house tonight.
"How many live here?" I asked. I'd been here once before, during the selection. The guys had told me the mansion acted as their home base, but I’d never gotten around to asking who all lived there.
I looked over to find Liam watching me with an enigmatic expression. I lifted an eyebrow. "What? Is that confidential?"
One corner of his lips lifted. "Not at all. Since you'll be living here, it would be pointless to keep such information a secret considering you'll find out for yourself soon enough."
I gave a nod of acknowledgment.
"All of the enforcers under my command, plus any human companions they have live here. Rarely are all of them in the house at once. Our territory covers a large area."
I didn't touch the idea of human companions. He already knew my thoughts on live blood. As long as he didn't assign me a companion, and the others showed no sign of abuse, we were good.
"They don't have their own homes?" I asked.
It's not like I wasn't used to the concept of keeping your people under one roof. The military kept its junior ranking soldiers in a barracks after all—but that was meant to be temporary. Vampires lived for centuries. Who wanted to live in a barracks environment for all that time? I shuddered just thinking of it. People all around you with little time to just relax. I couldn't think of a worse fate, and I had lived in barracks for a good long while. I’d been more than happy to get out of there when the time came.
He inclined his head. "Some keep a separate residence, but most elect to stay here when they can. Despite popular opinion, we’re not meant to live isolated lives. We're as social as the wolves; we just show it differently."
The gaze he cast me held a hint of disapproval. For my own isolated living situation, no doubt. I shrugged it off. The solitude suited me.
Eric parked the car and we got out. Nathan grabbed my bag before I could.
"I'll show her to her room," he said.
Liam waved him on. "See that you do. Give her a tour as well then report back to me."
Nathan clapped me on the back and headed up the stairs to the tall wooden double doors. They looked like solid oak, stained a dark brown. It gave a certain majesty to the building, made you feel like it was out of a different era.
Nathan showed me to a corner room on the third floor. Bigger than possibly my entire apartment, it was more of a suite in a very swanky hotel than the bare bones barracks room I’d envisioned. The floor was made of a dark wood, with white and silver rugs dotting it. To the side was a sparse kitchen done with white cabinets, a dark blue tiled backsplash and stainless-steel appliances. A living room sat to the other side, the couch luxurious and inviting. On one wall was a large-screen TV complete with a surround sound stereo system.
I looked at Nathan in surprise. "This is my room?"
He nodded, looking happy about my reaction. "Yup, just for you."
I made a 'hm' sound as I stepped into the kitchen and ran my hand over the counter. Marble. Outfitting this place had cost a pretty penny.