I wasn't sure if vamps could get colds, but it probably wouldn't be very responsible of me to test that theory now.
We walked downstairs and moved into the cafeteria line.
Unfortunately, Juliet and Margot had been right about Frank's new nutritional choices: free-range eggs; turkey bacon; organic fruit salad; and a grain-heavy gruel that looked like it would have been served in Little Orphan Annie's orphanage.
"Ugh," I remarked, but scooped up eggs and fruit and grabbed a drink box of blood.
We took our food to a table and were quickly joined by Margot and Katherine, another Novitiate with a wicked sense of humor and a fabulous singing voice.
"So it's been a real y freaky week. How's it going out there?" Margot asked, picking through her bowl of fruit.
"I've been beating the streets. But I'm not sure I'm making progress."
"That's al you can do," Margot said, pointing at me with a cantaloupe-laden fork. "Besides, things are back to normal for now. Maybe they'l stay that way."
I wouldn't bet on it, but I nodded my agreement.
Margot gave me a sly look. "I hear you're working with Jonah - the captain of the Grey House guards. Any details you want to pass along?"
I felt my cheeks warm. "Not real y," I said, hoping Lindsey wasn't going to spil the beans about the kissaboalong?. I was proud; she chewed her muffin with obvious deliberation, and kept quiet. "We're just working together."
"And what's on your agenda for the day?" Katherine asked.
"I'm meeting with the mayor, actual y. Wel , the former mayor."
"You think he turned the sky and river?" Margot wondered.
"I think information keeps pointing in his direction."
"Have you talked to Cabot lately?" Lindsey asked.
I shook my head, my stomach grumbling sympathetical y at the mention of his name. "Not since he sent us to talk to the fairies."
"Probably figured fairy-cide was an easier way to get rid of you," Katherine grumbled.
"Wouldn't surprise me," I agreed. "What's he done now?"
"Now he's got a wild hair about our skil s. Strat, phys, psych. Says he's reviewing our files to ensure we've been appropriately categorized."
"He's assessing whether or not we're threats," I muttered.
"And it's probably my fault. When we met, I told him I was a Strong Phys. He probably didn't like the reminder that we're actual y competent out here in Cadogan House."
"He is a piece of work," Margot agreed. "And we want to escape him for a few hours." She pointed at me with her fork. "What's your schedule tonight? We're thinking about an Evil Dead and Army of Darkness marathon."
I blinked. "Like, the Bruce Campbel movies?"
The table went silent.
"Show a little respect, Merit," Lindsey said with more than a little offense. "Have you ever been overtaken by a Candarian demon?"
I glanced among them al , trying to ferret out whether they were joking or I had stepped into some kind of Bruce Campbel cult. "Not in the last few hours."
"Yeah, wel , it's not real y funny, is it? With the crazy eyes and uncontrol able limbs." She shivered, and I honestly couldn't tel if she was serious.
"You're joking, right?" I quietly asked. "I mean, I thought you were joking, but some pretty weird stuff goes on in Chicago, and I haven't read the entire Canon yet, so maybe I just missed the Candarian demon chapter?"
She managed a good fifteen seconds more before she couldn't hold in the snort. "Oh, my God, total y. But I almost didn't make it. Seriously, though, I love the flicks. You in?"
I reached out and punched her a few times in the arm while the rest of the table chortled. "I'l let you know," I said.
"You do that. Oh," she exclaimed, "I just felt a pretty solid hint of Cabot irritation." She tapped her forehead again, which was apparently international code for "I've got empathic powers and I know how to use them."
"In case he's looking for an outlet for his obsessions,"
she said, "you might want to take that breakfast to go. I hear he made three Novitiates cry yesterday."
She didn't have to tel me twice. I nodded and grabbed my drink box, then hopped up. "If he cal s an assembly to announce he's leaving Chicago, save me a seat."
"You'l be the first we cal ," Lindseal
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MAYORAL PRIVILEGE
When I was dressed, fed, and katana'd, I walked back to the front of the House. I was on my way to Malik's office - I thought I'd give him a direct report - when I heard shouting.
I didn't like the idea of shouting in the vicinity of my Master, so I put a hand on my katana to keep it balanced and ran down the hal . I found Luc and Malik in his office.
The door was open, and they stood in the middle of the room, both with arms crossed. Their expressions were blank as they listened to a news report from a very expensive stereo. Both looked over and offered a nod of acknowledgment.
"And this man," said the woman on the radio, whom I guessed was the mayor, "this col eague of mine, was accosted by vampires on the street. And then he was questioned by the police as if he was to blame for it. What is this city coming to if these are the kinds of shenanigans playing out on our streets right now?"
McKetrick. I closed my eyes rueful y. Not just because he had been released - and so much for that plan - but because I'd played right into his hand. Granted, I was guilty only of walking down the street and defending myself, but he had friends in high places, and his version made a much more interesting headline.
Kowalczyk started up again. "I am, however, very happy to announce that by the end of the evening, supernatural registration wil be law. By the end of the night, we'l have the authority to track the location of supernaturals across the city, and they wil no longer be able to surprise citizens on the street."
With a sickened expression, Malik reached over and flipped off the radio.
"That woman is a piece of goddamned work," Luc spat out. "Who does she think she is, and how stupid is she that she believes McKetrick?" He blew out a breath and linked his hands atop his head. "She's a fascist with an ache to be president, and she isn't going to stop."
"Not while there are headlines to be made," Malik agreed. He looked at me. "Keley told me what actual y went down, that you arranged for Catcher to pick him up.
I'm hopeful he at least got some useful information before the release?"
"I'm going back to visit Tate. Catcher should be there, and I'l ask for the details."