“Excellent. I’m glad to see you made it out of the catacombs unscathed.”
Mick could hear the smile in the voice and finally tracked its source. The man stood at the edge of a catwalk, high above the workspace below. He was white, almost from tip to toe—platinum hair, fair skin, and even a white suit. Vampire. A very, very old one. Mick automatically curled his lip in a snarl.
“Cassius?” The shock in her voice had Mick turning his attention to Sophie.
“The very same,” said the vampire with a sarcastic bow.
“But I don’t understand. Why would you go to all this trouble? You’re an Elder on the Council. You could get access to the Eye without me.”
“Ah yes, but not without the rest of those simpering dolts knowing about it. It’s so much harder to stage a coup when they see it coming.”
“You want to overthrow the Council of Races?” asked Sophie slowly.
Don’t we all? thought Mick. Yet he didn’t think whatever Cassius had in mind was in line with the goals of the Underground.
I could help with that, said the demon.
Shut up, Mick snapped.
“Yes, yes, child. Catch up with the program here. The Council is hopelessly stuck in the past, content to exist with their collective heads stuck up their asses. War is coming, whether those doddering fools recognize it or not.”
War? Mick shifted uneasily. The Underground had known there was another group in play, but their intelligence hadn’t uncovered anything like this. Keep him talking, petite.
“Why would you start a war?” demanded Sophie.
Mick edged his way closer to Liza.
“Oh I’m not in the business of warmongering. But I do know how to pick the winning side. You see, our kind were gods once. These idiot humans worshiped and feared us. Then we were forced into hiding at the behest of the Council. The beings I work for are quite tired of the Council’s fears of human discovery dictating how the world is run. The Eye is merely a more expedient means of returning to our proper station in life. As for the humans, well, someone must be left as biddable slaves. Now, bring it to me.”
Too much. He’s said too much, Mick realized. He can’t possibly have any intention of letting them live.
“Not until you stop the saw.”
“You seem to forget that you are in no position to bargain, Sophie. I could drop her and break your neck before you could get halfway to the door. Don’t insult my generosity. Bring me the Eye,” he repeated.
I could kill him, whispered the demon. It would be nothing.
No, thought Mick. I will not use the Eye.
He sensed the demon’s frustration and ignored it, keeping his attention on Sophie as she crossed the warehouse to the ladder beneath Cassius.
“Throw it up,” he ordered, leaning over to catch the case.
Sophie hesitated, looking over at Liza.
“Now, Sophie!” snapped the vampire.
She tossed it high.
/> Cassius snatched it from the air, lips curving in triumph. “At last.” He ran his hands over the case in a lover’s caress.
“Stop the saw, Cassius,” Sophie ordered.
“Now, now, I must inspect the artifact.”
Sophie’s hands fisted at her sides as Cassius flipped the clasps open and tilted the top back. The Eye lay nestled in the case, glowing dimly. The vampire’s eyes flashed red with lust. Then slowly, he reached out a hand and picked up the stone.
For a moment he looked rapturous, and Mick instinctively felt for the demon.