"Howlong?"
"Could be decades. Because we're among the older vampires, it'll be longer and take more to resurrect him. The Ancients have the power, Eve. The rest of us are children incomparison."
"What are they? The first vampires? What's so special about them? There isn't much written about them or anystudies."
He takes in a breath. "I'll tell you but you won't believeit."
"The Fallen Angel stuff? I've read that," I say and shake my head. "You're right. I won't believe it. If they're more powerful, it's likely because they're the first to have the mutations. Maybe the mutations have diminished and become milder as time has passed and that's why you younger vampires aren't aspowerful."
He smiles, but it's one of tolerance rather than agreement, like I'm a child that he'sindulging.
"I've lived with an Ancient on a daily basis, Eve. I know what theyare."
"Soren," I say. "He did this on purpose to get to you, didn'the?"
Henods.
"Yes," he says, his voice quiet, a note of distaste in it. "He's playing usall."
"Go to someoneelse."
"Eve… He's the only one I have any relationship with. I hate to do it. He's a true monster. But if I don't go to him, he'd destroy me if he found out I went toanother."
"Go to someone stronger thanhim."
He just shakes his head as if I can'tunderstand.
"Even if there was someone more powerful, there's no reason why they'd be willing to go to war with Soren just to resurrect Julien. This is a game of power. He won't just make Julien pay for this. He'll make me pay as well and that's what worries me and why I want you in protectivecustody."
"Protective custody?" I say and frown. "I don't like the sound ofthat."
"You don't like the sound of it, but that's the reality, Eve. Get used to it," he says and his voice is harsh. "After tonight, things will never be the sameagain."
I look at him and the anger in his voice and the darkness in his eyes make me fear formyself.
"They aren't just old vampires, Eve. They're not fallen humans as you think of vampires. They're something entirelydifferent."
I trace his bottom lip with my finger. He's so serious, so afraid of this thing he mustdo.
"I can't come withyou?"
"God, no," he says and shakes his head vigorously. "I'll never let you get within a hundred miles of himagain."
"I don't like the sounds ofthat."
"You shouldn't. Let me warn you now," he says, and reaches out to pull me closer, running his fingers through my hair. "If you ever see him again, run the other way. Don't stop and don't look back. I mean it. He'll have you as his blood slave in asecond."
"Why?"
"Because you're an Adept, Eve. You can connect. It's what they crave. It's what we all crave. You know how good itis."
I do know how good it is. "Almost toogood."
He nods. "If you were my blood slave, it would be even better. With an Adept, we wouldn't have to eventouch."
That sends a wave of something through me. "You said that before. You mean real telepathy? Like spooky action at adistance?"
He nods. "Exactly."