I took a moment to think. “When the vampires took over our country, it was a storm at first. But things eventually settled and people got comfortable with them being part of everyday life. Some became infatuated with them. They wanted to be like them. They wanted to be strong so nothing could hurt them, and so they could protect their families no matter what came. Others wanted immortality. They would seek out vamps and offer their blood. They would beg for the vampires to turn them.”
“Did the vampires honor their wishes?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Sometimes. Some were turned, but most were drained of blood and their bodies left to rot.”
“Not a risk most would take,” he mused.
“The possibility of dying didn’t deter the ones who thought they had a chance to become something stronger. To them, the risk was worth it.”
Asa tried to smile. “It was the same when we were young. Nephilim were sought out by mortal women and men who wanted strong offspring, or the thrill of conquering something mighty – even if only for a night. They would throw themselves at us. The clone is doing the same, but there’s a sharpness in her eyes that belies her motive. She wants it far too much. Something larger is at stake.” His eyes flicked to my thigh where I wore my holster. I fought the urge to roll my eyes as he continued. “I want to know why she wants me to turn her so badly.”
The thought of women throwing themselves at Enoch made me sick. I’m sure Asa had enjoyed his fair share of mortal women, but I hoped Enoch hadn’t.
“You’re wondering about my brother’s past.”
I swallowed, ashamed I let him read me so well. “His past doesn’t matter.”
Asa smiled cruelly. “It doesn’t seem that way. It seems to matter a great deal to you.” He leaned his head back and stretched his neck from side to side. “Have you wondered how he spends his life between the years in which you fall?”
“No.” Yes. Of course I did. What girl wouldn’t wonder if he’d found someone else to love? Someone who could stay put and who didn’t have to keep running away?
“The way you care for my brother is troubling.”
“Troubling? Why would me loving him bother you?”
“Because I am somewhat aware of your past as well, and I’m not sure someone like you is truly capable of love. My brother, on the other hand, is.”
“How do you know anything about me?”
“As persuasive as she is, your clone is willing to do absolutely anything to be turned. I simply use that yearning to obtain information, and she has plenty about the three of you.”
This must be how Enoch felt when we showed up at his castle, ready to stab him through the chest. Like a game board had been set up and he’d been thrust into the role of opponent before he had time to consider who sat across from him. I hated that I’d put him in that position.
“Do you really intend to marry the clone?”
Asa cocked his head at me. “Absolutely not. I intend to marry you.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening.”
“No, it won’t. What will happen, is that you will pretend to be my fiancée. Someone in my company tried to kill your clone last week, and I want to know why. I returned your stakes so you can defend yourself if they try again, but you’re going to help me find the traitor amongst us.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you need my help,” I gloated.
Asa leaned down, putting his face too close to mine. “What I am saying is that if you prove unhelpful, I will kill you before my brother returns.” He looked toward the ceiling “And I will end your friend upstairs, too.”
I seethed, “I hate people like you. I’ve known men like you my whole life.”
“Like what?”
“Men who are too weak to do something themselves, so they manipulate and threaten someone stronger to do it for them.”
He smiled. “Then I’ll make you a promise. And mind you, I always keep my promises... At some point, I will show you who is the stronger of us.”
“Want to make a bargain?” I challenged.
“What sort of bargain?”
“For every answer I get out of my clone, you answer a question for me.”
His eyes narrowed. “You have my word.”
I wasn’t sure his word was any good, but I would soon find out, one way or another. I had to play this game well, or the penalty of failure was death. I didn’t plan to lose.
A shiver scuttled up my spine as he slowly stood and ambled from the room, accented by a loud bang from the cellar.
Chapter Five
Eve
As I walked toward the back of the house, I came upon a door that led to the kitchen, which was located outside within a smaller building that was detached from the main home. I entered the kitchen to see a fire crackling merrily in the hearth inside the tidy, white room. The strong scent of onions burned my eyes. Why are they cooking onions at night?
“Miss?” a woman said, startling me. I turned to find her carrying a straw basket full of onions.
“I’m looking for a way into the cellar,” I inquired lamely.
The woman’s brow furrowed. “I just saw you in there. How are you already out here?” she asked.
“Where is the cellar door?” My patience was unraveling the longer I stood there enveloped by the pungent smell of onions.
The woman hefted the basket of onions onto one hip and pointed toward a hinged wooden door, which I now noticed led into the earth beside the main house’s staircase. “Thanks.”
“Wait!” she hollered. She sat her basket down and ran into the kitchen, coming out with a lit lantern in hand. “You’ll need light to see by.”
Taking the lantern, I thanked her and headed to the cellar, wrenching open the door. A few steps led down into a long room with stone walls and a ceiling of thick, wooden beams. Anything that held a house up had to be built sturdily, so I assumed I was safe enough.
In the back corner was my clone, seated in a chair, her legs bound to its legs and her arms tied behind her back. A handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth. She let loose a muffled, shrill sound and began bouncing around in the chair. The warm light of the lantern illuminated Asa’s handiwork.
He was good with knots. I wasn’t sure I could even wriggle my way out of these ropes.
“You fall over just right, and you’ll break your arm or hand,” I chastised. “If I were you, I’d stop acting like a moron.”
She fumed, but calmed down. I approached and took the gag out of her mouth. When the piece of tied fabric was loose, she spat a matching ball onto the floor. “Untie me,” she ordered.
“Not until you answer a few questions.”
“Un. Tie. Me,” she demanded slowly.
“I’m not stupid, and I’m not untying you yet. You’re a 1776 model?”
“Duh,” she answered, rolling her eyes.
Jesus, did I act like this? “How in the world did you get Asa, of all people, to propose?” There was another cobweb-coated chair nearby. I dusted it off, dragged it over, and positioned it backward in front of her before straddling it and propping my forearms on the back slats.