Melissa de la Cruz - Masquerade.doc

8/14/2019 Melissa de la Cruz - Masquerade.doc

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Masquerade Melissa de la Cruz

CHAPTER 1

The pigeons had taken over St. Marks Square.

Hundreds o! the"# !at$ gra%$ squat$ and silent$ pe&king at the pie&es o! s!ogliatelle and pane uva 'read &ru"'s that &areless

tourists had le!t 'ehind. (t )as noon$ 'ut the sun )as hidden 'ehind &louds$ and a gloo"% pall had !allen over the &it%. The

gondolas )ere lined up on the do&ks$ e"pt%$ their striped*shirted gondoliers leaning on their oars$ )aiting !or &usto"ers )ho

had not arrived. The )aters )ere in lo) tide$ the dark stain o! the higher levels visi'le on the 'uilding !a&ades.

S&hu%ler +an Alen rested her el'o)s on the ri&ket% &a!, ta'le and put her head in her hands$ so that the 'otto" o! her &hin

)as hidden underneath her oversize turtlene&k. She )as a -lue -lood va"pire$ the last o! the +an Alens**a !or"erl%

pro"inent e) /ork !a"il% )hose in!luen&e and largesse had 'een instru"ental in the !ounding o! "odern*da% Manhattan.

0n&e upon a ti"e$ the +an Alen na"e had 'een s%non%"ous )ith po)er$ privilege$ and patronage. -ut that )as a long ti"eago$ and the !a"il% !ortune had 'een d)indling !or "an% %ears# S&hu%ler )as "ore !a"iliar )ith penn%*pin&hing than

shopping sprees. Her &lothes**the 'la&k turtlene&k that hung past her hips$ &uto!! leggings$ an ar"% !lak a&ket$ and 'eaten*

up "otor&%&le 'oots**)ere thri!t* store &asto!!s.

0n an% other girl$ the ragged ense"'le "ight look as though it had 'een thro)n together '% a ho"eless vagrant$ 'ut on

S&hu%ler it 'e&a"e rai"ent equal to ro%alt%$ and "ade her deli&ate$ heart*shaped !eatures even "ore striking. 2ith her pale$

ivor% &o"ple3ion$ deep*set 'lue e%es$ and "ass o! dark$ 'lue*'la&k hair$ she )as a stunning$ i"possi'l% lovel% &reature. Her

'eaut% )as "ade even "ore 'enevolent )hen she s"iled$ although there )as little &han&e o! that this "orning.

4Cheer up$4 0liver Hazard*Perr% said$ li!ting a s"all &up o! espresso to his lips. 42hatever happens$ or doesnt happen$ atleast )e had a 'it o! a 'reak. And doesnt the &it% look gorgeous, C"on$ %ouve got to ad"it 'eing in +eni&e is so "u&h

'etter than 'eing stu&k in Che" la'.4

0liver had 'een S&hu%lers 'est !riend sin&e &hildhood a gangl%$ !lopp%*haired$ handso"e %outh$ )ith a qui&k grin and kind$


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hazel$ e%es. He )as her &on!idant and partner in &ri"e and$ as she had learned not too long ago$ her hu"an Conduit**

traditionall% a va"pires assistant and le!t* hand "an$ a position o! e3alted servitude. 0liver had 'een instru"ental in getting

the" !ro" e) /ork to +eni&e in a short period o! ti"e. He had 'een a'le to &onvin&e his !ather to let the" a&&o"pan% hi"

on a 'usiness trip to Europe.

5espite 0livers &heer!ul )ords$ S&hu%ler )as glu". (t )as their last da% in +eni&e and the% had !ound nothing. To"orro)the% )ould !l% 'a&k to e) /ork e"pt%*handed$ their trip a &o"plete !ailure.

She 'egan ripping apart the la'el on her Pellegrino 'ottle$ tearing it &are!ull% so it un)ound into a long thin strip o! green

paper. She ust didnt )ant to give up so soon.

Al"ost t)o "onths 'e!ore$ S&hu%lers grand"other$ Cordelia +an Alen$ had 'een atta&ked '% a Silver -lood$ the "ortal

ene"ies o! the -lue -lood va"pires. S&hu%ler had learned !ro" Cordelia that$ like the -lue -loods$ Silver -loods )ere !allen

angels$ doo"ed to live their eternal lives on earth. Ho)ever$ unlike the -lue -loods$ Silver -lood va"pires had s)orn

allegian&e to the e3iled Prin&e o! Heaven$ 6u&i!er hi"sel!$ and had re!used to &o"pl% )ith the Code o! the +a"pires$ a

stringent rule o! ethi&s that the -lue -loods hoped )ould help 'ring a'out their eventual return to Paradise. Cordelia had'een S&hu%lers legal guardian. S&hu%ler had never kno)n her parents# her !ather died 'e!ore she )as 'orn$ and her "other

had !allen into a &o"a soon a!ter giving 'irth to her. 7or "ost o! S&hu%lers &hildhood$ Cordelia had 'een aloo! and distant$

'ut she )as the onl% !a"il% S&hu%ler had had in the )orld$ and !or 'etter or )orse$ she had loved her grand"other.

4She )as sure he )ould 'e here$4 S&hu%ler said$ dis&onsolatel% tossing 'read &ru"'s at the pigeons that had gathered

underneath their ta'le. (t )as so"ething she had 'een sa%ing ever sin&e the%d arrived in +eni&e. The Silver -lood atta&k had

le!t Cordelia )eakened$ 'ut 'e!ore her grand"other had su&&u"'ed to the passive state 8-lue -lood va"pires are &ontinuall%

rein&arnated i""ortal 'eings9$ she had pressed on S&hu%ler the need to !ind her "issing grand* !ather$ 6a)ren&e +an Alen$

)ho" she 'elieved held the ke% to de!eating the Silver -loods. 2ith her last 'reath$ S&hu%lers grand"other had instru&ted

her to travel to +eni&e$ to &o"' the &it%s &rooked streets and )inding &anals !or an% sign o! hi".

4-ut )eve looked ever%)here. o one has ever even heard o! a 6a)ren&e +an Alen$ or a 5r. :ohn Carver$4 0liver sighed$

pointing out that the% had "ade dozens o! inquiries at the universit%$ at Harr%s -ar at the Cipriani$ and at ever% hotel$ villa$

and pensione in 'et)een. :ohn Carver had 'een a na"e 6a)ren&e had taken during the Pl%"outh settle"ent.


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4( kno). (" 'eginning to think he never even e3isted$4 S&hu%ler replied. 4Ma%'e she )as )rong**too )eak and disoriented

and &on!used a'out )here to send %ou$4 0liver suggested. 4This &ould end up 'eing ust a )ild*goose &hase.4

S&hu%ler "ulled the possi'ilit%. Perhaps Cordelia had 'een )rong$ and "a%'e Charles 7or&e$ the leader o! the -lue -loods$

)as right a!ter all. -ut the loss o! her grand"other had a!!e&ted her terri'l%$ and S&hu%ler )as nursing a !evereddeter"ination to &arr% out the old )o"ans !inal )ish.

4( &ant think like that$ 0llie. (! ( do$ then (ve given up. ( have to !ind hi". ( have to !ind "% grand!ather. (t hurts too "u&h to

think a'out )hat Charles 7or&e said....4

42hat did he sa%,4 0liver asked. S&hu%ler had "en* tioned a &onversation shed had )ith Charles 'e!ore the% had le!t$ 'ut

had kept the details vague.

4He said...4 S&hu%ler &losed her e%es and re"e"'ered the tension*!illed en&ounter.

She had gone to visit her "other in the hospital. Allegra +an Alen )as as 'eauti!ul and re"ote as ever$ a )o"an )ho lingered

'et)een li!e and death. She had slipped into a &atatoni& state shortl% a!ter S&hu%ler )as 'orn. S&hu%ler had not 'een

surprised to !ind a !ello) visitor at her "others 'edside.

Charles 7or&e )as kneeling '% the 'ed$ 'ut he stood up qui&kl% and )iped his e%es )hen he sa) S&hu%ler.

S&hu%ler !elt a sta' o! pit% !or the "an. :ust a "onth ago$ she had 'elieved hi" to 'e the personi!i&ation o! evil$ had even

a&&used hi" o! 'eing a Silver -lood. Ho) o!! the "ark she had 'een. Charles 7or&e )as Mi&hael$ Pure o! Heart$ one o! the

ar&hangels )ho had voluntaril% &hosen e3ile !ro" Heaven to help his 'rethren )ho had 'een &ast out during 6u&i!ers revolt

and &ursed to live their lives on earth as the -lue -loods. He )as a va"pire onl% '% &hoi&e$ not sin. Her "other$ Allegra +anAlen$ )as the onl% other va"pire )ho shared this distin&tion. Allegra )as ;a'rielle$ the


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The 'ond )as an i""ortal vo) 'et)een -lue -loods$ 'ut ;a'rielle had !orsaken the vo) )hen she had taken S&hu%lers Red

-lood !ather$ her hu"an !a"iliar$ as hus'and instead.

45o %ou kno) )h% %our "other is in a &o"a, 0r &hooses to 'e in a &o"a,4 Charles had asked.

S&hu%ler nodded. 4She s)ore never to take another hu"an !a"iliar a!ter "% !ather died. Cordelia said it )as 'e&ause she)anted to die hersel!.4

4-ut she &annot. She is a va"pire. So she lives$4 Charles said 'itterl%. 4(! this is )hat %ou &all living.4

4(t is her &hoi&e$4 S&hu%ler said$ her voi&e even. She did not like the udg"ent inherent in Charless )ords.

4Choi&e$4 Charles &ursed. 4A ro"anti& notion$ 'ut nothing "ore.4 He turned to S&hu%ler. 4( hear %ou are going to +eni&e.4

S&hu%ler nodded. 42e leave to"orro). To !ind "% grand!ather$4 she de&lared. (t is said that the daughter o! ;a'rielle )ill

'ring us to the salvation )e seek$ her grand"other had told her. 0nl% %our grand!ather kno)s ho) to de!eat the Silver-loods. He )ill help %ou.

Cordelia had e3plained that throughout the histor% o! the )orld$ Silver -loods had pre%ed on -lue -loods$ &onsu"ing their

'lood and their "e"ories. The last kno)n atta&ks had happened in Pl%"outh$ )hen the va"pires had &rossed to the ne)

)orld. 7our hundred %ears later$ in e) /ork Cit%$ )hen S&hu%ler had started her sopho"ore %ear at the elite 5u&hesne

S&hool$ the atta&ks had started again. The !irst vi&ti" )as a !ello) student**Aggie Carondolet. Soon a!ter Aggies death$ the

'od% &ount had in&reased. Most dis* tur'ing to S&hu%ler$ all o! the slain had 'een -lue -lood teens$ taken during their "ost

vulnera'le period 'et)een the %ears o! !i!teen and t)ent%*one$ 'e!ore the% )ere !ull% in &ontrol o! their po)ers.

46a)ren&e +an Alen is an out&ast$ an e3ile$4 Charles 7or&e said. 4/ou )ill !ind nothing 'ut &on!usion and sorro) i! %ou travel to+eni&e$4 the steel%*e%ed "agnate de&lared.

4( dont &are$4 S&hu%ler "uttered$ her e%es do)n&ast. She gripped the he" o! her s)eater tightl%$ t)isting it into knots. 4/ou

still re!use to a&kno)ledge that the Silver -loods have returned. And alread% there have 'een too "an% o! us )ho have 'een


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taken.4

The last killing had happened shortl% a!ter her grand* "others !uneral. Su""er A"or%$ last %ears 5e' o! the /ear$ had 'een

!ound drained in her penthouse apart"ent in Tru"p To)er. The )orst part a'out the Silver -loods )as that the% didnt 'ring

death no**the% 'rought a !ate )orse than death. The Code o! the +a"pires e3pressl% !or'ade the" !ro" per!or"ing the

Caeri"onia 0s&ulor$ the Sa&red =iss$ the !eeding on 'lood**on their o)n kind. The Caeri"onia )as a regulated ritual$ )ithstringent rules. o hu"ans )ere ever to 'e a'used$ or !ull% drained.

-ut 6u&i!er and his legions dis&overed that i! the% per!or"ed the =iss on other va"pires instead o! hu"ans$ it "ade the"

"ore po)er!ul. Red -lood held the li!e !or&e o! onl% one 'eing$ )hile -lue -lood )as "ore potent$ holding in it an i""ortal

'astion o! kno)ledge. The Silver -loods &onsu"ed a va"pires 'lood and "e"ories$ su&king the" to &o"plete dissipation$

"aking the -lue -lood a slave to an insane &ons&iousness. Silver -loods )ere "an% 'eings trapped in one shell$ !orever.

A'o"ination.

Charles 7or&es !ro)n deepened. 4The Silver -loods have 'een 'anished. (t is i"possi'le. There is another e3planation !or

)hat has happened. The Co""ittee is investigating 4

4The Co""ittee has done nothing> The Co""ittee )ill &ontinue to do nothing>4 S&hu%ler argued. She kne) the histor% that

Charles 7or&e &lung to that the -lue -loods had )on the !inal 'attle in an&ient Ro"e$ )hen he had de!eated 6u&i!er hi"sel!$

then kno)n as the "ania&al Silver -lood e"peror Caligula$ and sent hi" deep into the !ires o! Hell '% the point o! his golden

s)ord.

4As %ou )ish$4 Charles sighed. 4( &annot stop %ou !ro" going to +eni&e$ 'ut ( "ust )arn %ou that 6a)ren&e is not hal! the "an

Cordelia )ished hi" to 'e.4

He li!ted up S&hu%lers &hin$ as she stared at hi" )ith de!ian&e. 4/ou should take &are$ Allegras daughter$4 he said in a kindertone.

S&hu%ler shuddered at the "e"or% o! his tou&h. The past t)o )eeks had done nothing 'ut prove that Charles 7or&e "ight

have kno)n )hat he )as talking a'out. Ma%'e S&hu%ler should ust stop asking questions$ go 'a&k to e) /ork$ and 'e a


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good girl$ a good -lue -lood. 0ne )ho didnt question the "otives or a&tions o! The Co""ittee. 0ne )hose onl% pro'le" )as

)hat to )ear to the 7our Hundred -all at the St. Regis.

She 'le) out her 'angs and looked 'esee&hingl% a&ross the ta'le at her 'est !riend. 0liver had 'een a !aith!ul supporter. He

had 'een right '% her side throughout the )hole ordeal$ and during the &haoti& da%s right a!ter her grand* "others !uneral.

4( kno) hes here$ ( &an !eel it$4 S&hu%ler said. 4( )ish )e didnt have to leave so soon.4 She put the 'ottle$ &o"pletel% stripped

o! its la'el$ 'a&k on the ta'le.

The )aiter arrived )ith the &he&k$ and 0liver qui&kl% slipped his &redit &ard in the leather ta'let 'e!ore S&hu%ler &ould

protest.

The% de&ided to hit&h a ride on a gondola !or one last tour o! the an&ient &it%. 0liver helped S&hu%ler into the 'oat$ and the

t)o o! the" leaned 'a&k on the plush &ushion at the sa"e ti"e$ so that their !orear"s pressed against ea&h other. S&hu%ler

in&hed a)a% ust a tin% little 'it$ !eeling slightl% e"'arrassed at their ph%si&al pro3i"it%. This )as ne). She had al)a%s !elt

&o"!orta'le )ith 0liver in the past. The% had gro)n up together**skinn%*dipping in the pond 'ehind her grand"others houseon antu&ket$ spending sleepovers &urled up ne3t to ea&h other in the sa"e dou'le*)ide sleeping 'ag. The% )ere as &lose as

si'lings$ 'ut latel% she had !ound that she )as rea&ting to his presen&e )ith a ne)!ound sel!* &ons&iousness she &ouldnt

e3plain. (t )as as i! she had )oken up one da% and dis&overed her 'est !riend )as also a 'o% and a ver% good*looking one at

that.

The gondolier pushed o!! !ro" the do&k$ and the% 'egan their slo) vo%age. 0liver took pi&tures$ and S&hu%ler tried to eno%

the vie). -ut as 'eauti!ul as the &it% )as$ she &ouldnt help 'ut !eel a )ave o! distress and helplessness. (! she didnt !ind her

grand!ather$ )hat )ould she do then, Aside !ro" 0liver$ she )as alone in the )orld. 5e!enseless. 2hat )ould happen to her,

The Silver -lood**i! it had 'een a Silver -lood**had al"ost taken her t)i&e alread%. She pressed a hand to her ne&k as i! to

shield hersel! !ro" the past atta&k. 2ho kne) i! or )hen it )ould &o"e 'a&k, And )ould the slaughter stop$ as TheCo""ittee hoped or )ould it &ontinue$ as she suspe&ted$ until all o! the" )ere taken,

S&hu%ler shivered$ even though there )as no &hill in the air$ looked a&ross the &anal$ and sa) a )o"an )alking out o! a

'uilding.


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A )o"an )ho looked eeril% !a"iliar.

(t &ant 'e$ S&hu%ler thought. (ts i"possi'le. Her "other )as in a &o"a$ in a hospital roo" in e) /ork Cit%. There )as no

)a% she &ould 'e in (tal%. 0r &ould she, 2as there so"ething a'out Allegra that S&hu%ler did not kno),

Al"ost as i! she had heard her$ the )o"an looked straight into S&hu%lers e%es.

(t )as her "other. She )as sure o! it. The )o"an had Allegras !ine 'lond hair$ thin aristo&rati& nose$ the sa"e kni!e*'lade

&heek'ones$ the sa"e lisso"e !igure$ the sa"e 'right green e%es.

40liver**its**oh "% ;od>4 S&hu%ler e3&lai"ed$ pulling on her !riends &oat. She pointed !ranti&all% a&ross the &anal. 0liver

turned. 4Huh,4

4That )o"an...( think its "%..."% "other> There>4 S&hu%ler said$ pointing to)ard a !igure running s)i!tl%$ dis* appearing into

a &ro)d o! people leaving the 5u&al Pala&e.

42hat the hell are %ou talking a'out,4 0liver asked$ s&anning the side)alk )here S&hu%ler )as pointing. 4That )o"an, Are

%ou serious, Sk%$ are %ou out o! %our "ind, /our "others in a hospital in e) /ork. And shes &ata* toni&$4 0liver said

angril%.

4( kno)$ ( kno)$ 'ut...4 S&hu%ler said. 46ook$ there she is again**its her$ ( s)ear to ;od$ its her.4

42here do %ou think %oure going,4 0liver de"anded$ as S&hu%ler s&ra"'led to her !eet. 42hats gotten into %ou, Hold on>

Sk%$ sit do)n>4


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she o)ed hi" 'ig*ti"e !or a&&o"pan%ing her to +eni&e$ and it anno%ed her that she )as so dependent on hi". She told hi"

so.

4/oure supposed to 'e dependent on "e$4 0liver e3plained patientl%. 4(" %our hu"an Conduit. (" supposed to help %ou

navigate the hu"an )orld. ( didnt realize that )ould "ean 'eing %our travel agent$ 'ut he%.4

4Then help "e$4 S&hu%ler snapped. 4( need to go....4 she said !ranti&all%. She "ade up her "ind and u"ped !ro" the gondola

to the side)alk in one gra&e!ul leap**a leap no hu"an )ould have 'een a'le to e3e&ute$ sin&e the% )ere a good thirt% !eet

a)a% !ro" the nearest "ar&iapiede.

42ait> S&hu%ler>4 0liver %elled$ s&ra"'ling to keep up. 4Andia"o> Segua quella ragazza>4 he said$ urging the gondolier to

!ollo) S&hu%ler$ 'ut not quite sure that the "an* po)ered 'oat )ould 'e the 'est )a% to &hase a !ast*"oving va"pire.

S&hu%ler !elt her vision !o&us and her senses heighten. She kne) she )as "oving !ast**so qui&kl% that it !elt as though

ever%one else around her )ere standing still. /et the )o"an )as "oving ust as !ast$ i! not !aster$ soaring a&ross the narro)

&hannels that )or"ed through the &it%$ dodging speed'oats and !l%ing to)ard the other side o! the river. -ut S&hu%ler )asright at her heels$ the t)o o! the" a 'lur o! "otion a&ross the &it%s&ape. S&hu%ler !ound hersel! une3* pe&tedl% e3hilarated '%

the pursuit$ as i! she )ere stret&hing "us&les she didnt kno) she had.

4Mother>4 She !inall% !elt desperate enough to &all out as she )at&hed the )o"an leap gra&e!ull% !ro" a 'al&on% to a hidden

entr%)a%.

-ut the )o"an didnt turn 'a&k$ and qui&kl% disap* peared inside the door o! a near'% palazzo.

S&hu%ler u"ped to the sa"e landing$ &aught her 'reath$ and !ollo)ed the )o"an inside$ "ore intent than ever to dis&over

the "%sterious strangers true identit%.

CHAPTER ?

Mimi Force surveyed the industrious scene inside the Jefferson Room at the Duchesne School and sighed happily. It was late on a

Monday afternoon, the school day was over, and the weekly ommittee meeting was well underway. Diligent !lue !loods were


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gathered in small groups at the round ta"le, discussing last#minute details for the party of the year$ the annual Four %undred !all.

!lond, green#eyed Mimi and her twin "rother, Jack, were among the young vampires who were going to "e presented at the "all thisyear. It was a tradition that reached "ack centuries. Induction into &he ommittee, a secret and vastly powerful group of vampires

that ran 'ew (ork, had "een only the first step. &he pu"lic presentation of young ommittee mem"ers to the entire !lue !lood

society was a "igger one. It was an acknowledgment of one)s past history and future responsi"ilities. !ecause !lue !loods returned

in different physical shells, under new names in every cycle## what vampires called the length of a human lifetime##their presentationor *coming#out* was highly important in the recognition process.

Mimi Force didn)t need a herald with a trumpet to tell her who she was, or whom she had "een. She was Mimi Force the most

"eautiful girl in the history of 'ew (ork ity and the only daughter of harles Force, the Regis, a.k.a. head of the coven and

superior "adass, known to the world as a merciless media magnate whose Force 'ews 'etwork spanned the glo"e from Singapore to

+ddis +"a"a. Mimi Force the girl with hair the color of woven fla, skin like fresh "uttercream, full pouty lips that rivaled +ngelina

Jolie)s. She was the underage sepot with a reputation for cutting a reckless swath through the city)s most eligi"le young heirs$ hot

red#"looded "oyfriends otherwise known as her human familiars.

!ut her heart had always "een, and always would "e, much, much closer to home, Mimi thought as she looked across the room at her

"rother, Jack.

So far, Mimi was satisfied. -verything was shaping up to "e picture#perfect for the night at the St. Regis %otel. &his was the "iggest

party of the year. nlike that tacky little circus they called the /scars, with its sniveling actresses and corporate shilling, the Four

%undred !all was a strictly old# fashioned affair##a"out class, status, "eauty, power, money, and "lood. !loodlines, that is, and more

specifically, !lue !loodlines. It was a vampire#only "all$ the most eclusive event in 'ew (ork, if not the world.

+"solutely no Red !loods allowed.

+ll the flowers had "een ordered. 0hite +merican !eauty roses. &wenty thousand of them, specially flown in from South +mericafor the occasion. &here would "e ten thousand roses in the garland entrance alone, the rest scat# tered among the centerpieces. &he

most epensive event planner in the city, who had turned &he Metropolitan Museum into a Russian wonderland straight out of Dr.

1hivago for the ostume Institute)s Russian ehi"it, was also planning to hand#make ten thousand silk roses for the napkin rings.

+nd to top it all off, the entire "allroom would "e scented "y gallons of rosewater perfume pumped into the air vents.

+round Mimi, &he ommittee conferred on last# minute issues. 0hile the 2unior mem"ers, high school kids like herself, were


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occupied with "usywork filing RS34 cards, checking off guest lists, confirming logistics for the two fifty# piece orchestras) stage

re5uirements and lighting the senior coven, led "y 4riscilla Du4ont, a well#known Manhattan socialite whose regal visage graced theweekly social columns, was involved with more delicate matters. Mrs. Du4ont was surrounded "y a group of similarly thin, pol#

ished, and well#coifed women, whose tireless work on "ehalf of &he ommittee had led to the preservation of some of 'ew (ork)s

most important landmarks and funded the eistence of the city)s most prestigious cultural institutions. Mimi)s etra#sensitive hearing

picked up on the conversation.

*'ow we come to the 5uestion of Sloane and ushing arondolet,* 4riscilla said gravely, picking up one of the ivory linen place

cards scattered in front of her. &he cards were em"ossed with the name of each guest, and would "e placed at the front reception

with a designated ta"le num"er.

&here was a murmur of disapproval among the well# heeled crowd. &he arondolets) growing insu"ordination was hard to ignore.

+fter they had lost their daughter +ggie a few months ago, the family had shown signs of "eing distinctly anti#ommittee. Rumor

had it they were even threatening to call for an impeachment of Mimi)s father.

*Sloane can)t "e with us today,* 4riscilla continued, *"ut she has sent in their yearly donation. It)s not as "ig as it has "een in the past,

"ut it is still su"stantial##unlike some other families I won)t mention.*

Donations to the Four %undred !all "enefited the 'ew (ork !lood !ank ommittee, &he ommittee)s pu"lic name, which was

organi6ed ostensi"ly to raise money for "lood research. &he money it "rought in was also used in part to fight +IDS and hemophilia.

-very family was epected to make a magnanimous donation to its coffers. &he com"ined offerings fueled &he ommittee)s

multimillion#dollar "udget for the entire year. Some, like the Forces, gave a"ove and "eyond the call of duty, while others, like the

3an +lens, a pitiful "ranch of a once#powerful clan, had struggled for years to come up with the re5uisite amount for their tithe.

'ow that ordelia was gone, Mimi wasn)t even sure if Schuyler knew what was epected of her.

*&he 5uestion is,* &rinity !urden Force, Mimi)s mother, said in her lilting voice, *is it appropriate for them to sit at the head ta"le as

they usually do, knowing what they have said a"out harles7* &rinity posed the 5uestion in a way that let the rest of &he ommittee

know that she and harles would rather dine on ashes than dine with the arondolets.

*I say shaft them at the "ack ta"le with all the other fringe families8* !o"i+nne 9lewellyn declared with her forceful &ean "ray.

She made a 2oking slash across her neck, if only to display the thirty#carat diamond on her ring finger. !o"i+nne 9lewellyn was the


11/185

second and much younger wife of Forsyth 9lewellyn, who currently served as 2unior senator for 'ew (ork.

Several ladies seated around 4riscilla Du4ont shuddered ever so slightly at the suggestion, even if they privately agreed with it.

!o"i+nne)s crass way of putting it was distinctly not the !lue !lood way of doing things.

Mimi noticed her friend !liss 9lewellyn look up at the sound of her stepmother)s grating voice. !liss was one of &he ommittee)snewest mem"ers, and her face had turned as red as her curls when she)d heard !o"i+nne)s guttural laugh "oom across the room.

*4erhaps we can reach a compromise,* 4riscilla noted in her gracious manner. *0e will eplain to Sloane that they shall not sit at the

head ta"le this year, seeing as they are still in mourning and we respect their grief. 0e will place the 3an +len girl at their ta"le as

well. &hey cannot argue with that, seeing as they were great friends of ordelia)s, and, as her granddaughter, she too has suffered a

loss.*

Speaking of Schuyler##where was that little wretch7 'ot that it was Mimi)s pro"lem, "ut it annoyed her that Schuyler hadn)t even"othered to show up for today)s ommittee meeting. She)d heard someone say that Schuyler and her human sidekick, /liver, had

gone to 3enice, of all places. 3enice7 0hat the hell were they doing in 3enice7 Mimi wrinkled her nose. If one had to a"scond to

Italy, wasn)t the shopping in Rome and Milan "etter7 3enice was 2ust wet and stinky, in Mimi)s opinion. +nd how were they a"le toget permission from the school to do so7

Duschene did not look kindly upon self#scheduled school vacations even the Forces had "een reprimanded when they had taken the

twins out of school last Fe"ruary for a ski vacation. &he school had already allocated an official *ski week* in March on the calendar

that all families were sup# posed to follow. !ut tell that to the Forces, who maintained that the powder on +spen Mountain in March

was deeply inferior to Fe"ruary)s snowfall.

Mimi threw a silk rose across the ta"le at her "rother, Jack, who was involved in a lively discussion with his su"committee over

security issues, "lueprints of the St. Regis "allroom spread out in front of them.

&he rose fell into his lap, and he looked up, startled. Mimi grinned.

Jack colored a "it, "ut returned her smile with a da66ling one of his own. &he sun shone through the stained# glass windows, framing

his handsome face with a golden glow.


12/185

Mimi thought she would never get tired of looking at him$ it was almost as gratifying as looking at her own reflection. She was glad

that after the truth of Schuyler)s heritage##a half "lood8 4ractically +"omination8##had "een revealed, things "etween the two of themhad gone "ack to normal. 0hat passed for normal around the Force twins, anyway.

%ey handsome, Mimi sent.

0hat)s up7 Jack replied, without speaking.

Just thinking of you.

Jack)s smile deepened, and he threw the rose "ack at his sister so that it landed in her lap. Mimi tucked it "ehind her ear and fluttered

her eyelashes appreciatively.

She checked over the RS34 cards once again. Since the "all was a community affair, it would "e a party dominated "y the -ldersand the 0ardens##an older crowd. Mimi pressed her lips tightly together. Sure, it would "e a fun party##the most glamorous event

ever##"ut suddenly she had an idea.

0hat a"out an after#party7

For !lue !lood teens only7 0here they could really let loose without worrying a"out what their parents, 0ardens, and ommittee

leaders thought7

Something more edgy and adventurous...something only the cr7me de la cr7me could attend. + cold, glittering smile played on her

lips as she imagined all her silly little peers at Duchesne "egging for an invitation to the party. +ll in vain, Mimi thought. !ecause

there would "e no invitations. /nly a tet#message sent to the right people on the night of the Four %undred !all would reveal the

location of the after# party. &he +lterna#vampire !all.

Mimi glanced over at Jack, who was holding a sheet of paper in front of his face, covering his handsome visage. +nd she suddenly

remem"ered a scene from a past life of theirs$ the two of them, "owing to the ourt at 3ersailles, their faces concealed "ehind

ornately "eaded and feathered masks.

/f course8


13/185

+ mas5uerade "all.

&he after#party would re5uire ela"orate masks.

'o one would "e sure who was who, who had "een invited and who had not##creating the most e5uisite social aniety.

She liked this idea very much. +ny time she could eclude other people from having fun, Mimi was always ready.

CHAPTER @

It)s not like she hasn)t had this dream "efore. /f "eing cold and wet, and of not "eing a"le to "reathe. +ll the other dreams had "eenlike this, ecept this one felt real. She was free6ing, shivering, and as she opened her eyes to the murky darkness, she sensed another

presence in the shadow. + hand, grasping her arm, lifting her up, up, up toward the light, and "reaking the surface.

Splash8

!liss took a ragged, coughing "reath, and looked around wildly. It was no dream. &his was real. She was su"merged in the middle of

a lake.

*%old still, you)re too weak. I)ll swim us to shore.* &he low voice in her ear was soothing and calm. She tried to turn around to look

at his face, "ut the voice interrupted. *Don)t move, don)t look "ack, 2ust concentrate on the shore.*

She nodded, rivulets of water dripping from her hair into her eyes. She was still coughing, and felt an enormous need to retch. %erarms and legs were weak, although there was no current. &he lake was placid and still. It was hardly even a lake. 0hen !liss)s eyes

ad2usted to the dark, she saw that she was in entral 4ark, in the middle of the man#made lake where, last summer, "efore she)d

enrolled at Duchesne, her parents had taken her and her sister to the "oathouse restaurant for dinner.

&he "oats were nowhere to "e found this time. It was almost the end of 'ovem"er, and the lake was deserted. &here was frost on the

ground, and for the first time that evening, !liss felt a cold seeping into her veins. She started to shake.

*It)ll pass. (our "lood will heat up, don)t worry. 3ampires don)t get frost"ite.* &hat voice again.


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!liss 9lewellyn was from &eas. &hat was the first thing !liss said to new ac5uaintances. *I)m from &eas,* as if identifying herhome state went a long way to eplaining everything a"out herself$ the accent, the "ig curly hair, the five#carat diamond rocks on

each ear. It was also a way for !liss to hold on to her "eloved hometown, and a life that seemed more and more remote from her

current reality as 2ust another pretty girl in 'ew (ork.

In &eas, !liss had stood out. She was five foot ten :with the hair height, she was easily si feet tall;, fierce, and fearless## the only

cheerleader who could eecute a tum"ling leap off the top of a fifty#person pyramid and safely land feet first on the soft grass of the

foot"all field. !efore she discovered she was a vampire and capa"le of such physical deterity, !liss had chalked up her

coordination to luck and practice.

She had lived with her family in a sprawling, gated man# sion in an eclusive %ouston su"ur", and had driven to school in her

grandfather)s vintage adillac converti"le##the one with real "uffalo horns on the hood. !ut her father had grown up in Manhattan,

and after a fruitful run as %ouston)s leading politician, had a"ruptly uprooted the family when he ran and won##'ew (ork)s emptysenate seat. +d2usting to the fren6y of the !ig +pple after life in %ouston was difficult for !liss. She felt uneasy in all the glamorous

nightclu"s and eclusive parties Mimi Force, her self# appointed new "est friend, dragged her to.


15/185

&his wasn)t the first time !liss had woken up in an une# pected place, only to find herself inches from danger. Just last week shehad opened her eyes to find herself perched on the topmost ledge of the loisters Museum, high up in Fort &ryon 4ark. %er left foot

had "een dangling off the edge, and she had caught herself 2ust in time to pull "ack and save herself from a dangerous fall. !liss

reali6ed she pro"a"ly would have survived the fall anyway, with only a few scratches, and wondered idly that if she did want to

commit suicide, what options would "e availa"le to an immortal anyway7

+nd then today she had found herself in the middle of the lake.

&he "lackouts##the nightmares of someone stalking her, and of "eing here "ut not here##were getting worse. &hey had "egun the year

"efore$ ecruciating, head#pounding migraines accompanied "y terrifying visions of crimson eyes with silver pupils, and sharp,

glittering teeth...and of running down endless corridors while the "east chased her, its foul "reath sickening in its intensity...catching

up to her, "ringing her down to the ground, where it would devour her soul.

Stop it, she told herself. 0hy think of that now7 &he nightmare vision was gone. &he "east##whatever it was resided in her

imagination only. 0asn)t that what her father had said7 &hat the nightmares were simply part of the transformation7 !liss was

fifteen, the age at which the vampire memories resurfaced, the age in which the !lue !loods "egan to reali6e their true identities asimmortal "eings.

!liss tried to recall everything that had happened earlier that day, if there was any clue as to how she could come to find herself half

drowned in the entral 4ark lake. She had gone to school as usual, and afterward had attended another tedious ommittee meeting.

&he ommittee was supposed to teach her and all the new inductees how to control and use their vampire senses, "ut for the last two

months the organi6ation had "een more invested in planning a fancy party than anything else. %er stepmother, !o"i+nne, had

attended the meeting, em"arrassing !liss with her screechy voice and her tacky outfit, a head#to#toe# logo)d 3uitton tracksuit. !liss

hadn)t reali6ed they made casual wear out of the same "rown canvas as the luggage. She thought her stepmother looked like one "ig

gold#and#"rown train case.

+fterward, "ecause her father was home for a change, the family had dined at the new 9e ir5ue that had recently relocated to

sumptuous 5uarters at /ne !eacon ourt. &he famed 'ew (ork dining hall catered to the powerful and wealthy, and Senator

9lewellyn had spent the evening shaking hands with the other well# heeled patrons##the mayor, the "roadcaster, the actress, the other

senator from 'ew (ork. !liss had ordered her foie gras rare, and had en2oyed slathering goose"erry 2am on the thick, rich, creamy

goose liver on her plate.


16/185

0hen dinner was over, they had attended an opera, in the family)s private "o. + new Met production of /rfeo ed -uridice. !lisshad always loved the tragic story of how /rpheus descended into %ell to rescue -urydice, only to lose her at the very end. !ut the

stentorian rum"ling and mournful singing had rocked !liss to sleep, leading her to dream of the watery a"yss of %ades.

&hat was where her memory ended. 0as her family still in the theater7 %er father seated like a stern, grave idol, his hands placedunder his chin, watching the show intently while her stepmother grimaced and yawned, and her half sister, Jordan, silently mouthed

all the words. Jordan was eleven years old and an opera freak##freak "eing the definitive word, in !liss)s estimation.

&hey were near the dock now, and the steady hand hoisted her up the ladder net to the pier. !liss slid on the slippery ledge, "ut

found she could walk. 0hoever he was, he was right$ her vampire "lood was warming her up, and in a few minutes she wouldn)t

even notice that it was forty degrees outside. If she had "een human, she would have "een dead, drowned for certain.

She looked down at her damp clothing. She was still wearing the same clothes she had worn to dinner and the opera. +n intricatelyem"roidered "lack satin &emperley dress ruined now. So much for dry#clean only. /nly one of her five#inch patent leather

!alenciaga platforms remained. &he other one was pro"a"ly at the "ottom of the lake. She looked askance at the opera program she

was still holding tightly in her hand, and released it, letting it flutter to the ground.

*&hank you...* she said, looking "ehind her to finally see the face of her savior.

!ut there was nothing "ehind her "ut the calm "lue waters of the man#made lake. &he "oy was gone.

'ew (ork %erald

+rchives

/&/!-R >, >?@A

&%- M(S&-RI/S DIS+44-+R+'- /F M+


17/185

&%- '-0 (/RB 4/9I- +R- pu66led over the mysterious dis#appearance of siteen#year#old Maggie Stanford, who walked out

of the home of +dmiral and Mrs. &homas 3ander"ilt three weeks ago during the annual 4atrician !all held in their home at ?AAFifth +venue and has not "een seen since "y her family or relatives. Maggie Stanford is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. &i"erius

Stanford of 'ewport. &he detectives have worked industriously on the strange case "ut have "een una"le to find any clews.

&he disappearance of Miss Stanford was reported at the &enth 4recinct police station as having occurred on Friday, +ugust CC. /nthat evening, according to her mother, Dorothea Stanford, who is known in society, Maggie was presented at the 4atrician !all and

led the 5uadrille. Maggie is of a 5uiet and retiring disposition. She weighs ninety#five pounds, is fragile, pretty, and delicate, and her

home relations are of a pleasant character. She has dark red hair, green eyes, and winning ways. %er engagement was announced to

+lfred, 9ord !urlington, -arl of Devonshire, on the evening of the "all.

Mrs. Stanford told the police she thought her daughter had "een decoyed or a"ducted "y some person of evil influence. &he Stanford

family has offered a su"stantial reward for any information leading to her return. &i"erius Stanford founded Stanford /il, the most

profita"le organi6ation in the nited States.

CHAPTER

-ut she )as right here. S&hu%ler )as &ertain. The )o"an she )as &hasing had disappeared through the door o! the ver%

sa"e palazzo that S&hu%ler )as no) standing in$ and %et the )o"an )as no)here to 'e !ound. S&hu%ler looked around. She

)as inside the lo''% o! a s"all$ lo&al inn. Man% o! the "agni!i&ent !loating pala&es o! an&ient +eni&e had 'een turned into

tourist*!riendl% pensiones$ sha''% little hotels$ )here guests didnt "ind the &ru"'ling 'alustrades and peeling paint 'e&ause

their gloss% 'ro&hures had pro"ised the" the% )ere e3perien&ing a sli&e o! the 4authenti&4 (tal%.

An old )o"an )ith a 'la&k s&ar! around her head looked up &uriousl% !ro" the registration ta'le. 4Posso li aiuto,4 Can ( help

%ou,

S&hu%ler )as &on!used. There )as no sign o! the 'lond )o"an an%)here in the roo". Ho) &ould she have hidden hersel! so

qui&kl%, S&hu%ler had 'een right at her heels. The roo" )as e"pt% o! &losets or doors.

4Ci era una donna qui$ si,4 S&hu%ler said. A )o"an ust &a"e in here$ %es, She )as grate!ul that the 5u&hesne S&hool "ade

their students take not one 'ut t)o !oreign languages$ and that 0liver had urged her to take (talian$ 4so )e &an order 'etter


18/185

at Mario -atalis restaurants.4

The old lad% !ro)ned. 4


19/185

45a"n$4 S&hu%ler said. 4Are %ou sure,4 She rea&hed around hi" to tr%. She turned the kno' and it &li&ked open. 4Ho) do %ou

do that,4 0liver "arveled.

4( didnt do an%thing.4

4(t )as totall% lo&ked$4 he said.

S&hu%ler shrugged and pushed on the door gentl%. (t led to a neat$ spare roo" )ith a single 'ed$ a )orn )ooden desk$ and

shelves o! 'ooks sta&ked up to the &eiling.

S&hu%ler pulled a 'ook !ro" the lo)er shelves. 45eath and 6i!e in the Pl%"outh Colonies '% 6a)ren&e 2inslo) +an Alen.4 She

opened to the !irst page. (t )as ins&ri'ed in elegant hand)riting# 4To "% dear Cordelia.4 4This is it$4 S&hu%ler )hispered. 4Hes

here.4 She peered at several "ore 'ooks on the shelves and !ound that "an% o! the" 'ore spines that de&lared 6. 2. +an

Alen as their author.

4ot right no)$ he is not$4 the landlad% said !ro" the door)a%$ "aking S&hu%ler and 0liver u"p. 4-ut the -iennale ends

toda%$ and the Pro!essore has not "issed one %et.4

The -iennale$ the 'iannual art e3hi'it in +eni&e$ )as one o! the "ost de!initive$ in!luential$ and e3haustive presen* tations o!

art and ar&hite&ture in the )orld. 7or several "onths ever% other %ear$ the entire &it% )as taken over '% an international

&olle&tion o! artists$ art dealers$ tourists$ and students eager to partake o! the histori& art !estival. (t )as an event S&hu%ler

and 0liver had "issed during the )eekend$ due to their !ruitless sear&h !or her grand!ather.

4(! its &losing toda%$4 S&hu%ler said$ 4)eve got to hurr%.4

The landlad% nodded and le!t the roo".

S&hu%ler )ondered again a'out the )o"an )ho had looked so eeril% like her "other. Had her "other led her to her

grand!ather, 2as she helping S&hu%ler in so"e )a%, 2as it ust her spirit that S&hu%ler had seen,


20/185

The% hurried do)n the stairs and !ound the landlad% shu!!ling papers at the re&eption desk.

4Thank %ou !or all %our help$4 S&hu%ler said$ 'o)ing to the old )o"an.

4Eh, E3&use "e. Posso li aiuto,4 the old )o"an snapped. 4The Pro!essore$ the -iennale$ )e are going to tr% and !ind hi"no).4

4Pro!essore, o$ no. o Pro!essore...4 The old )o"an "ade the sign o! the &ross and 'egan shaking her head.

S&hu%ler !ro)ned. 4o Pro!essore, 2hat do %ou think she "eans '% that,4 she asked 0liver.

4He leave...t)o %ear ago$4 the landlad% said in halting English. 4He no live here no "ore.4

4-ut %ou ust said...4 S&hu%ler argued. 42e )ere ust talking$ upstairs. 2e sa) his roo".4

4( never see %ou in "% li!e$ his roo" is lo&k$4 the landlad% said$ looking sho&ked and sti&king deter"inedl% to her stilted

English even though it )as o'vious S&hu%ler )as !luent in (talian.

4Erava"o giusti qui$4 S&hu%ler argued. -ut )e )ere ust here.

The landlad% 'ale!ull% shook her head and "uttered to hersel!.

4Theres so"ething di!!erent a'out her$4 S&hu%ler )his* pered to 0liver as the% )alked out o! the inn.

4/eah$ shes even "ore &rank% no)$4 0liver &ra&ked.

S&hu%ler turned 'a&k to look at the &ross old )o"an again$ and noti&ed that she had a "ole underneath her &hin !ro" )hi&h

a !e) stra% hairs had sprouted. And %et the old )o"an )ho had spoken to the" earlier had not 'een a!!li&ted )ith su&h a

"ole$ S&hu%ler )as sure o! it.


21/185

CHAPTER B

Mimi looked at her vi"rating cell phone as she eited her +4 French class.

+m I on the list7

+nother tet message. It was the seventh one today. ould everyone please calm down7

Somehow, in less than twenty#four hours, the news that the fa"ulous Mimi Force was planning an after#party to the Four %undred

!all had gone out to the entire 'ew (ork ity teen vampire elite. /f course, Mimi herself had told 4iper randall, the "iggest gossip

in the school, and 4iper had made sure everyone knew eactly what was going down. &here was a secret location. &he Force twins

were hosting. !ut no one would know if they were invited until the night of the event. Sheer social torture8

Just say ( or '888

She deleted the tet without replying.

Mimi walked down the "ack staircase at Duchesne that led to the cafeteria in the "asement. +s she passed "y, several !lue !lood

teens tried to capture her attention.

*Mims...heard a"out the after#party...


22/185

Dylan. It had to "e him. &he stranger in the park who had saved her from drowning. !liss had to "elieve he had survived the Silver!lood attack. 4erhaps he was now in hiding, and may"e he would "e in danger if he revealed his identity. 9ike a superhero, she

thought dreamily. 0ho else would have sensed her distress7

CHAPTER

The +eni&e -iennale )as lo&ated in several overlapping pavilions$ so that visitors )andered through a long series o! darkened

roo"s$ sear&hing as video installations &ra&kled to li!e in une3pe&ted &orners. 7a&es proe&ted on vin%l 'alls e3panded and

&ontra&ted$ shrieking and giggling. 7lo)ers 'losso"ed and )ithered on the s&reens. A rush o! Tok%o tra!!i& sped '%$

&laustropho'i& and threatening.

2hen S&hu%ler and 0liver had !irst arrived in +eni&e$ S&hu%ler had 'een !ired up )ith a )ild$ al"ost !everish$ energ%. She )as

relentless in her sear&h$ dogged and deter* "ined. -ut her enthusias" had !lagged )hen it 'e&a"e &lear that !inding her

grand!ather in +eni&e )ould not 'e as eas% as she had assu"ed. She had &o"e )ith nothing 'ut a na"e** she didnt even

kno) )hat he )ould look like. 0ld, /oung, Her grand"other had told her 6a)ren&e )as an e3ile$ an out&ast !ro" the -lue-lood &o""unit%. 2hat i! all those %ears o! isolation had led to "adness and insanit%, 0r )orse$ )hat i! he )as no longer

alive, 2hat i! he had 'een taken '% a Silver -lood, -ut no)$ a!ter seeing the Pro!essores roo"$ she )as !illed )ith the sa"e

!ier&e hope as )hen she had !irst arrived. He is here. He is alive. ( &an !eel it.

S&hu%ler dri!ted !ro" one roo" to the ne3t$ s&anning the dark pla&es !or a sign$ a &lue that )ould lead her to her grand!ather.

She thought "ost o! the art )as intriguing$ i! so"e)hat over)rought$ )ith ust a hint o! pretension. 2hat did it "ean that a

)o"an kept )atering the sa"e plant over and over again, 5id it even "atter, As she looked at the video$ she realized she

)as the sa"e as the )o"an$ trapped in a Sis%phean task.

0liver had alread% skipped ahead several installations. He took the sa"e a"ount o! ti"e to stud% ea&h pie&e appro3i"atel%ten se&onds. 0liver &lai"ed that that )as all he needed to understand art. The% )ere supposed to &all ea&h other i! the%

!ound an%thing$ although 0liver had pointed out that neither o! the" kne) )hat 6a)ren&e +an Alen a&tuall% looked like.

0liver )as not as &onvin&ed as S&hu%ler that a visit to the -iennale )ould 'e !ruit!ul$ 'ut he had held his tongue.


23/185

She stopped at the entran&e to a roo" 'athed in a &ri"son haze. A single light &ut through the entire spa&e$ proe&ting a

glo)ing orange equator through the e3panse o! MARCH 1B$ 1D1

E;A;EMET -R0=E

6ord -urlington and Maggie Stan!ord 2ill ot Marr%. Maggie Stan!ord Still Missing.

THE E;A;EMET 07 MA;;(E Stan!ord$ the daughter o! Mr. and Mrs. Ti'erius and 5orothea Stan!ord o! e)port$ and Al!red$

6ord -urlington o! 6ondon and 5evonshire$ has 'een 'roken. The )edding )as to have taken pla&e to*da%.

Maggie Stan!ord "%steriousl% disappeared on the night o! the Patri&ian -all**si3 "onths prior. Superintendent Ca"p'ell has

&ontinued to investigate.

The Stan!ord !a"il% suspe&ts !oul pla%$ although no ranso" note or sign o! kidnapping has %et 'een dis&overed. A su'stantial

re)ard has 'een o!!ered !or an% in!or"ation &on&erning Maggie Stan!ords )herea'outs.

CHAPTER

It was a 2ewel "o of a room, high up on the highest floor of one of the tallest skyscrapers in midtown Manhattan, a "uilding made ofglass and chrome, and as Mimi looked out over the magnificent 'ew (ork skyline, she caught her reflection in the plate glass

window and smiled.

She was wearing a dress. !ut not 2ust any dress. &his was a couture confection of thousands of chiffon rosettes hand#stitched

together to create an ethereal, cloudlike elegance. &he strapless "odice hugged her tiny twenty#two#inch waist, and her lustrous gold

locks spilled over her creamy shoulders and toned lower "ack. It was a si# figure dress, a one#of#a#kind showstopper that only John


24/185

*Stunning,* the Dior pu"licist pronounced with a 5uick nod of her head. *+"solutely, this is the one.*

Mimi took a flute of champagne from the silver tray proffered "y a white#gloved servant. *4erhaps,* she acknowledged, knowing

that with the dress)s fifty foot7long train, she would cause a commotion when she entered the party.

&hen !liss appeared in the doorway.

Mimi had invited her friend to 2oin her, thinking it would "e fun to have an audience watch her try on dresses. Mimi liked nothing

more than to have a fawning friend envy her good looks and social privileges. She hadn)t epected the pu"licist at hristian Dior to

fall over herself and encourage !liss to "orrow a dress as well. !ut ever since !liss had "een signed "y the Farnsworth Modeling

+gency, and her face and figure had "een em"la6oned all over town in the *Stitched for ivili6ation* 2eans advertising campaign

that she had starred in with Schuyler 3an +len, the little &eas rose had "ecome a "ona fide 'ew (ork cele"rity##a fact Mimi had

yet to forgive. !liss had even "een chosen as 3ogue)s *


25/185

*It only looks heavy,* !liss said, lifting the hem. *!ut it)s so light.*

*It)s made from 3enetian silk##some of the "est in the world,* the Dior rep eplained. *&en !elgian nuns went "lind making it,* she

2oked. *So girls, I suppose we)re all set7*

Mimi shook her head. &here was no way in hell she would allow !liss to steal the spotlight##her night##away from her. She had her

heart set on "eing the single most "eautiful girl in the room, and there was no way she would "e a"le to do that if !liss upstaged her

in that insanely opulent gown.

3isiting the cele"rity dressing department had "een her idea, "ut now Mimi had to opt for 4lan !. She wouldn)t "e content with a

gown from the runway##she had to have a gown custom# made and designed for herself only, "y the master. !alenciaga.

&hey left the showroom and crossed the street to gra" a 5uick lunch at Fred)s, the restaurant on the top floor of !arneys. &he hostessseated them immediately in a comfy, four#person "ooth near the window, where they could "e seen "y the tony crowd. Mimi noted

!rannon Frost, the !lue !lood editor in chief of hic, seated across from them with her fourteen#year#old daughter, 0illow, a

freshman at Duchesne.

!liss)s color was high and her face glowed happily. She was still talking a"out the dress.

*(eah, totally, it looked great on you,* Mimi said in a flat voice.

%er friend)s smile wavered, and !liss swallowed a gulp of water to camouflage her disappointment. Mimi)s disinterest was a cue that

all discussion a"out !liss)s "all gown was now over. !liss 5uickly regrouped. *!ut yours was ah#ma#6ing. 4ink is so your color.*

Mimi shrugged. *I don)t know. I think I)m going to look somewhere else. Dior is so outr7, don)t you think7 De trop, as they say. +little over the top. !ut of course, if that)s what you)re looking for, it)s fa"ulous.* She said condescendingly as she paged through the

leather#"ound menu.

*So where do you think you)ll go7* !liss asked, trying not to feel the sting of Mimi)s little "ar"s. She knew she had looked great in

that dress, and that Mimi was 2ust 2ealous##Mimi was always that way. &he last time they went shopping, they had "oth found a

gorgeous "a"y#lam" fur coat at Intermi, a trendy downtown "outi5ue. Mimi had allowed !liss to "uy it, "ut only after she)d


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disparaged wearing fur. *!ut you go ahead, dear. I know some people don)t care a"out the suffering of tiny little animals.* In the

end, !liss had purchased the coat, "ut she had yet to wear it. Score one for Mimi Force.

&he "itch was 2ust green#eyed with envy. I rocked that dress, !liss thought, then immediately felt ashamed to "e thinking of her

friend that way. 0as Mimi really 2ealous7 0hat did the "eautiful Mimi Force have to "e 2ealous a"out, ever7 %er life was like,

perfect. May"e !liss was reading too much into her reaction. May"e Mimi was right##may"e the dress was too much. May"e sheshouldn)t wear it after all. If only someone else had "een with her at the showroom, someone like Schuyler, whom !liss knew would

"e a"le to offer an honest opinion. Schuyler didn)t even reali6e how pretty she was= she was always hiding in those "ag#lady layers of

hers.

*I don)t know where I)m going to find a "all dress,* Mimi said airily. *!ut I)m sure I)ll find something.* She wasn)t a"out to share the

ace up her sleeve this time.


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*Jack, of course,* Mimi replied promptly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

*(our "rother7* !liss asked, shocked. *m, like, ew7*

*It)s a family thing,* Mimi huffed. *&wins always go as each other)s dates. +nd "esides, it)s not like...*

*It)s not like7* !liss prodded.

Mimi had "een meaning to say, It)s not like he)s really my "rother, "ut this was neither the time nor place to eplain their

complicated and immortal romantic history and the "ond "etween them. !liss wouldn)t understand. She didn)t have full control of

her memories yet and would not "e coming out at the "all until net year.

*'othing,* Mimi said, as their entrees were set "efore them. */oh. I think this one is still "reathing.* She smiled as she cut into her

steak, releasing a river of red "lood on the immaculate white plate.

+ date, !liss thought. + date for the Four %undred !all. !liss knew there was only one guy in the world she wanted as an escort.

*So what a"out you7 May"e you can take Jaime Bip,* Mimi suggested. *%e)s totally hot and so availa"le.* +ctually, Jaime Bip had a

girlfriend, "ut since she was a Red !lood, in Mimi)s mind she didn)t count.

*9isten, Mimi, I need to tell you something,* !liss whispered. She hadn)t meant to confide in Mimi, "ut she couldn)t keep her

thoughts and hopes to herself any longer. -specially since they were talking a"out "oys.

Mimi raised an eye"row *


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*!liss, darling, I think that)s really sweet how you think this guy, your so#called savior,) was Dylan. !ut there)s no way. (ou know

as well as I do that...*

*&hat what7* !liss asked defensively.

*&hat Dylan)s dead.*

&he words hung in the air "etween them.

*+nd he)s never coming "ack, !liss. -ver.* Mimi sighed and put down her knife and fork. *So let)s get serious. Do you want me to

set you up7 I think Jaime Bip is such a hottie.*

CHAPTER D

0hen Schuyler woke up, she was lying in an enormous king#si6e "ed in the middle of a vast room furnished in what can only "edescri"ed as -arly Medieval Royalty. +n immense and fore"oding tapestry depicting the death of a unicorn decorated the far wall, a

gargantuan gold chandelier lit with a hundred dripping candles hung from the ceiling, and the "ed itself was piled with all manner

of thick and woolly animal pelts. &he whole place conveyed a "rutal, primitive elegance.

She "linked her eyes and her hands went flying up to her neck. !ut there were no "ite marks. She was safe from that, at least.

*+h, you are awake.*

Schuyler turned to the sound of the voice. + uni# formed maidservant in a "lack dress with a white apron curtsied. *If you please,

follow me, Miss 3an +len,* she said. *I am supposed to take you downstairs.*

%ow did she know my name7

*0here am I7* Schuyler asked, kicking off the covers and stuffing her feet "ack into her motorcycle "oots that she found on the

floor.


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*&he Ducal 4alace,* the maid answered, leading Schuyler out of the room and toward a winding stairway lit "y hanging torches.

&he 4ala66o Ducale, or the Doge)s 4alace, was the seat of the 3enetian government for centuries and housed its administrative and

legislative arms, as well as council rooms and the doge)s private residence. &ourists were welcome to visit the grand halls and

galleries. Schuyler herself had already seen the palace on the officially sanctioned tour.

She reali6ed she was in one of the private residences, the roped#off section of the palace that was not open to the pu"lic.

&he maid motioned for her to follow, and Schuyler walked down the stairway to a long hall. +t the end of it was an immense oak

portal, carved with assorted hieroglyphics and pagan sym"ols.

*(ou will find him here,* the maid said as she opened the door. Schuyler walked inside and found a roomy li"rary of "aronial

splendor. Red velvet curtains were draped over the dou"le#height windows. 0alnut shelves were lined with leather# "ound "ooks.+nimal rugs and trophies a"ounded.

+ stooped, gray#haired gentleman in %arris tweeds sat in a massive leather chair in front of a roaring fire.

*ome forward,* he ordered.

'et to him was the handsome young Italian "oy from the !iennale. %e nodded at Schuyler and motioned to the chair in front of

them.

*(ou put a spell on me,* Schuyler accused.

&he "oy acknowledged this was so. *It was the only way to make sure of your identity and your true intentions. Do not worry, youwere not harmed.*

*+nd7 So are you satisfied7*

*(es,* the "oy said gravely. *(ou are Schuyler 3an +len. (ou are staying at the %otel Danieli with /liver %a6ard#4erry Senior

and his son, /liver. (ou are on a 5uest of some kind. +llow me to "ring you some ecellent news. (our 5uest is over.*


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*%ow so7* Schuyler asked warily.

*&his is the 4rofessore,* the "oy said.

*(ou have "een looking for me, I hear,* the 4rofessor said 2ovially. *I am not so popular these days with +merican students. + longtime ago, I had many little pilgrims come to see me lecture. !ut not anymore. &ell me, why have you come7*

*ordelia 3an +len sent me,* Schuyler said.

+t the mention of her name, the 4rofessor and the "oy echanged a meaningful glance. &he warmth of the hearth "rought heat to

Schuyler)s cheeks, "ut it wasn)t 2ust the "la6e that "rought a red "lush to her pale skin. Saying ordelia)s name so "oldly made her

feel vulnera"le. 0ho were these strange men7 0hy had they taken her here7 %ad she "een right in invoking ordelia)s call for

help7

*&ell me more,* the 4rofessor encouraged, leaning forward and assessing Schuyler keenly.

*ordelia was my grandmother...* Schuyler said. -ven if these were enemies, there was no "acking out of it now. She scanned the

room for eit points$ she noticed a hidden door "uilt into one of the li"rary walls. May"e she could escape through there, or else she

could stun "oth the old man and the "oy with a spell of her own and fly out through the window.

*0as7* the "oy asked.

*She has epired in this cycle. She was attacked,* Schuyler inhaled sharply. *!y a Silver !lood. roatan.*

*%ow can you "e sure7* the "oy demanded. *&he Silver !loods have not "een heard of since the seventeenth century. &heireistence has "een legislated out of !lue !lood history.*

*She told me herself.*

*!ut she was not taken7* the "oy asked in a hoarse voice.


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*'o. &hankfully. &he attack did not drain her of all her "lood and memory. She will live to return in the net cycle.*

&he "oy leaned "ack in his chair. Schuyler noticed he was fiddling with the car keys in his left hand, and his right knee was moving

up and down in impatience to hear the rest of her story.

*ontinue,* the 4rofessor urged.

*ordelia said that the key to defeating the Silver !loods lay in finding her hus"and, 9awrence 3an +len, who has "een in hiding.

She thought if she sent me##if she sent me to 3enice I might find him. %ave I7*

&he old man)s eyes twinkled. *4erhaps you have.* *A>st Street.

*(our onduit7*


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9awrence nodded. %e stood up and walked over to the recessed "ar across from the fireplace, opened a lower ca"inet, and removeda "ottle of port wine. %e poured two glasses of the scarlet li5uid and handed Schuyler a glass.

*I had a feeling,* she said, accepting the drink. She sipped it slowly. It was sweet without "eing cloying, full#"odied and delicious.

+lcohol had no effect on vampires, "ut most of them still en2oyed the taste.

*I thought you might. (ou almost turned to address me, "ut caught yourself. %ow did you know7*

*&he lord of the manor typically seats on the left, where you were, while he was seated on your right,* Schuyler said. It was a law

of medieval eti5uette she had learned from ordelia)s endless lessons on !lue !lood history. &he king was always seated on the

left, while his 5ueen, or any lesser personage was seated on the right.

*+h, very o"servant. I forgot. I am getting old.*

*I)m sorry ordelia couldn)t "e here,* Schuyler said softly.

9awrence sighed. *It is all right. 0e have "een separated now for more than a century. /ne gets used to solitude. 4erhaps one day it

will "e safe for us to "e together again.*

%e leaned "ack on his chair and removed a cigar from his front pocket. *So, you are +llegra)s daughter.* %e said, "reaking off the

corner of the cigar with a silver cigar cutter. *I have "een watching you. I knew you were looking for me the minute you arrived in

3enice. I sensed something in the air##I thought it was your mother "ut it was a different energy. (ou saw me.*

*(ou were the woman on the street that I saw today. (ou had taken +llegra)s form,* Schuyler reali6ed aloud. It all made sense now.

9awrence nodded.

*I do sometimes. If only "ecause I have missed her for a very long time.* %e took a 5uick puff from the cigar and ehaled. *I waswary of coming out to you until I was certain of your identity. I have many enemies, Schuyler. &hey have "een hunting me for

centuries. (ou could have "een one of them.*

Schuyler sat up suddenly, almost spilling her drink. *&he lady at the pensione7 &hat was you as well. +t least at first.*


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9awrence chuckled. *(es. /f course.*

*So that was why she said she had never seen us "efore when we came down the stairs. She was telling the truth.* Schuyler set her

empty glass on the small side ta"le across from her chair, taking care to place it on one of the gold#plated coasters.

*Marie is an honest landlady, I)ll give her that.* 9awrence smiled.

*0hy did you show us your room7*

*I didn)t mean to, "ut you were chasing me and I had to seek shelter in one of my secret hiding places around the city. I have many

addresses, you know. /ne needs them if one is going to hide successfully. Marie was telling you the truth= the room was locked.

!ut it opened for you. I took that as a good sign. I thought I would give you a clue see if you would "e a"le to find me in the

!iennale. (ou did well. (ou were drawn to the /lafur -liasson as was I.*

*!ut why did you run away from me again7 I was chasing you.*

*+nd you almost got me. My


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*I want to know a"out the Silver !loods. I want to know everything.*

CHAPTER F

The ne3t da% )as the 'eginning o! !inals )eek at 5u&hesne. 4 -liss &alled.

4Cant talk**late !or "% Che" !inal$4 Mi"i e3plained$ hurr%ing do)nstairs$ her slippers !lip*!lopping on the "ar'le.

45id %ou ust get here,4 Soos =e"'le asked$ !ollo)ing Mi"i. She )as )earing an oversize 03!ord s)eatshirt and sagg% erse%

leggings$ her thin 'lond hair a !rizz. This )as the girl )ho arrived in s&hool ever% da% )ith her hair per!e&tl% 'lo)*dried$


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)earing designer out!its that &ost in the !ive*!igure range. 4/eah.4 -liss shrugged. 42h%,4

4Ever%one else has 'een here sin&e da)n.4 Soos %a)ned. 4(ts the onl% )a% to get the 'est &u'i&les in the li' during !inals.4

(nteresting$ -liss thought. She )ould never quite understand the unspoken rules at 5u&hesne$ 'ut apparentl% looking like a

4grind4 or a 4nerd4 )as the height o! !ashion during e3a"s. /ou had to appear like %ou )ere slaving a)a% and totall% seriousa'out tests. Even the -lue -loods$ )ith their h%perintelligen&e$ still needed to &ra".

To"orro)$ -liss pro"ised hersel!$ she )ould arrive at s&hool in her oldest paa"as. She hated sti&king out like a sore thu"'.

(t )as ust another )a% to 'road&ast the !a&t that$ unlike her &lass"ates$ she hadnt 'een a student at 5u&hense sin&e pre*

pre* kindergarten. 2ould she al)a%s 'e an ignorant outsider, -liss )ondered i! she should 'e anno%ed that Mi"i hadnt told

her a'out the &asual dress &ode$ 'ut then realized Mi"i pro'a'l% had 'etter things to )orr% a'out than advising -liss on )hat

to )ear to !inals.

2hen -liss arrived at the Histor% roo"$ al"ost ever%one in &lass )as sitting do)n quietl% and )aiting !or their pro!essor to

hand out the tests. -liss took a seat in the 'a&k o! the roo"$ looking around to see i! S&hu%ler or 0liver )ere there. She)anted to tell the" her ne)s o! 5%lans return. Surel% the% )ould 'elieve her$ even i! Mi"i did not.

o su&h lu&k.

Then she re"e"'ered the t)o o! the" had 'een given per"ission to take their e3a"s earl% so the% &ould travel to +eni&e !or

t)o )eeks. 6u&k% 'astards.

-liss looked do)n at her 'lue &o"position note'ook. The !irst question had &on&erned the Ma%!lo)er ourne%$ Pilgri"s$ and

the !ounding o! the thirteen &olonies. Sin&e she had lived through it$ all shed had to do )as &lose her e%es and she &ould see

their desolate settle"ent. She )as sure to pull top "arks.

-liss !elt &on!ident she had a&ed the e3a" as she stood up and handed in her paper. :a&k 7or&e )as in her &lass$ and he gave

her a !riendl% s"ile as he turned in his paper a!ter she did. He held the door open !or her so the% &ould )alk out together.


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4Ho) are %ou,4 he asked on&e the% )ere in the hall)a% ne3t to the grand stair&ase.

4;reat$4 she said. 4( !eel like a &heat$ ( "ean...%ou kno).4

He nodded. 4( kno) )hat %ou "ean. All )e have to do is &lose our e%es$ right,4

4(ts like )e have an open te3t'ook or so"ething$4 -liss said.

42ell$ its not as i! )e have to use it$4 :a&k "u"'led.

4E3&use "e,4 -liss asked.

4othing.4 :a&k shrugged. He had a !ara)a% look in his e%es$ and -liss )ondered )hat )as going on )ith hi". She didnt kno)

hi" ver% )ell$ although she hung out )ith hi" o!ten enough sin&e Mi"i al)a%s liked to have hi" around.

4;ood lu&k this )eek$4 :a&k said$ slapping her on the 'a&k in a 'rotherl% !ashion.

4/ou too$4 -liss &alled. She looked at her )at&h. She had several hours 'e!ore her ne3t e3a". Ma%'e she &ould gra' a qui&k

'ite !ro" a &orner deli and then tr% to s&ore one o! those &u'i&les in the li'rar%**i! there )ere an% le!t.

As she )alked do)n the stairs$ a girl !ell into step )ith her. -liss raised an e%e'ro) 4/es,4

(t )as Ava -reton$ a !ello) sopho"ore**a Red -lood** and %et ver% popular. Al"ost all o! Avas !riends )ere -lue -loods$

although she didnt kno) it. -liss noti&ed there )ere telltale "arks on her ne&k$ )hi&h "eant that :ai"e =ip$ her -lue -lood

'o%!riend$ had "ade her a !a"iliar. (nteresting.

4-liss$ &an ( ask %ou so"ething,4 Ava asked$ tu&king a hair 'ehind her ear. Ava )as )earing a thin$ long*sleeved A"eri&an

Apparel T*shirt over her 'o%!riends 'asket'all shorts$ and gra% ther"al under)ear.

4Sure.4


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45o %ou kno) an%thing a'out this part% that Mi"i and :a&k 7or&e are thro)ing ne3t )eek,4

-liss shi!ted un&o"!orta'l%. 4(...4

4(ts oka%. ( "ean$ :ai"e is 'eing reall% )eird a'out it. ( kno) hes going to that 'all at the St. Regis )ith his parents seriousl%$ho) la"e is that, -ut ( thought it )as )eird he didnt even invite "e to the a!ter*part%.4

4(" sorr%.4 -liss said$ !eeling un&o"!orta'le. She hated )hen people )ere le!t out o! the !un. She re"e"'ered )hat her li!e

had 'een like 'e!ore Mi"i had taken her under her )ing. She didnt have it in her heart to e3&lude people. (t )as so shallo)

and sno''%$ and so Mi"i. (t &ertainl% )asnt -liss. An%)a%$ )hat )as the har", Ma%'e the 7our Hundred -all )as e3&lusivel%

!or -lue -loods$ 'ut the a!ter*part% )as !or teenagers. (n -lisss opinion$ the "ore the "errier. (! so"eone )anted to oin$

)hat )as the har"$ reall%,

4( ust**its ust**( "ean$ ( kno) ever%one else )ill get an invite$4 Ava said$ 'iting her lip. 4And )hat i! ( dont...4

4(ts do)nto)n at the Angel 0rensanz Center at "id* night$4 -liss 'lurted out. 4And its a "asquerade part%. /oull need a

"ask$ so"e sort o! disguise$ to get in.4

A rapturous s"ile appeared on Avas !a&e. 4Thank %ou$ -liss. Thank %ou S0 M


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"urden off her shoulders for a while.

+s she packed her "ags in her hotel room the net morn# ing, Schuyler remem"ered 9awrence)s parting words.

*I am sorry, Schuyler. ordelia was wrong in sending you to me.*

%e then "egan to pace in front of the fire. *&he truth is, I no longer have any interest in !lue !lood affairs. I have washed my hands

of their plight, ever since Roanoke. &hey chose to follow Michael then, as they have always done,* he said, meaning the coven

leadership had reinstalled Michael as Regis when the crisis at Roanoke had "een discovered and it looked as if the Silver !loods had

returned. *+nd if I)m not mistaken, they still choose to follow him today as harles Force.* 9awrence shook his head. *0hen he

turned his "ack on the family and renounced the 3an +len name, I vowed that I would never return to the coven.

*+las, you have traveled to 3enice in vain. I am an old man. I would prefer to live out my immortal life in peace. I have nothing to

offer you.*

*!ut ordelia said...*

*ordelia placed too much faith in me, as always. &he key to defeating the Silver !loods lies with harles and +llegra, not with me.

/nly the ncorrupted can save !lue !loods from the Silver !lood +"ominations.

*I am sorry I cannot "e of much help. I swore off the !lue !loods forever when I went into eile.*

*&hen harles Force was right a"out you,* Schuyler said, her voice shaking.

*%ow do you mean7* 9awrence asked darkly.

*%e said you weren)t half the man ordelia wished you to "e. &hat I would only find sorrow and confusion if I traveled to 3enice.*

9awrence stepped "ack as if he had received a physical "low. %is face registered a myriad of emotions##shame, anger, pride##"ut he

remained silent. In the end, he a"ruptly turned his "ack on her and left the room, slamming the door "ehind him.

0ell. &hat was that. Schuyler 6ipped up her carryall, lugged it over her shoulder, and walked out to the elevator, where /liver was


39/185

waiting. %e didn)t say hello or good morning.

She knew that if she wanted to, she could catch a glimpse of his mind##his thoughts "roadcast as if on satellite radio. !ut she always

switched the signal. She didn)t feel it was right to pry. !esides, she didn)t need any of her special powers to figure out he was still

annoyed with her for not calling him the night "efore.

9awrence)s chauffeur had "rought her "ack to the hotel late the previous evening, and Schuyler had found several frantic messages

from her friend on her cell phone and hotel voice mail. She would have called him "ack, "ut it was so late she hadn)t wanted to wake

him.

*I thought you were dead,* /liver accused.

*If I was, you could have my i4od.*

*%a. (ours sucks. It doesn)t even have video.*

Schuyler repressed a smile. She knew /liver couldn)t stay mad at her for long.

*+nyway, you missed a hilarious -uropean music awards show on &3. David %asselhoff swept all the categories.*

*Sucks to "e me.*

%e grunted. *Dad)s gone, he took an earlier flight. %ad to get "ack for some shareholders) meeting.*

Schuyler glanced sideways at her friend. /liver)s chestnut shag covered his forehead, and his warm ha6el eyes, flecked with green

and topa6, were filled with hurt and con# cern. Schuyler restrained herself from touching his neck, which looked so vulnera"le andinviting. 9ately she had "een sensing a new desire in her "lood to feed. &he thirst was a low hum, like music in the "ack of your

head that you didn)t even notice, "ut once in a while it would raise its voice, and there was no mistaking it. She found herself drawnto /liver in a new way, and she "lushed when she looked at him.

It occurred to Schuyler that her human father had "een her vampire mother)s familiar, and +llegra had taken him as her hus"and

against vampire law. For the first time in the history of the !lue !loods, the lines "etween the races had "lurred, and the result had


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"een Schuyler. %alf human, half vampire. Dimidium ognatus.

Schuyler had "een made aware of her ancestry only a few months ago, "ut now she understood that her "lood was her destiny,

formed in an intricate pattern of veins underneath her skin. !lood calling for "lood. /liver)s "lood...

She)d never noticed how handsome her "est friend was. %ow soft his skin looked. %ow much she wanted to reach out with her

fingers and touch that spot "elow his +dam)s apple, and kiss him there, and then, may"e, to prick the skin with her teeth, to sink in

her fangs...and feed....

*0here were you, anyway7* /liver asked, "reaking her train of thought.

*It)s a long story,* Schuyler said. &he elevator doors opened and they "oth stepped inside.

+s they made their way in a rickety ca" through the co""lestone streets to the tiny regional airport, Schuyler filled /liver in oneverything that had happened, and her friend listened attentively.

*It)s a goddamn shame,* /liver said. *!ut may"e he)ll change his mind one day.*

Schuyler shrugged. She had pleaded her case, she had done as her grandmother had asked, "ut she had still "een spurned. She really

didn)t think there was anything she could do a"out it anymore.

*May"e, may"e not. 9et)s stop talking a"out it,* she sighed.

&heir flight to Rome was delayed, so Schuyler and /liver killed time "y "rowsing the duty#free and souvenir shops. /liver grinned

as he showed Schuyler a racy Italian maga6ine.

Schuyler gra""ed several maga6ines, a "ottle of water, and gum to ease the air pressure in her ears during takeoff and landing. She

was waiting on line for the cashier to ring her up when she noticed a stack of 3enetian masks. &he city was full of sidewalk vendorshawking them, even though arnevale was still a few months away. She had hardly paid any attention to the cheap trifles, "ut one

mask in particular in the airport display caught her eye.

It was a full#face mask with only holes for eyes, and was made of the finest porcelain, with gold#and#silver "eading. *9ook,* she


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said, holding it up to show /liver.

*0hat do you want that tacky thing for7* he asked.

*I don)t know. I don)t have anything to remind me of 3enice. I)m getting it.*

&heir flight to Rome was "umpy, and the flight to 'ew (ork was even worse##so much tur"ulence that Schuyler thought she would

go cra6y from her teeth chattering against each other every time the plane "ounced. !ut once she looked out the window and saw the

'ew (ork skyline, she felt a rush of love for the city, tinged with sadness to know that there was no one waiting for her at home

ecept two loyal servants who were now her legal guardians, as per ordelia)s will. +t least there was !eauty, her "loodhound, a true

friend and protector. !eauty was another part of the transformation, a part of ordelia)s soul that had transferred to the physical

world to protect Schuyler until she was in full control of her powers. She had missed her dog.

&hey made their way to the concourse to retrieve their "ags from the carousel, weary from their 2ourney. +fter traveling for almostfifteen hours straight, "oth of them looked peaked, and it was dusk when they arrived in 'ew (ork. &hey walked out to find a light

dusting of snow. It was the first week of Decem"er, and winter had finally arrived.

/liver found his family)s car and driver idling "y the cur", and led Schuyler toward the "lack Mercedes May"ach. &hey settled

inside the co6y leather interior, Schuyler thanking the gods for giving her /liver. %is family fortune :intact; definitely came in handy

during times like these.

&he two of them were 5uietly a"sor"ed in their own thoughts as they rode "ack to the city. &raffic was light on the freeway for a

change, and they made it to Manhattan in half an hour. &he car drove over the CEth

Street, making its way down Riverside to the 3an +len mansion on the corner of >A>st and Riverside.

*0ell, this is me,* Schuyler said. *&hanks again for every# thing, /llie. I wish it had worked out with my grandfather.*

*(eah, no worries. 4rotect and serve,) that)s my motto.*

/liver leaned over to kiss her on the cheek like he always did, "ut at the last minute Schuyler turned her head so that their noses

"umped into each other.


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*/ops,* she said.

/liver looked em"arrassed, and they em"raced awkwardly instead.

0hat was wrong with her7 %e was her "est friend. 0hy was she acting so lame7 She was a"out to open the car door when he cleared

his throat. She turned to him. *Did you say something7*

*So, uh, I guess you)re going to that thing tonight, huh7* he asked, scratching his chin.

Schuyler "linked. *&hing7*

*&hat, uh, Four %undred !all,* /liver said, rolling his eyes and making eaggerated scare 5uotes with his fingers. *&he "ig

"loodsuckers shindig.*

*/h, right.* She had almost forgotten a"out that. %er presence would "e re5uired as part of &he ommittee. She was too young to "e

officially presented at the "all, unlike Mimi and Jack Force. Jack Force##for weeks now she had suppressed her feelings for him, "ut

the thought of the Four %undred !all "rought his image to the forefront of her mind. &all, painfully handsome, the sun shining on hisgolden hair and skin, laughing with his piercing green eyes, showing his even, da66lingly white teeth.

Jack had "een the first to suspect there was more to the story of +ggie)s death than anyone on &he ommittee would have liked to

"elieve. %e was the one who had "een determined to find out the truth. She had sought him out after she had "een attacked, and after

he had comforted her, they had kissed. &he memory of his kiss was still pressed like an imprint on her lips. If she closed her eyes she

could still smell him, clean and fresh like newly laundered linen, with a hint of woodsy aftershave.

Jack Force...

0ho had turned his "ack on her when she had mistak# enly accused his father of "eing a Silver !lood.

She wondered if Jack had a date for the "all, and if he did, who it was. She felt a "right flare of 2ealousy at the thought of another girl

in his arms.

*Do you want to go with me7* She hadn)t even given any thought to a dress or a date until /liver mentioned it. /liver "lushed and


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looked pained.

*It)s, um...vampires only. Bind of a rule. 'o human familiars or onduits allowed.*

*/h, I)m sorry, I didn)t know,* Schuyler said. *May"e I won)t go.*

/liver looked out the window, where snow had covered the rooftops and sidewalks with a gla6e of white crystal.

*(ou should,* /liver said 5uietly. *ordelia would have wanted you to.*

Schuyler knew he was right. She was the remaining 3an +len in 'ew (ork. She would have to represent the family. *+ll right, I)ll

go. !ut I)ll leave early and may"e we can meet up later on7*

/liver smiled wistfully. *Sure.*

CHAPTER 11

&he Forces had "ooked the four#"edroom presidential suite at the St. Regis. +lmost all the rooms in the hotel were taken over "y

!lue !lood families. It was a tradition, since it meant a simple ride in the elevator to the "allroom and guaranteed less crinkling of

the ladies) gowns.

harles Force fastened his remaining cuff link. %e was a tall, proud man with a handsome head of silver hair. %e was wearing

white tie and tails, as well as white gloves. &he tailcoat was "eautifully cut in the traditional fashion, with a two#"utton closure and

a velvet stripe down the side of the trousers. %e stood in the living room with his hands clasped "ehind him, waiting for the women

in his family to finish dressing.

%is son, Jack, was dressed similarly, and looked dashing in his tailcoat. Jack had chosen a pointed collar that lay flat on his dress

shirt rather than the traditional "utterfly collar that turned up against the chin.

Jack had "een 5uiet all day, and suddenly he swung his legs off the couch and stood up. %e looked his father in the eye. *0hat did


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you say to Schuyler "efore she left7*

*Still concerned a"out the 3an +len girl7* harles asked. *I would think that after she wrongly accused me of "eing +"omination,

you would have lost interest in her.* Jack shrugged. *I)m not concerned, father. Just curious,* he said. During the ruckus that had

surrounded Dylan)s disappearance and ordelia)s passing, his father had taken Jack into his confidence, telling him the truth of

Schuyler)s ancestry. &hat night, Jack had also discovered the truth a"out his relationship with his sister. Mimi was his other half, for

"etter or worse, his "est friend and worst enemy, his twin in more ways than one.

!ut although Jack had reconciled himself to the truth of his family, 5uestions remained$ what was &he ommittee hiding7 %ad a

Silver !lood truly returned7 %is father acted as if the entire situation were completely resolved, since the killings had a"ruptly

stopped several months ago.

harles sighed. *I simply told her that her 2ourney to 3enice would "e useless. She has gotten it into her head that her grandfather is

somehow going to provide the necessary answers to all of her silly 5uestions. !ut he shall not. I know 9awrence very well= he willstay out of it as he always has. She has em"arked on a fruitless 2ourney.*

Jack had guessed as much. %e was aware of his father)s dislike of 9awrence 3an +len, and his newly surfacing memoriesconfirmed it.

*+ny more 5uestions for me7* harles asked.

Jack looked down at his patent#leather shoes, shined especially for the occasion. %e could see his "rooding reflection on their shiny

surface.

*'o, Father.* %e shook his head. %ow could he dou"t his father7 harles Force was Michael, 4ure of %eart, the Regis. + vampire

"y choice rather than sin, and infalli"le.

*


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Jack saw his mother, &rinity !urden Force, walk out of her dressing room and smile affectionately at her hus"and. She was dressed

in a deep#red silk charmeuse "all gown with a sweetheart neckline and a plunging "ack. &he two of them would open the "all withtheir entrance. !ut Jack knew from his father that &rinity had not "een honored in this fashion in the past. In fact, this would "e

only the siteenth year that +llegra 3an +len did not take her place "y her "rother)s side. &he sitee

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