Hi!

Okay, so we all found out Alexander's even more resourceful than we and Anna thought. But, what next? How to get out of this?
I hope you'll enjoy the chapter. Let me know!

Lara

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Chapter 53

I openly stared. Not only that Alexander spoke their language, he was facing the congregation of magically armed witches in a disconcertingly calm and composed manner. Not a single trace of anger or any other emotion.

"No matter who was in her head, whether it was Ramondo or not, she had no way of obliterating him. The human servant followed her through the portal and came after her," he said. The words were soft, but packed a power punch that made the hair on my back point north. I was pretty sure the head vamp wasn't even trying very hard.

Vincenzo's eyes drifted from Alexander back to me again. "We entrusted you with secrets our community has kept for decades, and you come back with a vampire and an impending war?"

Alexander took a step forward. "Any actions she takes, are in essence mine. If you do have a problem with them, you will talk to me. I am Alexander, head vampire of New York-"

"Do you think I care what you call yourself?" Vincenzo said. "I don't need your name to know who and what you are." His eyes were blazing, moved to me with the slow-hand-shift of an ancient clock.

If I ever saw hatred, the kind of rejection you get on school grounds, the full-blast anger you see in bloody street riots, it was there. Pain. Hurt that left me chilled to the bone. The fact that he looked at me like he didn't even know who I was.

No, it was like I was someone that was more enemy than stranger. Like the blood and the magic in my veins meant nothing to him. Vincenzo didn't spell it out, but with one look alone he was saying things that went beyond words. I had no place. Not even among the Lumenis.

"You brought a vampire into our midst," he said. "You do not know what repercussions this will have. Do you think we will just let you go? Do you think we'll let the vampire live after what he learned?"

The chuckle was soft. I wasn't the only one to stiffen and freeze upon hearing it. It came from behind me. From Alexander. I turned my head. His arms were folded underneath this chest, casually. It was the stance of someone who'd just been invited over for tea.

"I am the least of your problems," he said. "Why not let her finish her account? Aren't you curious what happened to Ramondo's human servant?"

Vincenzo stilled.

Alexander smiled. "Ask her what she just did."

The blood in my veins turned to something solid, dirt and thick oil that stopped the grinding of a well-run machine. He couldn't be turning this around, he couldn't. He couldn't beat me in my own game. I thought, with the Lumenis present, I was going to be the one in charge. I thought I would explain what happened in my own words, make them understand. After he kissed me, I expected Alexander would-

Expected. Thought. Would. Mirthless laughter welled up, died and withered before it could escape my mouth. This was Alexander, dammit.

Eyes turned to me in quick beat succession. Among them all only few registered. Luca's. Vincenzo's. And Alexander's.

My gaze shifted, flickered from one person to the other, unable to settle on one of them. At last, they came to rest on the one pair of eyes I wanted to see the least.

"I killed Ramondo's human servant."

* * *

They'd handcuffed me, held me in what amounted to a semi-comic headlock ever since the words left my lips. I struggled against Luka's iron grip, the hands that wouldn't budge no matter what I did.

Alexander had been watching for the last five minutes with a soft smile on his lips. Apparently he wasn't bothered by it at all. The head vamp didn't raise a finger to help me, didn't even make the slightest motion to stop or prevent any of it. He could have with ease. It looked like no one was willing to lay a hand on him just yet. They were content to vent their anger on me. And they were doing a fine job of it too.

"I told you, no one saw us leaving when we portalled out," I said between rough breaths.

"And I'm asking again, where did you portal out from?" Vincenzo said.

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. I know that no one saw him leave with me. We were alone."

"The fact remains. Titus and Ramondo will know something happened. Maybe Ramondo discovered your true identity." It wasn't a question. Vincenzo made it a statement. "You said someone was in your head, but you are not sure how the vampire did it, nor did you see him. How would we know if it was Ramondo or someone else? No matter who it was, our secret is no longer safe."

"That's why I came back! Why would I purposefully lead one of your enemies to your secret village? Dammit, I don't even know where the village is located," I said hotly.

No one noticed, but I saw it. Alexander finally moved, took an insignificant step towards us.

"Let us assume Ramondo was the vampire that accessed her mind and that he ordered his human servant to follow Anna. If that was the case Ramondo would not have revealed it to Titus," he said. "Given the circumstances, it would be an act too rash. Ramondo is known to be impatient and impulsive, which is the reason why he himself never became a master vampire, despite his age. He once was Titus' enforcer, and became second in command only a few years ago. Ramondo does make a good enforcer, mayhap a fair second in command, but he is not capable of making grave choices that need a cool head. Believe me when I say that Ramondo did not act in Titus' interest when his human servant followed and attacked Anna."

I saw the easy smile blooming on his face and stiffened.

"Seeing as you are in a bit of a tenuous position, may I suggest something?" he said.

Alexander asking a question? I'd heard that tone of voice before. It was the sibilant sing song he used when arm-twisting opponents into something they didn't want, while making them believe it was their idea from the start.

"Leave her in my care and let her go," he said.

Vincenzo snorted. "She killed Ramondo's human servant. Do you honestly think he would just let it go? Titus has been hunting us down since the dawn of time."

"Did he?" Alexander raised an eyebrow. "The destruction of the Lumenis was never Titus' main goal. If the information I received was correct, he was intent on destroying the DeLuca line. The descendants of the Larosa family. Hunting down the Lumenis, as you put it, was merely a by-product."

How did he know that? Another detail he'd picked from my head, mere speculation, or did he know more than he let on from the start?

"If she cannot be connected to you, and she will not, because she will be with me, your safety is not in jeopardy. In fact, if someone is blamed, it will be me. I will and can keep her under control. Leave her to me and forget that you ever learned of our connection, and of her. Erase whatever evidence is left of Ramondo's human servant, any evidence that would point to his presence in these woods, and I will take care of the rest. All I ask in return is your secrecy."

Vincenzo stared at the head vampire. He was wearing the kind of look I'd seen on faces of leaders and decision makers while working in the TF3. My short-lived experience in politics and the web of intrigue spun around it – it told me he was weighing the options. Testing one likelihood against the other until he found the most probable scenario. Then, only then, he'd decide which action would bring him and the community the greatest profit.

He shook his head. "She said a vampire was in her head. Whoever it was, it means that means he knew about our secret hideout."

"I doubt that," Alexander said softly. "First, we do not know if the vampire did manage to access her mind at all. Trust me when I say Anna is very resistant to mind-control. Let us assume it was Titus or Ramondo, someone familiar with the Lumenis and their history. Let us assume one of them did get into her head. What exactly do you think he learned?" He paused.

I saw it in his expression. Felt the pin-drop quiet settle around us. He was doing the exact same he did at the TF3's launch meeting. Alexander was going to screw someone over without them realizing.

"I know what they saw. I was in her head as well. And I did not learn enough to be able to locate you."

Rico stepped forward, flashing hostility with his eyes. It was mostly directed against Alexander.

"You think you're the shit, don't you? The Lumenis doesn't cooperate with master vamps. Never have, never will."

"Shut up, Rico." Vincenzo was staring at Alexander – long and hard. "Let me make one thing clear, Alexander. I don't trust vampires. Not at all. Why should I trust you to keep this a secret? Why should I believe a single word you say?"

The youth turned to Vincenzo. "She's Giuliana's godchild. She's one of us. You can't just sell her off to him. Giuliana would never be okay with this!"

He was saying the kind of things I'd been wanting to hear for days, hell weeks. To hear the words from him of all people! Why only now?

Vincenzo raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about Giuliana's godchild? The one we haven't seen or heard from in the last, what, sixteen years? You forget your place Rico." He crossed his arms in front of him. His eyes shifted back to Alexander.

The vampire smiled. "As I mentioned before, it is in my best interest this incident and her connection to the Lumenis remains a secret. She is my human servant, therefore her actions reflect upon me. The situation is a delicate one, as much as it is for you."

The image couldn't have been any clearer. I knew what Alexander was doing, almost heard his sibilant voice placing thoughts and suggestions in my ears. See, we're in the same boat. Just your friendly neighbourhood master vamp trying to save his hide.

Vincenzo walked to the middle of the clearing until he was within arm's reach of Alexander. He stared at him for a long moment, and I wondered what gave him the balls to willingly start a staring contest with the head vampire of New York. He moved his lips. I strained to hear, but Vincenzo's voice was too low for me to understand. No matter which way I turned my head, or tried to, I couldn't make out a single sentence.

Next thing I knew Vincenzo stepped back. My eyes went to Alexander. No emotion, no nothing on his face. Then, barely recognizable, a motion. He nodded.

A small motion and I caught a flash of silver. Vincenzo drew out a silver knife, cutting his palm in one fluid motion. I could see the blood in his palm even from where I was standing. He extended his hand in slow motion, staring at Alexander. "Agreed."

The head vampire raised his palm to his mouth and bit it. I swallowed. Watched. Speechless.

"We do have an accord," he said.

Alexander extended his hand. The second their palms met, magic blossomed and bloomed around us. The air tasted of ashes and earth.

I watched wide-eyed, mind racing. I knew that kind of magic. Vincenzo and Alexander just entered a pact, sealed by a magical spell. Blood magic. Extremely dangerous, but powerful enough to have a hold on someone like Alexander. None of the parties could go against it without suffering severe consequences.

My eyes went from Alexander to Vincenzo, then back to Alexander. If only I'd heard what they were saying. What did they agree on? At this point in time I wasn't sure what was better: staying with the Lumenis whose leader wanted to lynch me, or Alexander, who needed me alive to do some more boot-licking as his human servant.

How did the saying go? Better the devil you know... Then again, I wasn't sure I knew Alexander. Not after that kiss. Violent. Intense. I closed my eyes to ward off the memories. After our kiss I dreaded finding out what knowing the head vampire of New York really entailed.