He pushed his lip out in an expression more indicative of a shrug. “I will admit it is not easy. Right now, my natural instinct would be to pierce the main artery in your neck and feed. I’m not going to do that, however, because I am civil and have already eaten today. Not a human, mind you, but it did take off the edge.”
These people were more whacked out than Mrs. Franklin’s cult. “If that eagle hadn’t come along, then what? Cody was going to turn me into a fruit bat?”
“Those bitten are reborn as Cruor. Newborns. The change was intended to purify evil in the humans, to help those humans harness their desires to kill. They were supposed to join their makers to comb the earth and hunt other impure humans.”
“Wouldn’t your Universe-people just kill the bad humans?”
“The Universe can only create. It cannot destroy.”
“What does that have to do with me? You make it sound as though the Cruor are here to protect. Are you trying to say he mistook me for a criminal?”
“No.” Adrian returned his gaze to mine. “You don’t seem to understand. The Cruor were not supposed to turn on the pure. There must have been some error in their creation…some lingering darkness. The result was elementals who cared about only one thing—eternal life. This means stealing lifeblood from others, whether they bind themselves to their prey’s soul or kill them.”
“So the Universe—which is, for all intents and purposes, like GOD—screwed up the humans, then made some elementals and screwed them up, too?”
“Perhaps,” Adrian said. “No one can say for sure where the original darkness came from, but, since then, laws have been set. The Cruor are no longer permitted to attack a human unless the human becomes a threat. Such as those who learn of our true nature.”
“You said Club Flesh has always been safe for humans.”
“It’s a great place to make…connections. Exchanges, if you will.”
“I don’t even want to know,” I said, trying not to think about what Ivory or Charles could possibly get out of that place, or what they were doing to get it.
Ivory must have read the disgust on my face. “Money,” she said. “In exchange for blood, information, services….”
“And you?” I asked, imploring her with my gaze.
“Accounting.”
“Accounting for elementals?” I shook my head. “Accounting? Really?”
Adrian nodded, touching his hand to his cheek. “Our world is not so different than your own, yes?” he asked. “Things do not always work as intended. Some may simply claim a human is a threat, even if they are not. Most, however, would prefer not to draw the Maltorim’s attention to their actions. They’d rather find another way to get what they want from humans. Marcus, being one of few remaining earthborns, is strong and set in his ways. He’d surely be excused, as he’s a member of the Maltorim himself, but he’s not known to act on his desires without prompt.”
At least we were getting somewhere. Cody attacked me for a reason. “So what was the prompt?”
“You have something. Or rather, you’re missing something.”
“Like what?”
Adrian shrugged. “You tell us.”
“If you don’t know what it is, how do you know I don’t have it?”
“Some people can tell. Charles being one of them.”
“Oh, yeah?” I didn’t try to hide my disbelief.
“Anyone can have a supernatural gift. Immortal, Mortal…it matters not,” he said. “While Charles may not be able to see why you drew Marcus’ attention, he can see how you did.”
“How is that, then?”
“Your aura.”
Charles could read auras? If that were true, he would’ve known I wasn’t guilty of following him. That’s what auras were for, right? Reading emotions, intentions, that sort of thing. Surely I didn’t glow some vicious shade of evil. That’d be reserved for someone like Marcus or Cody.
“What about my aura?” I asked finally.
Adrian smiled. “You don’t have one.”
Chapter 7
IF THIS AURA THING were true, perhaps that was how Charles earned his pay with the club. Did Ivory issue him a check for his services, or were such payments made in cash?
I still wasn’t sure I was buying it. Why did they expect me to know I didn’t have one? “Are you telling me nothing bad would have happened if I had an aura?”
“Mock the situation all you like,” Adrian said, “but I am trying to help you. Would you prefer I leave?”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell him to stay, but I didn’t tell him to leave, either. “In theory, then, is it bad I don’t have an aura?”
Adrian’s jaw tensed. “This is not a theory, Miss Sophia. And no, it’s not bad to be without one. It’s merely rare and not well understood, which would be reason enough for Marcus to seek you out.”
“Then why didn’t any other Cruor approach me?”
“Because Cruor can’t see auras. One of his party, however, might have been able to. It is likely you were pointed out for that reason.”
“Charles was also able.”
Charles cleared his throat. “If you’re implying—”
“I’m not implying anything.”