A Call of Vampires (A Shade of Vampire #51)

We all made our way downstairs, where the two Imen servants waited to take us to the grand dining room of the inn. It was a spacious banquet hall, with elegant cream-and-golden wallpaper, chestnut wood paneling, and lacquered flooring of the same shade. Candlelit brass chandeliers and lily-shaped sconces provided a warm, yellowish light, and a large dinner table with a seating capacity of twenty people reigned in the middle.

The Five Lords stood up as soon as we walked in, with a dozen Imen servants lined against the walls, waiting to service the dinner table. The smell of roast spices poured in through a half-open door at the other end of the dining room.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Emilian said with a warm smile. “I took the liberty of having the inn’s chefs prepare food for your non-vampire and non-Mara friends.”

“That was very thoughtful of you, Emilian, thank you,” Jax replied with a nod as he took his seat at the other end of the table, while we sat down on either side of him.

The Five Lords had been joined by Rewa, who had now changed into a delicate pink chiffon gown, and another Mara we didn’t recognize. His ruffled reddish hair and the shape of his jade green eyes were similar to Rowan’s, so I assumed there was a relation there.

The table had been set neatly, with a fine white tablecloth with golden embroidery on the edges, crystal glasses, and fine porcelain dinnerware. A beautiful floral arrangement was set in the middle, with golden ribbons and ivory-colored blossoms.

The Imen went about their table services, pouring water and blood from different gold-brushed pitchers.

“This is Vincent, of House Roho,” Emilian said, as the unidentified Mara sat up and gave us a curt nod. He wore a yellowish green three-piece suit with fine gold embroidery and a white, high-collared shirt which he’d paired with a pale green silk ascot.

We all nodded in return, and Vincent took his seat next to Rowan.

“He is my son,” Rowan said, “and Sienna’s brother. I believe Rewa has already told you about my daughter.”

We didn’t say anything, watching the Five Lords, Rewa, and Vincent as food was brought out from the kitchen and laid on the table in gold-plated warming dishes. We helped ourselves to our hearts’ desires—I opted for a bloody mix rich in sweet and peppered spices, as did the rest of our vampire crew, while Caia, Blaze, Hansa, and Patrik settled for slices of roasted meats and vegetables. I couldn’t eat any of that, but even I had to admit it smelled good.

“I understand Sienna was the last to disappear,” Jax said, taking a sip from his blood cup.

“Indeed.” Rowan nodded, grief drawing a frown between her reddish eyebrows. “And it’s been five days now. We have not been the same since. This is the first time that this issue has affected us, the Lords and Ladies of Azure Heights, directly. It was the reason we pushed for a vote and allowed Rewa to take the swamp witches’ spell and reach out to Calliope. We don’t know what else to do, at this point…”

I made eye contact with Vincent and nearly lost myself in those two pale green pools. He was a beautiful creature, his diaphanous skin working well against his red hair and steep jaw angles, his lips pink and sadness tugging their corners down a bit.

“You must understand,” Emilian added with a somber expression, “we really didn’t want to contact Calliope, but we are desperate. Whatever this is, it is taking our children now, too.”

“It’s no longer a question of Maras running off because they didn’t like the city,” Vincent said, his soft voice capturing my attention. “My sister loves Azure Heights. She loves me, and Mama and Papa and Rewa and all our friends. She would never just leave. Never.”

“Where did you last see her?” Jax asked, his gaze scanning the Imen who moved around the table refilling glasses.

“At our home, in the afternoon,” Vincent replied. “I was the last to see her, for that matter, in the garden. We live at the top level of Azure Heights, in the Five Lords’ quarters.”

“Are any of her personal items missing?”

“Such as?” Vincent raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t know, hairbrush, her favorite jewels, any objects she used in her day-to-day life.”

“Are you implying she ran off?” Rowan interjected, her tone as sharp as my sword.

“I am merely verifying all possible avenues before dismissing them.” Jax shrugged, his eyes on the Iman servant girl who stopped next to me and poured water into one of the two crystal classes before me. One had already been replenished with blood.

“Other than what she was wearing at the time she went missing, Sienna didn’t take anything with her,” Vincent then replied, through vaguely gritted teeth. “She couldn’t have, anyway, because she was abducted. Like I’ve said before, Sienna would never just leave us.”

The Iman girl’s hands trembled, and she accidentally spilled water on the tablecloth. She gasped as she set the pitcher down, and pulled a dry cloth from her apron pocket and dabbed it against the wet fabric.

“I am so sorry, milady, please forgive me,” she said, her voice raw, her hazel eyes wide and filled with terror.

“Cynara, please be careful,” Farrah replied dryly. “You don’t want to make our guests uncomfortable.”

“I am sorry, milady,” Cynara said, giving the Mara a pleading look that ignited some alarm signals in the back of my head. There was genuine fear oozing out of her. “It won’t happen again.”

Another Iman girl came over and gently pulled Cynara away from the table. She had similar features and the same hazel eyes, making me think they were most likely sisters. Cynara stilled, her back against the wall, her cheeks losing their color as she clutched the cloth against her chest, staring at the table.

“Thank you, Hera.” Farrah smiled politely, her gaze fixed on Cynara.

“My pleasure, milady,” Hera said, giving me a quick sideways glance before she removed the water pitcher and left two embroidered napkins in its place.

“It’s okay,” I said, glancing at Cynara over my shoulder. I gave her a warm smile for good measure too, not knowing how else to make her understand that she hadn’t done anything wrong. “Really, Cynara, it’s okay.”

She nodded but didn’t look me in the eyes. Her whole body trembled, and I heard fingers snapping. Two male servants shuffled across the dining room and gently escorted her outside.

“Where are they taking her?” I asked, slightly alarmed.

“Cynara clearly needs to rest,” Hera said from the side, watching as the servants closed the door behind them with an impassive expression. “My sister hasn’t been too well, lately. I apologize on her behalf.”

“There is nothing to apologize for!” I shot back, officially irritated. “Why are you making such a big deal out of this? She just spilled some water.”

“Cynara shouldn’t have been allowed back to work so soon.” Farrah sighed, her penetrating gaze fixed on me, as was Vincent’s. “It’s been what, eight days since her mother was taken?”