“When did you break up?” My stomach was knotting up. I had known Strega in my time. Some of them were good people, but like every other group, some of them were dangerous and vicious. In fact, I may have run across her long ago and not realized it. Whatever the case, Rachel was a first-class threat and if what Aegis was saying was true, she’d be a danger for life. The Strega never forgot. They nursed their grudges like dragons nursed gold.
“In early 1990, she crossed the line. I knew she didn’t leave all of her victims alive but I managed to look the other way, until I found her drinking the blood of ten-year-old twins. Granted, we were in the middle of nowhere, and there were only scattered families around. We’d gone on a stupid road trip and ended up in the Midwest. When I discovered she had slaughtered an entire family, including the twins, she laughed in my face. She said I was an idiot and that Apollo was right to cast me out—that I wasn’t worth keeping around.”
I winced, trying not to picture the carnage. But that alone convinced me that Aegis and I had to have a talk about my past.
“And you’ve never killed a child?” Delia sounded skeptical. The question seemed cruel, even for her. Although werewolves and vamps didn’t mix, I understood. Given the millennia Aegis had lived, I understood her line of reasoning.
Aegis straightened, staring directly at the sheriff. “Never. I’ve never killed a child. And I’ve never ruthlessly murdered to feed. Vampires don’t need to kill their food supply. It doesn’t make sense, anyway. The only time I’ve killed anyone is when they were attempting to destroy me. And I have killed a few other vampires. Once, I found one attacking a pregnant woman. Another time, I followed one of the Fallen into an alley to find that he had enthralled five or six young girls—all under their teen years. He wasn’t just using them for blood. He died that night and I made sure the girls ended up in the hospital. Nobody ever knew how they got there, but I made sure they were found before I left.”
Delia flipped her notepad shut and leaned back. “Why does Rachel want you back? Why not move on to the next catch?”
Aegis shifted, looking uncomfortable. “I’m the only one who ever left her. Everybody else, she’s either killed or dumped. I’m the one who walked away, and that bruised her ego. It was worse when she found out that I had come to Bedlam, a town where the vampires answer to the witches. Rachel refuses to kneel before anyone who isn’t one of the Fallen royalty. She’d be happy for the entire world to be enslaved.”
“She really is a piece of work, isn’t she?” Sandy snorted. “Megalomaniac, narcissistic. It’s a wonder she’s not running for president.”
“Too much paperwork and not enough autonomy,” Aegis said, breaking the tension with a laugh. “After a while, her temper tantrums would cease to be welcome.” He sobered again. “But seriously, check Ralph for fang marks. She’ll have to have bitten him for him to fall under thrall. I’m betting you find them.”
“Even so, I can’t let him go if he’s the one who actually murdered Rose. Even if he did it under her orders, we’ll have to prosecute them both. The best I can offer is that he’ll need a good lawyer.” Delia let out a long sigh. “He’ll be up on charges under both state law as well as having to answer to the Bedlam Tribunal. The latter may be far harsher on him than the former.” She stood, glancing out the window. “Vampires don’t leave fingerprints, do they?”
“Yes, they do, but most often you won’t find them in any record because the majority of us are older than the fingerprint databases. If they could match some of the prints left in unsolved murders to vampires, they might solve a number of cold cases.” He gave her a shrug. “What can you do?”
“Last question. Do you know where she’s staying?”
I wanted to know that answer, as well.
But Aegis just shook his head. “If I did, she wouldn’t be the problem she is, Sheriff.”
And that ended that. Delia gathered her things and left, enjoining us to be cautious until everything was sorted out. “If she’s angry at you for taking up with Maddy, then Maddy isn’t the only one in danger.”
Aegis grudgingly agreed. “I guess that makes sense.”
“You know it does. Now, I’m going to see what I can find out. Maybe I’ll pay a visit to Linda and ask for her take on this.” Delia glanced over at Sandy and me. “Don’t you two go calling her before I can get there.”
“We won’t, but whatever you’re planning, do it tonight. We have ritual tomorrow night and Linda’s going to have to know everything before we cast Circle. We can’t keep any secrets like this away from her, not when we’re talking the level of magic we of the Inner Court perform.”
Those of us who made up the Inner Court ran magical energy that could backfire with incredible volatility, and the spells we worked in private for the protection of Bedlam and the prosperity of its inhabitants were best performed with no hidden agendas or worries. While we didn’t advertise what we did, it was generally known that we weren’t good people to mess with. Obviously, Rachel hadn’t gotten the message.
Delia scowled. “Magic.” She shuddered. “Gives me the creeps. But I understand. I’ll stop over there tonight and talk to her.” As she headed toward the door, she added, “Given what you’ve told me, don’t go outside alone after sunset. Aegis, that goes for you, vampire or not.” She closed the door behind her before we could say another word.
“Well.” I leaned back in my chair. “This thing has blown way out of proportion.” I felt grumbly and out of sorts. It wasn’t Aegis’s fault, but the thought kept running through my head that it would have been so much easier if he had decided to be a loner when Apollo kicked him out of service, rather than making his reputation as a playboy who won women over before breaking their hearts.
Aegis glanced at Sandy. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Maddy. Alone. I’ll walk you to your car.”
“That’s rude—” I started to say, but Sandy cut me off.
“He’s right. You two need to discuss this without me being in the way. Besides which, I want to go home and eat, and then prepare for tomorrow night. I’m suddenly very tired, and if I coax him, Alex might just give me a massage.” She purred over the name.
“I know you’re dating your assistant. Don’t you try to hide it from me.” I laughed as she stood. Aegis held her coat for her and she slid into it.
“What’s the harm in that? He’s free. I’m free. I hired him because he does a great job, but he’s far handier than I thought, and I’m not being slimy here. I never have to micromanage him, he doesn’t take advantage of me, and best of all, he didn’t need the job, so he won’t play fast and loose trying to make more work for himself. Alex accepted the job because he thought it would be interesting, and he donates half his salary to charity.” She beamed. “I think I might have found a keeper this time.”
I couldn’t even begin to count how many times Sandy had said that over the years, but it had to be into the triple digits by now. She simply wasn’t a woman who settled down easily, but she had managed through several long-term relationships including the last marriage, ending most of them amicably before moving on to new pastures.
“I’ll call you tomorrow morning. We need to talk about the ritual tomorrow night, anyway. Be careful driving home and have Alex meet you at the car.”
“Rachel isn’t after me,” Sandy said, laughing off my concern.
“No, but if she’s out for me, she’ll be more than willing to strike at those I love. And woman, you are my right hand.”
As Aegis walked Sandy out the door and across the lawn I thought about my relationship with Sandy. We had been together longer than anybody I knew—she had known my Tom. She had held my hand when the vampires turned him. She held my hand as I wept, and ran beside me when I ran mad. She and Fata Morgana had hunted the countryside with me. Along the way somewhere, Fata had vanished and we had lost touch with her. But Sandy, she was there through all the ups and downs of my life, and I tried to return the favor. We were sisters of the heart, blood bound by choice, and I couldn’t have a better friend.