She rolled her eyes, still humming, which was good because she was calling him names inside her head she wasn’t even aware she knew.
“I could hear your tirade from the forest. You are upset at the death of the shifter pup.” He cut off another bite of fish, his manners impeccable. “The killing of children is not unique to the Underveil. Human children are killed in wars all over the world and in gang battles in your own city.”
He was right there. Teens were caught in gang crossfire and the victims of horrible murders. She’d seen it on television way too often.
He took a sip of wine, never taking his eyes off her. “The loss of young life is tragic, despite species. Which is the real issue here: species. Humans have only one. We have many. Do you think your world would deal with this kind of diversity better? Is everyone in your society slated to be CEO, president, commander, or king, or do they need a skill set, education, connections, or a birthright, just as we do?”
Again. He had a point. She turned her attention to her food.
“We have shifters in our leadership and all jobs in the Underveil, though most pursue careers that best suit their skills or animal nature, sticking with their flock, pack, or herd by choice. They are not oppressed or excluded, unlike in your world where females of your species were not even allowed to vote until the current century. Recall how hard it is, even in your own country in modern times, for different races to accept one another. And that is only skin color or mild differences in features within a single species. Imagine how hard it is to integrate different species. We’ve done well.” He set his wineglass down. “Adjust your thinking, Elena Arcos.”
The delicious fish turned to tasteless mush in her mouth.
“As for the brutality that occurred here today. Empath vampires are dangerous, not only to the Underveil, but to humans in particular. They react off emotions rather than logic. This castle functions like a prison psychiatric unit in the human world. They are kept away from civilization and receive treatment in the hopes they can go out in the world and live normal, productive lives. Those who can’t are destroyed in order to save the innocent. You did not cause their destruction, Elena. They met the end they were destined for. It just wasn’t on today’s schedule, and it put the shifters at unnecessary risk. It turned out fine. Lesson learned.”
Elena set her fork down. His words made sense, but her heart still ached to think she’d been culpable in any way.
“We are not barbaric or any more bigoted than the human race. Sadly, as you saw today, we are more violent, as necessitated by nature itself. We deal with long, sometimes overly long lifespans, which alters our outlook as well.”
Yeah. Stefan had said almost the same thing.
“The Time Folder is wise. And far more neutral than most. He will keep you safe.”
“What about you?” Elena recalled how he looked all covered in blood and feared he was a representative of the darker, more violent side of the Underveil.
The door at the far end of the hall burst open, and Elena jumped to her feet. Claude stumbled in, looking around frantically. “Where are they?”
He was in his slayer uniform still, but clean-shaven with his hair slicked back from his face, making his gold eyes even more prominent.
The vampire nodded to the man standing near the door at the other end of the room, and he exited. “Please sit down and join us, Claude.”
He remained just inside the room. “No…no. I was told they were here. I…”
“Daddy!” a little boy shrieked as he sprinted through the door where the man had disappeared. He jumped up into his father’s tight embrace, no fear whatsoever of not being caught. “Come see Mommy and Sasha. We have a huuuuuuge room with the biggest bed I’ve ever seen. Mommy says we can all stay there together.”
Claude approached the head of the table. “I don’t even know what to say. I never thought I’d see any of them again. Thank you.”
“Go be with your family. Thanks aren’t necessary. Just be ready to fight for Nikolai Itzov when the time comes.”
He set his son down. “Absolutely.” The little boy tugged him by the hand furiously toward the door. “How? How did you know where to find them? You can’t read Slayer’s minds.”
“I was captive at that fortress for quite a while. You have several friends among the shifter guards. They worry about your family. You must be a good man to warrant such concern. Go.”
Claude, eyes bright with unshed tears, allowed his son to lead him from the room.
Completely surprised, Elena returned to her seat. “Your important task was to get his family?”
“An elite force had already been dispatched to execute them all. ‘Big, Bad Vlad’ couldn’t let that happen.”
She smiled at the name she’d called him in her rant. “What is your name, really?”
“Oddly, my real name is Vladimir Dalca. Please call me Vlad.”
“You’re shitting me.”