Finally Dead (Eve Benson: Vampire Book 1) (32 page)

“You’re
skilled in catering? I wasn’t aware of that.” There was a bit of doubt in the
term, so she let her eyes go wide and pretended to be hurt.

“Really?
I used to work with Clara’s Catering, it’s one of the most sought out catering
concerns in the
world
. True, most of it with Sherri Thomson, doing
decorations, but I did some time in the kitchen, every now and then. I’m pretty
sure I still have the scars to prove it… From the beatings Clara gave me if I
didn’t do it all perfectly.” She pretended to pull at her slightly tight
t-shirt, though there were no physical wounds from the Hsreth’s attentions back
then. Just some mental ones.

That was
not
a being that put up with sloppy work. Especially with her food.

Lenore
stopped, and then looked impressed.

“Truly?
I’ve been at some events that you worked on then, unknowing the whole time. I
knew that Keeley’s mother was involved, but not that you aided her in that.
Still, that doesn’t get you either a vehicle or someone to drive it, since as
far as I’ve heard you’re to redouble your efforts to avoid riding for the time
being, to aid your speed efforts. Bey has been most impressed with your
attempts so far, by the way. Many of those on the Council are, in point of fact.
Gene actually called for you to be put to death preemptively, as a possible threat
to us all. So
that’s
an excellent sign that you’re going places, isn’t
it? Not many find powerful enemies as quickly as that.” She seemed to think it
was funny, for some reason. Probably because she was secretly evil.

Gene
might look like a child, but the man was able to hold a seat on that esteemed
and powerful body, and had for a long time. Looking like a kid at the same time
would mean he had to be more powerful than the others in order to get that
done, not less. Having him after her would not be a good thing.

“Was he
joking? I’m
really
nice, after all. Ask anyone. Well, not my mother, or
most of her old boyfriends, but anyone else. My high school guidance councilor
will back that up though.”

To her
surprise Lenore looked puzzled at that one. For a second Eve thought she was
going to have to explain what a guidance councilor was to the woman, since she
was old enough that it might be a concept that she’d never heard of. That
wasn’t the issue though.

“I’ve
heard that you and your father were estranged for a time, but seem to be doing
well now. Is there a difficulty with your mother though? I hadn’t heard that
one, I don’t think?”

Eve
nearly felt bad about it, since it was a big thing to not let a person know
about, but then realized that Zack must have hidden that part of things for
her. That, or the Vampire had just forgotten.

“Ah. She,
uh, let me be molested and raped as a child, thousands of times. For drugs and
money, not just to get her jollies, but still... Apparently pedophiles pay
better for that kind of thing than average druggies will to use someone like
she was. When I got old enough to pull it off, I killed her. Then Keeley and
Darla helped me hunt down the worst of the men that had done things to me. So,
what with her being dead, we don’t talk much now. Plus, even if you could have
her ghost raised, I don’t think I’d be getting a very good recommendation from
her. Anyone
else
though. Seriously. Even Marcus probably thinks I’m no
worse than a bit of a bitch. Which is probably fair, considering I might still kill
him if he doesn’t show up on time today.”

Lenore
responded as if they were talking about flower arrangements.

“Oh?
Lovely! So good to know that we won’t have you running off to kill her now. Not
that I’d blame you, but it shows character, taking care of your problems in a
timely fashion like you did. In regards to a truck though, I don’t know who can
help you. As for Gene… Well, I do believe that Bey offered to have you fight
him, one on one, if he so desires.”

Eve
blinked several times, because she didn’t even have a clue what the tiny
Vampire would bring to something like that. Something highly deadly, no doubt.

“I see?
So, when do I go off to die? And here I’d thought I was doing pretty well over
all. Gene has to have some kind of mind powers, right?” For a second she felt
her unlife flash in front of her eyes, which was already over, since she’d just
started. Most of it was just pain, so far.

Lenore
winked and then patted the side of her own skirt, right next to her white
apron. That reminded Eve to go into the back and get one too. She kept
forgetting for some reason. It wasn’t hard to get one of the things on, and
while they looked dorky, it
was
the uniform. Even the people in charge
wore them, too. So it wasn’t like they only forced the young peeps to do it as
an insult or something.

The
Vampire ambassador waited for her to come back with her bit of white and green,
before delivering the punch line.

“I
rather don’t think it will happen at all. Bey offered to put up his entire
holding against Gene’s. The idea being that Bey would have everything Gene owns
after he dies.” She seemed peaceful about that statement, as if it weren’t some
kind of vast weight on her soon to be dead shoulders.

“Uhhh.
How would that stop anything?”

“Normally
it wouldn’t. If anyone else on the Council had said that, it would have been
seen as a mere ploy. A way to intimidate one of their fellows, and not truly
meant. It’s well known however that The Bey does not gamble. Ever, in fact. If
he states such a thing, it means that he truly knows his holdings would be
safe. In short, Bey stated that going up against you in a fight would be death
and no other outcome was likely. Gene decided that he didn’t know enough about
the situation to go forward. Now, that doesn’t mean he
won’t
come for
you, but that could happen on any given day. You may die this night anyway, so
why worry about what one single Council member thinks?”

Eve
nodded, then changed that to a head shake. Lenore was acting funny.

“They’re
all pretty old, aren’t they? Powerful too. I wouldn’t want to step on their
dicks.”

Lenore
giggled at her, covering her mouth with a single hand.

“Don’t
be crude, dear. You’re better than that. While it is true that they are
powerful, that does not mean they can always act with impunity. No one can. Yes,
one of them could have any of us killed at any time. In battle though, they are
as the rest of us. Immortal, but only if they can keep it. That Bey believes in
you so fully is impressive however. I can see why. You’ve been doing well. So
far. Not perfectly, but I’ve never seen anyone do better at your age. Of course
that means you need to do even better, or you’ll soon find that your enemies
overwhelm your capabilities.”

It was
nice to hear, and flattering, but she
still
needed to get someone to
drive the things she wanted to the game later. Plus, there was an idea that hit
her without earning. Gene, if he really wanted her to be gone, wouldn’t have to
come and punch it out with her. The being could just send in a small army, and
she’d be dead. Or sneak up on her when she wasn’t looking, and do it himself.

“Thanks.
Don’t think I don’t see you buttering me up for something. After all,
you
were the one that told me not to trust anyone. So, what’s up?”

To her
surprise, Lenore made a face. Caught, it seemed.

“Perceptive
of you. Correct too. I was asked to arrange a… slightly larger party to go in
with you this evening. Things are rather more… dangerous, than was thought when
you originally suggested going. Bey would like for us to be prepared to fight,
as a group, if the need comes up. Now, this
is
still your area. Your
project, and you’re in charge of it. No one is trying to take it away from you,
but if we could have a few more people waiting, in the wings, perhaps? I know
that it’s a change of plans, and no one wishes to steal it from you…” She
seemed nearly tentative.

Like Eve
was going to ignore extra help if it was offered? She didn’t even have a horse
in the race. As far as she was concerned this was mainly about finding out who
kidnapped her. If it was really linked to this game in the park, and there was
a bunch of other things going on, then it made sense to her that having some of
her own buddies around would make more sense than going in blind. Why wouldn’t
she want that?

“Sounds
good to me. Who all wants to go?”

That got
her stared at, her boss looking pretty young suddenly. Cold and pale too. More
so than Eve was.

“You’re…
fine with that? With others pressing in on your plans?”

“Sure.
Why not? Honestly, I can call Maggie and just ask if we can all come. I think
we should have two groups though. Bey and the stronger people on the outside,
ready to move, in case of trouble, and the insertion group.” She sighed and
looked away, making her face seem slightly pleased. Almost silly. “You know,
there was a time when being on the insertion team would have sounded naughty to
me. Like… Two weeks ago? Less than that really. Now I just can’t help but
wonder who would be the best people to go. It’s almost like I’m an adult or
something. My take is… Barb, and Zack. I know that we can’t hire or trade with
him on the issue, but we can ask if he wants to get in on the free goodies. It
won’t fool him, but if nothing happens, they might as well go anyway. They
wrote the books on it, so I imagine it would be good publicity for them. If
nothing happens they might as well gain from it.”

Lenore
seemed to think it was a good idea, but just stood there for some reason.

“Um, are
you waiting for me to go set all that up?”

“It
is
your party, so to speak. I wouldn’t wish to step on your toes, more than I
already am. Truly, I expected a rather large physical battle over this. You
trying to prove your worth and capabilities, while I pointed out that having
more people would only be to the greater good. Vampires can be territorial, and
inviting other powerful beings into this could be seen as releasing your hold
on things.”

It was a
good explanation at least. Eve nodded, understanding finally.

“Got it.
To me this was always Bey’s party though, not mine. I mean, cool if I get to be
in charge of something, but I can’t even imagine why I’d be considered that
way. Awesome though! Let’s see… Can you get with the outer party? I’ll get with
Zack, since if he doesn’t want to go it’s not going to get into the middle of
our relationship. We aren’t
that
close. Plus we
can
go without
him. This is really about the books. Barb… Well,
she’s
dead for the day.
Let me ask everyone else involved, though? Maggie first, I guess? She’s our
contact there, and might need to get her peeps around if she’s the one behind
everything.”

That
made sense to her, at any rate. She wasn’t going to try and sneak a Greater
Demon into the thing secretly. That would probably have her dead, even if
Maggie was planning to be friendly at the moment, and wasn’t involved in
anything else. She had the number though, and the other woman, as old as she
was,
would
be awake for the day.

It did
mean digging the thing out, which was harder to find than it should have been.
It was on the form though, from the initial complaint, which was in the files
there at the office. They held five years of them, Lenore told her as she
pointed out where to find the thing. Near the back, since Sims began with an S.

Ten
minutes later she had the phone ringing, and wasn’t shocked when the woman
answered it herself. She seemed to be a down to Earth kind of person that way.

“Hello?”

“Hey
Maggie. Eve Benson here. Calling about the exciting, and no doubt fulfilling,
game of make believe tonight? I read the book for it, so I should be, if not
ready, then not
too
embarrassing to have around.”

“Ah! I
was going to get with you later tonight and see if you wanted to come. I keep
forgetting that you’re going to be awake. That’s really neat, by the way. We
can get together and actually do stuff, if you want. I’ve been dreaming of
taking a trip to the ocean for years, but haven’t since it’s so hard to find
someone to go with me.”

“Yep.
That sounds fun, actually. Hey, can I bring some friends, or would that be too
much? Tonight I mean. I have treats too, so they can help me carry them in.
It’s all part of my nefarious plan to suck up to everyone and turn them into my
pals. I’d be bringing the authors of the game guides? Zack and Barb. That
should get me some traction with your crowd, right? Oh! You don’t have a truck
do you? I wasn’t kidding when I said I had treats. Vast mountains of things. In
fact I need to get home early, and make sure everything is all ready. I ran up
a character sheet, too, since I figure that if I’m going, I might as well do it
right. Elth. So, you know, I
have
to overdo the food portion of things?
It was in the book, I’m almost positive. That thing is
really
accurate,
as far as I can tell.” That just seemed right to her. Why would she bother
going to a geek fest in the first place, if not for something like that? To
impress people and make new friends.

Really,
she needed to take some blood, too, given how many Vamps, real and fake, would
be there, but she wasn’t going to get time for that, not for cows blood. There
was no way she was potentially feeding Human blood to their own kind either,
not just for a joke or to make her role seem more accurate. So cookies it was.