Dead Spots (Scarlett Bernard #1)(84)

I didn’t dream.

When I woke up again, darkness had fallen outside the window on my left. Jesse was asleep in the uncomfortable-looking armchair by the window. I half smiled. He looked so cute with his head bent all crooked. I slowly turned my head to the right—and saw Dashiell sitting in the chair next to my bed, looking calm and composed.

I may have let out a bit of a squeak. I swallowed and started again. “Are you here to kill me?”

“No, Scarlett.” His face softened a little, and I let myself relax. “I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving Beatrice. I know I am not what one would call benevolent. But Beatrice...She is my heart.”

I nodded, which hurt way less this time. “And Jesse?” I moved my head back to him as quickly as I could. He is sleeping, right? I thought with sudden panic.

“I pressed his mind to sleep for a few hours so we can speak. But yes, he can live, too, for now,” Dashiell said seriously. Vampires have no concept of how silly they sound sometimes. “He has not spoken about our world to anyone, as far as we can tell, and he may turn out to be useful. He was certainly helpful in disposing of Mr. Hess.”

“Huh?”

His brow furrowed. There was a little bit of a pull from his eyes, and I looked away quickly. I had to get used to avoiding vampires’ gazes.

“I apologize. I thought you’d been told. Jared Hess’s body was found in his bait shop three days ago. Mr. Hess had shot himself after writing out a full confession to the killings in La Brea Park.” He smiled wanly. “Your pet policeman picked up the anonymous tip that led the police to the scene.”

So squeaky-clean Jesse was willing to let another human being die without getting a trial—granted, a psychotic murderer, but still. Interesting. I would have expected to feel a little smug about that, but I mostly just felt guilty. I was too exhausted to think too much about that right now, so I set it aside for later consideration.

“Dashiell, Eli said you knew I would get better—that my thing would come back. How do you know that?”

He looked at my face thoughtfully for a moment, then reached into his pocket. I tensed, but he just pulled out a sleek little cell phone. The idea that vampires hate or fear new technologies is kind of a myth—you don’t live to be hundreds of years old without learning how to adapt. Dashiell pushed a few buttons and held the phone up to me, sideways. It was a little video. I peered at it.

The video was of a nearly naked human woman screaming and throwing herself against the bars of a metal cell. Her face was bruised and swollen, and there were dark mascara streaks under her eyes, which made her look even more terrifying. I looked closer. She was wearing the tatters of a black sheath dress, and her disheveled hair was ink black as well. And then I gasped.

It was Ariadne.

“Is she...?”

“Human?” Dashiell nodded. “There were no nulls anywhere near her when this was taken.”

“But that’s impossible.”

“I’m afraid not,” Dashiell said quietly. “I have heard that a turn was possible for some of the very powerful nulls, but I had never known one who could do it. I suspect you are stronger than we knew.” He hesitated for a moment. “I was aware that Olivia wasn’t entirely forthcoming about some things, and I’m afraid I didn’t help.”

It was sort of an apology, but my brain was still foggy enough that I didn’t get it. “Wait, what do you mean, a turn?”

“Scarlett,” he said patiently, “you turned Ariadne into a human. Permanently.”

My mouth dropped open in absolute shock. “You’re kidding.”

We were quiet for a moment while the implications of that sunk in.

“Dashiell, I would never turn you back,” I said hurriedly, tears rushing to my eyes, “I promise. I wouldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t—”

He held up a hand to silence me. “I know.” His eyes may have twinkled a little at me. “If you wanted me dead, Scarlett, you had plenty of chances that night at the mansion. But I must admit, this changes things.”

“How?”

“I am not sure yet.”

Another thought occurred to me. “What about your status with the other vampires? Is everything...okay now?”

“You mean, do I still have to find a scapegoat? No, I do not.” He smiled at me again, but this smile was deeply unsettling. “My vampires now believe that Ariadne was behind the killings, and I let the mystery go on so long so I could flush out those who were faithful to her. My status is more secure than ever.”

“And Ariadne?”

“She is no longer with us. I retained this video to show you, but I am not ready to let my people know about what it is you can do. Perhaps later.” He gave me a thoughtful look, and despite my blankets, a shiver slid up my spine. He wanted to use me to scare his enemies in the Old World.

He wanted me to be a weapon.

I almost opened my mouth to threaten Dashiell, but my slow-moving brain managed to stop me in time. This was not the time to plant my feet and take a stand. Especially since a) my power was currently gone, and b) I literally couldn’t stand.

“What happens now?” I said carefully.

“Now...I am very interested in your young friend, Scarlett. Have you considered taking her on as your apprentice?”