Eternal (Shadow Falls: After Dark #2)(93)

He wasn’t there.

Disappointment stirred in her already nervous gut. Though, why she thought it would be that easy was beyond her. But that didn’t mean her uncle wasn’t behind this.

Chase introduced her. He didn’t give the names of the men individually, just calling them the Vampire Council. And she supposed that was all she was going to get.

They didn’t stand up, but nodded their heads appropriately. Each of them had a brown mug set in front of them. She’d bet it wasn’t coffee in those mugs.

She studied them each briefly. Not one of them was Asian. Two looked Hispanic, one Native American, one African-American, and the other two were Caucasian. Their ages ranged from early thirties to early hundreds. Or at least, that one Hispanic dude appeared older than dirt.

For some reason, she remembered finding herself in the courtroom with the FRU judge and jurors.

In front of the long Benny’s table were two chairs.

“Miss Tsang, Mr. Tallman,” the oldest of the group spoke. “Please sit. Would you like something to drink?”

Della found her mouth a little dry, but didn’t think her stomach would take anything. She forced herself to move to the chair and to speak. “No, thank you.”

“We have heard wonderful reports from Mr. Tallman about you,” another of the men said.

“I’m sure he exaggerates,” Della answered.

“I doubt that,” said another of the six, one of the blond guys who looked around her father’s age.

“She is everything I told you,” Chase spoke up.

The older dude added, “We were delighted to hear you wanted to meet with us. And we shall not pretend that our hope isn’t that you intend to join us as one of our agents.”

Okay, this was going to be very tricky. “I can’t say that is my intention at this time. However, I’ve always been one to like options.”

“Disappointing, but well delivered, young lady,” said another of the six.

“So, what is your intent in meeting us?” asked the eldest.

“I guess you might say curiosity.”

“About us?” the eldest questioned.

“Yes. And more.”

“The ‘more’ being?” asked the youngest of the council.

She stiffened her spine and heard Chase shift in his chair beside her. She hadn’t gotten this far to be too afraid to ask. “I’m curious as to why you would send an agent to ensure my cousin and I would get though the rebirth?”

“We offer sympathies for your cousin’s death,” said the talk dark man on the council.

Sympathies? She realized she might not be able to be angry at Chase for being unable to save both her and Chan, but … “Could you not have sent two Reborns to help us and saved him as well?” She glanced back to the youngest of the group, who seemed more opt to answer.

“Unfortunately, we do not have the staff to do that,” he said.

“Then how do you have the staff to check on every possible Reborn?”

When he didn’t answer right away, she said, “Is there a reason you sent someone to check on my cousin and me?”

“It’s apparent that someone with your talents and abilities would be an asset to our team of agents,” answered the youngest of the council again.

“So, you do have a list of all potential Reborns?” she asked. “And you send someone out to all of them?”

“We make it our business to stay informed,” said the eldest again.

Della got the sense he wasn’t answering her questions as much as placating her.

He waved his aged hand and continued. “We strive to offer help to all those possible.”

But they hadn’t strived that hard to save Chan. If they were that concerned, they could have sent two agents, couldn’t they?

She heard Chase say something under his breath, but she ignored him. “So who informed you about me and my cousin?”

“You are indeed filled with curiosity, Miss Tsang,” the eldest spoke again. “And if you were working for us, you would have access to a colossal amount of information.”

Della stiffened. Why did that almost sound like a bribe, the same one Chase had offered earlier? Go work for them and she’d get her answers.

“Considering that I am in a sense working for you, I thought you might respect me enough to answer my inquiries now.”

“And we did,” said the eldest.

Bullshit!

“Is there another question you would like to pose?” the man continued. “Perhaps one that might encourage you to join us in our struggles to help provide justice to our kind? If not, I think we shall call this meeting over.”

Something about his tone came off as condescending. “I don’t think you’ve really answered—”

“Enough,” Chase whispered, and reached over and squeezed her hand. Then he stood up. “I appreciate you taking the time for us.”

Della sat there debating the wisdom of speaking out one more time. They hadn’t actually done anything to prove her right, nor had they done anything to prove her wrong.

“Good luck finding the missing vampires, Chase. And you, Miss Tsang,” said one of the blond men.

Chase nodded, then looked at her and motioned for her to stand. When she didn’t move, he reached down. She stared daggers at his hand, which was literally pulling her up and out.