Jeanne Stein - Chosen

There is another shift in the posture of the vampires, a subtle quiver of anticipation, like a cat gathering itself to pounce on an unsuspecting bird.

You must decide. He will stay or go. The others find it troubling that you would argue with a shape-shifter, an inferior being. They see it as a sign of weakness.

Judith’s words are directed right at me. No mistaking it, she’s mastered the art of psychic communication. I look from the vampires to Judith, tempted to challenge them, but it’s Frey this time who touches my arm.

He was not privy to the message, but my reaction is obvious. “It’s up to you.”

“Go. I will be out in ten minutes.”

I watch Frey make his way to the front door. I feel the others watch, too, with alarming intensity. If anyone attempts to intercept him, you will learn how weak I am.

I let the message carry over the music, over the resumed rumble of conversation. There is a heartbeat’s hesitation as if consideration is being given to the sincerity of my threat. Consequences weighed against principle.

Evidently, principle isn’t that important after all. Frey is allowed to leave unmolested.

Judith breathes an impatient sigh. “So much drama over one insignificant mortal. Anna, you are a puzzle to me.”

Ten minutes. The clock is ticking.

“What did you give David?”

A smile. “Something wonderful. He’s certainly a big one, isn’t he? And so—enthusiastic.”

My shoulders tense. “You seduced him?”

She laughs. “If you mean did I take advantage of him, the answer is most emphatically no. He needed very little persuasion to have sex.”

I get a creepy feeling that there was more to it than sex. “Did you feed from him?”

The tip of her tongue glides over her upper lip. “Of course. Are you trying to tell me you haven’t?”

She looks surprised, which gives way to a smug smile of satisfaction. “You haven’t. You haven’t fucked him, either. How long have you been partners? You sit across from as studly a piece of ass as I’ve ever seen, and you haven’t fucked him.”

I get an absurd flashback to the first time I saw this woman—here, in this very room, dressed in her tasteful little cocktail dress, diamonds flashing from ears and neck, looking adoringly at a man who has made my life miserable this last year. The contrast between that simpering woman and this bitch is beyond ridiculous.

She’s been a vampire for less than three months. She thinks we are equals. She thinks this Chosen One thing is bullshit, even if the others seem to believe it, and she thinks if they insist on choosing anyone, she is infinitely more qualified to assume the position than I.

She lets these thoughts through because she is too stupid to realize that she is telegraphing her intentions.

In her head, Judith Williams has already assumed the role. That’s the reason for the party. That’s the reason I wasn’t invited. That’s the reason for my less-than-hearty reception. She’s showing the vampire elite that she is in control. Since Warren Williams had been administrator for Avery’s estate, she has access to the house and everything in it. The fact that it all belongs to me is of no importance because soon she’ll fix that, too.

She had no intention of hurting David. She wanted to make sure I’d show up on Tuesday because all that’s left now is the challenge. The challenge she’s convinced I’ll lose.

The fact that I haven’t said anything, that I haven’t reacted to the fact that she fed from David, that I’ve closed my thoughts so she can’t read what’s going through my mind begins to worry her.

Good.

“I’m leaving now, Judith,” I say. “And I’m taking David.”

I turn to go but can’t resist another shot.

“Get these people out of my house. Unless I’m mistaken, this is my house, right? Your husband transferred all Avery’s property into my name?”

Her mood turns sullen, dangerous.

I don’t care. “You have one hour. Then I’m calling the police. You can explain being arrested for breaking and entering to the heads of the thirteen tribes. I’m sure you can make them understand.

“One more thing. Those hosts? They’d better be able to walk out of here on their own, unharmed and unassisted. I’m holding you personally responsible for their well-being. If you hurt them, or if I see you before Tuesday, you’re dead.”

I can’t find David.

He’s no longer in the entryway so I try the kitchen. Dena is busy icing more champagne. I tell her she can go home because the party is about to break up. I encourage here to leave quickly, not telling her if she doesn’t she’ll likely get caught when the cops come.

She looks confused but takes off her apron and slips out the back door. I hope Frey knows a way to get that gate open. Breaking it doesn’t seem such a bright idea now. Shortsighted if we end up having to haul David’s ass over the top of it.

I make my way upstairs. I hate being here. Hate having to pass the door to Avery’s bedroom. I wonder what Dena thought when she saw the damage I did to it the last time I was here and if she’d had it repaired. I don’t open the door to find out.

There are six bedrooms on the second floor. I stop at the head of the stairs. Listen.

Heavy breathing. Grunts. Giggles.

Shit.

I find the playroom door and hope what I’m hearing isn’t indicative of what’s going on.

At least let them still have some clothes on.

The door opens quietly as a whisper. David is sitting at the end of the bed. From my vantage point, all I see of the girls are the tops of their bobbing heads.

“Jesus, David. What are you doing?”

One stupid question deserves another. David turns around to look at me, big eyes still glazed. He has something in his hand.

“What do you think I’m doing?”

The girls pop up, allowing me to see the low television console behind them. They have something in their hands, too.

Game controllers.

David is grinning at me. “What did you think we were doing, Anna?”

He sounds like a six-year-old. Whatever he’s on, I hope it wears off soon.

“Come on. It’s time for us to go.”

“Not yet. We just started.”

I reach across the bed and pluck the controller from his hand. “It’s time for you girls to leave now, too. Do you have a way home?”

Reluctantly, the girls stand up. One of them says, “We came with Mrs. Williams. She said she’d take care of us.”

Despite my threat, I know what Judith Williams is capable of. I seriously doubt if taking care of these two involves seeing the girls safely home. I crook a finger. “Come with us. My friend and I will take you home.”

David is delighted. “They can come home with me.”

Yeah. Right.

I open the door and step into the hall first. Quiet. No footsteps pounding up the steps to try to stop us from leaving. I shepherd the three downstairs and into the foyer. Still, nothing. The only noise is the hum of conversation from the living room. I hope Judith Williams isn’t dumb enough to think I was bluffing about calling the cops. She should be rustling her crowd out the door, too.

David and the Bobbsey Twins giggle their way across the foyer and out the front door. I try to get them to hurry, but it’s like wrangling chickens. I’ve never seen David so loopy. I wonder if he’s going to remember any of this when he sobers up.

I wonder if Judith Williams really told him that I was a vampire.

It’s a long way down the winding driveway, the gate hidden until we’re almost on top of it. Dena is sitting in her car in front of it, window rolled down, jabbing without success at the remote. When she sees us approach, she jumps out of her car.