Rachel Caine: Daylighters

She handed the folder back. “No. My original decision still stands.”

“You really must disabuse yourself of the notion that mercy will heal all wounds. Some diseases need surgery.”

“Fallon thought he had such a surgical cure,” she said. “I am not so foolish. If they’re found guilty, they will serve prison sentences, Oliver, and I shall hear no more of it. Chief Moses and I are in perfect agreement on this matter.”

“Chief Moses is just as much of a sentimental fool as you are.”

“Careful,” Amelie said in a low, even tone that nevertheless was edged in ice. “I have ceded control of most things to the humans, but within our ranks I still rule. You know that.”

“I do,” he said. “But you’d be terribly disappointed in me if I didn’t test you from time to time.”

He was, unfortunately, right. All rulers needed gadflies to keep them alert, keep them questioning. And for better or worse, for eternity, he was hers.

And she could not deny that it suited them both, very well.

“Anything else? The night is growing short.”

“The university is reporting a few incidents,” he said. “It would appear not all vampires are behaving themselves quite as well as you require. I assume you’d like me to look into it.”

“Send Jason Rosser,” she said. “Since you’re grooming the psychotic little beast to act as your second-in-command, best give him the responsibility for keeping others in line. He will hopefully learn some restraint himself in the process, with your oversight. No deaths involved, I assume?”

“No,” he said. “I suppose the three vampires you locked up for murder did get the message across effectively.”

“Then I suppose we are . . .”

“At peace?” Oliver stood up and offered her his hand. She took it, and he escorted her to the door of her office, which he held open as he saw her out. “There are still humans who hate the sight of us, and you’ve given them power and trust. Myrnin is still running about unattended in that lab of his, concocting God knows what new nightmare. There is an emissary from the new Pope coming to review our status , which may be unpleasant. A blogger in Kansas wrote an incoherent piece about vampires hiding in Texas. A number of vampires have requested Fallon’s cure, despite the slender odds of survival. And I believe that Monica Morrell is demanding your presence as a judge at a dog show. Peace, dear Founder, might be a bridge too far.”

“Ah,” she said, and gave him a cool, calm smile as they walked the hallway toward Founder’s Square and the night. “Then I suppose we must settle for controlled chaos.”

“As ever, Amelie,” he said.

“One might think you far too familiar,” she said.

As they stepped out into the moonlight, he bent and raised her hand to his lips. “I am not familiar enough, dear Founder. Yet.”

“Good,” she said, and controlled a shiver. “Very good.”

It was, when all was said and done, now a human town, with human values.

But in the dark . . . Morganville was still hers.

Always.

It’s bittersweet to say good-bye to Morganville, and I needed a sound track that said everything about these characters and this special place in my heart. So listen, enjoy, and support the musicians who create this great music. They need your ears, but they need your financial love, too.

“Can’t Play Dead (Radio Edit)”

The Heavy

“Put the Gun Down”

ZZ Ward

“Man Like That”

Gin Wigmore

“Afterlife”

Switchfoot

“Bring It”

Trapt

“My Sorry Cinderella”

Kev Bayliss

“My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)”

Fall Out Boy

“Alright”

Kinnie Starr

“Too Close (Acoustic Version)”

Trapt

“Be Tomorrow”

Madlife

“Move Like U Stole It”

ZZ Ward

“Back to Life”

Lansdowne

“Daylight”

Maroon 5

“Seasick”

Silversun Pickups

“Virgin”

Manchester Orchestra

“Going Under”

Trapt

“Blue Eyes Blind”

ZZ Ward

“Spiritus Khayyam”

Globus

“Living in the Eye of the Storm (Acoustic Version)”

Trapt

“Surrender”

Digital Daggers

“Justified”

Rhino Bucket

“Secret Things”

Ken Andrews

“Love Hate Relationship (Acoustic Version)”

Trapt

“Wicked”

Greg Dulli

“Holy Doom”

Jason Edwards

“Boy (Hostage Remix)”

Nina Nesbitt

“Sacrilege”

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

“Home”

ZZ Ward

“Sinister Kid”

The Black Keys

“Stand My Ground”

Within Temptation

“All Waters”

Perfume Genius

“What Makes a Good Man? (Original Version)”

The Heavy

“Short Change Hero”

The Heavy

“Radioactive”

Imagine Dragons

“Leave This Town”

Kev Bayliss

People often ask if I pick a particular song to represent a character, and I think I did, in this particular book. So here are some specific thoughts:

The Town of Morganville:“Can’t Play Dead” by The Heavy really captured the feeling of this post-takeover Morganville for me . . . eerie, menacing, edgy, and cool. And “Leave This Town” by Kev Bayliss really plays us out nicely.

Claire:Definitely, it’s “Stand My Ground” by Within Temptation . . . there’s a kind of ultimate bravery about a song that says that even if you go down, someone else will stand your ground for you. Sounds like Claire to me!

Shane:Trapt’s “Going Under” lyrics really sound like him to me, and there’s this feeling of determination and strength that matches Claire exactly. Or, you could take a listen to “What Makes a Good Man?” by The Heavy. Funky and kick-ass. It also asks a lot of the questions Shane asks about himself.

Michael:Just close your eyes and imagine Michael singing ZZ Ward’s “Blue Eyes Blind” to Eve. Groovy and sexy. True love at its finest.

Eve:Likewise, ZZ Ward’s “Home” sounds just like everything Eve feels about Michael. Beautiful and brave. (And appropriate that the same artist sings both sides of their relationship, I think.)

Myrnin:I just thought “Be Tomorrow” by Madlife (how perfect!) was Myrnin to the bone. It even sounds like the way he thinks. Which is nothing like you’d think he would.

Oliver:Try “Wicked” by Greg Dulli . . . there’s a lot about that song that speaks to Oliver’s character and state of mind. Or, you could also say that “Love Hate Relationship” by Trapt might be appropriate, too.

Amelie:“Virgin” by Manchester Orchestra had this amazing feeling of ancient strength, determination, and ruthlessness to it. Which sums her up completely.

Monica:Kev Bayliss’s “My Sorry Cinderella” had a Monica feel to it, lyrically—and a kind of broken doll, broken person vibe with a creepy edge. Although musically it also would be something Eve would love, I think. Weird to think they might bond over musical tastes!

And I think Morganville’s future is summed up by Imagine Dragons’s amazing song “Radioactive”—because it’s a song that makes me feel like the story’s really just beginning for this brand-new Morganville.

Welcome to the future of Morganville. Now, you get to continue the adventure in your imagination and dreams and passion and fighting for those you love. GO! Adventure awaits.