Cadence nodded, having wondered what it would be like to cross over. After a moment of reflection, she asked, “So what do you know about the opposite end of the portal?”
“You mean the one Aaron says Dracula came through?”
“Yes,” Cadence acknowledged. “And why did you phrase it like that?”
“Well, I know there have been a lot of people who know about the blue moon portal who believe that something evil will also come through, but I don’t know what the evidence is to support that Dracula was actually Vlad the Impaler returned from the dead. He could’ve just been one bad ass dude.”
“Have you talked to Aaron about it?” she asked, curious about the difference of opinions.
“Of course I have,” Christian replied. “He says that Dracula claimed to be Vlad, and the fact that he could do all kinds of shit that a normal Vampire can’t do was evidence that he had actually returned from hell. But, I honestly don’t know any of that for sure, Cadence. I was there when they hunted Dracula down, and while I have never seen another Vampire do the things they say Dracula could do, I’m not certain that none of the others can or that he actually could.”
“But Aaron was there, too. And he says he saw it. So you think he made it up?”
“No,” Christian said, quickly. “Look, I’m a scientist, right? I need facts and data. All I know is that Aaron and some of the others that were there claimed that they saw Dracula shape shift—into a bat, a wolf, who knows what else—and that he could also become some sort of mist. Just a regular silver bullet wouldn’t take him out, and even when they got a stake in him the first time, it just weakened him. They used holy water and all kinds of stuff we don’t typically need or use. I never actually saw Dracula as I was in a different part of the castle while Van and her team got him. So… I don’t know. I just need more facts before I’m willing to say that the positive brings through a negative.”
Cadence took a few moments to absorb everything he’d said. She had no doubt that Aaron saw what he said he saw. He wouldn’t make it up, and he wouldn’t say it just to scare her out of doing this. But there really was no proof that Dracula had come through the portal. After all, that meant he would’ve been causing mayhem for almost a hundred years before Van Helsing brought him down. “So… why didn’t you ever tell me?”
The uncomfortable look was back on his face again. “Tell you what?”
“Come on, Christian. If you knew about the portal, and you don’t believe anything evil will come through, why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“First of all,” he began, leaning forward and bridging his hands in front of himself over the desk, “I didn’t say I don’t believe anything evil will come through. I said I need more evidence to believe it myself. Second of all, I saw how miserable Hamilton became, and I’m not sure I wish that upon anyone. And third of all, I was kind of told not to tell you stuff.”
Now, she was mad. “What? What do you mean not to tell me stuff?”
“That’s not exactly what he said,” Christian backtracked. “But he did say he thought it would be less overwhelming if he was the one to introduce all new information to you.”
“When did this conversation take place?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Initially, pretty early on. I was reminded again recently.”
“How recently?”
“A few weeks after Sierraville,” he admitted.
“And when he told you that, did you immediately assume he was talking about the portal?”
“Yes.”
Cadence growled. And Aaron had said he didn’t know what she was talking about. “Well, I appreciate all of the information, Christian.”
“Sure. Any time,” he said with a smile.
“Now, if you were in my position, what would you do?”
He swallowed hard, clearly uncomfortable with the question. “I really don’t feel like I should answer that.”
“Completely off the record,” she assured him.
Still hesitating, he ran his hand through his hair. Eventually, he said, “Look Cadence, you’re a big girl, and you can make your own decisions. If you want to talk to Elliott, then talk to Elliott. If he wants to come through, then he should come through. I don’t know what kind of consequences that might bring about, but I do know things are a hell of a lot different now than they were in the 1890s when we were battling Dracula. Sure, it wasn’t easy, but we got the job done. I have every confidence in your ability to take down anything hell throws at us.”
Cadence’s brows shot up. “You do?”
“Yeah, you know that,” he concluded.
That was one thing she had to give him. Christian had always been a huge supporter of hers, from the very beginning. “Thanks.”
He nodded, and after a few moments in silence, he asked, “So what are you going to do?”
“Oh, I’m definitely going to do it,” she replied without a pause.
Christian laughed. “Had you already decided that before you talked to me?”
“Most definitely,” she said. “But I am going to talk to Jamie about it tomorrow, too. I value his input.”
“And is there anything Jamie could say to make you change your mind?”
“Nope.”
He laughed again. “All right. Well, please don’t give Aaron the impression that I was undermining his authority. He is still my boss, you know.”
“Oh, we’re not finished,” Cadence said, making sure he knew she had more to ask of him. “And don’t worry—I’ll tell him you told me not to do it.”
“Okay…” Christian said slowly. “What else is there?”
Cadence glanced at the door and then down at the backpack. “I need your help.”
