The streets of Budapest were emptier than usual. It was nearly 1:00 in the morning, but this part of town was generally populated by people out looking for a good time or enough booze to drown their sorrows well until the early morning hours. Eliza thought perhaps the desolation was due to the local news finally discussing all of the missing persons, though they were still under-reporting by LIGHTS’s numbers. Hearing that hundreds were suddenly gone had to have some effect on even the people who would’ve normally been out and about in this area of town.
That didn’t deter her team from taking a look around. Cassidy was working directly with Mila now, which sucked because it meant Eliza would no longer have the upper hand. She’d enjoyed having a bit of information that her boss didn’t. When Mila had asked her why she hadn’t been forthcoming with who was talking to her, Eliza had feigned innocence, insisting she’d had no idea the information was coming directly from Cassidy. Mila hadn’t believed her, that much was certain. But Eliza was good enough at denying her missteps that Mila hadn’t called her on it.
The Guardian was settled in the back seat of the team SUV, staring out the window, content to stare at the passing cityscape with no talking in her head. But when the situation changed and her head was suddenly filled with a voice that both excited and demoralized her at the same time, Eliza couldn’t decide if she were better off alone or if she should just be glad Aaron was speaking to her at all.
“Eliza, I’ve already talked to Mila about this, but I wanted to make sure you know we really want your team to do your best to bring in one of these half-human/half-demon creatures, whatever they are, all right? I’m not sure anyone else on your team is capable of doing that, so in addition to getting Sylvester, make that your priority, all right? And we’d rather have the Vampire alive, too, if possible.”
She tried not to roll her eyes, assuming that the rest of her teammates had already granted the Guardian Leader visuals and he may actually be seeing her through their point of view. But both tasks seemed ridiculous. Not having a choice but to agree, she said, “Okay, boss. I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks. I saw the footage from your battle on top of the building the other night. That was impressive. So was taking out Honey, even if you didn’t follow orders.”
“Well, that’s never been my forte.” She hoped he could tell she was joking, but then, most of the time what she’d just said could be considered the gospel truth.
“Be careful.” Aaron’s tone seemed genuinely concerned, and it made Eliza catch her breath for a moment. But then she remembered he was happily married now, and any thoughts she might’ve let creep into her mind that there was a chance he might forgive her someday and take her back had to flee her thoughts.
“I will be. Thanks.” She was quiet, contemplating whether she should say more. She probably shouldn’t. But then she did. “Congratulations, by the way. I heard the wedding was lovely.”
He seemed surprised she’d brought it up. It took him a moment to answer. “Thanks. It was.”
For a few seconds, Eliza wondered what life might’ve been like if she hadn’t ever interfered in Aaron and Cadence’s relationship. Would she still be close enough friends with Cadence that she might’ve actually been in the wedding party? Could she have stood up there on the dais and watched him marry someone else? The thought made her sick to her stomach, and in some ways, she thought she was better off having sabotaged her role on the KC team.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a new voice entered her head. “Eliza, I told Mila this already, but just to let you know, Sylvester is in a warehouse a few blocks up the street. There were a few guys unloading a truck, and he and his friends are making short work of them.” Cassidy was talking quickly, but Eliza stayed with her. “He’s got two or three newbies with him as well. I can’t quite tell how many because of how they’re situated. As far as I can tell, the black creatures aren’t around there, but the only way I’d know is if someone sees them. I can’t jump into their heads once they’re in that state.”
“Okay, thanks,” Eliza said, glad to know what was happening. “What do you mean once they’re in that state?”
“They’re people. Somehow, Daunator is making them into these monsters. He’s got a bunch of the missing people in the ground, and he’s switching them over. I didn’t mention any of that to Mila because I’m not sure Aaron wants everyone to know yet, but that’s the situation.”
Eliza could hardly believe what she was hearing. “How can he do that?”
“I don’t know, but it might have something to do with the fact that he’s been through the Blood Moon Portal and the Blue Moon Portal. We’re not sure.”
“Great,” Eliza muttered, wondering what else Daunator was capable of. “Have you spoken to Christian lately?”
Cassidy was quiet for so long, Eliza assumed she was distracted and wasn’t going to answer. But then she did. “I tried a few minutes ago, but he won’t talk to me now. He’s been in that hole for so long, his mind has betrayed him. He’s even crazier than he was before.”
“That’s possible?” Eliza joked, though she did feel sorry for her former friend to hear that. “Poor guy.”
“Yeah. We’re probably going to go and try to pull him out soon. We are just waiting to see what you guys can accomplish tonight. At least, that’s my best guess.”
“Not that you’ve been spending any time in Cadence’s and Aaron’s heads looking around?” Eliza teased, wondering if that was a possibility.
“Nah, I would never....” Cassidy’s tone didn’t match her words.
“All right. Thanks again for the information. Anything else you’ve got that’s helpful will be appreciated.” The SUV was pulling to a stop on a dark street away from where Eliza had assumed they were headed. Since they’d caught most of the other Vampires near bars and clubs, that’s where she had assumed they’d be looking for Sylvester tonight. But they were in an industrial area now, which matched what Cassidy had said about a warehouse. These type of eerie surroundings always bothered Eliza much more than a crowded city street. This place reminded her more of a setting from a horror movie than a routine hunt, and if she were still a human, she probably would’ve refused to get out of the car.
