“The records have it listed as five years, though he did not come into Castle Rock itself until the latter stages of that period.”
“And he’d formed a pod by that time.”
It was a statement more than a question, but she nodded in affirmation anyway. “And one of those women had a daughter by the name of Frieda. She had been gifted with blood.”
Surprise rippled through me. Though I’d initially suspected the pod’s abrupt departure from the reservation was indicative of that possibility, it made Waverley’s current determination to avenge Frieda’s death that much stranger.
“So she’s alive?”
“No. Though her initiation and subsequent turning was indeed registered, the transfer wasn’t fully successful, and she wasted away ten days later.”
“I didn’t even know it was possible for the blood sharing to fail.”
“It always depends of the strength and mental stability of both the host and the turnee.” She shrugged. “It is obvious that, in this case, neither were up to scratch.”
It also meant Frieda could have taken her life so she could rise and take revenge on those who’d made her life hell—and that the note had been nothing more than subterfuge.
“Does this mean the registrar can pinpoint Frederick’s location for us?”
“Within a certain radius, yes.” She reached into her pocket then slid a piece of paper across the table to me. On it was a coordinate range—and it seemed an overly large area in which to search to me. But I guessed it was better than nothing. “There’s one other thing you need to be aware of.”
I raised my eyebrows. “And that is?”
“The means of possible survival if indeed you find yourself caught in the trap of his magic.”
Possible, not probable. But still, a slight chance was better than none at all. “I’m interested.”
“As indeed you should be, given you are neither a fool nor weak.” Her cool smile flashed again, but there was something in her tone, something that skirted the compliment and spoke instead of caginess. “Whatever else Frederick has become, whatever power he has drawn to him, he is in the end still a vampire—and one that has more than certainly fallen down the rabbit hole. Blood—human blood—will always distract him.”
I stared at her, my heart suddenly racing in my chest. It said a lot for her self-control that there wasn’t even a flicker of awareness in her eyes, nor any sign of hunger.
“Using myself as bait like that would be a very dangerous step to take.” And one I might not survive.
“Indeed it would.” She finished her tea and replaced the cup on the saucer. The normally cheery chime of china against china sounded more like a death knell. “But if he is magically stronger than you, or if he places you in a situation where you cannot access your own magic, then the blood rapture will perhaps be your one chance. If nothing else, it will give others the time to kill him.”
I rose with her, my heart still racing rather uncomfortably. “If the registrar knew he was unstable, why wasn’t he dealt with before now?”
“Because they were not aware of the situation until I informed them. They also cannot move without proof of crime—which we now have, given he has been located in this reservation, and I am the only registered vampire in the area.”
“So they’re now on their way to deal with him?” Meaning neither Aiden nor I had to?
She hesitated. “Because we are within a reservation, the situation is a little trickier. They will certainly approach the council for permission to do so when they arrive here.”
“And when is that likely to be?”
“They have not given me an exact time, but it will be sometime within the next twenty-four hours.”
“That may not be quick enough.” Not if the gnawing sensation in my gut was anything to go by.
“There is nothing I can do about that.” She paused at the door and gave me a polite nod. “Until next we meet, young Elizabeth.”
“Thanks for the information,” I said. “I appreciate it.”
“As you should.” This time, amusement edged past the coolness in her pale eyes. “It is not every day I am so overly helpful.”
“Then why have you been so now?”
“Because I have discovered over the long years of my life that when there are two powers within a given district, it is always better that they at least be respectful of one another. It is certainly preferable to a relationship based on animosity and distrust—that only ever ends badly.”