I drew a pentagram over my heart. “May the harpies never trouble his soul.”
“Amen.” She sighed. “Anyway, you’ve got the look, the smarts, and you aren’t so quick to anger. You’re also the sharpest, so I think this is meant for you.”
“Why not you?”
She narrowed her eyes. “The wholesome look completely missed me, my darling.”
I laughed. “When you wear all black all the time and have a body like yours, you tend to miss that mark, yeah. You’re more vamp than anything else.”
“Thank you, dear. At my age, it’s so hard to keep attractive.” She peered down at her svelte figure. “Virgin’s blood has been harder to come by lately, but I found enough at an incel rally a few weeks ago that I have at least two baths’ worth.”
“Incel rally?” I cocked my head.
She waved her hand. “It’s these young men who are ‘involuntarily celibate’ or, in common parlance, they can’t get laid and hate women because of it. They get violent sometimes, too, targeting women who’ve turned them down, or just women in general. Rude beasts, the lot of them.”
“And they have rallies for this? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No.” She smoothed her hands down her trim waist. “Thank heavens I’m not, because I racked up with all the virgins in their ranks. And their ridiculous anger makes the blood even more potent.”
“If you want me in the Senate, then you’ll need to share some of it.” I patted my not-so-trim waist. “I could use a tuneup.”
She shook her head. “You are beautiful. Made in the image of Diana. You’ve no need for lotions and potions like me.”
My cold heart warmed. Mom always knew just what to say. “Thanks.”
“I just speak the truth, little witch.” She rose and headed to the door. “I’ll go ahead and put out a call for a campaign manager, public speaking coach, all that. We’ll have you ready for the primary and general election in a year. You’ll win in a landslide. And then, we’ll be one step closer to the true fonts of power.”
I arched a brow. “Higher than the Senate?”
“With the roll we’re on, you’ll be sitting behind the desk at Pennsylvania Avenue in no time.” She walked out with her usual flare, the door closing on its own behind her.
I turned and stared out my windows at the city. The sun was going down, turning the skyscrapers into mirrors reflecting fiery orange and deep red.
Red, like Ted’s blood. I pulled a small vial from between my breasts. I’d kept a little souvenir from our night together and wore it around my neck, hoarding a piece of his vicious soul.
“Oh, Ted.” I grinned. “If you could only see me now.”