The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires

"Milo," I said, more confused than ever. "Milo gave me one of those logic puzzles to solve, but it wasn't a trial. Milo is a person, a normal person, not someone from the Court…" My voice trailed away again as Theo and I both turned to look at the large book sitting on the dictionary stand.

Theo beat me to it, hurriedly thumbing through the book as I peered over his shoulder.

"Milo, originally archon, later banished from the Court of Divine Blood for abuses of power," Theo read. "Cleared of charges, and removed to vessel of mortality at request of mare Irina. Mundane residence: Newberry, England. Mundane names: Milo Lee, Miles Leighton. Miles Leighton is the man I was trying to find last night, the one who had disappeared, the man who is known to be one of Hope's friends, and supposedly the one she sought shelter with."

"This is wild. Milo is a…a…"

"Vessel," Theo said grimly, his jaw tight. "In other words, a servant to mortals."

"Ha! That's what he meant about being in customer service. He deliberately hid his connection with the Court from me. But why?"

"I think it's time we had a few words with him to find that answer, and a few others as well."

"Agreed. Er…" I glanced over to where Terrin sat watching us, a pleasant expression on his face.

"Hello there. I wondered when you'd remember me."

"We hadn't forgotten," Theo said slowly, eyeing Terrin. "I'm curious as to why you haven't raised the alarm about us, though. And why, for that matter, are you here now?"

"Life possesses so many questions, doesn't it?" Terrin leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. "Since I am a tidy person by nature, I will answer those I can. I am here, my good nephilim, because this is one of my offices—I have three. And I have not turned you in because I am one of those people who are somewhat offensively labeled cockeyed optimists. A reverse Cassandra, if you will—rather than no one believing what I say, I believe most of what people tell me."

"You believe I didn't have anything to do with Hope's disappearance?"

He nodded. "It's been my experience that life is often full of irony. Your story is very ironic, thus I am inclined to believe that you inadvertently summoned Hope just as you described, that she bequeathed her Gift to you without your knowing it, and that you subsequently not only accepted these facts, but determined to triumph over the adversities that have met you face-to-face."

I slumped into a chair, relief easing my jangled nerves. "Then you'll help us find Hope?"

"Oh no, that would be quite unacceptable." His lips quirked. "Giving aid to someone banned from the Court would be a serious matter involving repercussions I would prefer to avoid."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so selfish. Of course we don't want you to get into trouble on our behalf—"

"I am, however, willing to risk the censure that might follow should the blind eye I'm about to turn to your presence here be found out."

"Portia? I think you both had better get a move on. I just heard someone say that the mare were on their way over to investigate the odd fog." Sarah's voice was hushed and muffled as she opened the door a smidgen to speak to us.

"On our way." I stood and offered my hand to Terrin. He looked surprised for a moment, then rose and shook it. "Thank you for believing us."

"And thank you for not turning us in," Theo added, giving Terrin a wary look.

"It has been my pleasure. I do hope you find the answers that you seek."

We slipped out of the door, leaving Terrin standing in the middle of the room, a benign expression on his face. Outside the room, the fog was beginning to thin.

I concentrated a moment on bringing it back to full denseness, but it continued to disperse despite my efforts.

"Something wrong?" Theo asked as we hurried down the hallway, averting our faces whenever a foggy figure loomed up. "Are you not able to control this any longer?"

"No, I'm not. Let's get out of here before it's gone completely."

We made it to the side entrance of the Court without being seen, but rather than follow Sarah and me through the door to a dank, empty subbasement in the castle, Theo stopped and looked back through to the stone wall that represented the outer boundary of the Court.

"Theo? Shouldn't we get out of Dodge while the getting is good?"

"We're safe here for a minute or two. Have you ever felt as if you were being manipulated?" he asked, turning toward me.

"Frequently. I'm a woman in a traditionally male-dominated workplace. I'm always being manipulated into taking less-than-desirable projects, or taking on extra work, or covering for someone when I'd rather not—it's part of the job, unfortunately. Do you think someone is manipulating us now?"