"I'm sure he kept his true face and nature very well hidden so he could seduce you. Am I right?" I smiled sympathetically.
"Of course he did! I was mortal, na?ve. When I became pregnant, he finally showed me what he was really like. He turned his back on me. No explanation. It was as if the love he had professed simply vanished." She began to tear apart her fine linen handkerchief. "I was glad when he left me and my child alone. Oh, he sent money and wanted reports about his son in return, but he didn't try to see him, not while he was young."
"Odd. You'd think he'd be thrilled to have a son." I wasn't really clear on the born vampire thing, though I knew the males could father children.
"It depends, Gloriana." CiCi sighed. "Frederick is a Halfling, you see, since he was the result of a born vampire and a mortal mating. Some Halflings become vampire when they reach puberty. Some do not. Simon was waiting to see how Frederick would turn out. To see if he was worthy of claiming, I suppose." She frowned. "Born vampires are very arrogant."
"So Freddy . . . ?" I figured any information I could get about Simon's family could be useful. Though I'd never involve my friend Freddy if I could help it.
"Is a born vampire. Of course then Simon wanted him. Tried to take him from me." CiCi lifted her chin. "But I'd had time to prepare for him and was not so na?ve. I'd married my count and had his entire family and their allies behind me. I wasn't about to let Simon have my son."
I leaned forward, riveted. "How could you fight him?" CiCi smiled. "I was vampire too by then. And chose my husband wisely. He had enough connections and power to make it very uncomfortable for the Energy Vampires to remain in Europe. That's how Simon and his followers ended up in America." CiCi's dark eyes flashed, then filled with tears. "My dear husband is gone now, killed by an ancient enemy, and Frederick is a man with a mind of his own. When my son decided to come here, I was afraid he was planning to finally get to know his father. What could I do except come with him?" She smiled sadly.
"Let's get Freddy over here and see what he thinks about his father. Since he's been out to the EV compound lately, maybe he'll know if Simon might be interested in switching sides." I clasped CiCi's hand. "Will you call him?"
"Why not? It would be a way for Frederick to have a father, if we could lure Simon away from his goddess. I'd think he'd be tired of always pleasing a demanding mistress, wouldn't you?"
I patted her hand. "My thoughts, exactly. You said Simon moved his crew here from Europe. Does this goddess just pop up in any convenient sinkhole or how does that work?"
"I've no idea, but maybe the boys will know." CiCi put her hanky away and pulled out her cell phone.
I knew the "boys" were her son and his longtime partner, Derek.
"Derek loves Frederick, but hates his new fascination with Simon. Derek is a good man and he knows evil when he smells it. He's certainly not blinded by riches either." She hit speed dial. "I'll see if I can get them over here."
I stepped out to the shop and left CiCi to make her call. I should call Rafe and let him know I'd made progress. Then I'd run upstairs and check on Ray. I'd left the apartment in absolute chaos. What if a council member stopped by to check on Penny? I'd flunk mentoring, big-time. I was thinking about grabbing my purse when Erin waved frantically from the register.
"Glory, you have company." Erin rolled her eyes.
"Glory! Ooooh. I didn't realize till I saw the clip on YouTube that you're the same Glory who used to go with Israel Caine!" Jenny grabbed me and jumped up and down like I'd just scored a touchdown. Three clones of her, only with varying hair colors, squealed and jumped too. Trust me, their boobs didn't bounce.
"Hi, Jenny. These your sorority sisters?" I smiled and reminded myself I had to get along here.
"Yes. Girls, this is Penny's roomie. Can you believe it?" Jenny had her arm slung around me like we were best buds and made quick introductions. The girls squealed again. I swear dogs could hear them in the next county. "Where's Israel?" Jenny looked around like maybe I'd hidden Ray under a dress rack.
"Oh, he's upstairs." Never should have said it. The decibel level rose to shattering-glass range and they surged toward the door.
"And is Penny up there too?" Jenny dragged me with them.
"No! She went to the lab." I put on the brakes and hid my smile at the moans of disappointment.
"I brought her a treat from home. Mom mailed it to me. Maybe I can take it up and leave it for her." Jenny pulled a tin out of her Coach tote. The way it rattled, I figured there were six cookies left in it, max, and the Christmas tin was a dead giveaway that this wasn't a recent care package.
"Give it to me. I'll make sure she gets it." I snatched it out of her hand and passed it to Erin. The werewolf stashed it under the counter and I knew she'd take care of it personally once the girls were gone.
"Has Penny met Israel?" Jenny raised her eyes toward the ceiling, like she wished she had X-ray vision.
"Of course. So embarrassing. She caught him coming out of the shower earlier." Sorry, but couldn't resist. My fledgling needed some points over the so-perfect Jenny and this was just too choice. Jenny collapsed on one of her friend's shoulders and all of them moaned in Penny envy.
"How long will he be staying with you?" Jenny was obviously trying to figure out how to meet Ray. "Penny and I really need to get together."
"Why don't you just call her and meet for coffee somewhere?" I smiled. "Ray's a private person. I'm sure you understand. Rock stars. It's a nightmare the way the tabloids hound us. I never give out his schedule." I gestured toward the three cameramen still lounging around the front of the shop, waiting for me to come out or, better yet, for Ray to emerge.
"Oh, my lips would be sealed." Jenny actually did the old finger-locking-the-lips thing. "It would be so cool if I could meet him, get an autograph. Maybe he could sing for our end-of-year social."
I laughed and walked the girls to the door. "Sorry, not happening. If you were on YouTube, you saw his horrific fall. Ray's still recuperating. That's why he's with me. In fact, I'm going upstairs in a few minutes to check on him. Shouldn't have left him alone this long." I patted Jenny on the back.
"But-" Jenny could see opportunity slipping away.
"So sorry to disappoint you. Maybe I'll get him to sign a few photos or CDs for you. Okay?" I eased them out the door, finally prying Jenny's fingers off my arm. "Bye. I've got to go get my purse. You should call Penny."
I shut the door and headed to the back room. CiCi was just coming out.
"They'll be here any minute." She looked stoked. "I told them to come to the alley door."
"Great." I hoped Ray was okay upstairs, but followed CiCi into the back room in time to hear a knock on the door.
Frederick and his partner were both handsome men. It made me remember Penny's comment about vampire males. Yes, they usually were perfect specimens. What was up with that?
"Thanks for coming, guys. I've got a situation that I need help with. Did your mother explain, Freddy?" I settled on the table while CiCi took my one chair again.
"Something to do with my father? I hope you know I'm cutting all ties with him. I told him that the last time we were out there. I can't take all that Energy Vampire crap." Freddy glanced at Derek. "Derek made me realize I was letting Simon's power go to my head. The bastard was doing a mind-control thing on me, trying to get me to come on board as his successor."
Derek put his hand on Freddy's arm. "It was because he was proud of you. He thought the offer was an honor. But your mother raised you to be decent, Fred. Obviously you couldn't go that way."
CiCi dabbed at her eyes. "Thank you, Derek. You don't know what it means to hear you say that. I was so afraid . . ."
"Mother, I would never serve a goddess from hell." Freddy lifted her hand to his lips. "I wanted a father, but not one who could sacrifice people to feed a monster. I told Simon that."
"So you gave him an ultimatum?" I couldn't believe it. If I'd planned this, it couldn't have worked out better. Now if only Simon wanted a relationship with his son badly enough, maybe we could work a deal.
"Basically. But Simon can't leave the EVs. No one can. The goddess doesn't tolerate defectors. You sign on for life. If Simon tried to quit, he'd be terminated." Freddy's shoulders sagged. "I'm sorry. I really wanted to get to know him. He's a fascinating man. Brilliant, really. And he could do so much good if he hadn't tied himself to Honoria and her demands."
"He did that long before he knew he would have a family, Frederick. I'm sure he has regrets now. But it's too late." CiCi looked at me. "Unless . . ."
"I don't know. I guess the big question is, can she be taken out? That would free Simon from the EV thing." I remembered the setup out there. The gold dome where Honoria resided, the moans and groans coming from a dark hole in the earth. Supposedly she sucked the energy from her victims to survive.
"I tried to find out more about the EVs while we were out there, Glory." Derek sat on the table beside me. "That's one creepy place. It's not just a hole in the ground, it's a tunnel. Simon actually walks down inside it when he confers with her. Which shows he's either brave or nuts. I wouldn't get within a hundred feet of the place. I swear you can hear the screams of the damned coming from there."