Demon Moon

This week.” He took a deep breath. “And as we are speaking of devils, I could find no evidence of a rogue demon. The nosferatu’s trail had faded beyond my ability to track it; what I did find was most concentrated near Belgrave Square in London.”
    “If it was Belgravia, then we can almost be certain it was a demon who supported the nosferatu in this,” Castleford said. “He’d have the means to fund the nosferatu’s tickets and provide the fake identification—then cover it up.”
    Lilith nodded her agreement, smiling darkly. “If he’s connected to an embassy, someone’s going to be pissed when we kill him.”
    And set off an international scandal she’d undoubtedly relish. “There have been residential openings in the area,” Colin said. “He’d not necessarily be attached to a government.”
    “He would be if it provided him money and influence,” Lilith said. “Goddammit. You can always count on a demon to be derivative and unoriginal; he’s following Lucifer’s example by trying to create an alliance with a nosferatu and using it as an assassin.”
    An alliance that would have benefited them both: the nosferatu killed en masse , which it loved; the rogue demon enjoyed the terror he created, his powers of deception.
    “And he probably imagines himself superior to the nosferatu by making it serve him.” Castleford released a heavy sigh, ran his hand through his hair. “The irony is that if we’d had Savi in those days immediately following the flight, she might have been able to dig him out. But the rogue is so far under now, she can’t. She got the nosferatu, but the fever gave the demon time to escape.”
    Colin turned away from the painting. “I believe I heard you incorrectly. What has Savitri to do with this?”
    A smile touched Castleford’s lips; Colin couldn’t determine if pride or concern sat in that expression. “About a week ago, I received an anonymous e-mail from someone within DHS. It traced the financial and identification info from the nosferatu’s ticket and passport through about seven more layers than our technicians had been able to do. All dead ends, which our anonymous informant pointed out in the message. Also that such thorough concealment indicated something much more powerful lay behind it all.”
    “Savi,” Lilith said. “So we stole her.”
    Colin looked back and forth between the two of them. “You are bringing her into SI? You are mad. Do you not endanger her enough simply by allowing her to live here?”
    Lilith’s eyes darkened. “Be careful, Colin.”
    “We intend to give her the knowledge she needs to protect herself.” Castleford radiated tension and anger. He could have hidden it, but it served as a silent warning.
    Colin didn’t pay heed. “A month ago, I’d have had her spread out on my bed and my fangs in her throat, and there is little knowledge you could have given her that might have stopped me. What of the next vampire who tries? One who holds a grudge against SI…and sees a pretty little girl who’s a bit too curious to be sensible, and who happens to be your sister. You’ll make her a more appealing target than she already is. And it is not the first time your relationship to her has made her such.”
    Lilith’s fingers clenched on Castleford’s forearm. “It has been done, she is already linked to us; that will not change when she moves out,” she said. “Should we send her to Caelum again…permanently? That isn’t an option. We can’t always hide her away to secure her safety.”
    Savi had not been safe in Caelum. His back rigid, Colin faced the painting again.
    “And though we appreciate your concern, it is not your choice,” Castleford said coldly. “It is hers.”
    Colin pressed his lips together to stop the invectives that leapt to his tongue. Hang all demons and Guardians and their respect for human free will.
    “We can only make certain she knows as much as possible and has the best methods of protection before her wedding,” Lilith said. “And that is what we’ll do.”
    Her wedding? He would not trust himself to ask.
    He traced the arching entrance to Caelum’s central courtyard before dropping his hand to his side. A fountain lay behind that arch, though it was not visible from Michael’s temple. He’d painted its impossibly flat pool before, the perfect arc of water, but not here. With a shrug, he finally said, “Very well. It hardly matters to me if you insist on acting the fools. And I