Chapter 103

Francia turned to us slowly. Her gaze drifted over me and then to Candido. She looked like she wanted to shake her head and pat Candido on the head as a conciliation prize.

“She wouldn’t be the first to give birth to a hybrid,” Francia said. “And does it truly matter whose child it is? And what do you think he plans to do with this child? It’s probably not even his first one.”

My stomach dropped. “Not his first one?”

“How many could there be?” Vanessa asked. “I thought vampires were the undead.”

“It doesn’t matter?” Candido asked.

Francia chuckled. “The thing you call death, a vampire would call a new life. It is the main reason why Francium can say that he did not kill Claire.” She paused. “Among other reasons.”

I glanced at Francium who gave me a tense smile.

“And all living vampires, in some way, are descendants of the vampire king,” Francia said easily. “They are very different than the werewolves of today, though we are all related to him as well.”

I felt Candido flinch beside me.

Vanessa opened a file. “We got a hold of Sibyl’s latest health records. Based on her blood tests and her examinations, she’s definitely pregnant, and it’s a vampire’s child.”

Francia shook her head. “It hurts to know that line is so much more blurred than you can imagine, isn’t it?”

Vanessa’s jaw worked but she sighed. “It means that the Red Moon Pack is dangerous.”

Francia laughed. “Is that so? Well, then what are we still doing here? It seems you have it all in hand.”

“Mother, please,” Francium said softly. She pat his hand.

“Francium, you must learn this if nothing else. There is nothing worse than allies who chose to turn a blind eye to things that make them uncomfortable. In some ways, they are worse than enemies because they cover their eyes when they should be watching.”

Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “I just said they were dangerous. How much more watching are you expecting?”

“Perhaps a little more than a vague concept of danger,” Francia said. “Honestly, you’re descended of a very great general, Vanessa. I expected more from you.”

“Are you going to call me childish too?” She snarked.

Francia gave her a plain and condescending smile that set a flush in Vanessa’s cheeks.

Francia shook her head and sighed. “Casualties by the thousands.”

I flinched, placing a hand on Candido’s, and squeezing.

“Danger can mean many things, but Norton and Sibyl are the least of your problems.” Francia said. “You need more information on the workings of Red Moon. That will lead you into vampire territory and yield more of what you are looking for.”

“Or you could just tell us.”

She scoffed. “Why would I ever get involved in another war between werewolves and vampires. I and my children, my pack and coven, are neither, remember?”

I licked my lips. “But he knows now that Francium is no longer on his side.”

“One prince,” Francia said. “Searches for power and the ruin of werewolves through tainting their world. That prince is truly the least of your problems. The others have their own ambitions, their own motives and will move as they please, but they all have a hand in Red Moon. Separate, overlapping, merged and in opposition. If you infiltrate Red Moon, you will have a path to find all of them.”

My eyes widened as I stared at her.

“The children of the new moon have many different views on werewolves. The children of the red moon are no different.”

I looked at Vanessa who seemed to be considering her words. “The caves that run beneath the schools won’t get them far enough into Red Moon…”

Francia tilted her head.

“We’ll… have to get there some other way.”

I frowned and looked up at Candido who seemed to be turning the thought over.

“How did they get into the estate before?” I asked.

Candido frowned and he looked at me. “Hedy…”

I looked at Francia. “Are there are caves beneath the old estate?”

“That makes no sense,” Vanessa said. “It would be such a large security risk.”

“Of course,” Francia said. “After the war started.”

She frowned and I sat forward. “You said we were related, vampire and werewolves. The painting and the school all are a part of that. There used by peace and… brotherhood?”

Francia smiled. “You are quite bright, Pandora.”

I winced.

“Every major estate is connected to a cave system,” Francia said. “New Moon, Red Moon, and Full Moon.”

“And not Blue Moon?” Vanessa asked.

“You were peace-keepers once, ambassadors. If you look back at your records, I think you will find that this compound did not come to be until years after the war.”

Vanessa scowled as if she knew she should have thought about it.

“Can we still access the old estate?”

“Yes,” Candido said, his voice haunted. “I tend to have it watched, but it would not be difficult...”

He looked at Francia. “Though why could we not use the entrance in New Moon’s territory?”

Francia smiled. “Why would I let you open a passage that I closed because of the risk both packs posed to me and mine?”

I sat back and frowned. “Why didn’t the alpha king close it?”

“You can’t close a door you still plan to use,” Francia said with a twitch of her lips.

I shuddered at that and felt Candido tense beside me.

“We should plan to use them to get to Red Moon,” Vanessa said. “I’ll send a team to survey the sight and find the entrance as well as gather whatever information we can about where it will let out on the other side.”

She looked at Francia. “Can we… depend on your assistance?”

“Are you planning to ask for it?” Francia asked.

Vanessa swallowed but said nothing. Francia shrugged. Vanessa stood.

“You would think that you would at least be grateful for the hospitality,” Vanessa said. “We could have killed Francium and Claire.”

My heart lurched.

“I assure you that if you had decided that was the best course of action, you would not still be here to bring it up,” Francia’s eyes flashed with a bright red, vicious light. “And I wish your parents taught you better manners.”

Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “You’ve insulted me, my nephew, my entire pack and practically declared that we have no reason to trust you. I don’t think manners applies here.”

Francia lifted her shoulder. “As you feel.”

She stood and turned to Francium. “If you would tell Claire, that we will be leaving?”

Francium’s lips twitched. He glanced at me before lowering his gaze. “Mom… I really think we should reconsider.”

Francia sighed, “Do make your argument, Francium. I always listen even when I disagree.”

“The war will come to us,” Francium said. “We can’t avoid it. Shouldn’t we at least try to stand on one side or the other… at least the side that might not kill us.”

“The problem is, Francium, is that there is no side like that,” she gestured at Vanessa. “If she didn’t think we had more information, you and Claire would have likely had to fight your way out of their little compound.”

“At least stay the night,” Candido said standing. “It will take a few days to get ready to infiltrate the caves. You don’t need to make up your mind so soon. As for Claire, I plan to take her home.”

Francia gestured towards him as Francium went still. “Home, you say? Tonight?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Candido said. “I think it’s time.”

Francia considered him. “Go with her, Francium.”

His eyes widened. “She’ll need you. As for us, I do not sleep in homes where I have been threatened.”

I wanted to protest, but in a flash, it seemed that Francia and every other New Moon werewolf had vanished. Vanessa jumped to her feet.

“Close the doors!”

“There’s no use,” Francium said, his lips twitching. “They’re already long gone.”

Vanessa looked at him. “You never said you could do that! What—”

“I can’t,” Francium said. “My pack… is more complex than you can imagine.”

He sighed and stood. “I’ve told Claire what you want to do… She’s nervous, but she wants to go… If you’ll have me, I want to come with her.”

“To explain what you’ve done?” Candido asked a little stiffly.

Francium nodded, “Partially… But mostly because she wants me to.”

My heart trembled. I could feel Candido’s tension beside me and swallowed.

“Fine,” he said. “But if you make even one suspicious move, you’ll be in the dungeon with the other vampires I’ve caught.”

Francium flashed him a smile and said nothing. He looked on the verge of laughing, but he nodded. I wanted to ask why he seemed so amused, but I didn’t. Vanessa left the room, storming out and yelling at security for information about how all those people had just vanished.

Then, I felt something slide across my shoulder like the faintest caress of luck. It vanished, and I met Francium’s gaze.

He smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.