BXBX NOVEL Chapter 115: We're Going On A Hunt
Sitting beside him in the car, Miss Red sat elegantly, her red hair cascading over her shoulders. She gave him occasional directions, leading them towards an exclusive restaurant.
The tension in the car was thick, but Ezra kept his focus on the road.
As they approached their destination, the restaurant came into view. It was a stately, old-world building with ivy climbing its stone walls and soft, golden lights casting a warm glow on the cobblestone driveway.
A valet greeted them at the entrance, taking the car keys with a polite nod as Ezra and Red stepped out.
They walked through the grand entrance, the interior of the restaurant a blend of classic elegance and modern luxury. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting shimmering reflections on the marble floor.
The air was filled with the rich scent of gourmet cuisine, and the murmur of hushed conversations floated around them. Waiters moved gracefully between tables, their movements smooth and efficient.
A hostess led them to a private room at the back of the restaurant, away from the main dining area.
The room was cozy, with dark wood paneling and a large window offering a view of the city skyline. A single table, draped in a crisp white cloth, stood in the center, surrounded by plush chairs.
Red took a seat, crossing her legs elegantly, and Ezra sat across from her. He looked at her, his eyes questioning. "Is your source reliable?"
Red smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Very much so, Ezra. You\'ll see. But as we wait, let\'s indulge ourselves in a little meal." She picked up the menu.
"What do you mean?" Ezra asked, crossing his arms. "We can\'t eat bloodless human food."
"True." Red hummed as she scanned the page. "But this restaurant is one of the City Lord\'s pet projects. One of the few places for vampires to eat out and all that." She reached out to the bell on the table between them and rang it.
The previous hostess walked into the room. She bowed, waiting patiently for her orders.
"Two plates of number seven for him and I..." Red glanced at the page again. "And a bottle of number six."
Ezra raised his eyebrows at her as the hostess left.
"We might be waiting for a while." Red smiled. "And it\'s not just any blood wine I ordered, you know. It\'s lion\'s blood. It has a distinct taste that I think you\'ll appreciate."
Ezra nodded slowly. "I\'ll take your word for it."
In a few minutes, the food arrived. Ezra tasted it and hummed in appreciation. Red smirked in triumph.
After fifteen minutes, they were done and their table was cleared. They sat in silence for a few more minutes, the soft ambient music and dim lighting creating an intimate atmosphere.
The door finally opened, and a woman stepped in. She was tall and striking, with an air of authority about her. Her eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of the room and its occupants.
She wore the pressed white uniform of the First City police department and Ezra could feel the vitality shrouding her features and disguising it as human.
"Good evening," she said, her voice smooth and confident. "I am Lilith, your broker."
Ezra raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A peacekeeper and an information broker. Quite the combination." Is every peacekeer a crooked cop?
Lilith smiled, a hint of irony in her expression. "In this city, you\'d be surprised how often the two overlap. Shall we get to business?"
Ezra gestured for her to sit. "By all means. What do you have for us?"
Lilith took a seat, leaning forward slightly. "I have the information that Red here requested on the Silent Hand."
Ezra\'s eyes narrowed. He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. "And what\'s your fee?"
Lilith named a sum, and Ezra didn\'t flinch. They negotiated back and forth, the price eventually settling at a number they could both agree on. Satisfied, Lilith began her explanation.
"The Silent Hand is not what you think it is." She said. "They are not working directly under the coming count. In fact, I don\'t think the count is even aware of their existence."
Ezra frowned. "That can\'t be right. Why, then, would they use the new count\'s symbol?"
"Simple." Lilith steepled her fingers. "Instead of being the count\'s workers, they are a small group of covens looking to escape the control of their current leaders. They aim to align themselves with the new Count once he takes power."
Ezra leaned back, considering her words. "So they\'re essentially defectors, seeking a new master."
"Exactly," Lilith confirmed. "They believe the new Count will offer them better opportunities and more freedom. Using the count\'s emblem is a way to identify themselves as her people before she comes."
"That still makes no sense." Ezra exchanged a glance with Red, who looked thoughtful. "If they want to work with the new count, wouldn\'t they want Ascendant Capital to flourish? Why destroy it? How do they connect to us?"
"I was able to find out a bit about that." Lilith\'s expression turned serious. "I think the covens involved had ties to the late Macmillan. By extension, they are connected to Ascendant Capital."
"You mean..." Ezra trailed off.
"They already toed their assets to Southside." Lilith grinned. "But now, it\'s count Griffin\'s loyal coven that hold the keys to their defection. They see you as a threat to their plans."
"Whoever, they are, they have assets in Ascendant Capital." Ezra leaned back, the pieces of the puzzle finally coming together. "They want back their assets in case Griffin takes Ascendant Capital."
"Bingo." The peacekeeper snapped her fingers.
"Do you know which covens are involved?" Ezra leaned forward, his eyes intense. He now had a clue. A way to find the Silent Hand.
Lilith shook her head. "I don\'t have those details yet. But I can tell you this. They\'re watching you closely. Everything you do, they know."
Ezra nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "Thank you, Lilith. This is invaluable."
She stood, ready to leave. "Just remember, information has a way of changing hands. Be careful who you trust."
Ezra sat in silence. Now, he knew where to look.
He brought out his new phone and dialed a number. "Olivia." He said when the phone clicked. "Prepare every information we have on all the vampires connected to Ascendant Capital."
He grinned. "We\'re going on a hunt."