The journey had taken longer than any of them had anticipated. Merissa grumped that Lennon had taken too long in the unnecessary lesson, which made the mood in the car tense. They reached the outer city limits of the northern district just after midnight, something that Lennon was not happy about. He'd wanted to get into the city no later than eleven.

Slowing the vehicle next to a woman leaning on a street post, Lennon leaned out the window.

"Evenin'. Looking for the vampire leader in this town. Do you know where he might be hanging out?"

The woman smiled, moving to the car with a sultry swing of her hips.

"I do, but it will cost you. Fifty for information, a hundred for accurate information."

Lyla scoffed and pulled out two fifties. As Lennon took the money to pass over, he gave her a grim smile.

"You'd be looking for a guy named Charlton. Not sure of his surname. Most of the fangs in this town only go by one name anyway. He hangs out in a fancy pad on the east side of the city, Wentworth Drive. You'll know the place when you see it, heard it's really obvious. Good luck."

The woman tucked the notes into her bra, moving back to her street post. Lennon shifted the car into gear and pulled out onto the street as Lyla programmed the street into his phone. Within seconds, the directions started, and they were on their way.

Rather than taking the risk, Lyla used her phone to search for accommodation for the daylight hours. She firmly believed that they would not make it back to Isaac's place before dawn broke.

"Are vampire leaders always male?"

"I don't know. Only ever met one."

"And how do we know that this information is accurate?"

"We don't. We'll just swing by this street, see what's happening and go from there."

The journey to Wentworth Drive took ten minutes. Ris had fallen asleep, and Adley quietly looked out the window, watching the city go by. Every now and then, he'd catch the scent of a vampire or a werewolf.

Lennon turned into the street, slowly accelerating as he looked around at the tall fence that lined each side of them. Beyond the wrought-iron spikes was a highly manicured garden.

"Does he have his own street?" Lyla murmured.

"Looks like it."

It started off picturesque, but as the group drew closer to the only house on the street, they understood what the woman was talking about. Someone had put warning signs along the sidewalk. They soon turned from warning signs to protest signs. It appeared as if the humans in this city were not fond of vampires.

To the left of them was a large oak tree. On a branch that drooped over the sidewalk was a vampire effigy hanging from it.

"Charming," Lennon muttered.

At the end of the street was one driveway. To the side was a speaker box. Lennon leaned out and pressed the button, hoping they'd be given a chance to speak to the leader. After waiting for a minute for someone to respond, Lennon pressed the button again.

It was obvious that someone was here. All the lights were on, and cars were sitting in front of the place. Beyond the tall gates was an imposing house. Monstrously large, wider than anything he'd ever seen and several levels high.

"Hello?" Lennon called out. "We'd like to speak to the leader. Anyone there?"

Lyla saw something shift in the shadows, but it was too late. When the figure stepped out with the gun drawn, she slowly raised her hands.

"Total hell." Lennon grumped.

The doors were opened. As Lyla got out, she took hold of the box. The vampire tried to take it from her, but Lyla smiled and pulled out her own gun.

"No, not for you. If you try and retake it, I'm going to open the door, and I think that you know what's in this box."

The vampire looked to his team leader for guidance. The vampire moved around the car, pushing the rest of the group to join Lyla.

"What are you doing here?" He said sternly.

"We've come for a discussion with the leader."

"Where are you from?"

"Enough, Gareth."

The charming voice slid around them with ease. They turned to the lithe figure dressed in a plush, deep red jacket, black shirt and pants. Lyla looked at him and saw a creature that had clearly been around for a long time but did not look a day over thirty.

He smiled, leaning on the cane that was purely for show and not support.

"It is obvious why they are here; they seek sanctuary from the monster of the south. And look, they have brought a gift for me to show how much they are prepared to offer their new leader."

"We actually came here for answers."

The vampire chuckled as he walked around his guards.

"No, my dear boy, you came here because you know that Gamichee has lost the plot. You came here because you know that there is something wrong in this world, in his world. I know you, Lennon Webster but do you know yourself?"

Lyla looked at the smiling vampire, her eyes narrowed.

"You've only got two fangs." she hissed.

The vampire's eyebrow raised as he turned to the newborn.

"Yes, curious, isn't it? You want to know why don't you?"

Lyla nodded.

"I can answer your questions. All you need to do is claim sanctuary and follow me into my home."

"What about the werewolf, master?"

The vampire looked at Adley and smiled.

"He can tag along too. There's nothing in our laws to say that we cannot have a werewolf in our coven. As for that witch," he said, pointing at the box in Lyla's hands. "I will be taking it from you, and I will be burying it under a ton of cement. It is the only thing that is appropriate for her."

"But she's,"

"Leverage? My dear, darling newborn, you don't need it here. My arms are open to all because I am not a fool. I can see what you are, and it makes no difference to me because you are not singular in your nature. Human, werewolf, vampire, hybrid, there are as many of them as there is grass on the ground around us. We know of what he gets up to. That is why we refuse to associate with him. You are not the first to flee from that city and I have no doubt that you will not be the last. Come, we have much to discuss."

"We just want answers."

"To get the answers you seek, you must accept that your life is not going to go according to the plans that you once had. If you want them, follow me into my home but understand that in my coven, it is a one-way path. I will give you the freedom to do as you please. I will protect you from the monster. Answers that you desire to know, they will be yours if I have them."