Lyla moved through the corridor that ran alongside the great hall. Light shone through the arches, but the corridor was wide enough that she could slide along the other side and remain undetected.

Moving to the far end of the room, Lyla reached the wall that spanned as high as three levels. This level was home to a large fireplace and grand mantle filled with a lot of candles. Wax dripped over the edge, pooling on the stone tiles below. Above the mantle was a long portrait of a vampire that Lyla didn't recognise.

Leaning against the bricks, Lyla tried to listen to the conversation that had begun. It was a few of the pureblood vampires and Lennon. Charlton wasn't with them at the moment. She knew he wouldn't be far away. He liked his sycophantic little creatures clambering for his attention.

Slipping through the darkness, Lyla moved to the other side of the wall in a vain attempt at listening to the conversation. She was about to give it up as a bad joke. All she could hear was muffled words and a whole lot of laughter. Shaking her head, Lyla wondered how they managed to find everything so amusing.

Hearing someone approach, Lyla quickly moved to the other side of the hall and backed into a small anteroom. She turned at the sound of two vampires talking. They were in the next room, the door was open, and they were getting close. Knowing that she couldn't go back out to the corridor, Lyla ducked behind the lounge that was angled between two walls to face the room. It was a tight squeeze into the corner, but it was enough to hide her.

The door closed, Lyla rolled her eyes and was about to sigh with relief. That was until she heard a footstep on the wooden floor.

"It's a dangerous game that you play, my lord."

"We will be fine so long as we are free of the turned vampires. Pureblood or nothing."

Lyla's eyes narrowed with a burning hatred at the sound of Charlton's voice.

"Have you spoken to the newcomer today?"

"Yes, my lord. He seems quite distressed. Perhaps things aren't going too well for him and the woman."

"He will forget about her in time. We have him where we want him. Everything is moving as I hoped it would. Come, we have guests waiting."

Lowering to the floor, Lyla watched as the main door opened. Whoever it was in the corridor was let into the room. The three of them crossed the room to the door on the far side. Moving through the miniscule gap, Lyla tiptoed across the room and took a wary glance at the next one. She had a moment to get in there and hide behind yet another chair. This one was not as well placed as the last. It was a wingback, sitting in the corner like the other one, but she would be more exposed.

Lyla knew that she had to do it. There was no way that she'd stand there and risk someone else walking into the main room. Slipping in when the trio were turned, Lyla tucked herself into a tight ball as she sat behind the wingback. Hidden behind it, deep in the darkness of its shadow. Lyla hoped it was enough.

"As I've said on many occasions, I find the turned vampires to be quite an abomination to our species. They are a disgrace to our world, and we must continue with our efforts to be free of them. How have your efforts gone?"

"Exceptionally well," The new voice offered. "The police are foolishly following the clues that we leave, and they're pinning the deaths on a vigilante group of humans. I know that your plan was to have one or two humans blamed for the murders, but your list of turned vampires to remove was quite high. We wanted believability, Charlton."

Now Lyla understood the signs along the sidewalk and the effigy hanging from the tree. It was all a scam to make the world think that these vampires were being targeted by a hate group.

"Of course. I do not care who is blamed so long as the turned vampires are dead and the humans are blamed. When we are done with the pestilence, I propose that we move to the werewolves."

"For what reason?"

"They interfere with everything, and they are stealing from us. This world will belong to the pureblood vampires, and it will be our home. We will not share our sustenance with any other being. First, we deal with the turned, then the wolves."

"And what of the newest guests' friends?"

Charlton chuckled softly.

"They will not be a problem for much longer. Perhaps by the next full moon, they won't be a problem at all."

"Is that a task that you wish to see fulfilled, my lord?"

"Yes," he hummed with mild mirth. "Let our new friend continue to settle into our home. He is still finding his place; he needs to be reassured that he is a part of our coven. I can see that things are tense with the woman and their friends. It will only get worse, and he needs things to end on a bad note. He needs to think that they have walked out those gates and left him behind. The anger will feed his hatred, and then he will not want to look for them. A few days after the full moon, a helper should arrive with the grim news that their bodies were found. Perhaps a warehouse of some sort. I don't care for the details, just that the humans are blamed for it, and our new friend knows it as the truth. He will mourn them, but the anger will ensure that it is brief. Come, we must continue with our efforts. Our new friend is at the edge. I could see how vulnerable he was after he came out of his quarters earlier."

"It is a good time to ensure that he questions their loyalty to him."

Lyla listened to the footsteps as they walked out of the room. Slipping to the door, she waited as they continued out the door. It was left open, which didn't make it easier for Lyla. She feared they'd return. Or worse, would be still in the corridor.

Still, she carried on with the hope that they would keep a steady pace in their path to the great hall.