Lyla found what she was looking for. Giving the containment chamber a rattle, she smiled when she heard the horrid creature complain.

"Oh, hush up." she whispered.

Opening the armour, she ensured that it remained safe until she could get out of here. Once everyone was dead, this place would be empty and then it was open season on the unwanted trespassers. It might be squatters; it might be kids. Who came here didn't matter. All that really mattered was that no one opened this device without knowing the ramifications of their actions. Leaving it here to be found by a human was negligent on her part. She mildly wondered if leaving this place open was a mistake.

As she refastened the armour, Lyla decided that when she had Gamichee where she wanted him, she'd discuss this place. Lyla was almost positive that he'd have something to say about it.

The more that she thought about Gamichee, the more Lyla came to realise that she knew how he ticked. She'd seen his type before, and she knew everything. He thought that she was a pushover, that he could manipulate her into what he thought was ideal, but Lyla was about to show him how wrong he was.

Glancing around the room, Lyla looked at everything. Time was not on her side, but this room was filled with everything she needed to know. These were her answers. Perhaps not all of them but enough to keep her satisfied, even if it was temporary.

Pulling out her phone, she snapped quite a few photos of the map, knowing that it would help her shut down the black markets. It wouldn't save her beloved daughter, but if it saved someone else's child, then it was worth it. Every life that she could save would be done in Eloise's memory.

Turning, Lyla smiled at the dark figure standing at the doorway.

"I would like to say that I'm surprised but I can't. I'm shocked more than anything. In myself, not you. If I'd invested the time into learning more about you, then perhaps, I would have learned the truth."

"I am a secret."

"I can see that."

Charlton smiled as he carefully walked into the room. He spied his desk, seeing that the containment chamber had moved and was now hiding behind the disfigured body armour.

"You are quite skilled. How long have you been able to shoot a gun?"

"My father taught me when I was eight. I took that gun and shot the clay pigeon and never looked back."

"I suspect that you hit it too, am I right?"

Lyla smiled at the vampire.

Her wordless grin said it all. She'd hit that disc and probably everyone since.

"Is there something that I can bargain with?"

"No," Lyla said softly, her devious smile still showing.

"Perhaps a little empathy for an old vampire?"

"I have no empathy for vampires. My daughter was taken by one. She was only sixteen. See, Lennon wasn't the only one that was after answers. I thought it was a mistake coming here, but it wasn't. I can see that now. Your office is quite... interesting."

Her head flicked to the map on the wall. The black market locations were mapped out. Lyla saw the one at Exeter Bridge and a few others that she was unaware of.

Picking up a file, Lyla tossed it onto the desk. Payment receipts splashed out over the dark wood. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on purchases. All made by the vile creature in front of her and paid to the monster that had taken her daughter. This vampire was the one that she was looking for. He was the one that was responsible for Eloise's death, albeit in an indirect way. Yes, Nironsa was the one that took her life, but Charlton was funding his life, ensuring that the black markets remained alive and healthy.

"It was never Gamichee, was it?"

Wary eyes turned from the papers to the angry woman in front of him. Charlton hoped that if he set this little bird free, he could escape with his life. All she wanted was to walk out with the pureblood and their friends. He could grant that quite easily. Revenge would come, he would bide his time, and when everything was perfect, he'd take down this gun-toting turned vampire.

"You and your friends are free to leave. Take Lennon with you. I have nothing to offer him."

"And yet you sold your lies with the promise of so much. You took his pain and suffering and exploited it to your own advantage. Shame on you."

Charlton huffed with amusement.

"I do what is necessary to ensure that I get what I want. I am not that different from Gamichee. In time, you will realise that. We all play the game, dear Lyla."

"That, we do." she whispered, lifting the gun.

There had been silence for far too long. Ris jumped when a gunshot echoed through the estate. It had been rapidly firing for so long and then silence. They thought that Lyla had found all the vampires and killed them. Now they worried for her safety. They feared that a lone vampire was roaming around and found her.