I stared at the image of Oliver and wondered how it was possible.

"He's the second oldest vampire in Alaric's cabinet. He used to be a gun for hire for the mob, doing whack jobs for them was a regular day for him."

"But you can't honestly believe that the mob would want to bring down these people. What did they have against them?"

"We're not saying that this is the person responsible, we're just presenting the facts. The oldest is Senator Welling, a vampire that we can easily point the finger at as well. He's been extremely vocal about ensuring that the walls are high and strong. If a leader type figure came along and gave the humans a sense of pride, and realization of the lives they're really leading, then it's entirely possible that he'd want them gone. People like him, they want the lower classes to be downtrodden and Welling definitely sees humanity as a lower class."

I knew that I didn't like him. His presence in Alaric's government cabinet was drug control. He had regular contact with Alaric but not constant. It certainly fitted the profile of seen but not really seen. The problem was, he didn't get to see everything that passed through Alaric's hands whereas Oliver did. He was Alaric's advisor, Oliver saw everything.

"Is he chummy with anyone that would have access to sensitive information?"

Dad thought about it. He knew a lot about this world because it had once been his job.

"Well, I suppose that he would be pleasant to all, that is pretty standard. Access to this kind of information would be Senator Jameson, Alaric or Oliver. Bring up a little information on Jameson please Asa."

This guy was the director for national security. His fingerprints would be all over the files about Henley's family because it was highly likely that they saw the Dalievinpo family as a security risk. If the humans gained a leader that could match the vampire's king then there might be a chance that there could be an uprising.

When Jameson's picture appeared on the large screen, Henley perked up.

"I've seen him in the halfways. Several times, actually. He came to one of the meetings, I spoke to him afterward. He asked a lot of questions."

"About you?"

"Yeah."

The horrid truth was seeping to the surface. Henley could now see how dangerous this world was for him now. Someone had figured out who he was and created a lie just to get him terminated. If things were different, I would have killed him and walked away. Life altered and I did something that I shouldn't have. Maybe Henley had a guardian angel on his shoulder, taking care of him and steering him through the murky waters to safety.

"He asked how long I'd been in the Grove. When I said that I'd been there since my mother died, he asked more questions. I thought he was just being nice."

Henley sat down on the chair, looking a little confused and shaken up. Death had stalked him, walked right up to him and he didn't even realize it. In fact, it had happened twice because I could have been the death of him too.

"So, now what?"

"Well, we need to ascertain what Alaric knows."

Dad picked up the phone and dialed the freak. When he answered, the call was put on the loudspeaker.

"Alaric, tell me everything that you know about Henley Davenport and I want the truth."

"Would I give you anything less than that?"

"I've heard a lot of things over the past few hours and I can honestly say that the lines are blurred. A lot depends on you telling us everything so, let's have it."

"Well," He drawled out.

I thought that he'd give us a hard time, dragging the conversation out and ensuring that we were frustrated.

"He appeared on the slayer list a couple of months ago. Daniel said that he was moving between the halfways and vampire city through one of the gateways but they didn't know which one. He suggested that we send a hunter after him, said that the one on one approach was better than the armed forces or the police."

And more efficient. Hunters would keep going until they got their target. The cops were drowning in paperwork and the army was too many in numbers.

"I signed off on it and heard nothing more until his file made it to the top of the pile. We called for Claudia to come in, she accepted the job and that's it. Well, until she found him and then he porked her in,"

Dad quickly picked up the phone, telling Alaric to shut up. Mom's lips pressed tight with her smile; Asa was pretending to look at the laptop in front of him.

Alaric was put back on loudspeaker with a stern chiding to behave himself. The bastard was sniggering.

"There's not much else to tell other than Lockhart disappearing with Henley. Neither has turned up but I suppose that you already know that. How was the trip to seven, Henley?"

Everyone looked at him, mom flicked her hand with a disinterested wave.

"Quick." He muttered.

"Hmm, I suppose it is a short journey to sanctuary. Because you've done that, right? You've invoked sanctuary with the one person that has never really seen eye to eye with me. Interesting that Lockhart sent you that way. Almost makes you wonder why. Because you did question it Dahlia, didn't you?"

Mom looked at dad.

"Duh. He knew that I'd take Henley in just to piss you off."

"How true."

"Perhaps even reopen the wounds of the past? He knows that you and your province stand between me and the future. We want into the badlands Dahlia. We want to know what's down there."

"Nothing." Mom grumped. "You keep hinting at the border and I keep telling you that it's nothing but a wasteland that is filled with vampires who do not want to be a part of civilization. If you go down there, you are going to be met with a lot of resistance. Instead of worrying about my border, why don't you clean up the halfways?"

"We've got that under control."

"No, you don't," Henley said firmly as he stood. "You've got no idea what it's like in there."

"Well, mister mayor, why don't you regale me with what I clearly have no idea about."

Alaric's condescending tone said it all. He had no respect for Henley. Not just because he was a mayor but because he was human. Henley looked at me, a pained face that said that he was going to do the one thing he said he wouldn't. He was going to play the royal card.