Blue Bloods (22 page)

“Silver Blood?”

“You were told the story of our Expulsion.”

“Yes.” The car slowly made its way acrossFifth Avenue . Because of the bad weather, there were only a few people milling outside the department stores, a handful of tourists taking pictures of the window dressing, shoppers trying to get out of the rain.

“When God cast out Lucifer and his angels from heaven, as punishment for their sins, we were cursed to live our immortal lives on Earth, where we became vampires, dependent on human blood to survive,” Cordelia said.

“They told us all this at The Committee meetings.”

“But they don’t tell you this part. It’s been stricken from our official records.”

“Why?”

Cordeliadidn’t answer. Instead, her voice took on a monotone quality, as if she were reading from a book com mitted to memory. “Early in our history, Lucifer and a small host of his loyal followers broke off from the group. They rejected God, and were contemptuous of their banishment. They did not want to regain the Lord’s Grace. They did not believe in the Code of the Vampires.”

“Why not?”Schuyler asked, as the car idled at the light. They were onSixth Avenue now, among the skyscrapers and corporate office buildings with the names of their companies engraved on the façade. McGraw-Hill. Simon and Schuster. Time Warner. A bank of televisions in the Morgan Stanley building blasted the latest news from the stock market.

“Because they did not want to live within any kind of law.They were willful and arrogant, on earth as they were in heaven. Lucifer and his vampires discovered that performing Caerimonia Osculor on other vampires instead of humans made them more powerful. As you know, Caerimonia Osculor is the sucking of blood that vampires commit on humans in order to gain strength. In the Code of the Vampires, it is forbidden to perform the Caerimonia Osculor on fellow Blue Bloods. But this is exactly what Lucifer and his vampires did. They began to consume Blue Bloods to complete Dissipation.”

“You mean—”

“Until they had sucked out the very life force from a being, yes. Until they had consumed a Blue Blood and all his memories.”

“But why?And what happened then?”

“By consuming the Blue Blood’s life force, Lucifer and his vampires’ blood turned Silver. They become the Silver Bloods. Croatan . It means Abomination. They are insane, with the lives of many vampires in their heads. They have the strength of a thousand Blue Bloods. Their memories are legion. They are the devil in disguise, the devil that walks among us; they are everywhere and nowhere.”

As Cordelia spoke, they drove pastSixth Avenue to Seventh, and the neighborhood changed again. Schuyler saw Carnegie Hall on the corner and several people lined up outside buying tickets, huddled under their umbrellas.

“For thousands of years, the Silver Bloods hunted and killed and consumed Blue Bloods. They broke the Code of the Vampires by directly interfering in human affairs and acquiring power in the world of men. They were unstop pable. But the Blue Bloods never stopped fighting them. It was the only way to survive.”

“The Last Great War between the Blue Bloods and the Red Bloods ended during the final years of theRoman Empire , when the Blue Bloods were able to unseat Caligula, a powerful and wily Silver Blood vampire. After Caligula was defeated, for many centuries Blue Bloods lived in peace inEurope .”

“So why did we come toAmerica ?” Schuyler asked, as the car shot upEighth Avenue .

“Because we were distressed by the religious persecution we found rising in the seventeenth century. So in 1620, we came to the New World on the Mayflower with the Puritans, in order to find peace in theNew World .”

“But there was no peace, was there?” Schuyler said, thinking of Catherine’s diary.

“No. There was not,” Cordelia said, closing her eyes. “We discovered that Roanoke had been savaged. Everyone was lost. The Silver Bloods were in theNew World as well. But that was not the worst.”

“Why?”

“Because the killings began again. In Plymouth .Many of our young Blue Bloods can only be taken during the Sunset Years, when we turn from human to our real vampire selves. It is our most vulnerable time. While we are not in command of our memories, we do not know our strength. We are weak and can be manipulated and controlled, and in the end, consumed by the Silver Bloods.”

They drove up the West Side Highway, past the shiny new developments by the river and next to Riverside Park .

“Some refused to believe that the Silver Bloods were responsible. They refused to see what was right in front of them, insisting that those who had been consumed would be able to return somehow. They were blind to the threat. And after a few years, the killings stopped. The years passed and nothing happened. Then centuries—still nothing. Silver Bloods became a myth, a legend, passing into a quaint fairy tale. Blue Bloods gained wealth, prominence, and status in America , and as time went on, most of us forgot about the Silver Bloods completely.”

“But how?How could we forget something so important?”

Cordeliasighed. “We have become complacent and stubborn. Denial is a strong temptation as well: Now every thing about the Silver Bloods has even been removed from our history books.

Blue Bloods today refuse to believe that there is anything stronger than them in the world. Their vanity does not allow them to conceive of it.”

Schuyler shook her head, appalled.

“Those of us who warned and campaigned for eternal vigilance were banished from The Conclave, and have no power in The Committee today. No one listens to us any more. No one has listened to us since Plymouth . I tried then, but I was not powerful enough to take control.”

“John wanted to raise the alarm,” Schuyler said, remem bering what the diary had said. “Your husband.”

“Yes. But we were unsuccessful. Myles Standish you know him today as Charles Force—

became the head of the Conclave of Elders. He has led us ever since. He does not believe in the danger of Croatan .”

“Not even when it kills children?”

“According to Charles, it has not been proven.”

“But Jack said all of Aggie’s blood was drained, as were two others they’d found earlier. They had to have been con sumed by a Silver Blood!”

Cordelialooked grim. “Yes, that is my guess as well. But no one listens to an old woman who has lost her fortune. I never believed the Silver Bloods had gone away entirely. I always thought they were only resting, watching, and wait ing, for their time to return.”

“That has to be it. That’s the only explanation!” Schuyler argued. “But the police arrested my friend Dylan. He couldn’t have done it! Dylan’s human. They took him away yesterday.”

Cordelialooked troubled. “I thought the official explanation was a drug overdose. I heard that is what The Committee had decided.”

“That’s what we heard—but now they’re saying she was strangled.”

“It’s true in a sense,” Cordelia mused.

“You need to help us. How do we find out who the Silver Bloods are! Why they are here? Where are they? How can we find them?”

“Something has awakened them. Something is harbor ing them. They could be anyone we know.

Silver Bloods dis guised as Blue Bloods in our midst. It takes a long time to turn a Blue Blood into a Silver Blood. My guess is that a powerful Silver Blood has returned, and is beginning to recruit new disciples.”

“So what do we do now?” Schuyler asked, as the car pulled up to their street.

“You have the knowledge of the Silver Bloods. You at least know what is out there. You can prepare yourself.”

“How?”

“There is one thing. One thing your mother discovered. Silver Bloods are still bound to the laws of heaven and the Sacred Language.” She whispered the rest in Schuyler’s ear.

Cordeliaopened the car door and stepped out. “I can say no more on this matter. I have already broken The Code to tell you this story. As for the problem you have presented, I do apologize, but you are going to have to speak to Charles Force. He is the only one who can help your friend now.”

THIRTY-SIX

The Committee meetings were reinstated on Monday. They had been canceled for several weeks, without any explanation given to the junior members. During the meet ing, planning for the Four Hundred Ball began in earnest. There was still no mention of Aggie’s death or Dylan’s arrest.

Instead, there was excited chatter for the Christmas formal. The Four Hundred Ball was the most anticipated party of the year, the most glamorous, the most fantastic, and the most exclusive, as only Blue Bloods were invited.

Schuyler went to the meeting just to see if she could still talk some sense into Jack, who was standing with his back to her. The junior members were divided into subcommittees, and Schuyler joined the Invitation group only because it sounded like the least work. Just as she’d thought, the only task they had was to put together the guest list, which would be vetted by the Senior Committee, and then they would stamp and mail the invitations, which were already chosen, designed, and printed.

“I’m worried about Dylan,” Bliss said, when the meeting was over. “Where is he? The police still won’t say. And my dad keeps telling me to keep out of it.”

“I know, I am too.”Schuyler nodded, as her gaze drifted over to where Jack was chatting with Mrs. DuPont and Mimi.

“It’s a lost cause, Schuyler. I know the Force twins. They stick together.”

“I just have to try,” Schuyler said wistfully. She still couldn’t believe that the boy who’d kissed her so passionately not so long ago was now ignoring her and acting as if nothing had ever happened between them. She couldn’t reconcile the Jack who’d told her about his dreams and his blocked mem ories with the one who was cheerfully debating swing orches tras or jazz bands for the upcoming ball.

“Suit yourself ,” Bliss sighed. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Schuyler nodded. Bliss walked away and Schuyler moved toward Jack Force. Thankfully, Mimi had already left the room.

“Jack, you have to listen to me,” she said, pulling him aside. “Please.”

“Why?”

“I know what The Committee’s hiding. I know what Croatan is.”

He stopped, gaping at her. “How?” He had avoided meeting her gaze, but he looked at her now—

Schuyler’s cheeks were blazing red from anger, and she looked even more beautiful than he remembered.

“My grandmother told me.” She relayed everything her grandmother had told her about the Silver Bloods, and the killings in Roanoke and Plymouth .

His forehead furrowed. “She isn’t allowed to do that. It’s privileged information.”

“You know about this?”

“I did some research of my own, and my father told me the rest. But it’s a dead end.”

“What do you mean? It’s the first clue.”

He shook his head. “Schuyler, I’m sorry to have misled you. But Aggie’s death is being taken care of. You have to trust The Committee to do the right thing. Your grandmother told you an old myth. There is no such thing as the Silver Bloods. No one has ever even proved they really existed.”

“I don’t believe you. We need to convince The Committee to warn everyone. If you don’t join me, I’ll do it myself.”

“There’s nothing I can do to stop you?” Jack asked.

Schuyler jutted her chin out in determination. “No.” She looked askance at him. Just a few weeks ago, she’d been falling in love with him, with his courage and his bravery. Where was the boy who refused to swallow the lies The Committee told them? Where had he gone? When they had danced together at the Informals , she thought she had never been happier in her life. But Jack wasn’t the boy she thought he was. Maybe he never had been.

THIRTY-SEVEN

After the meeting, Schuyler told Bliss and Oliver everything her grandmother had told her about the Silver Bloods, and how Charles Force was the only person who could help them with Dylan’s situation. They decided that the next day Schuyler and Bliss would sneak out of their third period class to confront him. Oliver would make some excuse to their art teacher as to why the girls were absent.

They ambushed Mr. Force in front of the Four Seasons restaurant, where he was known to lunch daily. The Four Seasons was located in the Seagram Building on Park Avenue, and from noon to two P.M. , itwas the center of the Manhattan universe. Media magnates, financial tycoons, publishers, celebrated authors, and personalities made it their personal commissary.

“There he is,” Bliss said, spotting his sleek silver head emerging from a black Town Car. She recognized him because her father had hosted the Forces at their apartment the first week they arrived in Manhattan . She had been a bit afraid of Charles Force. The man had looked right through her, as if he knew everything about her, every secret wish, every hidden desire; his handshake had been firm and had left a mark on her. He frightened her, but she wasn’t about to let that stop her from helping Dylan.

Schuyler studied him. She could swear she’d seen him before. But where? There was something familiar about him. The way he bent his head forward. She knew this man, she was sure of it.

“Mr. Force! Mr. Force!” Bliss called. Charles Force looked curiously at the two girls standing in front of him.

“Excuse me,” he told his lunch partner.

“Mr. Force, we’re sorry to disturb you,” Bliss said. “But we were told to come to you, that you alone can help us.”

“You’re Forsyth’s kid, right?” Charles said abruptly. “What are you doing here in the middle of the day? Doesn’t Duchesne have off-campus rules? Or did that go out with the uniforms?” He turned to Schuyler. “And you.” He didn’t say her name, but he raised his eyebrows. “If I’m not mistaken you’re a Duchesne student as well. Well, you have my atten tion. How can I help you?”

Schuyler held his gaze and didn’t flinch. She stared at him with her bright blue eyes, and it was he who turned away first. “Our friend Dylan is being accused of a murder he didn’t commit. You are the only one who can help us. You are the Regis. My grandmother said—”

” CordeliaVan Alen is a menace. She has never forgiven me for taking command of the Conclave,” he muttered. He motioned to his lunch partner, who was still patiently hold ing the door open to the restaurant. “Go ahead, I’ll join you in a minute.”