“That could go in our favour. He’ll figure that after the battle there’ll be enough casualties to mean that some countries are without a High Master. If he wants more territory he might join Antonio.”
Jared nodded. “Very likely. But I’d say that the other side will try to coax him to betray Antonio because his gift is pretty impressive. Duplication.”
“So...He can create duplicates of himself or others and scatter them around to join the battle to replace any casualties.”
Jared nodded again. “I can’t see him betraying Antonio though. I’m not saying he’d definitely join the battle, he might want to sit it out completely.”
I knew the bloke on the next photograph. I recognised his chubby face, the thin coal-black moustache, the smarmy expression, and it was impossible to forget the way he combed his dark hair to the side of his head, covering his bald patch (not so well).
“Bennington,” I said.
“That’s right. You’ve met him, right?” I nodded. “Creepy guy. He might want to have a catch up if he sees you.”
“Or try to employ me.”
“He tried to take you off Victor?”
“Yeah, a few times. Out of the two of them, Victor was the lesser evil.”
Jared tilted his head, conceding that. “He’s High Master over Greenland and Iceland as well as Britain. Out of all the High Masters, he’s had the most challenges to his role.”
“I’m not surprised, he makes enemies pretty easy. Bennington’s gift wouldn’t exactly help him in a battle. He can sense people’s gifts, but he has to be extremely up close to do it.”
“I hope he gets up close to me. Decapitating him would be the highlight of my year.”
“Be careful, I might beat you to it.”
“Bennington’s mine,” he insisted with a smile.
I gave him a ‘whatever’ shrug and then slung the photograph to examine the next. Whoa, they were the bushiest eyebrows I’d ever seen – they joined in the middle, making the bloke look like he had a caterpillar hanging above his round dark eyes. His coppery hair was quite tousled, sticking out here and there and tickling his long ears.
“That’s Winston Jones, but he changes his name near enough every time the wind changes course. He’s High Master over Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia and all the little surrounding islands. Older than Antonio by a couple of decades. He’s known mostly for having the largest harem.”
“Go on, how many consorts?”
“Over eighty.”
I grimaced. “That’s bad, worse than man-boobs.”
Jared laughed. “Don’t talk about tits. I’m having a hard time ignoring yours.”
“That’s because you’re perverted.”
“No, it’s because I want you, and you’re making it really hard to resist you when you come here dressed like that.”
“Er, excuse me, I did not turn up here like this for your benefit. I was at a restaurant, and you snatched me from it, remember. Now let’s get back to this file. So, what’s this bloke’s gift?”
“Nothing uncommon. Winston can levitate, but he can levitate quite high.”
“What side do you think he’ll align himself with?”
“It’s hard to say. Winston’s weird like that. One minute he’s laughing and joking with you but then the slightest thing changes his mood.”
“Typical Pagori,” I muttered.
Jared frowned at the jibe but then his smile quickly returned. “Winston’s quite impulsive. I think his decision will just depend on how he’s feeling at the exact moment that he realises he has to choose a side or back out.”
The next photograph was of a Keja vampire of Japanese origin. He was neither smiling nor frowning; his expression and posture was very relaxed and reserved, and I imagined him to be a very cool, collected person. In this respect, he made me think of Antonio.
“He calls himself Bran,” said Jared. “He’s a Keja. He’s always been a close friend of Antonio’s, they have the same Sire. There’s no doubt where his allegiance will lie.”
“Good.”
“He’s High Master over Japan, China, and Africa among other places. Quiet and respectful. He makes me think of a librarian. Doesn’t like Connelly much, I think that’s because Connelly talks so much.”
“And what’s in his bag of tricks?”
“He’s an Ecological Empath; he has a psychic sensitivity to his surrounding environment.” His bad-boy smile was suddenly back. “Want to have a rummage in my bag of tricks? You never know what might pop up.”
“Jared,” I growled in warning, but it didn’t have much humph behind it seen as I was giggling at the same time.
Wearing a crooked, sexy grin, he said, “Joke.” But his tone and the intensity of his gaze completely contradicted that. I swallowed. The horniness continues...
The next vampire looked a lot like Butch with his neat hairdo and the devilish tint to his eyes. Unlike Butch he seemed to like facial piercings; his nose, eyebrows, lips and ears all either had hoops or studs decorating them. His smile revealed a couple of gold teeth. He didn’t photograph very well. I have to say, though I’m not very photogenic myself. In human years, he was probably the oldest of all the High Masters.
“Ricardo Maxwell.”
“You don’t like him,” I detected.
Jared shrugged. “He thinks he’s a hard-case but really it’s all a big act. I can’t stand people like that. He’s High Master over the US and Mexico. He’ll, without a doubt, support Antonio. He likes to think of himself as good friends with Antonio, he’s a real bad kiss-ass.”
“As long as he fights with Antonio I don’t care if he goes as far as to lodge himself permanently up Antonio’s arse. Gift?”
“Shape-shifting. And it’s not restricted; he can shift into whatever living thing he touches.”
“Maybe Ricardo isn’t so bad after all.”
“I’m sorry to destroy your fantasy but you’re not his type. He’s a fan of plump, curvy females with big butts. You’ll see what I mean when you get a glimpse of his consort.”
“So, basically, his taste is the opposite of yours.” Before he could make an impish comment I quickly asked, “So at some point you’ll speak to every vampire in this file.”
He nodded. “That’s right. They’ll come over, ask how Antonio’s doing and to pass on their regards, that kind of thing. It’s just exchanging pleasantries to show respect for Antonio.”
“Right.”
On the last photograph a very grim looking vampire was staring back at me. He made me think of an army sergeant or something. His face and neck were covered in scars and tattoos and had a beard of stubble, giving him quite a rugged appearance. He didn’t look in the least bit welcoming.
“Kaiser Something-Or-Other. I can’t pronounce his surname. He’s German and a Pagori. High Master over Germany, Russia, Sweden, Finland and other places round those parts. I’m 100% confident that he’ll be the first to offer to join Antonio. He might be miserable and mind-numbingly boring but he’s loyal to Antonio. He’s visited The Hollow a few times.”
“His gift?”
“He can petrify any plant, animal or even human – totally turning them to stone.”
“Well he’s just gone up in my estimations.”
“He’ll probably be very pleased with you. Likes the slender but shapely type. Not approving of Joy.”
I couldn’t help smiling at that. “Well that’s because a lot of blokes like to be able to hold what they can see.”
His expression became all bad-boyish and spoke of utter mischief. “I’d certainly like to hold what I can see right now.” He brushed my hair over my shoulder and leant over to my ear. “Sam,” he breathed. “You know you want this.”