Morvicti Blood (A Morvicti Novel Book 1) by Lee Swift

not forget the first mission you sent me on in 2003.”
    What the bloody hell is he talking about? “The U.S. senator’s nephew? That was not successful. He still has his head. I don’t understand what that has to do with our situation now, Jack.”
    The killer laughed. “Things are right in front of you, but you fail to see them. How could I ever trust a fool like you?”
    Bathry had no idea what Jack was talking about, but he could feel his hard work slipping away with every syllable the bastard uttered. “But I rescued you from your prison.”
    “Yes, yes, yes, I’m sure you’re very upset about my changes to your master plan.”
    “ Our plan, Jack. It was always our plan. We share the same enemies. The high born are to blame for what happened to you.”
    “But all the bloodlines are my enemy, even the lowly Bathrys. Your kind believes they are the superior species, that the rest of humankind doesn’t even deserve mention in the same breath as you and yours. My mother was one of the Morvicti, my father a mere mortal. But their union created me, the first of a new breed—the pinnacle species.”
    Blasphemy . “You fucking halfblood. I will kill you myself.”
    “You have to find me first, David.” The beast laughed. “When you sent me for that task this morning, I had a feeling it was the last one. You’re never happy to see me, but you were positively giddy. I left with the intention of never returning, though I meant to complete the job. A few more dead bloodliners only serve my purpose of exposing your secret society to the entire world. Havoc is my friend, David. Havoc alone.”
    Maybe something good did come of this. “Then you did cut off the heads of the Drakes you found in the sanctuary?”
    “Only one, but that’s another story. Suffice it to say, I learned this morning that I am not alone.”
    More cryptic words. “You’re insane.”
    “I can understand why you might think so, but you are wrong. Everything I have done and will do has a purpose. Thank you for your help in getting me acclimated to this amazing world. I look forward to when we meet again.”
    Bathry’s gut coiled into a knot when the line went dead.

CHAPTER 18
     
    10:20 AM (GMT)
     
    Octavian Drake sat inside his private jet with his mobile phone to his ear. His heart pounded hard in his chest. His brother was dead. Austin McCord was missing. “Where are you, Belisarius?”
    “Outside Angelique’s flat.”
    “Any sign of Austin?” Of course McCord would try to get to his twin. She was likely the only person he knew in London.
    “No, but he did create quite the disturbance when he hijacked a delivery van and driver at gun point. Just got the report from an officer with the Met.”
    “Damn.”
    “My sentiments are the same, Majesty.”
    “Talk to David Bathry. Do what you can to slow down the police’s search for McCord,” he said. “We must find Austin before the Metropolitan Police do.”
    “I will do my best. What about his sister?”
    Good question. An intruder had defiled the Drake Bloodline Sanctuary. Servants were cleaning up the mess at this very moment.
    His brother, Romulus, known by the alias “Walter Turner,” had been slain, his head severed from his body. Losing Rom crushed him utterly. There was no one else above ground he trusted more. Grief threatened to consume him, but he could not let it, not with his invisible enemy still on the loose.
    Though the slumbers of his family hadn’t been disturbed, Austin’s whereabouts were still unknown. “We don’t have a choice. It’s time for Angelique to know the whole truth.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “As sure as I can be with what is going on.” The other bloodlines were screaming for the head of The Ripper. The situation could not be more dire.
    “It’s possible that McCord is already inside with his sister.”
    “Let’s hope so. It will make your job easier.”
    “I’ll report back as soon as I can.”
    “I’ll be in flight in the next ten