Hawthorn sighed as he stretched back in the seat. Orin was getting nowhere, and it was frustrating for everyone. He imagined that despite the game she played, Seraphina was annoyed at the situation.
Hawthorn's gaze moved to the screen on the side wall. It was a direct view of the human on the motorbike outside. He hadn't moved from the spot, but Hawthorn could tell the human was getting antsy.
Hawthorn knew that things had to change before the end of the ball. Once the guests emerged from the building, it would be obvious that Seraphina had failed in her job. For now, the human would remain in the land of the oblivious, waiting for Seraphina to reappear.
But what would the future hold for Seraphina? Hawthorn couldn't answer that at the moment. She was talking to Orin, even if it was a painful game of cat and mouse.
Seraphina would give Orin a few answers, build up his hope and then turn everything around and toy with him. Hawthorn wondered if Orin had noticed that whenever Seraphina toyed with him, an eyebrow would twitch. It was a slight move, barely noticeable.
Hawthorn became distracted by the view. He watched Seraphina as she talked to Orin. It wasn't expected, but occasionally, she would smile. The pale pink lips turned slightly at the corners, and her cheeks rose with the change in her mood.
"Do you think she wishes to gain access to the sanctum?"
"We all yearn for the place that we call home." Hawthorn reluctantly admitted. "Was it a mistake to banish her?"
"You trusted the guard, and there was nothing to suggest that anything was wrong."
"But all these years among humans couldn't have been easy. I have wronged Seraphina."
"You are not thinking with your mind. Take a step back and remember who she is and what happened. It was not you that lifted the sword that began the war."
"That may be true but look at where we are now. The war was a mistake. I bear the burden in many respects, but the reality is that we as a species have suffered. Now I am left to strengthen our numbers with nights like this. I risk so many lives to hold this ball. We might own this building, but it doesn't make it safe. I endanger the lives of the guards and the guests just so that we can find another human to become a part of our family. Perhaps this should be the final year."
"If you live in fear, then they have won. Tonight will show whoever her employer is that we cannot be easily defeated."
Kohen watched as Seraphina turned her attention to the bird. Orin had taken in seeds to give to the bird with the hope that it would ease Seraphina into offering more information. Kohen couldn't say if it was working or not.
He could tell that Seraphina was not impressed that this was the outcome.
"She did not expect to be caught. Perhaps you should have let her fire the arrow."
"And risk the lives of the guests? Have you gone mad, Kohen, or is there someone you want dead?"
He smiled at Hawthorn, shaking his head.
"No. I see a woman who has trained to be the best because she's always planned to take you down as silently as she could manage. You thwarted all those years of hard work, all her patience."
"And I would not have it any other way. Seraphina can get over her lacklustre performance. I want to know why she has returned after all these years. Is it a coincidence that she appears at the only open invitation event that we hold in the year that I became the last of my line?"
"It's hard to say at the moment."
She couldn't have gained an invitation to the event unless Seraphina used a fake name. Each year, a few humans tried to get invitations, but it wasn't easy for them. Their identity would be scrutinised, and if the head of event security didn't like what he saw, the request would be thrown away. It was an open-invitation event, but Hawthorn preferred that the invitations go to those already associated with vampires.
Through the glass, Hawthorn and Kohen watched Orin stand and walk out of the room. Seraphina returned to giving water to the bird.
"You haven't gained much, Orin. I'm beginning to think you don't know how to interrogate a prisoner."
Orin grumbled as he gestured to the notes.
"She's answered everything I have asked, but does it solve anything? No. Look at these answers. Are you working alone? She answered yes. Did someone pay you to do this job? Another yes. Who is this person? I don't know the name of the person who actually put the money into my account."
"Perhaps you should read into the statement, Orin. Seraphina is answering you. She said she didn't know the person's name and that whoever it was, worked for someone. Like an employee."
"The government?" Kohen asked.
"It is a thought worthy of consideration. We don't have any evidence surrounding Nesrin's death, but we all know that the humans killed her. What if I was their final target?"
"You don't think Seraphina killed your sister, do you?"
"No." Hawthorn hummed.
His eyes narrowed as he watched Seraphina. Deep in thought, his index finger rubbed over the bottom lip and chin, scratching against the short bristly hairs that had emerged.
"She likes the silent approach. Seraphina could have easily trained to use a gun. I know she would relish the thought of splattering my innards over the guests or whoever might be around. Opting for an antiquated method also shows that she likes to take her time. She could quickly escape and remain unseen because there would be no sound of gunfire. Nesrin was murdered in a drive-by. If this was Seraphina's approach, then she could have done that tonight as well. She had the driver, and she had the ability to take me down on the street."
"And the killer was male," Orin said as he looked at Kohen. "Where are you with the investigation?"
"Each lead turns into another diversion. Whoever it is, has us running around in circles like a pack of idiots."
"Maybe it's another assassin secretly funded by the taxpayer."
"If only they knew."
"Be careful with what you wish for, Orin. If humans learn about vampires, they might welcome a fully funded department that would see to our demise."
Orin nodded, thinking that it was more than possible. It was highly likely that it would happen.
"What would you like me to ask now?"
"Ask if the government is funding her, then question if she knows anything about Nesrin's death. You could even ask if she wants to return to the sanctum. See how she reacts to that question."
"It would be interesting."
Orin nodded and turned to walk away.
Hawthorn stood and watched Seraphina through the one-way window. Like she knew he was watching, Seraphina raised her hand and lifted the middle finger. Hawthorn smiled.
"Will you risk the future by letting Seraphina remain alive?"
"As much as it would be fun to make her suffer, I think it might be ideal to let my beautiful wife live."