Chapter 4

The following day Zia was trying not to die of boredom. She would never get used to the bullshit that rich people did for entertainment. She was in a beautiful building in downtown Inferno that was used for functions ranging from operas to birthday parties. It was all gold glint, red velvet, painted ceilings, and crystal chandeliers. The silent auction and luncheon were to raise money for the poor unfortunate children of Inferno. As someone who had once been one of those children, Zia wondered where the fuck the money from this charity ever went.

"This is Zia, a cousin from Crete. She"s new in Inferno!" Camille said to a stately dame that was dripping in diamonds.

Zia smiled politely. "It"s a pleasure to meet you," she told the woman. She was human-ish. It wasn"t uncommon for humans to breed with the supernatural. Zia herself was a result of such a union. The woman had something in her, a wisp of magic that tickled Zia"s skin.

"It"s so nice of you to look after the less fortunate members of the family, Cami. You are in excellent hands, my girl," the dame said with a smile that showed teeth that were a little too pointed.

Hmm, fae mix, Zia noted.

"Zia is utterly delightful, and I"m so glad she"s come for a visit," Camille said.

Lie, Zia"s truth magic pinged in warning.

"I"m sure that you are going to have a fabulous time," the dame added. Lie.

Zia"s face hurt from smiling flakily for the past hour. "I"m going to go and look at the paintings before they all get sold," she said and unhooked Camille"s grip on her. She had only gone a few steps through the crowd when she was bailed up by Erik.

"Here you go, darling. You looked like you could need another drink," he said, passing her a bright orange cocktail with a coil of lemon rind in it.

"Thanks," she replied with a relieved smile. "Camille has introduced me to so many people I feel dizzy."

"The trick is not to remember any of their names. I doubt you will need to know them anyway," he replied and looked her over.

She was in dark slacks and a pretty satin top that Camille had sent for her to wear that morning. Thankfully, they weren"t white, but a dark indigo and black that complimented her coloring.

"I have to admit, money looks good on you, cousin."

Truth. Zia smiled and tried not to think about kicking him in the balls. "Thanks. I know I"m not what any of you expected, but I"m going to try my best to fit into the family and not embarrass anyone."

Erik laughed softly. "Aren"t you just sweet as sugar? Trust me, you don"t want to fit in with any of this crowd. None of them can be trusted. You can only trust us."

Lie. Zia smirked and looked into her drink. At the bottom of the glass, disguised by the curl of lemon, was a dissolving white tablet. Sloppy, cousin. Very sloppy.

"I do trust you all. I"m going to look at the paintings."

"Have fun, pet. Oh, and Zia? I"m having a party tonight. I"ve talked to Emilia, and she"s going to outfit you and bring you along."

"I love parties! Thanks, Erik," she said with her brightest smile.

He only laughed, as if she didn"t know it was at her and not with her.

Zia slipped through the crowd and subtly tipped her drink out into a large potted fern before leaving the empty glass on a side table. She walked up a curving set of velvet covered stairs to a mezzanine that displayed the items available in the silent auction.

A fae woman was leaning heavily on an older man"s arm and cooing over a statue of Venus carved from ivory. The man was all smiles as he entered a bid in an app on his phone. It was a beautiful piece, and it made Zia itch with annoyance that it was going to be lost in some private collection, and not put on display where everyone could enjoy it.

A figure moved in a shadowy alcove, and she spotted Ares watching her with his dark green eyes. She pretended she hadn"t seen him as her heart gave a strange skip. He was gorgeous in another all-black suit. Really, it was criminally unfair that he was so damn pretty.

"Excuse me, are you Zia Volso?" a woman in a blue gown asked.

"Yes? Can I help you?"

"I just wanted to say hello. It"s not every day a major family has a new member pop out of nowhere. I"m one of the people on the foundation"s board. I wanted to bend your ear about an idea I had..." The woman took a breath, and Zia quickly interrupted.

"I"m not the person to ask, but Ares is over there. He told me today that if anyone wants to chat business, I should send them to him," she said and pointed to the figure in the shadows. "He"s just there, and look, he"s all alone. It"s the perfect opportunity."

The woman touched the sapphire hanging about her necklace, a blush coloring her cheeks. "Ares? I... I"ve never actually talked to him."

"Don"t let him intimidate you. He"s a big pussycat, I swear. Just don"t tickle his belly," Zia said with a wink.

The woman laughed nervously but headed towards Ares with determination. Zia grinned and left them to it, disappearing further through the collection to the paintings.

She was studying a painting she really liked of a haunted-looking mansion on a moor when a deep husky voice said behind her, "That was naughty of you, Lucrezia."

"I don"t know what you mean, Ares. She seemed positively lovely," Zia replied. She was still trying to process him calling her naughty. Damn the man. Don"t forget you"re meant to be related.

"She wants something. That"s the only reason they are all here."

"Everyone wants something, Ares. It"s human nature," Zia replied. She wished she had a drink to hold, and then she remembered that she couldn"t accept anything from anyone in case it was also poisoned.

"You like this one. I can tell," he said, moving closer to examine the painting. "Speaking of wanting things, I wonder what you want, Zia."

"I want to get to know you and the rest of the family. I've always wanted one," she replied. "How about you?"

Ares straightened. "I want to be head of the family, just like the rest of us."

Truth. She was disappointed, but not surprised. She doubted he would risk telling any of the vultures around him what he really wanted in life.

Zia wandered on to the next lot of paintings. She expected Ares to leave her alone, but he followed.

"Are you stalking me, cousin?" she teased.

Ares cocked a dark brow at her. "I"m making sure no one else corners you and you do something like promise them a donation."

"That"s right. You look after the money. I promise I won"t put any bids in for anything either," she said and crossed her heart.

"If something catches your eye, do let me know, but I draw a line at the leeches trying to suck funds out of you," he replied, and a flicker of an almost smile ghosted about his lips.

Zia wondered what a real smile would look like on his stern, handsome face. Because life was unfair, it would probably stop everyone"s heart in a fifty-meter radius.

"I"ll make sure it"s something that matches the black and silver decor at home," she teased before she could check herself. Amusement flickered in his eyes before it disappeared just as quickly.

Zia forced herself to look back at the art on the walls. They had reached an abstract section of the donations. She paused in front of a canvas splattered with angry shades of red and black.

Her mind grabbed hold of the image, and suddenly she was cold, the smell of moldy carpet and blood and masculine sweat invading her senses. The feel of fangs ripping into her back. Scream and I"ll kill you. Tell anyone and I"ll make life hell for you, little bitch.

Zia forced the memories back. She was shaking and sweating under her clothes, her heart racing and eyes watering.

Ares"s cool hand touched her arm. "Zia? Are you okay? You"ve turned ashen."

"I"m... I"m fine. Just had the alcohol hit me suddenly, and I"m having a dizzy spell." Zia pulled away from him, forcing a smile on her face. "I"m going to go home. Erik is having a party tonight. Maybe I"ll see you there?"

Zia didn"t wait for a reply but hurried away as fast as she could. She forced herself to take deep breaths, filling her senses with expensive perfume and elaborate flower arrangements. They banished the scent of old carpet from her nostrils, and she could think a little clearer. She found the doorman, who recognized her immediately.

"Let me get your car, Miss Volso," he said and sent a quick text.

"Thank you," she replied and hoped no one would talk to her. She needed to get behind a closed door and get her shit together. The black town car arrived minutes later, and she slipped into the dark interior.

"The Tower please," she told her driver and put her head in her hands.

It had been eight weeks, four days, and five hours since she had been overwhelmed by her memories. They usually came on her during times of stress. She had no idea a painting could trigger her like that.

Zia stared at the city through the dark tinted glass. One day, she was going to find the bastard. She would get enough wealth and power behind her that when she killed him, she would be untouchable.

Until then, Zia would manage her demons alone, just like always. She fought the urge to ring Asteria. She wasn"t allowed to contact anyone from her regular life during the job. It was for their protection, as well as hers.

Besides, Asteria had just dealt with her own enemies and had become the bride of one of the most powerful Blood Lords in the city. Zia had already been under contract when it happened, and she was yet to have the "what the fuck were you thinking?" conversation with her best friend.

Not that Zia really blamed her. She had seen Mercury Amulius at a council meeting she had attended with Corven. He was ancient, powerful, and hot as hell. Her bestie had done well.

Zia rested her burning forehead against the cool window glass. No, she couldn"t risk calling Asteria. She just needed a shower and a new set of clothes. She had a party to go to, and if the lunch was anything to go off, she would have to be on her toes for poison drinks and gods knew what else.