18. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Ethan

" T here he is," I snarl under my breath.

"Is that Demetrius?" Lily asks, her voice barely above a whisper. The horror on her face makes me despise myself. How did things get like this?

"In flesh and decay;" I answer Lily, keeping my eyes fixed on the road ahead, scanning his every action.

"We're being followed," she says, narrowing her eyes and trying to get a better look at his shadowy figure.

"Stay calm. I got this," I press my hand on hers, squeezing it, reassuring her that everything is going to be okay as long as I am right here next to her.

"How could I?"

"Lily, I can hear your heartbeats. Calm down. You are staying here."

"Ethan. What do we do?" she whispers, her voice trembling.

"Stay in the car. I'll handle this," I tell her firmly.

Before she can protest, I am out of the car, moving with the speed and grace of a predator. Lily watches, her eyes filled with horror.

I walk closer to Demetrius. My muscles tense in preparation for any inevitable attack. I am ready. His breathing sounds heavy, and he reeks of alcohol. The closer I get, the stronger the stench becomes. Demetrius staggers, trying to take another step forward, but he suddenly stops.

"Ethan Rothschild. Long time no see," Demetrius says, his voice raspy and mocking.

"Finally, we meet, right, Demetrius?"

I can't help but notice Demetrius' gaze shifting back and forth to Lily, with a cruel smile across his face. His smile is so cruel that it spreads all across his face.

"The human girl. She smells wonderful. Just perfect."

"She is under my protection, Demetrius. That means you'll have to go through me first to get to her."

"I was hoping you'd say that" he smirks, and his eyes turn from red to the normal brown color again, his fangs bared.

"Name your price, Demetrius."

"Pardon?" he tilts his head.

"I will give you whatever you want, as long as you stay away from Lily and my company."

"That is not the reason I'm here."

"Then why did you follow us? What is with the letter, the excessive buying, reporting to the FDA, and all of that? What is it that you want from me, Demetrius?"

"The FDA?" he says, confused.

"You've been misusing tons of our products and reporting to the FDA. Now, they won't stop coming after me."

"I have been buying from you, yes. I needed your products. And I will keep needing them, but I am a vampire, so I don't get involved with federal agencies."

"You haven't only been buying for yourself, yes?"

"I have not. I am new to town. Tough weather in New York."

"That still doesn't explain purchasing an entire container of products."

"I have many vampires to take care of."

"Vampires? You are not on your own, are you?"

"I have a clan, Ethan Rothschild. You don't think I came here to mess with your business, right?"

"A clan," I echo after him. I want to comprehend what sort of game he is playing.

"I have a lot of vampires that need my care."

"Why did you come here? You could have settled anywhere else, you know that?"

"My family and I derive from Romania. Not that it is any of your business why I decided to settle here, but the environment is tricky. I need to feed. We all do."

"So, you want the same arrangement we have with the others?"

"Tough process you got there to get vampires to become your regular, trusted clients. I am afraid I just wanted a talk with you," he says, but his eyes are still fixed on Lily inside the car.

"I will not share Lily. She is not an option."

"What? No! Of course, not. That is not even close to what I want, Ethan."

"Then why are you looking at her like that?" I point at her in the car.

"She looks so delicate. I can smell her fear, and as intoxicating as it is, I am not here for that," he replies, still not taking his eyes off her.

"I am going to say it one last time, Demetrius. Name your price and get the hell out of here. I don't want to see you ever again or hear from you."

"Or what, Ethan?"

"I am not finished. I want you gone. I don't want you purchasing from Rothschild Pharmaceuticals ever again."

"So, you'd prefer I feed on humans instead of your fake, processed blood. Is that right, Ethan?"

"You wouldn't dare," I say, gritting my teeth.

"Wouldn't I? I could go hunting right now and have my fair share."

"I can't let you do that. We've worked hard to avoid any human casualties, and you can't jeopardize the process."

"Well, it is either me or them."

"That is a tough choice to make, Demetrius. Another choice would be having you among my trusted clients, providing you with everything you need, as long as you don't hurt anybody."

"Your human is scared to death, and you are talking business with me?"

"I don't want her to see any of this. So, please. Tell me what it is that you want, and I'll try to make things work. Just keep the FDA out of this."

"I seriously have no idea what you have in mind that links me to your FDA scandals."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't have anything to do with the FDA."

My mind goes numb for a minute. If I hadn't read Demetrius' mind, I would have said that he was lying to me once again and trying to manipulate me into thinking that he is innocent.

"Are you saying somebody else is framing me? There is no one other than you to doubt for all the crap that the FDA has been accusing me of."

"I don't know what to tell you, Ethan. All I want is an arrangement, a mutual agreement between the two of us."

"And what would that be?" I say as I fold my arms together, patiently waiting for him to utter something.

"I don't intend to stay in New York for life. My kind doesn't belong here. We belong in our ancestors' land: Romania."

"You're telling me your life aspirations, because?"

"My family is huge. You wouldn't believe me if I told you the number. We are all vampires, weak in the sunlight, and in need of protection. Isn't that what your company does? Providing protection for vampires all around the world?"

"What makes you think I believe you?"

"Well, you should," Demetrius says and takes out a pack of cigarettes. He offers me one, but I object.

"Excuse me?"

"I have found great use in your products. All except Sanguiderm. Awful. Awful taste for blood."

"That is our only alternative for now."

"I know, but I still can't contain my thirst with humans. Human blood is just irreplaceable, Ethan, and you know that."

"What is it that you want, Demetrius?"

He doesn't reply right away. He smiles, eyes sparkling at the question like he's been waiting for it.

"I want to be a client you provide for regularly, even when I am miles away."

"You simply can't be my client and feast on humans."

"I don't kill. Never have. Well, I-" he pauses and looks up, inhaling as much smoke as he wants, and exhales it into the air.

"Keep going."

"I only kill when I am in danger, or when those around me are in danger."

"And how do you keep such a demon's strength?"

"Well, I tend to be lovable among women. They let me drink from their wrists, sometimes even necks. I prefer necks. They're so tender and you can easily swap the girl. Have you ever tried that, Ethan?"

I automatically think of Lily. She has the softest, most delicate skin, but I don't drink human blood. At least not anymore, but that doesn't mean that the thought isn't invading my mind already.

"So, do you agree?"

"My conditions are clear, Demetrius. You stay away from humans, protect our kind, and you'll have all the protection you want."

"Don't you crave her, Ethan? Lily. Haven't you ever thought of trying to drink from her wrist and seeing what she tastes like?"

"Stop it. Keep your mouth shut. You have no right in any of this."

"Right. I wouldn't be able to contain myself if I were you, though," he says, smirking, and drops the cigarette on the floor and then steps on it.

"You still have a price to name to get the hell out of here for good."

"I am afraid that is not what I am here for, Ethan. I've named my price. Ship to my family in Romania."

"We've never made deliveries outside the country."

"You can start with me. What's a few thousand vampires compared to your entire vampire race in New York?"

"Why would you want to do that?"

"For survival. If it makes you feel better, you'll still get money from us."

"Money is not the reason why I do this."

"Oh, come on, Ethan. You are a Rothschild. Of course, you are after money. Money might not be the only thing you are after, but you are after it all the same, and I respect that."

"No. Not at all. Money is not a problem. I have plenty of it. But we don't ship outside the country. No matter what the reason is."

"Then there is no deal."

"So, what? You think you can threaten me?" I take a few steps towards him.

"Perhaps indirectly."

"You are not going to do anything. I'll get security."

"Do you really think they are going to do something about me?"

"What do you want, Demetrius?"

"I have told you exactly what I want. I can be on your team, and you won't see me or deal with me again. Consider it a promise."

"Why do you think I should trust you?"

"Because I am a ruthless creature of my word. In fact, you will gain my trust and loyalty by keeping your word," Demetrius says, the smile fading from his lips and a more serious expression replacing it.

"I am going to ask one last time, Demetrius."

"Ask away."

"You're not the behind the FDA allegations, are you?"

"I have nothing to do with that. The FDA is on their own, and they are probably after you because they want you to stop manufacturing your products."

I scoff. I can't read a sinister thing in his thoughts except that he's telling the truth. He is only thinking of sensual ways to drink blood, and that is enough for me to decide.

I'll keep him under my radar, and if he betrays me, I'll have him destroyed. But for now, there's no other choice. I can't risk being exposed. Not now.

"You'll have supplies shipped to Romania."

"Very well," Demetrius says, extending his hand to me. I hesitate at first but shake it. He has a strong grip.

"But you will stay far away from Lily. If you don't, you'll wish you were dead. Do you understand me?" I say, looking him straight in the eye.

"Understood. Nice doing business with you, Ethan," Demetrius says, but suddenly his thoughts are blank. I can't read them anymore.

I am not surprised. His fangs appear and his eyes turn a bright red. I know he is up to no good. I can finally see it.

"What is that look on your face for?" I can't help but ask.

"You're so focused on keeping Lily and your company safe, but have you ever wondered how the FDA got so close to you? How did they know just where to hit you?" Demetrius smirks, the eerie red in his eyes intensifying.

"What are you implying?" I say, a chill running down my spine.

"Let's just say that you might have a traitor not so far from you. Someone close to you in fact," he says, leaning in closer.

Before I can react, he vanishes into the shadows, leaving me with a sinking feeling. I find myself asking too many questions in my head.

I look back at the car, my ears feeling numb. Who could be leaking info to the FDA? And how deep does this betrayal go?