“And that’s why I said I’ve been riding on the fumes of my own legend,” Bennett said, taking a sip of her coffee. “Hundreds of years ago, I wasn’t the woman sitting in front of you now. As I’m sure your father told you, once word spread that there was a vampire who could walk in the sun, things, shall I say, became difficult.”

Lisa paled. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“Yes, it is,” Bennett said, nodding. “Except I’m not talking about what Simeon and Napoleon did. Once the council offered me a place at the table, it came across to some that they gave it to me, first and foremost, because of my strength and speed. Since it was also known I’d never lost a battle, braggarts began lining up to take me on. They believed if they could best me, the chair would be theirs…and mind you, I didn’t want any of this.”

“I know. Dad told me.”

“But I also didn’t want to die, so when they wanted to fight, when they approached with their swords drawn and their eyes glowing, I did what I had to do. None of them survived, and a legend was born. As time went on, the story of the first daywalker and her abilities grew exponentially. It was embellished, and some very creative people added some extraordinarily exquisite details…” Bennett stopped, biting back the urge to laugh as she remembered the folklore revolving solely around her. “Anyway, by doing so, it became my shield. I no longer had to worry about keeping myself in fighting shape because no one would challenge me anymore. I didn’t need to be as sharp as a razor or as swift as a horse because my legend protected me like no edict from the council could.”

Lisa took her time processing the information before her grin blossomed. “In this day and age, they call that believing in your own press.”

“And that’s precisely what I did. I forgot that while my senses remain keen and my strength and swiftness are still far beyond that of a mortal, it’s not like it is when I drink fresh blood. If I had been, I would have gotten out of the way before the debris dropped on me.”

“So that was the trap?”

“The building was being renovated or maybe demolished, I’m not sure, but it was empty except for some piles of trash and lumber. I stepped around one and heard a click, and when I looked down, I saw a trip wire against my leg. A second later, the ceiling fell in, and you saw the result.”

“Which leads us back to Napoleon,” Lisa said, placing her mug on the desk. “What are you going to do about him?”

“Nothing.”

“What? How can you do nothing? He tried to kill you.”