“Yes, and that’s why I prefer not to compel unless absolutely necessary. It can mess with a person’s mind. We can, however, also do what we call convince. It works sort of like a post-hypnotic suggestion, except without the swaying pocket watch. We can make a suggestion, say telling someone to go fetch the paper, and that’s what they’ll do. It doesn’t matter that it’s the afternoon, and they retrieved it that morning because when vampires speak to mortals in a certain tone, we—”

“Wait. Are you saying you can’t compel other vampires? I mean, it would make it really easy to tell your enemies just to back off.”

“Yes, it would. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on vampires. Only mortals,” Bennett said. “And as I was saying, when we speak to mortals in a certain tone, we become the swaying pocket watch. So, suddenly in our victim’s mind appears a thought put there by us, and they act on it.”

“So you could tell someone to jump off a bridge, and they’d do it.”

“No, whatever we request can’t go against their instincts, and the survival instinct is one of the strongest. We can, however, ask someone to take the next taxi if we’re running late.”

Ruby smiled. “How come I think you’ve done that?”

“A few times, but I don’t make it a habit of convincing, and I only use compelling if there are no guardians around and I have to feed on a stranger.”

“So you’ve…you’ve fed on Lisa then?”

“No. I haven’t, and I won’t. Her brothers provide me when necessary, and I have other ways to get what I need.”

“But then don’t all those people you feed on become vampires, too?”

“It doesn’t work that way.”

Ruby nibbled on her lip for a second. “Am I going to be pushing my luck if I dare ask how it does work?”

Bennett picked up the French press carafe and poured what remained into their cups. “We have an enzyme in our saliva, and after biting someone, that enzyme stays in their system for a few days. If, during that time, they happen to die, then they would awaken a vampire.”

“So those drug pushers and the people in the park—”

“No, they’re dead,” Bennett said quietly. “If we feed enough to kill someone, drain them to a point where their heart stops because of the blood loss, they perish like any mortal would. They don’t become vampires. They just become dead.”

“I see,” Ruby said, picking up her coffee.

Bennett arched an eyebrow. “Your crease is appearing again.”

“I’m confused. You said your kind doesn’t have to kill, so why murder those people in the park?”