“Preposterous!” Gaspard exclaims. But there’s a look of uncertainty in his eyes, and he starts the nervous fidgeting that has all but disappeared since the first time I met him.

Kate calls for calm. “Okay. This is new knowledge. We need to do more research. Charles, Faust...” Kate lists off several more names. “I want you to find this conspiracy group online and get as much information as you can. Henri, go back to those tattoo artists and see if you can get other leads on people requesting the tattoos. Email addresses, whatever. Gaspard and Louis, I want you to work with Bran and Siaka on tracing this legend about a Flame-finger transforming humans into latent revenants. Sound good?” All nod their assent. “Okay. Thanks everyone. Let’s check back in soon.”

One by one, the kindred on the screens disappear. Gaspard is already on his phone, and when he hangs up, he turns to me. “Bran will meet us this afternoon in the library.” He tucks the phone into his waistcoat and departs, mumbling to himself.

Ambrose pats me on the arm and whispers, “I’m sure we’ve time for a workout before you start your research.”

“I don’t know,” I reply, not really feeling like it. What I really want is to go straight to my computer and do my own research on this conspiracy group. I’m fascinated and horrified that I might hold the key to this. Maybe something I see will jog my memory.

Ambrose shakes his head and wraps me in his arm-around-the-shoulder death grip. “A workout a day keeps the numa away. Let’s go.”

Chapter Fifteen

Downstairs in the armory, I duck into a changing room to put on my fighting gear. When I come out, Ambrose is sorting through the weapons racks.

“This one’s perfect for your skill level,” he says, and hands a sword to someone standing behind him.

He steps aside, and there’s Siaka. My heart does a double-flip in my chest, and for a few seconds I forget to breathe.

Siaka looks up and a cautious smile spreads across his face. “Hey, Louis. Thanks for inviting me to work out with you and Ambrose. After a full week of sitting on my butt in front of a computer screen, this is exactly what I needed.”

“Um,” I say, glancing at Ambrose. His mischievous smile and raised eyebrow tell me everything I need to know. Because I sure didn’t invite Siaka. After our last prickly encounter, I wouldn’t have dared. “No problem. It’s good to see you again.”

“Choose your weapon. Siaka’s on sword, I’m on battle-axe, obviously,” Ambrose says.

“Sword’s good for me,” I reply, as if it doesn’t make a difference. But I choose the sword I know I’ll handle best while Ambrose puts some battle-worthy music on the sound system.