"If you feel the decoction is affecting you too strongly, tell us immediately."
Gideon placed the mug on the table and nodded.
"We'll stay in contact. If anything goes wrong, we'll come right away."
Bruno, leaning against the wall, let out a heavy sigh and added:
"I know," he said quietly.
"I'll try to come back in one piece."
Ethan took the small bottle, opened it, and without thinking any longer, drank the contents in one gulp. He grimaced but swallowed every drop. The bottle clinked as he set it back on the table.
A few seconds later, a wave of cold spread through his body. The black lines on his neck and shoulder faded slightly, as if their inner fire had been dimmed. The voices inside the stake, which had been whispering almost constantly, nearly disappeared. He felt a slight dizziness.
Ethan exhaled slowly and ran a hand over his face.
"It's working…" he whispered.
Susie looked at him with a mix of anxiety and hope.
"If it gets bad… just tell us, okay?" she whispered.
Flash stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then go. We'll be watching you from a distance."
Ethan nodded once more, put on a plain jacket, hid the stake under his long coat, and left the apartment.
The door closed behind him with a quiet click.
Only Flash, Gideon, Bruno, and Susie remained in the room. Everyone was silent, staring at the closed door.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts.
The exhibition was held in the grand hall of an old, recently restored arts center located in territory fully controlled by Richard Hale. High ceilings with stucco, massive columns, and soft, muted lighting created an atmosphere of false luxury and power.
Huge banners hung everywhere with a bright, patriotic slogan: "The Future of the City is in Our Hands." They featured smiling police officers in uniform, modern surveillance cameras, and silhouettes of a "protected" city under a glass dome.
Guests in expensive suits and evening gowns strolled between the exhibits, talking quietly and sipping champagne from tall flutes. Officially, it was an exhibition showcasing the city police's achievements and "new security technologies." In reality, it was a demonstration of Gerard's power. Gathered here were those who had long since chosen politics, business, journalism, and, of course, vampires in tailored suits, with perfect smiles and cold, predatory eyes.
Ethan entered as an ordinary visitor.
He walked slowly, slightly hunched, trying to look like a curious regular citizen. Simple dark jacket, jeans, slightly messy hair. The wisteria decoction was truly working. Vampires passing by didn't even turn their heads in his direction. To them, he was just another human in the crowd.
Ethan stopped at a stand displaying new surveillance systems. On a large screen, videos played: facial recognition cameras, drones, thermal imagers, crowd control systems. He stood there pretending to watch attentively, but his thoughts were far away. His heart beat faster than usual.
"Impressive, isn't it?" came a soft, melodic voice from beside him.
Ethan turned his head.
A young woman was standing next to him. Tall, slender, with long dark hair styled in an elegant updo. She wore a dark red evening gown that perfectly accentuated her figure. Her face was beautiful, with delicate features and bright, almost hypnotic eyes.
Ethan recognized her immediately, she often appeared in the news as the face of the city's new security initiatives, the official representative of the mayor's office on law and order. Her name was Victoria Chowley.
"Yes… very impressive," Ethan replied, trying to sound calm and slightly enthusiastic, like an ordinary citizen.
"So much technology… now no one can hide."
Victoria smiled wider. Her gaze slid over his face, lingering on his eyes.
"You're here for the first time? I don't think I've seen you at events like this before."
Ethan shrugged, trying to look a bit embarrassed.
"Yes, first time. I just decided to come see what's happening in the city. The news keeps talking about a 'new future,' so I wanted to see it with my own eyes."
Victoria tilted her head slightly, still smiling. A spark of genuine interest, not just professional,flashed in her eyes.
"You have beautiful eyes," she said suddenly, a little quieter.
"And honest ones. There aren't many like that here. Most people come only for photos and connections."
Ethan was slightly taken aback but quickly recovered.
"Thank you…" he replied with a light, awkward smile.
"And you… do you work here?"
"You could say that," she said, extending her hand. "Victoria. Official representative of the mayor's office on security matters."
Ethan shook her hand. Her palm was cool but pleasant.
"Ethan," he introduced himself.
"Just Ethan."
Victoria didn't release his hand right away. She looked at him a moment longer than politeness required.
"You know… people like you are rare here. Would you like me to show you the closed section of the exhibition?"
"They're displaying things not everyone gets to see. New developments… the ones that will truly change the city."
Ethan tensed inwardly but smiled outwardly.
"That would be interesting."
Victoria's smile grew even wider, almost playful.
"Then let's go. For beautiful eyes, I'm willing to break a couple of rules."
She lightly took his arm and led him through the crowd. Ethan walked beside her, feeling his heart beat faster. He understood this was an opportunity. But he also understood he was walking on very thin ice.