“You think there’s more?”
“Of course there are more!” he snaps. “I do not know who commands them, but I know they answer to a single voice. Whoever has control would not throw all of his forces at us in a single blitz.”
Goosebumps run down my arms. I have a very acute feeling that Felix knows a hell of a lot more than he’s letting on.
“Now, please, if you don’t mind,” he says, his voice straining. “Give me some room. I have very limited capacity in magic, and this requires all the concentration I can muster.”
I do not appreciate his tone, but I know I would be doing him no favors by getting in the way.
I cross my arms and walk to the nearest upturned boulder, dissolve the deadly portal I cast above the hole, and look down into the depths.
The tunnel bores down indefinitely. Even with my enhanced vision I cannot see the end.
I test for the presence of anything down there but find nothing.
Of course, I was unable to sense those godforsaken creatures anyway. Couple that with how little noise they make when traversing the terrain, and it makes for a very formidable enemy.
I touch the strange torrial in my pocket. It gives me a little bit of relief. If—or rather when, according to Felix—more of these things come, at least I will be able to defend my vampires.
I cast the weaves of the deadly “portal” spell once more, putting it back in place, and turn to the vampires on the ground.
I watch Felix make his way slowly from one to the other. As soon as he whispers those words in their ear and casts his spell, the vampires fall into a deep sleep. The ones who are groaning pass right out, while the ones who are unconscious have their breathing hitch, then take on a much deeper, more relaxed pattern.
At least it is working. I am still discomforted by how long it takes. My mind turns to the rest of The Haven. These sort of tunnels could be scattered all over the place. The guards posted outside the stronghold are safe from an eruption of these creatures from the huge crater that I sealed… but they are wholly vulnerable if they come out of the ground like these did.
And of course, there’s still Morgan. I feel a small bit of relief that she is as frail as she is. Were she any stronger, my natural impulse would be to pin her as the mastermind behind the attack… but there is no way she can do something like that from her impoverished state.
I take another look at Felix. He’s slowing. At the same time, I am growing impatient. The vampires are so vulnerable like this. The sooner they recover their wits, the better.
Some of the first vampires that Felix attended to begin to stir. They sit up confused, somewhat dazed… but all in all, back to their regular selves.
I go to them and explain what happened. Anger and indignation is the most common response. But beneath those is a current of something very, very close to humiliation.
How could we have been taken unaware like this?
It takes the better part of three hours for Felix to finish. I keep the vampires who have risen from the spell close to me.
The whole time they gather, the feeling of unease grows and grows.
Finally, Felix is done. He’s taken care of the last vampire. He staggers to his feet, looking gaunt and exhausted—and then topples over.
I gasp and run to him. I hold him up off the ground. I can feel his essence. It is no weaker than usual, but the casting of his spells has taken a great toll on his body.
I know he’ll recover, in time… but I need him here, fully with me, right now.
So, I do a very reckless thing and bite two incisions in my wrist, let the blood pool, then lower it and drip it in his mouth.
A hushed silence descends over the watching vampires when they see what I am doing. They all know how precious my blood is—as do I.
I only allow four small drops to fall on his lips before taking my wrist away.
Felix sputters awake. I can feel his whole body rejuvenated. “As thank you,” I tell him solemnly, “for what you did.”
I stand and offer him my hand to help him up. He graciously accepts.
“I never expected such a great reward,” he tells me. “I did not do it for this.”
“I know,” I say. “But you’ve earned it anyway.”
And, no matter how much I dislike admitting it, Felix is the only vampire here who has the knowledge of how to deal with these things.
Just as I’m turning back to the others, a strange ripple of trepidation crawls down my spine.
Instantly, I whip around. I peer into the surrounding woods but see nothing. I expand my senses to take in the darkness, but I feel nothing.
“Eleira?” Felix asks. “What is it?”
I take one more long, solid look in the direction, and then shake my head.
“Nothing,” I say softly. “I’m just jumping at ghosts.”
“May I suggest bringing our vampires to a more secure location?” Felix asks, even though we both know it’s not a question. “Somewhere we don’t all feel like sitting ducks.”
“You said the torrial protects me from the screams,” I say. “That means that the safest place for the vampires is near me. If another wave comes, I can protect them.”
“I am not questioning your abilities in the least,” Felix says. “But there are strategic considerations that must be made.”
“Fine,” I face him. “What do you suggest we do?”
“Go to the stronghold,” he says, without a second of hesitation. “We know the layout inside and out. My rooms are there, and they contain more artifacts that could end up useful.”
“That’s one option,” I say. “Despite the fact that the greatest crater to the underground from where these things spawn lies in the middle of the damn thing? Not to mention the rubble that fell and rendered half the stronghold inaccessible!”
I turn away from him and face the other vampires. “Felix deserves praise for what he accomplished here, but his idea is ill-advised. I told you all that your former Queen still lives. She is the biggest unknown in all of this. I will not retreat to the stronghold while Morgan still has a breath of life in her.”
I shoot Felix a disapproving look.
“We will gather above ground near her secret tomb. If you are all in one place, I can protect you. At the same time, we do not leave Morgan unattended!”
Murmurs of reluctant approval echo through the vampires. Even though they are recovered physically, mentally I can tell they are still reeling from the shock of being confronted with something that has such a debilitating effect on them.
“Stay close,” I tell them and lead the way.
Chapter Four
Dagan
The Ancients’ Coven.
I pace around our most inhospitable “guest chamber”, feeling reason to rip my hair out in frustration.
Beth has not spoken to me for hours. After our disagreement about who the ancient vampires meant was the second girl of prophecy—I am convinced it’s her, whether she has steadfastly rejected it—After the disagreement devolved into a heated shouting match, she suddenly switched off and simply refused to talk.
Thankfully, the stalemate is interrupted when the sealed door to the room slides open and Vasile steps in.
“Dagan,” he addresses me. “You will come this way.”
Thankful to have some excuse to get away from Beth, I jump at the command.
None of my alacrity, I tell myself, absolutely none, is due to the stronger vampire exerting his influence over me.
Zero.
I follow him out. Just before the door slides shut I hear Beth give a very audible sniff.
I follow the older, stronger vampire through the twisting passages of his home. I still feel uneasy being in the presence of one who so strongly surpasses me in might.
Add to that the fact that there are three more like him, and that puts all my nerves on edge.