"Why would you do such a thing?" Clay's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Nightwalkers don't typically involve themselves in our business."
"Vampires," Vellum said distinctly, "are possessed of a keen sense of self-interest, as you've noted. I need to get to Scar Tooth Mountain. This train will no longer transport me there in a state of hibernation. Therefore I must ride by horseback, but it's a long journey."
"Over a month," Clay agreed warily.
Vellum's mouth curled. "During that time, I'll need to feed."
Mariel clapped a hand over her mouth once the vampire's meaning sunk in. Though her neck no longer hurt, the memory of that insane moment of being pierced and sucked on lingered in her mind. Clay was better than she at hiding what he felt.
"You want to feed on Mariel?" He cocked his revolver. "That isn't happening, nightwalker."
"Correction: I want to feed on both of you." Vellum shrugged and spread his hands. "I'll need to alternate between you two to avoid too much blood loss in one. In this way, I'll be able to maintain my forward progress."
"You're mad," Clay stated, his face hard. There was blood on his shoulder, Mariel just now noticed, and more smeared on his left thigh, though none looked to be his.
"Where's Darrell?" she demanded fearfully.
His grim eyes flicked to her. "Dead."
"As you and the lovely lady will be if you attempt to fight them on your own." Vellum's tone remained silken, unconcerned, as though Clay's decision mattered little to him. But Mariel sorely doubted that. The vampire needed them. "Give me your word, Marshal, and I'll dispatch the threat outside for you. Then you and Mariel will accompany me as far as Everton Fort, which is your destination, is it not? We'll part company then."
Clay frowned at the vampire's use of Mariel's name and he shot her a quick, confused look. What would the Marshal think if he learned that Vellum had lain with her and she had welcomed it? Would he consider her a victim? Or would he understand the truth: that the vampire's allure had melded perfectly with her own desire and curiosity?
Gunshots rang out, but the sounds were muted because they'd come from within one of the passenger cars. The dying torch light glimmered on Clay's angry, stressed expression.
"I offer Mariel's only chance of survival," Vellum said softly. "As a Marshal of the Empire, haven't you given your word to keep her alive? No matter what sacrifice this demands?"
"I've sworn to keep her alive, not to become food!" But Clay's brow creased with uncertainty.
"Clay, we have no choice." Mariel knew she'd have to push him to make the decision. "I'm…fine with this. I want to live. No matter how."
It was unfair to place guilt on his shoulders, but the gunshots and screaming said Beaufort's gang were nearly upon them.
Clay aimed his pistol at Vellum's face. "If you hurt her I'll see to it you burn in Hell."
"Hurting her is the last thing I intend, Marshal."
The seconds stretched. With a curse, Clay eased the hammer back on his gun and lowered it. "Get her safely to Everton Fort and we have a deal."
"You're coming with us," Vellum said mildly. "I need to feed from both of you."
A shudder visibly wracked Clay's body but he nodded. "Both of us. Now do what you said."
Vellum smiled almost cheerfully. "It will be my pleasure. Stay here."
Clay stepped back quickly as the vampire swept past him. The car doors slammed shut behind the black-clad figure.
"We're going now!" Clay said, holding out his hand to Mariel. "Come on!"
"But we told Vellum—"
He blinked. "You know his name?" He quickly shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Come on."
"He'll come after us!"
"Better than being his food, Mariel." Impatient, he ran forward and grabbed her by the arm. "We stand a better chance on our own. Never trust a nightwalker. Never. The things I've seen…" He trailed off. "I won't let that happen to you."
He dragged her down the end of the car to the opposite door. This one opened into another cargo car and through it they reached a door that admitted them to the desert. Mariel thought she heard a sudden burst of gunfire from within the train as she and Clay ran through the moonlight, heading deeper into the desert.
"We'll die out here," she gasped.
"It won't be comfortable, but I'll keep us alive," he panted as they ran.
His longer legs made her struggle to keep up with him, but Mariel was determined not to slow them down even though the scrub dragged at her skirts. With his torch to guide them, they crossed a dry river bed, their footsteps drowning out the last sounds of gunfire from behind them. Mariel wished she could look back, but Clay was determined to increase the distance between them and the train. She appreciated his urgency. Now that she was removed from Vellum's presence her head felt clearer, her will sharpened.
"I felt strange with him," she said as they ran, feeling the need to explain. "I should have known better, but I felt safe with him."