Nodding, Pelhan turned to one of his more intact officers. “Get me downstairs on the phone, will you?” he asked, and a thick black receiver was almost immediately shoved into his hands. “Hey, it’s Captain Pelhan. I need to talk to Mr. Ormand. One of his children is up here causing bloody hell and we want to bring him down.”
Trisk watched the vampire seething in his circle. It had taken nine men to subdue him. If he’d been an undead vampire, it would’ve been near impossible. Magic, though, was the great equalizer, gaining respect from the most violent Inderlander. She could almost sense a new pride and confidence among the battered and bruised officers now shaking Officer Tex’s hand and giving him back-slapping congratulations. There’s something here, she mused, but it eluded her, distracted when Captain Pelhan pushed himself up off the desk.
“Yes, sir.” Pelhan inclined his head in respect to a man who wasn’t even in the room. “One of your children is asking after you,” he said, and an officer tending a scratch snickered. “I’d like to bring him down, but he’s distressed and I’m reluctant to move him until he’s calm.”
The captain listened for a moment, his eyes flicking back to the vampire now brushing the street dirt off his suit. “He failed to tell us, but he has long blond hair. Tall. His nose is crooked, and he’s wearing a blue suit with a white tie.” A relieved expression came over Pelhan’s face. “Thank you, sir,” he said, yanking the cord of the phone to get more slack. “Jake,” he said authoritatively, and the man in the circle scowled.
“You’ve no right to hold him,” Jake said. “Or me. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Pelhan yanked more slack from the phone cord and came closer to the humming circle. “Jake, you know your master can’t leave until the sun sets. He wants to talk to you.”
Jake’s expression shifted, the anger vanishing into a sudden unease. “He’s here against his will,” he said, the severity of his pupil-black eyes behind his straggly hair beginning to ease. “You can’t care for him. You’re going to kill him.”
Captain Pelhan nodded. “That’s why we need your help. Ormand needs your help. But I won’t let you out of the circle when you’re angry.” He held the phone up, unable to just hand it in. “Okay, sir,” he said loudly.
Officer Randy had taken Trisk’s arm again and was trying to lead her away, but she dug her feet in, wanting to hear, and they both stopped when a low, cultured voice with a precise accent seemed to flow from the tiny speaker. “You allowed fear to make your decisions,” Ormand said, and Jake shuddered, suddenly looking frightened.
“They’re holding you against your will,” Jake said, his voice trembling in fear that he might have done something wrong. “I came to free you. The others fled. Cowards,” he spat.
“Jake,” Ormond said lovingly, but Trisk knew it was a lie. Ormond had no soul. It had gone before him, and if the light ever touched him, his mind would realize that and he’d walk into the sunlight, killing himself to bring his mind, body, and soul back into harmony.
“They were afraid,” Ormand said, and Jake fidgeted, brushing his suit clean again. “It’s not a crime to be afraid. You will make a powerful undead, Jake, but not yet. I need you as you are. Tell the officers you’ll stop this so they can bring you to me.”
Jake’s eyes flicked up, the hint of quickly smothered worry striking through Trisk. Living vampires both loved and feared their masters; loved the emotions they pulled from them along with the blood the undead needed to survive, feared because deep down they recognized it for the abuse it was, all the while knowing that if they were lucky, they’d become the very thing they hated.
“Yes. Okay,” Jake whispered, and the captain placed the phone back at his ear.
“Thank you, sir,” he said, but Trisk could already hear the dial tone. Ormand had hung up. Grimacing, the captain set the phone back in the cradle. Facing Jake, he put his hands on his hips in evaluation. “Well?”
Jake squinted at him for a moment, then squared his shoulders, fixed his tie, and even pulled a comb from his back pocket and ran it through his hair. Tucking the comb away, he faced Captain Pelhan squarely. “I apologize for my behavior. I was distressed, but that is no excuse.”
Trisk’s eyebrows rose, but Pelhan smiled as he gestured to Officer Tex. “Let him out.”
She could almost feel the room take a hesitant breath as the charm broke and the energy dissipated. “This way, Jake,” Officer Tex said. “I’ll take you down.”
With a last condescending look at those he had fought off, Jake fell into place beside the man. “Am I under arrest?” the living vampire asked, his voice surprisingly meek.
“Not officially, no,” Tex said, sounding almost cheerful. “They’ll explain downstairs, but your master is in no danger. If you have others you think he’d like to see, write down their names, and I’ll get word to them.”
“That would help, yes, please,” Jake said, his voice going faint. And then they were gone.