“You’re a vampire,” Daniel blurted, reddening when Piscary turned his surprised gaze on him. Still carrying Kal, the hippie vampire gasped, his eyes widening in shock.
“And you’re a problem, Dr. Plank,” Piscary said, fingers steepled. He was wearing a mood ring, blacker than the night, and Trisk thought it an odd accessory for someone so refined.
“Not usually,” Daniel said. “I mean, I’m not usually a problem. I’m always Dr. Plank.”
Trisk shifted uneasily. “He can hold the silence. He won’t break it. I promise.”
“Sir,” the hippie vampire protested, and Piscary shook his head.
“Look at him.” Piscary gestured at Daniel. “He has a pixy on his shoulder. It is too late. He knows what we are.” Trisk blanched as Piscary turned his hard gaze to her. “I see no need to silence Dr. Plank—at the moment,” he added as he tugged his suit’s sleeves down, smiling to show Trisk his slightly enlarged canines.
“You’re not touching him. At this moment, or any other,” she said, even as she wondered at the care they took in carrying Kal, supporting his head and making sure he didn’t hit anything as they gently lowered him to the earth beside one of the black cars. The driver unlocked the trunk, and her lips parted. “Hang on. You can’t put him in the trunk.”
Unperturbed, Piscary gestured for them to follow. “There’s not enough room in the car. I promise you he’ll be comfortable. We need to go. Piscary would like to talk to you.”
And you’re putting yourself in the third person why? she wondered.
Daniel’s frown deepened. “I thought you said you were Piscary,” he finally said.
The vampire’s eyes followed Orchid as she watched them put Kal in the trunk, the small pixy giggling wildly. “I am, and I’m not,” he said as he glanced at the eastern sky just now showing a hint of light. “Shall we?”
Suddenly Trisk wasn’t keen on getting in the car, even if Kal was already in the trunk. It had become obvious that Piscary was a true undead, not the young living vampire standing before them. A master vampire in charge of the city’s sundry vampire families would be both old enough and skilled enough to possess one of his children so he could see through their eyes, speak through their mouth.
“It’s me or the enclave,” Piscary said, the threat obvious. “They will be here shortly.”
“Why should I trust you?” she asked, Daniel and Orchid again beside her.
Piscary began to look impatient. “I told them you were on a train. They’ll discover soon enough that no trains are departing from Chicago. You have my word I won’t deliver you to the enclave without an opportunity to publicly air your grievance. I don’t like what I’m hearing, and I’m hopeful you can bring some enlightenment.” He smiled, but it was devoid of feeling.
Unsure, she glanced behind her at Takata and Ripley watching from inside the van. Daniel looked scared but willing. Orchid stood on his shoulder, and seeing Trisk’s question, she clattered her wings. Ripley would ram them if she asked, and with her driving skills and Orchid’s sword, they might evade the vampires for an hour or two. Recapture was inevitable. Two hours might be enough to get the word out. It might not. I don’t want to endanger them.
“Dr. Cambri,” Piscary prompted, “your elven enclave is not happy. That should be reason enough for you to trust me for a time.”
For a time. Which meant what happened after that was up for debate. Willingly walking into a master vampire’s home was not prudent, but if anyone might be able to force the enclave to listen, it would be another high-ranking Inderlander. And so Piscary beamed when she nodded, her shoulders hunched as she paced to the car where they’d stashed Kal. “You going to open the door for me?” she asked the driver, and he jumped to do so. This is such a bad idea, she thought as she waved good-bye to Ripley and Takata and got in.
The car was luxurious, the soft seats and warm air coming from the vent soothing in the predawn chill. Daniel got in after her, but before she could slide to the other side, the other door opened and Piscary levered himself in. Uncomfortable, she sat in the middle of the long bench seat, caught between Daniel and a master vampire seeing through one of his children’s eyes.
“Thank you,” Piscary said as he settled himself. “I’ll see you shortly,” he added as the driver and Sam got in the front and the vehicle began to shift back and forth to get back on the road properly. “Let Leo know if you need anything. The shops are open, and it’s likely that we’ll have some time before the witch’s coven of moral and ethical standards clears their spokesperson. There’s a Were representative to be found as well.”
Coven of moral and ethical standards? Trisk thought, wondering why the witches were getting involved, but Piscary had promised she could air her grievances. “Thank you,” she said, but Piscary had slumped.
Gasping, his head snapped up, almost as fast as it had fallen. Eyes wide, he took a deep breath, his hands on his knees almost white-knuckled.