“Here, here,” she says, pointing to a door with the universal green sign indicating it is an exit. “To theucta,to the street.”
“Thank you,kösönöm,” I respond, clasping her hand and hurrying through the doorway.
There are a set of steep concrete steps leading down, and I rush as quickly as I can without risking breaking my neck. At the bottom there is another door with a single handle. I twistand pull, finding myself down the side of the market nearest the Sazbagság bridge.
I race to join the crowds outside the market and cross the road to get onto Vaci ucta which, because the Christmas market is here, is filled with tourists from around Europe and beyond. The snow, carefully removed from the pavements, makes the whole place feel magical.
If you’re not being pursued by vampires who really shouldn’t be able to daywalk in such numbers.
I shouldn’t have listened to Dominik Király. He’s all talk, all fangs, all charm, and no substance. I will die here in Budapest. I should have got out while I could.
Vaci gets busier as I get closer to Vörösmarty square and the market. I dive into one of the many tourist shops and buy a beany hat emblazoned with the Hungarian flag to cover my hair and somewhat change my appearance.
Vampires can get fixated on detail, and by changing a detail, it’s possible to change an outcome if being pursued by vampires.
I’ve never had to employ this tactic before, so I have to assume it works and isn’t another load of monster hunting bollocks. The Van Helsings have a habit of thinking if you repeat anything long enough it is true.
Hat in place, I rejoin the throngs of people heading to the market. Whatever happens next, I need to get back to my hotel and add to the weapons I’m carrying.
One stake isn’t going to be enough.
Especially as that’s the stake I’m going to use on Dominik when I next get a chance. He doesn’t get to fool me once, let alone twice.
Dominik
I can’t stay still,pacing up and down my office. More than once, I throw myself down at the desk and make a half-hearted attempt at working, but then I’m on my feet again and wearing a track in the carpet.
Attila watches me. He’s dismissed the other guards to ensure they are fresh should they be needed. My chosen vampires might be able to withstand daylight, but it doesn’t mean they are happy to be up during the day.
Everyone needs coffin time, except me.
“What did the gargoyle want?” Attila finally asks me.
“To warn me to stay in my lane,” I respond.
Attila growls under his breath.
“I know, the Kobór clan and his security have been getting above themselves for a while, but with the mating of their leader, it should settle down. Viktor anticipates I might use this period of time to move into new areas of business.”
“Did he say that?”
“Not in so many words.” I contemplate what the stone statue warned me about. As much as it seemed to be about Lucy, it could apply to many aspects of our respective operations in Budapest.
And I can’t say the thought didn’t occur to me, as it clearly has to Ferenc. Our working relationship, our personal relationship has been interesting during all the decades we’ve inhabited the great city. His assistance with the vault was invaluable.
It’s the reason, or one of them, I followed the hot-headed werewolf to London, able to assist him, to a degree, as he battled the authorities, including the spectacularly badly named Monster Force, as well as battling his own worst enemy…himself.
I do not make such errors.
The door to the office bursts open, and a thrall practically falls into the room. At once, Attila is on his feet and has his fangs at the creature’s throat, ready to rip it out.
“Wait,” I snarl. “This thrall has been watching Lucy for me.”
Attila withdraws his fangs and allows the thrall to straighten up but still keeps tight hold.
“My king.” The thrall tries to execute a bow and fails because Attila has him. “The human I was watching—she is being hunted.”
“What?” It’s my turn to grab the thrall by the throat.
