One man rushed at him.Raleigh caught him by the arm and threw him to the bloody ground without even shifting his feet.‘Does anyone else have a death wish?’
No one spoke.
‘Good.Line up against the wall.’He kicked the man on the floor.‘You too.’
They lined up obediently, like prisoners awaiting execution.Most were shaking; one woman was silently sobbing, fat tears rolling down her nose.
‘How’s your hypnosis?’Raleigh asked Enrique.
‘Non-existent.’
‘Explains why you’re so charming.’
‘Raleigh,’ I started, but Moira put her hand on my shoulder.
‘Don’t.He has to do this.’
I knew she was right, but all I could think of was what was running through his head.To them he was nothing but their vampiric leader, content with taking their minds and memories to justify his reign of terror.He knew their fear.He’d lived it for centuries.
He moved down the line, bewitching their minds one by one.And as each witness lapsed to unconsciousness, he uttered the same words.‘Forgive me.’
When he was finished, he stepped back, turning away quickly so he wouldn’t have to see the results of his handiwork.‘Let’s go before anyone else arrives,’ he said.‘I want to die at home.’
Twenty-Nine
WE DEPARTED BEFORE DAWNon stolen horses.It was Moira’s idea.The real owners, she said, were probably dead and had no need of fresh horses.I was too drained to argue.Raleigh retired to his coffin before the sun had begun to glimmer on the horizon.He said it was to preserve strength, but he wouldn’t look at me as he spoke.
‘It’s not you,’ Moira told me.We were pressed side by side on the driver’s seat as the horses rattled along.The winking sun glittered on the cusp of the mountains, sending streaks of pink through the dim sky.Moira picked at a bundle of pastries she’d stolen on the way out.The sugar was doing wonders for restoring her strength.‘This whole situation is hard for him.He needs time to process.’
I knew she was right, but I still couldn’t shake the idea he was annoyed with me.
‘What was all that about a vial before?’she asked.
I groaned and explained everything.The wall of blood, the control the Queen had over the court.Moira listened until I was finished, then stayed uncharacteristically silent while she thought.
‘I don’t think that’s how it works,’ she said after a time.‘She’s his sire.Can’t she control him anyway?’
‘That’s what she told Raleigh.’
‘And you trust her?’
I hated that I couldn’t refute her.
‘What are you planning to do with it?’
‘I already threw it away,’ I lied.‘I thought it might throw her off our scent.’
Moira snorted.‘Well, that worked.’
We stopped shortly after daybreak to let the horses drink from a stream and to attend to our various human necessities.I kept to the shade.It was a cold, clear day, teetering on the cusp of winter and the way the chill in the air mingled with the harsh sunlight made me feel feverish.Moira offered me the last of the pastries, but I refused.My stomach was still twisted in knots after the events of last night, and the thought of eating made me feel ill.
Enrique emerged groggily from the carriage.I offered the next shift to Moira, who flatly refused.She would never have admitted it, but I knew she was too on edge to sleep.Despite the glaring sunlight, she had refused to disarm herself and was clinking with more silver weaponry than a Linford prince at his investiture.
‘Go sort out whatever’s going on with you and Raleigh.’
‘I’m fairly certain he’s asleep.’
‘Wake him up, then.’
