Somewhere in the melee, Raleigh fought with them.I caught the occasional flash of his crimson waistcoat, and then he vanished again.There was no sign of Lukas.He had either made a strategic retreat or become one of the ash clouds festering in the air.I wasn’t optimistic enough to believe the latter.
I unsheathed my own dagger and tried to join the fray.
‘No.’Moira threw herself at me, then turned and slashed at an attacker.‘You and Raleigh need to go.’
‘We can’t leave them.’My eyes were on Father.He wasn’t moving.
Moira shook me.‘I don’t meanleave.You’ll give us all a better chance of survival if you lead the fight away.’I didn’t know if that was true.‘Go to the armoury, get as much silver as you can carry and bring it back or fight until your arms give out.It’s our only chance.’
‘And you?’
‘I’ll hold the line.’
‘You’re not well enough!’
Moira spun around, kicked heavily at one oncoming vampire, then continued the spin to slash wildly with one of her daggers at another’s throat.Cold blood splattered us both, then turned hot as she thrust again and turned her attacker to ash.‘Lying down isn’t really an option right now, princess,’ she said.‘Raleigh.’
Raleigh was with us in an instant, windswept and bloodstained.
‘Armoury’ was all Moira said to him before hurling herself into the maelstrom.
He understood at once.I wondered if they had discussed this eventuality in the past.
‘Let’s go,’ he said.
We made it through the room relatively unmolested, Raleigh cutting his way forwards, while I followed backwards, brandishing my cross at anyone who dared approach.I scanned the room for any signs of Lukas, but he had vanished.
As we reached the doors, I spotted Yann nearby, gamely holding back a would-be attacker with his wooden cross, while badly waving an axe.‘Wait,’ I told Raleigh, then thrust the hilt of my dagger in the man’s face.In the seconds it bought, I yanked Yann towards me.Raleigh took my place, slashing with his sword.
‘How much do you want to kill Raleigh?’
‘What?’Yann glanced at the blur of Raleigh, then unconsciously flexed his right hand.‘Is that a serious question?’
Raleigh’s blade sliced through the air, inches from Yann’s ear.Ash settled on his shoulders.‘Hurry up,’ he said, and vanished again.
‘Not right this second,’ Yann squeaked.
That was enough for me.‘Go upstairs, find my room.In the wardrobe there’s a bag of gear you can use.It’s not much, but it’s better than that.’I nodded to the wooden crucifix.The sight alone made me anxious.I’d feel better knowing he was equipped with silver.
‘Which one is your room?’
‘You’ll know.’I looked up.‘Guide him,’ I said to the walls, and then to Yann, ‘Trust me, the castle’s enchanted.It will take you there.’
He looked unsure but nodded regardless and vanished into the crowd.I watched only long enough to see him emerge at the foot of the stairs before Raleigh appeared again at my side.
‘We need to go now.’
Thirty-One
WE FOUNDKAY THEmoment we entered the service corridor.He lay down the hall, drained and discarded in the kitchen doorway, his mouth still open in the same scream that had sent the entrance hall into chaos.As much as I disliked him, a pang of grief washed through me for Yann’s sake, one I immediately swallowed.I’d never survive the battle if I was distracted by grief.
Raleigh’s step faltered as we approached the body.‘They’re herding us.’
‘What do you mean?’I urged him to step over Kay, to leave his broken body behind.We could worry about him if we survived.But Raleigh didn’t move.
‘The quickest escape from here is through the servants’ entrance.’He jerked his head towards the kitchen doorway.‘But either someone’s waiting in there or they want us to think they are.’He nudged Kay’s limp hand with the tip of his shoe.
‘You want us to escape?’
