I’ll get down, I said, starting to move.
He held me tighter. We’re faster if you stay there. Don’t let go.
When he turned the corner down a narrow alley, he took off. I had to close my eyes; they were tearing up from the speed of the wind. The scent changed. We were out of the neighborhood and in a wooded area. A moment later, we were airborne. I opened my eyes to watch us fly over the high fence and then he was streaking over the asylum property to the front door.
Seven
Sam!
I worried we were going to smash into the front door, but it opened as he hit the steps. He slid to a stop across the marble entry as the door was closing. Pulling me around his body, he set me on my feet, holding me steady until I could stand on my own. A twinge of pain broke through Clive’s pain removal, but then it was gone.
Should we tell them to be ready, that Vlad will be returning soon? I asked him.
No. Vlad’s business is his own. He may not want the Guild to be aware of his comings and goings.
He placed his arm around me, surreptitiously taking my weight so my limp wasn’t too pronounced. He knew I wouldn’t want to be carried in front of a bunch of vampires and their minions.
“How was dinner?” he asked, which was a nice, bland question when we knew there were always people listening.
“Excellent. I found a place willing to feed me even though I was arriving so late. If you have time while we’re here, I’d like to take you. It’s across the river.”
We turned down the side hall toward our bedroom. “It’s a date. I’ll check with Sebastian on the schedule going forward.”
Once behind closed doors, he picked me up and carried me to the sofa. “We haven’t even been here twenty-four hours.” He shook his head, rubbing my sore leg. “I selfishly want you with me, but neither the Guild nor the town are safe for you.” He brushed the back of his hand over my cheek. “Our plane is here. You don’t need to stay, darling. I’m sure Fergus misses you terribly.”
I put my hand over his and squeezed. “No fair bringing Fergus into this. Partners stick together and my leg’ll be fine. I just need to rest it. Not to mention I wanted to come. All these places you’ve visited countless times and I’ve never been. I wanted to see Budapest.”
“And instead, you’re stuck in a vampire-infested, rotting asylum in a town filled with wolves who will attack on sight because of me.” He gave me a look that had me smiling.
“Cheer up. It’s an interesting new experience. Is it a good one? No, it is not. But it’s new.”
When he leaned in to kiss me, his phone buzzed. He closed his eyes a moment. “I believe the meeting is reconvening.” He gave me a quick kiss and stood.
“How’s it going? Are the other kids playing nice?” I struggled to extricate myself from the axe holster while sitting on a couch. Suddenly, Clive was there, easing it down my arms and placing it on the coffee table.
“For the most part,” he responded. “Frank and Delores often bicker with one another, and both tend toward solutions to hypothetical problems by punishing all involved. Ava has no idea what she’s talking about but does so love to throw around platitudes in an attempt to cover her ignorance. Oliver sits quietly, ignoring everyone, until he’s asked a direct question. When he is, he gives a complete and reasonable response.”
“So you’re the star pupil, huh?” I said, grinning. “I knew it.”
“Let’s not go too far,” he said, bringing me an armload of water bottles, protein bars, and assorted snacks.
“Where’d you get those? I checked. None of the food stores were open.” Thank goodness. I didn’t have to go through that tunnel every time I was hungry.
“Darling, humans are employed here. There’s a kitchen and I raided it for you.”
“That reminds me,” I said, “why do some humans wear white shirts and some black?” The Renfield situation bugged me. I was sick of the little shits giving me dirty looks, and I needed to know what I was dealing with.
“Ren—oh, the human servants? Just as the nocturne back home has Norma, the human liaison, the Guild also has humans who can deal with situations, bring in supplies, whatever needs doing during daylight hours. The ones in white shirts want to be given the dark kiss and so are trying to prove their worthiness, mostly to Sebastian. If any of the Counselors take a liking to a white-shirted Renfield,” he said on a grin, adopting my term for them, “they may offer to take on the responsibility, with the promise of eventually turning them. The ones in black shirts already belong to a specific vampire. They have been claimed and are beginning to be fed blood by their Master. Not enough to turn them, but enough to give them some enhanced abilities and to create a stronger allegiance.
“The white shirts should help you or answer your questions. I say should because most of them, like the dead one this morning, are going to be hostile toward you, believing it makes them more—I don’t even know what—trusted? appreciated? by a vampire protector. You’re smarter and stronger than either type, but I recommend staying away from both. Weak men desperate to prove themselves to other men rarely make good decisions.”
He dropped a kiss on my nose and then headed for the door. “Try to get some rest.” He tapped the side of his head. “If you want to eavesdrop, feel free.” He left as his phone started buzzing again.
I grabbed one of the bottles of water and took a big swig. I considered changing into my pajamas, but I didn’t feel safe here. Locks were child’s play to vampires and, for all I knew, the Renfields had copies of the room keys. No. I needed to stay fully clothed and able to defend myself.
Tipping over, I reclined on the couch, putting my head on a pillow. I was so damned tired.
The lamp on Clive’s side of the bed flickered. I didn’t have the energy for this. I had to stay and let my leg heal, so the ghosts could fuck right off. “Listen, if you want to play with the light, could you just turn it off completely? The flickering is going to give me a headache.”
