I repeated my question with greater emphasis. ‘What the actualfuck?’ Naturally, there was no answer.
A beat later I squinted as another vampire appeared before the bright light cast by the spell blinked out and we were plunged into darkness.
I cursed under my breath and scrabbled around in my bag for another pinch of the light spell, but as my fingers curled around the spell pouch I heard voices from up ahead. I grimaced. I didn’t have any more echo spells to recast so this was my one and only chance to discover who had set the monster on me, and I was blowing it because I couldn’t see what was happening. If I magicked up more light, though, the owners of those voices would notice me. It was a dilemma.
I considered my options before erring on the side of caution. While I’d been granted permission to investigate the Understream, it would be prudent to conceal my presence until I knew their identities. Besides, that final vampire I’d glimpsed in the echo spell might prove to be the one I’d been waiting for. I was almost certain it had been Anthony; not only was he the worms’ caregiver, he’d also refused to speak to me because he’d been so disgusted by my presence.
Hmm. A shifty thrall, a suspicious cat, Trilby, and Anthony the people hater. The plot was suddenly thickening.
Chapter
Eleven
The voices drifted closer. I dropped my bag, whispered to She Without An Ear to stay beside it and tiptoed closer to hear what they were saying.
‘There was definitely a light.’
Shit. I sidled closer to the tunnel’s edge. Lady Penelope’s voice was easy to recognise but what the hell was she doing down here at this hour? She ought to have been tucked up in her coffin, gently snoring away the day.
The lazy rejoinder was also immediately recognisable. ‘The tunnels here are well travelled, Pen. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.’
‘I do not wear knickers, Thomas. In my day, only prostitutes wore underpants.’
‘And the old ways are the best?’
‘Of course.’ There was a beat of silence. ‘Plus, I find that a lack of such garments is sexier. It is far easier to be bent over a desk with one’s skirts raised and be fucked thoroughly when there is not the impediment of extra clothing.’
My mouth dropped open. Thomas laughed heartily anddidn’t sound at all surprised by Lady Penelope’s admission, but for a moment I was so shocked that I doubted my ears. I had to bite back the temptation to peer out and double check that it was indeed her. The woman sounded nothing like the vampire I’d spent hours alongside only last night.
‘I’m ready to go again if you are,’ Thomas purred.
‘You just pointed out that these tunnels are well-travelled, Thomas. There was a light ahead until moments ago – and let us not forget why we are here.’
‘Nothing will dare to hurt you while I am here, Penny.’
Well, well, well: Lady Penelope and Thomas were an item. They’d kept that little secret hidden. His temporary addition to our small party must have been pre-arranged, and the only logical reason for that was that Lady Penelope had been nervous about me. Huh. I’d gone out of my way to be the least intimidating version of myself as possible. It was probably good that I had.
‘Nothing dared to hurt me last night,’ she returned. ‘That creature was intent on attacking Ms McCafferty.’
‘Remind me why we care?’
‘You know why.’
‘You like her.’
‘Idolike her. She is not what I expected. She is hiding something, of that I am certain, but I believe she genuinely wants to find out what has happened to our friends. And even if I did not like her, we do not invite sun dwellers into the Understream then threaten their well-being.’
Thomas snorted. ‘Tell that to Chester Longchamps.’
I frowned. I didn’t recognise the name.
‘Iwouldtell him, had he not already received his well-deserved comeuppance,’ Lady Penelope returned with a characteristic harrumph. She sighed. ‘But I admit that whenI first heard the noise that monster made, I thought that’s what was happening.’
‘We’re too far away, and we still have a few days’ left.’
‘I know.’ She paused. ‘But I cannot believe it was a coincidence.’
Another beat passed then she continued. ‘The creature came from the cross-tunnel ahead of us. We should investigate it. Whoever conjured up that beast must have been lying in wait and they might have left something of themselves behind.’
