Neither Zack nor Roger would leave the young vampire, especially after hearing his abbreviated tale. Their compassion would have begged them to help. And Roger had a point that vampires were too cruel to each other.
Lending a hand would slow him, but Takashi was capable. It was what Roger and Zack would do.
Cursing under his breath, Takashi went to Dennis’s side and coaxed him into putting an arm across his shoulders. “Hold on.”
Together, they rushed through the open door, down the hallway, and up the staircase to the main floor. Sounds of crashing distracted Takashi. Windows were breaking in rooms near and farther away, the patter of shattered glass echoing through the halls.
When he turned toward the staircase that would take him up to Zack’s suite, he came face-to-face with an incredibly tall, spindly fey. The fey’s eyes reminded Takashi of an endless pit that one could never crawl out of.
“What the fuck is that?” Dennis said, trying to slip Takashi’s grasp and run in the other direction.
Decorum still had its place, especially with the fey. Takashi said, “You must be Grimsby.”
“I am,” Grimsby replied. “A pleasure to finally allow you to see this form.”
“Because I’ve seen you before,” Takashi said. He realized that Grimsby’s complexion was that of the collared boy who’d led him around in his early nights in the mansion. When the boy had vanished, Takashi had assumed Seamus killed him. “I suppose that the reason I can see you now is that the rules of hospitality no longer apply to me or my friend here.”
“Your supposition proves correct.” Grimsby leaned down toward him. His smile was toothy. “I have no cause to be polite to trespassers.”
“But, perhaps, you have cause to escort one from the property. That might fall within your duties.”
Grimsby tilted his head, then partly bowed. “I should see a trespasser off, especially on a tumultuous night like this one. The house seems to be falling out of order.”
Yet Grimsby wasn’t rushing off to join the fray in any way.Why is he working here?Takashi unwound Dennis’s arm from his shoulders and nudged him toward Grimsby. “He’s having some trouble walking.”
“Ah, well, that won’t do.” Grimsby swept Dennis off his feet and began to stride down the hall, going past one of the staircases to the second floor and carrying on.
Okay, one win. Takashi hurried for the stairs, taking them up two at a time. With any luck, he’d find Zack before the battle did.
CHAPTER 55
Zack should have putThe Fal of the Undede-Kyngeinto the overly large purse before he swept the rings, tiepins, and cufflinks into the bag, but he hadn’t been thinking. He was about to panic, then remembered that he could just use a burst of superspeed. Quickly, he undid, then redid the packing, including the journal he’d begun to write in.Wish I knew where the other one was. Stupid of me to put it in the fucker’s library.
“Excuse you, take your hands off me,” Katie said loudly.
Zack took his dagger out from its sheath and stalked toward the open door to the hallway. Silent as a grave, he made his way over and poked his head out.
“Miss, you have to come with us,” one of the security personnel was saying. Four guards were out in the hallway. Two were preoccupied with Katie and, due to her struggling, were blocking the entire path.
One of the other two caught sight of Zack. “Master, we are supposed to take you and her to the panic room.”
“Why?” Zack demanded as he stepped out into the hall.
“There’s an attack. You’ll be safer in the panic room,” the guard responded.
An attack. On the mansion.Roger. It had to be. Zack slung the purse over his shoulder, the strap running across his chest. He let the guards see his dagger and its faint red glow. With all the command he could muster, he said, “We won’t be going to the panic room.”
“Our orders?—”
Zack spun his dagger once. “You will have to force us. Well, try. I don’t believe the odds are in your favor.”
Katie yanked her arm free from one of her guards and pulled her wand from her purse. A blue spark gathered at the tip.
“We should work on securing the perimeter with the others,” one of the others said.
“Wise choice,” Zack replied.
They rushed from the hallway, leaving Katie and Zack behind. Distant sounds of shouting and fighting echoed through the mansion. That was what Roger was planning, why he’d shown up at the Chateau. He’d wanted to clue them in to his big rescue attack. Why he hadn’t whisked them away from the Chateau, Zack wasn’t sure. But he’d have the chance to ask Roger before he left Chicago as fast as he could.
