(55) Two vampires, a ghoul and a shifter.

"Get your charges out of here now!"

Helmut spun around to see the vampire who had helped with the destruction of the revenant standing in the middle of the room. He immediately went on the defensive, growling, "Why should I do what one of the King's minions orders?"

"I am no more his minion than Roderick is, now. Fortunately, the King doesn't realize that yet. He does however know that your friend has switched allegiances. Roderick escaped by the skin of his teeth and is in hiding. It would behoove you to remove the young men to somewhere safe. The King's agents are on their way to kidnap them even as we speak. He plans hold them hostage to force Roderick to reappear."

"Damn. Thank you my friend, we owe you." Helmut clapped his hand on the vampire's shoulder and then vanished from sight.

Seconds later, he reappeared in Piers' bedroom where the two young men were in the middle of a hard-fought game of chess. Linden looked up, started to smile, and stopped when he saw the look on Helmut's face. "What's happened?" he asked fearfully.

"It's Roderick, isn't it," Piers cried out, springing to his feet.

"He's safe for now, but you two aren't." Without another word, Helmut gathered them to him.

"Damn," Linden said when he dared to open his eyes again. "Where are we?"

"Somewhere where no one will find us," Helmut told him.

"Even Roderick?" Piers asked fearfully.

"Even him, but don't worry, we have contingency plans. I'll get him, too, when the time is right."

Piers stared at him in disbelief. "Why not now? Why wait?"

"Piers, I swear he is in a safe place, but my going to get him at the moment would bring the King's agents down on him. Trust me; we know what we're doing."

"If Helmut says it's so, then it is," Linden said in stout defense of his lover. "You need to stop worrying, and the best thing for that is to explore this place and see what's what."