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

"You know this is totally insane," Piers whispered as he and Linden stole out the back door of the manor house.

"I have to find out if he's all right."

"I understand, believe me. Just stay close."

Linden nodded sharply. "Since using a flashlight is out of the question I haven't much choice."

The two young men moved cautiously to the edge of the trees, checking every few seconds to be certain none of the servants were watching. It wouldn't do for them to raise the alarm even though their intentions would be to keep them safe.

Once in the woods, Piers moved slowly enough that Linden had no trouble keeping up. In fact he began to get antsy that they weren't making faster progress. He told Piers just that, saying that with the quarter moon and his somewhat enhanced eyesight they didn't have to move at a turtle's pace.

"Yes we do," was Piers' reply. "Slowly and carefully because you know they're still searching for Dixon, even if we're sure he's at the ruins."

"Or under them. Okay, point made."

It seemed to take forever before they saw the ruins up ahead of them, the two towers limned by the pale moonlight in stark silhouette against the dark sky.

Upon reaching the top of the low mound surrounding the ruins its front side, they both searched for Helmut.

"I don't see him." Linden's voice was taut with worry.

"Me neither, but he could be somewhere on the far side." Piers started along the rim of the mound.

Linden followed, stopping every few feet to scan the exterior walls of the ruins, as well as what he could see beyond them in the dim moon light. He took one final look at what he could see of the front of the ruins then started after Piers, who was several yards ahead of him where the mound began angling down to the ground.

"Piers," he called out softly, "wait."

Piers started to turn towards him, and then from where Linden stood it looked as if his foot slipped. Piers gave a shout of surprise, his arms flailing as he tried to catch himself, and then he vanished from sight.