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

Linden and the vampire followed Helmut. Several yards from a dimly lit arch at the end of the tunnel, Helmut held up a hand to stop them, and then signaled they were to wait where they were until he told them otherwise.

"How?" Linden asked in a barely audible voice, and then realized that the vampire would keep a mind link with Helmut. He wanted to scream to release some of his tension as he watched Helmut shift and then disappear into whatever was beyond the arch. Instead, he started pacing back and forth, his eyes never leaving the arch. After what seemed forever the vampire stepped in front of him, indicating it was time.

Linden followed close on his heels as the vampire entered the dungeon. Two flickering torches provided what little light there was in the cavernous room. Along one wall Linden could see a row of cells, three occupied by living beings, two more holding the desiccated corpses of past victims of the revenant.

Piers stood at the door to his cell, fear and relief on his face. In the one next to him, Dixon was slumped against one wall, deathly pale but definitely alive and somewhat aware if the movement of his eyes as he looked from Linden to the vampire and back was any indication. The unknown human in the third cell was very obviously not going to survive without immediate medical help Linden thought, as he crossed to look at him. He was skin and bones, as pale as death, with no discernible movement to his chest.

The sound of a muffled crack had Linden tensing, looking for the source. He sighed in relief when the door to Piers cell opened and the young vampire emerged. Twice more the old vampire snapped the locks on the cell doors and opened them.

::I will take this one,::  the vampire said, easily lifting the human into his arms. ::You and your friend help the other one.::

Piers had already entered Dixon's cell, lifting him to his feet. "Let's get out of here," he mouthed as he put an arm around Dixon's waist and urged him to move.

"Go," Linden whispered, watching the vampire leave the dungeon with his burden. "Follow him, he'll lead you out." When Piers started to reply, frowning deeply, Linden said urgently, "Just go. I have to—I can't leave without Helmut."

Piers' mouth tightened but he nodded once, quickly walking to the arch, half carrying Dixon.

Linden followed them as far as the arch and stood, watching until they were all out of sight. Then he turned back, crossing the dungeon to the only other exit, a huge iron door that stood partially ajar. Silently he slipped through the opening.