Allyn and Ransom – 40

 

Ransom groaned when he heard his condo buzzer. Glancing at the clock beside his bed, he sighed. How did it get to be three already? He knew, actually. He'd spent a couple of hours after leaving Allyn's home filling his people in on what had happened with Grigore.

 

It was an exercise in evasiveness since he had to do it without revealing what he, Allyn, and Grigore were. He was finally able to convince them that Grigore had been caught, but had managed to make a run for it while Ransom was tending to Allyn's wounds.

 

"Stupid, I know," he explained. "I turned my back on him for two minutes and he took off, even though he was cuffed." He grimaced. "I guess he learned how to escape detection from the game he forced his victims to play. He made it as far as the bayou when I finally caught up with him. Apparently he thought he could navigate it safely, because he went into it. The crocs had other ideas."

 

"Like what a tender morsel he'd make?" Thornton commented.

 

"Exactly," Ransom agreed.

 

After writing up his report, he called the chief of police for Grigore's district. Telling him a simpler version of the story he'd given his people, Ransom ended by saying he had discovered what he thought was Grigore's burial ground for his victims. The chief promised to check it out ASAP and let him know what they found.

 

When Ransom finally got home, it was close to ten in the morning. He took a fast shower and fell into bed, hoping to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep.

 

"Guess whoever's downstairs has a different idea," he grumbled, going to see who it was.

 

"Are you up and moving?" Allyn asked through the call box.

 

"I am now," Ransom replied, buzzing him in. While he waited for Allyn to make it up to the condo, Ransom went to put on a pair of jeans.

 

Allyn whistled softly when Ransom opened the door to let him in. "I like the half-dressed look."

 

Ransom chuckled. "Not like you haven't seen it before. Many times, in fact."

 

"Yeah, but that was a hundred years ago."

 

"Fifty, actually, but who's counting," Ransom retorted, before pulling Allyn into his arms.

 

"Not me," Allyn managed to get out before Ransom's lips descended on his.

 

The kiss became everything Ransom expected—and more. For him it was both the beginning and the end. The end of his living on memories of their past. The beginning of a new life for them. "I want…no, I need, you," he barely whispered between the first kiss and the one that followed.

 

"I've needed you since the day we met," Allyn replied after yet another kiss. He leaned back in Ransom's arms, gazing at him. "I didn't do so well in letting you know, but I did."

 

"We both made mistakes," Ransom said, kissing his forehead. "Lack of communication, I suppose."

 

"Or trust," Allyn said softly. "At least on my part. I didn't—"

 

"We aren't going to rehash the past," Ransom told him firmly. "It is the past. I promised you something, a day or three ago."

 

"We promised each other. When we stopped Grigore, we would…I'm not sure celebrate is the right word. We would see if what we're feeling now is real or just the result of what we've been through the last couple of days."

 

"It's real for me." Ransom kissed him again. "I hope…"

 

"I think I loved you, back then. Now…" The kiss Allyn gave Ransom was toe-curling, expressing both Allyn's physical and emotional need for him.

 

"I think love about covers my feelings too." With one swift move, Ransom picked Allyn up, carrying him into the bedroom.

Allyn and Ransom -39

 

Allyn made it from his bed down to the living room around two that afternoon. Physically, he was healed. Mentally, he wasn't quite so certain. Just the idea of what could have happened if Ransom hadn't been there to help stop Grigore frightened him.

 

I'd be buried in that graveyard—or worse. I didn't make a very good showing of myself I'm afraid.

 

"Are you sure you should be up already?" Miranda asked, joining him.

 

"You think I should be lying in bed feeling sorry for myself because I got hurt?" he replied bitterly.

 

"Not even." She plopped down on the sofa, looking up at him. "Tell me what happened."

 

"I thought Ransom was going to do that."

 

"He was beat, so I sent him home."

 

"Uh-huh." Allyn sat at the other end of the sofa and gave her a general outline of the previous night.

 

"What a fucking bastard," she spat out when he'd finished. "Even for a vampire."

 

Allyn chuckled. "I think he was the exception to the rule. At least I hope he was. Since he's the first one I've ever met, I really can't say for certain."

 

"Are you all right?"

 

"I will be. I think getting it out—telling you what happened—helped."

 

She leaned over to hug him. "That's what sisters are for."

 

He grinned. "You're the only one I have, so I can't say for certain I agree."

 

"Smart ass. So now what?"

 

"Umm?"

 

"Are you and Ransom going to see if you can make things work this time?"

 

"I sure hope we are. I don't think I have any more deep, dark secrets I have to reveal to him."

 

"You never had dark ones," she pointed out.

 

"Okay, that's true."

 

"Now you need to…" She arched an eyebrow.

 

"Umm?"

 

"Call him. Or better yet, go over there."

 

"I don't know where he lives."

 

Miranda rolled her eyes, took out her phone and a moment later gave him Ransom's address.

 

"He told you?"

 

"No, you nut. There's this thing called the White Pages. So—" she flicked her fingers at him, "—go."

Allyn and Ransom – 38

 

 "Bedroom?" Ransom asked.

 

"Upstairs."

 

"I could have figured that. But where?"

 

"Allyn!" Miranda appeared at the top of the stairs. She dashed down, her dressing gown flaring out behind her. "You let him get hurt," she said accusingly to Ransom.

 

"I'm fine," Allyn protested.

 

At the same time, Ransom replied, "I'm not sure let is the right word."

 

Miranda shot Ransom a dark look before examining what remained of Allyn's wounds. "I…suppose you are. I mean, other than the fact they're still visible. Get up stairs to bed this minute. Without Mr. Carlyle."

 

"Good gods, Mandi."

 

"I mean it, Allyn. Upstairs now. Ransom can tell me what happened." She eyed Ransom. "Apparently he wasn't involved in the fight."

 

"Actually," Allyn replied, "he's the one who killed Grigore."

 

"Who?"

 

Allyn rubbed his temples. "Grigore. The man, the vampire, who abducted Liam, and the others."

 

Miranda gasped. "You went up against a vampire? Are you out of your fucking mind?"

 

"Calm down, Miranda," Ransom said. "He didn't really have a choice, since Grigore kidnapped him."

 

"And why wasn't I told about this?" Miranda asked. Looking accusingly at Allyn, she said, "You were going out for some fresh air, according to you. When I saw Ransom leave a couple of minutes later…"

 

"You thought the worst," Ransom said dryly.

 

"No. I thought you were frustrated because the guy you were after hadn't shown up and were trying to come up with an alternative way to catch him." She looked wryly at Allyn. "I guess you didn't have to."

 

"Nope. It all happened exactly how we figured it would. Well, other than the vampire part."

 

Ransom nodded. "One totally insane vampire. He—"

 

"You can tell me after Allyn has taken himself up to bed."

 

"Bossy woman," Allyn and Ransom said as one. Allyn kissed Miranda's forehead, then headed upstairs.

 

"Would you like coffee and breakfast?" Miranda asked Ransom, much to his surprise.

 

"Coffee sounds good." He trailed after Miranda as she headed to the kitchen. "Your brother handled himself very well tonight."

 

"Of course he did," she replied proudly. "He may not be as old as you, or have your experience, but he's learned a lot over the years." She paused to tell Mrs. Wilcox all they needed at the moment was coffee. The housekeeper poured a cup for each of them, and they continued on to the breakfast nook.

 

Miranda sat while Ransom went to one of the windows. He studied the lush lawn momentarily, shaking his head. "It's still hard to equate this estate, this house, with the man I saw in action last night."

 

"You still don't approve of our lifestyle."

 

"It has nothing to do with approval. I understand why you live the way you do. It is a good cover for what he does." He turned to look at her. "I guess what I thought I knew up here—" he tapped his forehead, "—and what I've seen from him the last few days… I'm still trying to fit the two pieces together, if that makes sense."

 

"Of course it does. For fifty years you've thought of him—if you did think about him—as a wastrel who was wasting his life when he could have been making something of it."

 

"Oh, I thought about him. For a short while there, he was a very important part of my life. Then everything changed. Damn it, Miranda. Why didn't he trust me enough to tell me what he'd planned on doing?"

 

"He was certain you'd try to stop him." She gazed seriously at him. "What he does is very important—to him and to the wolves he saves. But he was well aware it could be dangerous. You'd have known that too and…" She spread her hands.

 

"My over protectiveness would have kicked in, big time. I understand."

 

"Do you think what the two of you had going on between you would have survived if it had?"

 

Ransom smiled ruefully. "No more than it did because he seemed to have become the playboy of the century. I guess either way we were destined not to be together at that point."

 

"And now?"

 

"Things have changed. I've changed. Of course, it took you to make me see the error of my ways, when it comes to him."

 

"Now the big question. Do you—?"

 

"Care about him? Very much so. I think you know that already."

 

Miranda grinned. "I do. I just wanted to hear you say it."

 

"Sneaky."

 

"Protective when it comes to Allyn—just like you."

 

Ransom smiled, setting his untouched coffee down on the table. "He does seem to bring that out in people, I think. All right. I'm beyond beat."

 

"You never told me what happened last night."

 

"Ask Allyn when he gets up. I'm going home and get some well-earned sleep. Well, after I fill in everyone I work with about what happened—well edited."

 

"Yeah. Telling them Grigore was a vampire might make them wonder if you've lost the last of your marbles."

 

"No kidding." That reminded him, as he left the house, he had to call the cops in Grigore's district to tell them about the graves. And figure out how to explain why I know about them. That should be interesting.

 

 

Allyn and Ransom – 37

 

Ahead of them was a brick wall—at least fifteen tall, Allyn thought—with shorter cypress trees lining it. It stretched as far as Allyn could see in both directions. ::There's no way a human could scale that.::

 

::Luckily for us, we aren't. And you're about to have company. I'll join you once we see what he has to say.::

 

::No. You're the secret weapon. Stay out of sight.::

 

Allyn didn't wait for Ransom's reply. He walked to the wall, looking up, then at the cypress trees, as if trying to assess his chances of climbing one of them to make good his escape.

 

"You played the game well. Very well." Grigore came into view, striding across the narrow strip of grass separating the forest from the wall.

 

"Then I'm free to leave?" Allyn asked.

 

Grigore's smile was feral when he replied, "Only if you escape. That is the rule. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you can fly over that"—he pointed to the wall—"there is no escape."

 

"A rigged game, Grigore? Why aren't I surprised? If you really are a vampire… Well, they are known for being less than honorable."

 

"If?" Grigore's smile widened, revealing two long, sharp fangs.

 

"Impressive. Not as good as mine though." With that said, Allyn shifted.

 

Grigore hissed with rage. "How did I miss what you truly are? Well, be that as it may, you'll soon be dead. Not that I can feed from you—unfortunately. Your blood would poison me." As he talked, Grigore's nails became claws.

 

::I didn't know that,:: Allyn commented while tensing to spring.

 

::If it's true, at least we know he won't be biting you.::

 

::Not sure that's much relief.:: Allyn leapt, intending to knock Grigore to the ground. Only Grigore wasn't there. Spinning, Allyn saw him—just in time to avoid the vampire's claws from closing around his neck. Instead, they raked down his shoulder, leaving a bloody trail in their wake.

 

That didn't deter Allyn. He sprang, closing his jaws on Grigore's arm. ::Sure as hell hope vampire blood isn't poison for us.::

 

::Don't swallow,:: Ransom replied.

 

Allyn didn't bother to answer. He was doing his best to defend himself against Grigore's swift moves and flashing claws, while trying to throw the vampire to the ground. Being small—for a wolf—it was like a Labrador trying to fight a human who had the abilities of…well, a vampire. Unfortunately, taking down Grigore wasn't as easy as they had figured when he and Ransom first made their plans to stop what they thought was a very vicious, evil human.

 

::Need some help?:: Ransom asked, leaping into the fray. He did what Allyn hadn't been able to—forced Grigore onto his back.

 

"No!" Grigore screamed, just before he vanished.

 

::The house,:: Ransom ordered. ::Or not,:: he added when Grigore reappeared, hovering several feet above the ground.

 

Suddenly Grigore dove forward—like a hawk going after a rabbit—his claws extended, his fangs flashing. He was so quick Allyn didn't have time to move. Grigore's fangs bit deeply into the nape of Allyn's neck while his claws tore Allyn's back and side.

 

::Never could trust a damned vampire.:: Ransom was on Grigore again, rending, tearing, biting—dragging the vampire off Allyn. Then his powerful jaws ripped out Grigore's throat. Instantly, Grigore turned to ashes.

 

Ransom shifted, spitting as he did. "Don't tell anyone, but dead vampires taste like shit." He knelt beside Allyn, examining the damage Grigore had caused. "Don't shift," he ordered. "You'll heal faster the way you are."

 

::I know that,:: Allyn replied weakly, and a bit sourly. ::I wasn't born yesterday.::

 

"I'm going to take you home," Ransom told him.

 

::Not yet. We have to find out what he did with the others.::

 

"You're in no condition to do that," Ransom said.

 

::But you are. There has to be a burial spot somewhere around here.::

 

Ransom sighed. "Not necessarily. But I'll take a run through the grounds. See if I can spot anything." He shifted to his wolf form and took off.

 

Allyn waited, trying to ignore the pain from his wounds as they slowly healed. He managed a chuckle when Ransom said, ::This guy needed to hire a gardener.:: Then, several minutes later Ransom told him, ::Found it.::

 

::Where?::

 

::Off to the side of the damned house. Best guess, this was a plantation once because there are slave cabins. Fallen into disrepair but that's what they were. Behind them is a small graveyard.::

 

::That's where he put the bodies?::

 

"If my sense of smell is any indication," Ransom replied, appearing in his human form beside Allyn. He carefully lifted the red wolf and seconds later gently set him down behind a dilapidated cabin. "Right over there." He pointed to a few plain, broken tombstones. "Don't shift. You can see… Damn it, Allyn."

 

Allyn did shift, shivering in the pre-dawn cold. Ransom wrapped his arms around him, holding Allyn against his chest. "There's freshly turned earth by four of the grave markers."

 

"I see," Allyn replied quietly, his gaze going to one which seemed fresher than the others. "Liam's," he murmured sadly, giving a nod toward it.

 

"I suspect so," Ransom agreed. "We'll know for certain once the local police check them out."

 

"You can't call them. How will you explain…?" Allyn asked through chattering teeth.

 

"I'll figure something out. Right now, I'm taking you home. You're freezing and not fully healed yet."

 

"If I was stronger—"

 

"You'd already be wearing clothes. Yeah. Let's find them. The cops will wonder why they're…let's hope they're in the house."

 

"Better be." He gave Ransom an image of the entryway and seconds later they were there.

 

"Neat son-of-a-bitch," Ransom muttered, looking at the pile of clothing sitting on the sofa, with Allyn's shoes resting on top. He handed Allyn his tux pants, then gathered up the rest while Allyn put them on. With an arm around Allyn's waist, Ransom transported them to the living room of Allyn's estate.

Allyn and Ransom – 36

 

 

Allyn waited, listening. There was a small cracking sound, as if Grigore had stepped on a twig and broken it. That told him, even before Ransom did, that the vampire was just outside the thicket. Allyn inched away, being careful not to make a sound. When he was on the other side from Grigore, he crawled behind the nearest tree and stood. Inhaling deeply, he took off, zigzagging his way farther into the forest.

 

He was heartily glad the moon was rising, giving him at least a vague idea of what was ahead of him.

 

"You are doing well," Allyn heard Grigore say from several yards behind him. "Not as well as I had hoped, but better than some of my other prey."

 

I'll show you well. Allyn glanced up, seeing a tree limb that he knew would hold his weight. Leaping, he grabbed it and seconds later he was looking down at the ground below him. ::This is when I wish I was a panther, not a wolf,:: he grumbled to Ransom.

 

::You're doing fine. He doesn't seem to know what you did—yet.::

 

Taking Ransom at his word, Allyn searched for the closest large tree, focused on one of its branches and jumped. He let out a soft "Oof," when he landed. Too soft to be heard if Grigore had been human.

 

::That caught his attention,:: Ransom said.

 

Allyn chuckled dryly. ::Good. I wouldn't want him to lose me.::

 

For the next few minutes Allyn moved from tree to tree, high above the ground. Then he was at the edge of a clearing. He leapt, landing silently on all fours on the small patch of thick, soggy grass. ::How close are we to the bayou?:: he grumbled.

 

::Best I can figure, it's across the river, which is pretty close. I could check to be sure but for some reason, I haven't figured out how to carry my phone when I'm a wolf.::

 

::Smart ass,:: Allyn muttered as he got to his knees, scanning the forest surrounding him. He heard a rustling—very brief but definitely not made by a small animal. ::He's herding me somewhere.::

 

::That would be my guess. Might as well find out why.::

 

Allyn remained as he was for a few moments. If I really was terrified and on the run from him, what would I do now? Camouflage. If it's as damp under the trees over there... He moved swiftly from the clearing. Glancing back, he saw he'd left a line of crushed grass, marking his path, and smiled. Then, he took to the trees again, long enough to avoid leaving more of a trail before dropping down to the forest floor. Like the grass, it was damp. He crept to the base of a tree, scooped up dirt from between the roots and slathered it over his body.

 

::You missed the middle of your back,:: Ransom cautioned.

 

::On purpose. I want him to think I'm not exactly thinking things through as much as I should. That I'm too scared.::

 

Ransom snorted. ::I think you proved that already. The trail in the grass is like a blazing arrow saying 'Lookie here'.::

 

::Where are you, by the way?::

 

::Off to your right, at the moment. I'm going to go find him again. We don't want him right on top of you when you end up wherever he wants you.::

 

::True.:: Allyn went on the move again, running carefully, avoiding making any noise, which wasn't hard on the damp layer of ground cover. Twice, he went back to swinging between the trees, stopping long enough to listen for any sound from Grigore. Once, he did—a dull crack when the vampire again stepped on a fallen branch. By now, I'd be scared shitless if I was human. If this is what he did when he was hunting Liam… Allyn felt his anger grow and tamped it down. He had to stay calm if he was going to beat Grigore at his own game.

 

Allyn wasn't certain how much time had passed, other than to note the moon was now beginning to disappear. He inched his way through a tight stand of trees, knowing from what Ransom had told him that Grigore was barely twenty yards behind him.

 

Minutes later Allyn came to the edge of the forest. "Bastard," he barely whispered.

 

::I'm with you on that,:: Ransom said.

Allyn and Ransom – 35

 

"Mr. Warwick, or I suppose I should call you Allyn now. I see you figured out how to escape."

 

Allyn spun around to look at Gregory. The vampire was standing at the foot of the steps leading up to a veranda.

 

"It's wasn't that hard. Now what? You shoot me?" Allyn asked, seeing a gun in Gregory's hand.

 

"Only if you give me trouble. Then I'll tranquilize you again, go get that pretty sister of yours, and the two of you can play my game. If you manage to escape the grounds, you'll be free to go. I might not be so lenient with your sister. She's quite a pretty morsel."

 

"You touch one hair on her head…" Allyn growled.

 

"I won't, as long as you do as you're told. If you don't, she suffers."

 

Allyn nodded. "What am I supposed to do?"

 

"Play my game. This is a very large estate. Other than the manor house and the lawn, there is nothing but dense forest in all directions. If you can find a way to escape before I capture you again, you will be free to go."

 

"As if I stand a chance against a vampire, Gregory."

 

"Why don't we dispense with my alias? My name is Grigore Nicolescu."

 

Despite the situation, Allyn laughed. "Did you take that from some bad vampire movie? I suppose you're a Count, as well."

 

"You are in no position to mock me." Grigore rested the gun against his shoulder. "I will give you a five minute start, just as I do with all my prey."

 

Allyn nodded, walking slowly backward toward the trees. No way was he going to take his gaze off Grigore until he was safely in the forest. ::Do you see where I am?:: he asked Ransom as soon as he was out of Grigore's sight.

 

::Yes. I'll be with you in a second. You might want to shift.::

 

::No,:: Allyn replied. ::He thinks he's hunting a man. There's no reason to disabuse him of that idea until the end.::

 

::This could be interesting, since I have the feeling he has no idea what you are,:: Ransom commented. ::Now all we have to do is play his game, but our way. Make the hunter the prey.::

 

::That's my forte.:: Allyn moved into the darkness between the trees, crouching while he waited for Grigore to appear.

 

::As soon as he's well into the forest, we'll take him down.::

 

::No. He made the last hours of his victims' lives a living hell, I'm sure. Stalking them. Letting them think they had a chance to escape then killing them at the last moment.:: As they talked, Allyn heard the slight crackle of leaves underfoot and knew Grigore entered the forest.

 

::He did that on purpose,:: Ransom warned.

 

::Yep. Now to let him think he succeeded in frightening me into moving on.::

 

::I'll be,:: Ransom chuckled. ::I'll be your GPS system.:: There was a pause, then he said, ::He's five yards to your left.::

 

Allyn sprinted from his cover, racing from tree to tree, hiding behind them as if he thought they would hide him from Grigore's sight. He was certain the vampire knew exactly where he was and played into it. He continued on, panting as he did. Not because he had to—he was in much better shape than that—but because he knew it was what Grigore would expect.

 

Ahead of him, Allyn spotted a thicket. Dropping to all fours, he wormed his way to the center, ignoring the branches tearing at his bare flesh.

 

::He saw that. He seems amused at your attempt to hide, if his sly smile is any indication.::

 

::Good eyesight or is he closer than I thought?:: Allyn asked.

 

::He's a vampire. He has excellent night vision, just as we do.::

 

::Speak for yourself. I have nearly normal human vision at the moment.::

Out today - 'The Quests Box Set'!

 The Quests Box Set

 

https://www.jms-books.com/edward-kendrick-c-224_229/the-quests-box-set-p-5539.html

 

https://www.amazon.com/Quests-Box-Set-Edward-Kendrick-ebook/dp/B0FSCFDFQ7/

 

GENRE: Gay Fantasy Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 124,823 words
RATING:

In this duology by best-selling MM author Edward Kendrick, Niall, the mercenary Renard, and their companions seek to find a sorcerer to rid their homeland of eternal winter, if possible. If they are successful, they intend to defeat an evil sorcerer and free the people under his thrall, with the help of the sorcerer Symounde, healer Aymer, and Tybout and his wolves. How many will survive if they try?

Contains the stories:

A Quest to Find a Sorcerer: Niall wants to find a sorcerer who can rid his home of eternal winter. It will mean convincing friends and a mercenary to join in the quest. The friends are easy. Renard, the mercenary, is not, but Niall succeeds. On the journey, Niall and Renard form a bond beyond friendship, while the small band contends with storms, wolves, and brigands; praying in the end they find a sorcerer willing to help.

A Quest to Defeat a Sorcerer: Mercenaries and lovers Renard and Niall, along with newly-wed Merek and healer Aymer, join forces with the powerful sorcerer Symounde, his trainee Janot, and Tybout and his wolves to attempt to destroy the evil sorcerer, Huguenin, who holds many in Wildemere in his thrall. Can they succeed in the fight against the battle sorcerer and his dead-eyed minions? If so, how many of them will survive?

EXCERPT FROM "A Quest to Find a Sorcerer"

"I had an idea," Niall said. "It might be a crazy one but hear me out."

"This sounds intriguing," Petyr replied.

Niall chuckled. "I hope so. Do you remember what the old man at the tavern said last evening?"

"You mean about finding someone who can control the weather?"

"Yes. A sorcerer to be exact, although that was my idea, not his. Anyway, I thought why not try to."

Petyr cocked his head, looking at his friend. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Very much so. It would mean a long journey through the mountains and there is no guarantee when we reached the other side things would be any better than they are here."

"One could hope they are or the journey would be for naught," Petyr replied, frowning. "Whether there's a sorcerer there who could help us ... Well, it would be a gamble for certain."

"You think it's possible, though, and worth finding out?" Niall asked.

Petyr didn't reply immediately. Niall could tell from the expressions flickering across his face, thoughtfulness, interest, worry, that he was seriously considering the idea.

Finally, Petyr said, "You didn't ask me because you only wanted my opinion, did you?"

"That's part of it."

Petyr chuckled. "I think you're right, it is a crazy idea, but it could be ... an interesting journey and what would we lose by taking it? Well, other than our lives, of course."

"Yes! I mean, there is that but you would be willing to try from the sound of it."

"I am. It will take a great deal of planning and it has to be more than just the two of us, of course."

Niall heaved a sigh of relief. "It will. Master Ilberd already suggested we ask Renard, the mercenary, to be part of it."

"Good luck with that."

"Maybe he will. Master Ilberd said he's a relative and he might be able to persuade him."

"Ah, so you've already talked to him about it. Well, naturally you have. He's like a second father to you."

Niall snorted. "He's the only man I would call father, although yours comes in a close second. You know that."

"I do." Petyr rapped a finger on the table. "Who else should we ask?"

"A good question. Perhaps Janot, Mage Aymer's apprentice, because we should have a healer with us, I think."

"Absolutely," Petyr agreed. "I like him. He's very down-to-earth, if rather shy."

"He is. Then, umm ..."

"Merek," Petyr suggested. "He's big and brawny, which isn't surprising as he's the blacksmith's apprentice. He would be good to have along in case of trouble."

"I hope you mean like moving trees that have fallen across our path or boulders on a mountain trail," Niall said.

"That, and who knows what sort of ruffians we might run into."

"That's why we want Renard with us. I mean, I can wield a dagger, I'm sure you can, too, but they wouldn't do much against highwaymen or brigands."

"As if there are many of those," Petyr replied in derision. "Who would spend time waiting for a rare passing merchant or lord?"

"There must be some, at least here in Dorraine to hear Renard tell it."

"True, I suppose." Petyr leaned back against the wall behind him. "I do hope my father will let me come with you. I also wonder if Janot and Merek's Masters would give them leave to join us."

"First, we have to find out if they're interested."

"We're really going to do this?"

Niall nodded adamantly. "We are, even if it's only you and me and, the gods help us, Renard."

"And maybe not him. He might no want to be the caretaker of some young fools who have never left Misthaven, to say the least Dorraine, to travel through the mountains to who knows where."

"I suppose we'll know soon enough." Niall stood and went to get his cloak and gloves. "We should see if Merek is at the tavern. He does spend some evenings there. We'll probably find Janot at Mage Aymer's home."

"Because he lives there and rarely ventures out." Petyr frowned as he put on his cloak then picked up his gloves from the bed. "It may make it hard for us to speak to him alone."

"I guess we'll find out."

 

 

Allyn and Ransom – 34

 

Allyn slowly regained consciousness. He felt logy and tried to shake off the effects of whatever drug Gregory had given him.

 

Why am I still alive? Given what he is, he could have drained me while I was out. Unless… Yeah, he'd be drugging himself if he did.

 

His first instinct was to teleport out of there, but if he did, the man would still be free to go after someone else. Or a lot of someone elses. And I can't just jump from here to outside the house because I have no clue what's out there. If I don't have a visual, I'm screwed. I can't even send one to… Hell. Ransom.

 

Opening his mind, he tried to contact Ransom.

 

::Thank God. Where the hell are you?:: Ransom said.

 

::Your guess is as good as mine.:: Allyn frowned. ::Use the GPS.::

 

::Can't. Either it died or he found it and destroyed it.::

 

::I'm betting the latter, when he… Oh fuck. Ran, he's a vampire.::

 

::You have to be kidding.::

 

::I wish I was.::

 

::Get the hell out of there. There's still some sunlight. He won't be able to stop you.::

 

::I don't have a visual.::

 

::Just go home,:: Ransom ordered.

 

::No way. We have to stop him tonight. If we don't, he'll go after more people. Damn it.::

 

::He's there?:: Ransom asked, the words fraught dismay.

 

::No. But if we don't deal with him now… He knows who I am and could come after me. Or worse, Miranda.::

 

::Okay. Do you at least know what kind of building you're in?::

 

::A house. A large one from what little I saw of it. I know there's a basement because I'm in a room down here.:: He finally took in his surroundings. ::A very barren room. One window, high on the wall, a set of shelves, and the door we came through. I'm betting it's locked tight now.::

 

::No kidding. Can you get to the window?::

 

::If I didn't feel like ten kinds of hell. Maybe when the last of the drug wears off.::

 

::All right.:: There was a long pause. ::See if you can move the shelves over and use them to get to the window.::

 

::Now why didn't I think of that?::

 

::Because you're dopey, and not the Seven Dwarfs kind.::

 

::Thanks, I think.:: Allyn went to the shelves, gripping one side to see if they'd move. ::Whoa. We may have lift-off. There's a door behind them.::

 

::Sounds like a setup to me, so be careful,:: Ransom cautioned.

 

::Good idea.::

 

Allyn touched the handle quickly, in case it was wired to blow up or shock him—or something. It wasn't, so he turned it and pulled. He wasn't very surprised when the door began to open. If it was a setup, and it was beginning to look like one, Gregory wanted him to escape. The question was, to where?

 

::Give me an image and I'll join you,:: Ransom said.

 

::No. If he really is a vampire, he'd know you're here. Let me see where this hallway goes first.::

 

::Be—::

 

::Careful. Yeah.:: Allyn crept down the hallway, the only light coming from a window high on the wall. He thought it was the last gasp of the sun going down. Reaching the door, up three steps at the far end of the hall, he inched it open. ::I'm outside…or will be in a second. There's a lawn and trees. Like a forest.::

 

::That fits with where I think you are, in a general sense. Show me. Please.::