Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Gazsi would search for food, anything to make him stronger. That would be a priority. Benedek could weave the strongest safeguards, and they would keep a vampire out, but a master vampire might be able to compel someone to come to him. The safeguards normally weren’t woven to keep someone prisoner. That meant he would call someone to him.
Lycans weren’t easily beguiled or tricked, but everyone inside had belonged to the Sacred Circle, including those who worked there. Barnabas had worked for years to get key members to undermine the royals using his insidious preying on their innermost desires. The weaker ones had eventually caved, believing themselves above reproach. If any inside still had ties to Barnabas even after he had been destroyed, Gazsi very well could persuade them to come out of their safeguarded hiding place.
Afanasiv drifted back into the house on a slight wind. He needed every sense, but the stench in the room where the Trojan horse had exploded, expelling Xayvion’s army, was overpowering. He shut down all emotion as he had been doing for more time than he had ever had feelings. The moment he did, the demon rose in him, eager to do battle. It was that darkness that aided him now. Darkness called to darkness.
He was aware instantly of Gazsi gliding through the next room, not as graceful as he normally might be. Afanasiv listened to the footsteps. The master vampire wasn’t wasting precious energy on flying or trying to camouflage his appearance.
“Aw, now I know where you are. I can smell you.”
Afanasiv heard the quiet chuckle in the vampire’s voice and he passed through the open archway to catch a glimpse of Gazsi hurrying around a corner.
“Lycans have too much wolf in them to try to hide from anyone with a nose,” the vampire went on in a singsong voice. The voice was very compelling. “Come to me, feed me. Be my servant. I can give you immortal life. Come to me now.”
Afanasiv circled in front of the master vampire to find the hiding place in the kitchen where the woman who served the family for years had secreted herself in a small space in the wall. Benedek had woven safeguards to keep any vampires out, but the woman could easily walk right through them if she wanted to step back into the kitchen.
Very carefully, Afanasiv threw up a second safeguard, this one blocking the vampire’s voice and ensuring the weave prevented the woman from going to anyone evil.
Vasilisa, visualize the woman who works for Lada.
As he waited for her response, he caught a glimpse of her determinedly sprinting toward a small army of demons and vampires as they rushed toward Andros and Grigor. Behind the demons and vampires poured an army of Lycans. Even while he was merged with Vasilisa, several Lycans leapt on the vampires and tore at their chests or backs. Others lifted demons and slammed them over their knees to break their backs. Andros’ people had come to protect the royals.
Vasilisa sent him a detailed picture of the woman hidden behind the panel in the kitchen. He cast the illusion over his body, taking the older woman’s appearance. Thank you, my lady. It would please me if you would come back into the yard.
I am certain it would. Behind the laughter, there was a grim note.
Gazsi was in the kitchen, sniffing at the walls and waving his hands in a revealing spell. He would know that an ancient would think to safeguard any Lycan or human remaining in the house. Gazsi didn’t appear as disoriented as the other two master vampires had, but he was weak and very aware of it. He watched his back trail even as he systematically went over each wall, trying to find the hidden room, coax out his prey with his sweet, persuasive voice, or find the right combination of words to reveal woven safeguards. He couldn’t keep up his appearance, something all master vampires took great pride in.
He neared the wall where the woman hid in the small room. Afanasiv didn’t move, waiting patiently as Gazsi lifted his hands once more and murmured his revealing spell. At once a barricade that looked much like a tapestry of woven threads appeared. The threads blazed with life spinning around one another in various hues.
“There you are,” Gazsi said aloud. “Why do you hide from me?” His voice sounded sweeter than ever. “I will give you everything you ever wanted. Come to me. You know you want to be with me.”
The tapestry swayed, although there was no wind. Gazsi’s smirk widened. “That’s right, my lovely. You know me. They do not treat you right here. You should not work for them. Others would work for you. They would bow before your beauty. Come to me. Whisper your name to me. Just take one small step. One foot in front of the other.”