"Everyone got a flyer," she said. "They're giving out gifts."
"You're kidding?" I couldn't believe this—why did people always turn out in droves if something was being given away? "Stay away from there," I placed compulsion. She nodded blankly just as three more women came in to shower and dress.
"Dragon, one of those women said she got a flyer of some kind, saying that Solar Red was going to hand out gifts," I said after the last of his students left and we'd locked up for the night. "If a ton of people show up, that's just fodder for those demon f**kers. And if the vampires come out, it'll make it more difficult to fight."
"They've thought this through," Dragon rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not sure what we can do about this, though, without calling their attention to us." We walked home, both of us silent, worrying over the ritual and what might happen.
Karzac was there waiting; he had roasted fowl for his and Dragon's dinner, and they ate while I cleaned up a little. I didn't want to go out again, honestly, but Gabron would be expecting me. My visits broke up his self-imposed confinement. I carried the news of the flyers and the people who'd likely attend the ritual as a result and he wasn't pleased with the information.
"This will make things so much worse," Gabron paced a little. "I must warn the others and we will have to take care if we attack the priests."
"Dragon says the ones that are demon won't bite a vampire—they don't like the taste. They'll just try to kill us instead. They move fast, Gabron. Be sure and tell the others so they'll be ready for that."
* * *
Xenides sat in a corner of the royal suite at a luxurious hotel in Paris. He'd chosen a Louis XIV style chair so he'd be in shadow. He watched, feeling bored as Rahim instructed his subordinates. Their target on the full moon was another hotel nearby. Xenides smiled slightly—Anthony Hancock had become a thorn in his side and if Rahim saw things the same way, so much the better. Word had it as well that Hancock and the little princess were close, so he would be killing two birds with one stone. Destroying Hancock would likely bring the little female to Paris to investigate. Xenides listened as Rahim carefully explained his objectives.
Xenides spoke some modern Arabic, but had never bothered to learn the language completely. Rahim spoke fluent English, along with French and Italian, so they were able to communicate quite well. Rahim instructed the two suicide bombers regarding their target the following evening. His goal was to produce an explosion that would generate the greatest amount of damage. Rahim ended his spiel with the usual "Death to the infidels." The two subordinates repeated the phrase and stole away from the room, one at a time.
Neither was dressed in anything other than western-style clothing, appearing to be tourists on a holiday. Rahim had seen to that. He was very good at what he did—Xenides was happy to have him under his thumb. "Soon our glory will be multiplied," Rahim smiled at Xenides after his second subordinate left the suite.
"Of course it will," Xenides agreed. "Just make sure your sheep do as they're told." Compulsion was thick in Xenides' voice.
* * *
"Bro, you need to stick close to Paul; at least he can howl in French," Tony teased Deryn as Paul and his brother made ready to leave the hotel in order to run with a Pack outside the city.
"Bro, you need to stick to human shit; you couldn't give a good howl if it would save your life," Deryn teased back. Tony shook his head at Deryn's words as Paul and his brother walked out the door. Deryn and Paul's dinner would most likely consist of rabbit and other small prey. Tony was on his way downstairs to treat himself to a nice, thick steak.
* * *
I sat on the roof of the apartment building and watched as a quarter moon rose over the horizon. Worried couldn't begin to describe how I felt and Kifirin's absence the past few days only added to that. Dragon was also tense, although he hid it well most of the time. Karzac had gone to work at the hospital, telling us that he would be available if needed. I felt we were about to go to war in two hours; the ritual would begin at that time and I could hear people on the streets below, already walking toward the temple. I'd finally gotten my hands on one of the flyers. It promised a huge sum of money, to be given away by a lottery of sorts. The flyer encouraged the population to come early so they could receive their tickets.
Tickets. Monsters were handing out tickets. That was a terrible joke and made me wonder for perhaps the hundredth time what their real intentions were. No doubt, I'd know before the night was over. Dragon didn't want to go until the last minute, in case the Ra'Ak was there and looking for us. Probably a good idea. I had plans to mist us both there anyway, so they wouldn't see us walking past guards that would undoubtedly be posted.
Little Queen, we are leaving our underground prison, Gabron sent. He'd informed me the evening before that the vampires would scatter and come at the temple from all directions in small groups. I hoped that things went well for us; my skin had been itching for the past two hours. I was afraid to mention it to Dragon—he and I could both go down, along with Gabron and his vampires. My knees were up to my chin and I was only waiting on Dragon now. I watched as vans containing news crews drove past on the streets below; they were one of the few independent businesses that actually possessed their own transportation. Whatever happened was going to be recorded. If it was my death, along with Dragon's and the others, I hoped somebody would let Gavin and Merrill know.
Wlodek had allowed my participation in this—had he known how dangerous it might be? Ever since Dragon let me know that the Ra'Ak was more than likely shielded against us, we had no way of telling if or when he'd appear. My nose was no longer a help in the matter. I was flying blind just as everyone else was and it frightened me. I hate surprises. Especially lengthy, toothy, snaky ones.
"I have a harder time than you do, scaling the sides of the building without using any power," Dragon hopped onto the roof and gracefully navigated the narrow surface to sit beside me. He was as lithe and sure as any jungle cat walking a high limb.
"Merrill and Gavin can just float around," I said, lifting my chin off my knees. "I had no idea Gavin could do it; of course I didn't know he was vampire when I first met him either," I added.
"You didn't know?" Dragon wore a confused expression as he blinked at me.
"I hadn't been vampire very long; the one who turned me never intended me to live and I managed to get away before he could kill me," I said with a shrug. "I had no idea what I was doing and nobody to teach me the rules. The Council sent Gavin—he's an Assassin—to get rid of me. He sort of got sidetracked, though, and stayed to watch the werewolf I was working for. I couldn't ever figure out how he got onto roofs and over walls without making any sound. I didn't find out he was vampire until he placed compulsion and hauled me off to the Council."