by Casey Knight
I just hate it when people or things drop in unannounced and I was running out of options. I needed a diversion. I raised my bracelet and aimed it at a tree across the ravine. I sent a small jolt of energy into it. The tree rocked back and forth dropping pinecones like grenades. Yes, I know pinecones aren’t lethal. I was pretty sure whoever was down there didn’t know they were pinecones.
The rustling below me stopped and then I heard the sound of footsteps moving back toward the ravine. I scurried down the tree and darted over to the edge of the chasm. I needed to know what I was up against. What I saw almost made me laugh out loud. A large brown bear was sniffing the area around the tree. Well I’ll be damned if I’m sharing what little food I had left. I sent a flash of energy at the bear. It hit him in the rump and I’m fairly sure he wouldn’t stop running until he was miles from here. Chuckling softly to myself, I jumped when I heard Corbin speak.
“PETA won’t be happy with you.”
“Damn you Corbin. Quit sneaking up on me. Where have you been anyway?”
I couldn’t be sure, but I think I saw the glimmer of a smile cross his face.
“Did you miss me?”
I glared at him before moving back under the cedar tree.
“I’ll take that as a no. I’ve been leading the Hellhounds in circles. They were tracking us. Fortunately the fae are waiting until daylight. We didn’t kill any of them, but we banged them up pretty good.”
He waited for me to get over my snit. Vampires are very good at turning to stone and ignoring the obvious. Finally my curiosity got the better of me.
“How much further do you think before we reach Dreuss?”
Corbin looked around before he let his eyes settle on me.
“Are you speaking to me?”
I picked up a stick and threw it at him. It was a silly gesture. Since he moved so fast I couldn’t catch him with a speeding bullet.
“I think we are about half a day’s walk. I’ll check later tonight once I’m sure the Hellhounds aren’t coming back. Try and get some sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
I didn’t argue. Vampires don’t need much sleep. I curled up and fell asleep faster than I thought was possible. Who knows how long I’d have slept if Corbin hadn’t woke me up.
“We had no visitors last night, so I went to see how much further we have before Dreuss. It will take you most of the day. I’ll check the place to see if Traygen is there once the light fades.”
It sounded funny to hear Traygen’s name. Obviously he was always on my mind, but it hurt too much for me to say his name aloud. I nodded to Corbin and then let my mind drift back to Traygen. I woke this morning, as I did most, knowing that I’d dreamt about him. My dreams were eerily similar. I see Traygen and he knows I’m there yet, we can’t communicate. It is like I’m watching an old silent movie. Only in this movie the hero doesn’t survive. Traygen struggles to free himself. He is being held in a dream like trance. I feel the probes from his mind searching for me. Still, no matter how hard I try I can’t hear him or understand him. I feel like he is at the bottom of a pool of water. I can see his mouth move yet, I can’t hear him.
Corbin leaned over me and shook my shoulder. Concern etched his face. Yet, I was incapable of speech.
“Lauren, can you hear me? Are you all right? Speak to me please.”
Now I knew my appearance must have scared him. He’d never asked me to speak. Normally he couldn’t shut me up. I tried to shake off the effects of my dream. When my head cleared and I was finally able to break free from the dream, tears streamed down my face. Corbin sat back on his heels and stared at me before he wrapped his arms around me.
I collapsed against his stone cold chest and let the tears flow unrestrained. When I was certain I couldn’t shed another tear, I pulled myself from his embrace. He gently pushed the hair from my eyes and wiped my face with his sleeve. Then he sat down beside me and waited for me to pull myself together. It is amazing that vampires don’t have a physical heart because Corbin definitely had a loving one. Aside from Traygen he was the kindest man or vampire I knew. He sat silently until I pulled myself together. In fact it was hard to know he was alive…no heartbeat, no breathing.
“It is a good thing we’re alone. People might talk.” I quipped. When he didn’t respond I turned to face him. He was sphinxlike, talk about a poker face. “I could make a mint with you in Vegas.”
His eyes crinkled and he chuckled softly to himself.
When he still didn’t speak, I did. “What’s so funny?”
“You. Vegas. I think you humans have an expression about Vegas. ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.’ That is so dead-on it’s funny.”
I raised my eyebrows and stared. Had my stoic vampire just made a joke? When he didn’t speak I finally asked. “What is so funny?”
He could tell whatever amused him went right over my head. It took him a minute to compose himself before he spoke. “Lauren, you asked me once why the vampires left me to die.”
“Yes, you said because you let Traygen get away. So?”
“Well, that wasn’t the entire truth. I certainly would have been punished or killed for letting my prisoner escape. Still, I wouldn’t have been left to die, at least not the way you found me.”
He didn’t continue for a few minutes and I decide to wait him out. I couldn’t be sure, but I sensed he was uncomfortable or flustered. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me.
“Corbin, out with it already. We haven’t got all day.”
“Lauren, they left me to starve to death or be eaten by rats because I’m gay.” He waited to let his news sink in before he continued. “Vampires have as little use for homosexuals as Anita Bryant.”
Did he just say what I thought he did? I couldn’t help myself and I burst out laughing. He raised an eyebrow and stared at me until I regained my control.
“You might have told me sooner. I’d have slept a lot better if I’d known I didn’t need to protect my honor. Traygen will definitely be happy to hear the man I’ve spent all this time alone with, doesn’t like women.”
I wondered for a minute if my humor offended him, not everyone appreciates my flippant nature.
“I wanted to, but I wasn’t sure how you would react. I’ve been dying to know who does your hair.”
That’s when I knew he wasn’t offended. “Steve Earhart and before you ask he’s no relation to Amelia.”
“I may be over a hundred years old honey, but I’m not a Neanderthal. We can talk style and fashion later. We should get moving before the fae catch up with us. Keep heading toward the sun and avoid the main trails.”
“Yes, sir,” I retorted. Unfortunately, he’d already changed into a bat and snuggled into my pocket. “It must be nice to let me do all the work while, you catch up on your beauty sleep,” I muttered, but my guess is Corbin was already fast asleep.
I trudged steadily along for much of the morning, feeling relatively certain I wasn’t being followed. Just to be sure I crisscrossed the river in several places. The icy cold water felt good on my tired aching muscles. Around mid-day I decided to stop and eat something. The sun hung high in the sky and my skin glistened. Leaning against a large boulder I stretched out and relaxed, a slight breeze chilled my skin. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift to Traygen. His presence felt no closer than it had when we arrived at the Red Court’s island. My spirits plummeted. I didn’t know what we would find at Dreuss, but I knew it wouldn’t be Traygen.
I was tempted to head directly to the Black Court. Yet, my intuition told me there was something I needed to find at Dreuss. I trusted my intuition and it never let me down, except of course when I ignored it. This technically meant it never did. You’re stalling. You need to get moving, times a wasting. Yeah, Yeah. Groaning I pulled myself to my feet and stretched my tired limbs. Satisfied, I moved off down the trail. I’d gone less than a mile when I heard something. Stopping still in my tracks I listened. Nothing. Yet, I was certain I heard something. My sense
s were on high alert. Nevertheless, I still didn’t detect any movement. I decided to keep going when Corbin nipped my leg.
“Ouch, damn you, have you lost your mind?” I whispered just loud enough for Corbin’s sensitive ears to hear.
“Lauren, go back the way you came. There are Red Court vampires below us. Move now. Take to the water and move around them.”
That was all I needed to know. I carefully retraced my steps. It took longer, but I was sure I’d left only one set of tracks. Then I took off in the opposite direction. I made sure I left tracks that could be followed. When I’d gone over a mile I climbed up into a tree and jumped from tree to tree. Tarzan didn’t have anything on me. Maybe when they got around to making the sequel to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, I could be the new heroine. After all Crouching Wizard Missing Dragon or Crouching Wizard Swishing Vampire…I knew then I’d lost it. I’d been out in the middle of nowhere far too long.
My ears heard them before I spotted them. There were three vampires following my trail. They didn’t seem to be worrying about me hearing them. They had their eyes and noses trained on the ground, which was lucky for me. Had one of then sniffed the air around them they might have detected my presence. I waited for them to get out of sight before I swung down and ran like hell. When I reached the river I waded in. Stopping only long enough to let Corbin move into my pack, I swung it over a log. I pushed the log ahead of me and let the current take us down river. We were moving at a leisurely pace until we reached a point where another river merged into the one we were already in.
The water got deeper and it ran faster. I had to hold on tight to my log, which was nearly yanked from my grasp on several occasions. The light was also starting to fade. If I had to guess, I’d say that it was almost sunset. Unfortunately, the high walls that were carved into the riverbank, by the rushing water, made it hard to tell. I thought I was home free when I heard the roar. I struggled to free the straps on my pack. Corbin literally would have to fly or swim. I just managed to release him before I was washed over the falls. I spun, plummeted, freefalling until the water spit me out. My head finally broke the water’s surface and I splashed toward shore. My foot hit bottom just before I did. I staggered forward and landed face first on the sandy shore.
When I came to I was bound, gagged, and hanging from a pole by my hands and feet. It reminded me of an old Tarzan movie. I couldn’t see my captors. However, I knew we were moving because my head threatened to explode with every jarring step. My senses told me my captors weren’t vampires. Yet, my bracelet tingled, which meant there was magic nearby. My guess is the winter fae had taken me when I washed ashore. I wondered what their interest was in me. Admittedly, I had annoyed Queen Mab on more than one occasion. It was occasionally necessary for me to cut across her realm from time to time. Mab didn’t like uninvited quests crossing through her territory. Obviously there was no statute of limitations for the denizens of the fairy realm. Nevertheless, I doubted she’d been tracking me all this time to reprimand me for trespassing. It is possible she made a pact with one of the vampire courts. At least I didn’t hear the Hellhounds.
We bounced and jostled around for so long I lost all track of time. Finally, I was unceremoniously dumped on the ground. I hit my head hard enough to see stars. I struggled to sit up and was immediately pushed back down. I felt rough hands untie me and immediately retie my hands to a ring above my head. I think these guys attended the Marquee de Sad yogi school.
It took a minute to clear my head. I’d been dangling upside down for so long my head threatened to explode. Taking slow steadying breathes, I managed to silence the jack hammers in my head. Then I slumped, falling, and staying as still as possible. I listened trying to get any hint of what my captors wanted with me and I didn’t want them to know I was conscious. I could hear them whispering. Yet, I couldn’t tell what they were saying. If these guys kept this up I’d be taller and more flexible. Vengeance was going to be a bitch for these three, I would get even. I was working up some righteous anger when a voice in my ear made me jump. What in the hell. Then I heard it again.
“Corbin? Is that you?”
“Miss me? Keep your voice down and face forward. I’ll gnaw through these ropes as quickly as I can. You really know how to make friends.”
I heard him chuckle and I ground my teeth. Of all the swishy vampires in the world I had to be rescued by a comedian. All that aside, I was delighted to be rescued. I felt the tension ease on my arms. I kept my eyes forward and watched my captors. When I felt the ropes fall away from my arms I activated my bracelet. It was time for a chat with my captors. Corbin changed back into his human self. He motioned he was going to come in from behind the fae. There were three of them. I waited a few minutes before I sauntered over to the fire.
“What’s for dinner?”
The fae jumped and started to reach for their weapons.
“I wouldn’t do that, not unless you want to tie your shoes with your teeth for the rest of your lives. My friends, I don’t need any more motivation to kill you. Now sit down and put your hands on top of your heads.”
They hesitated a second too long and I felt compelled to send a flash of energy into the foot of the nearest fairy. He did a pretty neat jig before he got the flames out. When I turned my eyes back to his colleagues they had their hands on their heads.
“I’m only going to ask you once. Answer me and I’ll let you live. Lie or stall and I’ll kill you…slowly. Am I making myself clear?”
All three heads bobbed like bobble headed dolls. Corbin came around from behind them and tied them up. I moved over to inspect their dinner. I didn’t know what it was, but I didn’t care. I gulped it down, always a lady I wiped my mouth primly on my sleeve. When my stomach was full and my thirst quenched I focused on my three captors. Corbin had either already eaten or he wasn’t hungry.
“Which one of you is in charge?”
I thought I might need to loosen some tongues when one of the fae spoke.
“I am.”
“Why have you been following us? Why did you take me captive?”
“Queen Mab has put a price on your head. She sent us to find you.”
“Do you know why she has a price on my head?”
“She owes Mavre a favor. She wants you taken alive. Mab didn’t tell us why.”
I knew he was probably telling me the truth. Mab would not explain herself to anyone. But, what I didn’t understand was why would the Red Court have a price on my head? I mean I’m not welcome anywhere in the vampire world. Yet, I wasn’t aware I’d offended anyone in the Red Court.
I turned to Corbin and we moved away so our captives couldn’t overhear us.
“Which court is after you?”
“The Red Court.”
“I have no direct association with the Red Court. The Red Court is the least tolerant of all the courts. My friends are in the White Court. What I do know is the Red Court is not somebody you want mad at you.”
“You think? I know they are the worst of the worst. I had a run in with a Red Court Daywalker. We fought to the death and as you can see I won. The fight was witnessed by Erol from the Lazarian Court and Jason from the World Council of Wizards.”
He let out a low whistle before he answered. “That is reason enough. Vicor was Erol’s ward. I’m only surprised he hasn’t tried to have you killed before now.”
“It just so happens there’s a long line of people vying for the right to kill me. Seriously, he may have tried before now. I don’t know who was behind the attack on the White Court Island.”
“You have a point. I suggest we get to Dreuss and question Drom. Still, my guess is the answers will be found at the Red Court. Shall we?”
“I agree. Let’s leave those three tied up and by the time they get loose we’ll be gone.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Do you know anything about the layout?”
“Lauren, the prisoners are usually held in the dungeons below the main house. Since I b
lend in better than you, I’ll check it out. As soon as I’m sure I’ll come get you and we can find Drom.”
I nodded once without speaking. Hiding out and letting others have all the fun wasn’t easy for me. However, vampires have an acute sense of smell. There is no way I could go undetected into the city, let alone into the dungeons. I’d have to wait for the cover of darkness and Corbin’s return. Then I could use his cloak and scent to get me into the dungeons.
In the meantime I was hiding out in the top of a massive old tree. It was breezy enough I hoped my scent would be blown up and away. Not very original, but I was relatively sure it would work. Besides it made sneaking up on me trickier. Nestled in between the trunk and a large horizontal branch I waited. This gave me some time to try and get a fix on Traygen. I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. I needed to attain a deep meditative state so my spirit could exit my body and travel through the universe. I wanted to tap into the knowledge of the Akashic Records. These records contained the accumulated knowledge of all the planes of the universe.
I’d traveled to almost ever plane in the universe at one time or another. Most people participate in astral travel. They just aren’t aware of it and would likely deny it. However, I bet if you asked them if their dreams were so real they could sense them or if it felt almost like they were there. Then they were definitely traveling on the astral plane. You can be sure their spirit has left their body. If a spiritual being has been incarnated long enough they forget their original home. Unfortunately, this is necessary or we would all want to go home before we accomplished whatever we came to this plane to learn. We would never evolve this way. This would negate the reason we come to the different planes. Our need to acquire life experiences to help us advance. This is why I’m so good at astral travel. I’m a slow learner and I’ve spent several life times’ trying to get it right. However, I’ve loved Traygen for so long I can follow his etheric body across any plane. It goes without saying I’d rather catch up with his physical body, talk about perfection, but I digress.
