Key to Justice

by Talia Gryphon

  The rabbi agreed, providing the persecution of the Jews in Prague would stop. Instead of destroying It, the rabbi deactivated It and stored It in the synagogue’s attic, or Genizah. There It remained among old Hebrew- language books, papers and scrolls, ready to rise again, should there be need.

  “That is so cool!” Kimber squeaked.

  “You’re really getting on my nerves with the overenthusiasm, perky girl.” Gillian grinned as she poked her friend in the ribs.

  Kimber jumped and tried to put on a frowny face. “Shit, I know. I’m getting on my own nerves. I feel like an extra from The Brady Bunch.”

  Gillian sighed. “It’s not a problem. I’m sorry I’m all glum and bitchy, but I really feel shitty. Plus my sensory net is giving me fits over that damn Golem.”

  “No worries, Kemo Sabe.” Kimber spontaneously hugged her.

  “You’re just a happier incubator than I am. Don’t sweat it. I’ll get used to it.”

  “When we get out of this alive and with Jenna, you’ll be all sunshine and flowers too,” Kimber assured her.

  “That would be bad, with Aleksei being a Vampire and all.”

  Kimber frowned. Pavel bumped her with his head. “Oh right! Vampire . . . sunshine. I get it!” She was very pleased with herself to have put it together without further explanation.

  Gillian had to laugh. Her friends were her family, and Kimber, more than any of them, was as close as she’d ever come to having a sister.

  “We’re going to get through this, Tonto. You, me, Fluffy over there and Fang.” Gillian slung her arm over Kimber’s shoulder. No small feat, since her friend was several inches taller than she was.

  Pavel growled at her dubbing him Fluffy. He was fairly certain Aleksei would have objected to Fang as well.

  “Have you two rested enough?” Trocar’s silky voice reached them. He was perched on one of the bed-shaped tombs.

  “Get off of there. That’s disrespectful,” Gillian ordered him.

  “I doubt if the occupant minds,” Trocar countered, but he got off anyway.

  Gillian shot him a look that would have put anyone else firmly in their place. “Okay . . . let’s caucus, since we seem to be alone for the moment. Dagr, have you found anything out?”

  “Indeed I have. Bartholomew Daily is registered at the International Hotel. However, the room has remained unoccupied since the date of registration. Local intelligence has it that he is in New Town, which is the next district over, and he has Jenna with him.”

  “Thanks, Dagr. Evzen? Got any ideas about where the hell Daily is? I would like to try a daylight rescue, if that’s possible.”

  Gillian’s mind was racing, the hormonal fog and former fatigue retreating into memory. If they could get in now, get Jenna safely and summarily get the hell out of the area, that would suit her just fine. There had to be a way.

  “What about Daily? According to Vlad’s affirmation, that phony priest is after you specifically,” Daed interjected.

  “I don’t give a shit about Daily. Vlad can arrange a throwdown with him on his own time, if he really is recovered and not on some other goddamn delusional mission. I’m only interested in getting my friend out of there.” Gillian’s tone took on the edge her former Marine colleagues knew only too well.

  “You know how I hate to contradict you, Gillyflower, but there is the matter of your pregnancy.”

  Trocar. She’d forgotten he had appointed himself Elf Voice of Reason in Complicated Situations.

  “If I’m safe, then the baby is safe, Trocar. Jenna’s well-being is the issue here. In a few months, after this baby is born, we can all storm Bart Daily’s battlements and call him out. Right now, I’m not grandstanding because some Vampire Lord wannabe is being snarky on TV about not liking my choices. I don’t remember asking for his opinion, and I care exactly balls about it now. We can rescue Jenna and be back up on that ridge before Aleksei and Vlad are up and running.”

  Kimber nodded. “Remember, Trocar? We sneaked into Oscar’s house and rescued Tanis out from under Jack’s nose.”

  “Yes, and remember what happened next?” Trocar circled them both. “The little visit Jack paid to us in Romania?”

  “Yeah, we were there. What’s your point?” Gillian crossed her arms and went toe-to-toe with the Dark Elf.

  “All of you were nearly killed; that is my point. You may be able to survive that kind of fight again, Petal, but you both are carrying children now.” He wasn’t backing down, but neither was she.

  “And?”

  “If you are hit in the abdomen, or sustain the type of beating Jack delivered to you on that night, or manage to become an unwilling donor for that radical priest, you may lose your baby.”

  There. He had said it.

  “I’m not planning on getting injured at all, and I will slit my own throat before I let him make me into his thrall,” Gillian said firmly. Well, at least she wasn’t yelling.

  “Gill . . . maybe we should wait until Aleksei gets here.” Kimber was wavering. Both of her friends were making sense. She just couldn’t decide who was making more sense at the moment.

  “What the hell does Aleksei being here have to do with when we rescue Jenna?” Now she was yelling.

  “Because it’s his baby too, Gillian,” Daed reminded her.

  CHAPTER 18

  DAMMIT. She hated it when her friends were right and she was w ... wr ... wro ... er ... mistaken.

  “Fine. We’ll wait until dusk.”

  “Gill . . .” Daed was prepared to continue the argument.

  “I said fine.”

  She marched over to a nearby sausage vendor and ordered the Prague equivalent of a hot dog. Kimber dashed over to join her. The others lined up behind. Soon all of them were happily munching away on mustard-covered sausages cleverly inserted into appropriately sized baguettes. The ones who weren’t pregnant were sipping the mulled wine the vendor sold, while Gillian and Kimber satisfied their thirst with soda.

  “Didn’t we just eat?” Daed knew he was treading dangerous ground but couldn’t help himself.

  “When you grow a uterus and can comment intelligently on pregnancy, hunger, hormones and patience levels, we’ll talk,” Gill said around a mouthful of hot dog.

  Daed laughed heartily. Both the women were far from being overweight. He watched as Gillian paid for another two and handed one to Kimber, who devoured it with great enjoyment.

  “These are really wonderful,” Kelda stated.

  “Indeed they are.” Hreidmar gently wiped a smudge of mustard off his wife’s mouth with a paper napkin.

  “We will introduce you to Dwarven cooking when we accomplish our mission here.” Kelda winked at Gillian.

  “Thank you, Kelda. I’ll look forward to that!” Gillian was enthusiastic about her offer. It was very generous, for starters; secondly, it would give her a chance to observe something about Dwarven culture that no Human in recorded history had been able to do.

  “It’s getting toward dark; we need to decide where we’re meeting up. Aleksei can track Gillian anywhere, so it doesn’t matter where we are as long as it’s a safe area to talk,” Daed reminded them.

  “Not to be macabre, but the cemetery is pretty isolated,” Gillian suggested.

  “True. And the last place an insane Vampire would think to look for anyone is in a cemetery,” Trocar quipped dryly.

  “Dammit, my mind is going to hell,” Gill grumbled. “All right, how about the Old New Synagogue?”

  “Do Jewish artifacts affect Vampires?” Kimber asked.

  “No,” Gillian replied, her shoulders slumping.

  She suddenly brightened again. “Wait a minute . . . Daily is a defrocked priest. He may be excommunicated and crazy, but he is still a Catholic and he obviously thinks he’s superior to everyone. Evzen, I know Prague has a cathedral. Where is it?”

  “St. Vitus Cathedral is within the Prague castle complex across the city from here. There is also a basilica and several chapels,” Evzen repl
ied.

  “He won’t be able to enter the cathedral or the basilica . . . probably not the chapels either.” Gill was pacing, tapping her thumbnail against her teeth. “That leaves the castle itself. Are there any other buildings, crypts or structures up there where a Vampire can hide out and be fairly secure?”

  “The basilica now serves as a concert hall,” Evzen responded.

  “That would make sense. If it’s been converted, in his mind, it would be safe for him to enter. He has a stage, seating for an audience and room for a film crew. Remember, guys? He’s been broadcasting his tirades from a stage with a podium,” Gillian reminded them.

  “That’s right. He had Jenna in front of purple velvet curtains.” Kimber nodded.

  “The concert hall has royal purple curtains and they are indeed velvet,” Evzen confirmed.

  “Let’s get across town, then. Any way over there without attracting attention to our bunch?” Gillian asked.

  “The metro or a tram would draw the least attention. Locals of all types use them frequently. We would blend in easily,” Evzen said.

  “Except her.” Gillian pointed toward Kelda.

  “True,” Kelda agreed. “Hreidmar and I can get there on our own. We will meet you outside the castle complex in the space of an hour.”

  The Dwarves scurried off in the direction Evzen indicated without waiting for confirmation. They were promptly lost in the gathering crowds. It was getting late. More and more street vendors were opening their stalls, turning on lights and beginning to display their wares or cook their offerings.

  “Let’s take the tram, then. It’s almost dusk, and the more powerful Vampires in the area will be able to be up and mobile about the same time as Aleksei and Osiris. Other lesser Vamps might be up, but they will restrict themselves to the metro since it’s protected underground,” Gillian suggested.

  “Don’t forget Vlad and Odin. Odin may not realize that we have company,” Daed reminded her.

  “Odin almost certainly knew the minute Osiris blew into our area. He’s two years younger than God as it is. I doubt much would get past him.”

  “Then why didn’t he pop back over when we were discussing things with Vlad?” Kimber asked.

  “Probably because he knew Osiris and Aleksei were there and weren’t dismembering him,” Gillian said. “Or maybe he’s just not that nosy. I’m sure they filled him in before they all conked out for the day. I’m still getting used to their whole concept of blood bonds and telepathy and Lord versus Master power.”

  They all hustled to a tram stop and bought tickets. The tram arrived shortly thereafter. Everyone climbed aboard, spreading out on the vehicle. The former Marines, Trocar, Daed, Kimber and Gillian, took vantage points at all of the steps. Dagr, Pavel, Helgi, Garm and Evzen remained in the middle of the car.

  Gillian thanked the Gods for the millionth time that her empathy was serving her well. Her friends were mere blips on her metaphysical radar screen. Their familiarity didn’t spark any concern. The surrounding crowd on the tram and in the area registered, but again, there did not seem to be anyone or anything in the area that was a direct threat to her party.

  The trip to the castle complex took about fifteen minutes. Seeing Prague in the magic of twilight was quite an experience. She found herself musing what it would be like to be enjoying it with Aleksei. When the conductor called for everyone to disembark, it shook her out of her daydream. She stomped off the tram more forcefully than she meant to, irritated with herself that she could lose focus so quickly when her friend might very well be in life-threatening circumstances. Okay, she loved the guy and she was going to marry him. That was no excuse for forgetting what she was doing.

  “I am very flattered and moved that I can turn your thoughts away from anything, after all this time, piccola.”

  Gillian jumped when Aleksei’s black velvet voice poured across her brain cells.

  “Dammit! Stop doing that!” she said aloud. She spun and whacked him in the arm as he materialized next to her. Hearing him before seeing him was still taking some getting used to. Ah, love.

  “Where’s Osiris and—mmph!”

  Her words were lost against Aleksei’s amazing chest as he hugged her tightly. He had been secretly terrified that she might attempt to orchestrate a rescue before he’d risen.

  “Here, little sister.” The Egyptian Lord walked toward their group, with Vlad and Odin close behind him. Everyone at least had the sense to dress like Aleksei. A former Egyptian God in a linen kilt, a Viking in fur and leather, plus Vlad’s overstated Prince gear would have been a glaring flag that their Vampire cluster was out of the ordinary. Now at least they blended in with the older Vampires already cruising the area.

  Gillian couldn’t remember ever seeing a more noble-looking group. She had to admit, the high boots, tight pants and billowy shirts made them all shoot to a ten on her Hot-o-Meter. Okay, so Aleksei was a twelve. Once again she found herself unintentionally ruminating over her intended’s scrumptious factor. Aforementioned tall hotness interrupted her thoughts again.

  “Gillian, we do not have much time. Daily will be rising now, or has already risen, since he is probably sheltered underground. Vlad has explained his fears to Odin, Osiris and myself. I cannot explain it, cara, but none of us can find reason to doubt him. Not in his mind, at least. It is for you to say if there is anything in his heart to be concerned with, but please hurry. If we are going to find your friend, it must be very soon.” Aleksei held her away from him, looking solidly into her eyes.

  She stared back at him. With a monumental effort it never occurred to her she would have to make, she dropped her last bastion of doubt about Aleksei, his motives, his intentions and his love for her. She trusted him. Completely, irrevocably, she trusted him in the same manner she trusted Kimber, Trocar . . . or Jenna. It was an unexpected but relieving epiphany. He was Family, as much as her Corps partners were. Shit.

  Well . . . their relationship really was falling together with almost no effort and very few emotional speed bumps. With that thought, her fear of a real commitment vanished into the fading twilight.

  “Okay.”

  Turning away from him, she beckoned to Vlad, who approached her willingly. Addressing her past patient and former captor in the middle of a castle courtyard in Prague was a little weird, but hey, she’d go with it. Since she’d come to Romania over three years ago, every other goddamn thing had come out on the weird side as well.

  “I am not a telepath. I can’t probe your mind the way they can. What I feel from you right now is concern and urgency. I have no reason to trust you and every reason to kill you, but for the moment I believe you.” There, that was definite.

  “Thank you, Gillian. After this is over, I will tell you how much you helped me, even when I was still gripped with madness. I do not remember much of what happened at Akabat, except dimly hearing you arguing for my life. I give you my word that I will not betray you.” To her surprise and utter horror, he took her right hand and kissed her wrist.

  Vlad let go of her hand and knelt on the cobblestones before Aleksei. “Before these witnesses, I pledge my loyalty to you and yours . . . my Lord.”

  Aleksei looked even more shocked than Gillian was. Seconds rambled by as he contemplated his ex-Master and archenemy. Finally he spoke.

  “I accept your offer.”

  He held out his wrist to the former Dark Prince. Vlad took it, sinking his fangs into Aleksei’s wrist briefly.

  Aleksei gently removed his arm and closed the marks himself with a quick swipe of his tongue. “There is no time for formalities now. If we survive, I will take your formal oath later.”

  “I have a blood bond with him. He can go nowhere without my knowledge,” Osiris added.

  Gillian stepped up to the kneeling Vampire, partially drawing her Glock out of her pocket and allowing a discreet amount of the gun to show. The metal grip flashed in the glare of the streetlamps that had just turned on.

  “Let me emphasiz
e one thing. If at any time during our search you give me reason to suspect that you are a traitor, I will put a bullet through your skull with no further discussion. Understand?”

  “I understand, Gillian. I will give you no reason to destroy me.” He rose gracefully from the ground and bowed to her.

  “All right, then. Let’s go.”

  Evzen started off, leading them toward the basilica. The complex was enormous. The buildings were labeled in Czech and English, but it would have taken them longer without a guide. He led them in a roundabout loop, skirting the most heavily trafficked areas. Dagr and Trocar had disappeared from the time they exited the tram. No surprise there. Gillian knew Trocar in particular was not far away. Dagr would be at least within shouting distance.

  The Sidhe stopped between the back of a building and the outer wall of the castle. Gillian couldn’t tell where the hell they were since there were no signs in sight. Darkening shadows loomed on either side of them and around the corner of the structure.

  “We are close to where we need to enter the basilica. I suggest you arm yourselves in whatever manner you have.” Evzen produced twin blades similar to ones Gillian had seen Trocar wield on occasion.

  Kimber dropped her pack, rummaged around and brought out a Velcro armband with several throwing knives sheathed in it. She wrapped it around her upper left arm, then reached back into the pack. Next out was a shotgun-flamethrower combination. After shouldering the gun, she kicked the bag over against the wall.

  Gillian had her Glock in one hand and a spare gun at the small of her back and was affixing a knife to an ankle sheath when she noticed Kimber’s arsenal.

  “Where the hell did that come from?”

  “I had some spare time, so I made something new. Like it?” Kimber grinned, flicking on the small blue flame that would power the flamethrower’s lethal fire.

  “How many shells?” Daed asked. He walked over to admire Kimber’s handiwork.

  “It’s a dual magazine that holds twelve. I figured out how to jack two shells in at once; plus I made a couple of extras,” Kimber said proudly, patting her thigh pocket.