Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
It was all she could do not to give a mental eye roll. I don’t see that Castello is attracted.
Well, you aren’t seeing him, then. He recognizes you’re different. He’s been around Carpathians during his life cycle playing human. Possibly he was given added power by a vampire from the underworld. Best guess is he thinks you’re already one of us. He’s most likely trying to figure out how powerful you are because the sun hasn’t set and you’re outside. Now, more than ever, he will insist on entering your home. Stall them.
Visser cleared his throat. “Of course not, Silke. I know Drakos isn’t hidden in your home, and we have no search warrant.”
Visser’s partner, Gerrit Bakker, came up the stairs just in time to hear him. “I would like to take a look at the footage on your cameras if you wouldn’t mind, Silke.”
“Of course not. If Drakos has disappeared, I’ll do what I can to aid you in finding him. When was he supposed to have been here?”
“Yesterday,” Castello said, his shrewd eyes fixed on her face. “He wanted to talk to your mother.”
Silke stroked her fingers down her throat in a practiced gesture. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Castello, but I stayed out in the forest transplanting medicinal plants for most of the day. My mother is ill and would not have answered the door if Mr. Drakos rang the bell.” She switched her gaze to Gerrit Bakker. “I hope the cameras help. At least you’ll know if he came by.”
“You have no problems with us viewing them?”
“Of course not. If he came here and then disappeared, it may be that you’ll see something to give you clues to where he went after. Or if he ran into someone.”
“Thank you, Silke,” Visser said and indicated for Castello to sit.
The demon took the seat closest to her, within striking distance. She was fine with that. The closer he was, the easier it was for her to enter his mind. She kept her energy low, extremely so, not wanting to tip off the demon that she was anything but one of the villagers. She appeared to listen attentively to both Visser and Bakker as they spoke about accessing the cameras, but she allowed her mind to expand, stretch, seek for the entrance to the demon’s mind.
Castello was used to getting his way by using his voice on those around him. He was distracted by her enhanced appearance and the allure surrounding her. Because he concentrated on her so intently, it was easier to access his mind, slipping inside with a thin, almost transparent stream of energy. It was necessary to keep all hints of feminism or humanity from that stream, especially when she went still. Her touch had to be delicate as she acclimated herself to her new surroundings.
All the while, the two policemen and occasionally Ese Jordan would ask her a question. They wanted to know if she’d ever spoken to Drakos without anyone else present. When Ese queried her, she knew the question had really come from Castello. The demon wasn’t risking blowing his cover in front of the two law enforcement men.
Ese Jordan was under Castello’s thumb. Once she merged her mind with his, Silke began to sift through his memories. She found Ese and hundreds of encounters between the demon and the villager. Ese first met him because of his continual gambling and losing so much money, and then, once they connected where Castello could use his voice, Ese fell under his spell. Ese would have sold out his own mother for Castello. He had become a fanatic to the demon’s cause.
Silke began to search for what exactly Castello was looking for. What he and his ragged band of worshipers wanted. It took a few more minutes of politely murmuring the answers to questions as she sifted deeper through the demon’s memories.
Castello had orders to build a following. To shape them into weapons to be used against demon slayers and Carpathian hunters. Not just any Carpathian hunter. Lilith wanted more of the ancients.
Benedek, did you get that? That implies Lilith already has at least one ancient with her.
Could she have succeeded in reaching Justice at long last? Perhaps she controls him now. There was a note in Benedek’s voice that warned her that would be a very bad thing.
I don’t see evidence of that yet. I’ll keep looking. He’s planning on killing me to get to my mother. He’s convinced she’s the slayer.
Keep stalling. Only a few more minutes and I will be able to create cloud cover that will seem natural.
Silke continued to examine Castello’s memories. He is tasked with finding the secrets of the forest, or burning it down, she told him. The longer she delved through the demon’s memories, the more she could see how his assignment was vital to Lilith. That would mean he would have extra protections.