Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 165649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 663(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 663(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Sergey sat up much straighter, definitely pleased with the direction of the conversation. He clearly wanted to get back at Tariq for stealing Elisabeta out from under him. “Perhaps this Josef could be lured to the underground club. He’s young. Is there a female we can use? One who would want to sacrifice to save her family? Dorin, if you’ve been to the club, did you meet anyone this Josef might be intrigued with?”
Dorin shrugged, looking bored. “I don’t pay attention to the dating habits of silly little Carpathian teens.”
Cornel hissed his displeasure right before Sergey raised his hand and slammed it toward Dorin, pushing not only air but something unseen and violent that tore open the master vampire’s chest, driving him backward and down off the dais, toward the group of newly made vampires. Lips pulled back to reveal sharp teeth, the vampires slithered forward fast on their bellies, extending claws toward Dorin as he staggered on the uneven surface. The master vampire caught himself and viciously kicked the closest newly made vampire in the head, smashing in his teeth. He whirled around to face Sergey, his chest repairing itself, fury in every line of his body.
Cornel glided between his brother and Sergey, the move smooth and practiced. “We should go to the lair in the city, Sergey, where I can access the computers. I am certain there will be a file on young Josef and his preferences for females. For several years he has been friends with two humans, a male and female.”
“Find them,” Sergey snapped.
Cornel shook his head. “The female has been converted. She is related to several powerful Carpathian families and is the wife of Dimitri. He is both wolf and Carpathian. The male friend is the nephew of Zacarias De La Cruz. He is in South America. It would be better to find his preferences and provide him with the exact girl to meet here. She can lure him out for us.” Cornel kept his voice soothing.
Dorin hesitated, kicked at the newly made vampire on the floor who was already hastily retreating, and then the master vampire made his way back up the dais, putting Ambrus Balog between him and Sergey. Through the entire encounter, Ambrus had been silent, watching for the most part, his red-rimmed eyes on Sergey and then darting around the room, dropping to the floor to find the agitated newly made vampires and then back to Sergey again.
“We need to get Elisabeta,” Sergey snapped. “This boy can be taken anytime, but we need to get her back immediately. If we need to move back to the lair beneath the city in order for you to understand why the infection isn’t working then we should go now, before we lose the night. I want her back next rising. I’ve waited long enough.” There was a distinct threat in his voice.
The vampires on the floor were back to their whining again, the obnoxious high-pitched sound that seemed to shred the insides of Ferro’s ears. Evidently, he wasn’t the only one the noise bothered. Cornel once again lifted a hand to silence them, but Ambrus shook his head.
“No. Wait.”
The dirt floor rose and fell as something alive skittered beneath it. At the same time the walls undulated like a giant snake coiling and uncoiling.
Cornel stepped close to Sergey. “Dorin, lead the way. Sergey, follow him. I will be right behind you. Ambrus, guard the rear. Sedrick and Edward, you stay close behind Ambrus. The others can follow or not. We will be sealing the corridor, so keep up if you want to get out.”
Ferro had no idea what had tipped the newly made vampires off to the ancients’ presence, but whatever it was, the master vampires were fleeing, and if the hunters wanted to engage them in battle, they had to do so immediately.
Dorin didn’t hesitate. He whirled around as Cornel swung his arms into the air and created an opening just behind Sergey’s throne-like chair. Dorin dashed down the narrow corridor followed by Sergey, Cornel almost directly on his heels.
Ferro, Gary and the other ancients started after them, just as Sedrick and Edward leapt forward and the newly made vampires jumped to their feet, attempting to push each other out of the way as they had to go down the narrow hallway single file.
16
I’ll teach you the words, and show you the way;
You’re strong on your own but tell me you’ll stay.
Get out of there now. Do not follow them. It is what they want. Go up, toward the ceiling. Elisabeta’s voice burst through Ferro’s mind, tormented. Frightened.
We are hunters, Elisabeta. We are here to kill the vampire. In contrast, he remained steady and calm as he streaked with his brethren after the master vampires down the very narrow passageway.
That way is a trap. An ambush. You will not get close to them. Please, kont o sívanak, I would not deceive you in this. I have seen the preparations. You would not escape. All of you must go back to the meeting room and go up to the ceiling. They know you are following and they lead you into a trap.