When we'd passed the blacksmith's earlier, no one had been visible. Now, an elderly man with white hair and leathery skin pounded on a blade. He glanced up when he heard us."Good day," Christopher said. "We are looking for Adam Henry.""Why?" The smith's voice was garbled and full of growl. "We have a proposition for him."That stopped him. He looked up and focused on Christopher and I intently. "Did you need a sword? If that's the case, Adam is still in training. I am his father and the master blacksmith.""We may have need of a sword or two, yes, and I will remember that you're the man for the job when the time comes. But right now, we seek Adam's assistance on another matter." As Christopher spoke, he stepped further into the shop with me in tow. "Fine. Adam is in the back." He pointed in the direction we should go. Glared and returned to his work."Thank you." Christopher flicked a coin at him. Even though he wasn't looking, Mr. Henry paused his hammering long enough to reach ou
Christopher and I spent the next several hours obtaining horses, gear, and food to keep up appearances. I asked him more than once why we didn't just have someone draw us a map and use our vampire abilities to run to the chateau. We'd be there in hardly any time and we needed to hurry. He just smiled and said Abernathy felt I needed to spend some time with Adam Henry, which was why the dragon had dropped us in his town. We couldn't do that if we just ran. "I guess," I said. "But he must realize how dire the world's circumstances." I still felt the urgency to get the remaining two pieces so I could save the world, rescue my mom and dad, and Troy. A lot had to happen in a short amount of time. "It's important," he added. "Something to do with helping you grow." "Fine." I gritted my teeth. What was it about adults always thinking they knew better than me. I let out a breath. That kind of thinking is what got me in this mess in the first place. If Abernathy said it was important,
We rode more than half the morning. Our band included Joanna, Adam, and two other men whose names were Lance and Arthur. It didn't escape my notice that his name was the same as that of the vampire Sharra woke, but upon closer inspection, I didn't think he looked the type. Besides Arthur didn't smell like a vampire. He and Lance followed behind Christopher and me. Joanna and Adam rode in the lead. They spoke quietly to each other. Had I been a mere mortal I wouldn't have been able to hear them, but I eavesdropped, using my vampire hearing. "I had another vision," Joanna said. Adam gave her a quick glance. "What was it about this time?""I was commanded to lead the French army against the English and those of our country who side with them." Adam's back stiffened, but nearly as quickly he relaxed. "Anything else." She playfully punched him in the arm. "I need you to continue to train me. I have no military training. I cannot read or write, but I have faith. And I believe it is my
The next morning we woke, ate, and started out. Nobody said much. Arthur and Lance kept mostly to themselves. But the rest of us weren't talkative either. Each lost in our own thoughts. The day shone bright and beautiful. Clear skies, not a cloud in the wide, blue sky. Birds dipped and dove through the tops of the trees. Small animals skittered along the branches and in and out from under bushes. Our group still rode parallel with the stream. It rushed on; it's gentle music filled the air. I felt more at peace than I had in a long time. That peace left by mid-morning when I sensed something hunted us. I used all of my vampire abilities to find out what it was, but the predators were cunning. The only thing I could tell for certain was that they were big. "Something is stalking us," I said to Christopher, keeping my voice low enough so only he could hear. "I hear them too. It's going to be hard to keep our secret about what we are if we have to fight for real with our bare hand
"You should go," I whispered to the wolf closest to me, hoping Joanna, Adam and the others wouldn't hear me. Christopher heard me though. I saw the look on his face. "I would hate to hurt you or your companions." I bowed slightly, as a sign of respect. The wolf eyed me as though considering my words. Then, he spoke. "You're surrounded. I think we'll be fine." Behind me, I heard Adam saying something to Joanna, but didn't pick up what he said. I had to keep my focus on the wolves. "Perhaps you underestimate us." "You don't seem surprised that I understand your language and can speak it," the wolf said. It looked like he was smiling."That should tell you that I'm not like the others in this group and neither is my blond companion. We cannot die." He shook his head and barked a signal, causing the other wolves to stop their advancement, including those fighting Arthur and Lance. "What are you then?" His voice was guttural, a cross between a growl and a howl. Oddly beautiful, I though
We did as Adam ordered. Christopher and I created a makeshift tent. Arthur and Lance had something similar. Adam and Joanna each had their own tent. Not to be deterred, Adam set up near Joanna. Christopher and I offered to let the Locanis use our extra blankets to make a shelter, but they declined, saying they enjoyed sleeping out in the elements. I figured it was because of their wolf nature. One of the females, named Emery took one of my blankets. She was the smallest with long blond hair that touched the backs of her knees. Once we were all settled and a fire was built, Arthur, Christopher, and I did as we promised and gave them our food. Joanna also shared some of hers, much to Adam's dismay. The Locanis wolfed down the food in record time. Keeping to themselves, they huddled together away from the fire. I caught snippets of their discussion. They spoke of a coming war between the Locanis and the Vaktare. I wondered if that was the reason they were in the human realm. If I g
"Do you think it was wise to tell them that you knew Abernathy?" Christopher settled against his rolled up blanket. The wind whipped around us and a smattering of rain fell against the tent. "Probably not," I said, lying down beside him, allowing my thoughts to roam. He tilted his neck, allowing me access. I sank my teeth in. As I drank, for some reason I thought about the first time I took his blood. It felt like a lifetime ago. But while I drank, I'd seen his memories. This time was the same. They flooded my mind - Christopher was at school, walking the halls alone. A group of guys hollered after him. He walked faster, but they followed. The leader shoved him, sending him to the floor and his books everywhere. My heart broke as they took turns hitting and kicking him. It seemed everyone bullied him. The guys on the motorcycle were the reason he was shot and died. I knew he could fight, but he chose not to. That said something about him, didn't it?"Hey, why don't you go to cl
Heat pressed against me. Even though I didn't need to breath to survive, it felt as though my lungs were being crushed. I sat up, searching for a clue that would tell me where I was. Directly in front of me burned a circular, green fire. Within the scorching ring hung three people by their wrists. Heads bent, each moaned in pain. I took a step forward. "Hello?" The one in the middle looked up. His face was streaked in dirt mixed with blood. "Troy!" I rushed to the edge of the fire. "Troy, I'm coming." With only the briefest pause, I ran through the flames. They engulfed me, scorching my hair and burning up my clothes and my skin, but I didn't pay it any attention. My eyes fixed on Troy. "Hang on." At my words, the person on the right of Troy looked up. "Mom!"I knew instinctively the person on the left of Troy would be my dad. "Dad, it's going to be all right. I'll free you all." From the outside the ring of fire had seemed thin and small, but I spent many minutes within the