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  “No,” I answered with no real explanation, and for once Thedryk did not press the matter. The time had come for me to use my gift, to focus on Helsing and find where he and his search party had gone.

  Flat upon my back, I closed my eyes and pressed my arms along my sides, fingers straightened, slowing my breathing, and focused solely on Helsing as I recalled him.

  Sharp, blue eyes. Too intelligent and keen, details are never missed under his visage. Auburn hair, long, wavy, but tied back. Skin pale, his scent human but then…something else. My mind wandered, caught up in realizing while I had smelled him and knew him to be human, something else was in his blood. Long coat, a deep red-burgundy, wide-brimmed hat, black boots, buckle, vest, belt, on his left side a knife and revolver, wood stake and hammer to the right hip, his men…

  Suddenly I was standing next to Helsing, kneeling to be more precise. He and his men were hidden within mulberry bushes, with snow freshly fallen upon their waxed leaves. “I count twelve here, but more have moved on.” A man, a vampire, appeared to his left. I stood, unseen by all present. Ahead of the group, beyond a line of trees closely entangled, were the twelve the man had identified. The same twisted creatures we had seen at Zachariah’s castle. Human or vampire, they had been changed and then further warped into the monstrosities that would eat the flesh of the living and dead. The wind shifted directions more than once, and I caught their scent. Shock came when it seemed they caught mine, as well, or perhaps it was Helsing and his men, but when turned, I found Helsing looking directly into my eyes in response.

  “What are you doing here?” His words were hushed but shocked. The men around him provided their own quieted confusion at his question.

  “You can see me?” A shriek from the woods ahead turned us both back to the group of twelve rushing headlong towards Helsing and his group. “Where are you?” I pleaded, fearful in the moment.

  Helsing quickly licked his lips, pulling his long dagger and revolver from their secured locations on his left hip. “Head north from the cabin, then northwest at the first village beyond the mountain pass.” In a split second Helsing leapt from his crouched position, his fellow hunters springing into action, engaging the enemy, and I was returned to my bed, Thedryk shaking me, calling my name.

  “Neva? Neva!”

  I shot upright in shock, Thedryk just pulling away in time to avoid our skulls cracking against one another.

  “What time is it? We must leave now!”

  “You’re freezing. What happened? Lately I have seen all your visions, but not this one. Who could see you?”

  “The time.” I sprang from the bed. Feeling my limbs ache from cold, I stumbled and fell to the floor.

  Thedryk was lifting me immediately, carrying me to the fireplace that had been kept stoked.

  “We have hours yet before sunset.” He set me in the one chair in the room, quickly turning and grabbing a blanket to wrap me within. “What did you see?”

  “Helsing…I…we saw each other, he saw me. He should not have been able to…but he told me where they are. We must head there immediately. They’re in danger!” I tried standing again, but my legs would not support me, not that Thedryk would give me the opportunity to fully try.

  “Wherever he is, it is apparently quite cold; your feet and legs are frozen, as well as the rest of you. Neva, just wait. We cannot leave now; the sun is still out. We would be of no help to Helsing as ashes.” He rubbed my arms and gave me a firm squeeze. “You need to drink and recuperate your lost energy. You will be no good to anyone in this condition.”

  My mind raced, considering the attack, their location, how far they were and how far we had yet to go to reach them. “Is there no other way to reach them? Is Xavier not available?”

  Thedryk had already made his way to the door, pulling a lever for the maid when I asked. He paused, his figure stiffening. “Xavier is in a state of rest. He will not wake for another few months.”

  “Months?” I sat with my mouth agape.

  “Xavier’s gift takes more from him than any other’s gift, even yours. He opens portals within our own world and to that other world. None of these gifts is without its dues. Most recently he has been incredibly active with his gift; this is not unusual.”

  “All right, so no help from Xavier. Then the hard way it is.”

  “Hard way?” A light knock came at the door, and Thedryk nearly ripped it from its frame, causing the young girl standing beyond to become a pillar of fear. “What do you mean hard way?”

  “Is that my drink?” I asked innocently, but Thedryk’s gaze bore into my own, still demanding an answer.

  “You may leave us.” Thedryk dismissed the young girl through gritted teeth. She left without hesitation after handing Thedryk the silvered tray holding two goblets filled to their brims and a pitcher centered between the two. I watched the silver catching the light of the fire, reflecting its advances.

  “Is there no possible way to enter the sunlight without letting it touch our skin? Are there not carriages here that are well lined, shielded from all possible light? Clothing? In all this time have vampires not advanced their own defenses against the one devastating weakness?” I was done not asking questions, not addressing the obvious. Slowly, I began my return to a normalized line of inquiry and logical deductions.

  Thedryk’s grip on the tray tightened, the silvered handles beginning to crumple under his grasp. “Neva…” he began, but I could hear the rebuttal for denial. I could hear the underlying knowledge he kept hidden away.

  “So there is,” I mused, a wearied smile spreading across my face. “Then that will be our course.”

  “You don’t understand. There are still many risks with either of the options you have considered.”

  “No doubt, so why not utilize both options and consider one a precaution for the other?”

  Thedryk reached my chair, slowly, just close enough for me to take my goblet. He stood, considering me and my proposition.

  I asked, “What is your hesitation? I will utilize these opportunities whether or not you approve, you know.”

  He turned and set the tray down on the table just beyond my reach. Picking up his goblet, he regarded me one last time before throwing back the cup and drinking its contents in one motion. “Fine, but you must understand taking the carriage may prove to be a bit more time consuming. We won’t cover as much ground in the carriage as we would on horseback.”

  “Yes, I had already considered that. Once the sun has set, we will leave the carriage wherever we are. The driver can always have it returned; they do not need us for that task.” For a moment, I enjoyed the perplexed expression on Thedryk’s face, his astonishment clear.

  “Who is this woman before me, plotting so quickly and carefully?” His crooked grin encroached upon the corners of his mouth, and his eyes shimmered and danced in the firelight.

  “The woman I have to be to save my niece.” Though I smiled, there was no joy in its berth.

  THE MATERIALS BOUND to my flesh as a second skin but worked as anticipated. Rather than the black garb of our fighting gear, these were white and, in the sunlight, appeared almost as an oyster shell. We were fully wrapped, head to toe, with new cloaks wrapped atop for extra measure. My new cloak replaced my previous one, outranking its quality in every way imaginable, a beautiful burgundy, lightweight but warm and sturdy. Thedryk had upgraded his brown cloak to a new one of similar material, though his was a deep green reminiscent of the evergreens growing on the mountainsides.

  Thedryk still held many doubts, but the carriage alone was more than enough protection from the sunlight. The frame was a lightweight metal while the inside was heavily lined and fortified. It was not without windows, but curtains were strung and drawn tight, with an extra layer of shading on the inside and out. No light would enter unless we opened the doors and windows. Each was latched and locked from the inside. Even so, I felt keenly he held back some hidden truth that caused his hesitation.

  To my
surprise, Jeren was our driver for the road ahead. “Lord Thedryk, Lady Neva.” He bowed slightly, but not beyond being able to keep an eye on his surroundings. He stood waiting at the door, readily prepared for our departure. Beyond Jeren stood four horses, black stallions who whinnied out their disapproval of our presence. Even through the cold, with the sunlight beginning its gradual ascent, their ebony coats shimmered with a fine layer of sweat.

  “Excellent work, Jeren.” The praise Thedryk provided was genuine; the horses would undoubtedly be swift. Far quicker than the more tamed horses we had ridden to and fro previously. For the first time, Jeren regarded me directly with his deep brown eyes, their shape as large almonds, only lightened in comparison to the darkness his skin presented. His assessment of me held no judgment, I felt. Only a gathering of information, perhaps concern for the risk I put Thedryk in, but Jeren never said a word.

  “Jeren” was all I felt the need to say, as I had not otherwise previously engaged him in conversation and did not see reason to change that in the moment. I hastily climbed into the carriage, taking his gloved hand for guidance. A sweet, sickly smell of vanilla mixed with something vile assaulted my senses. Nausea rose, my eyes watered, and I briefly gasped for fresh air as Thedryk nearly knocked me over in his own rush to enter. As quickly as he entered, Thedryk thrust one of the black cloths across my face to cover my mouth, which I eagerly snatched and tied off. A few deep breaths eased the welling headache the overwhelming stench had caused but did not entirely abate the sudden illness.

  “What…in the world, Thedryk?”

  Under the cusp of the black cloth Thedryk had secured I could see his jawline tightening and relaxing, and his eyes shone bright but cold and hardened. “This carriage has been used for many purposes, Neva. Part of the reason why I hesitated.”

  “Purposes such as?” My mind clicked to understanding, but part of me needed the horrible truth verified.

  “A form of punishment at one time. You see these latches on the inside? During said time the latches were only on the outside, as well as the curtains. Since then the carriage has been repurposed, with curtains and shades double-layered inside and out. Now, you can see outside with only slight exposure to the sun’s rays; you can see the landscape as we pass by, but you must leave one layer of each in place. The stench you encountered, that is the smell of flesh turned to ash, vampires who were found guilty of one atrocity or another. Though the carriage was rarely used, the smell cannot seem to be removed. The entire carriage has been stripped, re-upholstered, but the proof remains.”

  As Thedryk concluded his short, dark tale he gave a hard rap to the roof, and the carriage jolted forward in swift movement. No other words were shared, for that I was thankful. I took the time to review the insides, considering the death trap our transportation had once been, all the while wondering what crimes had been committed for such a death.

  I understood his anxiety about taking the carriage.

  The carriage moved swiftly and to my surprise almost without the expected jolting motions. After peeling back a curtain and one layer of shade, I was able to see the landscape beyond as we hurled by, as though a series of drawings were being strung through a reel. Thedryk had been wrong, I gathered. Whether due to Jeren’s diligence in harnessing the wild stallions or if Thedryk had spoken white lies to try to avoid the death-carriage, I was thankful for the departure. The image of the warped creatures lunging towards Helsing and his men had left me with fitful moments of impatience. I could recall too clearly every detail of their ruined bodies, could even smell the rot from between their teeth and bodies. Most had been partially dressed, seemingly unaware of the frigid cold that plagued even me through the veil of dreams.

  Rapping noises came from above, two swift, a brief pause, and one more, causing Thedryk to finally open his eyes. He had spent the majority of the journey leaned back against the darkened seats, eyes shut tight with his jaw permanently affixed in the clenched manner I had seen one too many times of late. “Jeren did far better than I had hoped. We’ll reach the cabin shortly.” Though he spoke to me, he kept his eyes averted, looking out the window at the landscape that had morphed during his meditative state.

  “Is that Jeren’s job? To find horses?” I wasn’t entirely sarcastic, only the smallest bit.

  Thedryk’s gaze remained on the passing scenery. “Jeren has a number of jobs within my employ. He is my head butler, my bodyguard, and trainer. Among other things.”

  I felt my body lean forward of its own accord at his words. “Your…bodyguard? Trainer? Why should you need either of those? I have seen you; you are a vampire. Is he not simply human?”

  Thedryk turned his gaze upon me, his face appearing void of emotion or thought. He sat staring a few minutes, leaving me to feel foolish in asking such questions I deemed obvious.

  “Not everyone is as they seem, Neva. Jeren is someone I entrust my life to, and I know he would never let harm come to me.” He turned his gaze back out the window. “He is of Xavier’s people. In fact, one of Xavier’s relatives.”

  My body fell back against the cushioned seat, my mouth agape only slightly as I looked at the window again. We had gone from mountainous ranges to open fields and were crossing from rolling hills to the plateaued lands where it had evened out. Trees had become a larger populace, hiding whatever lay behind their heavily bristled branches. Snow had settled in lightly upon the deep greens, and the ground around their roots was less refined the farther we went. Rocks began cropping up, jutting hard lines that scaled until our path veered us farther away.

  Though I had barely made but two trips across the path, I knew the cabin was within minutes as the familiar landscape skittered past. A swift turn led us down the path to the cabin, which waited patiently for our arrival. Darkness had settled upon us almost immediately. I reached for the door, prepared to leap out and move on to the next leg of our journey, but Thedryk gripped my wrist swiftly, his eyes warning me silently. For a moment I felt a tinge of fear, knowing Thedryk was being beyond overly cautious. Three rapid succession of knocks came to the door before Thedryk would release my wrist and unlock it himself. Pulling back my arm, I gently rubbed my wrist; his grip had been hard, painful even, and I watched as he exited the carriage first.

  “We must change first. See if you cannot save the horses. From here on out we will move ahead by foot, but you must return home.” Thedryk was issuing the commands in a low voice, almost a hushed whisper, but I still caught the words. “Take the rest of the staff and clear out, head south. When I know everything is clear, I will send word. Should you not receive word, head towards the coast. You know what to do from there.”

  “Yessir,” Jeren confirmed in equal tone. “Just come back. Jessa would be most displeased with you if you didn’t.” I could hear Thedryk lose his breath; I could hear the grimace that spread across his face and see it clearly in my mind as though he were still sitting across from me in the carriage.

  “Get going.” His voice had changed, from quieted urgency to a flat anger.

  Nothing else was said, just silence after Jeren’s departure. The sound of Jeren’s boots crunching against fresh snow and ice diminished, but I refused to depart the carriage. It stung my heart. I had forgotten how close Thedryk and Jessa had appeared when I first met them all, when we first left to meet Eliza. That distant memory was suddenly painful and unfortunate.

  Internally I struggled; I knew I could not sit in the carriage forever. Helsing and his men were in danger, but I felt embarrassed and hurt for hearing those words and feeling as I did. Clearly there were more important matters at hand, but I could not find the courage to leave. Thedryk broke my paralyzed state for me, huffing a quick exhale of breath before leaning in and in his silent way, commanding my attention. It felt like the first time all over again; there was no ignoring him, and I thought for the second time he was the devil.

  “Come, Neva. Time is of the essence here, is it not?” He extended his left hand, reaching for mine, but inst
ead I found myself scooting back. Not quite like the first time.

  “I can manage exiting the carriage myself, thank you.” I felt my cheeks burn. I knew I was being petty in the moment, but I honestly did not want him to touch any part of my body.

  A thin line spread across his lips, his face taut and distressed, and a hint of irritation pulled along the corners of his eyes. “Then help yourself. I’ll be inside changing. We leave in fifteen.” His movements in pulling away were so violent it shook the carriage.

  I sat for mere seconds before I got out and made my way to the cabin, but as soon as my feet hit the ground, the door to the cabin opened and slammed shut. His expulsion of anger jarred me, irked me. Indignation struck me, and I was through the door without thought of motion. Thedryk stood before the fireplace, its hearth blazing brightly, his shirt already removed and tossed in a pile on a nearby chair. The ire that had welled up stalled in its fury as I saw his body marred, patches seemingly blistered.

  Thedryk clearly read the confusion on my face and pulled the black top on, replacing what the white had purportedly been protecting. “I warned you that not everything was a hundred percent effective. Don’t be surprised if you have similar. It will heal, but you will find it painful when you first remove your clothes. You should find a salve packed within the belongings of your satchel.” His flat tone raised the demon within me.

  “What…who…You have no right to act in such a manner!”

  Slowing his actions as he reached to pick up his bag and tossed shirt, he turned to face me, a look of astonishment on his face. “I beg your pardon? What?” He was astounded, but I could hear the incredulity beneath.

  “You gripped my wrist so hard I wondered if it had not broken, and then I hear your conversation. I heard Jeren. I remember! I saw how you were with Jessa. I’m no fool, Thedryk, but you apparently think I am. Parading around as of late, calling me your love. Is that what you were telling Jessa for…what? Years? Centuries?” My face was engulfed in a burning sensation which was no doubt shaded a color to match its depth.