believe it had anything to do with Traygen. Zane and I started back toward the cave’s entrance. I had just turned a corner when Tokem flew right into me.
“Ouch, what in the world is the matter with you?” I grumbled.
Tokem, hopped on my shoulder and into my pocket. I looked up in time to see the vampire entering the cave. I motioned for Zane to back up and we rushed toward the back of the cave. Damn. We were trapped like rats in a cage. Zane fumbled with the key and just when I was sure we were busted, the door sprung open. We hurried inside and pulled the door shut behind us. We flattened ourselves against the wall on either side of the door, waiting, afraid to breathe. I felt the vampire’s presence before I saw him. My skin crawled, but I forced myself to peek out the cell door. The vampire was alone and he’d just moved to check on the guard. He hissed and Zane threw open the cell door. The vampire lunged for Zane while, I took aim at his back.
“Vampire, stop where you are or I ’ll fry you. Move away from my partner and put your hands behind your head. Good. Now get down on your knees.” He complied without comment and Zane moved to tie his hands behind him. When he had the vampire subdued he dragged him to his feet and pushed him up against the nearest wall. Zane and I both had our weapons drawn and aimed squarely at his chest.
“Tokem, you can come out now. Go watch the front of the cave and make sure we aren ’t interrupted.”
Tokem darted from the safety of my pocket flying toward the mouth of the cave. I studied our vampire for several minutes before speaking. He stared straight ahead without comment or movement. He may as well have been a statue.
“What is your business with these men?”
He looked in my direction but said nothing.
“I asked you a question. You will answer me or I ’ll kill you right now. Am I clear?” I set his shirt on fire to make my point. He rolled on the ground, beating at the flames until he put them out. I had his attention now. I also knew he would kill me in a New York minute if he got the chance.
“Witch, you had better be careful. You don ’t know who you are messing with.”
“Oh, my bad.” I blasted him again and again . I didn’t stop firing until his shirt smoldered and burst into flames. Rolling on the ground, he clawed the shirt from his back. Squatting on his heels, he looked like he was ready to pounce. He must have reconsidered. Instead, he rolled back on his heels, before dropping down against the back wall.
“Vampire, I ’m through playing games with you. Answer my question or I’ll turn you to ash. Make no mistake it is you that should be careful. I’m a wizard on the edge. I haven’t had a shower, no room service, and no chocolate.”
His head snapped up when I said wizard or at least I thought it did. “Wizard is your name Lauren?”
“I’m asking the questions here. Now do I need to give you further incentives to answer?” I asked as I raised my arms and prepared to fire.
“No wait . I’ll answer your questions. I work for Black Sam. You could say that I make sure no one takes advantage of his generosity, which is why this man was detained. He cheated Black Sam and hid some gold in this area. I’m trying to persuade him to answer my questions.”
“Why would a vampire work for a pirate like Black Sam? You don ’t need him to steal?”
“Because I serve at the pleasure of the Lazarian Court and they decide my assignments. Let ’s just say I’m protecting our assets in the area.”
“What possible interest would the court have in these islands?”
“Wizard, I think you know the answer to that question. Why are you here?”
“That is none of your concern unless you want to act as our travel guide.”
Before I could answer him Tokem streaked back toward us.
“There are men coming to change the guard. We need to get out of here.”
I started to tell Zane to gag our vampire but, he slit its throat. Pulled a small
“Ouch, what in the world is the matter with you?” I grumbled.
Tokem, hopped on my shoulder and into my pocket. I looked up in time to see the vampire entering the cave. I motioned for Zane to back up and we rushed toward the back of the cave. Damn. We were trapped like rats in a cage. Zane fumbled with the key and just when I was sure we were busted, the door sprung open. We hurried inside and pulled the door shut behind us. We flattened ourselves against the wall on either side of the door, waiting, afraid to breathe. I felt the vampire’s presence before I saw him. My skin crawled, but I forced myself to peek out the cell door. The vampire was alone and he’d just moved to check on the guard. He hissed and Zane threw open the cell door. The vampire lunged for Zane while, I took aim at his back.
“Vampire, stop where you are or I ’ll fry you. Move away from my partner and put your hands behind your head. Good. Now get down on your knees.” He complied without comment and Zane moved to tie his hands behind him. When he had the vampire subdued he dragged him to his feet and pushed him up against the nearest wall. Zane and I both had our weapons drawn and aimed squarely at his chest.
“Tokem, you can come out now. Go watch the front of the cave and make sure we aren ’t interrupted.”
Tokem darted from the safety of my pocket flying toward the mouth of the cave. I studied our vampire for several minutes before speaking. He stared straight ahead without comment or movement. He may as well have been a statue.
“What is your business with these men?”
He looked in my direction but said nothing.
“I asked you a question. You will answer me or I ’ll kill you right now. Am I clear?” I set his shirt on fire to make my point. He rolled on the ground, beating at the flames until he put them out. I had his attention now. I also knew he would kill me in a New York minute if he got the chance.
“Witch, you had better be careful. You don ’t know who you are messing with.”
“Oh, my bad.” I blasted him again and again . I didn’t stop firing until his shirt smoldered and burst into flames. Rolling on the ground, he clawed the shirt from his back. Squatting on his heels, he looked like he was ready to pounce. He must have reconsidered. Instead, he rolled back on his heels, before dropping down against the back wall.
“Vampire, I ’m through playing games with you. Answer my question or I’ll turn you to ash. Make no mistake it is you that should be careful. I’m a wizard on the edge. I haven’t had a shower, no room service, and no chocolate.”
His head snapped up when I said wizard or at least I thought it did. “Wizard is your name Lauren?”
“I’m asking the questions here. Now do I need to give you further incentives to answer?” I asked as I raised my arms and prepared to fire.
“No wait . I’ll answer your questions. I work for Black Sam. You could say that I make sure no one takes advantage of his generosity, which is why this man was detained. He cheated Black Sam and hid some gold in this area. I’m trying to persuade him to answer my questions.”
“Why would a vampire work for a pirate like Black Sam? You don ’t need him to steal?”
“Because I serve at the pleasure of the Lazarian Court and they decide my assignments. Let ’s just say I’m protecting our assets in the area.”
“What possible interest would the court have in these islands?”
“Wizard, I think you know the answer to that question. Why are you here?”
“That is none of your concern unless you want to act as our travel guide.”
Before I could answer him Tokem streaked back toward us.
“There are men coming to change the guard. We need to get out of here.”
I started to tell Zane to gag our vampire but, he slit its throat. Pulled a small
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