Falcon shut out the noise, increasing his speed, knowing he was close to throwing off the ghoul, knowing it was close to the end of its run. The vampire was waiting for sunset, holding Falcon away from Sara as surely as if he had imprisoned him. The ghoul pulsed with red-orange light through the white-hot glow just as Falcon sloughed off the last of the vampire’s marks. The puppet began to fall, dropping away as Falcon rose swiftly toward the roiling clouds.
Falcon dissolved into mist as he rushed away from the screeching bomb. The explosion was monumental, a force that blew insect parts in all directions, carved a crater into the side of the ravine, and set the brush on fire. Falcon immediately doused the flames with rain, directing the heavy clouds over the steep ravine as he turned toward Mikhail’s home, picking the directions out of the Prince’s mind.
When Falcon made contact with Mikhail, he found him engaged in conversation with a human male, cautioning the man to protect the children. He knew he need not worry about the children; Mikhail would never place them in a dangerous situation. Sara, I am some distance away but I will reach you soon.
Falcon! Sara pushed herself upright despite her dizziness, staring in horror at the hideous beetle scurrying across the floor toward her. It was staring directly at her, watching her, marking her. And she knew what it was. Just as Falcon could use her eyes to see what was happening around her, the vampire was using the beetle’s. The hard shell was on fire, the smell atrocious, but it was moving unerringly toward her, the eyes fixed on her. He knows where I am. He’ll kill all these people. She was terrified, but Sara couldn’t live with more guilt. If this monster wanted her so badly, perhaps the solution was simply to walk out the door and find him.
No! Falcon’s voice was strong, commanding. You will do as I say. Warn the male that this enemy is an ancient, most likely one of the warriors sent out by Mikhail’s father who turned vampire. The sun has not yet set, we have a few minutes. The male must use delaying tactics until we arrive to aid him.
Jacques simply stepped on the large insect, flames and all, crushing the thing beneath his foot, smothering the flames. Sara cleared her throat and looked at Jacques with sorrow in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring this enemy to you. He’s an ancient, Falcon says, most likely one of the warriors Mikhail’s father sent out.”
Raven smoothed back Sara’s hair with gentle fingers. Jacques hunkered down so he was level with Sara. His expression was as calm as ever. “Tell me what you know, Sara. It will aid me in battle.”
Sara shook her head, had to suppress a groan as her head throbbed and pulsed with pain. “Falcon says to delay the battle, to wait for him, and for Mikhail.”
“Heal her, Shea,” Jacques ordered gently. “The sun has not set and the vampire is locked deep within the earth. He knows where she is and will come to us, but the safeguards will slow him. We have time. Mikhail will make his way here, and her lifemate will come also. This ancient enemy is a powerful one.”
The children, Falcon. What of the children? Sara was finding it difficult to think, with the grotesque remains of the insect on the immaculate shining wood floor.
The children are safe, Sara. Do not worry about them. Mikhail has taken them to a safe house. A man, a human, known to him and our people, is there to watch over them. They will be safe while we are hunting your enemy.
Sara inhaled sharply. Hadn’t the others seen what she had? The vampire had penetrated the safeguards and had found her, had watched her through the eyes of its servant. Now the children she wanted to adopt were being taken to a perfect stranger. Who is this man? How do you know of him, Falcon? Maybe you should go there yourself. They must be so afraid.
Mikhail trusts this man. His name is Gary Jansen, a friend to our people. He will look after the children until we have destroyed the vampire. We cannot afford to draw the undead to them a second time. Mikhail will not leave them frightened. He is capable of helping them to accept this human and their new situation.