“I was drugged,” he said in a disgusted tone. “They put something in my drink, and the next thing I knew I had a stake and mallet in my hands and a room full of officials. Whatever it was they used, it kept me groggy all the way through the trial… I mean I couldn’t walk straight, much less defend myself coherently, and after that I was in here!”
“The old Mickey Finn trick!” Massha snorted, rocking our entire formation. “I’m surprised someone as off-worldly as you could get caught by such a corny stunt.”
“Yeah. It surprised me, too!” Aahz admitted. “I mean, that gag is so old, who would really expect anyone to try it at all?”
“Only if you figured the mark was louder than he was smart,” Guido sneered.
“Is that so!” my partner snapped, ready to renew their old rivalry. “Well, when I get out of here, you and me can….”
“Stop it, you two,” I ordered. “Right now the problem is to get us all out of here before the balloon goes up … no offense, Massha. Now spill, Aahz. What’s so special about this cell that’s keeping you bottled up?”
My partner heaved a great sigh.
“Take another look at it, Skeeve. A close look.”
I did. It still looked the same to me: a tower room in the shape of a dragon’s head.
“Yeah. Okay. So?”
“So remember where we are. This thing was built to hold vampire criminals. You know, beings with superhuman strength that can change into mist?”
My gaze flew back to the dragon’s head.
“I don’t get it,” I admitted. “How can any stone cell hold beings like that?”
“That’s the point.” Aahz winced. “A stone cell can’t! This thing is made of living stone. If whoever’s inside tries to bust out, it swallows them. If they try to turn into mist, it inhales them.”