Molier laughed in the face of my confidence, and started to walk toward me. ‘I love the way you can say that, having only just set foot in this temple for the first time. Whereas I spent six hundred years trapped in this place!’ His raised voice conveyed his unhappiness at this fact. ‘And, unlike anyone else who has stepped foot in this temple since it was abandoned by Moses, I have deciphered every hieroglyph and studied every artwork by the red glow of the Fire-Stone. I can assure you that as far as man’s use of this site is concerned, there are a few hidden clauses.’
Albray stepped into my form and I felt his powerful presence take control of my physical body. He raised our weapon to block Molier’s attack. FROM THE HONEYMOON JOURNAL OF LADY SUSAN DEVERE
I had never been so glad to arrive anywhere as I was to arrive at the plateau atop Mt Serabit. I knew I had the gruelling journey back through the stifling desert heat to endure, but at least I could be assured that the journey was half over. Even my lightest long-sleeved frock was not appropriate for these conditions, but since other Frankish women in the East managed to maintain their dignity and countenance, so could I. I did not feel comfortable dressing as the Arab women did, and could not dress as a man; I just didn’t have Ashlee’s daring or social abandon.
Our party arrived to find ten or so heavily laden camels, and the round gateway leading to the Star-Fire Temple open.
As Mr Devere jumped from his mount, Cingar ran to meet him. ‘Praise the Great Mother you have arrived. I thought you’d never catch up!’ The gypsy confessed to keeping the pace of his journey as slow as possible in the hope that Devere might be able to make up the distance between them. ‘I delayed the opening of the gate long enough—’ Cingar glanced to the gateway and was surprised to find it open. ‘Perhaps not,’ he was forced to concede, as he scratched his head. ‘Well, I guess that might explain where the missing camels disappeared to, at least.’
‘What missing camels?’ Lord Malory came to stand beside Devere.
Cingar told us of the four strays they’d encountered upon arrival and of how he had feared they might belong to bandits. This also explained why he was not aware that Ashlee had already managed to open and enter the temple.
Something our party had failed to fathom was how Molier, intolerant to sunlight, could possibly travel into the middle of the desert. The only solution to his problem, we imagined, was that he would have to travel by night. We could not guess where he might seek shelter by day, but we had assumed that he was no threat during the daylight hours.
‘Of course.’ Lord Malory had to restrain himself from cursing in my presence. ‘It has been suggested that vampires, if they drink the blood of an animal, can then assume its form! Perhaps the camel’s form has protected Molier during his journey through the desert.’
‘But there are four missing camels, you said?’ Mr Devere directed the query at Cingar, and when the gypsy nodded his head, the concern of all increased.
‘The creature has increased its number.’ Malory was clearly horrified by the prospect. ‘We must destroy them all.’
Lord Devere, Mr Devere, Lord Malory and Cingar drew their weapons. They were all armed with swords in addition to their pistols, as no bullet could kill our adversaries.
‘If what you say about these creatures is true, then they all possess the strength of ten men!’ I objected.
‘She’s right,’ Lord Malory conceded. ‘We need the Fire vial, for at least three of us could drink from it and even up the odds a little.’
‘I couldn’t possibly.’ Lord Devere was repulsed by the notion.
‘It’s amazing what you’ll do when your life is at stake,’ Malory challenged.
‘We have backup.’ Mr Devere gestured to Malory’s men. ‘They can surround the entrance and ensure nothing escapes.’
‘Torches.’ Cingar ordered the Bedouins to oblige his request with the greatest haste.
‘Not for us,’ Mr Devere decreed. ‘We need the cover of darkness if we hope to surprise them. I know the layout of the temple. It was detailed in Hereford’s journal.’ At another thought, Mr Devere added: ‘Have torches lit for Lord Malory’s men.’
‘So I am just expected to wait here, I suppose?’ I folded my arms, annoyed that I could not wield a sword. ‘I’ll have you know I’m not a bad shot with a hunting rifle.’
‘That’s good to hear.’ Devere handed me his pistol. ‘I need you to operate the lever.’
‘No.’ My lord flatly rejected the idea. ‘Get one of Malory’s men to do it.’
Mr Devere’s expression was dark—he was obviously not keen on the suggestion nor was he eager to state why, openly.
‘My dear pupil does not entirely trust his brothers any more,’ Malory explained.
‘But I do trust your wife,’ my brother-in-law told his brother.
Lord Devere did not have to ponder for long to realise he had to agree with his brother. ‘The lever is right by the door,’ he supposed. ‘So, as soon as you execute your part, you are to return out here in the greatest of haste.’
‘Of course,’ I assured him. Anything to get a look inside this great temple of mystique. FROM THE TRAVEL JOURNALS OF MRS ASHLEE DEVERE
Molier was better with a sword than anyone Albray and I had challenged to date, but then he’d had centuries to perfect his skill. He was cautious of the torch in my hand, until he managed to nick the hand that held it and the torch dropped to the floor. He was also exceedingly strong and when we locked swords, Molier thrust me clear off my feet, then willed my sword into his possession. The extent of Molier’s psychic aptitude took both Albray and myself off guard.
‘Give me the keys,’ our antagonist requested, the tone of his voice smug with victory. ‘I’ve killed you once,
