Bite Marks

By the time we reached the cell-side of the town’s square, Bergman’s forehead looked like a surgeon’s during the fourth hour of a complex operation. Cassandra and I shared a look. Should we swab him off or just let him sweat into his eyes? I asked her silently.

Her answer was to nod toward his sleeve, so I gently lifted his forearm and wiped it across his face.

Thanks , he mouthed. I nodded.

Vayl had led us to a corner on the guard’s left that held a trash can and a bench carved out of the wall.

Bergman sank onto it. Vayl grabbed his arm and pulled him back upright. Even Miles couldn’t mistake the question on the vampire’s face. Are you ready?

Slight jerk of the head, more a spasm than an actual nod.

Vayl’s gesture could almost be interpreted as, Shoo, then. But he really meant Get into position.

Bergman looked around, as if trying to figure out where to go next.

In front of us, the side of the bandstand rose about five feet off the floor, its base holding up a finely tooled railing punctuated every few feet by a post that held up the wood-shingled roof. No stairs here; they’d been set at the very front so the performers would have to walk through the middle of the crowd to get to them.

All of the trees behind the bandstand sat on watering trays with rollers, which made me wonder how often they rearranged their shrubbery down here. In front, the crowd seemed relaxed, happy. Not at all the types who’d boil kids and roast their mom. Which just goes to show, you should never trust your first impressions.

Bergman crouched and scuttled into the first line of trees, his movements reminding me somewhat hilariously of an anorexic crab. I had to gulp back laughter as I told him through the party line, “You’re out of Vayl’s influence now. So be discreet until you get the order.”

“Will do.”

I checked on Cassandra. She had Jack firmly in hand.

Shaman? I mouthed.

Soon, came her silent reply. And then a shrug and shake of the head. She still didn’t like her vision of our potential target.

I gave her a stay close gesture. Then I brushed my hand against Vayl’s. Doing my best to ignore the tingle it caused, I nodded to him. “Now,” I whispered.

His slight nod acknowledged our readiness as he slipped up behind the guard and we followed, staying clear to give him room to work. So fast. One hand to the throat to stifle sound and crush the airway. One to the back of the neck to support the blow. Vayl held the guard, assuring death while I searched him for the cell keys. I had other ways in, but they wouldn’t be as quick or possibly as quiet. Yup, there they were, hanging from a leather strap around his neck. One for the gate door. Another for the cell that sat at the end of a short path. They both worked perfectly.

As Ruvin’s family crowded toward us, I held my finger to my lips. At the same time Cassandra whispered, “You must be quiet. Practically the whole warren sits outside this cell.”

“Well, you picked a fine time to break us out, didn’t you?” demanded Ruvin’s wife.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Tabitha,” she snapped. The boys had run to her side.

“I’m Laal,” said the taller one, who might’ve been nine or ten, but still only reached my mid-thigh. He pointed to his brother, who stood a head shorter. “This is Pajo.” I stuck out my hand, which Laal and Pajo politely shook. “Lucille Robinson,” I said. “Your dad’s pretty worried about you. And since we were in the area we thought we’d drop in and see if you’d like to join us for dinner. I think we’re having pizza.”

“Anytime now, Jasmine,” Vayl’s deep voice rang in my ear.

The boys were nodding so hard their chins practically banged their shirt collars, but Tabitha held them back. “How do you know Ruvin?”

I wanted to shake her and scream, “How stupid are you, bitch? The door is fucking open! Let’s go!” But she knew that just outside milled a crowd of would-be cannibals and she hadn’t seen our references yet.

I stepped back. “Cassandra?”

She smiled and let some slack out on Jack’s leash. As soon as he stuck his nose into their hands, the boys fell in love. Much hugging and petting of the grinning malamute while our Seer spoke softly to their mom.

“I know you must be terrified. But we are your best chance at escaping this predicament unscathed. Let us help you free your sons before anything more traumatic happens to them. Please?” Tabitha glanced at Laal and Pajo. I expected a rush of warmth to ease the harsh lines of her face.

Instead they tightened, as if she was doing unpleasant math problems in her head. “All right. Boys?” She snapped her fingers and they immediately left Jack to run to her side. Wow. No whining or anything?

Either she runs a really well-disciplined household or—no. I’m not going to think the worst of anyone for once. That’s something Brude would do. I turned to lead them out.

I murmured, “We’re on our way,” to Vayl. Then I looked back over my shoulder and whispered, “Two things. Be quieter than you’ve ever been in your life.” Special smile for the boys. “Ubersneaky, got it?” They nodded solemnly. “And stay as close as you can to the big man we’re meeting at the gate. His name is Jeremy, and he can make it so the crowd doesn’t see us. But we’ve arranged a little distraction as well. Just ignore it when it happens and follow Jeremy and me out. Got it?” Ruvin’s family nodded again. I hoped that meant they understood. Hard to say how much was sinking in.

You never knew with somebody who’d spent time as a prisoner and was now escaping. Sometimes the moment