By the sounds of it two more people came down behind the girl, but I didn’t dare look in case any of them were peering my way. I held the lantern at my other side, shielding the small light with my cloak.
My shoulders relaxed as footsteps headed off in the other direction. I held one arm out, preventing Steifan from trying to follow too closely. They weren’t going anywhere in these canals that would prevent us from following at a safe distance.
Once the footsteps had almost faded entirely, I crept forward, peering around the corner before venturing that way. The straightaway ahead was empty, so I held the lantern out in front of us to keep from falling in the water. It would be a shame if one of us splashing around undid all of our patient waiting.
Steifan followed behind me. Though his steps were light for a normal mortal, they seemed deafeningly loud to my ears. I could only hope the girl and her captors would not expect anyone following them, and so would not be listening for sounds of pursuit.
We reached another fork in the canal, and I peeked out, glancing both ways. Both directions were empty, but I had heard footsteps going across the metal grate to our right, so that was the way I chose.
As we reached the end of the next corridor, I noticed the soft glow of firelight. I handed Steifan the lantern, gesturing for him to stay back. A few more steps and I could tell where the light was coming from. There was a small room built off the side of the canal, probably originally for maintenance supplies, but the girl and her captors were in there now, and it didn’t seem they planned on leaving any time soon.
The two men conversed casually, nothing about their current task, while the girl wept.
I crept back to Steifan, debating what to do next. Did we confront the men and hope we could beat enough information out of them to find the other victims? Or did we wait to see who was coming to meet them, because I saw no other reason for them to be dallying.
I quickly decided on the latter and gestured for Steifan to go back around the nearest corner. There, we waited, hoping whoever else was coming would not be venturing from this direction.
Before long we heard a fourth voice, though I hadn’t noticed any footsteps.
I peered around the corner. I didn’t dare go close enough to look inside the room, but the smell let me know who had arrived. I smelled rich, turned earth, and a prickling sensation danced up and down my skin. The new addition was a vampire. That’s why we hadn’t heard any footsteps.
If he was here for the girl, we could wait no longer.
I nodded to Steifan in the near darkness, then drew my blade and started forward, leaving our lantern where I had set it. It would be out of oil soon regardless.
I listened for my sword’s warning as I tiptoed toward the doorway, but none came. They hadn’t noticed us yet, so they didn’t mean us harm.
That would soon change.
I stepped into the open doorway, not bothering to sneak in as the vampire would hear me coming long before he spotted me.
He was the first one to turn toward me. He must have only been sixteen when he died, but he was so old his presence felt heavy in my mind. These stupid men were working with an ancient, one who had amassed much coin judging by his fine brocade tunic and velvet pants. Black boots encased his legs up to his knees.
Beyond him were two men I didn’t recognize, but judging by their soft bellies and oiled beards, they were middle-aged nobility. They were both near the girl’s new cage, one on either side, about to open it.
She trembled in the corner, her face obscured by long, strawberry-blonde hair.
I held my sword at the ready. “You may as well finish opening that cage. I’ll be taking her with me.”
The vampire’s dark eyes seemed to sparkle with amusement, or maybe it was just the torchlight. He flicked a strand of chin length brown hair away from his soft-featured face. “Where is your master, girl? Why has he let you so far off your leash?”
“I needed enough length in my cord to use it to strangle you,” I snarled. I stepped further into the room. “Take care of the men,” I said to Steifan. “The monster is mine.”
“So bold,” the vampire said as Steifan moved past my back with his sword drawn. Neither of the men had visible weapons, so he should be fine.
“Where are the other missing people?” I asked the vampire.
The vampire splayed his hands. “I do not require the death of my food. If you cannot find them, it has nothing to do with me.”
I edged closer. If I could catch him off guard, I might be able to remove his head before he could attack. If Markus was capable of slaying ancients, then so was I. “You’re paying these men to bring you victims so you can live unnoticed within the city. I can hardly believe you would let them go.”
“Some I keep, some become my servants, but others have disappeared. If you could help me find them, I’d be most grateful.” He smiled at his own jest. He obviously hadn’t realized that Steifan and I were both hunters, and I would use that to my advantage.
I stepped closer. The men behind me were muttering to Steifan that none of this was their fault. That they were just doing the vampire’s will so he wouldn’t kill them.
“Too many have gone missing for just
