The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires

The hum of the air-conditioning in the car was the only noise.

'I wonder how much groveling it's going to take to get the mare to give me another shot at that trial?'

Outside the window, gulls cried overhead. I flinched as we passed the area where earlier we'd skidded off the road, averting my eyes from the sight of Theo's car, still half-buried in the mountain of oyster shells.

'I hope your car will be all right. When are they coming to tow it?'

'Soon.'

I sighed, slinking down into my seat. Are you still mad at me?

I have not been mad at you, so there is no 'still' to it.

Then why aren't you talking to me? You haven't said a word since we went back to the pub so I could take a shower and change. I know you have to be angry, or at least disappointed, that I've messed up the trial so much that I won't be a virtue, and won't be able to pardon you, but I really don't believe the situation is as hopeless as you no doubt think it is.

I don't think anything is hopeless, sweetling, nor am I in the least bit angry. I think you showed remarkable restraint in not acting rashly with Leticia. I know how much you wanted to treat her in kind.

'Can I ask a question?' Sarah leaned forward so she could be heard in the front seat of the car she'd rented for our trip, now serving as our primary mode of transportation while Theo's car was out of commission.

'Since I'm delighted to know you're still talking to me, by all means, ask away.'

'I wasn't not talking to you, silly. I was taking notes on what happened. This is so incredibly fascinating!'

'I'm glad someone is getting enjoyment out of it. What was your question?'

'Why are we going to the Court if you're now out of the running as a virtue?'

A headache was building behind my forehead. I rubbed it, not for the first time, wishing I could rewind my life and start this section over. 'Because I'm hoping that if I bring proof to the mare of what happened to Hope, they will excuse the last trial and give me another shot at it.'

'Yes, but if you're no longer a virtue, how are you going to make with the fog?'

I glanced at Theo. His jaw was tight, his eyes a light grey that indicated he was not a happy camper. 'Evidently, even though I failed the three trials, I am not de-virtued until someone strips the power from me.'

'I hope so, otherwise you'll be in even hotter water than you are. So, we're just walking in the front door?'

'There is more than one entrance to the Court,' Theo answered. 'We will take the one nearest the library, so Portia's talents won't be overly taxed.'

'Good thinking.' Sarah sat back to make a few more notes. I spent the rest of the way to the castle mentally sorting the events of the last few days, looking for something we might have missed. I had an uneasy feeling that something significant had happened that I'd failed to acknowledge, but a quick survey of the last three days didn't come up with anything to assuage my uneasiness.

'Someone is bound to notice this fog isn't normal,' I murmured to Theo forty minutes later, as we stopped just beyond a small doorway cut into the stone wall that surrounded the Court. Ahead of us stood the building we'd visited earlier, the library where the Akashic Record was held.

'We will be gone before they can trace the source.' Theo's voice was muffled, oddly contorted through the heavy fog that now rolled through the area surrounding the library. Even though he was just a few feet away from me, I could barely see his silhouette. 'Just a little more, sweetling, then we can go in.'

'I resent being put on watchdog duty,' Sarah hissed from somewhere behind us. 'I won't be able to see anyone until they are right on top of me.'

'No one knows who you are,' I whispered back, taking Theo's arm. His fingers closed around mine, reassuringly warm and strong. 'All you have to do is distract anyone who comes to the door. It's not rocket science, Sarah.'

'Hrmph.'

Theo guided us to the main doors of the library, opening them wide. I summoned more fog, and sent it into the building, thick white rolls of it slowly filling all available space. We crept along the now-fogged hallways, hands outstretched to avoid colliding with obstacles. There were a few exclamations of surprise from people who found themselves caught in the fog, one person shouting for someone to find the mare.

We don't have much time, Theo said. I clutched the back of his shirt, my other hand holding Sarah's arm, so we wouldn't get separated.

I know. 'Sarah, this is the doorway to the archives. Stand here and keep anyone from coming in.'

'Will do.'

I released her arm and followed Theo into a small, dusty-smelling room, shutting the door behind me to keep the fog out. Theo flipped on a light switch, and stood considering the cases around us. The room was, thankfully, empty of people.

'We can split up and search for it,' I said, moving to the nearest glass archive case. 'What does it look like?'

'I have no idea, but since it is one of the most valuable records in existence, I assume it will be found in one of the more elaborate cases.'

I quickly examined the books contained in the climate-controlled case in front of me, but nothing had a title even remotely similar to Akashic Record. I skirted a giant library-sized dictionary opened on a book pedestal, and started for the next case.

Something tickled at the back of my head. I looked back at the dictionary, giving it a closer examination.

Ofaniel, also known as sefira Wisdom. Primary residence: Court of Divine Blood, Grand

Apartments, second floor. Mundane residence:

Marseille, France. Mundane name: Clementine

Massier.

Oglien, demon third class, servant of Bael, twenty-second legion. Mundane residence: none. Mundane names: Will O'Bannon,

William Bannock, Will the Decapitator.

I closed the dictionary to read the title. The Akashic Record: Being a List of All Immortals Possessing Membership in the Court of Divine Blood and Abaddon.

'Theo, I found it. It's very large.'

He hurried over, frowning slightly. 'They keep it out here in the open?'

'Evidently. I thought it was a dictionary. F, G, H…ah. Here it is: Hope, originally internuncio, later designed virtue by request of holder. Primary residence: Court of Divine Blood, Grand Apartments, third floor. Mundane residence: Seaton. Seaton?'

I looked up at Theo.

'That's near Newton Poppleford.'

'That would explain why she was around the faery ring, then. Mundane name: Hope Campbell. Is that ink blotch covering another name, do you think, or is it just a blot?'

Theo bent over the book, squinting at the black area next to Hope's name. 'It's hard to tell. It could be either.'

'Hmm. I'm willing to bet she covered up her mortal-world name on purpose.'

'She could have.' Theo looked thoughtful as he tapped his chin. 'If she thought she was in danger, she might have destroyed any proof of her name as a safety precaution.'

'That's lovely. Is there anywhere else we can go to find out what name she is using now?' I asked, miffed that our lead had fizzled out.

'Not that I know of.'

I sighed. 'Well, at least we have one of her names and a town to go on.'

'Indeed you do. That was very clever of you to think of consulting the Akashic Record.'

I spun around at the sound of a man's voice coming from the doorway.

Terrin leaned against the door, a slight smile on his face. 'I particularly liked the fog. Very effective. Hello