Part 48 (1/2)
I tried to consider the tactics, but I was too alarmed by Innokenti's first suggestion to be able to think about anything else clearly.
”Which vampire are you going to have chase me?” I asked. ”Odette?”
”No, not Odette,” Innokenti replied. ”I don't think we can trust her. But I have the perfect man in mind. I think you should work with Anton.”
”Anton?” I said in disbelief. ”But he attacked me. He tried to turn me over to the Werdulac.”
”Yes, I know that now,” Innokenti replied. ”I discussed the issue with him after your accusation, and he confirmed it. That's what makes him so well suited to the task. The Werdulac's camp will believe that he is genuinely after you. And he was terribly repentant when I confronted him about you. I'm sure he would like a chance to redeem himself in your eyes and in the eyes of our community.”
I found it hard to believe that Anton was repentant about anything. ”You trust him?”
”Yes,” Innokenti replied simply. ”If this life has taught me one thing, it's forgiveness.” He paused and gave me a mirthless smile. ”That's a joke, by the way. But very genuinely I do trust him. Anyone may be tempted.”
I took a deep breath. ”Anton.”
”You may still back out if you wish.”
”No,” I said. ”I see the logic of choosing him.”
Innokenti grinned broadly, showing his teeth. ”You're a brave girl.”
I didn't feel very brave at the moment. In fact, I began to feel the stirrings of panic. ”Is there anything I can do-in the event that things don't-go well with-”
I paused. I was having trouble forming my words.
”In case things don't go well with Anton?” Innokenti asked.
”No-”
I was determined to think as little as I possibly could about Anton's involvement.
”No,” I said. ”I mean if we succeed in luring the hybrids out, and one of them gets to me-is there anything I can do to protect myself?”
Innokenti considered the question. ”Nothing comes to mind. We will do our best to protect you, of course. And William will certainly do the same.”
”What about my cross?” I asked. ”The one you saw the other night at the castle. You said it had special properties I might not know about. Will it help me with the hybrids?”
”Actually, I believe you should divest yourself of that particular object. I'm not certain how effective it is against a hybrid, but if there's any chance it will throw the hybrids off your trail, then you'll want to get rid of it. We don't want them to be confused.”
”Oh,” I said faintly. ”I'll leave it at home then.”
”Very wise.”
I cast my mind about desperately.
”What about William's search?” I asked.
”I beg your pardon?” Innokenti said. ”I don't know what search you are referring to.”
”Last night you said he had been out searching for something that would help in the fight against the hybrids. An 'item' I think you called it.”
Innokenti laughed-a sound that startled me.
”Ah, yes,” he said. ”William's quest. Are you familiar with the work of the great vampire philosopher and visionary Orpheo?”
”I'm afraid not,” I replied.
Innokenti waved a hand. ”Do not feel bad-few humans know of him. Orpheo has long since been turned to ash, but when he was alive, he was something like your Nostradamus. He is the author of a famous quotation-Sacer ignis exitus mundi. It translates as ”The world will end in-”
”Holy fire,” I said.
Innokenti seemed pleased. ”Yes, 'holy fire,' very good. Orpheo predicted that there would be another war between the vampire and the Sdh. His devotees even believe that he foresaw the resurrection of the Werdulac. Some further believe that this particular quotation should be interpreted literally-as in the world will end.”
”What do you believe?” I asked.
Innokenti gave an elegant shrug. ”I believe in fighting for my life.” He gave me a sardonic look. ”One romantic interpretation of this quotation is that the Werdulac may be defeated by a famous vampire sword known as 'Ignis Sacer'-as you said, 'holy fire.' William subscribes to this interpretation.”
”What do you mean by 'vampire sword'?” I asked.
”It's a sword that drinks the blood of its victims and becomes stronger,” Innokenti said. ”It's supposed to be the most powerful sword the world has ever known. William, bless his innocent heart, has begun to search for it.”
Innokenti's mocking tone was beginning to make me angry. ”What's wrong with William looking for this sword?”
”Orpheo, like Nostradamus, was largely a fanciful man. The sword is not real. The sword is a dream. There is no magic talisman that will save us from the Werdulac on this night or on any other night. Nothing will help us here. What we have on our hands is a good, old-fas.h.i.+oned fight. We cannot place our faith in legends, no matter how attractive.”
Innokenti suddenly glanced around. ”I hope you'll forgive me, little one, I should not spend too much time out here in the daylight. It is possible someone will see us talking and report us to the Werdulac. We don't want to endanger our plans.
”This is what we will do tonight. We don't know exactly when the hybrids will attack the Festival, but I imagine they are planning to inflict as much damage as they possibly can. So they will want to wait until the festivities will be in full swing-when the most people will be out and about and a little, shall we say, incapacitated from merrymaking? I can't imagine that the hybrids would attack before midnight. You should go to the festival around ten o'clock, and then wander away from the crowd at around eleven to begin the staged chase. The hybrids should be stirring by then, and we should still be ahead of their attack.”
”I can do that,” I said. ”I'll get away by eleven. How do I find Anton?”
Innokenti gave me a disturbing smile. ”Anton will find you.”
Innokenti moved then with startling swiftness, and in the next moment he was gone.
I spun around, looking for him.
The Wasteland was empty.
I figured Innokenti was gone, so I turned to go myself.
Then I heard a voice in my ear.
”Let us pray, little one, that you haven't sealed your own fate.”
Chapter 24.