Part 27 (2/2)
”We're very busy here,” Jenn said. ”So let's get to the point. If you want to join forces to fight Lucifer, prove it.”
Solomon chuckled. ”I have to say, Jennifer. You're twice the man your father is.”
”Maybe what we'll do is wait you both out and let you die from the virus,” Jenn said.
”Oh, if only it were that simple,” Solomon said. ”You have to know I have ma.s.sive numbers of my followers on their way right now to blow up Project Crusade.”
She looked at the others in the room. If Solomon had an inside man, then he knew where Project Crusade was.
”But if they fail,” Jenn said.
”The virus will only inconvenience me, Jennifer. Some of my supersoldiers have no vampire parts in them. The virus won't affect them. And of course we have escape routes. We haven't survived on this planet for centuries without our own safe-houses.”
She glanced over at Antonio, who shrugged and shook his head, signifying he didn't know if that was true.
”Think about it. We don't have to breathe. We don't need air. So if this is an airborne virus . . .” Solomon chuckled.
”Then why do you want the antidote?” Jenn persisted.
”I haven't lived this long by narrowing my options.”
Antonio raised his chin. ”Lucifer,” he said aloud.
So much for keeping off the radar, Jenn thought, confused why Antonio had spoken up.
”Antonio, amigo, hi,” Solomon said, but his voice shook. ”You know, it occurred to me to offer you to Lucifer as a way into his good graces.”
”He has no good graces. He doesn't need you,” Antonio said. ”You're going to be fighting on two fronts-stopping the virus, surviving Lucifer. Our side doesn't have to worry about the virus. You're running scared. But we've decided to stand and fight.”
”Fine.” Solomon sounded defeated. ”Fine.”
Antonio nodded at Jenn, who took back over. ”So send us fighters,” she said. ”A lot of them. Vampires, supersoldiers, and humans loyal to you. Send them right away, Solomon.”
She hung up.
”Greg will make sure the virus gets out,” Gramma Esther said. ”Even if the black crosses have to blow the whole lab sky-high themselves to stop Solomon.”
”And Lucifer.” Antonio frowned. ”Forgive me for jumping in during the call,” he said to Jenn. ”But I know what Lucifer means to vampires.”
”Is he as scary as a virus that will kill every vampire on earth?” Esther asked him.
Antonio nodded once. ”Scarier,” he said.
The room fell silent for a moment.
”Then it's more important than ever that we create more elixir, so we can fight him,” Father Juan announced. ”You said that the werewolves gave us permission to search for the Transit of Venus on their territory?”
”Yes,” Jenn said. ”Father Juan, take Holgar and go. Go quickly.”
She turned away to hide her terror, and her resolve: Once she drank the elixir, maybe she could save Antonio. Or maybe after he drank it, he would be immune.
Let something save him, she thought.
But it was not a prayer.
Jenn Leitner did not pray.
TRANSYLVANIA.
HOLGAR AND FATHER JUAN.
It was nearly dark when Holgar and Father Juan reached the territory of Viorica's werewolf pack. As the two climbed out of their SUV, howls filled the sky. As if in response, snowflakes began to drift down.
Then a black wolf appeared at the top of the rise above them. It was a female, and Father Juan bowed.
”Viorica,” he said.
The wolf chuffed in response, and looked expectantly at Holgar, who took a breath and held it. He sniffed the air and growled deep in his chest.
The snow drifted down.
”For helvede,” Holgar swore. ”Nothing.”
He had confessed to Father Juan on the way there that he had begun to change when Solomon's helicopter had landed and Paul Leitner had appeared. And that Viorica wanted him to.
Father Juan hadn't asked if Holgar intended to do anything and everything that Viorica wished of him. They didn't have time for werewolf-pack politics. He didn't know that much about werewolves, but in his mind's eye he imagined males fighting for dominance, blood on the snow, injuries-and more distraction. The team couldn't afford distractions.
The sleek black wolf slunk toward them. Her eyes glowed, and she purred. Then, as Father Juan looked on, she transformed into a fully clothed human woman. She was wearing white snow gear: parka, pants, and fur boots.
”Holgar,” she said, then spoke to him in what sounded to Father Juan like Russian.
He didn't know what she said, but Holgar threw back his head and howled. Viorica joined him after a moment.
And other wolves-werewolves-appeared on the rise, observing. Their breath spun clouds in the icy air. One male wolf, silvery and huge, bared his teeth. The one beside him moved her head, a gesture of warning.
As Father Juan ticked his attention back to Holgar, he saw that Holgar's ears had extended, flattened. Holgar's jaw was longer, and tufts of gray wolf hair extended over his white-blond human hair. The woman murmured to him, then growled and pawed at him. She was making it clear that she wanted him. Then she took off one of Holgar's snow mittens and examined his hand. The fingers had elongated, and fur rippled over the knuckles, but it was still a human hand. She turned it over and ran her tongue down the center of it.
Holgar howled again. Father Juan heard the frustration in it, and possibly the defeat.
And Father Juan closed his eyes and prayed.
AD 1591, UBEDA, SPAIN.
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