Part 32 (1/2)

Holgar was listening, head c.o.c.ked to the side. He was sitting with them all at dinner, even though he had already eaten; he was a werewolf, and raw meat was still gross regardless of the country you ate it in. Antonio, too, sat at the table. He was drinking something from a goblet, and Jenn tried not to think too hard about it. If it was blood, she didn't want to know.

They hadn't had a chance to speak privately about what Father Juan had said to them. She blushed just remembering it. The priest was right. There was darkness in her. She could feel it. But how could there not be?

She sighed. It was too much of a headache for the moment. All she wanted was to have one evening of peace. With her mom refusing to come out of her room and her father and Sade locked up, she had high hopes that she would get just that.

The howling stopped, which really got Holgar's attention, Jenn noted. He straightened, his pupils dilating slightly.

A single cry pierced the night. It was sad and terrible, and it sent a chill down her spine. She could see why mankind had always feared wolves, even when they didn't believe in werewolves. There was something eerie about their cries.

What was it Dracula would say? Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!

And then, as she watched, Holgar bared his teeth.

”What is it?” she whispered.

”It's a wolf from Viorica's pack. Says he needs to see me. Something is wrong.”

He rose abruptly from the table as Jenn's heart flew into her throat. ”She couldn't be . . .” She couldn't bring herself to say the word ”dead.” Not when they'd finally found an ally who had agreed to help them fight Lucifer. Not when they'd finally caught a break.

From Holgar's grim expression she could tell he was worried about the exact same thing.

”I'll find out.”

”You shouldn't go alone,” Jenn said.

”I'll go with him,” Antonio said, rising quickly. ”If there's a problem, I can help.”

”Ja,” Holgar said approvingly.

”We could all go,” Jenn offered.

Holgar shook his head. ”A show of force like that could be seen as hostile. If something has changed, Antonio will have my hide.”

”Your back,” Antonio corrected softly.

”That too,” Holgar said without cracking a smile.

”Okay, but be careful,” Jenn said, pus.h.i.+ng back her plate. She wasn't hungry anymore.

”If we're not back in an hour, come get us,” Antonio said, locking eyes with her.

She nodded, hoping it wouldn't come to that.

It was cold outside, and Holgar wore a jacket. Antonio walked beside him without even bothering to roll down the sleeves of his s.h.i.+rt. Holgar envied him that. Werewolves were impervious to cold only when in wolf form.

Well, maybe not impervious, but certainly far better equipped to deal with it.

”You're s.h.i.+vering,” Antonio noted.

”Because it's freezing,” Holgar said, wanting to make a joke, but not sure the other was ready for such things. Antonio seemed on edge. And rightly so. The wolf who had been calling to him was nervous too.

Holgar hoped nothing had happened to Viorica. They needed her. He needed her. She'd promised to help him learn how to change more easily. Her Transylvanian pack actually coached their young in how to change at will instead of waiting for it to happen, as they did in his Danish pack. And just how did she do it without shredding her clothes? He had to know.

Holgar and Antonio were a couple hundred yards from the monastery when the werewolf approached, still in wolf form. Holgar scowled. They could still understand each other, but it was rude, particularly when Antonio could not.

”What's wrong?” Holgar asked.

The wolf danced from one foot to the other.

Why is he stalling? Holgar wondered.

Suddenly the wind s.h.i.+fted, and Holgar could smell the wolf's fear and hatred. And there was something- ”Run!” he shouted to Antonio, turning back toward the monastery. A moment later something ripped through him, and he fell to the snow as he heard the report of a rifle.

A second shot rang out, this one sounding completely different from the first, and Antonio hit the snow beside him. A tranquilizer dart was protruding from the vampire's neck.

They tranqued him. They tranqued him and they shot me.

And then his insides began to burn, and fire traced its way along his veins.

They shot me with silver.

Something was wrong; Noah could feel it. Holgar and Antonio should have been back already. At the very least they should have heard more howling, but there hadn't been any since the pair had left.

Jenn's fear was there in her eyes for all the world to see, and Father Juan wouldn't stop pacing.

Noah stood. ”I'm going out there,” he said.

It was the signal everyone seemed to have been waiting for, and they all exploded into action. He didn't bother to tell them to stay put. It would do no good. So a minute later he, Jenn, and Father Juan strode outside.

Esther was stationed just inside the monastery doors with half a dozen monks, all armed, all prepared for an a.s.sault.

Because that was what it felt like was happening. It felt like they were under siege.

Fortunately, it wasn't snowing, so the tracks the two had left were crisp and clear. Noah followed them at a jog, keeping eyes and ears focused for any attacks that might come from the side.

Jenn kept pace with him while Father Juan followed behind, covering them with a stake in one hand and a gun in the other.

The farther they went, the more Noah's skin crawled. Then, finally, he saw a dark shape in the snow. He pointed to it, and Jenn took off at a dead run. Lighter than he, she didn't sink as far into the snow with every step.