Part 23 (1/2)

She pulled away before he could touch her, rea.s.sure her. ”No, he's fine,” she told them both, told herself. ”He's so fast. He's the best at what he does.”

Gideon remembered what he'd told Daegan, what was pounding in his head now. Everybody can be hurt. Toe-to-toe, Hercules might not be able to stand up to you, but if someone plans carefully enough, a ten-year-old kid could. Everybody can be hurt. Toe-to-toe, Hercules might not be able to stand up to you, but if someone plans carefully enough, a ten-year-old kid could. He was glad Anwyn appeared occupied with her own rea.s.surances to herself, giving him time to push his damaging thoughts aside. He was glad Anwyn appeared occupied with her own rea.s.surances to herself, giving him time to push his damaging thoughts aside.

”We have to get to my lab,” Brian said. ”Once Stephen knows what she did, he will antic.i.p.ate my reporting this to the Council. He'll go there to do damage control before he tries to contact Xavier. It will never occur to him that you two will try to leave the castle and help Daegan. And I fear he will need your help. If we are lucky, the Council will not think to call you from your rooms for this discussion, and it may be quite a while before they realize you have left the castle.”

Apparently Brian had already antic.i.p.ated what he and Anwyn were going to do, and Gideon appreciated his intuition. A look of warrior fierceness crossed Anwyn's expression before she pivoted and disappeared into the bedroom. She must have moved with the speed of a vampire, because the two men had only a handful of seconds to be impatient before she returned, carrying her overnight bag.

”Things we'll need,” she said shortly. Brian nodded, opening the door and investigating the pa.s.sage before he waved them out. ”We must move swiftly.”

”Why don't we go to the Council as well?” Anwyn asked, hurrying alongside him, Gideon covering their rear.

”Because you are a fledgling and Gideon is a vampire hunter,” Brian said. ”They won't believe either of you over two Council members. If you have no proof, your life is forfeit for an accusation brought against them. I will handle the Council until you return. While my account will be secondhand, it will give them pause, buy you time. They will believe Daegan, if he can get back here with proof.”

”What about Alanna?” Gideon asked.

”She is correct. Stephen will execute her as soon as he knows. There is no leniency for a servant betraying her Master. If she is lucky, he will be in a hurry and make it quick.”

Gideon and Anwyn came to a stop together, but Brian gripped their arms and propelled them on. ”There is nothing you can do for her. Not and save Daegan as well. She chose her path, and she does not seek rescue. If you looked in her eyes, you could tell she is already dead. She was groomed and raised to be a servant. If she betrays her Master, no other will want her, and she has no desire for purpose beyond that. Her heart and spirit are broken. She did this for her brother, a final act. If there is anything to be done for her, Gideon, I swear I will try to intervene. But you must choose. You can only save one of them.”

Christ. Gideon forced down his helpless rage, the vision of what might be done to the woman. ”Why are we headed to your lab?” Gideon forced down his helpless rage, the vision of what might be done to the woman. ”Why are we headed to your lab?”

”You need something that will help you overcome fifteen military-trained vampires. Debra, my servant, is preparing what you need. I've sent her instructions already.”

”You keep incendiary rounds in your lab?” Gideon queried.

Brian gave him a wry look. ”I'm sure you already have that on your private plane. I have something far more useful.”

True to his word, when Brian entered the lab, Debra was already packaging three vials for transport. She had a backpack of other materials put together, which included directions to Xavier's club, the Coffin. Gideon wondered if she'd ever considered throwing in her hat with the vampire hunters, because they could have used her efficiency.

Anwyn gave him a quelling look at that thought, but in several seconds they were both paying close attention as Brian gave them further instructions on how to use the vials. He barely acknowledged his servant as he took the items from her hands and turned them over to Gideon, showing he knew who would handle battle strategy. For exit strategy, he turned his attention to them both.

”There's an underground pa.s.sage from my lab, the beauty of old castles,” he said. ”It'll bring you out about a quarter mile on the service road. Steal a car and get to the Coffin as soon as you can. This time of night, you shouldn't be stopped. When you get there, Anwyn can tell them she's visiting the Council to be processed as a new vampire, and she was told there was entertainment to be found at Xavier's club. I'll include a note in the pack to ensure she is accepted, so they know she does have the protection of this castle.”

Brian put a hand on Anwyn's shoulder, drawing her gaze up. ”Xavier is not a loose cannon. Not exactly. He was made during World War Two, and believes. .h.i.tler should have won. Which is ironic, considering Xavier is not a populist; he embraces the vampire world's brutal definition of order based on aristocrats. He is dangerous and merciless.” Pausing, the scientist considered her from head to toe, a critical survey. ”However, from my brief encounters with him, I remember he enjoys beauty. Deeply.”

”She shouldn't go in there except as a last resort.”

Anwyn turned to Gideon, but Brian spoke first. His tone, while mild, was implacable, his eyes sharp. ”She's your Mistress, Gideon, not the other way around. I doubt she'll give you much choice. Plus, it will take both of you to get him out. I would prefer to go with you, but as I said, my voice will be needed to hold the Council's decision for a time.

”This is going to be very much a case of trial by combat.” His gaze s.h.i.+fted between the two of them. ”If you return alive, that will say much in your favor. If you do not return, then Stephen's claim will be believed, because his will be the only firsthand account heard. Xavier's role will be too easy to conceal.”

”Why are they so determined to believe this a.s.shole?” Gideon demanded.

”He and Barbra were chosen to fill the made vampire positions after a severe selection process. There was a strong reaction from many conservative vampires, those who felt that they would ruin the Council's judgment. The Council is determined not to be perceived as having made a mistake. As you heard from Alanna, it is possible Stephen intended initially to practice his role as intended, advocating for made vampires, but his desire for vengeance overrode the possible good he could have done.”

”If you say so. I think that a.s.shole was always a little weasel. Hate to say it, but I agree with the conservative vampires.”

”The idea was not misguided.” Brian glanced toward Anwyn. ”I have met many worthy made vampires. Change is just slow in our world. Unfortunately, Stephen and Barbra already have over half of the Council doubting Daegan's loyalties. His behavior here, his defense of the two of you, has not helped.”

”So why don't they just let him resign?” Anwyn snapped. Her gaze flicked to Debra as she hastily brought Brian the castle letterhead, on which she'd already written out the note for him to sign.

Brian shook his head at the same time as Gideon. ”Doesn't work that way, Mistress,” Gideon said softly, meeting her gaze. ”He's too powerful.”

Anwyn locked her jaw, looked as if she might say something else. Then a look of panic crossed her face, a peculiarly internal, concentrated look. Her gaze shot up to Gideon's. ”No,” she hissed, her eyes flus.h.i.+ng to crimson.

d.a.m.n it. Of course, it had to happen at the most inconvenient moment, though he didn't blame her for that. With Daegan being in danger on top of everything else, it was a wonder she hadn't broken down in the hallway. And he'd been focused on this, not in her mind. He f.u.c.king needed to learn to mult.i.task better. Of course, it had to happen at the most inconvenient moment, though he didn't blame her for that. With Daegan being in danger on top of everything else, it was a wonder she hadn't broken down in the hallway. And he'd been focused on this, not in her mind. He f.u.c.king needed to learn to mult.i.task better.

He leaped to her side, but Anwyn's hands clamped down on his with bruising force. ”Restraints . . . in pack. Knock me out, Gideon,” she rasped, struggling past those shadow voices. Her face contorted, fangs lengthening. ”There's no time. Don't you dare leave me behind or I swear to the heavens . . . you'd better stake me. If I wake . . . here . . . I will take the skin off your-”

Gideon tried to pull her out of the way, but Brian was too swift. He hit her with a metal pipe that looked as if it had come from under a sink. Gideon caught her in his arms as she immediately dropped, though her body continued to twitch, obscenely like maggots feasting on an unresponsive corpse. Debra was already pulling the restraints out of the tote and bringing them over.

”G.o.dd.a.m.n it,” Gideon swore. ”That wasn't necessary.”

Though he knew it was. Brian's objectivity had enabled him to make the decision far more swiftly than Gideon. It didn't sit any better on his mind, though, to see the woman he loved struck so brutally.

”I know where to hit, and how hard, to temporarily knock out a vampire. It requires a vampire's strength at the precise point. When she awakens, you might mention that to her. It could be useful where you're going. She's right,” Brian added in an urgent tone. ”She must go with you. I don't know how Stephen will twist this, but he could dispel the protection that your Master imposed for you both before he left.”

”He's not my Master,” Gideon said. Lifting Anwyn in a fireman's carry, he kept one hand free to use a weapon. ”Give me the tote bag and show me the pa.s.sage we need to take.” He gave Brian a measuring look. ”You know, you're far less of a science geek than I expected.”

”You need to learn not to look a vampire directly in the eye before one teaches you better manners,” Brian returned. He glanced at Anwyn, regret crossing his features. ”She is truly exceptional. Tell her to use that as a weapon as well. Don't hold her back, Gideon. Go swiftly now. I will let it be known where you have gone, and why, at the appropriate time, to ensure the Council will watch Stephen until your return and prevent him from contacting Xavier. If they do as I suspect, they will not allow him outside contact until you return . . . or this is resolved. They will wait to see the outcome.”

”Trial by combat,” Gideon echoed, and the vampire scientist nodded.

”I'll go with them.”

The men both turned. Debra had been busy during their exchange, shedding her lab coat and gathering purse and keys. ”I can get your car, my lord, and meet them at the pa.s.sage entrance. It will save time.”

”You will not,” Brian said. Debra, unaffected by his stern expression, touched his arm.

”Until she wakes, he'll need help. Someone to drive while he watches over her. When he gets there, an extra scout on the outside will be vital. She's formidable, but they're both new to our ways. At least from the inside view,” she amended, glancing at Gideon. Then she brought her attention back to her scowling Master. ”I can be useful,” she insisted.

”Once she's up, she'll hold her own,” Brian said, but Debra shook her head.

”I won't put myself in direct harm, my lord, but I can help him and Miss Naime. You both know it.” Her gaze s.h.i.+fted between them. ”It's the right thing to do, and we can't s.h.i.+rk that because you might have to train a new lab a.s.sistant.”

A muscle twitched in Brian's jaw, and he drew her aside. ”You think that is all your value to me?” While his hand on her elbow was their only contact, Gideon felt the pulse of a connection far stronger than that. However, the tick of seconds was as loud as cannon report in his mind. A couple more and he was going, whether they'd resolved it or not. That sense of urgency for Daegan was only getting more severe, starting to cramp in his gut. He hoped Anwyn woke soon, because he wanted her to keep trying that phone call to the vampire's mind, see if she could get him to answer. Daegan also couldn't use the conduit across her mind to Gideon when she was unconscious.

”I am a servant, my lord,” Debra said. ”I never a.s.sume my worth is greater than what it is. Let me continue to prove my value to you. Lord Stephen and Lady Barbra are weakening the Council. You know it as I do. We can show that to the rest of them.”

A wealth of furious thoughts apparently pa.s.sed between the two of them then. Masters and servants. Tools or more than tools? It seemed to vary from servant to servant. Gideon didn't fear that Anwyn would ever think of him as Stephen did Alanna, but Brian was closer to the ”norm” for vampires and servants.

He knew his time with Anwyn was limited, but what if, before that hourgla.s.s ran out, the day came when Anwyn did view him with the same absolute sense of possession most vampires had for their servants, that he was her property? How would he reconcile his feelings toward her then, feelings that would no longer be appropriate to who and what she was? Or what she thought of him? Worse, what if he found his view of his own role had changed, and he accepted accepted that? Embraced it, even? f.u.c.king craziness. that? Embraced it, even? f.u.c.king craziness.

Nothing was ever simple, was it? Or maybe it was so simple it was hard to face it.

And why the h.e.l.l was he wasting time soul-searching about it right now? He opened his mouth to tell them to move their a.s.ses, etiquette be d.a.m.ned, but Brian beat him to it.