additional vampires. When the clearing vibrated a third time, Sophie screamed, “Run!”
The vampires caught two of the witches from behind and slashed their throats before anyone had time to react. The remaining coven members scattered, and Ari raced forward to cover their retreat. Her witch fire had not yet had time to rejuvenate, but a high kick knocked one of the vamps across the clearing, and she jumped onto the back of another, plunged her silver dagger between his shoulder blades and angled into his heart. He collapsed, dumping Ari on the ground. She rolled free, and Sophie grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet. The witches had filled the clearing with a smoky potion, and the vampires were gasping and coughing.
“Come on. Run while we can,” Sophie urged.
Ari sprinted after the priestess and tossed handfuls of the barrier crystals over her shoulder to gain added time. Then she and the witches ran like hell with nearly a dozen vampires in pursuit.
* * *
It was a cat and mouse hunt through the dark, but with the help of several confusion potions, a stink spell to erase their scent, and a stealth spell to mask the sound of their feet, the small band of witches managed to elude the vampires. Since three of the witches were injured, the group finally stopped in the cover of a large grove of olive trees to catch their collective breaths and assess the situation. Four members of the coven had died in the two attacks, plus three were injured. Although Sophistrina maintained a stoic face and brisk manner, there were unshed tears in her eyes. The coven’s loss was devastating.
Ari wished she had a way to ease their pain, but even expressions of grief would have to wait. “I think it’s safe to circle back to the house now. I have to warn our people. I’m not exactly popular with the O-Seven. If the vamps realize who I am, they could go there hoping to find me.” Ari pulled Sophie off to one side. “You should take your wounded and teleport home. I promise we’ll bury your sisters with honor, and I’ll find my way to you.”
The priestess grimaced. “I wish we could, but with the recent losses and injuries, we can’t teleport. We won’t be able to raise the necessary power.”
“Damn.” Ari gave her a sharp look. “If the spell is that draining, what kind of source are the vampires using to be able to reach us with consecutive transports?”
Sophie shook her head, her face pinched with dread. “I really don’t know.” Her eyes flicked toward their companions, and she lowered her voice to a near whisper. “I’m really worried. We’re sadly outgunned, and I don’t think we can survive another attack. And I have no idea how we’ll get home.”
“We’ll figure it out. The first thing is to get to safety. Let’s keep moving.”
* * *
Forty minutes later Ari and the witches crept into Andreas’s country house. Once Ari determined everything was all right inside, she stationed guards up close to the house and on the perimeter of the estate. Then she told Lilith and the tigers everything that had happened. When she finished, the tigers set stationary torches in a circle around the house, runners took off to notify the surrounding villages, and Beppe took the coven members to the kitchen for food and medical treatment.
“We need to keep the witches hidden until we can get them out of here,” Ari said.
Samuel turned to look at her. “If you’re worried that someone will betray them, don’t be. I think I’ve discovered the source of the suspected leak and the vandalism. A werebear moved into one of the villages several months ago. He asked questions about the De Luca estates at first, then seemed to lose interest. He started working at the local market and was there when staff from here bought supplies for Andreas’s visit. That’s how they knew Andreas was coming, and now the bear’s gone. Packed up and disappeared the night of the attack. He left in such a
The vampires caught two of the witches from behind and slashed their throats before anyone had time to react. The remaining coven members scattered, and Ari raced forward to cover their retreat. Her witch fire had not yet had time to rejuvenate, but a high kick knocked one of the vamps across the clearing, and she jumped onto the back of another, plunged her silver dagger between his shoulder blades and angled into his heart. He collapsed, dumping Ari on the ground. She rolled free, and Sophie grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet. The witches had filled the clearing with a smoky potion, and the vampires were gasping and coughing.
“Come on. Run while we can,” Sophie urged.
Ari sprinted after the priestess and tossed handfuls of the barrier crystals over her shoulder to gain added time. Then she and the witches ran like hell with nearly a dozen vampires in pursuit.
* * *
It was a cat and mouse hunt through the dark, but with the help of several confusion potions, a stink spell to erase their scent, and a stealth spell to mask the sound of their feet, the small band of witches managed to elude the vampires. Since three of the witches were injured, the group finally stopped in the cover of a large grove of olive trees to catch their collective breaths and assess the situation. Four members of the coven had died in the two attacks, plus three were injured. Although Sophistrina maintained a stoic face and brisk manner, there were unshed tears in her eyes. The coven’s loss was devastating.
Ari wished she had a way to ease their pain, but even expressions of grief would have to wait. “I think it’s safe to circle back to the house now. I have to warn our people. I’m not exactly popular with the O-Seven. If the vamps realize who I am, they could go there hoping to find me.” Ari pulled Sophie off to one side. “You should take your wounded and teleport home. I promise we’ll bury your sisters with honor, and I’ll find my way to you.”
The priestess grimaced. “I wish we could, but with the recent losses and injuries, we can’t teleport. We won’t be able to raise the necessary power.”
“Damn.” Ari gave her a sharp look. “If the spell is that draining, what kind of source are the vampires using to be able to reach us with consecutive transports?”
Sophie shook her head, her face pinched with dread. “I really don’t know.” Her eyes flicked toward their companions, and she lowered her voice to a near whisper. “I’m really worried. We’re sadly outgunned, and I don’t think we can survive another attack. And I have no idea how we’ll get home.”
“We’ll figure it out. The first thing is to get to safety. Let’s keep moving.”
* * *
Forty minutes later Ari and the witches crept into Andreas’s country house. Once Ari determined everything was all right inside, she stationed guards up close to the house and on the perimeter of the estate. Then she told Lilith and the tigers everything that had happened. When she finished, the tigers set stationary torches in a circle around the house, runners took off to notify the surrounding villages, and Beppe took the coven members to the kitchen for food and medical treatment.
“We need to keep the witches hidden until we can get them out of here,” Ari said.
Samuel turned to look at her. “If you’re worried that someone will betray them, don’t be. I think I’ve discovered the source of the suspected leak and the vandalism. A werebear moved into one of the villages several months ago. He asked questions about the De Luca estates at first, then seemed to lose interest. He started working at the local market and was there when staff from here bought supplies for Andreas’s visit. That’s how they knew Andreas was coming, and now the bear’s gone. Packed up and disappeared the night of the attack. He left in such a
Similar Books
