Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
He had been heeding those warnings for so many centuries he had begun to take them for granted. He was old, an ancient like the legendary creatures who were dying out or already extinct. Some of those creatures had already become real myths. Modern-day society didn’t believe they ever existed. It wouldn’t occur to people that Carpathians, werewolves, jaguars and dragons would incinerate bodies, so there was never proof of existence.
Will provoke him now. You’ll have to shield Visser and Bakker.
I see you didn’t include Ese Jordan.
Ese is beyond help. He’s programmed to kill us, and even though he thinks he’s safe, he’s not. Castello will command him to kill, and he’ll follow those orders.
Are you certain? Benedek didn’t kill innocents.
He willingly sold everyone here to Castello for his gambling debts. Castello may be using him, but he opened himself up to evil for money.
Benedek had seen addiction over and over throughout the centuries. There were many things one could be addicted to. He had the feeling he was becoming addicted to the laughter, compassion and light he saw in Silke.
He examined Ese Jordan’s mind. The betrayal of his family and friends, those in the village who had done their best to aid him, including the two men he’d plotted to kill with Castello. Both had gone out of their way to be there for the man. And Silke’s mother…Fenja. Time and again she had gone to Ese’s rescue. She had sat with him through illnesses, made certain he always had food, tried to counsel him when he went to her, fearful of his debts. He had come to their home to murder a woman who had over and over been nothing but kind to him.
Betrayal is such an ugly thing. He hoped Silke understood what he was telling her. Betrayal was unforgivable as far as he was concerned. Over the centuries betrayal had become a trigger for him. He was at his most lethal when that particular behavior was involved.
The look in Castello’s eyes had turned sly. Benedek was concerned that there was more to the demon than Silke had discovered. No matter what, it appeared that they were out of time.
Silke shifted slightly in her chair, her feet sliding under her easily. If Castello were paying attention at all, he would have recognized that Silke had to be the slayer, not Fenja. He was so certain he was right in his judgment that he dismissed her as a young human woman with a few gifts. He had decided she couldn’t be Carpathian because she had been in the sun. She was standing in his way, but to Castello she wasn’t relevant.
Everything about Silke screamed her identity. Her confidence. The graceful way she moved. Her voice should have been a warning to the demon. That low, compelling voice that made anyone listening want to do whatever she asked. Castello was far too used to living with humans and feeling superior. With all that, Benedek’s warning system was blaring loudly.
Silke, I have a bad feeling. My gut is generally reliable.
I have the same feeling, but he’s going to attack. Better to provoke him and catch him off guard.
Benedek didn’t have to like it. The moment he makes his move, I’ll shield Visser and Bakker. I’ve called the others in. They’re close.
Tora is close as well.
He knew her friend gave her far more confidence and comfort than knowing there were four other ancient hunters close by ready to aid them. His sense of humor must have been growing because he found that amusing.
I’m looping everyone into the communication, Benedek said.
We’re ready, Nicu said.
Benedek felt Silke reach for Tora to include her. The ancients rarely used the common Carpathian pathway to speak to one another because any vampire in the vicinity would hear and know what was said.
Go for it, o jelä sielamak, Benedek encouraged. He faced the demon, his body a shield for Silke.
Silke didn’t hesitate. “As for reading your mind, Castello, it isn’t difficult. You’re so smug in your belief that you’re superior to humans that you didn’t think to guard yourself. I’m adept at slipping into a mind such as yours and reading thoughts. You think to slay me with your poisonous blade. It is dipped in not only venom but those little spawns, the parasites that enter through the bloodstream, travel to the brain and hide.”
Castello’s lips drew back to show his teeth in a snarl. Before he could react, she continued in that same low, compelling tone.
“Did you know that several people here were infected with the little demons? They grew quickly, but they couldn’t resist my commands. I called them to me and they came. I slayed them. That’s what I do, Castello. I look for demons, find them and destroy them.”
His face grew a dark, mottled purple as she so casually mentioned destroying his allies.