Destined for an Early Grave (Page 27)

With or without sound, it was clear that negotiations wouldn’t happen.

The first of the machine guns began firing. As one, the vampires took to the air, while Rodney manned a machine gun of his own. I was relieved to see some unfamiliar faces come from the castle to join Bones and the others. The vampires disappeared from the screens for a few seconds, reemerging as they bombarded the ghouls like their bodies were inhuman missiles. When they flew off in bursts of speed, either the ghoul would be headless on the ground, or dazed.

It was an incredible sight to see. From my rapid calculation, there were a dozen vampires guarding the castle, and each one of them struck with the force of a guided tornado.

Except it didn’t appear to be enough. The ghouls who survived the fierce one-on-ones didn’t stay dazed long. They shook themselves off and began their grim march forward. Step by step, they were covering the distance to the castle. Their numbers were lessening, true, but they had an obvious determination. Bones and the others might be formidable, but math was math. There weren’t enough of them.

After about twenty minutes of fierce fighting, the ghoul spokesman fired a flare, illuminating the still-muted sky in a blaze. I tensed, my hand pressed against the unforgiving screen as if that could offer assistance. It didn’t, of course. And the others forces began emerging from beneath the cover of the lower hills.

I screamed, vaulting up and tugging at the door to my sealed cage. It didn’t even budge. I started searching to find the lever to open this trap. There had to be one.

My heart was pounding so loudly, it seemed to be screaming along with me. Another hundred ghouls had just come from the concealment of the landscape. They had attacked in two waves, a clever, deadly plan. Pick just before dawn when the vampires were weakest. Have them expend their power on the first segment, draining them further. Then, when they were at their weariest, close in for the kill. And here was I, locked in a safe room, utterly helpless to do anything but watch.

A ring shattered my concentration. With my hammering pulse, I actually waited a second to see if it was real or imagined. It sounded again, and I had to wade through the spilled items I’d flung about to find its source. Underneath some clothes was my cell phone. I grabbed at it, hoping against hope that it was Don. Maybe he could help. Send some troops, even if I didn’t know where the f**k we were.

"Catherine."

The voice reached me before I’d even had time to gasp hello. It wasn’t my uncle.

"Gregor."

I was breathing heavily, a combination of my broken ribs, terror over losing Bones, and my futile search for a way out.

"Don’t be afraid, my wife."

His tone was soothing, but it had an undercurrent of something else. What, I didn’t know or care.

"I don’t have time for this…" Spaces were needed to catch my breath. "Have to get out of here…"

"You are in no danger."

That made a harsh laugh escape me. "Boy, are you wrong."

"They won’t harm you, Catherine."

Now I clutched the phone and recognized what his voice held. Confidence.

"These are your ghouls, aren’t they?" I breathed.

On the screen, Bones was regrouping the vampires nearest to him, dodging gunfire with every second. The earlier scene made sense to me now. An envoy had approached and made a demand that Bones refused. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what that demand was. That’s why Bones had me under lock and key. He knew I wouldn’t have sacrificed everyone if I could help it.

"It doesn’t have to end this way, ma cherie," Gregor said. "Come to me, and I swear my people will leave without further harm to yours."

"What you don’t know is that I’m locked in a panic room," I snapped. "Even if I wanted to, I can’t go anywhere."

"You don’t have to move from where you are to come to me," he almost purred, "I am the Dreamsnatcher. I can get you if you but sleep."

Sleep? Who could sleep at a time like this? The walls vibrated from the barrage of shooting, and I was going to throw up over what was on the monitors. Short of banging my head against the wall until I passed out, I didn’t see sleep happening.

"Easier said than done."

My voice trailed off, losing its desperate scorn. Bones had packed this room with care. There were a few books, snack foods, beverages, writing utensils, and most importantly – pills.

I weighed the decision, glancing between the pill bottle and the desperate scenario playing out on the monitors. Mencheres said Gregor didn’t want to hurt me. All the precautions Bones had taken were to keep Gregor from finding me, but not because Gregor wanted to kill me, because Gregor wanted me with him.

It might be dangerous to go to him, but Bones and my friends were in far more danger now than I’d be with Gregor later. I couldn’t just sit back and hope a miracle would prevent them from being slaughtered before my eyes.

"I’ll do it, but not without conditions."

Gregor made a disbelieving noise. "Perhaps you don’t know the seriousness of what’s happening."

"I’ve got a bird’s-eye view," I corrected him, biting my lip. "But I still have conditions."

Another scoff. "I won’t harm you, Catherine."

"That’s nice, but it’s not what I’m after." God, the new force of ghouls was starting to fire, converging with the remaining first group. I didn’t have much time. "As soon as I’m with you, this attack stops. You’re responsible to make sure they get called off and stay called off. You want me to remember what happened with us? Fine, I’ll do it. But if after I remember everything, I still want to go back to Bones…you’ll let me leave, immediately, and without exception. It’s a gamble, Dreamsnatcher, how confident are you?"

I was deliberately going for his arrogance. There was no doubt in my mind that whatever I discovered, it wouldn’t change my feelings toward Bones. Gregor didn’t know that, of course. With my open challenge, he’d have to be insecure not to agree, and he didn’t strike me as insecure.

"I wouldn’t turn you out without protection, if it came to that. I would see you safely escorted," was his careful, measured reply. "Yes, I am confident enough to gamble. Your terms are acceptable."

I wasn’t going to let him mince words. "Swear it on your life, Gregor, because that’s what I’ll take if you’re lying."

"You’re threatening me?" He sounded amused. "Fine. I swear it on my life."

I released a deep sigh. I didn’t really trust Gregor, but I had to take the chance. If I didn’t, and everyone here died, I’d never forgive myself. Lord, please let Gregor be telling the truth, and please, please, let Bones understand.