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“Laria, what the hell is—”
“Seth Johnstone is dead.”
It took a moment for the implication of that announcement to sink in, and when it did, his plea was immediate.
“Get. Out. Of. There. I’m not kidding—”
“I know, I know. We are. I mean, we will. But Torr and I wanted to be sure first—”
“The Cheld you were chasing?”
Silence.
Kenton moved closer. His sister’s voice was loud enough for him overhear everything.
“Definitely.”
This was an over two hundred-year-old vampire. Even for a strong Cheld, such a feat was rare.
“How can you be sure?” he asked, making eye contact with Kenton.
“Aside from the coincidence of a. . . of one of us being killed in the same city,” she lowered her voice, “where an errant Cheld is known to be?”
“Yes,” he answered. “Aside from that.”
“Just that pretty much everyone here is freaking out because the rumor is the victim’s head was severed clear off his body.”
She hadn’t even told him exactly where here was, but it hardly mattered.
“There’s no way this guy is working alone. Two hundred years old? He must be with—”
“The Sect. I know, Torr and I said the same thing. Apparently Seth was wrong.”
Unlike rogue Cheld who sometimes simply become hunters, the Sect keep detailed records through the ages of their exact methods. They train. They exchange knowledge. And because of their steadfast dedication to their cause—the eradication of all vampires-- they were also extremely dangerous. Even so, it had been some time since they attacked so openly.
“Get out of there,” he repeated. “Come back to Stone Haven—”
“Not yet. We want to be sure this Cheld isn’t following us.”
A tricky proposition with him being cloaked once again. But Lawrence wouldn’t argue with that logic. Leading them here would not but good for anyone. But neither did he care for the idea of his brother and sister being led on a merry chase around the world, without him.
Still, I will not intervene.
He’d made a promise to himself and would not relent this time. Laria and Torr could take care of themselves.
“We thought you should know,” she said, her next words muffled as she apparently spoke to Torr. “But please don’t worry. We’re leaving today.”
“Good.”
“I’ll call with any news.”
With that, his sister’s voice was replaced by silence as she ended the call.
Catching Kenton’s eyes, he passed a look to him that said he didn’t want to talk about it. His siblings were more than capable.
“You said they’re at Elmwood—”
“They are.”
“And it’s late.”
“It is.”
Lawrence looked at his watch. If he left now, he’d be there by midnight.
Decision made, he stood.
“If she takes you back . . . you are here to get her back, I assume?”
“I am,” he said, his jaw set.
“Then my fiancée will need company.” Kenton walked around the bar and indicated that Lawrence should walk ahead. “It appears we’re going on vacation.”
