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But the piles of dusty valuables on the shelves did seem to hint of a presence—a sentience?—with tastes differing from the vampire’s. It was hard to imagine Zoltan pushing toy trains around hislaboratory.
What could I offer the house that it would want? I shouldn’t offer up the most valuable things I had as an opening move. That was no way to bargain. Besides, not everything on those shelves looked that valuable. Morequirky.
“I have an idea,” I blurted. “Stay here, Sindari. So it doesn’t think we’re leaving. I’ll be rightback.”
Don’t let the dark elves see you,Sindari said as I trotted for the frontdoor.
Normally, that would have been difficult, since nothing but the lawn and the vacant house stood between me and the street, but I touched my cloaking charm and activated its camouflage. The house didn’t try to keep me from leaving. Maybe it only kidnapped one trespasser a night. Or maybe it had only been irked at Dimitri because he had presumed to touch one of itsboxes.
Even with a few stars visible between clouds, the night was very dark, save for the street lights out front. One shined on Dimitri’s van, mydestination.
Trying not to stir the wet grass much, I skirted the house. I started toward the driveway, but that security car was still there. Why had the patroller lingered so long? I’d thought he’d been scaredoff.
The driver side door was open. Maybe he was ordering apizza.
But as I drew closer and caught the scent of recently butchered meat, I realized the truth. Blood pooled on the driveway under the open door, and the man was slumped in his seat, hanging over the center console. The dark elves must have killed him—I’d been with Zoltan the whole time, so I doubted he was responsible. Besides, a vampire would simply bite his victim, not cut his throat or whatever had been done to make thatmess.
I didn’t go closer to investigate—with all the trouble I was in, I didn’t need to risk getting my fingerprints all over a crime scene—but I couldn’t help feeling guilty. This guy had only been called in because of me, because I’d been in a hurry and hadn’t been more careful coming up to thehouse.
Why the dark elves had bothered him, I didn’t know, but I was starting to hate them for more than poisoning Willard and burning her building. I vowed to find their leader and make him or her pay for allthis.
Angry, I threw open the van door with more force than necessary, and the clunk echoed up and down the street. As the inside light came on, I cursed my carelessness. My cloaking charm couldn’t hide allthis.
Well, maybe it would lure the dark elves back out here. Then I could circle around, get Dimitri, and escape the carriage house without an encounter. Even if I wouldn’t mind sinking my sword into their chests right now, we’d seen five of them initially, and that was more than a sane person would fight, especially when I was stiff and bruised from the tarantulafight.
I snatched the alien bobblehead doll off Dimitri’s crate, closed the van door, and turned back for the house. A bush in the beauty bark on one side shivered even though there was no breeze. Yes, the dark elves were coming toinvestigate.
Careful not to make any more noise, I hurried around the opposite side of the house. With luck, they wouldn’t expect me to goback.
I made it to the carriage house without encountering any of them and slipped inside. The projection of Dimitri had disappeared. Sindari sat waiting by thedoor.
That’s the bribe you’re going to leave?he askedskeptically.
I’m going totry.
Does it haveanyvalue?
You’d have to ask Dimitri. I’m not a collector of,uh…
Useless junk?Sindarisuggested.
Movieparaphernalia.
Useless junk.He sniffeddisdainfully.
I took the bobblehead to the box-filled shelves and, in case the house was watching in judgment, hugged it and patted its head, as if its loss would grieve me greatly. Then I set it on a dusty box and backed away. If this didn’t work, Sindari and I would have to start tearing upfloorboards.
A moan came from all around us, and a wind came up out of nowhere to batter at the roof. Chains I hadn’t seen rattled in the corners, and the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor of the loft above filtereddown.
This dwelling is melodramatic,Sindari informedme.
Are there no haunted houses in yourrealm?
No.
A green light started glowing in the center of the carriage house, and I glanced at the boarded-up windows. There were plenty of cracks between them, so if some of the dark elves were still in the back yard, they would see this. The light grew brighter. I was starting to hate this place. If I saw Zoltan again, I’d tell him to be like a normal vampire and get a nice basement apartment in thecity.
The light flared so bright that I had to turn away. A loud thud came from the center of it, and I whirled back, Fezzik at theready.
