the same jocularity you have displayed thus far, you will end up dead or one of his minions."
"Don't you worry, King George," Cora said. "I aim to do this one sober."
"Do you typically fight the supernatural while intoxicated?"
"It's been known to happen," Cora said, grinning at him.
James shook his head in wonder. "I find it remarkable that you're alive, Mrs Oglesby."
"I could say the same, James. People that take this kind of thing too serious end up killing themselves with worry before the spooks get the chance."
"In order to combat this powerful a menace, one must be methodical and careful in the execution of one's tactics. A single mistake could mean the difference between life and death, or life and unlife, as it were."
Cora rolled her eyes. "That only works until your prey catches wind of your plan. Then it's all up in smoke."
"Which is precisely why you keep your own counsel," James said. "Speaking out of turn is one of those missteps that can lead to your undoing."
"Well, that's the difference between you and me, I guess," Cora said. "I ain't never fought nothing that could think better than a mongrel, so I never had to worry about them figuring out what I was up to."
"You'll need to accustom yourself to the idea if you intend to survive this encounter."
Cora nodded, and they spent the rest of the ride in silence. The carriage rumbled and bounced along the snowy road for another fifteen minutes before coming to a stop. She felt the cab shift as the driver climbed down from his perch. A few moments later, the door swung open, letting in a stream of cold air.
James motioned for her to exit first, and she obliged. Her boots crunched on the fresh snowfall as she stepped into the morning air. The sun hung just above the eastern peaks. She squinted into its glare, her gaze sweeping over the valley below them.
"Mrs Oglesby?" James asked. "This way, please."
Turning away from the sun, she followed James toward the great frowning wall of the mining complex. A single tower dominated one end of the building, fed by a long ramp built on aging trusses. The roof sloped back toward the mountain's peak in a large black slab. Along the far wall, a low row of windows lingered in the shadow of the overhanging roof.
James unlocked a windowless door at the base of the tower and disappeared into the darkness beyond. Cora noted the large cross nailed above the doorway. Looking closer, she saw that it was made of broken trusses. James Townsend must really be worried if he was making makeshift crosses out of scraps. She wasn't sure what the vampires would make of it, but she wasn't all that impressed. Still, any shelter in a storm, or so her father used to say.
Cora followed her guide into the shadows, leaving the door open behind her. In the dim light, she could see the back of James's tweed jacket as he busied himself lighting lanterns for their trip into the mines.
"You ain't got them fancy electric lights up in here yet?" she asked.
James turned, a surprised look on his face. "Why, no, we don't. I wasn't aware America had electric power in remote locations like this."
"I don't reckon we do," Cora said, "but I figured Lord Harcourt could money up his own if he had a mind."
"There are some things money can't purchase, my dear," James said, "and civilization in America is one of those things."
"I reckon so," Cora said. She waited in silence while James lit a pair of lanterns. In their glow, she could make out the details of the room. It looked like an office, though it was clear it hadn't been used in a few weeks. A thin layer of dust had already settled on the large desk standing in one corner, covering abandoned papers and coffee tins.
"Here you are," James said, handing her a lantern.
"So what exactly is your plan?" Cora asked. "Just charge down there with these lanterns and our good looks and hope they run off?"
James offered her a tight smile. "Hardly, Mrs Oglesby. I will be taking you into the secure area of the mine to show you the environment and the precautions I've already taken."
"You're sure that area is still secure?"
"Of course," James replied. "I make daily rounds here to ensure that Lord Harcourt's property doesn't fall further into their control."