Katie clambered onto my back and wrapped her legs around my waist. "Let's go."
At the top of the spiral staircase, a long hall ran to the left and right, wide enough for four people to walk abreast. The stone construction looked old but sturdy. Doors lined the corridor to our right. To the left, the tunnel ended at a red metal door with skull and crossbones on it.
"What's in there?" I asked.
"No idea. They keep it locked all the time." Katie motioned to the right. "That way."
I jogged in down the corridor, and peered inside the first open door. It had obviously been a prison cell, converted into a room complete with a bunk bed and rug.
"This used to be a dungeon," Katie said as we raced down the hall. "This is where most of the vampires live, but thankfully, it's still dark topside, so they're probably all up there."
A young woman stepped from a doorway and yelped as we almost ran her over.
Katie motioned with her hand as we approached a junction. "Take a left at the fork."
I nearly plowed into a guy and girl who were making out hot and heavy just outside a doorway. Ahead, a group of people mingled, drinking, laughing, and talking. Loud music started up.
"Act casual," Katie said.
"With you on my back?"
"Yes."
All eyes settled on the gray man as our group pushed through the crowded hall. From what I could tell, they were all noms—normal humans.
"What's wrong with him?" asked a girl, the alcohol on her breath concentrated enough to start a fire. She grabbed at the golem's hand.
"Too much alcohol," Katie said, and then yelled, "Giddy up, horsey!"
I made a whinnying sound and the crowd burst into laughter as we galloped away. A moment later, we reached a set of stairs leading up to an open archway.
"We have to be careful here," Katie whispered in my ear. She climbed off my back. "It'll be better if we walk. At the top of the stairs is the courtyard. We'll need to take a right and go through a tunnel to reach the dumpsters."
I nodded and looked at the golem. Unless it was pitch black, he'd stand out like a sore thumb in his gray suit. I looked inside a couple of the rooms and found an open suitcase with clothes about his size. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap. "Put these on."
"They do not match, Justin."
"I don't care. Now hurry!"
He stripped down to a pair of gray boxers while Katie watched with uneasy fascination. His hairless body appeared lean and muscular, his skin the same bloodless gray as his face. He slid on the jeans and the orange soccer jersey, sliding the baseball cap over his slicked-down, silvery hair last. Katie stood on her tiptoes and spun the hat around backwards, then slid a pair of wraparound shades on the golem's face.
She dusted off her hands. "Perfect."
The golem's expression never changed, but I figured if he had a miserable look, this was it.
"Am I sufficiently disguised?" he said.
"Yeah." I ducked into a room and grabbed a ball cap and shades for myself, slid them on. I waved toward the stairs. "Lead on, Katie."
She went up to the archway and peered through. Motioned us to follow. "Clear."
The compound looked like a fortress. A tall wall ran around the perimeter. Adobe buildings of varying size crowded the edges while a large brick-paved courtyard held the center. The shadowy forms of vampires patrolled the tops of the walls, and the courtyard was full of vampires. I'd expected them to be partying it up like the humans below, but they were all business.
Several long lines wended through the area. At the end of each one stood vampires handing out rifles and ammunition while yet another shouted squad assignments. Almost without exception, each vampire wore a band around their arm with the pierced heart of Blood Rush emblazoned upon it. No matter how raw these recruits might be, this place was obviously built with defensive capabilities. The Templars were walking into a slaughter. I had to get out of here and warn them.
Gunfire erupted from somewhere across the courtyard. Vampires shouted and raced toward the conflict, rifles at the ready.
"Oh no," I breathed. "I think the Templars are here already."
"We can get out and warn the others," Katie said, tugging my hand. "That's about all we can do."
"What the hell are you newbs doing out of the dungeon?" said an angry male voice