Which one had spoken, this I could not discern. Male or woman, who knew. Although, I supposed it did not matter much.
Ryder waited for us to join him on the top stair and then positioned himself in front. Was it to protect us?
Or perhaps I was seeing benevolence where it did not belong.
He popped the collar of his peacoat and gave them a brilliant smile, teeth startling white under the light of the full moon. “Name’s Ryder. This here’s Shannon. We’ve brought the two that will needed to be interrogated by the Committee. They’re expected.”
The Committee?
The one on the left nodded at me. “She carries a weapon. We cannot allow passage until the sword is relinquished. There will be no weapons at the meeting.”
I felt my mouth dry. “That seems rather unfair. I’m sure most, if not all, is fully capable of tearing off my head with their own two hands. Do you mean to tell me that all vampires have been handcuffed?”
Ryder snorted, which then rapidly turned into a fit of coughing.
Shannon sighed. “For fuck’s sake, just give them your weapon. Ryder’ll probably keep your safe. He’s been wanting to get into your pants for God knows how long.”
I chose to ignore the last sentence. “I don’t like how you use the word “probably”, vampire. I would like to be certain of my safety.”
Jason cleared his throat. “Don’t worry, Ran. You’re not the one they want, anyways.”
“No, you are,” I replied. “But they’ll have to get past me to get to you. Only my death would bring about such an outcome.”
Ryder held up his hands, still a bit out of breath. “Whoa, whoa. Why are you guys already talking about dying and stuff? I’m telling you, as long as you keep your mouth shut, things are going to be okay. They’re just curious about you, that’s all. Just...just let us do all the talking, okay? Besides, it’s not like Shannon doesn’t have anything to lose either.”
It’s not like Shannon doesn’t have anything to lose...
What was that supposed to mean?
Shannon cut in. “Look, can we just go in now? It’s fucking freezing.”
And indeed, it had grown cold, so cold that I was shivering underneath the thick sportscoat, my neck unprotected by the sudden gale that tossed the hair into my eyes.
“Give them your sword,” said Jason.
As my Master, I could only obey him.
I did so, although it was with the most extreme reluctance I let a vampire take hold of the leather shoulder strap. “This is priceless to me.”
The vampire nodded. “As well it should be.”
Ryder put a hand on my arm. I let him. “We should go. It’s never a good idea to keep them waiting.”
Shannon followed his lead and put a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “I’ll lead.”
One of the guards pulled open a door, and I stared at the dark, gaping maw that couldn’t have been any less uninviting. “May you find luck this night.”
Ryder flashed them a blinding smile. “Of course, we will. After all, I’ve got my victory goddess with me.”
As if to prove his point, he lifted his hand, and mine with it.
A victory goddess.
Me.
If I hadn’t been so sick of fear of the darkness, I might have preened, even just a little bit.
Vampire or no, being called by such lofty titles was a luxury ill-afforded to me and I would have been a spiteful fool not to respond. “You flatter me.”
Or perhaps I was just stalling for time.
“Shall we?”
I felt Jason’s eyes on my back, my neck before I nodded, mutely.
For now, I would follow the vampires.
How the Fellowship would stare if they could only see the situation I had fallen into. To protect a vampire, to be protected by a vampire...I have never once thought of myself as mighty, but I really could not think of another saying except for How the mighty have fallen.
It wasn’t that much warmer in the foyer and I watched the moonlight play over the double staircases that extended up on both sides of the main entranceway, two hallways spreading out on both sides on both floors, but we would not be using the stairs nor the hallway.
Before us, stood another vampire, this one dressed in much the same way as the ones at the front, and he snapped to attention, his muscular structure marking him as very much a male. “They are waiting for you.”
Taking a step to the right, he exposed a narrow staircase leading down to the lower levels and I felt my heart leap