roads becoming very slippery. Several miles into the mountains, we came to a long drive leading to a large building, covered in crumbling stucco and overgrown ivy. Ethan pulled the car off the road into a thicket of shrubs.

“Stay close, Mia. They don’t know who we are, or what we want. If Kurt is here, they might think we mean harm.”

We set off on foot toward the building. One by one they melted out of the shadows, small, deadly wraiths. The leader, who appeared to be ten or so when made, stepped forward on legs that looked too thin to support his starveling body. Wispy blond hair fell into hollowed brown eyes.

“We’re looking for someone.” Ethan held up a hundred marks. “Perhaps you’ve seen him?”

Glittering eyes watched us warily, as they fanned out into a circle around us. The leader swaggered up to Ethan, snatching the money away, slipping easily into English, “We are fifteen here,” the boy said, in a pure soprano. “Who are you looking for?”

“He’s not part of your pack. His name is Kurt.”

“Brovik’s minion? Lots looking for him. Who’s she?”

“Mia.” It was difficult for him to say the next part. “They’re bound to one another.”

“It’s all right, Max,” Kurt said, as he moved into the light. “She’s the one I told you about.”

“I’m not worried about her.”

Ethan cleared his throat. “I give my word I won’t harm anyone. We’ve come to help.”

“You lie! You’re the Northman’s alpha. You’ve come to take him!”

“This woman is of my making. I’m sworn to aid her.”

“Max, it’s fine,” Kurt assured him, as he approached. “It’s cold. Tell the boys to go inside.”

Max looked up with puppy dog eyes at Kurt, taking his hand. “Kurt?”

“I’m leaving with them.”

“Stay, we’ll protect you.”

“No, I’ve endangered you enough already.” Kurt turned to Ethan. “I have no money. They’ve given me shelter. I’ll repay you when I can.”

Ethan pulled out his billfold, peeling off another hundred marks. Kurt looked at it in disgust. “They’ve risked their lives.”

Ethan cursed under his breath, handing Kurt four more. Kurt gave them to Max.

“Get more blankets and kerosene. It’s too cold in there. I hope someday to do more.”

“You’re our brother, Kurt. You’ve always been good to us.”

Kurt smiled and ruffled Max’s hair. “You’ve been a good friend. Be careful.”

The little vampire flashed a grubby grin, embracing Kurt, and then whistled to his pack. They scurried back into the shadows like the rodents they were named for.

I threw my arms around Kurt, kissing him all over his dirty face. He turned to Ethan. “Why did you let her do this?”

“I’ve never been able to make her do a damn thing she didn’t want to. How ‘bout you?”

“Max says dogs are watching the airports and train stations surrounding Munich. You have a car?”

“Yes, we could try for Austria.”

Kurt shook his head. “They’re watching the borders. Better head north to Frankfurt. If we can avoid them, we can get a plane to the states there.”

Ethan looked at his watch. “It’s after seven. The weather is getting worse.”

Snow fell heavily in big sticky white flakes.

“Then we’ll have to wait it out here.”

“I won’t stay in this filthy hole, and I won’t allow Mia.”

Kurt’s eyes narrowed. “You put her out on a night like this with nothing but the clothes on her back. Come on, if we wait any longer, you’ll have no choice.

We went only a mile, before the roads became impassable. We had to turn back, but when Ethan turned the car it spun, crashing into a snow bank. Ethan and Kurt got out, pushing it, but it wouldn’t budge. We were stranded.

Kurt called to Ethan through the snow. “It’s no use! We must go back on foot. When the weather clears we’ll come back.”

Ethan cursed, opening the door for me. “Come on, we’re walking.”

I grumbled as my boots filled with slush. “Sure wish we had the power to control the elements like Dracula.”

“Even Immortyls bow to mother nature,” Ethan replied.

The three of us trudged through the snow until we reached the building. Kurt ran up to the door and beat on it.

“Max, kommt hier!”

Max opened the door, admitting us as Kurt explained our predicament. Max nodded in ascent and we followed him down a set of stairs into what appeared to be a large ward filled with old iron beds. A couple of kerosene heaters and filthy blankets provided some warmth. The floor was littered with trash and piles of moldering books they burned in a fireplace. The place reeked