up a heavy book and throw it at the vampire’s head. He stumbles, stunned. I kick him, and he flies directly into the large stone fireplace. The switch is hidden behind the mantel. I flip it, and he’s consumed in the jet of pressurized flame that shoots directly into him.
And look, I didn’t even catch my room on fire. That was our one concern with that method, but I figured out a way to keep it contained. Just put the vampire directly in the fireplace. “Go me,” I mutter, then step back into the dark passageways.
If the attackers are working under plans from Artemis and Honora, they’ll know about the secret passageways. I walk toward the nearest entrance. Sure enough, the closet door is ajar. I lean toward it.
The screams echo down the narrow stone passageways. Definitely several vampires’ worth of screaming.
I can’t quite imagine what the tiny purple demons are doing in there, but whatever it is, they’re good at it. No secret passageway movements for hostiles. I hope Artemis isn’t one of them. I almost call the tiny purple demons off, but I can’t afford to protect her. Creeping around secret passageways isn’t Artemis’s style. I sprint back toward the main hall to make sure my mother has it under control.
There are two vampires writhing on the floor, clawing at their now-empty eye sockets. Tsip looks up at me, beaming. “I got some eyes, Nina! And it’s my birthday!”
“Great job, I guess?” I stake the vampires, knowing even sightless vampires have enough killer instincts to be threats. My mother must still be hidden outside in the alcove, protecting the front door.
I peer out the window to see several hellhounds converging on the entrance. I open the door, grab my mother, and yank her inside before slamming it closed again.
“Thank you, Artemis,” she says, straightening her jacket. “Nina!” she corrects.
The fact that the first name on her tongue while being rescued was my sister’s hurts even more. I know it was a mistake. But it was a mistake born of habit. Artemis is the one she relies on when things get bad. And now Artemis is the one making things bad.
We share one silent, agonized look. We don’t have time to say anything, though. Rhys and Cillian run in from the dorm wing, Leo behind them. He looks beyond winded.
“Leo, into the tower section. Pelly’s there. Keep it safe. Sean did bad things to it for a long time, and I’m sure he’d love to take it back.”
I can see the struggle on Leo’s face. It’s killing him to have to leave this fight to us. But he nods and heads toward the kitchen, where he’ll access the door to the condemned tower section.
“Why now?” Leo asks, pausing.
“What?” I’m peering out the window. The hellhounds are circling. There’s no sign of Artemis or Honora, which is troubling.
“Why did they attack now?”
“Because I pissed them off at the convention!”
“No, he’s right,” Rhys says, reloading his crossbow. “You pissed them off a long time ago. What’s changed?”
“I don’t know! They have Artemis and Honora on their side now. They had room in their calendar for a quick castle assault. They threw a dart and it hit ‘screw over Nina’ on a board. Does it matter?”
“It might!”
“Well, we don’t have time to figure it out now! Leo, get into the tower wing. Rhys, Cillian, take up sentry in the Council wing. You should have a good view out of Bradford Smythe’s old rooms. Pick them off if they come near.”
“Anyone who comes near?” Rhys asks, hesitant.
I almost say yes, that’s how focused I am on protecting the castle. But Artemis. And, hells, Honora. I don’t want her dead. If only so I can rub her defeat in her face. “Legs until you can see their faces. Then heart shots, assuming vamps or demons.”
“On it.”
“Be careful,” Cillian says.
“Oh, I don’t plan on being careful. I plan on being vicious.”
Jade appears from the dorm wing. Her head is still bleeding, but she has my discarded crossbow and looks terrifying as opposed to terrified. “Took out two more. If you can cover me, I’ll go to the shed and get supplies to blow up their vans so they can’t get away.”
My mother cuts a hand through the air. “Too risky. There are hellhounds out there. Post yourself at the far end of the dorm wing. Guard our backs.”
Jade scowls, but she nods and disappears where she came from.
“We do need to neutralize the hellhounds.” My