Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,51
cloaks, which not only masked their presence, but their scent, as well.
“What do we do now?”
“You stay here. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“But . . .”
He silenced her with a kiss. “Let me go in and look around. If he upholds his end of the bargain, he’ll send Vivian out when I go in. If he does, you take her and get the hell out of here. Go to her place. The two of you should be safe enough there.”
Callie stared up at him, her expression mutinous.
Quill placed his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t want you near him,” Quill said. “I don’t want him to try to use you against me. Do you understand?”
She nodded unhappily.
“That’s my girl,” he murmured. Drawing her into his arms, he kissed her hard and long, and then he was striding across the street, climbing the porch stairs.
Callie’s heart was in her throat when he opened the front door and crossed the threshold.
* * *
Quill stopped just inside the entryway. A thought closed the door behind him.
Vivian sat in a kitchen chair in the middle of the living room, her whole body rigid, her face fish-belly white, eyes wide and frightened. It was obvious she was under a spell of one kind or another.
The Knight stood behind her, a dagger at her throat.
“I’m here,” Quill said. “Let the woman go.”
“All in good time.” With his free hand, the Knight pulled a pair of heavy silver manacles from his coat pocket and dropped them in Vivian’s lap. “She’s going to bind you first. Put your hands behind your back.”
Quill eyed the manacles. All vampires, Hungarian or Transylvanian, were weakened by silver if it was pure. He had little doubt about these. Even from a distance, he could feel their power. Jaw clenched, he did as he’d been told.
The Knight nudged Vivian’s shoulder. “Bind him.”
Pushing to her feet, Vivian took one stiff-legged step after another until she stood in front of him.
The Knight jerked his chin at Quill. “Turn around.”
He did so reluctantly. His flesh burned as soon as she locked the manacles in place. Turning to face the Knight, he said, “Now let her go.”
“Very well. Vivian, go home.”
She didn’t hesitate. Flinging open the door, she ran out into the night.
The door hit the wall with such force that it flew back and slammed shut.
* * *
“Over here!” Callie hollered when Vivian ran outside.
Vivian darted across the street toward her, tears streaming down her face. “Callie! Oh, Callie!”
“It’s all right,” she said, throwing her arms around Viv. “It’s over now. What’s going on in there?”
“That man . . . he made me handcuff Quill. I think he’s going to kill him!”
“I know. Listen, I want you to go home and lock your door and don’t open it for anyone. Can you do that?”
Vivian shook her head. “What’s going on, Callie? Who was that man? Why does he want Quill?”
“I don’t have time to explain it all now. Just go home. Or, better yet, go stay with your parents or your sister. I’ll call you as soon as I can. Now, go!”
With a nod, Vivian hurried down the sidewalk.
Callie waited until Viv was out of sight, then she ran across the street. Keeping to the shadows, she crept around the side of the house. A whispered word parted the living room curtains just enough so she could see inside.
* * *
“What now?” Quill asked.
“You die.” Trey 95 tapped the point of the dagger against his chin. “But how? Something slow and painful. Perhaps I’ll take you back to the Dark Wood and let the Brotherhood watch.” He grunted thoughtfully. “Or maybe I’ll just avenge my brother’s death and kill you now.” He nodded. “Your head will be enough to prove that I destroyed you.”
“Looking for a little glory, are you?”
Trey 95 grinned. “Why not? I’ll be famous! They’ll write songs about me long after we’re both gone.”
Quill stared at the Knight, his mind racing. It was useless trying to manipulate the Knight’s mind while he was wearing that damn medallion. He couldn’t break the shackles that bound him. His powers were virtually useless. All preternatural creatures had at least one weakness and silver was his. Damn!
“Now or later,” Trey 95 muttered. Eyes narrowed, he looked at his prisoner. And then he nodded. “I think now is better, after all. A head is so much easier to carry than a body.”
Quill watched as the Knight sheathed his dagger and then bent down, reaching for something