man had placed on her wrist in Scotland, which she had all but forgotten about. At that moment, as she looked at it, she knew it to be true, everything this man had said. She could suddenly feel the energy radiating off of it, its intense power practically burning through her wrist. She could feel that he was right, that it was some sort of clue. She was upset with herself that she had never considered it before, had never looked at it in that way. But now, suddenly, she knew that it was the key to finding the Shield. And more importantly, the key to finding her mommy.
And then, at the same moment, she realized that this clue could not get into this man’s hands.
Scarlet suddenly reached down, snatched the bracelet off her wrist, and brought it towards her mouth, preparing to swallow it, to keep it away from them for good.
But, to her surprise, the old man’s reflexes were faster than hers. He moved at the speed of light, and while her wrist was still moving towards her mouth, he reached out and grabbed it in mid-air. His grip was so cold, it felt like a block of ice had wrapped its claws around her skin. He held it with such force, it was as if he were an 18 year old man. Scarlet was strong as a vampire, stronger than she could imagine—yet, still, she was no match for this man.
As he squeezed her wrist harder, she found herself crying out in pain, then involuntarily opening her hand. The bracelet fell out, and the man grabbed it in mid-air, in his open palm.
Ruth suddenly lunged forward and tried to bite the man through her muzzle.
But he turned and kicked Ruth with such force that he sent her flying across the room and into the stone wall, yelping.
Scarlet had had enough. She reached up and lunged at the old man, and somehow moved fast enough to get her hands around his throat. She squeezed and squeezed the wrinkled skin, and took satisfaction in seeing his eyes open wide in surprise. She was really choking him. He was strong, stronger than any man she’d ever encountered—but so, she was realizing, was she.
A moment later she felt bodies descending on her, kicking and elbowing and pummeling her in every direction. They landed on top of her, tackling her to the ground.
Then she felt the silver shackles once again bind her wrists behind her back, as they planted her cheek against the stone floor. They grabbed her and dragged her to her feet.
Scarlet stood there, her face covered in dirt, scowling back at the old man, who now scowled back at her. She could see that she had shaken him.
“You insolent little brat,” he snapped.
He held up the bracelet before her, dangling it in the torchlight, mocking her.
“You have just given me the key to the kingdom, the key to everything I need in life. I will now find the Shield, and I will take you with us. I will make you watch as I summon a greater evil the universe has ever know, and then,” he smiled broadly, “I will kill both you and your mommy with great delight.”
*
Scarlet was prodded from behind, and after a strong shove, she stumbled several feet. Ruth snarled, protective of her, and turned and tried to snap the guard; but she was still muzzled, and there was little she could do.
Scarlet felt her rage heightening as she was led by the group of vampires down the back alleys of Jerusalem. Everywhere they went, crowds parted, scrambling to get as far away from them as possible. They must have sensed the evil energy of this pack, marching on a mission.
Scarlet desperately wanted to break free, to fight back, to make a run for—but she could not. She struggled against the silver shackles binding her wrists, and realized she was helpless. She was at their mercy.
Sam and his girlfriend and the leader were in front as they twisted and turned through the alleys, marching on the ancient stone streets, going Scarlet could only guess where. They had taken Scarlet along, and while she was grateful to be free from that dark jail, she hardly felt at ease with this crowd. She knew that whenever they found whatever it was they needed, they would kill her. Or worse, use her to lure her mommy, then kill them both.
Scarlet felt another pang of fear, but there was little