My fingers touched a stick ...
the silver-and-wood staff was tucked under my cheek.
I stroked it because it made me feel better.
"You'd better hide yourself, my pretty," I murmured in a fake pirate accent.
"Or you'll be put in his treasure room and never let see the light of day." Something under my ear chimed, we took a hard corner, and I lost track of where the staff was.
I hoped it had listened to me and left.
It wouldn't be much help against a vampire, and I didn't want it to come to harm while it was in my care.
"Now you're talking to inanimate objects," I said out loud.
"And believing they are listening to you.
Get a grip, Mercy." The car slowed to a crawl, then stopped.
I heard the clang of chain and metal on pavement, then the car moved slowly forward.
It sounded like Blackwood's gates were a little more upscale than Marsilia's.
Did vampires worry about things like that? I rolled up, crossed my legs, and bent over until my chin rested on my heels.
When Corban opened the trunk, I simply sat up.
It must have looked as though I'd been doing it all along.
I hoped that it would draw his attention away from the contents of the trunk, so he wouldn't notice the staff.
If it was still in there at all.
"Blackwood has Chad?" I asked him.
His mouth opened, but no sound came out.
"Look," I said, climbing out of the trunk with less grace than I'd planned.
Damned Taser or stun gun or whatever it had been.
"We don't have much time.
I need to know what the situation is.
You said he had Chad.
Exactly what did he tell you to do? Did he tell you why he wanted me?" "He has Chad," Corban said.
He closed his eyes, and his face flushed red--like a weight lifter after a great effort.
His voice came slowly.
"I get you when you are alone.
No one around.
Not your roommate.