entire grotto to know—she only needs me.”
The new voice coming out of the darkness ahead of them made Kara jerk her head up despite the drug she’d been given.
Standing there, blocking their path like a pillar made of smoke and shadow, was Raakshas.
Ten
The big Unbondable was bare-chested and wearing nothing but a pair of loose sleeping trousers and boots but he was still a terrible sight to behold. His muscular arms were crossed over his chest and his hair was a wild black wave around his angry face. His silver-ringed eyes flashed in the dim light.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing with Kara?” he demanded, his deep voice rolling and echoing in the long, broad tunnel.
“Who is this and how does he know your niece?” demanded Dr. ThrobGood, sounding incensed.
“I have no idea!” Grennly exclaimed. “He appears to be one of the merchants who came with the last batch—some kind of Kindred spawn—but I don’t know him.”
“You’re gonna know me in a minute if you don’t take your hands off Kara.” Raak’s voice was a deep, menacing growl.
“You have the wrong idea, my good fellow,” Dr. ThrobGood said smoothly. “We are simply taking this young lady for a necessary medical procedure and as you can see, time is of the essence. Now if you would just move aside…”
“I don’t think so.” Raak took a step forward, bending down to look Kara in the eyes. “Hey, baby girl,” he said softly, his own eyes concerned. “What’s going on here?”
Kara tried to answer him but the drug was creeping up on her again. She opened her mouth but no words came out this time.
“As you can see, she’s very ill!” Grennly exclaimed. “We need to get her to the doctor’s office at once! Now will you please get out of the way!”
Raak frowned and for a moment Kara was desperately afraid he was going to believe their lies and let them take her. Then he leaned closer, looking intently at her.
“Just tell me this, Kara—are you going with these two of your own free will?” he asked.
With a mighty effort, Kara somehow found the strength to shake her head back and forth.
“N…no,” she forced out with a gasp.
“Didn’t think so,” Raak said and punched her Uncle Grennly right in the face.
“Oh!” Cursing and swearing, Grennly toppled over, dropping his hold on Kara’s arm which caused her to sag to one side. She would have fallen to the floor except Dr. ThrobGood was still holding doggedly to her other arm.
“All right…” Raak turned to the doctor next, his big fists ready and the light of battle in his silver-ringed eyes. “Are you going to let her go or do you want some of what he got?” He nodded at Grennly who was rolling on the floor, cupping his hands to his bleeding face and moaning about a broken nose.
“You don’t seem to understand—this girl has a deformity.” The doctor spoke clearly and distinctly, as though to a slow child he was trying to explain things to. “I am taking her back to my office to fix her. To help her.”
“Yeah, well it doesn’t look to me like she wants your help.” Raak stepped forward. “Come on—give her up.”
Angrily, Dr. ThrobGood dropped Kara’s arm and shoved her away from him. She would have fallen flat on her face if Raak—moving with amazing speed—hadn’t caught her and swung her into his arms.
“This is an outrage!” The doctor’s fruity voice trembled with anger. “You cannot get away with this! You’ll be expelled from this grotto at once!”
“Oh yeah? You go ahead and try,” Raak growled.
“I’ll do more than that. I am one of the guardians of this grotto and I have the means to defend it!” Dr. ThrobGood declared, his voice echoing with righteous rage.
Cradled against the side of Raak’s chest, Kara could still see the doctor standing beside Grennly, who was still crouched on the floor. Dr. ThrobGood was fumbling inside his furry orange tharp-kilt as though looking for something in an inner pocket. When he got it out, she saw a long, tubular piece of silver with a mouthpiece at one end.
What is that? she thought fuzzily. Some kind of dog whistle?
She got her answer shortly. Putting the silver tube to his lips, Dr. ThrobGood blew a long, loud, shrill blast which echoed all up and down the Central Corridor.
“Help!” he shouted. “Rouse out! Come to the Central Corridor—there is an intruder who must be expelled! The safety of the grotto is