Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (43 page)
“Aldon, if I may speak?” Lucien Bancroft asked.
“You may,” he assured him.
“First of all, I would like to send our sympathies to the parents of the young girl in question,” Lucien said with a slight bow in the direction of the Digbys. “I also want to express how disgusted we are over this horrible act. Our coven has dedicated itself to change by blending with human society, and we implore that you believe me when I say we had nothing to do with this. We shall help you by any means and find who has committed this foul deed.” Aldon scanned the room and made eye contact with everyone in attendance. “We all have children, and as parents we would not wish this ordeal on anyone.” Looking directly at the Roland Digby as he spoke, “No one in our coven shall rest until we find the responsible party. You have my word on this, and I do speak for all of us. I know we have had our differences in the past, but I want us to work together. I fear that
all
of our children may be at risk.”
“Thank you, Lucien. I do believe in your coven’s innocence. Though I am not ruling out the possibility a vampire was responsible for this act. I hope you do indeed follow through on your word and help us end this plague on Astoria. It is
our
home that is being threatened. This meeting is adjourned!” Aldon announced and nodded to Lucien as the others silently filed out of the room.
“My old friend, it is so pleasant to see you again. And can my eyes be deceiving me? You look well. Whatever could have brought this change about, I wonder?” Andrei’s sneer confirmed the lies in his words.
“I would ask you to sit, but you won’t be here long. I just need one question answered. What knowledge do you have of the recent attacks here in Astoria?” Lucien asked coldly.
“Now what would possess you to ask me this question?” Andrei replied, looking offended.
“Andrei, whatever crazy game you are playing at
shall
stop, or there will be dire consequences. This is my home and you are trespassing! I want you away from here! And I do not just mean this house, or this town, but this country. Go home, or else!”
“Or else what? Who will make me? You and your insipid group? I think not! You have become too humanized and are not strong enough to challenge me! I would crush you with ease!” Andrei’s eyes turned jet black, his face full of anger, as his teeth descended rapidly. Towering a half a foot over Andrei, Lucien’s eyes were also jet black, his teeth sharp and ready.
“Do you find these threats wise? Is your memory so lacking that you have forgotten the past so soon? I am not the man you saw last time you were here. So if you were smart, I would leave now before my anger worsens!” Lucien’s voice bellowed throughout the quiet house. “Oh, and do give my regards to my sister the next time you see her.” Lucien grinned as Andrei stormed out of the study and disappeared.
Filled with rage, Andrei stomped through the old, abandoned, complex tunnel system that ran under Astoria. “How dare that drunk talk to me that way! He does not intimidate me!” Though his words said otherwise, Andrei shuddered as he thought back to the day long ago when Lucien had bested him.
Reaching the tunnel system’s central chamber, he spotted their human “cow” unconscious and chained to the far wall. His clothes were new, as the ones he had been captured in had grown disgustingly ripe after so many weeks in captivity. Andrei’s anger increased as he saw the three girls lying on the mattresses strewn about, each fast asleep. “Wake up!” he yelled, his voice echoing off the barren walls. The three jumped up, trembling at the viciousness in his voice. “How many times have I told you three idiots that you must not drink until your food passes out? You also need to keep him fed or we will lose our supply. And how can he eat if he is always unconscious? Imbeciles!” he growled. “Now, go and find him some sustenance. And then, please, someone wake him up!”
Without a word the three girls scurried from his presence. Andrei plopped down on one of the mattresses and stared at the still form of Melvin Pierson, the missing biology teacher.
Cat shivered as she opened her bedroom window and watched the snow fall softly from the sky. It seemed time had flown by since the night of Trish’s attack. Christmas had even come and gone, and so had the New Year.
I can’t believe Trish doesn’t remember what happened to her. It’s probably for the best though, given what she went through
, Cat thought.
Looking up in the sky, Cat saw the moon peeking out from behind the snowy clouds. She wondered how Linda was and where she was hiding. Cat had yet to tell anyone other than Ryan about her encounter with the three girls. For his sake, she wished she could unload her burden on someone else other than him. Ever since Trish’s attack, Ryan had become even more protective of Cat. He was convinced the three girls were behind it and was worried she was the next on their list. Cat wondered if that was true.
Are the girls behind Mr. Pierson’s disappearance too? Why, Linda? Why are you doing this?
As the wind picked up and the snowfall began to thicken, Cat quickly latched her window and jumped into bed, shivering as she pulled the covers over herself. Reaching up, she turned off the lamp on her nightstand, and then bundled up again. As she stared up at the ceiling, Cat let the many questions she had run through her head.