Once the photo is buried in a hole by the cactus, I return to my room, shift and change into a tight camisole and loose pair of shorts. Somewhere in this house is the clue to Lucius’ lair. Vampires are smart, secretive, viper-fast. Ultimate predators. But during the day they sleep like the dead. I’ve already infiltrated his house, and played the role of submissive until I’m left free and unsupervised during the day. If I can find his sleeping place, I could stake him. My mission could be over by sundown.
I exit my room and start searching. I’m looking for cameras, hidden panels, anything that might clue me into a secret entrance to a safe room, or an underground chamber. I wander through the well-appointed rooms, noting a fancy wooden chair. I grab it and snap off its leg, and use a kitchen knife to sharpen a stake.
As I walk down the hall, cameras track my movements. After a few minutes my search is going to be obvious. Lucius will know what I’m up to. The wolf’s out of the bag, and I will have to explain my actions to an already paranoid king. If I don’t find and kill him, tonight my life will be forfeit.
I better find his lair.
All afternoon I search as the sun sinks, a natural countdown clock. By the time the house is filled with thick, golden light of oncoming dusk, I’ve forgotten all semblance of discretion. I tear through bedrooms, ripping at wall hangings and paintings, running my fingers over every lintel, chair rail, and piece of crown moulding. I rap on walls and pull books off shelves, feeling for false panels.
“Come on, come on,” I breathe, feeling behind a piece of shelving with one eye on the window. My wolf is frantic, clawing to the surface, fighting to protect me. I’m in a race with the dying sun, and I’m losing.
Vampires as old as Lucius have more than the usual defenses, Xavier once told me.
Lucius is old, but he’s embraced modern times. He’ll have extra layers of protection, technology and otherwise. But maybe I’ve relied too much on finding the signs of tech security.
Stepping to the center of the room, I close my eyes and extend my senses. My wolf is right there, waiting to show me the way. I drop to all fours and sniff around the corners of the room until I come to the unused fireplace. I’ve sniffed around here in wolf form before, but something nudged me away. A vampire’s natural defenses, older than technology, communicating to the primal part of me. Go away, the scent around the fireplace says. Danger here. Danger, or a vampire?
I crawl into the fireplace, ignoring the creepy crawly sensation running over my skin, and feel around for a lever, a false brick, anything. I don’t know what I touch but one minute I’m standing on the painted brick–too pristine to ever have hosted a fire–and the next I’m sliding down a slick tunnel, mouth open in a silent scream. I land on my feet and bound upright, groping blindly in the dark passage. Above my head, light from the bedroom winks at me. I’ve found the secret passageway to Lucius’ lair. Yes!
The panel above snaps shut, sealing me in the dark.
Shit.
I jump and wedge myself in the tunnel so I can bang on it. It doesn’t budge. I dig my fingers around the seal, looking for cracks. Nothing.
I drop to my feet and explore the lightless tunnel. It’s tight and narrow. Could it even fit Lucius’ massive frame? I extend my arms and legs and measure it. It’d be tight, but the Vampire King could fit. At least, I hope so. Otherwise, I’ve found a false passage. A trap.
As minutes tick by, the walls seem to close in. The air is stale and stifling. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. How long has it been? Surely it’s after dusk. Lucius must be awake. He’ll see the destruction I’ve wreaked on his house, and know what’s up. If he finds me I’m dead.
I drop to the floor, curling around my legs. Maybe he won’t come for me. If he knows I’m a spy, he could leave me here, in this dark, airless prison. A little wait, and I wouldn’t be his problem any more. It would only take three days…
Light cracks above my head and I heave in relief. Fresh air flows over my face. I launch myself up and scrabble through the tight space, desperate for the light. I emerge from the tunnel, half hyperventilating, half crying, and heave myself over the fireplace threshold. Sweet freedom.
Someone clears their throat above me. Lucius’ bare feet stand a few feet away. I push to my feet and lunge.
The stake slices through the air. Lucius blurs away. Fucker’s so fast. I flail off balance. A big hand hooks around my leg and makes me crash to the floor. A kick to my wrist and I drop my weapon. He kicks the stake away. It rolls into the fireplace and disappears in the trap with a clatter.
I flop on the carpet like a caught fish and squint against the bright light. Not daylight, not anymore. The sun is down. My time’s run out.
Lucius’ leans over me. . “You’ve been a busy little pet,” he murmurs without amusement. “Sticking your cute nose where it doesn’t belong. How shall I punish you?” The coldness in his tone makes me shiver.
I pant on the carpet. I played my card, and he knows I’m his enemy.
I am so fucked.
Lucius
MY SWEET PET quivers on the floor. The past few nights, I’ve been in this position often, looming over her while she lolls in ecstasy at my feet. BDSM is a game where everyone wins.
Tonight, it’s no game. I knew she was here for something, but I didn’t think she’d be so brazen as to believe she could best me.
Now I know. The gloves have come off.
“I’m flattered, pet. You’ve gone through so much trouble to find me.” I sweep a mocking glance over the room’s destruction.