Jasper jogged as quickly as he could down the aisles without breaking into a full run, just trying to look like a guy in a hurry. There were too many passengers sitting around.
But he was scared.
It never occurred to him that he might just walk into his targets like that-and now Philip was coming after him. He tried to remember everything Julian had told him about Philip.
Savage but not intelligent. He may have developed telepathy by now, but even so, I don't think he'd know how to sense for another of our kind in that way.
Could that be true? Jasper hoped so. Glancing back, he saw Philip closing on him, and he broke into a run without caring what the passengers thought.
Where was Mary? Couldn't she try to blink in and scare Philip for a moment? Just to clear a few seconds of time?
Jasper remembered he'd passed the dining car on the way in, and he ran toward it, passing though doorways and trying to get out of Philip's sight line for just an instant. He could run pretty fast as a mortal, and now his speed made the aisle seats blur past.
As he neared the kitchens, he dashed into a large storage area, hoping Philip hadn't seen him, and ran for an industrial walk-in refrigerator. Once inside, he pulled the door closed and then crouched, using the newfound strength in his legs to jump to the highest shelf, where he crawled behind several large boxes of unsalted butter.
He waited, forcing his mind to be still, not allowing any of his gift to seep out, just playing dead behind the butter.
Nothing happened for a few moments, and he started to think maybe Philip had kept running all the way to the dining car-bypassing the storage room.
Then he heard the sound of the fridge door being jerked open, and he lay completely still. Hidden like this, he couldn't see anything, but Philip wouldn't see him either.
He heard footsteps and a crashing sound as something was knocked over.
"Where are you?" a low voice with a French accent called out.
Jasper fought down the panic, and he lay completely still.
The footsteps echoed away from the fridge and back into the storage room, moving farther away. He only waited a little while and then jumped down quietly, seeing the fridge door open. Philip was gone, and Jasper slipped over the door, peering out.
He could see Philip down the hall, heading toward the back of the train, into the dining car.
And then Jasper realized he'd done exactly what he was supposed to. Philip was off in one direction, and Wade-a mortal-and Rose-who seemed incapable of defending herself-were alone in a car with a doorway to the outside of the train.
Well… awesome.
If he could take out at least two of them, he'd have a success here, and he saw all the things awaiting him: cars, clothes, hotel suites, feeding on girls who'd never have looked twice at him before.
He wasn't going to fail Julian again, and he headed back toward Rose and Wade.
Wade got the outer door open, and he stood on the steel steps, watching the world blur past for a few moments.
"This isn't going to work, Rose," he said. "Even if I could survive the jump, we're too far from Eugene, and all I can see is a line of trees. I don't think Philip's going to find a car out here. We'll have to wait for the next stop and see where we are."
"Do you know the next stop?" she asked.
"No, I'm not even sure where this train is headed now. I think Eleisha said it would turn east."
Rose was standing near the back of the car, and he was just starting to climb up the metal stairs when her expression shifted to fear as she looked to the right, toward the door Philip had run through. Wade couldn't see it from his position, but he raised the gun.
"Wade!" she called out.
He heard the upper door being opened, and he tried to jump up the last three steps, holding out his Beretta. Something arced down out of the air, and the tip of a blade sliced the back of his hand. He cried out and dropped the gun.
The trench-coated vampire kicked it away, and Wade dodged to one side as the sword came back, crashing into the stairwell's corner.
"Stop it," Rose called out. Her voice was smooth and clear. "That will not serve you, and you can come with us. You'll have a home with us."
Even Wade saw the wisdom of what she suggested. To stop fighting. To go home.
The vampire held his sword in midair. He looked younger than Wade first realized. His blade was slender, more a saber than a sword-but the edge was sharp.
"It's all right," Rose said, taking a step toward him. "Put down the sword and come with us."
The vampire's face wavered, and then somehow he seemed to throw off Rose's aura of wisdom, and in one split second, he snarled, pulling his blade back, about to rush her.
The air shimmered, and Seamus appeared directly in front of Rose. He swung with his fist as if aiming a hard blow.
The transparent fist passed through the vampire, but he still flinched and ducked, as anyone would, and Wade used the only weapon he had left… Forming an image of Philip running toward them down the aisles, he drove this picture directly into the vampire's mind.
He's coming now, Wade projected. It's safe outside in the dark. Jump. Jump out the door and you'll be safe. Or he'll take your head and turn you to dust.
The vampire's eyes widened in terror, and he looked down the stairwell to the open door and the world rushing past.
Hurry! He's coming. He's almost here! He'll take your head. You have to jump.
The vampire moved past Wade, to the top of the stairs, lost in the vision Wade kept pressing on him.
And then to Wade's despair, he felt something pushing back, and he heard hazy thoughts.
No… no, he can't be there yet.
This creature was pushing him out, fighting his suggestions.
Yes! Wade projected. He's almost to the door.
The vampire's expression altered, and fear turned to rage. He half turned, raising the sword, snarling and aiming at Wade.
An explosion sounded, echoing off the metal walls.
Black blood sprayed from the vampire's chest, and he stumbled down three steps, choking in shock. Another explosion rocked the car, and blood sprayed from his forehead as he fell back through the outer door and vanished from sight.
Wade rushed down the steps and hung out the doorway. He could still see the body lying on the ground, growing smaller and smaller until the train passed him.
The vampire never even moved.
Panting from what felt like emotional exhaustion, Wade looked up into the car. Rose was standing in the middle, holding his gun with both hands. Seamus was still beside her.
"Philip should be back soon," she said calmly. "We'll get off at the next stop."
Still looking at his gun, Wade had no response.
Maybe Rose's wisdom could adapt to any situation.
Julian walked the dark street outside the Salem Amtrak station. The express train was due any moment. He was worried Eleisha might talk Robert into waiting inside the station and calling for a taxi.
But he was also counting on Robert's instinct for complete independence in a dangerous situation. Angelo had known Robert very well-and now so did Julian.
He was walking the shortest route to a Hertz rental car office, and down a side street, he spotted a deep black doorway with a balcony up above it, creating darker shadows.
"How do you know they'll get off?" Mary asked, floating beside him. She was fidgeting, as if anxious about something.
He was too distracted to even find her annoying. "He is a soldier, from a long line of soldiers. He'll get off."
She shrugged, looking down the street. "Shouldn't I get back to Jasper? He's all alone, and that Philip guy seems pretty mean."