The man remained silent, continuing to stare into her cat-like green gaze.
“That is what I thought you said.” Her hand plunged into one of the sacks at her hip, and she quickly pulled out a silvery, crystal dagger. She plunged it into the heart of the man.
He cried out, his massive head rolling back as he fell to his knees before her. There was no incantation to enchant the man. This effort was meant to kill him. The woman took something else out of her bag — an empty glass bottle — and held it below the hemorrhaging wound, collecting as much as she could before stowing it away again and continuing her journey.
She finally made her dissention to Josefov, Prague’s previous Jewish ghetto when the Nazi occupation still held the city tight in its fists. The small area of the capital had not since improved much, and the woman decided if there were something that had the intention of hiding, it would be in this part of the city.
A smart notion, she thought, when she closed her eyes and the familiar scent of lavender and death filled her nose quickly. The undead were in the immediate area.
Before taking another step, she ran her pointed nails across her chest, finding the small amethyst amulet strung there by pure silver. She smiled and continued walking.
Charlotte found herself back in the lowest, dankest part of the house once again. This time though, she wasn’t being studied fervently like the outsider she was. The feeling this time was much more inclusive, though the hungry stares did still exist. She tried her best to ignore them.
Sarah sat next to her, under Valek’s orders, to ensure whatever spells she had to perform to bring Charlotte back to full health would be done. Mr. Třínožka sat on the other side of her. Valek, however, was bound by their verbal contract to stay beside Francis.
Charlotte did not understand the Vampiric code being conducted before her. Her entire life was spent with Valek, but she was coming to find she truly knew nothing at all about his culture. She watched him carefully behind her frown. Why did he not meet her gaze? He was avoiding her eyes, she could tell.
Valek’s eyes quivered once. If Charlotte had blinked, she wouldn’t have noticed this all too slight reaction to her thoughts. She knew he was listening intently to her. Francis, however, was smirking. He must be loving the silent exchange between she and Valek — how she was trying to get his attention from across the circle. Charlotte’s stomach flipped as it did when she used to think of Evangeline, when Francis ran his claws once through the back of Valek’s hair. He smiled when Charlotte’s gaze burned into his.
“We had an idea, Valek,” Lusian began. “Overthrowing the Regime with just the members of this coven wouldn’t be impossible. We just need to clear the path to Vladislov without getting killed by Aiden first.”
“I’ll entertain any idea. I can’t stay here much longer, or I fear for my sanity.” He mumbled the last part toward Francis.
“What if we let them find Charlotte?” Lusian continued.
“What?” Valek tensed. Charlotte did as well, until Sarah put a hand on her shoulder.
“Listen. Give the little bastard what he wants for now. It will buy us the time we need. We kill Vladislov, we’ve killed the Regime.”
Valek stood, looking Lusian dead in the eyes. “Do you know what it’s like to love something more than yourself, you sniveling, insignificant leach? I would sooner watch myself burn in daylight than use her as bait!”
“You already have, Valek.” Francis snorted. He rubbed at this bridge of his nose. “For what has she been to us all this time than mere bait?”
“It would be our only hope of succeeding,” Lusian said.
A flash of anger colored Valek’s face for an instant before it went back to delicate thought. “You’re asking me to risk the only thing that has any meaning for me in this dark life. You’re asking me to place a bet on my daughter.”
“Your lover,” Francis countered.
“My world.” He glanced out of the corner of his eye to Charlotte then turned his back to her. “But I suppose I would be making that bet anyway by doing nothing. We must make sure to finish it before daybreak. And I want everything under my control. How do we make her accessible to them without revealing ourselves?”
Charlotte stared, horrified as they casually continued.
“We’ll think of something,” Lusian mused.
“If they capture us, our plan will fail,” Valek instructed. “They must find her at night, when it is easier for us to hide. In the darkness, it is less dangerous.”
Mr. Třínožka put a protective hand on Charlotte’s shoulder. Her gaze traveled from face to face around her, and found none were looking back. She kept her thoughts quiet though, trying her best to steer away from the thousands of questions she had. She looked back to Valek again, exhaling very slowly through her nose. It made her eyes water.
“I am tired already of this debate.” Valek sighed. “It is growing early. Perhaps we continue this discussion tomorrow evening.” He clasped his hands together behind his back.
“The night is still young, darling Valek.” Francis laughed, conceitedly folding one leg over the other. He gestured for his created to take his seat again. “And I am thoroughly enjoying this conversation.”
“It’s a wonder the Regime has not yet found us yet,” Andela mused.
“This house is a safe haven. It has been specially protected for years by magic more powerful than mine. It would take the most experienced enchanter to notice anything inhuman about it,” Sarah said.
A knock rapped at the front door one story above them. Particles of the dirt-packed ceiling snowed down around them. They looked at one another.
Sarah silently gathered herself up. She appraised the startled macabre faces. “Probably just another salesmen going door to door.”
“At three in the morning?” Andela asked.
Sarah didn’t believe herself either. She leapt up the dark tunnel, leaving the Vampires around the crackling fire, the only thing making any noise whatsoever in the basement besides Charlotte’s pulse.
They were all listening for thoughts, their faces turned slightly upward at the exact same angle. Even Valek’s, Charlotte noticed. She suddenly saw his features change from thoughtfulness, to astonishment, to a mistrustful wariness.
The others in the coven turned to him as well. “Who is Evangeline?” Jorge said the name as if it were from some foreign planet.
Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she stood immediately up. “Evangeline? Evangeline from our Occult?” She looked at Valek. They finally locked eyes with each other.
“And the plot thickens….” Francis wrapped his claws together.
“I thought she was dead.” Charlotte could feel a new wave of fear squeeze her throat closed, though she couldn’t understand why she was afraid.
“She should be,” Valek mumbled.
“Maybe she escaped like we did.”
Sarah and the familiar cloaked woman plummeted into the basement. Valek froze as he appraised her. The dust settled, and the woman removed her hood. Indeed, it was Evangeline.
The Witch’s eyes swelled with overwhelming joy as she ran to the Vampire and wrapped him in a wiry embrace. “Valek!” She choked out from behind her tears. “I was so sure you were dead.”
Charlotte and Mr. Třínožka glanced at each other. The spider-man wrapped one of his long arms around her middle in an effort to keep her calm.
“I am so happy to see you are alive!”
Valek pulled immediately away from her with a polite smile. He looked over at Charlotte. “It is good to see you are alive as well, Evangeline. Pane Třínožka told us the fate of our city.” He gestured at the spider.