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Venice was right. I don't like this.
The vampires had placed their trap in one of the nearly-abandoned areas at the edge of the island. That would help ensure that they weren't bothered by humans while waiting for werewolves to stumble into its jaws.
That didn't however explain the five people chained together where you'd expect to find the bait. Even when Venice told me there had been talk of doing something like this I didn't want to believe her. Taking humans and biting them to infect them with the virus is terrible. Gambling so many lives on the slim chance that the fledgling vampires might serve as bait fits with the other kinds of things they've done, but it still seems somehow as though they've descended to a new level of evil.
If they have the bait though, where are the jaws?
Appearing out of the shadows and standing next to the bait had the desired effect. A pair of vampires quickly appeared with the obvious intent of forcing Geoffry to leave. I should have taken Venice's advice and brought protection. I didn't want to force a confrontation though.
Scorch looked at Geoffry with hatred in his eyes, but it was the second vampire, a slender, dark haired male that did the initial speaking.
“Ah, Geoffry, while we are of course pleased that you would come down and blessed our effort with the aura of your legitimacy, we have to ask that you come with us. It's vital that the bait be left unattended so as to not give away the trap.”
Bile burned the back of Geoffry's throat at the barely hidden venom behind the other's tone, but he reminded himself that he had a job to do. “Due to some unexplained oversight I was not provided the details of your plan, and I've consequently come by to ratify it's design. I can't have it resulting in a needless loss of vampires who could otherwise be used to combat the creatures.”
Scorch broke in now, all but hissing with rage. “You have no power here, and no right to stick your nose in this. Some of the masters may have fallen in line with the idea of you as some kind of martial hero, but there are enough who don't feel that way for us to carry this out without having to go to you with hat in hands for additional warriors.”
Geoffry opened his mouth to respond, but the second vampire shook his head while fondling the hilt of his weapon. “I really think it would be best if you just left.”
A hundred different responses seemed to flow through Geoffry's mind, but none of them would buy him anything, so he simply backed away, turning and walking quickly once he was out of sight. There wasn't anything I could do to save them.
Geoffry was no more than a block and a half away, when he saw the city lights to the left of him for several blocks dim and flicker. They're coming, and it would take more than just two or three of them to cause a blackout that big. They must have sensed the vampires waiting in ambush.
Terror clawed at Geoffry's mind as he realized he might be close enough for them to sense him, but he forced it down and broke into a run.
Is three blocks enough? Four blocks? What will happen when they kill the vampires hiding in ambush? Will they stay to rend and celebrate, or will they disburse. If the later, what are their chances of finding me before I can reach somewhere safe?
Geoffry momentarily considered running to a subway entrance, but discarded the option as he realized that a blackout like what he'd just seen would bring the whole system to a halt. A taxi might be an option if I see one out here this late, but that's a long shot. Plan as though you'll have to escape entirely on foot.
Five minutes passed as Geoffry forced himself to push on through exhaustion which was inspired as much by terror as it was by exertion. Just as the vampire began to think that he might be able to slow his pace to something he could sustain longer, he heard a howl behind him, and turned to see lights flickering ominously several blocks back.
Less than five minutes to find them, kill them, and find my trail.
Geoffry felt a growing pressure on his left, at the same time that the corner of his eyes started to catch changing light levels from that side, so he veered to the right and kept running. Maybe I'll stumble into one of our patrols.
The chase continued for two more miles by which time Geoffry had a strong suspicion he was being herded. Why? They've never demonstrated that kind of intelligence before. What possible purpose could they have in wanting me at a specific place when I die? Could it be that they're just enjoying the chase? But if it's as simple as that, why does it matter where I go?
Casting about for what lay in the path the werewolves seemed to want him to take, the vampire felt his blood run cold as he realized he was headed almost straight to Melody's. The feeling of being watched, it wasn't other vampires. That's why the power went out while I was at her apartment. They know about her.
Frantic with worry for Melody, Geoffry tried a number of times to escape the werewolves. The last mile to Melody's building was a thing of nightmare as each of the vampire's attempts was frustrated.
The creatures weren't particularly skilled in their efforts to drive Geoffry before them. Several times it seemed as though one or more of the beasts were going to either abandon the chase, or attack Geoffry before they got to Melody's, but always at the last second, a werewolf appeared at the appropriate place to keep the vampire from escaping.
Turning into Melody's block, Geoffry felt his heart sink. The top few floors are dark. There is one there already.
Sprinting up the stairs through an eerie, half-alive darkness, the vampire heard a scream just before he burst into the hallway. The door to Melody's apartment, locks and all, was torn off of its hinges by a single, desperation-fueled kick, and then Geoffry was inside looking at a scene from his nightmares.
The werewolf holding Melody's still, bloodied body turned towards Geoffry and looked at him with an intelligence he'd never seen in any of the other creatures he'd fought. Waving the limp body before him like a shield, the werewolf paused to howl its challenge before leaping out the remnants of the window it had used to force its way in. Geoffry stumbled to the window, but the beast had already disappeared, still carrying its grisly burden, and Geoffry found himself numbly collapsing to the floor.