“Looks like it,” Braun said.
&nb
sp; “What now?” Ben said.
“Back to square one,” I said, leaning against the wall and rubbing my face.
“Is this bad?” Isobelle asked. “This is bad, isn’t it?”
“It means whatever he’s got planned is going to happen soon,” I said. And I had no idea how to stop him.
“I hate to say this, but I think Kitty’s right,” Braun said. “We have to get everyone together and batten down the hatches if we’re going to get through this.”
“I thought we could stay isolated,” Isobelle said, crossing her arms, looking hunched in and unhappy. I wondered what her story was: art appraiser turned vampire, or the other way around? “Not have to pick sides, not get involved.”
“I’m hoping this will all be over soon,” I said.
“One way or another,” she answered.
We left the building to find Cormac standing in the parking lot, armed with his crossbow and a dozen stakes hanging off a bandolier. Various vampires were keeping their distance, glaring and waiting for an opening.
“Whoa, wait, stop!” I said, jumping between Cormac and the vampires. He didn’t lower his weapon. Maybe because he knew a bolt through my heart wouldn’t kill me. Still, I was a little put out.
“Why the hell didn’t you wait for me?” Cormac said.
“No good reason,” I answered. “But hey, we’re all friends here.”
His frown at that was very familiar.
Ben finally put away his crossbow, to set an example maybe. He went over to Cormac. “It’s okay. I think we’re done here.” Then, Cormac lowered his.
“We’ll get out of your hair. Thanks again,” I said to Braun.
He made an ironic bow while Isobelle just frowned. They were vampires, immortal; all they had to do was lie low and they’d get through whatever was about to happen. I bet Angelo had thought that, too.
I grabbed the guys and hauled them back to our cars at the front of the building.
“Well?” Cormac said. After looking us up and down he added, “Jesus, you guys got thrashed.”
“Sort of,” Ben said. “It’s healing.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s even broken anymore.” I stretched my arm; it was feeling better. Cormac narrowed his gaze.
“Did that go how you planned?” Cormac asked.
“About,” I said.
“Roman’s still out there,” Ben said. “And whatever the Manus Herculei is, he’s got it.
Cormac glanced at his watch. “It’s not long until dawn. He likely can’t do much else tonight.”
“Not like he hasn’t already done enough,” I muttered.
“Roman’s in town, he has to be. Daylight hours, we’ll go hunting,” Cormac said. “Meanwhile, I’m going to sleep.” He stalked to the driver’s side of his Jeep without a backward glance.
“Thanks, Cormac,” I said uselessly.
“You sure you guys are okay?”