“Sibiu. Transylvania.”
He bursts out laughing. “Are you joking?”
I frown at him. “No. What is so amusing?”
He snorts. “Really? You don’t find it kind of a cliché?”
“A cliché?” I ask confused, but then grumble dryly, “Oh, because of the Stoker thing? What a menace he was to our society.”
“I wonder if Dracula was based on Lance then?” he asks.
My turn to snort. “I’m sure he’d like to think so. Arse.”
“Arse? Is that the strongest word you can come up with for that monster?” he asks in earnest.
“Ha! No, I have plenty of other words for him. Most of them not suitable to be said out loud.”
“You know you are stronger than him, right? You don’t need to be afraid of him,” he says quietly.
“I’m not afraid of him,” I say in a huff.
“You were this morning. I saw it in your eyes.”
“Humph,” I say rudely, embarrassed.
“Liv, all you have to remember is, with a click of your fingers, you have the most dangerous weapon ever created in your hands. He doesn’t have to be an Initial Vampire for you to use it on him. Remember, G.I. is your friend.”
I smile at his use of the nickname I gave the sword, shortening it, as Gladius Infernus is such a mouthful. Crawling onto the bed, I sigh. “I know. I forget. He makes me forget. Makes me think of how easily he subdued me in the first place.”
“Magick?”
“Yes, powerful. I’ve never known anything like it. This is why I want his backing.”
“Okay, well, we will get it. We will support you and take it from him,” he says forcefully.
I smile. “I love you.”
“I love you. Now, do we have to pack a bag, or will we be in and out?”
“Pack a bag,” I say with a sigh.
We all meet downstairs in the den, an hour or so later. Dressed to kick ass. Well, at least I am. These three vain fools are in their best designer gear, top to toe. I roll my eyes at them as they gawk at me in casual gear – black combat pants, a vest top and boots… flat ones!
“You do realize that not only will we be Astralling into a forest but also in fight mode, should things immediately go awry?” I inquire of them.
“Sure,” is the general response so I leave it be with a shrug.
“Fine. Let's go. CK take Dev. I’ll take Cole.” I wrap my arms around him and Astral us out, thinking of the dreaded dark, black wall of Castelul Negru.
Landing just outside of the castle walls, CK following just after, my skin begins to crawl.
“Are you okay?” CK asks as he senses my trepidation.
I nod resolutely. “Yes, I’m fine.” Oh, there’s that word again as they all grimace at me.
We four stand there for a moment, looking up at the big black walls of the castle. I move slowly forward to touch one of the stones and have a horrible flashback but brush it aside as this is business.
A very loud howl resonates behind us. I turn slowly. Before us is a very large black wolf with several of his pack behind him.