"You're going to help us track Rahim Alif?" Tony asked, taking René's hand. René didn't mind contact with humans, as some other vampires did.
"It will be a pleasure; his vampire associate had my sire killed and then murdered one of my children," René answered. "Anything I can do to hurt him, I will do gladly."
"Are you prepared to travel?" Tony asked René.
"Of course."
"Good. Pack a bag; we're leaving for Paris tomorrow evening. My contacts report a sighting of Xenides, and we believe Rahim Alif is there as well."
"Perhaps you would like to stay at my home tonight, then?" René offered the invitation. "You will be safe and undisturbed. I have human servants who can cook for you, if you wish."
Tony looked at Deryn, who shrugged. "Sure. Thank you for the invitation," Tony said. "Just give us a moment to collect our things."
* * *
"Grand Master, we're on the move again," Paul informed Weldon. He was standing on the expansive marble porch that ran nearly the length of René's manor outside London. The lawns were beautiful; Paul could see stables in the distance and when the wind was right he could smell horses. "We hear Lissa is out of the country, so Tony has focused on what he should be focused on—the rogue vampire Xenides and the terrorist Rahim Alif."
"Has the Head of the Council calmed down a bit?" Weldon asked.
"Yes, Grand Master. In fact, he was so appreciative of our efforts, killing the two in the pub, that we were invited to his home. You should see it, sir. Just one or two paintings off his walls and you'd be living like a king."
"I understand he's had a couple thousand years or more to acquire all that," Weldon snorted. "I'd rather be where I am, thanks. Have you and Deryn found a place to run for the full moon?"
"We'll be in Paris, Grand Master. If you could get us the hook-up there, I'd appreciate it."
"I can do that," Weldon said. "I'll call or send a text as soon as it's set up."
"Thank you, Grand Master." Paul closed his cell and sat down, propping his feet up on the chaise. The sun was out today and it was the perfect time to be sipping coffee and staring out over the English countryside.
* * *
"Your son and step-son are safe from the Council; they're going after terrorists and rogues, now," Weldon informed Lucas Alford over the phone. Lucas was back in Denver; he was Second to the Packmaster there and his presence was required for the run on the full moon.
"At least that's Tony's job," Lucas growled a bit. "Any word on how long they'll be gone?" Deryn had taken a leave of absence from his job as a Lieutenant for the local police force.
"No, he didn't give me a time frame," Weldon replied. "If I get anything, I'll pass it along."
"Thank you, Grand Master," Lucas said, terminating the call.
* * *
Wlodek had to coax Merrill back; his eldest was still angry. Wlodek knew Merrill was the one who should place compulsion on Ilaisaane before he allowed her to leave the holding facility. Wlodek had her cell phone and knew Xenides had tried to contact her already. Wlodek allowed the call to go to voice mail.
"Xenides will know something is up if he wishes to meet with her and she fails to appear," Wlodek informed his oldest child. Merrill was barely speaking to him and the situation was quite tense. "We should place compulsion not to turn over important information, including whom we currently have as prisoners here before allowing her to leave. She will report to us when it is safe to do so, and once Xenides is eliminated, we can bring her in again. Charles already has the transcripts and the information will be distributed to the others once she is recaptured."
"I will place compulsion," Merrill growled as he followed Wlodek down the long hall toward Ilaisaane's cell.
"You will behave normally; you were merely here for a companion hearing, after which we allowed the companion her freedom," Merrill commanded Ilaisaane. "Ian will drive you home, Flavio has other business." Ilaisaane nodded blankly as Radomir and Ian removed the chains from her wrists and ankles. "You will contact us discreetly if you are asked to meet with Xenides or have contact with him for any reason. Under no circumstances will you betray any of us to him or give out further sensitive information. Do you understand?" Ilaisaane nodded. "Good," Merrill sighed. "Ian, you will not repeat any of this information to anyone, or release any sensitive information concerning Ilaisaane or any other member of the Council. You will not give out information on any Enforcer or Assassin. You will also not repeat anything concerning myself or Lissa," Merrill instructed the Enforcer. Ian nodded. He'd had Merrill's compulsion before; it didn't concern him at all. It was a way to keep them all safe.
Wlodek handed Ilaisaane's cell phone to her; Ian and Radomir walked her out of the building and she was already chattering and complaining before they reached the door. "Will you share a bottle of wine with me or will you remain angry, child?" Wlodek asked Merrill.
"I will go home, father. It's best for the moment," Merrill replied stiffly. "I'll see myself out of the bunker." Wlodek watched his eldest child walk away and sighed.
Chapter 11
Gabron was upset that I wouldn't allow him to bite me again and that I wouldn't bite him in return. The ritual was two days away and he and I were both tense. Dragon and Karzac were, too, as they fully expected the Ra'Ak to make an appearance, just as I did. I was also keeping an eye on the newscasts; I was waiting for someone or several someones to be kidnapped so the sacrifices could be made. Solar Red had to be planning something; the priests had stopped coming out of the temple, making me wonder what that meant. Dragon advised me not to go back; the boat I'd gotten and dropped had killed all the priests from the satellite temples—more than six hundreds of them, in fact—along with two hundred additional guards. There had been more priests in the outlying cities than even Gabron suspected.
Journalists were hinting that the official eviction for Solar Red could be coming from the government any day, and I worried that it was all going to happen simultaneously, with disastrous results. I was cleaning the dojo while Dragon finished with his last class. "Are you going to the ritual?" One of the female students asked me as she wandered into the dressing room. I was busy straightening up and cleaning out showers.
"Is there something of interest there?" I asked. Of course, I would be going, but it was to lop priests' heads off, starting with the ones that were turning to demon.