Page 17 of Wanted 3
“Can I help?” I asked after a bit, tired of staying on the sidelines like a wallflower.
Vlad captured my hand and gave it a kiss before handing me an iron bucket, filled to the brim with coal. “Here. Hold this while I light the fire.”
The contents must have weighed a good eighty pounds, but now, to me, felt as light as a feather. I flexed my arm, impressed with my newfound strength.
Vlad smiled and then taking the coal from me, tossed it into the fireplace. After lighting the fire, he moved to a black, metal box near the wall, and using a pair of tongs, removed a silver bar.
“Silver is deadly, my love,” he said, carefully carrying the accursed metal to the anvil. “To chimera, as well as ourselves.”
"That's a bummer," I deadpanned. "You didn't mention I'd have to give up my silver jewelry. That might have been a deal breaker."
He glanced up, and I grinned and winked.
He huffed in annoyance. "I'll buy you all the gold and gemstone jewelry your heart could ever desire."
I joined him, but the closer I got to the silver bar, sweat formed on my brow as a sudden nausea began to churn in my stomach.
“Think I’ll just watch, for now,” I said, returning to my place on the wall.
It wasn’t so bad to watch. He took off his shirt to man the bellows, and I enjoyed observing the way his muscles worked. Under any other circumstances, I’d have pinned him down and had my way, but the constant undercurrent of worry over the creature my father had become doused any such thoughts before they burned too hot.
He worked quickly, using the tongs to heat the silver until it was red hot, and then poured it into the crossbow bolt molds.
“How long do you think we have?” I asked as he worked. “You know, before…” I didn’t like calling a demon ‘my father’ or ‘dad.’ I didn’t want to claim any kinship. So, I finished with, “Before the Creature comes here?”
Vlad looked up and his expression told me he understood. “He’ll likely feed first.” His gaze softened. “As you should.”
Now that he mentioned it, Iwasthirsty. Or hungry? It was a sensation I'd never felt before. A burning in the back of my throat, dry and brutal. I'd been ignoring it, so absorbed by the Count and my new powers, but now it was all I could think about. Still, I wasn't leaving without him. No matter how much my throat begged for quenching.
“I’ll wait for you,” I said, eying the nearly completed row of silver bolts. “Is there a way to detect the Creature, when it arrives? What should I look for?”
“Leonard has the Shadows patrolling the grounds,” he replied, adding the last bolt to the pile with a chink that brought back a resurgence of nausea. “They’ll let us know.”
That made me feel better, even though I didn’t really understand. “These Shadows. Just what are they?”
“Sentient beings from another world. Protective. Dangerous. Yet, wanting love,” the Count replied. He paused and settling his gaze on me, he added in a voice that felt like a caress, “Just like the rest of us.”
I smiled. God, if only we didn’t have to worry about some demonic creature coming after us. Would this be my life now? Or was this a one-off? Maybe we could get more of the Shadows to hang around. “Then, basically, they’re your average Doberman?” I asked.
“Yes, somewhat like that,” he chuckled.
Thinking of the shadows curled at Jeremy’s feet, I asked, “But how is Jeremy involved with this?”
“Jeremy is a natural. It’s a rare occurrence for Shadowmasters to be chosen from the human world.” Vlad shook his head in wonder. “He needs training. At once.”
His words made me realize that Jeremy needed to get back in school, but which one? And how could I ever answer calls from the front office if I slept like the dead during the day? I frowned. I’d have to deal. Somehow. “Don’t think they teach Shadowmastery at your average junior high,” I said.
The corner of Vlad’s lip curled in a smile. “Not on Earth.”
“You mentioned worlds before,” I said, popping that item off the stack of questions to be asked. Now was as good as ever.
“And there are,” he answered as he calmly collected the crossbow and the newly minted silver bolts. “Jeremy belongs in the Otherworld, and you, as well. There, you need not fear the sun.”
On the way back to the house, as my thirst became more distracting, I peppered Vlad with questions about this Otherworld. "Where is this place?" I asked.
He held my hand as we walked, and I marveled at the smoothness of his skin and the firmness of his grip. Every detail, every sensation felt amplified.
"No one really knows," he said. "It's a realm unto itself."