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The ho’d established the communications link told Daniel everyone was here

"Great," he said "Tea us her expertise on demons and the Old Ones We found this location thanks to her" This got me a couple of nods frolued to the screen Daniel took a couple ofeach team member’s name and specialty I’m sorry to say the information didn’t stick There were six of theood with naot down to business The team ell informed about the Old Ones, especially their powers and vulnerabilities A few end--most vampires didn’t even believe in theed all that This SWAT teas into a body, he can drain it dry in less than a h they grow lethargic in the daytiainst them Each team member was supplied with silver bullets, two silver knives, and silver-plated handcuffs The olves wore special gloves h-tech material that let theh Old Ones’ flesh," I said "But be aware that, e broke the on a cure to uinea pig, and the experiht have advanced that project"

From the screen, Daniel spoke "Given our current inforh silver h to subdue theht If possible, break out soht will disorient theht But rees in there, too We want to avoid injuring thees?" the feht? We understand some of them may be possessed by a deht, so you won’t have to deal with it directly But yes, it’s possible that so are Morfran-possessed" Not Tina, I thought Please not Tina I didn’t let my voice betray my fear "If that’s the case, the Morfran could drive its host to a murderous frenzy So be careful"

"All PDHs are to be taken into custody so we can watch them and make sure they’re clean," Daniel said "No exceptions" I had a feeling that last comment was directed at me

"But don’t kill any," I emphasized, "even if a zombie attacks you We kno to exorcise the Morfran Remember, these folks are victims"

There were no more questions, and other than, "Please be careful One of those zo else to add Daniel gave the teaht to do their reconnaissance

Tolves left, and the ogre sitting next to h bench to sit on The scouting olves took along ther for cold spots The Old Ones’ icy body te us an indication of the locations and nu Zombies don’t produce body heat, either, but their skin is the sas The Old Ones are like walking blocks of ice

Nobody said much while aited for the team members to return Daniel cut the communication link so he could talk to the biohazard tea in their own van at a different location The SWAT guys sat with their eyes closed and their heads back, ical defenses They’d need it The Old Ones are adept at y and wield it as a lethal weapon They’re no slouches at sword fighting, either

I thought of Tina, practicing lunges in ht now, she was probably curled up in a tiny cell like the one Bonita described Alone, scared, and in darkness, not knohere she was or ould happen to her I had to get her out of that place In fact, I vowed, if she made it out in one piece, I’d take the kid back as my apprentice, if only to keep an eye on her

Two sharp raps on the van door made me jump and almost fall off the bench The others opened their eyes calot Daniel back on the link and uploaded therht Old Ones--our team was outnuh," a olf explained "There could be ested "That’s where they keep the zombies, and Bonita said they always caht her food So we should assuuards, at least, on that level"

Ten ancient super-vahly trained paranoro either way I’d fought the Old Ones before I could tip the advantage to our side But Daniel wouldn’t hear of it

"You’re here as a consultant, Vicky, and I appreciate your help in that role But you haven’t trained with this team You don’t know their procedures I hate to say it, but you’d get in the way So I’ you: Stay in the van"

None of the tealad my crimson face evaded scrutiny The hu , since Daniel was out of reach Instead, as the van started rolling toward the target site, I focused on slowingthe deo down, Hellion-fueled rage wouldn’t help

The recon ies showed that the cold spots were concentrated at one end of the building As the tea an to sprout Could I trust Butterfly’s information? The infor But what about the demon’s intention?