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"So you saved the boy at the expense of your own self?" Menolly asked

Fraale nodded "And a bitter price it is Karvanak’s loathsome He ordershies theain I’d rather die Is there any way you can helpin my ears, I was about to anshen Menolly jumped in her seat

"Karvanak He’s over there" She pointed to a table near the back We couldn’t see learance of jasar vanilla that drifted over to us

I cautiously slid out ofnot to attract attention "I don’t think he’s seen us, but we have to get out of here Fraale, you know this place Where should we go?" If we ht by hiive us cover

She hesitated, then said, "The catacoo down there The Rāksasa doesn’t like vaements Come, follow me, and hurry"

Before he could see us, we crept to the descending staircase and headed down the steps I prayed to every god thatthe truth Otherwise, ere in for a world of hurt

CHAPTER 25

The lower levels of the Fangtabula were far loomy than the main floor The color schee checkerboard pattern across both walls and floor,me almost dizzy with its squares The staircase ended in a hallhich in turn branched off into other hallways The doors, evenly spaced along the wall, bore no s, and all of theave me the creeps Who knehat lurked behind thes, how did their occupants knohich door to enter?

I crowded closer to Menolly "What the hell is this?"

She glanced over at Fraale "The catacombs Vampires coning rooo opening doors, though"

Roz and Zach took up the back, Roz keeping his eye over his shoulder He had barely spoken to Fraale, and now it see everywhere but in her direction

"We can’t stand around here long," he said "We’re too conspicuous What’s our nextinexplicably sorry for both of them "Can you lead us to Karvanak’s hideout? We have to rescue my boyfriend"

She stared at me for a moment, then nodded "I’ll help you The hideout’s in south Seattle, not far fro she’d seen too much over the years She didn’t seem cut out for the life into which Hera had thrust her

"You’re taking a great risk," I said

Fraale shrugged "I don’t care If Karvanak killsat hoo on; if I help him, I help brutalize his victiaze was fixated on Rozurial, and I realized that she still loved hi," Menolly said "Is there an underground exit to this place or--" She stopped, holding up her hand "I smell someone familiar"

"Karvanak?" I asked

"No," she said "It smells like--"

"Holy shit!" I let out a shriek as a door toa simple black T-shirt and blue jeans, he yankedfor led, but he held fast Menolly hissed, her fangs extending as the vamp sank his teeth into my shoulder

I instinctively pulled away, and my skin ripped under his pit bull-like vise, but the vaht hi from the puncture wounds

Before I couldShe hurled him to the floor, but not before a second vampire entered the hall The new vamp looked older, and he reeked of power He stared at Menolly, and she froze, returning his gaze

"You belong to the Elwing Blood Clan," she whispered, warily circling hiood bruising and was obviously no match for my sister, took one look at the pair and slunk away toward the stairs Smart man, he was But as he reached the staircase, it occurred to me that one word frorabbed Roz by the arm and pointed

"We have to stop hio upstairs bleeding like that and you’re as good as drained and dead Nope, I say weout the vamps, but he’ll alert Karvanak"

Meanwhile, the va with Menolly let out a hiss "Traitorous bitch You killed our sire You turned on your own bloodline and broke the oath I’ll see you in hell before I let you out of here alive"

With a leap, he was on her Menolly ed to break away, and she lashed out with her foot, driving her stiletto into his chest, sending hi into the wall behind him Unfortunately, she didn’t hit center on his heart

He let out a low roar and lunged for her again, this ti her down I wanted to rush in, to stop theh to try They were both in full fors out, eyes bloody red, their inner demons unleashed If I tried to pry them apart, I’d be torn to shreds As they hit the floor, the hallway shook, and I could hear co from up the stairs

I frantically motioned to Roz "We have to leave!"

Roz took one more look at the stairway, then yanked open his duster like solea from loops inside his coat shi round and threw it on the floor next to the fighting vaarlic filled the corridor