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I had rinus’ humans had been drained and left dead in the basement, I assumed that he was out of blood-servants I had expected pri froet downstairs on their own "Yellowrock on the way down," I said intoand the sounds of pain and anger Orders being given Derek in co men where to move and what to do From his words it was clear that an explosive device, ain, and thatup the outer front stairs Where had Peregrinus gotten more soldiers?

I reached the stairs to the foyer Part of the wall to h the wall to my left I dropped and crawled to the top of the stairs I could smell blood and feces and the stink of fired weapons The entry was full of fighters, both va jeans, hoodies, and gang tats I stayed low,the scene beloasn’t getting down to Eli this way Leo, Grégoire, and Katie leaped over , and landed on the marble floor of the entryway Like a well-seasoned team, they started to clear the floor of opposition Katie fell in a rain of auto across her chest Leo and Grégoire pulled her to safety behind a wall

The vamps at this assault point were all ours I could tell by the s in the basement They had fed on it Not that it would help theuns and explosive devices, not fancy, outdated flat swords Being faster than a norhter was useless here This ar as ant about it Just efficient and deadly

If this attack was by hu vamp or vamps were elsewhere Before I headed down the stairwell I keyed my mic and said, "Eli?"

"Go ahead"

"No enemy combatant vamps at front entrance strike Humans only"

"Copy that No encom action here"

I started to say that didn’t !"

There was an explosion A big one I felt it through my knees and palms on the floor and I jerked the earbud out ofthe earpiece back in

"Position to the basement as per plan," he ordered me

It here I’d still be if I hadn’t wanted to see what Leo had to say Curiosity killednot the catkilledthrough er, Jane Or copy Not okay Never okay"

I set to the base it, but at least we still had electricity and lights I retraced er-hidden passageways and into the roo roouests used when they came for appointments The room I’d last eaten oatmeal in The room that had a hidden elevator shaft behind it I called the elevator and the door opened ie, tiny and swaying, with an uneven floor Only one or two people could ride at a time, so the invaders wouldn’t split up their forces to take it The cage wobbled as I stepped in I pushed the cage doors shut and the outside doors closed too There were nu that uess and punched the lowest button to the right