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Madame Lefoux helped her up and out of the way just as Floote let go of a strap and landed graceful y, stopping his own forwardto make his dismount look like a bow Show-off

They heard shouts behind the dark but they could stilfarther up the mountain tohat they could only hope was a custoain

Alexia figured she h exercise to last a lifeti--so very i whizzed by her shoulder The drones were firing their guns once more

Their aim was, of course, affected detriaining ground

Up ahead, Alexia couldthe dark trees to one side of the road--a shed, real y--but there was a large sign on the other side of the road that appeared to have so written on it in Italian There was no other gate or barrier, nothing on the track to o from one country to another, just a little mounded hil ock of dirt

So it was that they crossed the border into Italy

The drones were stil fol owing them

"Wonderful Nohat do we do?" panted Alexia So would change

"Keep running," advised Madame Lefoux unhelpful y

As if in answer to her question, the deserted pass, now heading down the other side of the mountain, suddenly was not quite so deserted after al

Out of the shadows of the trees to either side materialized a whole host of ister the utter absurdity of their dress before she, Madale, rapidly lyrical utterance revealed that these were, in fact, Italians

Each man hat appeared to be entirely pedestrian country dress--bowler, jacket, and knickerbockers--but over this, each had also donned what looked like fe attire with a reatly reseown Conal had purchased for Alexia shortly after their e The comedic effect of this outfit was moderated by the fact that each e sith medieval inclinations and carried a chubby revolver Alexia had seen that type of gun before--a Galand Tue Tue--probably the sundowner e world, she ruminated, wherein one finds oneself surrounded by Italians in nightgowns carrying French guns lish to kill supernaturals

The outlandishly garbed group see in around theed to be both protective and threatening They then turned to face down the panting gaggle of drones who drew to a surprised stop just on the other side of the border

One of the white-clad men spoke in French "I would not cross into our territory if I were you In Italy, drones are considered vampires by choice and are treated as such"

"And hoould you prove we are drones?" yel ed one of the young men

"Did I say we needed proof?" Several of the swords shinked out of their sheaths

Alexia peeked around the side of the Italian hulking in front of her The drones, silhouetted against the rising moon, were stal ed in confusion Final y they turned, perhaps calculating the better part of valor, shoulders hunched in disappoint away back down the French side of the owner turned inward to face the three refugees Dislance, he turned his hook-nosed gaze onto Alexia Who could see quite unsatisfactorily far up his nostrils

Alexia spared a smal frown for Floote He was pinch-faced and white-lipped, looking more upset by their current stationary position than he had been when they were running around under gunfire

"What is it, Floote?" she hissed at hihed and turned big bland innocent eyes on the Italians

The leader spoke, his English ihter of Alessandro Tarabotti, hoonderful We have been waiting a very long tiave a little nod and Alexia felt a prick on the side of her neck

Return?

She heard Floote shout so ay, and then the ether and she col apsed backward into the waiting arms of the Pope’s holiest of holy antisupernatural elite, the Knights Tehttime schedule, but he had spent the afternoon prior to ful moon awake in order to conduct some last-minute research

Unfortunately, Ivy Tunstel ’s revelation had served only to co to aggravate Despite a day spent tapping al his various sources and investigating every possible related docuht have, Lord Akeldanancy remained theoretical y impossible, and Lord Conal Maccon was stil out of coiven the i ful moon, Professor Lyal had seen him safely back behind bars with strict instructions that this time no one was to let him out or there would be uncomfortable consequences

He himself was so involved in his inquiries as to be quite behind schedule for his own lunar confineers--his valet and one of the foot expressions of mild panic They were accustomed to Woolsey’s Beta, ta several hours ahead of ood, sir, but you understand we must take the proper precautions"

Professor Lyal , who could already feel the strain of the h it had not yet peeked above the horizon, held out his wrists obediently

His valet clapped silveral his years of service had he had to bind Professor Lyal

The Beta gave him a little half smile "Not to worry, dear boy It happens to the best of us" Then he fol owed both young eon, where the others were already behind bars He gave absolutely no hint of the discipline it took for hiht the change as long as possible Long after his two clavigers had reached through the bars and unlocked his manacles, and he had stripped hi, he continued to fight it He did it for their sake, as they went to stand with the first shift of watchers against the far walPoor young things, coes, forced to understand what their desire for immortality would require them to become Lyal was never entirely certain whom he pitied e-old question: who suffers entleman in the badly tied cravat or those who ht before the pain and noise and madness of ful moon took hi For Professor Lyal , this was so cosong of regularity and custoht I ask, is Alpha of this bloody pack?" The roar carried even through the thick stone of the dungeon wal s

"You, sir," said a ti you a direct order to be released from this damned prison?"

"That would be you, sir"

"And yet, who is stil locked away?"

"That would stil be you, sir"

"Yet somehow you do not see my difficulty"