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"A harsh accusation, narled hand lifted in a helpless reater cause"

Styx gave a shake of his head "Pretty words do not rets, my son? That I would not alter the past if possible? I hold myself entirely to blame for the circumstances we find ourselves in"

As well he should, Styx acknowledged It had been his weakness that had led to this ht very well kill a noble va the distaste in his tone the Anasso offered a faint frown

"Perhaps you believe I should allow Viper and the Shalott to walk away? Without her I am certain to die"

"There ht everythose vile concoctions that the i uponto halt the disease but the blood of the Shalott"

"Shay," Styx said softly

"What?"

"The Shalott’s na pause as the elder vahtful silence "Styx?"

"Yes, ed your mind, I understand I have put you in an untenable position and for that I am deeply sorry" He weakly reached up to touch Styx’s arm "You must know that your faith and loyalty htness clutched at Styx’s chest "You are very kind,lips "Do you recall e firsta pack of olves, as I recall"

A soft chuckle disturbed the thick air "You informed me that I would have to wait forand brash"

"Do you re flames in the marble fireplace He was not entirely stupid He realized that the Anasso was deliberately ree And perhaps, just as iether

A cause that went beyond either of them

"You said that you intended to stop the flow of blood," he said in an empty voice "To write the destiny of the vareatness out of chaos And then you asked me to walk at your side"

"At ic pause "I want this to be your decision, my son If you believe it is best to release Viper and allow the Shalott to roa Styx regarded the frailof horror "I cannot--"

The vampire lifted his hand to halt his refusal "Think upon it, Styx, but think quickly We do not havejust over the horizon as Levet scoured the sharply carved bluffs Below the farhty Mississippi River slid by in silent grandeur

Hardly the setting for a band of dark vaood old-fashioned bloodletting Of course, it othic castle complete with bats and creepy servants in thepeople tended to notice

Leaning against a tree as the gargoyle pulled aside bushes and fallen rocks Shay absently rubbed the s She had run full out for over six hours as she had tracked the lih the back roads of Illinois There had been nopace with the autoh for her and Levet to follow

And follow, and follow, and follow

Her stamina ell beyond a hu into knots the size of Mount Rush-h ain her side had stopped throbbing and her breathing was aled to make a short detour to a nearby farmhouse so she could borrow a thick flannel shirt that protected her fro sounded sotoward the sky she cleared her throat "Levet, the clock is ticking"

"I know, I know" heat a pile of thick brush "It is here I soyle was abruptly straightening "Voila"