It was all the opportunity that Lucien needed.
Allowing his battered body to sink to the floor, he fumbled to find the dagger he had dropped. For a horrid moment he thought perhaps it had tumbled out of reach, then his seeking fingers closed around the smooth hilt. Without hesitation he struck out.
The vampire-blessed blade easily slid through the misty form, making it cringe backward. Not about to lose his chance, Lucien struck again and again, his ears painfully pierced by the high inhuman screech of the wraith.
With a last desperate attempt the wraith struck out, knocking Lucien's head fiercely against the door. Darkness threatened, but with grim determination he held on, striking out with more haste than skill.
At last there was a high wail and then in the blink of an eye the mist wraith was reluctantly retreating.
For moments Lucien lay gasping upon the floor. His entire body trembled from the lingering wounds and his last desperate effort to rid himself of the wraith. In the hall he could still hear the calls of Meg but he was unable to move enough to allow her in.
At last he dragged himself to his knees and sucked in deep, shuddering breaths. There was no time. He had to act. And he had to act swiftly.
Using the doorknob he forced himself shakily to his feet and then wrenched the door open.
The housekeeper tumbled into the room, her round face gray with fear.
"What the devil is going on up here?" she demanded in weak anger. "There was some sort of smoke coming through the door."
"I have no time to explain. I must go after Miss Kingly."
"Go after? Where has she gone?"
"She has been kidnapped."
There was a loud gasp. "Dear God."
"Do not fear, I shall soon have her home," he swore in low tones.
Meg regarded him with narrowed eyes, seemingly noticing for the first time his rumpled appearance and unnaturally pale countenance.
"You do not appear well yourself, Mr. Valin. Perhaps we should call for the authorities."
He gave a firm shake of his head. "No. I must do this on my own. But you might wish to have a hot bath and warm supper prepared for when we return."
"And a nice bottle of brandy," she added in firm tones.
"Yes." He gave a weak smile before pushing himself from the door and making his way down the steps.
He paused only long enough to collect the necessary money to rent a mount before he was out of the house and on his way to the nearby stables. He did not allow himself to contemplate what Amadeus might even now be doing to Jocelyn, or even what he would do when he eventually caught up with them. His only concern was catching up to them as swiftly as possible.
In less than half an hour he had his horse and was on the faint trail of the carriage. It came as no surprise when he discovered himself being led out of London and down a narrow trail that appeared rarely used. Amadeus would have shrewdly discovered a place of privacy to attempt to coerce the Medallion from Jocelyn. He would never act in a hasty or impulsive manner.
Dawn was not far off when at last he turned from the trail and crossed through a heavy copse of trees. Carefully making his way through the underbrush, he abruptly stumbled into a clearing.
In the very center was an abandoned castle that had long ago fallen into disrepair. It would have been easy to presume that the ruin was empty, except that someone had quite recently taken the effort to board over the narrow windows.
And, of course, the unmistakable tingle of awareness that assured Lucien that a vampire was nearby.
Returning his mount to the cover of the trees, he tied off the reins and carefully turned to make his way to the castle. He was relieved to discover that Amadeus had not thought to bring any of his henchmen to act as guards, and he easily gained entrance through the heavy door.
With silent steps he made his way through the small vestibule and moved to the nearby steps that led to the cellars below. With dagger in hand he inched his way downward, the sense of both Amadeus and Jocelyn growing stronger with every step.
At last entering the cellars, he was abruptly halted as a loud scratch echoed through the air and a light bloomed to life. Standing in the center of the room, Amadeus glared at him in undisguised hatred.
"Lucien," the vampire rasped, the eyes glittering with a dangerous desperation. "What an unpleasant surprise. I thought you would be nicely disposed of by now."
Nonchalantly strolling forward, Lucien cast a covert glance about the clammy chamber.
Along one wall were several dusty barrels and a rack that once held wine bottles. Farther away he could see an array of manacles, chains, whips, and more exotic instruments of torture that he could not even begin to name. His stomach tightened as his gaze at last discovered the narrow wooden table in a dark alcove where Jocelyn lay stretched on the surface with her arms tied above her head and her legs tightly bound together.
Although disheveled, she did not appear to be harmed, and allowing himself only a brief glance at her terrified countenance, he ruthlessly forced his attention back to the furious Amadeus.
There was no time to assure himself that she was well and unharmed, he reminded himself grimly.
Not until she was free of Amadeus's clutches.
"You have crossed all boundaries, Amadeus," he growled in disgust. "Mist wraiths have been forbidden by all vampires. Do you possess no shame?"
The vampire offered Lucien an oddly haunted smile at the accusation. "Very little, I have discovered."
Lucien could conjure no sympathy. Amadeus had brought this wicked compulsion upon himself. He had long ago turned his back on decency and integrity. It was too late to realize his desires had cost him his soul.
"Release Miss Kingly," he commanded in cold tones.
"Unfortunately she has not yet given me what I need," Amadeus retorted.
With a smooth motion Lucien reached beneath his jacket to reveal the deadly dagger. The blade glinted with a dangerous fire in the flickering light.
"Release her. Now."
Amadeus gave a rasping laugh as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Really, Lucien, I must say I am rather surprised. I would have thought you would have lost interest in the chit long ago.
You have never been very constant in your attentions." He paused, his expression mocking.
"How did you escape?"
Lucien hid a shudder at the icy pain that still lingered. "It is a long and rather tedious story."
"No matter." The vampire stepped forward. "I shall attend to your death myself. It will no doubt be far more satisfying."
With slow, steady motions Lucien backed toward the woman stretched upon the table, careful to keep his attention upon the dangerous Amadeus. He had to release Jocelyn before the vampire could attack him.
He was far from certain that he was strong enough to fend him off for long.
"I fear that I cannot accommodate you. I have rather pressing business to attend to."
Amadeus merely smiled with cruel amusement. "So it would seem."
"It is not too late." Lucien continued, desperate to keep the vampire off guard long enough to give Jocelyn a chance for freedom. "We can return to the Veil together."
"Fool. I am beyond the petty rules of the Council. I will never return."
"You will return or die."
Amadeus moved toward him, his expression one of icy determination. "One of us will certainly die."
Lucien backed into the table and heard Jocelyn stir. "Lucien?" she whispered.
Clutching the dagger, he struggled to clear his throbbing fear. It took a moment before he was able to at last reach out and touch her mind with his own.
"Jocelyn, lay still," he urged as he carefully shifted so that he could use the dagger to slice through the ropes that bound her. Still keeping his gaze upon the vampire moving ever closer, he helped her to sit upright. "Can you move?"
"I think so."
"Then get behind me."
With awkward stiffness she half tumbled off the table and scurried behind his form. At the same moment Amadeus gave a grating laugh.
"You surely do not believe I will allow the Medallion to leave, do you, Lucien? I will kill her before I allow that to happen."
Lucien once again reached out with his thoughts. "Jocelyn, listen to me carefully."
"What?" she replied in the same manner.
"I want you to run from here as fast as you can. There is a horse waiting in the trees. Return to London and find Gideon Ravel. He will protect you."
"No. I will not leave you."
He gritted his teeth as the vampire neared. "Then we both will die. I cannot protect you and fight Amadeus at the same moment."
"No."
"Jocelyn, do as I say. The Medallion must be protected."
"I do not care."
"You will do this, Jocelyn."
"I cannot."
"Please, Jocelyn, I need you to be strong. You will do this for me."
"I—" There was a reluctant pause. "Very well."
Easily realizing that Lucien was plotting Jocelyn's escape, Amadeus narrowed his gaze.
"Do not be a fool, Lucien. If you do not want the wench to die, then return her to the table."
