Chapter 541
I grabbed Brandon’s arm and tugged him back toward the living room. “Come on.” No one wanted Brandon’s parents talking more than he did, so I figured it was in his best interest not to interrupt. It was amazing how much Amanda had changed in the last few months since she’d cleaned herself up.
We went back to the living room, and Mila sent me a message asking if I knew where Sylvester was. I’d need to get back to work. There were so many things I wanted to discuss with Brandon about what Skelton had told my sister, but they’d have to wait. “Mila’s on,” I said to him as he settled back against the cushions.
“All right. I’m going to puzzle through that portal part of the discussion while you’re talking to her.”
“Good.” I smiled at him and turned my attention to Mila. “Hey, I’ve got a location for you.” I dropped her the address I’d been able to pick up when Sylvester arrived at his destination a few hours earlier. It was a warehouse in Budapest. He was there with a couple of other Vampires carefully watching a delivery truck pull in to unload. I gave her that information, and she thanked me before saying she’d be in touch and cutting off.
I didn’t like that. If I was going to help, I needed to be in on the hunt as much as possible. I really only had one choice. I sent a message to Eliza.
It didn’t take her long to give me access, but by then, the guys unloading the truck were already in trouble. “Eliza, I told Mila this already, but just to let you know, Sylvester is in a warehouse a few blocks up the street. There were a few guys unloading a truck, and he and his friends are making short work of them.” I paused to take a breath, but she didn’t say anything. “He’s got two or three newbies with him as well. I can’t quite tell how many because of how they’re situated. As far as I can tell, the black creatures aren’t around there, but the only way I’d know is if someone sees them. I can’t jump into their heads once they’re in that state.”
“Okay, thanks,” she finally said. I could tell she was distracted and imagined they were almost in position. “What do you mean once they’re in that state?”
I got the impression no one had told her what I’d discovered the night before. “They’re people. Somehow, Daunator is making them into these monsters. He’s got a bunch of the missing people in the ground, and he’s switching them over. I didn’t mention any of that to Mila because I’m not sure Aaron wants everyone to know yet, but that’s the situation.” I’d just assumed Aaron would’ve told everyone that already, but if he didn’t, it wasn’t my place to tell someone I hardly knew.
“How can he do that?”
Eliza was as troubled about the situation as I was. “I don’t know, but it might have something to do with the fact that he’s been through the Blood Moon Portal and the Blue Moon Portal. We’re not sure.” I hoped Brandon was getting some answers to that, but I didn’t know yet.
“Great,” Eliza mumbled. “Have you spoken to Christian lately?”
I took a moment to collect my thoughts, not really wanting to answer that. But I did. “I tried a few minutes ago, but he won’t talk to me now. He’s been in that hole for so long, his mind has betrayed him. He’s even crazier than he was before.”
“That’s possible? Poor guy.”
“Yeah, we’re probably going to go and try to pull him out soon.” I didn’t know if she knew we were heading that way or not. “At least that’s my best guess.”
“Not that you’ve been spending any time in Cadence’s and Aaron’s heads looking around?” I could tell by her tone she was joking, so I went with it.
“Nah, I would never....” May as well make light of it so it seemed like I really didn’t know we were on our way.
“All right. Thanks again for the information. Anything else you’ve got that’s helpful will be appreciated.”
“Nothing at the moment,” I said, but I wasn’t sure if it even registered. She was focused on the scene outside her window as the SUV pulled to a stop. They were in the industrial area near the warehouse. I was glad she left me on so I could ride along with her because it would be easier to help if I had visuals, something Mila hadn’t considered.
Mila went over their directions, and I stayed tuned in. Eliza was paired with Sergio again, the same Hunter she’d gone with the last few times, and the other four were split into pairs as well. Eliza got out of the SUV and started following Sergio down the dark streets. I stayed with her, keeping an eye on Sylvester as well. There were definitely three other Vampires with him. Two had dragged one of the humans off to another part of the yard. They were newbies, and watching them devour the poor guy wasn’t pleasant at all, so I tried to focus on what was happening at the back door.
Sylvester was standing several feet away from the rear of the building where the other trucker was pressed up against the wall. Another new Vampire, Lukas, held him there, while Sylvester urged him to take his first bite, but it wasn’t happening. There was something different about this Lukas person... something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“What’s the story?” Eliza was asking me, and I realized her team was in position. She was watching the same thing I was.
I tried to explain it to her as quickly as I could before something happened that would need her attention. “Sylvester is mad that you’re interrupting right now. That other Vampire is a newbie, guy named Lukas, and Sylvester was hoping he’d be as ruthless as he was at that age. But Lukas’s mind is different than any other Vampire I’ve infiltrated. He seems to be torn between ending the guy and doing what Sylvester demands. He’s looking for a way out, and since Sylvester announced he needed to hurry, that you were on your way, he’s stalling.”
“Why? So we can end him, too?”
I couldn’t blame her for being confused. “Sylvester’s giving up. He’s turning his attention to you.”
