Always the Vampire

The rehearsal itself was brief and went perfectly. Even DennyK, who I’d heard was a wild man, behaved himself. When the minister took his leave, I passed out the drachmas, explained the drawing, and we headed out for the festival. Maggie didn’t blink that Saber wanted to take his car. She didn’t even fuss when I gave her the drachma game prize and asked her to give the gift card to the winner. Maybe because I lied through my fangs and told her Saber was a bit under the weather.

The western horizon blazed with reds bleeding into purples when Saber and I reached the topmost ramp of the parking garage where Triton waited. He assured us that Lia had worked her magick on the security cameras, so we quickly arranged the trucks, hoods up, and connected jumper cables to Saber’s SUV. As I’d thought, a small car might squeeze by our staging, but the driver would have to be desperate or extremely well insured to brave the tight space.

I went to Triton’s truck, to the open passenger window, and smiled at Lia. “Any sign of Starrack? Is he still cloaking himself?”

“Surprisingly, we had a faint ping fifteen minutes ago. Not near here, but he’ll come. I can feel it.”

So could I, so I didn’t argue. Lia gave us the thumbs-up from the cab, and Cosmil muttered what sounded like a blessing. With that, Saber, Triton, and I descended the northwest stairway.

On the festival field, Saber peeled off as planned to patrol the right side of the main tent. He’d glance into the vendor booths, proceed to the food tents at the west end of the grounds, then circle to meet Triton and me as we came up the left side.

I thought as we first began the stroll down our side of the tent that the double row of vendor booths wasn’t spaced as widely apart as those I’d seen on the right side. The aisle between the rows seemed more jammed, the shoppers moving clumsily. And then I caught eau de Void, that distinctive hot-oil odor that clogged the back of my throat.

I instantly began sipping its energy, but damn it all. If the Void was nearby, Starrack couldn’t be far away.

The Void. It’s here, I thought at Triton and Saber, Cosmil and Lia.

We don’t see Starrack in the spell, Lia responded. He must be dampening his presence.

Triton grabbed my hand. Is it by the tennis courts or closer?

Closer. Saber, you have anything?

I’m circling your way. If you aren’t in the dance tent, get there. I saw people in costumes gathering on the south side near the bandstand.

My nerves more taut with each step, my well of power stirring at the base of my spine, I waded with Triton through the throng to the large tent. We wove our way around the poles and supporting cables, and the six-foot tables filled with diners. I didn’t see any of the wedding party and hoped they were in the long lines at the food tents. Anywhere removed from the Void.

We’re east of the bandstand. I sent the message to Saber just as a man announced that the members of the Nisiotes Greek Dance Troupe would be out to teach a dance to anyone who wanted to learn.

Saber, it’s nearly showtime.

I heard. No visual on the Void, but our man is at the beverage booth.

Stealing ouzo? Triton sent the thought.

Taste testing.

I craned my neck, found Starrack, and reached for his energy, siphoning just a bit and hoping he wouldn’t notice. His life force didn’t taste like hot asphalt and didn’t burn my throat. No, his aura tasted as bitter and dry as cold ashes, and froze my heart.

My chest clenched. My breathing grew ragged. But only for a moment until the well of cool power shot up my spine. I drew one deep, clean breath, then another. Just in time, too, for. six men and six women dancers in blue and white costumes emerged from one side of the stage, recorded music blared through speakers, and Triton grabbed my hand.

We’re going on, Saber, Triton thought to both of us. Keep us posted.

Triton and I joined the lively dance at the end of the long line, falling right into step. I was glad we’d practiced, though, because it was a strain to drain energy from two sources, listen for Saber’s intel, and stay in rhythm.

No Void sighting yet, but our target is coming your way.

Triton caught my eye, squeezed my hand twice, and we danced to the middle of the circle. The dance troupe members looked surprised, but the learners seemed to think our breakout was normal. Maybe the “oompahs” being yelled from the audience helped sell us, but Triton put on the performance of a lifetime. He executed his small leaps and foot slaps with flair, and I dipped and twirled, all the while keeping in step. The spins were a bitch to do and still look for Starrack. Faces of the dancers and the crowd zipped by with dizzying speed, but I didn’t see Maggie or Neil or anyone else in the wedding party, and that was reassuring.

Southwest edge of the audience. He’s made you.

Triton signaled to rejoin the line, which mercifully stopped a few stanzas of music later.

Exit the north side of the tent. I’ll work my way to the garage.

Cosmil and Lia?

Know I’m coming. It’s time to rock.

One of the men in the dance troupe moved to intercept us, but I captured his gaze and gave him the suggestion that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. He relaxed, and we slipped out of the tent to take off for the parking garage at a pace that was slower than I’d like but not brisk enough to raise suspicions that we were fleeing a crime scene.