in the rearview just before a tunnel of black opens.
Charlotte , he sends. Maybe I was wrong about Wilhelm .
And then, he’s gone.
***
Chapter Nine
Sage isn’t happy about the kiss, I can tell, but I ignore him as we pull into the next town and hunt down a train station. It’s easy enough to find. And this time, I go to the ticket booth and buy tickets.
The smiling attendant gestures at the map before me. “Where to?” Her Austrian is crisp and aristocratic.
I answer in English, my American accent firmly in place. “Spain,” I say.
“By way of Wilhelm,” Sage cuts in. I glare at him but he shakes his head. “You promised we could see it before we went home, remember?”
I’ll kill him later. The attendant hands over the tickets after I pay her. “Have a pleasant trip,” she says in heavily accented English.
We board with the other passengers, the two seats across from us empty when the train pulls out of the station. I toss our bags across, putting my feet up, staring out the window.
“Don’t be mad,” Sage says. “But if your friend has doubts, maybe we should talk to the vampires before we go to California.”
I turn to scowl at him. “I told you,” I said. “This is a bad idea. It will only mean trouble for everyone.”
“Maybe,” he says. “Maybe not. Remember, that Sebastian guy wanted to try to make me a vampire.” I’m startled by his words. “Maks and Isabelle told me,” he said, “while we were waiting for you.” He shivers a little, but smiles. “Not that I’m all that eager to be a vampire or anything, but if it saves us from having to go further, I’m for it. Especially if it keeps me from turning into a monster.”
I take his hand and squeeze it. Maybe he’s right. But I can only feel growing nervousness at the idea, and my intuition tells me this is a terrible idea.
“Fine,” I say. “We’ll give it a try. But if it fails…” I have no reason to believe it would, though. Vampires come from normals, just like werewolves had in the beginning.
“If it fails,” Sage says, “we go to California and see what we can find out.”
We hold hands the whole trip, though I rise once to go to the washroom. I stare at my drawn and anxious face in the mirror, gaze going to my blonde hair. I’m going to have to do something about the color before too long. I shake myself. Here I am, planning for the worst. But that’s me, isn’t it? It’s what’s kept me alive for so long. I’d almost forgotten my old training, but here it is, coming back to save me.
Sunny and Sebastian won’t be able to help. I have to have a plan.
It’s only a few hours more when the train pulls into the station near Wilhelm. Sage and I disembark, he with eagerness, me with hesitation. It’s only a few miles to Castle Wilhelm from Wolfsburg. I try not to dwell on the irony of the name.
Sage scowls unhappily at me when I pull up to the platform where I’ve left him. He eyes the stolen motorcycle. I don’t give him a chance to argue, tossing him a helmet. The big machine responds to me as I drive, pushing the speed to the limit. The winding roads are no challenge to my werewolf reflexes and I feel myself relax into the focus of controlling the heavy bike through the dangerous turns.
Castle Wilhelm is well hidden, though the entire area is named for the vampire family. I wonder if normals realize where the title comes from or that the castle itself even still exists. I have no trouble finding the turnoff, magically shielded, because I know the entrance as though born to it. I’m forced to slow, the gravel road almost impossible for the powerful motorcycle to navigate at speed. By the time we come to a purring halt at the gates to the castle, the sun has gone down again.
The third day is half over and we’re no closer to saving Sage. Or are we? It’s possible my cynicism will prove unwarranted. But when I dismount and head for the gate, Sage behind me, struggling with both
Charlotte , he sends. Maybe I was wrong about Wilhelm .
And then, he’s gone.
***
Chapter Nine
Sage isn’t happy about the kiss, I can tell, but I ignore him as we pull into the next town and hunt down a train station. It’s easy enough to find. And this time, I go to the ticket booth and buy tickets.
The smiling attendant gestures at the map before me. “Where to?” Her Austrian is crisp and aristocratic.
I answer in English, my American accent firmly in place. “Spain,” I say.
“By way of Wilhelm,” Sage cuts in. I glare at him but he shakes his head. “You promised we could see it before we went home, remember?”
I’ll kill him later. The attendant hands over the tickets after I pay her. “Have a pleasant trip,” she says in heavily accented English.
We board with the other passengers, the two seats across from us empty when the train pulls out of the station. I toss our bags across, putting my feet up, staring out the window.
“Don’t be mad,” Sage says. “But if your friend has doubts, maybe we should talk to the vampires before we go to California.”
I turn to scowl at him. “I told you,” I said. “This is a bad idea. It will only mean trouble for everyone.”
“Maybe,” he says. “Maybe not. Remember, that Sebastian guy wanted to try to make me a vampire.” I’m startled by his words. “Maks and Isabelle told me,” he said, “while we were waiting for you.” He shivers a little, but smiles. “Not that I’m all that eager to be a vampire or anything, but if it saves us from having to go further, I’m for it. Especially if it keeps me from turning into a monster.”
I take his hand and squeeze it. Maybe he’s right. But I can only feel growing nervousness at the idea, and my intuition tells me this is a terrible idea.
“Fine,” I say. “We’ll give it a try. But if it fails…” I have no reason to believe it would, though. Vampires come from normals, just like werewolves had in the beginning.
“If it fails,” Sage says, “we go to California and see what we can find out.”
We hold hands the whole trip, though I rise once to go to the washroom. I stare at my drawn and anxious face in the mirror, gaze going to my blonde hair. I’m going to have to do something about the color before too long. I shake myself. Here I am, planning for the worst. But that’s me, isn’t it? It’s what’s kept me alive for so long. I’d almost forgotten my old training, but here it is, coming back to save me.
Sunny and Sebastian won’t be able to help. I have to have a plan.
It’s only a few hours more when the train pulls into the station near Wilhelm. Sage and I disembark, he with eagerness, me with hesitation. It’s only a few miles to Castle Wilhelm from Wolfsburg. I try not to dwell on the irony of the name.
Sage scowls unhappily at me when I pull up to the platform where I’ve left him. He eyes the stolen motorcycle. I don’t give him a chance to argue, tossing him a helmet. The big machine responds to me as I drive, pushing the speed to the limit. The winding roads are no challenge to my werewolf reflexes and I feel myself relax into the focus of controlling the heavy bike through the dangerous turns.
Castle Wilhelm is well hidden, though the entire area is named for the vampire family. I wonder if normals realize where the title comes from or that the castle itself even still exists. I have no trouble finding the turnoff, magically shielded, because I know the entrance as though born to it. I’m forced to slow, the gravel road almost impossible for the powerful motorcycle to navigate at speed. By the time we come to a purring halt at the gates to the castle, the sun has gone down again.
The third day is half over and we’re no closer to saving Sage. Or are we? It’s possible my cynicism will prove unwarranted. But when I dismount and head for the gate, Sage behind me, struggling with both
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