"Where are you going, then?"
"I'm not sure. One of Neo's other safe houses. I shouldn't be far."
His mouth twisted with wry acceptance. "And I suppose I still can't go with you."
"Seeing as how you fall into the human category, no. I could break your bones . . . or your skull."
"Freaking Xena."
Quinn snorted. "I wish." Though she'd managed to channel Buffy for a while. Maybe, eventually, she'd be able to do that at will.
She hugged Zack hard, feeling his quick hug in return, then pulled back, letting him go. "Neo will come get me if you need me."
"I know."
"Love you, Zack."
"Love you, too, sis." He turned and loped back into the house, as if eager to get back to whatever he'd been pulled away from.
Quinn turned and joined the vampires, who were having a discussion of their own.
"We'll join you in twos or threes," Neo said. "I don't want anyone becoming suspicious."
Arturo nodded. "Agreed."
Neo smiled at her. "Hi, Quinn."
She returned the smile sleepily. "I'd like to talk to Amanda about Zack."
"She'll be joining you shortly," Neo told her. "We'll all be joining you. Immortals only, so there's no danger if your power breaks loose."
Another male strolled out of the house, and she recognized Arturo's friend, Kassius. Tall as a tree, with short, curly, dark hair, he was the one responsible for the Slavas in Cristoff's castle, and he watched over them like a mother hen.
He, too, gave her a quick, friendly smile. "Hello, Quinn."
"Hi, Kassius."
"What are you doing here?" Arturo asked, pleasure in his voice as he shook his friend's hand.
Kassius's expression turned grave. "They're bringing children into Vamp City."
"I know. Micah already smuggled one back out."
"Traders brought three in the last shipment. I bought them and brought them here." His mouth compressed, his jaw turning hard. "It's a damn good thing tomorrow's the equinox because this city has gone to hell."
"Can you stay for a couple of hours? We're about to discuss tomorrow. I'd like you there."
"I can stay for a little while."
Micah lifted a hand. "If Kas is going to accompany you, I'll stay here and feed. I'll meet you over there in time for the meeting."
As Micah and Neo turned back for the house, Rinaldo brought several fresh mounts around. Arturo gave Quinn a leg up on one, then he and Kassius mounted the other two. The three started off, Quinn between them.
A short while later, they pulled up in front of what appeared to be a deserted house-two stories with a crumbling porch, shutters hanging askew or missing altogether, and the glass of most of the windows shattered. An old-style haunted mansion, they'd call it in the real world. Here it was just one of hundreds of shells left to disintegrate by a population that needed far less housing than their doppelganger world provided.
Arturo swung down. "Wait here while I ensure it is safe." A moment later, he disappeared through the front door.
Quinn turned to Kassius. "Any luck finding Lily?"
He shook his head. "I sent a man to investigate. I'll let you know as soon as I learn something."
She nodded, praying they found Lily and got her out of there safely.
"You've found your power?" Kassius asked her quietly.
"I've found something. I'm still figuring out what I can do."
"It will come."
"I hope so. Kassius, I'm not sure if I ever thanked you properly for rescuing me from Cristoff's dungeon. But thank you."
He dipped his head in acknowledgment. "I was happy to do it. Happier still that Ax requested it. I had begun to fear we were losing him to the darkness, but you changed that."
"Your own conscience was never compromised, was it?"
"I don't believe so, no. I suspect my wolf blood is the reason."
"You're very loyal to Arturo."
"We all are. I would follow him to the ends of the earth, sorceress. I sometimes think I have."
Chapter Twenty
"All clear," Arturo said, striding down the front steps of the crumbling house.
Before Quinn could dismount, Arturo was at her side, helping her down, sliding an arm around her waist.
"I'm okay," she told him.
"Good." But Arturo didn't remove his arm as he led her into the dusty house that smelled of age, rot, and mildew.
"I'm surprised these places are still standing after a 140-plus years," she murmured.
"Some are, some aren't. Lack of sun keeps them from rotting as quickly as they would have in your world. And perhaps, a touch of the magic."
Once they were in the house, Arturo released her and set about lighting candles and oil lamps, revealing walls and flooring as decrepit as she'd expected-chunks of plaster missing from the walls, the wooden floor lifted and broken in places. The furniture in the house was another matter. By rights, it should have looked as broken-down and ancient as the structure around it. Instead, a pair of worn, but by no means ancient leather recliners, flanked a new leather sofa. And against one wall stood half a dozen gray, folding metal chairs that looked like they'd been nabbed from the closest elementary-school auditorium.
There were no cobwebs, no signs of critter infestation. But she supposed there wouldn't be since there were no living things in Vamp City that the vampires hadn't intentionally brought in.
"How many people are we expecting for this powwow?" Quinn asked.
"There will be nine of us in all."
Quinn reached for one of the metal chairs and unfolded it, surprised to find it in nearly new condition. "How do you get things like this here?" But she knew, and answered her own question. "Traders."
"Yes."
Arturo helped her set up the chairs. They'd just finished when Mukdalla walked in through the front door, accompanied by her vampire husband, Rinaldo. Mukdalla smiled when she saw Quinn, and strode right over, giving her a big hug.
Quinn stiffened. She'd never been a hugger. Never been particularly comfortable with displays of affection.
Mukdalla released her quickly and stepped back, her smile less bright than before. "I'm glad you're okay, Quinn. Are you feeling better? Or at least in better control?"
"I'm getting there."
When she didn't expound on that, Mukdalla nodded. "All right. Well, I'm sure it will come." She turned to join her husband, who'd taken up watch at one of the windows.
Quinn felt Arturo's gaze and turned to find him watching her thoughtfully.
Soon, the others began to arrive. Amanda strode in the door, accompanied by a Slava male and Neo.
"Micah took a different route," Neo told Arturo. "But he should be here in a few minutes."
Amanda led the Slava male to Quinn, a wide smile lighting her face. "Quinn, I'd like for you to meet my husband. This is Sam. Sam, Quinn Lennox, our sorceress."
Sam thrust out his hand, and Quinn shook it. "It's an honor to meet you, Quinn. We've been hoping and praying for your arrival for quite some time."
Quinn smiled uncomfortably. So many people's lives were dependent upon her, and not just in Vamp City. If she renewed the magic, how many innocent humans would be rounded up and killed for food and sport? But if she didn't renew it, people she'd met and come to like would lose their lives. Amanda and Sam, Neo and Rinaldo, Kassius and Bram.
"Thanks. I'll do my best." What else was there to say? She turned to Amanda. "Tell me about Zack. He's burning up, hotter than before."
The woman's mien turned professional. "His temperature is rising, I'm afraid. And shows no sign of stopping."
"Yet he still continues to feel fine. He's working out, for heaven's sake."
Sam gave his wife's shoulder a squeeze, nodded at Quinn, and went to join the men.
"That's typical with magic sickness," Amanda continued. "But that kind of body heat will still be a problem if it goes too high."
"His brain will fry."
Amanda's mouth compressed. "Yes. I'm afraid so."
"How quickly is that likely to happen?"
"I don't know, Quinn." She shrugged apologetically. "Nothing is ever certain when magic is concerned. But I'll be glad when you've renewed the magic. For a lot of reasons."
"Here comes Micah," Arturo said loud enough for all to hear.
Rinaldo started for the door. "Sam and I'll take watch." The two males headed out as Kassius and Micah walked in.
When they'd all taken their seats-some on the sofa and recliners, others, including Quinn and Arturo, on the metal chairs-Arturo began, glancing at Quinn. "Tomorrow is the equinox. Quinn's magic has been freed to some extent, hopefully enough to renew the magic of Vamp City."
"Thank you," Mukdalla whispered to the heavens, pressing her hands together.
"The problem we have now is twofold." Arturo leaned forward, his arms on his knees, his expression dead serious. "One, the magic must be renewed in the Focus. It might occur to Cristoff to keep watch there, so we'll have to scout the area fully before we take Quinn."
"Not we," Kassius said quietly. "Not you. You can't go near the Focus tomorrow, Ax. Cristoff cannot know you're involved."