Carpathian 04 - Dark Magic

was designed to be painful. Morrison wants to kill the vampires, not study them. The poison is fast-acting, extremely virulent, and agonizing."
    "He wants to talk to you. Come with us, Gary. Let him explain all this to you." Martin added, "He sent us here to protect you. He was very worried after what happened in that warehouse."
    "Is that why you trashed my room?" Gary asked.
    "You didn't come home last night. We waited all day before we decided to look for clues to your disappearance," Evans said reasonably.
    "And the gun?" Gary pushed.
    "We were worried for our own safety. Morrison thinks maybe a real vampire went to the warehouse.
    He was afraid maybe the vampire turned you, that's why you weren't around during the day. We couldn't take any chances."
    "Have you ever seen Morrison during the day?" Gary asked suddenly.
    There was a shocked silence. "Well, sure, yeah," Evans stuttered, frowning, trying to remember. Shards of glass seemed to pierce his skull. He rubbed at his pounding temples. "You have, haven't you, Martin?"
    Martin snarled, his face twisted and evil. "Of course. All the time. So have you, Evans. You remember."
    He is lying , Gregori said softly in Savannah's head. He is a servant of the master vampire. He intends to bring Gary somewhere out in the bayou .
    Can you stop him without bringing the police down on Gary?
    We must pursue Morrison. He is the one behind the hunt for the proof of the existence of our people. He is using the society in an attempt to destroy our race. We can do no other than stop him . Gregori laid a hand gently on Gary's shoulder and was pleased when the mortal didn't give himself away by jumping. Go with them. Allow them to lead us to the one who rules them .
    It was a little disconcerting to have Gregori's voice swirling imperiously around in his head, but Gary nodded slowly. "I didn't think Morrison would have anything to do with those idiots at the warehouse.
    That's why I called him. I thought maybe he could control the situation. Sure, let's go see him. I've got some wild tales to tell. Hell, no one's going to believe what I saw." With studied, casual grace, Gary reached into the mess of papers on the floor and snagged his laptop. Between the two men, he marched confidently out of his room, down the hall, and out into the night.

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    What are you going to do ? Savannah was anxious on Gary's behalf. He had to live in the human world.
    That meant no suspicion could fall on him if the two men in his company were found dead.
    No one will see Gary with the two puppets , Gregori said softly. I have been at this for a thousand years, chérie. This is the world I live in. I know it well. We will probably not be so lucky this night as to trap our prey, but it is worth the try .
    They plan to kill Gary . Savannah was as adept as Gregori at reading the thoughts of those around her, and she could feel the malevolence seething just beneath the surface of the two men, particularly the one called Martin. He had been close to the vampire for some time, and the stench of evil was strong in him.
    They are hoping for more information. Morrison wants to extract it himself, probably because he trusts no one. And he likes to see things in pain and terror . The thought came unbidden before he could censor it. Go home now. Savannah .
    Don't send me home yet. You might need me to get Gary out. I won't wilt at the first sign of danger, I promise.
    The two men were leading Gary toward the river. A boat was waiting, and Gary got in without hesitation. The water was choppy, the wind blowing hard. Gregori moved just above Gary to ensure that the dark compulsion of the kill did not overtake either man until they arrived at their destination. The ride seemed to take forever, and Gary was looking so pale, he was almost green. The ride had made him seasick. As he stepped off the boat into a little inlet in the bayou, he staggered.
    Gregori steadied him, his arm slipping around his shoulders for a brief moment to reassure him. It was evident Gary was aware there was something wrong with the two men. He felt the mortal take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Gary was going to be all right He trusted Gregori.
    Gary noticed immediately that Evans and Martin boxed him in as he walked along the marshy shore.
    Cypress trees rose out of the water, and a network of roots formed a macabre prison of stakes and weeping limbs. In the