Carpathian 21 - Dark Peril

course. You have only to tell me what you need.”

    “The undead are gathering near this place and your people are all in danger. The undead will be seeking blood each night. Because there are many, they will take many lives. They can take any form, man or creature, including bats. How prepared are you should they come?”

    “Each house is protected, but we must guard the cattle,” Cesaro replied.

    They got into the house the other night, Solange pointed out to Dominic, not wanting to disprove Cesaro’s statement and hurt his pride. As a woman, he wouldn’t like the protest coming from her.

    “Forgive me,” Dominic bowed slightly, “but how did the vampire get into the main house the other evening? He attacked young Marguarita. Did you make inquiries?”

    Cesaro frowned, swept off his hat and scratched his head. “I can’t think how such a thing happened. She would never invite anyone inside the house, and she would know she was safe inside. Don Zacarias has given precise instructions and we all follow them exactly . Each family residing here knows it is life-or-death. No one would open the door for the undead. For anyone. ”

    Zacarias would have protected all of them from compulsion as well, Solange reasoned. All the brothers protect their families that way. Someone opened the door and let the vampire inside. Someone here is working for the vampires.

    Dominic turned Solange’s statement over and over in his mind. It still didn’t feel right to him. He was missing something. “I would like to check on Marguarita, and discuss this further with you, Cesaro.
    Perhaps you could introduce me to those working here.”

    Cesaro’s eyebrow shot up. He was responsible for the men and women working for the De La Cruz brothers. “Do you believe we have a traitor?”

    Dominic chose his words carefully. Most of those working on the De La Cruz ranches were related in some way. “I just want to make certain that everyone is safe.”

    Cesaro turned his head and whistled. At once a younger teen bounded up and took the horse’s reins, his eyes curious, but he didn’t ask questions. When Cesaro waved him away, he looked disappointed but he took the horse back toward the corrals.

    Dominic glanced down at Solange’s upturned face and the question in her eyes. She’d been in his mind when he’d touched the boy. He could see Zacarias’s barrier firmly in place. If a mage had managed somehow to take over one of the workers, he would have had to go through that barrier.

    Marguarita? Could she have been possessed and opened the door for him?

    Dominic shook his head. The undead tried to get into her head and was unsuccessful. He questioned her, and even though I felt the strength of the compulsion in his voice, she refused to give him information.

    They followed Cesaro to the house. Dominic glided rather than walked, although he appeared to be walking with his easy, fluid, graceful stride and paying attention to Cesaro as he identified workers they passed. He didn’t want to take a chance of making it appear as if he was examining the mind of every person within range. Everyone appeared protected.

    The house rippled when they walked in. Dominic stopped abruptly. “Has Zacarias been here?”

    “He would not leave with the undead walking the night. The cattle are restless and last night we lost several to the bloodsuckers. They dropped down from the sky. Two of my men barely escaped with their lives.
    Zacarias returned right after that and strengthened the protection in each house. He told us the cattle were not worth dying for and he wanted his men inside at night.”

    “And yet, it is night and you are watching the cattle.”

    Cesaro frowned. “We cannot just let them be slaughtered. This is what we do. Who we are. We are taking precautions. If there is a disturbance, we all go inside immediately. We have shelters set up for our protection.”

    Dominic exchanged a long look with Solange. These men were feudal in their own way. They had a job they took great pride in, and they weren’t about to abandon their cattle to the vampires rampaging near their homes.

    “Marguarita took a turn for the worse,” Cesaro said. “She ran a high temperature and could barely breathe.
    Don Zacarias must have sensed she was dying and came to try to heal her again. He spent much time with her and then left. He is not resting here. He said it would be too dangerous for all of us.”

    “Perhaps he is right,”