Ignis (Book 2, Pure Series) (64 page)

           
"I must confess that the odds of our overall success are not good in this battle.
 
We are outnumbered, and in many ways outmatched.
 
The whole thing is quite a challenge."

           
Innokenti paused.
 
"Are you certain you still wish to do this?
 
There is no dishonor in backing out.
 
You did not truly know what you were up against until my explanation just now.
 
And I hope you will forgive me for pointing this out, but you are ill-equipped to defend yourself against such a threat."

           
"I was chosen once to protect this town," I said.
 
"Even though I no longer have the ability I was originally granted, I still have to do what I can to help."

           
"I cannot dissuade you?" Innokenti asked.

           
"No," I said.

           
"It is my lot to defend this village also," Innokenti said.
 
"You many not think so, but I do understand."

           
Something flickered in Innokenti's eyes that might have been sympathy, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

           
"What I suggest is this," Innokenti said.
 
"We should set up a situation that will attract attention, but that doesn't seem staged.
 
The Werdulac has placed a price on your head that is very attractive to vampires.
 
Most of the vampires who live in communities know better than to go after you—they know the offer is a trap.
 
I doubt very much that the Werdulac will make good on his promises.

           
"But there are plenty of rogue vampires—lone hunters, as I said—who are still out to collect you.
 
I propose that we set up a chase.
 
We will have a vampire we can trust pursue you.
 
Once we have attracted the attention of the hybrids, you and your pursuer will lead them to a prearranged ambush spot in which we will hide some of our vampire warriors.
 
And then once our ambush is sprung, we will alert the rest of the warriors, including William.
 
Unfortunately, we
will
have to wait until nightfall to put our plan into action—the hybrids are unlikely to be sufficiently active to take the bait until darkness is upon us."

           
I couldn't help shivering.

           
"You want to have a vampire chase me?" I asked.

           
"Yes.
 
I think you should be chased into the Pure Woods.
 
There is a large clearing with a castle keep that we know about, and I think we can create a bottleneck there and pick the hybrids off one by one.
 
We know the woods well, and I actually think the trees will be a help rather than a hindrance.
 
If we were to choose an entirely clear area, the way would be clearer for our crossbows, but I also think that out in the open we would be more likely to be overwhelmed.
 
What do you think?"

           
I tried to consider the tactics, but I was too alarmed by Innokenti's first suggestion to be able to think about anything else clearly.

           
"Which vampire are you going to have chase me?" I asked.
 
"Odette?"

           
"No, not Odette," Innokenti replied.
 
"I don't think we can trust her.
 
But I have the perfect man in mind.
 
I think you should work with Anton."

           
"Anton?" I said in disbelief.
 
"But he attacked me.
 
He tried to turn me over to the Werdulac."

           
"Yes, I know that now," Innokenti replied.
 
"I discussed the issue with him after your accusation, and he confirmed it.
 
That's what makes him so well suited to the task.
 
The Werdulac's camp will believe that he is genuinely after you.
 
And he was terribly repentant when I confronted him about you.
 
I'm sure he would like a chance to redeem himself in your eyes and in the eyes of our community."

           
I found it hard to believe that Anton was repentant about anything.
 
"You trust him?"

           
"Yes," Innokenti replied simply.
 
"If this life has taught me one thing, it's forgiveness."
 
He paused and gave me a mirthless smile.
 
"That's a joke, by the way.
 
But very genuinely I do trust him.
 
Anyone may be tempted."

           
I took a deep breath.
 
"Anton."

           
"You may still back out if you wish."

           
"No," I said.
 
"I see the logic of choosing him."

           
Innokenti grinned broadly, showing his teeth.
 
"You're a brave girl."

           
I didn't feel very brave at the moment.
 
In fact, I began to feel the stirrings of panic.
 
"Is there anything I can do—in the event that things don't—go well with—"

           
I paused.
 
I was having trouble forming my words.

           
"In case things don't go well with Anton?" Innokenti asked.

           
"No—"

           
I was determined to think as little as I possibly could about Anton's involvement.

           
"No," I said.
 
"I mean if we succeed in luring the hybrids out, and one of them gets to me—is there anything I can do to protect myself?"

           
Innokenti considered the question.
 
"Nothing comes to mind.
 
We will do our best to protect you, of course.
 
And William will certainly do the same."

           
"What about my cross?" I asked.
 
"The one you saw the other night at the castle.
 
You said it had special properties I might not know about.
 
Will it help me with the hybrids?"

           
"Actually, I believe you should divest yourself of that particular object.
 
I'm not certain how effective it is against a hybrid, but if there's any chance it will throw the hybrids off your trail, then you'll want to get rid of it.
 
We don't want them to be confused."

           
"Oh," I said faintly.
 
"I'll leave it at home then."

           
"Very wise."

           
I cast my mind about desperately.

           
"What about William's search?" I asked.

           
"I beg your pardon?" Innokenti said.
 
"I don't know what search you are referring to."

           
"Last night you said he had been out searching for something that would help in the fight against the hybrids.
 
An 'item' I think you called it."

           
Innokenti laughed—a sound that startled me.

           
"Ah, yes," he said.
 
"William's quest.
 
Are you familiar with the work of the great vampire philosopher and visionary Orpheo?"

           
"I'm afraid not," I replied.

           
Innokenti waved a hand.
 
"Do not feel bad—few humans know of him.
 
Orpheo has long since been turned to ash, but when he was alive, he was something like your Nostradamus.
 
He is the author of a famous quotation—
Sacer ignis exitus mundi
.
 
It translates as "The world will end in—"

           
"Holy fire," I said.

           
Innokenti seemed pleased.
 
"Yes, 'holy fire,' very good.
 
Orpheo predicted that there would be another war between the vampire and the Sìdh.
 
His devotees even believe that he foresaw the resurrection of the Werdulac.
 
Some further believe that this particular quotation should be interpreted literally—as in the world
will
end."

           
"What do you believe?" I asked.

           
Innokenti gave an elegant shrug.
 
"I believe in fighting for my life."
 
He gave me a sardonic look.
 
"One romantic interpretation of this quotation is that the Werdulac may be defeated by a famous vampire sword known as 'Ignis Sacer'—as you said, 'holy fire.'
 
William subscribes to this interpretation."

           
"What do you mean by 'vampire sword'?" I asked.

           
"It's a sword that drinks the blood of its victims and becomes stronger," Innokenti said.
 
"It's supposed to be the most powerful sword the world has ever known.
 
William, bless his innocent heart, has begun to search for it."

           
Innokenti's mocking tone was beginning to make me angry.
 
"What's wrong with William looking for this sword?"

           
"Orpheo, like Nostradamus, was largely a fanciful man.
 
The sword is not real.
 
The sword is a dream.
 
There is no magic talisman that will save us from the Werdulac on this night or on any other night.
 
Nothing will help us here.
 
What we have on our hands is a good, old-fashioned fight.
 
We cannot place our faith in legends, no matter how attractive."

           
Innokenti suddenly glanced around.
 
"I hope you'll forgive me, little one, I should not spend too much time out here in the daylight.
 
It is possible someone will see us talking and report us to the Werdulac.
 
We don't want to endanger our plans.

           
"This is what we will do tonight.
 
We don't know exactly when the hybrids will attack the Festival, but I imagine they are planning to inflict as much damage as they possibly can.
 
So they will want to wait until the festivities will be in full swing—when the most people will be out and about and a little, shall we say, incapacitated from merrymaking?
 
I can't imagine that the hybrids would attack before midnight.
 
You should go to the festival around ten o'clock, and then wander away from the crowd at around eleven to begin the staged chase.
 
The hybrids should be stirring by then, and we should still be ahead of their attack."

           
"I can do that," I said.
 
"I'll get away by eleven.
 
How do I find Anton?"

           
Innokenti gave me a disturbing smile.
 
"Anton will find you."

           
Innokenti moved then with startling swiftness, and in the next moment he was gone.

           
I spun around, looking for him.

           
The Wasteland was empty.

           
I figured Innokenti was gone, so I turned to go myself.

           
Then I heard a voice in my ear.

           
"Let us pray, little one, that you haven't sealed your own fate."

Chapter 24.

Time seemed to speed up after I returned home.
 
All too soon, the day passed me by, and the sky began to darken.

           
Night fell with alarming swiftness.

           
After dinner, I sat up in my dark bedroom, looking out the window, watching the stars come out.
 
I no longer feared the appearance of Timofei Mstislav—I knew he was under control.

           
Or he would be until he spotted me tonight.

           
My heart sank when I heard GM start bustling around in her room—I knew she was getting ready for the Firebird Festival.

           
She was excited about the festival.

           
I was dreading it.

           
The plan I was to follow tonight was what I wanted—what I had chosen for myself.
 
But now that the time to go to the festival was nearly upon me, my stomach had begun to twist itself into violent knots.
 
I knew that there was every chance that our side would lose tonight—that the hybrids would overwhelm us, and I would be lost to the Werdulac.