CHAPTER FIVE
BAIT

As we stepped out of the car, I was about to follow Eph inside when Quinlan stopped me, blocking my path with his arm.

"You're benching me? Seriously?" I asked, frustration creeping into my voice.

"No," Quinlan replied, his tone surprisingly calm. He pulled a silver dagger from his pocket and handed it to me. "I was going to give you this."

I stared at the blade, its cold gleam reflecting the dim light. "If you insist on coming with us," Quinlan continued, "you're going to need something to protect yourself."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked off, leaving me standing there mid-conversation.

"Thanks," I muttered, shouting after him, though I doubted he heard me.

I caught up with Eph, and we both stepped through the door of a small corner store.

"Come here, kitty," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Neither Eph nor Quinlan had followed my plan, choosing instead their own course of action. It frustrated me; I knew their way would only lead to our downfall. But at least, if we were going to die, I'd die trying to kill the Master.

I heard the growl before a Strigoi lifted its head. "There you are, kitty," I said, watching as its eyes began to glow in front of us.

"Well, that's quite the communication network you've got there," I added, turning to Eph. "You're talking to the Master through him?" My voice was tinged with shock. I knew the Master could do many things, but if he could see through any Strigoi's eyes, he could find us anywhere.

"Anyway, thanks for taking my call," Eph said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

The creature's voice was flat, almost mechanical. "Good weather."

Before it could say more, Quinlan seized the creature by the neck, locking it in a headlock. "I'm doing the talking," Eph snapped, sounding more annoyed than ever.

He pulled off his rucksack, digging around for a moment before pulling out the book. "I've got your goddamn book," he said, glaring at the Strigoi. "If you want it, you're going to have to come through on your end. Here are the terms: You show up yourself, not your Nazi butler—you. You'll bring my son and show him to me before I give you the book. He'll be unharmed, he'll be human. The exchange will happen just after sundown, at a favorite fishing spot of Zack's and mine. He knows it. No Kelly. No one else. If you don't bring him, I'll know he's either dead or turned—and you'll never get the book. Blink if you understand."

The creature blinked.

"Wow," I muttered, sounding almost impressed.

Eph's voice was dry. "I'm hanging up now."

In an instant, Quinlan snapped the creature's neck, its body going limp.

"The die is cast," Quinlan said, stepping back, wiping his hands.

"Will he go through with it?" Eph asked, his tone skeptical.

"The Master will reveal himself for the Lumen," Quinlan replied. "That's all I need."

"But how do we even know he'll turn up?" I said, not trusting this plan to work. "It's probably an ambush."

"We have to trust he will," Eph said, his eyes narrowing as Quinlan walked off ahead.

We gathered on the speedboat before reaching shore. Eph went off on his own, leaving me behind with Quinlan. We waited in silence for hours, the night sky gradually taking over the horizon. "He's here," Quinlan said softly, his voice cutting through the stillness. We stood, straining to hear the faint sound of approaching footsteps.

Then came the unmistakable noise of fighting. "We have to help," I said, glancing at Quinlan.

"Okay," he replied, his tone steady. We moved quickly toward the bridge, Quinlan already drawing his weapon. He fired, taking down the Strigoi surrounding Eph.

"Go," Quinlan urged, his eyes locked on the master, as I rushed over to Eph, pulling him up from the ground.

"Thanks," Eph said, his voice tinged with relief.

"Behind you!" he shouted just as a Strigoi lunged toward me. I dodged its sting, spinning around to kick it back. My silver dagger found its mark, driving deep into its skull.

"Nice," Eph said, his voice tinged with admiration.

"Thousands of years of hunting... and it ends here, at an amusement park," Quinlan remarked with a dry chuckle, before gunshots rang out, heading his way.

"No!" I cried, panic rising in my chest as I sprinted toward him.

"Ellie, wait!" Eph called after me, his voice distant.

"Quinlan!" I shouted as I reached the scene, but before I could do anything, a silver grenade flew through the air, landing among the soldiers attacking him. The explosion threw me across the park, but it also took down the master and his soldiers. Dazed, I looked up to see Quinlan pounce, his blade cleanly severing the master's head.

As he stood over the fallen body, he suddenly stopped, his nostrils flaring as he caught the scent of human blood. In a flash, he was at my side.

I gasped in pain as silver fragments embedded themselves in my flesh. "Fuck," I muttered, wincing as I saw the blood.

Quinlan scooped me up, cradling me in his arms as he carried me back to the hotel. The journey felt like a blur, and when I finally regained consciousness, I found myself lying in Quinlan's bed, covered in bandages.

"Ouch," I muttered, trying to move but the pain was sharp, unbearable.

"How's the pain?" Quinlan's voice was soft but steady, pulling my attention to him.

"You were the one shot with several bullets, not me," I replied, giving him a confused look.

"I'll heal," Quinlan said, walking toward me with that characteristic calmness.

"Shouldn't you be dead right now?" I asked, my voice thick with disbelief. "The master died... you should be dead too."

"Then he must not be dead," I said, my gaze lingering on the look of disappointment that flickered across Quinlan's face.

"Thank you for saving me again," I added, smiling at him, though the smile felt a bit hollow. "Do you mind helping me up?" I asked, my eyes meeting his as I lay in the bed. He had been sitting in that chair for hours, no doubt waiting for me to wake up. But why did he care?

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stood, walked over to the bed, and gently turned me around. Slowly, he helped pull me up, his hands firm but careful. As he did, our eyes met—his dark, unreadable gaze locking with mine for just a brief moment before he let go.

"I'd better go," Quinlan said quietly, his voice flat, and he turned to walk away.

I couldn't help but notice that every time he showed even the slightest hint of humanity or emotion, he would immediately shut it down, retreating back into that cold, distant shell.

End Of Chapter 5