Chapter Eleven
"So how does Rookery fit into all this?" Anna asked after Rudolph and Tony explained the incident to her over lunch the next day.
"He must think we're still vampires, or that we're protecting people who are still vampires," Rudolph replied. "Otherwise he wouldn't still be after us."
"What about the others?" Tony asked, looking over at Rudolph.
"What others?" Anna asked.
"We weren't supposed to mention that," Rudolph hissed through gritted teeth. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, and looked across the table to his sister. "Von believes that there are dangerous vampires coming here, and that they're only doing so because we have something they or their leader must want, such as the Stone of Attamon."
Color drained from Anna's face, and the fork she was holding slipped out of her hands and clattered onto the tray. "How much time do we have?" she whispered.
"We don't exactly know."
"Where is Von?"
"In our cellar still," Tony replied.
"Good. I think we should talk to him some more about these 'others'."
Rudolph and Tony exchanged a look, and then their attention returned to Anna.
TLV
Tony, Rudolph, Gregory, and Anna walked into Tony's basement to find Von perched on the chest, waiting for them. "Is it true that the others are coming?" Anna asked.
"Yes," Von replied. "I'm surprised they haven't gotten here yet."
"How much time do we have?" Gregory asked.
"A day or so at most."
"And those two fledglings?"
"Are relatively inactive. They're of little concern to me, and with luck, they're a top priority for that hunter, Rookery."
"How's that good?" Tony asked.
"If Rookery's distracted by the two fledglings, he won't be looking for me, and he likely won't notice the others when they come, or what actions we take against them."
"Please tell us," Anna said. "How is Father?"
"He's recovering from his...I believe the modern term for it is 'funk'." Gregory nodded. "He should be just fine."
"Oh, thank the stars."
Von smiled. "You sound like your mother when you say that." Anna smiled. "Now, we have to worry about these others, before they get here."
"Alright, where do we start?" Gregory asked.
"We don't, not just yet." The four children lapsed into silence. "They have to make the first move."
"When will that be?"
"Soon, I assure you. Very, very soon."
TLV
"So, we're just supposed to sit around and wait?" Gregory asked, his hands out at his sides.
"Apparently," Rudolph replied from his position on the sofa.
"No, no way. There must be something we can do."
"You heard Von. It won't be long now. He feels it, and I seem to recall days when you could feel it, as well. Actually, they were nights, but even so, I believe the point still stands."
Gregory let out a sigh. "You want me to trust his judgment?"
"Yes, even if you trust nothing else about him. His judgment has hardly failed. Even you can attest to that." Gregory shook his head and closed his eyes. "I know this is strange for you, but if you don't trust Von, at least trust me."
The teenager looked at his brother, but he said nothing.
TLV
Tony sat cross-legged on his bed and stared at the floor. Here he was, again waiting for vampires to show up, except these weren't like Rudolph and his family. These ones were worse, according to Von, and while he wasn't willing to just wait for one of them to bust his way in and suck him dry, he didn't have a plan.
Dottie tapped on his door and poked her head through the door. "Everything okay in here?" she asked.
"Yeah," Tony replied, not even bothering to look up.
She walked in and took a seat on his bed, stroking Tony's back softly. "Are you sure?"
Tony nodded. "Jus', there's lots of stuff going on right now."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Remember that story about Rudy's uncle jumping off the cliff after the amulet?"
"Yeah."
"It really happened, and now he's back?"
"The uncle?"
"Yeah, and he said that more dangerous vampires were coming here, probably for the Stone of Attamon."
"Really?"
"That's what Von says."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but has someone talked to that crazy guy?"
"Rookery? Yeah. Greg did."
"Oh, good," Dottie said softly. "Anyone have a plan?"
"Von might."
"I hope so."
"So do I, Mom. So do I."