Chapter 65: Figured I'd go ahead and post this. More to come!

"See? Chill isn't so bad." Erin grinned placing her chin on Larten's shoulder.

Larten looked down at her. They were seated side-by-side in a quiet, dark corner of the café. Erin had removed her coat but slid under Larten's cloak to cuddle close. They each had a cup of coffee before them. Brigid was near where Ian was playing his set. The café was dim and cozy with plenty of nooks and spots to hide in. Larten had followed Erin around the bookstore portion as she looked in her favorite sections. Now they were together, enjoying each other's presence.

Blip.

Broken glass. A hand reaching for something. A large wooden carving.

Erin gasped. Larten immediately knew something was wrong by the look on her face. She had seen something. He gripped her hand tighter.

"What is it?"

She shook her head. "Not here. Let's go outside. Get Brigid while I pay."

Larten nodded as Erin stood and put her coat on. Erin headed to the counter while Larten walked over to where Brigid was sitting watching her friend play.

"What do you want? You'll embarrass me." Brigid hissed under her breath.

"It is time to leave."

"What? Why?"

The look on Brigid's face changed when she saw the look in Larten's eyes. Something was happening. Brigid quickly stood and slipped on her coat following Larten out of the building. Erin was already at the door with car keys ready.

"What did you see?" Brigid asked immediately.

"Walk and talk." They hurried to Erin's car. "I saw broken glass, some sort of hand, and a weird wooden carving."

"Okay, so that could mean what? Is it safe to go home?" Brigid asked. Larten could see she was shaking. No, this wasn't the right course of action. Erin glanced at him.

"Pull over." Larten commanded in such a tone that Erin knew to do as he said.

"What are you doing?!" Brigid squealed.

"Quiet." Larten snapped. "I am going to flit ahead. I will be back." Larten started to get out of the car when something was shoved in his hand. It was Brigid's phone.

"In case something happens."

Larten looked to Erin and she nodded. She was scared but determined. He noticed a shimmer of tears and he knew she loved him. In that moment everything they shared was crystalized. His eyes softened before becoming hard again and shutting the car door behind him. He began to run, hitting flitting speed in a matter of seconds. It was moments until he was in front of the house.

He quickly slipped into the shadows on the side of the house listening intently. Silence. Larten prowled to the back yard looking for any sign of disturbance. Nothing seemed to be amiss. He unlocked the back-patio door with a click of his fingers. He entered the house and peered into the dark. He sniffed the air. There was a different scent. Someone had been in the house. Larten's instincts were in high gear as he searched the home. Nothing, until he got to Erin's bedroom and saw that her window was open. He approached cautiously peering out and noticed a sigil carved into the window sill. He recognized it immediately. It had to do with the vampire gods and it had to have been Murlough who put it there.

There was a thud. Larten spun around into a fighting stance. It was coming from the closet. He slowly approached and listened. Nothing again. With vampire speed, he opened the door ready to face an intruder. But no one was there. Larten stepped into the closet and smelled the unmistakable scent of a vampaneze. When he turned around he noticed another wooden carving on the inside of the closet door.

Another god.

Larten decided to go through the house once more and would be on the lookout for any more sigils. He found one on each windowsill along with lines of salt, more of Murlough's pre-ritual. He followed Murlough's scent to a patch of nearby woods but lost it. He wanted to inspect further but he needed to get back to Erin and Brigid. Bad things seemed to happen to them when he was away. Leaving the woods, he flitted to where Erin had pulled over.

Her car was gone.

He looked around cursing under his breath. Where had they gone? Larten took Brigid's phone from his pocket. He couldn't read but he recognized Erin's name. He clicked the name and held the phone to his ear.

"The caller you are trying to contact is not available." Said the automated voice.

"Charna's guts." Larten hissed.

He began running down the road looking for any sight of them. He eventually found Erin's car.

It was crashed into a tree. His heart hit his stomach in dread as he approached the wreck. He heard moaning and hurried to the driver's side. The air bags had deployed and Erin was moaning against the steering wheel not fully conscious.

"Erin! Erin, can you hear me?" Larten said. He ripped the door completely off and pulled Erin out laying her down. He glanced into the back but Brigid was gone. The back glass had been shattered from the outside as if someone had smashed it. He cursed, returning to Erin. He lifted her into his lap and checked her injuries. He applied spit to her injuries which were minor thank the gods. Her eyes suddenly began to flutter open. They looked up at Larten in confusion.

"You are all right. Erin, how did this happen?"

Erin sat up holding a hand to her head as Larten supported her.

"Oh god, no!" She gasped, clinging to Larten's embrace. "He took her, Larten, he took her! We were waiting for you and out of nowhere Murlough attacked us. I tried to drive away but he smashed through the back and I couldn't shake him and I lost control. Why didn't he take me too?! Please, Larten, we have to find Brigid." Erin broke down and sobbed. Larten held her close as she cried.

"We will find her. I promise but first we need to get you home. Your injuries are minor but you most likely have a concussion." Larten stood with Erin in his arms; he hit flitting speed in seconds.

"Ssssssh, little human. Don't cry. Murlough is going to take good care of you, yes he shall."

Murlough stroked Brigid's hair. She was bound and gagged.

"See, little human, I went to your house and I left a fake trail for that vampire to follow. The gods are on my side. You and your sister will be perfect sacrifices. I will consume part of your souls and gain your abilities. I've gained a few already from other sacrifices. The gods bless my sacrifices and I will gain immortality and more power. I will be a god amongst the vampaneze and vampires." He cackled as he sliced three cuts onto Brigid's face.

She tried to scream as tears rolled down her face.

"You must bear the marks of the vampaneze. You are mine now."