The old man laughed.
“That is because you do not know yourself,” he said. “But you will lead us to her nonetheless. You see, there is a very important weapon in the vampire world. It is called the Vampire Shield. And there is only one person in the world who knows where it is. And that, my dear, is you.”
Scarlet narrowed her eyes back at him, fuming.
“I don’t know about any shield,” she answered, truthfully.
“I know you don’t. It wasn’t something you were told about. It was something you were entrusted with.”
He took a step closer.
“You see, the hiding place can only be revealed by your lineage. And they couldn’t risk entrusting it all to your mommy. So they split the clues. Half to her…and half, to you.”
Suddenly, his eyes dropped down to Scarlet’s wrist.
“They didn’t tell you, of course. Why would they? They couldn’t trust you. No. They implanted it on you. Your bracelet. That is the final clue.”
Scarlet looked down at her wrist, at the dangling bracelet which that man had placed on her wrist in Scotland, which she had all but forgotten about. At that moment, as she looked at it, she knew it to be true, everything this man had said. She could suddenly feel the energy radiating off of it, its intense power practically burning through her wrist. She could feel that he was right, that it was some sort of clue. She was upset with herself that she had never considered it before, had never looked at it in that way. But now, suddenly, she knew that it was the key to finding the Shield. And more importantly, the key to finding her mommy.
And then, at the same moment, she realized that this clue could not get into this man’s hands.
Scarlet suddenly reached down, snatched the bracelet off her wrist, and brought it towards her mouth, preparing to swallow it, to keep it away from them for good.
But, to her surprise, the old man’s reflexes were faster than hers. He moved at the speed of light, and while her wrist was still moving towards her mouth, he reached out and grabbed it in mid-air. His grip was so cold, it felt like a block of ice had wrapped its claws around her skin. He held it with such force, it was as if he were an 18 year old man. Scarlet was strong as a vampire, stronger than she could imagine—yet, still, she was no match for this man.
As he squeezed her wrist harder, she found herself crying out in pain, then involuntarily opening her hand. The bracelet fell out, and the man grabbed it in mid-air, in his open palm.
Ruth suddenly lunged forward and tried to bite the man through her muzzle.
But he turned and kicked Ruth with such force that he sent her flying across the room and into the stone wall, yelping.
Scarlet had had enough. She reached up and lunged at the old man, and somehow moved fast enough to get her hands around his throat. She squeezed and squeezed the wrinkled skin, and took satisfaction in seeing his eyes open wide in surprise. She was really choking him. He was strong, stronger than any man she’d ever encountered—but so, she was realizing, was she.
A moment later she felt bodies descending on her, kicking and elbowing and pummeling her in every direction. They landed on top of her, tackling her to the ground.
Then she felt the silver shackles once again bind her wrists behind her back, as they planted her cheek against the stone floor. They grabbed her and dragged her to her feet.
Scarlet stood there, her face covered in dirt, scowling back at the old man, who now scowled back at her. She could see that she had shaken him.
“You insolent little brat,” he snapped.
He held up the bracelet before her, dangling it in the torchlight, mocking her.
“You have just given me the key to the kingdom, the key to everything I need in life. I will now find the Shield, and I will take you with us. I will make you watch as I summon a greater evil the universe has ever know, and then,” he smiled broadly, “I will kill both you and your mommy with great delight.”
*
Scarlet was prodded from behind, and after a strong shove, she stumbled several feet. Ruth snarled, protective of her, and turned and tried to snap the guard; but she was still muzzled, and there was little she could do.
Scarlet felt her rage heightening as she was led by the group of vampires down the back alleys of Jerusalem. Everywhere they went, crowds parted, scrambling to get as far away from them as possible. They must have sensed the evil energy of this pack, marching on a mission.
Scarlet desperately wanted to break free, to fight back, to make a run for—but she could not. She struggled against the silver shackles binding her wrists, and realized she was helpless. She was at their mercy.
Sam and his girlfriend and the leader were in front as they twisted and turned through the alleys, marching on the ancient stone streets, going Scarlet could only guess where. They had taken Scarlet along, and while she was grateful to be free from that dark jail, she hardly felt at ease with this crowd. She knew that whenever they found whatever it was they needed, they would kill her. Or worse, use her to lure her mommy, then kill them both.
Scarlet felt another pang of fear, but there was little she could do. For the millionth time, she regretted allowing them to snatch that bracelet off her wrist. She should have thought of it sooner, should have figured out the bracelet led to something important, maybe even to her mommy. If she had known that, she wouldn’t have worn it like that. She would have taken it off, and hid it in her pocket.
But no one had told her. Before she had been sent back in time, in that castle on that mountain in Scotland, that old man had shoved it on her wrist, right after he had given her something to drink. But he hadn’t said anything, hadn’t explained. She hadn’t really thought of it, and had no idea how special it was.
Now, she felt terrible. She felt responsible—as if it were all her fault. As if she were the one responsible for leading this group to whatever it was they wanted to find. That stupid shield they kept talking about. As they hurried through the streets of Jerusalem, marching like a small army, she could see the determination on their faces. She had a sinking feeling they were going to a place of great evil. And that she, unwittingly, was leading the way.
They finally broke out of the alleyways and marched across a great stone plaza. The group of vampires pushed their way through the crowds of humanity, and bodies went flying in every direction. No one dared try to push them back. It was like a swarm of hornets cutting through the city.
They crossed the plaza and passed under an ancient stone arch. They continued down another alleyway, and down several flights of stone steps, the alleyways narrowing. As they went, even rats scurried to get out of their way, and old ladies, high above, slammed closed their shutters, afraid.