Page 109 of Dawn Caravan
“True.”
“Still…” She shrugged. “Radu asked me to keep an eye out for any errant fire, and I was willing. There are not many of my kind in the camp.”
“You’re generous to help.”
“I’ve become quite good at putting out fires.” She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “I used to work for Oleg.”
“I see.”
“I very much doubt that, Benjamin Vecchio.” She raised a hand, and a basketball-sized blob of water rose from the nearby creek. “But I’m ready when I need to be.”
He gave her his biggest grin. “Good vampire.”
“Ugh.” She curled her lip. “Put it away. I’m not in the mood for your teeth.”
Ben laughed. He liked Tatyana. He liked her cranky nature and her obvious humanity. He liked that he caught her smiling when children ran past and there was a cat who followed her around the camp, clearly knowing that eventually Tatyana would give him food.
Why are you here?
Was she on the run? Hiding out? Or here to bargain for a shot at staying hidden beyond the season by fencing a priceless cultural treasure? Could she be part of Vano’s or Kezia’s schemes?
“Vampire life is complicated,” Ben muttered.
“So it is.” She looked over her shoulder. “The Hazar are coming to watch. Radu will call them down.”
Ben looked up and saw the shadowed silhouettes of wind vampires guarding the perimeter of the camp. “Seems like you’ve gotten to know the ins and outs of this place pretty well.”
“I’m observant,” Tatyana said. “Some of us don’t come into immortal life with riches, connections, and extraordinary power.” She glanced sideways at him. “We have to watch for our opportunities.”
Ben’s curiosity was driving him crazy, but he knew he had to focus. Now was not the time.
“Come closer. Put out your lights.” Radu lifted his voice and shouted at the Hazar. “I don’t want to worry about burning our fine guards. The fire will keep others away tonight. Why don’t all of you watch from the ground to protect yourself?” Radu caught Ben’s eye for a fraction of a second. “It will only be for a few minutes.”
Understood.
As the crowd grew denser and torches and lights were doused, Ben fell back, eventually leaning on the corner of a camper trailer parked next to Kezia’s.
Another zipping firework.
Another cheer from the crowd. Darkness, then explosion.
Ben saw no hovering shadows, and no one was looking his direction. He ducked between the trailers and dove under Kezia’s caravan. Then he emerged on the far side and examined the door.
Another pop. Another gasp of delight.
The combination lock was simple, no electronics, and the tumbler was far from a challenge. He managed to open it within a minute.
He cracked the door and felt a nearly imperceptible trip line pull tight.
Aha. Slipping his fingers along the edge of the door, Ben felt for the device and disabled it with a razor blade and a piece of tape. It wasn’t a sophisticated device but a basic hack that would alert Kezia when someone entered her trailer.
He was buying time. Probably five to ten minutes at most.
Like Radu, Kezia lived in an old-fashioned vardo, but there was nothing rustic about it. Silk wall hangings covered where curtains normally would be. The woodwork on the walls was carved and painted, and gold trim lined the cupboard doors and ceiling beams.
In an intricately designed living space like this one, there were a hundred places to hide something small, which was what Ben was looking for.
He surveyed the space, deliberating the most obvious place to start.
