Page 20 of Bishop's Flight
“Please call me Brigid, and in my experience as someone who grew up around vampires, if a kid wants to escape protection, they usually find a way to do so. It’s impossible to guard someone who doesn’t want to be guarded unless you put them in confinement, and that’s not possible with a teenager like that.”
It was one of the reasons many children who grew up under vampire aegis learned fighting and evasion skills early in life.
“Does Lucas have any survival skills? Martial arts? Knife fighting? Evasion?”
“He took martial arts, but he didn’t enjoy it. He’s not really a sports kid. Except swimming. He likes to swim.”
Brigid nodded. “Good to know.” She stared at the passing traffic from the back of the black sedan. “I’m not trying to be antisocial, so ya know.”
“Nah, it’s cool. Agnes said you’re a fire vampire.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Never met one of you guys before.”
“You might’ve and not known it. We don’t tend to advertise our element.”
“Why?”
Because vampires could only be killed in two ways, a blade that severed the spinal cord at the neck and fire.
“We’re not the most popular in the immortal world,” she said. “We can get a bit explosive.”
“This vampire who took Lucas,” Miguel said. “Rose said they were a fire vampire, yeah?”
“That’s correct.”
“Someone you know?”
Brigid frowned. “Unfortunately and unwillingly, yes.”
Miguel was silent a long time, changing lanes as they approached the neon-bedecked edifice where the car show had taken place.
“So it’s good you’re here,” he said. “Sounds like you and your husband are the best people to find the kid.”
“I for sure hope so, Miguel.” The car turned in to the long driveway. “I definitely pray that’s the case.”
They walkedthrough the mazelike expanse of the casino to reach the convention headquarters, following the general manager who oversaw special events.
“The car show was sponsored by a consortium of owners from the Middle East and Asia,” the man said. “I could not possibly tell you names, though there were several crates that were… I’d say unusual in nature?”
“How so?”
The man frowned. “Keep in mind, I’m only sharing this because I received instruction that you were to have all access to our records. There were three crates in particular that were definitely not automobiles.”
“And how would you know?”
“They weren’t on the manifest we were given, and their weights were a gross mismatch.”
Brigid and Miguel exchanged a look.
“Were they light safe?” Brigid asked. “Any vents or open screens?”
“No.” The man shook his head. “Absolutely impenetrable. I cannot lie—I did try to peek inside, but from the moment they arrived to the moment they left, the consortium’s guards had possession of the show materials.”
“Was it just cars and stuff?” Miguel asked.
“Cars, memorabilia, some exhibitions and trophies from road races, things of that nature.” The man turned right through a large set of double doors. “The casino’s security and the convention center’s security are overseen by the same team, but they exist in different locations. If you’ll just go through here.” He motioned to a pair of steel doors secured with a thumbprint lock. “Follow me please.”
The minute Brigid walked inside, she realized it was going to be a problem. The room was awash in technology, from panels of television screens to sensors for security, touch panels, and more.
She tried to stay as far away from the screens as possible, but she could feel her amnis reacting to the dry cold air, the surrounding electricity, and her own tension at being around so many electronic devices.
