Page 33 of Dark Reckoning
“It's because it's light magic and because it's protecting beings who aren't innocent, it had to wash over you,” Adrian told us.
“Like holy water, and that's why it burned,” I joked.
Adrian giggled. “Kind of, yeah.”
I looked at Salino. “If he does attack, I think we should keep him here. He can be the first emperor you kill and take over their line.”
Salino appeared to be thinking about it and he nodded. “How will you trap him? I don't have any cell strong enough to hold an emperor.”
“We could make it strong enough,” I stated.
“The problem is getting him to the cell,” Nakago added. “You really don't know how powerful a five-thousand-year-old emperor is.”
“No need. The protection spell I cast on this room will prevent him from leaving,” Adrian said, then he frowned. “Aw, but that spell won't last for more than an hour if I'm not here to infuse it with more magic.”
I shrugged. “I think Adrian and I can come up with something.”
“I can use the freeze spell I once used on you and the demon. It's stronger now and all I need to use is my will and the incantation,” Adrian said.
“That's a plan. I knew you'd come up with something. Do you know how long it will last?” I asked him.
“According to the grimoire, twelve hours. I learned it the night I was looking for an alternative to sleeping with Salino. The current spell in the book for freezing will last twenty-four hours, but I'll need the Pearl of Time, which I don't have,” Adrian said.
“What amazing things you both discovered about yourselves while looking for ways to avoid fucking me,” Salino remarked with a roll of his eyes.
“And you still got lucky,” I retorted, and he scoffed. I returned my attention to Adrian. “That will work perfectly.”
Salino closed his eyes and I knew he was communicating with one of his vampires. “His helicopter is approaching. I'll lower the barrier.” He said the word “disarm,” and I felt a little tingle, very subtle.
“It's down, I felt it,” Adrian said.
“Me too,” Salino added. “At least, now I know what to expect.” He turned to his Right-Hand. “As for the plan, I'll fill you in later, Nakago.”
“All right,” Nakago said, not pressing the issue. He didn't even seem upset that Adrian and I knew about it and he didn't. He had that much trust in Salino. Probably that much love, too.
The door opened and a female vampire entered wearing a skirt so short, I could almost see her pussy. The shirt she wore exposed her cleavage and I bet a straight male would be drooling... or a chick into women. She bowed at Salino. “Your Majesty, your honored guest has arrived.”
“Bring him to me,” Salino said.
“Yes, Sire,” she said, then left.
Salino looked at both Adrian and me. “Ready?”
“To meet another insufferable vampire ruler, not really,” I said.
"Remember, he can't harm us in this room,” Adrian stated.
“Is that the same spell that protects this building?” Nakago asked.
Adrian shook his head. “No, it's a very simple one, but effective. It can only protect the people who were in the room when it was cast. Once he enters, we can raise the first level of the other barrier, the one you felt. That is what we put on the whole building. It'll be enough to keep out any unwanted beings.”
“And when he leaves, we can raise the full level of the barrier,” I added, just to explain to Nakago how the barrier worked.
“He won't be leaving, though,” Salino reminded us.
“Ah, that's right. I was just trying to explain the barrier to Nakago. Under any other circumstance, that's how it would go,” I said, and Nakago nodded.
“Don't worry, I've got this,” Adrian said, confidently.
