Dragon Down by Casey Knight Read Free Book Online

him asking the other captives about you. This naturally caught my attention. He claims someone in the Lazarian Court has put a price on your head.”
    I pushed back from my chair and started for the door. “I ’ll follow you, just lead the way.”
    Tokem buzzed by me and down the corridor. I followed him through the castle and down into the dungeons below. The air was humid and smelled of mildew. If I had to guess, I’d say we were at least a hundred feet underground. Torches lined the wall every ten feet or so. They sputtered and threatened to go out. They were being buffeted by some unseen breeze. Visibility was limited. The torches only offered flashes of broken light. They produced just enough light to keep me from losing sight of Tokem.
    “Lauren, we are almost at the prisoner ’s cells. I’ll point out the vampire I heard talking about the bounty on you. Follow me.”
    I trailed along behind Tokem and waited until he stopped . He hovered in front of a nearby cell. Then he nodded and I stepped up and looked into the cell. The cell’s only illumination came from the small window in the door. It took several minutes for my eyes to adjust. Still I nearly missed the cell’s occupant. A shiver slid involuntarily down my spine and I drew in my breath. The vampire hung from the ceiling which clearly, identifying him as a member of the Black Court. His hideous features meant only one thing. This vampire hadn’t eaten in a while and it was near death. I thought for a minute that I might be too late, but then I heard a hiss.
    “I ’d invite you in, but I have lost my key,” he said as he dropped, falling silently to the floor, before gliding toward the cell door. He moved silently and smoothly like a rain drop down a pane of glass. So, fluid was his movement that he appeared to have no bones, no joints, just liquid motion.
    I gasped and stepped back from the door. The vampire leered through the bars at me. His black skin hung in lo ose folds around his face. He grabbed the bars with filthy hands. The fingernails curving into claws, at the end of each finger, and drool dripped from the corner of his mouth. A horror right out of Bram Stokers fertile imagination, I trembled.
    “Vampire, what court are you from?”
    “Where are your manners? Am I not to know to whom I’m speaking?”
    “My name is Lauren, and I ’m a…”
    “ Say no more, I know who you are. It is unfortunate that I’m otherwise detained. You would make a nice meal and then provide me with a steady income.”
    “Sorry, the only blood bank I donate to is the Red Cross. I ’ve answered your question. What court do you belong to?”
    “I would think it rather obvious. One look at this beautiful face ought to answer your question.”
    “The only thing your face tells me is that you’re butt ugly. What is a Black Court vampire doing working with the Vikings?”
    “Why should I answer your questions? I ’ll never get out of here alive. I’m dead either way.”
    “Thankfully , you are smarter than you look. However, you can die quickly or very, very slowly. Answer my questions and I’ll make sure you don’t linger.”
    “Well, when you put it that way what choice do I have? I ’m a member of the Black Court. Mavre is my mentor and I have sworn an oath to kill you.”
    “Why do you want to kill me or more accurately why does Mavre want me dead?”
    “There is a bounty on your head. It seems you have offended someone in the hierarchy.”
    “You’ll need to be more specific. I seem to have a knack for irritating people. This isn’t the first time, but is nice to be appreciated. Who wants me dead?”
    “I honestly do not know, and even if I did , I wouldn’t tell you. What I can say is that it is someone with considerable clout. The bounty is far too high. Unfortunately for you, they want you dead, not alive.”
    “I can ’t release you. However, I can see to it that you are given a fair trial.”
    Tokem and I left the dungeons and