Page 67 of The Shadow of the Count
Clark walked into the room, Bible in hand, and started praying, voice ringing out like a claxon.
He stared, because the idea of Clark as a holy man, despite his time in the seminary, was so odd. But it was oddly compelling, and the scratching at the window faded some.
“Lord, take these women away from us!” Jeb’s voice boomed out, too, ringing with faith. “Shine your light upon them! Cleanse their souls with your fire.”
Donnie stared at the window, which shook suddenly with loud banging, and Peter closed his eyes, adding his own silent prayer.
Even as he prayed, he held on to Donnie’s hand, refusing to let go.
Donnie cried out as the whole room seemed to shake, then the silence swept over the house. He opened his eyes to find Clark holding the Bible and an unstoppered bottle.
“Holy water.”
Peter looked to Donald, finding his lover ashen and shaking.
“Are they gone?” Donnie asked.
“I doubt it.” Yvgeny sighed. “They will not leave until dawn to go back to their own earth.”
“Then we’ll all stay together. Stay in the same space.” Jeb shook his head. “I don’t want to risk a single one of us.”
“No. Neither do I.” Clark glanced at Yvgeny. “Where are your father and uncle?”
“In town at the inn. They gave us the house tonight. I thought it would be safer for them.” Yvgeny had reason to appear relieved that his family was not there.
“Good.” Clark smiled. “I was afraid they were in the barn.”
“No. Nothing is in the barn. Not even the horses.” Yvgeny winked. “They will be very disappointed.”
“They will. We have more holy water. We can hold them off.”
Peter kissed Donnie’s hand, then let go so he could scribble a note to Clark.Don was trying to let them in. In his sleep.
“Don? You feeling okay?” Clark asked.
“Fine. Why?” Donald’s frown deepened.
“You’re sleepwalking.”
Donnie glanced at him, fear in those eyes. “I am? Like Charles did?”
“Apparently, yeah.”
“Peter?” Donnie’s eyes were scared, and Peter reached out and squeezed the slim hand.
He stared into Donnie’s eyes, wanting his lover to understand how much he loved him. He would never let the count take him. Never. But he did nod, mouthing,You didn’t mean to.
“Oh God. I’m a danger to all of you. It’s me he wants. I’ll just go.”
“No!” Clark said it even as Peter tried to. “No, indeed. You will stay here until morning when we will all go. We know what he is now. We won’t be as careless as we were in England.”
Peter would sit on Donald if he had to, would fight those evil women again with his bare hands.
“This is intolerable,” Richard said. Travel had not agreed with him, and he’d been quiet and withdrawn. “How do we kill something so strong? Lyle was—So difficult from what you have all said..”
“Tomorrow it will be finished.” Yvgeny sounded so very sure, so definite and strong. As if he had some sort of knowledge that came with his home earth, much like the count.
“I want to believe that.” Donald let Peter pull him in for an embrace. “I can’t believe I tried to let them in.”
