"hmm." phineas finished up his bottle of blood. "jack must have studied every inch of that compound."

jack ignored them and selected a sword from the stash connor had brought.

"let's see." phineas rummaged through the swords. "i need a really strong blade. one like jack has, that'll last all night long."

"enough," jack growled. "this isn't a picnic we're going on. so get serious, phineas."

the black vamp shrugged. "how hard can it be? we've got three vamps, and phil, and the element of surprise."

"we thought it would be easy to locate apollo's compound, but it took over a month," jack said. "and then we thought it would be easy to capture the bastard, but he got away. we can't afford to take this lightly."

"i got you, bro." phineas selected a sword. "just keeping it positive, dude. we're gonna kick ass."

"good. then let's go." jack glanced at phil. he was barefoot, with a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt on. "aren't you going to arm yourself?"

"i'm keeping it simple so i can shift."

jack exchanged a confused look with the other vamps, then turned back to phil. "there's no full moon tonight. only an alpha wolf can-oh, i see."

"well, i don't see," phineas grumbled. "if you're an alpha, why didn't you shift the other night with chief?"

"i have my reasons," phil muttered. "can we get going now?"

"that's why you insisted chief and his people park half a mile down the road," jack said. "you don't want them to know what you can do."

"oh, big bad wolf's got a secret," phineas said.

"and we'll keep it for him," robby said. "let's go."

the three vamps had practiced teleporting close to the compound the night before, so the location was embedded in their psychic memory. phil grabbed on to robby to hitch a ride, and within seconds, they arrived about fifty feet from the gate.

in the distance, jack spotted lara and the other women, strolling toward the kitchen. their white gowns gleamed in the moonlight.

phil pulled off his t-shirt as he stepped behind a tree. after a few seconds, he returned as a huge wolf.

"let's do it." jack headed to the right with robby, while phineas and phil turned left to circle the compound.

there were usually two guards marching around the perimeter of the compound each night. it was phil and phineas's job to capture them. once they were handcuffed, phineas would teleport them to the jail at chief's office. one of the chief's grown sons would be there to watch them. later, when the attack was over, the vamps would alter the guards' memories and set them free.

jack and robby weaved through the forest till they neared the dormitory. they jumped the wall, then unsheathed their swords before entering the, dorm. it was empty. good. lara had managed to get all the women out.

they hurried to the temple next. phil loped toward them and met them at the base of the stairs.

"you caught the two guards?" jack whispered.

phil dipped his head and growled softly.

phineas would be gone for a few minutes while he transported the guards to the jail at wolf ridge.

jack ascended the steps to the temple. "there should be three mortal guards and one mortal woman inside."

robby cracked the door and peeked inside. "coast is clear." he widened the door, and phil slipped inside.

they crossed the foyer to the next set of double doors. jack scanned the temple as he eased inside. the room was lit by the small fires in the bronze braziers located between the columns. at the other end on the dais, a guard was lounging on the center throne and munching on chips. he obviously didn't expect any trouble. he was entirely focused on his bag of potato chips. his sword rested on the throne next to him.

jack moved silently to the row of columns on the right. robby eased to the left. when phil followed him, his claws made a small clicking noise on the marble floor. robby looked back at him, then at the guard.

the guard sat up. his eyes widened at the sight of a wolf and an armed, kilted scotsman. his bag of chips tumbled to the floor. he grabbed his sword, jumped off the dais, and ran to the gong to sound the alarm.

"nay!" robby charged at him.

jack and phil were close behind. when the guard saw how fast they were zooming toward him, he threw his sword at the gong. it clanged just as robby tackled the guard.

the impact from the sword knocked the gong free and it rolled past a lit brazier before it went into a rotating spiral that created a whooshing, metallic sound that echoed across the large room. phil pounced on it, and it stopped with one loud clash.

even though robby had the guard pinned to the floor, the mortal was still struggling and yelling for help.

"be quiet," robby muttered and clonked the mortal on the head with the handle of his sword.

jack handed him a pair of handcuffs. "we'll teleport him later."

robby cuffed the unconscious guard and dragged him behind a column.

meanwhile, another guard came running from the back hallway. he rounded the thrones, shouting and brandishing his sword. jack engaged him, and within a few seconds, he sent the guard's sword flying through the air. it fell with a clamor in front of the dais.

the guard stumbled back, his eyes wide with fear.

jack held his sword to the side. "i don't want to kill you. you only have to surrender."

"under attack. no hope," the guard whispered. he stiffened suddenly, and his eyes turned glassy. "there can be no survivors." he reached inside his toga and pulled out a knife. he turned the knife, pointing it at his own chest.

"no!" jack dropped his sword and teleported behind the guard. he seized the man's wrist just as he attempted to stab himself.

jack wrenched the knife from the guard's hand and knocked him on the head with the handle. when the guard slumped forward, jack dropped the knife and caught him.

there can be no survivors. jack muttered a curse. he tossed the guard over his shoulder and strode to where robby had stashed the first guard.

"did you hear what he said?" jack dropped the guard on the floor.

"aye, no survivors." robby cuffed the guard.

"phil, make sure lara's all right," jack ordered. "and the other women, too. they're in the kitchen."

phil raced to the double doors. he reared up on his hind legs to push a door open, then dashed through.

"you can find the other mortal woman in the back," jack whispered to robby. "behind a red door."

robby nodded, then a voice rang out.

it was apollo.

jack pulled robby behind a column. "i'll take care of him. you get the girl," he whispered.

"what the hell is going on?" apollo strode around the thrones. his golden toga was all askew as if he'd thrown it on in a hurry. he stopped when he saw the sword on the floor and the bag of spilled chips on the dais.

"hello, apollo," jack greeted him in czech as he walked over to where he'd dropped his sword. he'd discovered the night before that apollo was actually anton, from prague.

"henrik, what are you doing here?" apollo answered in czech. "you've got the stupid guards thinking we're under attack."

jack needed to say the right things to make apollo stay, or the bastard would simply teleport away. he picked up his sword. "you are under attack. i've taken four of your guards."

apollo stiffened, then his face flushed red with anger. "you scum-sucking pig! i welcomed you here. i even gave you a maiden to fuck. and you repay my generosity with betrayal? why?"

"i want to keep the girl." jack glanced quickly to the right. robby was still hidden behind the column, waiting for his chance to run to the back rooms.

apollo scoffed. "well, shit, you idiot! why didn't you just say so? i've got eight women to spare. if you want one of the bitches, just take her." he gave jack a disgusted look. "but you'll need to hurry, 'cause my head guard just left to kill them all."

a chill crept across jack's skin. lara had to be all right. phil was there. and phineas should be back by now.

apollo leaned over to pick up the sword in front of the dais. "you've screwed up my whole operation, you bastard. i should kill you."

"you're welcome to try." jack retreated, hoping to draw apollo away from the thrones and make it easier for robby to sneak to the back rooms.

"you asshole." apollo stalked toward him. "i'll have to start over and completely restock."

"no." jack switched to english. "you're not starting over. you're finished."

apollo's eyes narrowed. "your accent is different tonight. who are you?"

"i am giacomo di venezia."

apollo's face turned red, and he visibly shook with rage. "you're one of the butchers from the dvn massacre!"

"yes, i killed six of your friends that night. and i saw jedrek janow die. he was so pathetic and weak that a mortal killed him."

"no!" apollo ran at him, swinging his sword.

from the corner of his eye, jack saw robby zoom toward the back rooms.

jack jumped to the side and parried apollo's attack. he spared one last prayer that lara was safe, then focused all his attention on staying alive.

chapter 26

"you make the best cookies ever." vanessa stuffed another chocolate chip cookie into her mouth.

"thanks." lara stacked more on a plate and set it on the table. she'd spent all afternoon baking so she could lure the girls to the kitchen. "more milk, anyone?"

several hands went up. lara grabbed the milk jug from the fridge and circled the table, refilling glasses.

miss forbidden gave her a confused look. "why are you being so nice to us? i thought you hated being here."

"i saw how worried you were last night when hades chose me." lara returned the jug to the fridge. "i was really touched. this is my way of thanking you."

"i thought i'd never see you again." vanessa shuddered. "i thought hades would take you to hell."

"me, too." kristy bit into a cookie. "how-how was he?"

all seven maidens turned to lara, eager for her answer.

"he was... great. hades is a real gentleman."

"i don't think zeus is," miss forbidden muttered as she glanced at her bruised arms.

"shh," cook hushed her. "someone might hear you."

kristy finished her cookie and reached for another. "i swear i'm going to gain five pounds tonight."

the other maidens commiserated. while they complained about being overweight, lara wedged a steak knife underneath the linen ties around her rib cage. she wanted a weapon, just in case jack was right and apollo sent a guard to attack them. jack had also wanted her to get the girls down the road to where the werewolves were waiting with the suvs. convincing them to go through the gate would be tough.

she approached the table. "if you really want to lose some weight, you should get some exercise. we could take a walk down the road."

the girls gasped.

"we can't leave," cook said. "it's forbidden."

"and there are terrible beasts in the woods," kristy added. "with great gnashing teeth."

vanessa grimaced. "i heard they drag people to hell."

"i asked hades about that," lara said. "and he said the woods are perfectly safe. the beasts know that we're special, so they would actually protect us."

the maidens remained silent while they pondered this new information.

cook shook her head. "i'm not sure we can trust anything hades says."

"and you think you can trust apollo?" lara asked. "he kidnapped us all from college. we were taken from our friends and families. vanessa, i met your friends."

vanessa jumped in her chair. "you know my name?"

"yes. and i met your roommate megan. and your friends carmen and ramya. they're worried sick about you. all of you have friends and families who are worried about you."

"so?" cook frowned. "what's the point? we can't go back."

"yes, you can." lara pointed in the direction of the road outside. "half a mile down the road, there are people waiting for us. nice people, and they want to take us back home. you could all go back to your real lives."

"are you serious?" miss forbidden's eyes widened with a hopeful look.

vanessa wrinkled her nose. "but i'm failing three of my classes."

"i was flunking, too," kristy grumbled. "life is a lot easier here."

"what life?" lara asked. "you're told what to wear, when to eat, when to clean, when to guard a false god-"

"don't say that!" cook looked around nervously.

"i like it here." vanessa bit into another cookie. "life is too hard back on earth."

"it's not supposed to be easy," lara said. "if it was always easy, we would never grow or learn. and when awful stuff happens, that's when we stretch beyond ourselves and become better than we ever thought was possible."

she thought back to how much she'd grown since the car accident. now she could be grateful for the suffering and the struggle, because it had left her strong enough to handle this situation and strong enough to embrace a future with jack.

"and sometimes, we have to make really hard decisions that will affect the rest of our lives." lara knew her decision to stay with jack could ultimately cause her to become a vampire. but it was the right decision, and she would stick by it.