Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

my hair and eyes, I focused on the opening in front of us. It was low and would be tight, especially for a man like Colin, who I swear had grown a foot since we’d arrived here.

“Where do you think it goes?” I hated to say it, but I really wanted Colin to go in first. This had been my idea. I should lead the way, especially after I’d bragged that I was a strong woman. Hah! Spiders and rats and slime? I was happy to make him my protector.

“Glory, do you mind if I take the lead?” Valdez spoke from the gloom behind me.

“Where did you come from?” I thought I had gotten away from my bodyguard for a change. After all, I had Colin with me and was safely inside the castle walls.

“I’ve been with you every moment. Like I’m supposed to be.” He smiled as he gently grabbed my shoulders and moved me out of the way. “Colin, hold the torch so I can see. You know I’m a shifter, don’t you, muchacho?”

“Aye. Are you going to change right here, right now?” Colin was clearly excited. “Valdez, what will you be? A hound could go on down the way ahead and see what’s there right handily, don’t you think?”

I knew Colin was fond of his hounds. What did Valdez think of the idea? Before I could ask him, a handsome black retriever sat at Colin’s feet, its tail thumping the stones.

“Well, if that don’t show me something!” Colin tentatively reached out, as if to pet the dog and got a growl and a show of sharp teeth. “Oh, very well. I won’t treat you like one of my hounds, now will I?” He glanced back at me. “Can you believe it, mistress? Valdez is going down the passageway for us, as a dog!”

“I believe it.” I smiled at him then down at my bodyguard. “Thank you, Valdez. I want to know if this is a way for other people to get into the castle. For them to come in and get out. Where does this lead? And if I could fit through to the end.” I ran my hand down my hips. “Does it get any narrower than this part? It is already a tight squeeze for a man Colin’s size and for me.”

Valdez raised his head as if acknowledging my queries then took off down the opening. We could hear the tapping of his claws on stone as he left. Colin held up the torch, but Valdez soon disappeared into the gloom, the sounds becoming fainter.

“You know I grew up around shifters. They are usually careful to keep themselves to themselves. Never saw one shift so fast. That Valdez is a sharp one.” Colin kept staring down the passage. “I wish I could do such a trick but they told me you have to be born to it.” He glanced at me. “Or made vampire.”

We heard a bark that sounded far away. It echoed but did not sound distressed. It was almost like a signal. Another short bark.

“I think he means it’s safe to come on. Let’s go.” I pushed Colin forward. He had to bend his head to fit in the tunnel.

“Can you shift, mistress? It would be easier for you to follow me if you could.” Colin held the torch in front of him. His foot slid on the slick stones and he almost fell. I grabbed his coat and held on to keep myself from falling.

“I don’t want to shift. Just lead on and watch your step.” I was sick of everyone trying to make me shape-shift. Yes, I was a vampire, but I wanted to feel human. What was wrong with that? Valdez might be perfectly fine in a dog body, but I thought it was, well, demeaning. Oops. I had better not let him see that thought or I’d never hear the end of it. He’d only done it to be helpful after all.

We were making slow progress, slipping and sliding our way down the cold and moldy passage, almost bent double with our heads lowered to avoid hitting rough rock as we walked. It was a rough uphill stumbling pace. Valdez barked again, showing us the way. He sounded louder now so we must be getting close. Then we saw Valdez standing, looking like himself again, in a room carved out of stone. He’d found a torch and a way to light it.

I was happy when I could finally stand up straight and move around. Colin gawked at what he saw.

“What is this place?” He staggered over to a trunk and sat on it.

I had the same question. It was a large room, a cave really, that held several trunks, a rug on the floor and places for torches on the walls. One could call it cozy except it was very cold. Why? I could see there was another tunnel leading away from where we’d come in. A cool wind blew, making the torches flutter. Wind that smelled of fresh air. Surely it led outside.

“Someone did fashion a place to escape to if the castle was attacked and surrounded.” Valdez shook himself, almost as if he were a dog, and brushed off his shoulders. His black jacket was damp and showed signs of having been in the muck of the passageway.

“Shall we see where the other passage goes?” I didn’t wait for anyone to answer. This one looked bigger and I could actually hurry down it without bending my head. It was a fairly short walk, though again sending us up. The cool fresh air convinced me that I’d come out somewhere outside the castle walls.

I did indeed. We were on top of the hill behind the castle. I walked out and in a few long strides stood where I had a good view of the entire castle and the area around it. Yes, the drawbridge was still up, the men were inside the courtyard with guards at their places