“S-sire,” the male puffed when he reached me. “Er, your honor? Elder?” He stammered, not sure how to address me.
“Stop talking,” I snapped. “How are injured wizards treated?”
The woman dropped her skirts. “I-I beg your pardon, sir?” She asked.
“Where are injured wizards taken for medical treatment?” I snapped.
The vampires exchanged panicked looks.
“Have you ever dealt with an injured wizard?” the male whispered to the female, who shook her head.
“Maybe the hospital?” The woman glanced uneasily from her companion to Jade.
“I don’t want a maybe, I want a certain answer,” I growled.
“Wizards heal differently from humans and they can take potions, so, so perhaps the Cloisters?” the male said, his tone becoming increasingly desperate.
The woman pulled a cellphone out of her handbag—a very wrong looking image considering her hair and dress. “Our Family has a blood donor, let me call them.”
“Blood donors are humans, not wizards!” The man cried.
“Figure it out fast or call someone who will know,” I snarled.
More footsteps echoed down the street as three more vampires came sprinting in my direction, but it wasn’t until I heard the distant roar of an engine that I began to hope.
I figured at least a few of them would be dispatched to the city, but I didn’t know if they’d be in range. Please, please—
Before I dared to hope, a black SUV screeched around the corner flashing a dragon insignia that was painted on the door.
The Drakes—Killian’s Family—were here.
The driver slammed on the brakes and the car screeched to a stop in the middle of the road, next to me.
The driver door, front passenger door, and a back seat door were flung open. A tall, red-haired vampire emerged from the driver door, a broad shouldered vampire that looked more like a werewolf with his muscles than a vampire climbed out of the back, but it wasn’t until I saw the black haired, bland faced vampire that hopped out of the passenger seat that I relaxed, recognizing Killian’s Second Knight.
“Elder Maledictus.” Josh—the Second Knight—gave me a sweeping bow. “How can we help you.”
I lifted Jade. “She’s hurt. Where do I take her?”
Josh blinked as he took in Jade’s pale face and task force uniform. “Ah. Is she a wizard, or…？”
“Slayer,” I said.
Josh nodded, even though all the vampires around me suddenly took a huge step backwards likely spooked by the poisonous properties of her blood. “Very good, Sir,” Josh said. “If you’ll load her in the car, we’ll take her to a medical facility. We have a stock of high-grade potions you can administer to her on the ride over that will stabilize her.”
More vampires hurried down the street, summoned by my command. I ignored them, honing in on Josh. “The Cloisters wouldn’t be a better choice?” I asked.
Josh tilted his head, studying Jade. “They are an option, but it appears your slayer has lost a great deal of blood. Fae potions don’t help with blood loss, so I believe a human facility will be better equipped to help her.”
I hesitated, feeling torn. How would the Drakes know what’s appropriate when the rest of us don’t have a clue?
The Drakes must have sensed my hesitation. The broad shouldered one exchanged looks with the redhead, who gave me a second deep bow. “If you’ll excuse my impertinence, Elder Maledictus, but our Family is trained in the treatment of magical humans due to His Eminence’s One being a wizard.”
Killian’s pet wizard, right. I should have just called him instead of panicking.
Tapping my speed, I stepped off the curb and made it to their car in moments where I struggled to ease Jade into the car without jostling her.
Behind me, the Drakes huddled up.
“I’ll drive,” Josh volunteered. “Gavino, you stay behind to direct these stragglers. Wouldn’t want any accidents to happen.”
The big vampire bowed his head to Josh, then turned to the rest of the vampires who were looking at the drops of blood Jade had left on the ground with horror.
I’d managed to shift into the car, Jade mostly situated in my lap with her legs stretched across the bench seat. I slammed the door shut and impatiently waited.
The redhead turned to walk back towards the car with Josh. “I’ll call ahead to the hospital.”
So slow. Why are they so slow?
“You can,” Josh blandly said. “But I don’t believe it will make much of a difference.”