VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 45

"What are we going to do?" Angelica asked, her face ashen as she held onto her brothers hands.

Patrick stared out of the window of the Princess's residence, his gaze hard on the street that bustled with activity. Somewhere out there Violet and Ismail were being held by the True Vampires. What if they were already killed?  He pushed the thought away refusing to entertain the notion however likely it might be. He had to keep steady. 

"We will find them," Patrick said simply. It was broad daylight, someone must have seen something.

"Do you think Ismail and Violet are in the same place?" the Princess asked anxiously.

Angelica said Ismail's coach had been following hers before it suddenly disappeared from sight, halfway to the house. It had to be the drivers' doing. Yet it would have taken a good half-dozen vampires to be able to overpower his friend. Unless they had wounded him somehow... 

Damn it all to hell. They should have been more careful. He should have been more careful. He had been so focused on protecting the Blessed One, it  had never occurred to him to protect Ismail. This was his fault.

"Ayse, how many of your clan members have you gathered?" he turned to the Ottoman woman who stood beside James. They had both arrived only a few moments ago and wore identically grim expressions.

"There are four women and three men I trust with my life, another twelve that can be depended on," she replied.

"Fine. James, you brought your guards with you?" Patrick asked quickly.

"Twenty men and women, we are all at your disposal Leader," the Duke nodded.

"Good, I will need you and your men to remain here and protect the Blessed one. Ayse, you and your people will follow me. The True Vampires will seize to exist today."

"Do you know where to search?" James wanted to know.

"Daniel's residence. We will take it from there," Patrick tried to keep his tone light for the sake of the Princess, but he doubted they would find anything there. Daniel didn't seem the kind to risk his own hide by bringing captives into his home.

The helplessness he had been feeling since he received Mrs. Devon's message earlier at his club threatened to overwhelm him. He could not give into despair, he had to act. 

Mikhail followed him out to the hallway. "I want to help."

Patrick was tempted to let his frustration out on the human, but the look of concern on the man's face stalled his impatience. "Keeping your sister calm is what I need for you to do right now. Anxiety has a way of complicating pregnancies and that is the very last thing we need right now. You need to protect her while I'm gone. I'm relying on you, Mikhail." 

Patrick was grateful when Mikhail nodded in understanding and headed back into the receiving chamber.

Turning right, Patrick walked out into the sunlight and towards the three carriages that were waiting for them. Ayse and her men moved towards the back two without question, while Mikhail threw himself into the one in the front. For the first time since receiving Violet's note, he was alone. His fingers curled in his palms and his breathing came quickly.

Where were they? How was he going to find them? How?

Panic threatened to overwhelm him. He breathed past it, ignoring the anguish that welled up in his stomach.

Patrick.

Patrick grabbed onto his seat as the voice entered his mind. It couldn't be. How could it be? But it was her voice. It definitely was her voice.

VIOLET? He shouted in his mind. Was he hearing things? Was he that desperate to find her?

Patrick. Please, where are you?

It was Violet. She was in his head. But this kind of connection could only be forged between Vampires. How? How? 

Violet, it's alright. I am coming for you.

Are you real? Are you really real?

"Leader, where are we going?" The coachman called through the open window. 

Patrick blocked him out, concentrating on Violet's voice.  Tell me where you are, Violet. Is Ismail with you?

I really feel like I'm speaking with you. I have lost my mind, haven't I? 

Violet, please. Focus. Patrick interrupted her. You have to tell me where you are so I can come for you Violet.

His mind went silent, and for a moment Patrick was afraid, more afraid than he had ever been in his life. She couldn't be gone.

VIOLET!!!

I don't know where I am, her thoughts were weak. Ismail is here, but he's been poisoned. Daniel keeps moving my arms. They are going to kill me. Why won't they kill me quickly? why is he prodding at me? You need to be safe, Patrick. Please be safe. 

Patrick thought frantically. Violet, please love, focus. How did you get there? How far is it from my house? What do you smell? 

It was a short carriage ride, perhaps a quarter of an hour. The streets were busy. Lots of people were selling goods. It must be a good neighbourhood but the house is old and damp. Everything smells moldy and wet.  

Fifteen minute radius, he could work with that, but it would still take time. Time that they didn't have. 

What else Violet, what else can you smell?

I don't know. There is so much blood, its hard to smell beyond the blood. 

A heavy silence descended. Patrick took three slow breaths. He was ready to bash his fist through the carriage door when Violet's voice came to him once more. There are roses somewhere above stairs and something spicy. It's cinnamon. It's really strong, there seems to be cinnamon everywhere.

Patrick's eyes narrowed as he thought of the only house he knew that smelled of cinnamon.

Violet, is a woman called Elisabeth there? Have you heard her name?

Yes. She's here. I - 

Patrick did not waste time calling for Violet whose voice had once again disappeared. Instead he opened the carriage door and shouted at the bemused carriage driver, "Lady Elisabeth's home. Now!"