The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Chapter 51/The darkness falls in the nerve garden

We rode without stopping all through the day. I was strangely relieved when we arrived in London near sunset. It meant we still had time to stop the wedding. The docklands on the edge of the lake were busy but strangely tense. Mary led me to an inn where the ferrymen stopped and were available for hire. Many were tired from shipping the visitors to the keep and reluctant to move until rested. Mary walked out, and as we turned around, I noticed a familiar face sitting near a shutter. They had a pint of ale before them and an empty plate. He was dressed in green and in markings of the Lobishomen.

"Did you notice the man in green?" I asked.

Mary looked around impatiently. "No."

"He was dressed in the uniform of the Lobishomen," I said. "He's important."

Mary narrowed her eyes, then moved off. As I followed, I realized how tired I was and how much my back pained from riding.

"You... Ragman, is it?" she said to a WolfHead guard who carried an empty gun and a pike.

"General," the Wolfguard said.

"Do you recognize her?" Mary said, and I lifted my veil.

Ragman nodded.

"She must see the Duke before the wedding. He will want to see her. Forget what you're doing, grab two others, and follow me," commanded Mary, her voice echoing against the decaying buildings that lined the dockside.

"Yes, General," the Wolfguard agreed, their armor clinking as they readied themselves for action.

I glanced back at the Inn, its once vibrant façade now worn and weather-beaten by years of neglect. Through the crumbling walls, I spotted the Lobishomen familiar slipping out into the dusk. Urgently, I nudged Mary, drawing her attention to the scene unfolding before us.

"He's heading to the dock," I whispered urgently, my voice barely audible over the sounds of distant howls and the creaking of abandoned ships.

"Spy," Mary hissed, her eyes narrowing with determination, "let's get him first."

With a swift motion, Mary drew her stiletto knife, its blade catching the faint glimmer of twilight as she darted forward into the maze of dilapidated huts and shacks that lined the waterfront.

The spy moved with a furtive grace down the cobblestone street, his silhouette blending seamlessly into the encroaching shadows of twilight. We followed in silence, our footsteps muffled against the cracked pavement, each of us keenly aware of the danger that lurked in the darkness.

Suddenly, he vanished from sight, disappearing into the labyrinth of derelict structures that bordered the water's edge. With a sense of urgency, we hastened our pace, determined not to lose him amidst the decaying remnants of a world long forgotten.

When we finally caught up, Mary had the spy cornered, her stiletto knife poised menacingly at his throat. The flickering glow of distant fires cast eerie shadows across his pale, sweat-drenched face as he struggled against the grip of the Wolfguard.

"OK, baldy, you're coming too," Mary declared, her voice low and menacing as she pressed the blade closer to his skin. "Show us where your boat is."

He nervously took us to his boat, where a local fisherman was waiting to guide him over the deadly ruins in the lake. We boarded, and as I sat down on the boat, I looked at him. He definitely was the man in the vision, but I felt something unpleasant was going to happen.

"Why can't the duchess marry the duke?" I asked.

The Lobishomen familiar looked surprised, then tried to appear calm. "Why do you think you can make me talk, silver-neck?" he said.

I noticed he didn't deny knowing what I was talking about.

Other people were close by, and I didn't want to use my voices on him. I was tired, unsure if it would work, and didn't want to alert Mary to my status as a witch.

Despite the weight of wanting to know how the Duke felt, it was like a shawl made of iron on my shoulders. I said nothing before the Lobishomen spy, and then quickly we crossed the lake to the wharf at the bottom of the great tower.

As we approached, Mary signaled to the lookout, and the chain was lowered to let us pass. When we reached the dock, it was messy and full of crates and items waiting to be taken up to the tower. A guard rushed up and threw a rope to let us tie up.

"There will be plenty of guards around him," Mary said as we got off. "I'm sure the high priestess will make sure you can't change his mind."

"You go to him. Bring him to me," I said.

"Where?" said Mary.

I looked over to the Lobishomen spy.

"I will take this one to the Duke's Nerve Garden," I said.

At the mention of the Nerve Garden, the Lobishomen familiar looked nervous.

"I'm not saying anything," he said.

At the dock, we grabbed a couple of long coats and Wolf-Guards, all dressed in their most spotless ceremonial uniforms. I looked up and noticed the red flag flying in the distance. The ceremony was going to begin soon.

"Shit," I said. I really didn't need this.

The place was quieter than normal. Mary commandeered a service elevator, and we exited at the Duke's personal levels, more specifically the one with his nerve garden. As we moved, we remained silent, which made the Lobishomen familiar try to argue his innocence more.

We had entered the Duke's personal torture chamber. While all the equipment worked, I knew it was all mostly for show. The more someone believed they would be hurt, the more even the thought of pain became unbearable. Demonstrating the instrument of torture was as much a part of the torture as the torture itself. I was tired, moreover, desperate for a quick confession. I had five men who were willing to follow any order.

I guided them in and had the Duchess's familiar firmly bound to a chair. "Let's cut to the chase. What impediment do you know of the wedding between the Duke and Duchess?" I demanded.

"Do what you wish. You'll never get it out of me," said the Duchess's familiar.

I pulled Mary to one side. "He certainly knows something. Take a Wolf-Guard as a witness for you. Meanwhile, I will see if I can peel this out of him." Mary nodded.

"Oh, and why are you doing this?" I said "I thought you said you would never help anyone but yourself."

"I'm weak, and I'm having an off day. My moon cup is filling, and I am going to regret this. Any other requests before I try to talk to the Duke and bring him down?"

"A line of venom. I'm badly in need of a line," I said desperately. I needed something to take the edge off this. I was as mad as hell, and someone was going to pay the price. While Mary left, my guards hoisted the man up with his arms above his head, stripping his clothes off and fitting a hood over his head.