The Immortal Blood

Chapter 35

Alexandra, just a few feet away from her brother, had heard the bell ringing at the entrance: that was the signal agreed to get into action.
She had slowly moved along the outer wall of the house, crawling towards one of the windows with grille of the cellar, agile and light as a cat, peeking inside.
The boy Vernon had kidnapped was still alive, though apparently bound to a battered bed.
She had listened carefully and heard Vernon open the main door, then an exchange of two different voices on the porch outside: Todd must have convinced him to step out and leave the path clear for her.
As gently as possible, she had inserted an elbow between the bars and pressed it against the glass of the tilt window, giving it a sharp blow and making it ruin over a pile of objects stacked immediately below.
The voices had continued their agitated argument, so she had not wasted any time and widened the thin gratings, leaning into the pertugium.
"Adam";? She had called quietly, trying to catch the younger lawyer's attention.
The blond man had stared back at her, catching her by surprise: he had already managed in part to free his hand from the ropes that held him firmly attached to the old headboard. "I'm here to rescue you." She had added, jumping with some difficulty in the dark room.
"Who are you?" He asked her, suspicious.
"My name is Alexandra and I'm. . ."
"Todd's sister!" He had interrupted her, observing the woman more attentively: her hair and intense gaze were almost identical to her brother's.
"That's right. How. . . ?"
"Is he here?" Adam had finally managed to release his left wrist with a worrying pop from the knot that kept him imprisoned.
"Yes." The vampire had ripped the other tie cleanly from the headboard, helping him to stand up: he was in a worse state than she'd previously guessed, with a black eye and several scratches on his face and arms; additionaly he seemed to have two broken fingers on one hand, judging by how dark and swollen they were. "Are you okay?"
"Kind of, where's Todd?" Adam seemed eager to know.
"He's creating a diversion with Vernon so that I can get you out of here."
"What? No!"; The blonde had launched towards the staircase that went upstairs.
"Stop, what are you doing!" Alexandra had tackled him before he drew the Elder's attention to them.
"Todd is in danger! It was Vernon's plan all along, can't you see?" The lawyer had rejected her, albeit with some difficulty.
"That bastard! I should have imagined..." the woman had growled, angered: of course, he could only have kidnapped the boy to use him as bait. "Don't worry, Todd isn't alone. We have a surprise in store for Vernon, too."
Adam had looked at her confused for a few seconds, then he had an understood: "Did you get the tanks?"
"Todd had just bought them when you were snatched, all he needs to do is lure him to the driveway and then. . ." a strong crash from upstairs had interrupted her. "Damn!"
"What's going on?"
"I knew it, that jerk is just too smart. Come on, I got to get you out of here."
"You want me to leave? No!"
"Adam. . ."
"Todd asked you to, didn't he?" The lawyer shook his head, annoyed. "You'll need my help too if you're going to kill him, he's out of control!"
"Ah, and how would you contribute?" Alexandra had walked in front of him with her arms folded. "You're fragile and completely helpless." She'd underlined the concept by pressing on one of his fractured fingers, making him shiver with pain.
"Vernon won't kill me, he needs me alive. Todd, on the other hand. . ."
"If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure, boy. I've seen him murder people for far less."
Another crash, followed by noises of obvious struggle had echoed on the first floor.
"Damn, he needs my help. I have to go."
"I'm coming with you, I know the house, I know where they are, we'll catch him from behind." Adam had moved back to the flight of stairs and this time Alexandra, although hesitant, had not stopped him.
"Fine." She had nodded, following him closely, preparing to face his creator once and for all.