Chapter 26

Anais

I hurt in more places than I could entirely keep track of and I was bleeding from almost all of them, but I had never been more pleased to see a vampire in my life. I had almost cut through one of the ties holding my arms in place, tied to the chair when Leo came to my side.

"Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern on his face.

"Yes, I'll be fine. You got here just in time. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get trapped like this. I didn't know if you knew what Ludis was up to." I smiled up at Leo, grateful he had come back for me. In one moment I had known if I could trust him or not. The look on his face when he'd seen me in danger had been enough.

He had also attacked Ludis and fought him in a highly dangerous situation because of it. The most distress I had felt was not being able to get free to help him.

Leo quickly helped me finish the job and get back on my feet. Only then did I notice how much blood was around his stomach and the long gash Ludis had given him.

"You're hurt," I said, feeling as pathetic as the words sounded.

Leo nodded, but shifted the shirt so I could see the wound better. He wiped away some of the blood with the fabric and showed that it had already scabbed over. It appeared that true-bloods could heal pretty fast. While it probably hurt, he was likely to be just fine.

"Are you going to be able to defend yourself and move around?" Leo asked, checking my wrists where the ties had cut my skin and shifting the attention back to me.

"Yes, I'll be fine. It doesn't even hurt. Ludis sent one of his men to go in Butch's place. Skinny, tall vampire. They ran off as well. Ludis sent him a message with instructions." I got to the point knowing that we both needed to act quickly.

Leo straightened up, helping me to my feet as we both hurried to the door.

"I need to stop that vampire before he can get off this boat. But Ludis needs stopping too."

"I'll go after Ludis," I replied, knowing it was my mission anyway.

Despite Leo knowing he should go after the other, he hesitated.

"Go. I can handle Ludis, especially after the damage you did. As long as I find him quickly."

"He's stronger than he ought to be." Leo opened the door for both of us. He reached into his pocket and held a small ring out to me.

"What's this?" I asked as I took it, but as soon as I held it in my hand I knew that it had to be something special. It seemed to tingle and the urge to put it on was strong.

Leo frowned, but he motioned for me to put it on. "It will make you faster and stronger. Not a lot, and it only works on humans and for brief periods. It will also wear you out quickly, so be careful."

I nodded, grateful that he was offering me such a tool. Hopefully I would get a chance to give it back to him.

As I came along the hallway Leo pointed to some blood splatters. "Do you think you can follow those?"

"Probably. As long as a cleaner hasn't come along in the meantime."

"They won't at this time of night. But either way, once I've got my guy, I'll come back and see if you need help."

"Then good luck hunting and lets hope we both find what we're looking for." I smiled at him, but I couldn't shake the feeling of sadness inside me. If we succeeded then we were going to be parting ways after this.

For now, our ways continued together, both our quarries having taken the same route, and while neither of us wanted to move slowly, we also needed to check the route we were taking and make sure Ludis and his other vampire henchmen had gone this way.

I focused on what I saw, partially to show Leo that I had good tracking skills and partially to make sure I didn't let anything distract me.

This was going to be a difficult enough task without me letting emotions get in the way. Seeing Leo fight to protect me had already had me on edge, however.

Although I had told Leo that I was totally fine, the truth was that I was hurting and scared and tired. The ring he'd given me I had quickly taken off and shoved into a pocket. I was already very tired. I didn't need it to make me even more so until I was ready to use it.

Hopefully I would regain a little energy along the way, but I wasn't sure I would. And I was more nervous about the impending fight with Ludis. Could I really beat him?

I didn't know the answer to that question. He and Leo had been fighting so quickly that I wasn't sure I could keep up. The ring should help, but I still didn't feel confident.

This was my point of no return, however. I had to turn back now or keep going and fight Ludis. As soon as I parted ways with Leo I would have to see it through or I ran the risk of him being ganged up on, or losing this mission, or being killed. I couldn't let that happen.

He'd just saved my life and now it was my turn to do what I could.

"I think our paths part ways here," Leo said before I could point out that the blood splatters went one way and Leo was following his nose another.

"It looks like it," I agreed, even though my sense of scent was nowhere near strong enough to know if I was right or not for sure. "You'll hopefully find what you need from the other vampire. He's going to meet someone and probably get something."

Leo nodded, but didn't carry on his way, even though there was nothing more for him here.

"Are you going to be able to kill him?" he asked, concern written across his face.

Although I was nervous I nodded. "With everything you've taught me, I think I can. Do you have what you need if I kill him?"

"Get his phone if you can. If I don't find this other vampire, it should still have what I need."

"Consider it done," I replied, still not hurrying away. We both needed to part ways, but I didn't want to and it appeared as if he didn't either.

Frowning, he pulled me into his arms, pressed his mouth against mine and held me close for a few seconds. I leaned into him, wishing we could stay like this, but eventually I pulled away again.

"Be safe, and I'll see you in the suite when we're both done." He gave me a nod as he spoke and then hurried away.

Seeing him carry on after his own quarry soon brought me back to the task at hand. I had my chance to complete my mission. Ludis was injured and on the run and Leo had taught me everything I should need to know to kill him. All I had to do was find out where he had gone on this boat and finish the job.

I had splotches of blood to follow along the flooring and it went down the hallway toward more of the suites, but the dots were getting further and further between as if he was beginning to heal. While I knew that some turned could do all sorts of funky stuff thanks to whoever had sired them, I didn't think Ludis had been created by anyone particularly powerful.

For a few seconds, I considered putting the ring Leo had given me on and taking the benefit to my strength and speed, but I knew it wouldn't last. I would have to do it as I found Ludis.

Continuing on, I followed the trail around the boat, up to a suite door. I paused outside it, wondering if I could pick the lock in some way or get into the room, hoping he would be inside, but I feared that I would then be on his turf, or some of his enthralled would be inside and I wouldn't just be up against a vampire.

Looking around, I noticed that there were more blood splotches on the floor that came back out of the suite again and carried on. They looked fresher, and even possibly wet. I had to hope that this was a good sign and I could catch up to him, but I didn't know where he was going anymore.

I could only walk on and hope that Leo was having good luck as well. If he found his vampire soon enough, he might be able to come and find me. Somehow he had tracked me multiple times as well and I didn't doubt that he could follow my scent. It should give him an advantage.

Of course, if Ludis stopped his bleeding, I would not be so successful. I had gained the suite number Ludis was likely to be staying in, however. At worst, if my trail went dead, I would come back to his suite and see if his luggage and belongings were still there. Somehow I would get into his room and wait for him there.

While I continued to follow the trail, cautious, but consistent, I considered how I would get the key and it dawned on me that all his enthralled would have key cards, just as I had one for Leo. All I would need to do would be to return to the lounge and take it from one of them.

Most of them would be so high and hooked on whatever strange orgy was happening that I doubt they would even notice me going inside to take anything.

Not that I necessarily needed to do that. If I could find Ludis another way, it wouldn't matter. But I still had to find him before he fully healed as well, or I wasn't sure I could defeat him.

I made a mental check of the weapons on me as I carried on down the hallway. Eventually I reached one of the stairwells in the ship and the trail went into the open area between stairs and elevators. Although I didn't want to have to go up or down lots of stairs, I didn't want the blood splatters to lead to an elevator. If they did there was a good chance I wouldn't be able to find the trail afterwards.

Thankfully, the trail went over to the nearest set of stairs and downward, not up. I wasn't sure where Ludis would be going, but I knew we were on one of the highest levels of the ship and that there was a lot down there.

Trying not to think about it and moving as quietly as I possibly could, I followed the splatters down to about half way down the ship. Once down on that level, they went off again, heading toward the front once more.

Although I had explored the ship a little, I didn't know if there were suits at the front on every single level or if there were other types of rooms down here, but I was still on the trail.

It also occurred to me that I might not be following Ludis anymore but I would have no way of knowing. These blood splatters could be from someone he had fed on. He might be back in the suite and I might be chasing a red herring.

Of course, I didn't expect Ludis to have the self control not to devour anyone who wasn't one of his enthralled and if someone was coming down here, they weren't enthralled.

I had no choice but to carry on and hope that I would get to Ludis soon. As I walked, I continued to keep quiet, not wanting to draw any attention or alert my quarry that I was following, but I knew vampires could hear better than humans. There was a good chance Ludis would hear me coming in this sort of situation.

Eventually the blood splatters stopped at a large almost bulkhead-like door. I paused, not sure what lay beyond and aware that this was the sort of place I might lead someone else to turn an ambush on its head. I was going to have to be very careful if I went through this door.

Once again I checked the weapons about my body and I chose to draw one of the blades I'd tucked into my boot. I held it down the side of my arm and kept it near my side, not wanting it to be obvious to anyone that I had it.

Still, I hesitated and considered the ring. It was in my pocket, but I couldn't hold it ready to put on and have the blade in my hand ready to attack. Did I put it on now and hope that I was about to fight, or hold off and hope that I had time later?

There was no way to know which was the right course, but I couldn't bring myself to put it on. I couldn't make myself more tired and use the ring unless I had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, I made my mind up. It was time to find out what Ludis was up to and what he was doing out here.