Chapter Thirteen: Mason

"They're back!" A cheer rang out around the tavern, and a crowd of people quickly gathered around the bottom of the stairs.

That's a lot more people in the tavern than when we went up the stairs, Mason's wolf commented.

I guess word got out that someone had been fool enough to go into the belly of the beast,Mason said.

He scanned over the expectant faces. There were the Regulars and some half-familiar faces. Though one was notably missing.

Despite the rush of relief at finding their way back out, anger bubbled up inside of him.

Valaky. Where was that vampire?

"Mason." Tamsin's touch was light on his arm, but it was enough to send a shiver of recognition and pleasure through his body.

He closed his eyes, reveling in the sensations flooding his body for a moment or two before he broke contact with her. He could enjoy her presence next to him when she was safe. "We need to find Valaky."

"What was up there?" Stan's voice rose above the clamor as he stepped forward. "How'd you get back?"

"We got lucky," Mason said, not wanting to get into a lengthy discussion about the secrets hidden in the depths of the tavern.

Not that he really understood what they had just seen, or even had anything to hide about it, but the whole surreal experience, for some reason, felt personal. It felt like everything they had seen was just for him and Tamsin, and that to share it would be to spoil it, to taint it somehow.

Perhaps it was the fact that it was the first nice thing that he had shared with Tamsin. Something that had finally brought them together instead of splitting them apart.

It feels for the first time like there's a chance for us, his wolf said.

Mason hoped that closeness would remain now that they were back out in the real world.

For the first time, he was beginning to understand how profound The Lonely Tavern was, and as they stepped off the stairs and onto the flat floor, he felt more than ever like a stranger in this place.

And luckily, it seems to like us,his wolf said. Since it let us find our way out.

It couldn't find something to tempt us with, unlike the bounty hunter,Mason said. Because we already had everything we could ever want, walking by our side.

Our mate, his wolf agreed. There was nowhere else they'd rather be than by her side, nothing they wanted more than to be closer to her.

For they could both see how easy it would be to stay in the perfect world waiting behind one of those doors.

"What did you see?" Harry flanked them alongside Stan. "We've been dying to see what's up there."

"You wouldn't believe us if we told you," Tamsin murmured with a glance at Mason.

"Try us," Burt laughed. "I don't know if there's anything we won't believe about this place anymore."

"What secrets the tavern chooses to reveal to those who wander its hallways are not to be shared," Morwenna said, her voice booming across the tavern from where she stood behind the bar half hidden by a stack of scrolls and old-looking books.

Works for me, Mason's wolf said.

"Ah, come on, Morwenna, we want to know," Burt insisted. "It'll stop us guessing."

"Well, if you want to know that much, you'll have to venture up those stairs yourself." Morwenna waved a leather-bound scroll at him, then her tone grew serious. "But I doubt you will return."

"And then we'd lose three of our best customers," came the deep voice of Flint, the bartender, whose massive frame was hidden behind the piles of papers as he tried to serve drinks through the stacks of books.

"Mason and Tamsin did," Stan replied as the two made their way toward the door.

"But you are not Mason and Tamsin," Morwenna said, looking at the pile of papers in front of her. "But by all means, take a chance. At least it will stop you complaining about the coffee."

"You don't serve coffee," Stan pointed out.

"Exactly," Morwenna said. "And boy, do you like to remind me of that fact."

"Only because I think coffee would make an excellent addition to your range of beverages," Stan replied.

"When I need your business advice, I will ask for it," Morwenna said and pulled out a scroll and scanned it before tossing it over her shoulder. "Not that one."

As Mason and Tamsin crossed the tavern, the crowd parted for them, and they were greeted with what felt like a hero's welcome.

"So, what did you see up there?"

"Were there ghosts?"

"Is that where Morwenna hides her treasure?"

The questions circled around them, but Mason simply scowled and nodded, while making sure Tamsin was close behind him. The entire ordeal reminded him of the corridor filled with whispers.

As he walked, he pushed his senses out to see if Valaky was still nearby, but he could not push them past the walls of the tavern. He was no longer inside.

But it's still daytime,his wolf said.

Is it?Mason raked his hand through his hair. He had lost all sense of time. For all he knew, they could have been in the tavern for hours, days, or weeks.

"Leaving?" Burt appeared at his side with peculiar stealth.

"We are," Mason said simply.

"To hunt a certain vampire?" Burt cocked an eyebrow at them.

"Do you know where he went?" Tamsin asked.

Burt's eyes glinted darkly as he leaned closer. "I might have an inkling. Care to share why this vampiric friend of yours might have disappeared instead of waiting to see your safe return? Did the tavern reveal something about him?"

Tamsin stepped closer to Burt. "Let's just say we have some questions we need him to answer."

"Then let's go." Burt turned and walked toward the tavern door.

"Hey, slow down a minute," Mason reached out and rested his hand on Burt's shoulder. "Tell us where he is, and we'll go find him."

"Oh no," Burt shook his head. "If you want my help, you take me with you. I'm not sending you off after a vampire and then leaving you to it."

"Burt! There you are." Harry and Stan pushed their way through the crowd around the bar toward their friend. "We thought you'd gone up those stairs without us."

"We can find Valaky on our own," Tamsin said and pushed past Mason toward the door.

"You might, eventually," Burt said quickly. "But I know where he's going."

"You want to know where Valaky went?" Harry asked as the other two caught up with them.

"Do you know?" Tamsin rounded on Harry.

"He's not going to tell you," Burt said, shooting Harry a look. "But we can show you."

"Burt?" Harry's face paled. "I thought we were going to trawl through all of those scrolls Morwenna's thrown out. She's obviously looking for something."

"Something to do with the prophecy. Your prophecy," Stan added with a curious look at Mason and Tamsin.

"My prophecy?" Tamsin asked sharply. "What does she know about the prophecy? I've already told it to you."

"I don't know. That's why we were going to hang around and find out," Harry said.

"You stay, I'm going to hunt a vampire," Burt replied.

"Have you drunk too many bread beers?" Stan asked before he tutted and turned to Harry. "Maybe it's off. It might have addled his brain."

"That stuff always smells off," Harry muttered.

"My brain is not addled, and I have not drunk too much bread beer," Burt said firmly, leaving them in no doubt he was of sound heart and mind. His body, on the other hand…

He is a little old for going vampire hunting, Mason's wolf agreed.

"But vampires," Stan murmured and looked around as if afraid someone might hear him. "Why would you want to hunt a vampire? They have fangs and things."

"And they can glamor you," Harry said. "I once heard a story about a vampire glamouring a man into thinking he was a chicken. He spent two weeks pecking around in his garden before the effects wore off."

"That's an old story that parents tell their children, so they stay away from vampires," Burt scoffed.

"Yeah," Tamsin said. "From what I have heard, vampires do a lot worse than that to people."

"See," Harry said and prodded Burt in the chest.

"Then it's best we don't let this young couple go alone after one." Burt edged toward the door.

"Burt, are you sure you're all right?" Stan asked with concern.

"Yeah, you are usually more on the cautious side." Harry frowned.

"I don't know what has come over me," Burt admitted, bouncing on his toes. "But it's like I can feel the blood of my ancestors thrumming in my veins, and I need to go hunt a fanged creature of the night. It's like destiny is calling me."

"Well, tell destiny it's got the wrong number," Mason said. "Come on, Tamsin, we don't have time for this. We can track Valaky ourselves."

"I'll get there first," Burt said and nimbly ran for the door.

"What has gotten into him?" Harry muttered.

"It's all this doom and gloom from this prophecy." Stan shook his head. "I much preferred the one about the dancing cows."

"You have nothing to prove, old chap," Harry assured Burt as he put his hand on the door handle.

"Don't I?" Burt asked. "How brave were you when we helped Kengar? And Stan? Stan entered the couples' competition and completed all those trials. And me? I don't deserve my family name…"

Harry and Stan looked at each other before they both sighed.

"Okay then. Vampire hunting, it is!" Harry clapped his hands together. "Do we need to take weapons? I did like the feel of a dragon sword in my hand." He tiptoed to look over the crowd toward the weapons on the wall around the fireplace.

"Aren't wooden stakes a more traditional weapon for vampire slaying?" Stan asked, scanning the walls of the tavern which were adorned with various weapons and shields. "Is there any particular wood that is effective?"

"Do they even have hearts?" Harry asked, rubbing his chin as he assessed the arsenal of weapons on the walls.

"Wait." Tamsin held up her hands. "We are not going to slay anyone. We just need to talk to Valaky."

I have no problem with slaying the bloodsucker, Mason's wolf said.

Neither do I, considering the trouble he's caused. But on the other hand, he orchestrated Tamsin's return to Wishing Moon Bay, Mason reminded his wolf. It does sound like he meant well.

But why? Mason's wolf asked. Why did he send that non-assassin to find her? Why did he circumvent Sophie's plan?

That is a question we need answered and only a non-slayed vampire can answer it, Mason reminded his wolf.

"Okay, you can come," Mason said, weary of the conversation. He needed action. "But there is to be no slaying of vampires, unless absolutely necessary. And if there's any danger, you will all get out of my way."

"No slaying of vampires at all. Full stop," Tamsin corrected.

"Your job is to take us to Valaky. Okay?" Mason glanced toward the bar as Morwenna exclaimed with excitement, her eyes glued to an aged piece of parchment she held.

Are we sure we shouldn't be monitoring her?his wolf asked. She seems to know something.

Probably,Mason replied. But let's deal with one problem at a time. And since Valaky is our most pressing problem, let's deal with him. Morwenna is not going anywhere.

True, she's a part of this tavern, his wolf agreed. Part of the fabric of the place.

Mason shuddered, his eyes drifting upward into the rafters. They could have spent all of eternity in those rooms upstairs and still not understood the tavern and its place in the world.

And outside of it,his wolf added.

With a shake of his head, he followed the Regulars out of the tavern and into the night.

For it was night.

"How long were we in there?" Tamsin looked up at the stars above.

"All day and most of the night," Stan said.

"How long did it seem to you?" Harry's eyes narrowed as he studied their faces.

"Hard to tell," Tamsin said.

"Try," Harry prodded.

Tamsin tilted her head to one side. "You heard what Morwenna said. The secrets of the tavern are not meant to be shared."

"But if you and Mason were talking about those secrets and we just happened to be walking close by and overheard them…" Stan began, "Then where is the harm in that?"

"Good one, Stan," Harry said. "You wouldn't exactly be sharing the secrets because you both already know them."

"And we would know that you were walking close enough to hear," Tamsin said. "Since Mason is a shifter."

"I didn't realize that you two were such a play-by-the-rules couple," Stan said lightly.

"We're not," Tamsin said quickly. "A couple, I mean."

Stan glanced from Tamsin to Mason, who shot the older man a warning look. "My mistake."

"So, where to?" Mason asked as they headed down the alley away from the tavern. He scented the air, but it had been so long that any scent of Valaky had already dissipated into the cool night.

"You'll see," Burt said evasively.

"You could just tell us," Tamsin said as they took a right turn, heading for the edge of town.

"And once we tell you, you'll dump us and then go on without us," Stan said with a knowing look at Mason. "Am I wrong?"

"We just don't want you to get hurt," Tamsin insisted.

"We can take care of ourselves," Harry said and then slapped Burt on the shoulder. "And this guy is the man when it comes to vampires. So he says, anyway."

"Have you ever fought one before?" Mason asked curiously.

"No," Burt said, the color rising in his cheeks. "But it's an ancestral thing. I'm sure all of their skills will come to me just when I need them."

"But he, of course, knows how to handle himself around vampires. Rule number one of being a vampire hunter is not to get into a fight with one if there are other ways to handle the situation," Stan said enthusiastically. "Isn't that right, Burt?"

"Err. Yeah," Burt agreed with a nod. "A vampire is strong and cunning and can easily overpower an unprepared opponent. But they also have weaknesses, and that's where the knowledge passed down from vampire hunter to vampire hunter comes in. Though my knowledge might have been delayed, as I said, I'm sure it will be bestowed upon me right in the nick of time."

Tamsin rolled her eyes slightly, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "All right, vampire hunter," she said, her tone softened by a hint of amusement. "Lead the way."

They continued down the narrow cobblestone street before cutting across the park, where the children's play area stood eerily empty and quiet. As they walked, a mist seemed to seep out of the ground and swirl around their feet, and Mason shivered, his senses on high alert for any sign of movement.

"You seem a little tense," Tamsin said as they reached the edge of the park and crossed a wide, tree-lined street.

"I don't like this," he said.

"Do you think Valaky might attack?" she whispered. "I don't think he has it in him."

"Not without me sensing him." Mason glanced over his shoulder. "But they don't have the same feel as living, breathing creatures."

"Does that make them harder to sense?" she asked.

"It's not easier or harder, it's just different," Mason said. "Add in that they can move fast…"

"It makes you jittery," Tamsin said.

"I'm not jittery," Mason insisted.

"You are so," she said with a grin.

"This doesn't bother you?" he asked, suddenly curious about his mate and what made her tick.

"No." Her brows creased as she shook her head. "It might have once. But after so long alone, I understand the term safety in numbers. Besides, Valaky's harmless."

Mason chuckled. "I would prefer it if our numbers were not made up of three old men."

"Older men," Burt said without looking at Mason.

"He does have good hearing," Tamsin said. "Perhaps the blood of a vampire hunter does flow through his veins."

"Perhaps," Mason said, his tone derisory.

"We might be about to find out," Tamsin said as they turned right and headed down a wide, cobbled street lined on either side with large manor houses that looked straight out of a Victorian city. Old gas lamps cast the only other light apart from the moon across the mist-covered road.

"Why?" Mason asked as he peered over a stone wall into the well-kept gardens that surrounded one of the grand houses, the mansion standing tall, its gothic architecture menacing under the shroud of mist.

It's like I can feel a pulse of ancient magic emanating from the building, Mason's wolf said with a shiver.

"Because we are in vampire territory," Burt said with some relish. "Isn't that exciting?"

"He's right," she whispered. "This isn't just any ordinary street. Can't you sense it?"

"No," Mason, Stan, and Harry chorused.

"We're here." Burt stopped before a tall set of iron gates that broke up the stone wall Mason had been looking over.

"This isn't Valaky's house," Tamsin said. "Unless he's moved."

"No, it's not," Burt replied. "But I never said we were going to his house."

"So Valaky is here?" Tamsin asked.

"And where is here, exactly?" Mason asked.

"This is the house of Silas Langdon," Tamsin said. "So what is Valaky doing here?"

"Why don't we go in and find out?" Burt asked as the gates opened with a surprisingly small amount of noise, and he strode toward the house.

And maybe their doom.