My Lord Eternity (Immortal Rogues #2)(45)

"Dear heavens. Do not move," she commanded in urgent tones. "I will be down in a moment."

"Please, you must hurry," he called.

There was no need for his urging as she hastily turned to rush from her chamber and down the narrow flight of stairs. Poor Thomas. He always seemed so swaggeringly confident. So invincible. So very wise. It was quite easy to forget he was just a little boy. And now he had been harmed. It was insupportable.

She moved to the back of the house and used the kitchen door to lead her into the garden.

She nearly tumbled over her skirts in her haste, until at last she gave a hiss of impatience and hauled them well above her ankles to rid herself of their annoying tendency to cling.

Only when she had actually left the house and entered the dark shadows of the night did she take note of the odd chill in the air. Only moments before she had been smothering in the unusual summer heat; now she could not ignore the prickles that raced over her skin.

It was very strange, but she did not allow herself to be distracted. Thomas was in need of her help and she could not fret over a sudden coldness in the air.

Coming to a halt beside the waiting lad, she gently took his arm in her hands.

"Oh, Thomas, what has occurred?"

He gave a faint sniff as he attempted to be brave. "A horrid man forced his way into the warehouse. I could not halt him, Miss Kingly. I am sorry."

Jocelyn caught her breath in horror. Was it the traitorous vampire that Lucien had warned her of? Had he concluded that slaying poor prostitutes was not as desirable as harming innocent children? The thought was enough to make her heart stop in fear.

"No, Thomas, you should not even have attempted such a thing," she said in appalled tones.

"I cannot see to your injuries here. We must go inside."

Without warning he pulled his arm from her grasp, his grimy face set in lines of determination.

"No."

"Thomas, do not be stubborn. You must have those wounds cleaned or they will fester."

"Not yet." His eyes appeared feverishly bright in the silver moonlight. "The man is still at the warehouse."

"What?" she breathed in shock.

"He has Annie."

"No." Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Is she harmed?"

"No, but the bugger has threatened to kill her."

Jocelyn struggled to think through the sudden cloud of terror that filled her mind. Not an easy task with the image of the tiny, fragile child in the hands of a bloodthirsty monster burning before her eyes.

Every instinct urged her to rush to the warehouse and save the little girl. It was her nature to attempt to protect those who depended upon her.

Only that sternly practical part of her nature that had saved her upon so many occasions kept her feet from mindlessly fleeing down the street. She could not face this monster on her own.

Regardless if he were merely crazed or a vampire, she needed help.

"We must go to Mr. Ryan," she abruptly decided. Surely he was the logical choice. He was the only one in the position to put a final end to this villain. "He will be able to take this monster away."

Thomas gave a violent shake of his head, his expression fearful. "No, you cannot. The man said as you was to come alone."

Jocelyn froze at the unexpected words. She had presumed that Thomas had come to her because he realized she would be willing to help. It had never entered her mind that the man had actually sent the lad to fetch her.

The chill in the air thickened, making her shudder with the sense of impending doom.

"What do you mean?" she demanded in cautious tones.

Thomas seemed to hesitate before he swallowed heavily. "He sent me to fetch you. He said you were to come alone and to bring the necklace."

"My necklace?"

"That is what he said. We must hurry."

The necklace. So that was it. She gave an unconscious shake of her head. Lucien had been right. He had warned her the traitors would do whatever necessary to gain command of her Medallion. Now they had revealed precisely how desperate they had become.

She may not desire to believe in vampires or magical Medallions, but she was left with no choice. She had to save Annie. No matter who or what might be threatening her.

"What did this man look like?" she demanded in rasping tones.

Thomas reached out to tug on her arm in impatience. It was obvious he did not approve of her wary caution.

"A big man. With a knife. Annie is in terrible danger. Come on."

Jocelyn grimly held her ground. No one was more eager to rescue the poor girl than herself.

But she was wise enough to realize that she could not do so alone.

If it was a vampire holding Annie captive, then there was only one person who could be of help.

"Hold a moment, Thomas. I must fetch Mr. Valin."

A surprising flare of fury rippled over the thin countenance. "No. He said alone."

Feeling a pang of sympathy at the boy's desire to be on their way, she gave a faint sigh. No doubt Thomas was blaming himself for not being able to protect the other children.

"This man is very, very dangerous, Thomas," she explained in gentle tones. "We cannot face him without the help of Mr. Valin. I will be only a moment."

Reaching out to lightly pat his shoulder in a comforting motion, Jocelyn turned on her heel to return to the house. Despite her earlier feelings of betrayal toward Lucien, she could no longer hesitate to turn to him for assistance. Whatever had occurred between them, he was the one person she knew that she could depend upon in times of danger.