Free The Dragon Coin by Aiden James

jet, he is very much a prisoner on his island, relying on his second sight for knowledge and upon others to do his bidding.”
    “You know, he could actually do that.”
    “What?”
    “Chase the moon in a jet,” said Roderick, wearing a wry grin. “Other vampire breeds do that sort of thing. Even before modern times. Racco and Comte have spoken of how Gustav Domnul-delael and his brood travel in similar fashion.”
    “What in the hell is your point?”
    “My point is he could certainly travel without much trouble if he truly desired a hands-on approach. Which means….”
    “He could be toying with us,” I said, following the flow of Roderick’s course of thinking. “And if that’s the case….”
    I reached for my cell phone, and once I confirmed I had a clear signal, I placed a call to the landline in Alistair’s condo. There was no answer, which could be a good thing. But not getting through to his and Amy’s cell phones, as well as the one I bought for Beatrice at Christmas, I began to worry.
    “Don’t panic yet,” he advised, setting his phone book aside to join me where I stood, as if the two of us could make the damned phone connect to my beloved family any easier. “Remember, it’s just after nine o’clock back home, and by now, they should be safe and sound at the Abingdon place, preferably in the fortress down below.”
    “Did Louis ever call you back to confirm the pickup?”
    Roderick’s confident smile faded. Here was another clue that the reemergence of Dracul had thrown him off his game. Details were almost as defining to Roderick’s persona as his unusual appearance.
    “No, he didn’t,” he confessed, checking his cell phone as if to make sure he hadn’t missed a call. “But that doesn’t mean he didn’t pick everyone up and drive them to Abingdon. Who are you calling?”
    “Your place.”
    It seemed absurd we’d allow a supposition to sway us like fact. After all, we had just seen the vile vampire less than an hour ago, and it would take him hours to reach the states if he had decided to procure the crystals without our help. Impossible, until I thought of the vast network of kidnappers under his employ. Miscreants like that could already be in the States. After four rings I started to get nervous, until a familiar voice answered my call.
    “Margolise?”
    “Yes. William, it’s good to hear from you,” she said, her island accent warm, carrying the smile Roderick’s assistant is famous for. “What can I do for you?”
    “By any chance is Alistair and Beatrice there?” My heart was a relentless drum as I awaited her response.
    “Yes,” she said, bringing immediate relief. “I mean, no. All three are gone.  They left soon after the officers dropped them off here.”
    “What?! Where’d they go?”
    She coughed nervously. “I’m sorry, William, I thought you knew,” she said. “They said you and Roderick would be waiting for them. They took a taxi to Blountville to catch a plane to Dulles. That was four hours ago. By now, they should be well on their way overseas to Rome.”
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    The decision to travel across half the world to join us was a terrible idea. Since discovering the unique age-reducing qualities from the Tree of Life’s crystals, nearly three years earlier, my son had gone from being a careful academic known for his keen common sense and seasoned wisdom to a foolhardy young man. More like an impulsive, hormonal teenager.
    “What do you intend to say to Ali when we catch up to him and the others?”
    Roderick posed this question shortly after our flight across the Adriatic Sea had reached the optimum altitude and we had adjusted as much as possible to our cramped quarters. It was the first time I had flown coach or ‘business class’ since JFK was president. I daresay Roderick had never flown anywhere in this manner, as the irritated look on his face told me the sensory bombardment of travelers packed like