Free Broom with a View by Gayla Twist, Ted Naifeh Page B

guests.”
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7: The Trouble of Travelling with Vampires
     
    By the next morning, the news of the violence in the streets of X was so very bad that even Vera had agreed to the Count’s plan. Everyone was packed and ready to leave by ten o’clock, despite the Signora of the Belladonna protesting that everything should be fine if they’d only give it a few days. Violet suspected the Signora was more concerned about an empty pensione than she was about her guests’ safety.
    The only nonresident of the pensione to participate was old Professor Yog, who was found waiting in the parlour with his jewel-embedded walking stick. A modest leather satchel was all that accompanied him in terms of luggage. Either the old gentleman did not recognize Count Du Monde from their conflict in the cathedral or he did not remember it, but either way, when they were introduced, he chose not to acknowledge that he had ever previously set eyes on the Vampire. It turned out that Mr. B had known the professor for over a century and didn’t feel comfortable leaving the distinguished gentleman to fend for himself with the city in such chaos. So his appearance in the parlour was not such a surprise after all.
    Mr. B went above and beyond the call of any Sorcerer by somehow procuring two carriages to transport the entire party and their trunks. Most of the city was in a panic, so it was actually no small feat. Dividing who should sit in which carriage became overly complicated by Vera’s desire not to sit in an open carriage because she wished to avoid the sun, but not to sit in a closed carriage because Count Du Monde and his son obviously preferred the shade. It was finally settled when Miss Hopkins pulled an enormous parasol from her bag so that everyone could be satisfied and Vera would not freckle.
    Violet was made to switch carriages every time her aunt changed her mind, as she oscillated between her fear of the harsh X sun and the undead cravings of Vampires. By the time they were finally settled in the open carriage with Miss Hopkins, Professor Yog, and Mr. B, the girl felt thoroughly put out. The Count and his son were to accompany the Misses Fate, who appeared to have no qualms about riding with two of the undead.
    Mr. B advised the carriage drivers to take as many back alleys and side streets as possible, by all means avoiding the main square and the crowded avenues. Still, there were ruffians about, eyeing the vehicles with a predatory eye. Whenever likely looking scoundrels would drift too close to the road as the carriages passed, the lead driver, who was conveying the Du Mondes and Misses Fates, would lash out at them with his whip. This was, for the most part, suitably keeping the potential highwaymen at bay.
    “What do they possibly want from us?” Vera wondered aloud, her voice quavering as she cowered in her seat.
    “The horses,” Mr. B explained. “These came at a pretty dear price, and I’m sure they could be sold for a small fortune on the black market.”
    “They’d take our horses? But that would be stealing!” Vera exclaimed, eyeing with suspicion a man who was standing at an open second -story window observing them as they drove past.
    “Yes,” Miss Hopkins assured her . “I’m sure they’re well aware of that.”
    The man in the window quickly hung two shirts on a clothing line suspended over the street. Violet looked up at the shirts with some confusion, seeing that both of them were obviously quite dry. “Does anyone think that’s odd?” she was about to voice when their carriage was abruptly set upon from all sides by four men. The girl realized, all too late, the shirts were a signal to attack the second carriage.
    The lead highwayman grabbed the horse by the bridle. Their driver stood to whip him but was immediately knocked down by a second man. Mr. B raised his hand to cast a spell but received a strong blow to the jaw by a third outlaw