Free Absolution - The First Book Of The Vampire Immortalis Trilogy by Elizabeth Mitchell Page B

remember what he had been doing for the best part of a week. Hours at a time were a complete blank. He had been drinking heavily recently, but he had never experienced memory blackouts like this before. Even after being paralytic with drink, he normally remembered at least something of what he had been doing.
    Now he was hearing the voice inside his head again. The voice that rarely gave him a moment's peace.
The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
    “Shut up!” shouted Peter at his face in the mirror. “Please, shut up!”
     
     
     
    Adam stood outside the Simply Delicious cafe and watched as Liam was led to the police car by a policeman and policewoman. Muckle, David and Lisa, stood and watched as their friend was driven away.
    “What's up with Liam?” Adam asked after joining the three goths on the other side of the street.
    “They say they want to ask him some questions down at the police station regarding the murders,” said a worried-looking Lisa.
    “Liam will be fine,” said Muckle, putting a comforting arm around her. “It's not the first time he's had tea and biscuits at the cop shop.”
    “Should we tell his Dad?” asked Lisa.
    “Better no',” replied Muckle. “The police will soon realise he has nothing to do with what's been going on and will have him home before old man Cameron even notices.”
    “Was he arrested?” asked Adam.
    “No. They just asked him to come to the station to help with their inquiries and he went voluntarily,” said Muckle. “He'll be out in no time, you'll see.”
    Adam wasn't so sure, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He was still no closer to finding the Hundeprest, but one thing was for certain. Liam was as close as he had got so far.
     
    * * *
     
    The grass in the abbey graveyard had been soaking wet and now Walter's shoe was making a squelching noise as he walked. They had drawn another blank and had decided to head back to the hotel. As they were coming out of the abbey, they saw a teenager being led to a police car. They stood and watched as the teenager was put in the back seat and driven off up the hill.
    “'Ere we go,” said Nick. “I told you those goths looked suspect. Now one's being carted away by the Old Bill.”
    “Could be anything though, Nick. You know what kids are like these...”
    “Bloody hell,” said Nick, no longer listening to his partner. “I don't believe it. It can't be.”
    “What is it Nick?”
    Nick dug deep into his coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. On it was an artist's impression of a man's face, together with a description of a vampire said to be responsible for the deaths and disappearances of dozens of Battalion Sabbatarians in the United States, Canada and Mexico. At the bottom it said that there was a ten million dollar reward for information leading to his capture or destruction. “That bloke talking to them. It looks like Adam McLeod.”
    Walter took the piece of paper and looked at it closely. He then stared at the man standing with the two goths. He certainly bore a close resemblance to the Adam McLeod on the piece of paper, at least from this distance, but why would he be in Melrose of all places, talking to goths?
    Nick didn't even need to look at the face on the paper. He had it etched on his mind. He had looked at it countless times, fantasising about being the one who brought the mighty Adam McLeod to justice. He would go down in vampire-slaying history if he did that, not to mention rich beyond his wildest dreams. Finding Adam McLeod was like holding a winning lottery ticket.
    Nick started walking quickly towards Adam McLeod, his hand in his pocket fondling his Beretta Bobcat pistol. He was now just 20 yards away from doing what countless other Sabbatarians had failed to do. 15 yards. It was definitely Adam McLeod. Ten