Free Hair, Greg - Werewolf 03 by Requiem (v5.0) Page A

if you want to live, for now, you must drink.”
    Annelise’s eyes shot around the ubliet, looking for someone standing in the shadows, waiting to pounce on her. When she saw no one, she calmed down, letting Tsukiko tip the thermos again. The vampire closed her eyes, trying not to gag on the repugnant life-giving, life-saving, blood. A slight stream poured out of the corner of her mouth as she winced.
    “I don’t know what bothers you more—the taste of old, dead blood, or the thought of where it came from.”
    Annelise looked up at the werewolf, and furrowed her eyebrows, as if she were still trying to figure the game Nicholas’ ally was running. Then, she blinked twice.
    “The source, huh? Well, like I said, if you want to get out of here, drink up.”
    Slowly, Annelise lifted her hand to the thermos, helping Tsukiko tip it. It was apparent that small amounts of strength were returning. The vampire looked up at the werewolf, and blinked, nearly in slow motion, very deliberately.
    “You’re welcome,” Tsukiko said. “But, please, don’t say that again.”
    Picking Annelise off the cold, castle floor, Tsukiko carried her, quickly, quietly, outside the fortress walls of Kilchurn Castle. Annelise snapped her eyes shut from the small amount of starlight that shone on her now-pale face.
    “I’m going to carry you a few miles away,” said Tsukiko, “and leave the canister with you. You’ll have to find the strength to go on from there, yourself. Head south.
    “If you want to see Ryker again, kill what you have to, drink what you can.”
    Through the dark, Scottish countryside, the Japanese werewolf carried the Danish vampire. Traversing the lowlands of the Highlands, through the hills and glens of central Argyll and Bute, they traveled.
    Soon, Tsukiko, carrying Annelise, reached the ghost town of Dalmally. The werewolf kicked open the pub door and lay the vampire on the bar.
    “This is where we part,” she said. “I’ve done all I can to help. It’s help to you to go the rest of the way. As a woman…I’m sorry. As a loyal follower of Nicholas, I will try to kill you when next we meet.”
    Tsukiko set the thermos next Annelise’s head, and turned to walk away. The Dane grabbed the Japanese woman’s hand, as tears rolled down.
    “Thank you,” Annelise whispered, her voice dry and raspy.
    Tsukiko looked at her, let go of her hand, and walked toward the exit.
    “South,” she said, closing the door behind her.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 13: Requiem
    “Alessandro knows that we must hurry, my friend,” said the Italian vampire, “but he also knows that we must feed. We have come so far so quickly, with not a drop to eat. Oh, no, not a drop.”
    “Okay,” said Ryker. “It’s so late at night. We’ll probably have some good luck finding what we need in the Catacombs. I’d rather find something that’s already being served. It’s not far from here.”
    Quieting his friend, as they neared the city limits of Paris, Ryker’s thoughts returned to his last happy memory of Annelise before she’d been taken during the battle at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville.
     
    Sitting at a little café in Venice, Ryker and Annelise were having their first date in months. She was radiant—her golden-blonde hair made even more so by the bright rays of the setting Venetian sun streaking down.
    “You think Landon’s doing okay in Mexico?” she asked. “What does Catalina have in mind, anyway?”
    “He’s with Cat, so I’m sure he’s fine. I don’t know why she wanted to take him to Mexico, but I know there’s a good reason. She wouldn’t have taken him, otherwise. But, listen, let’s not talk shop tonight. For one night, let’s put all of this out of our minds, and enjoy the evening.”
    He stretched his hand across the small, round table, and laid it on hers.
    “I want you to know,” he continued, “how happy I am to be with you. The day I met you