Free Flight of the Crow by Melanie Thompson Page B

moon rose to its zenith on September ninth, the light would shoot down the tube from the dome magnified by a special piece of glass in the eye of the lamb at the center of the fantastic stained glass mural. The light would first hit in the center of the cage, then slowly move to the altar where Priest planned to capture it with the Coeur de Flamme , use it to increase the power of the stone and ensure the success of his transformation. He would use the surge of magic from the stone to infuse the dagger of Lazarus with the power to resurrect his younger self.
    Satisfied his plan was as fool proof as he could make it, he turned to Fenix. The dummy had dropped her on the floor of the cage and stood over her waiting for orders. He stared down at her, so beautiful and so vulnerable, and gloated. “If you please me, I may decide to remove your curse and keep you as a concubine.”
    Fenix spit on the ground. “I’d rather die and be reborn a thousand more times.”
    He laughed. “You were always the spirited one. Your sister is more cautious, though she will try to move heaven and earth to find you, I doubt if even she can locate this place.”
    â€œMaybe not, but I can.” The strange voice startled Priest. The rasping intonations were familiar but he couldn’t place them.
    â€œWho’s there?” He demanded. “Show yourself.”
    A robed man, no not a man but something infinitely more terrible, stooped and seemed to flow through the low door to stand beside the cage. Priest gasped and lifted his hand to shoot the terrible intruder with a blast of deadly magic. Before he could loose the blast, Lazarus sped around the cage and grasped him around the throat in an iron grip. “Where is my dagger?”
    Terror rose in Priest’s throat like lava. He whimpered in Lazarus’s steely grip. “I don’t know.”
    Lazarus lifted Priest like he weighed nothing and held him at eye level. “You will take me to my dagger, you filthy worm. I know you plan to use it to make yourself young. You will never succeed. Old forever, that’s your curse, worm. Take me to my dagger.”
    Terrified beyond the ability to think clearly, Priest did the only thing he could. He transformed himself into the giant dummy. Lazarus dropped him and Priest immediately changed into the worm he’d been named and buried himself under the rusty floor of the cage.
    When Fenix saw the vampire Lazarus slide into the dungeon room, her heart almost stopped. Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire. But he did her a favor by terrifying Priest and making him disappear. She took the opportunity offered by his interest in Priest and scurried between the giant’s legs and out the door of her cage. However, the omniscient Lazarus had seen her making her escape, and scooped her up by the neck of her gown.
    â€œNot so fast, my pretty. I didn’t come down here to find you, but it is a most delightful accident.”
    He stood her up and began brushing the dirt off the front of her gown. “My, my, the cursed dragon did not care for you properly. His ideas of what is due a beautiful woman fall woefully short of acceptable.”
    She tried to push his hands away and he grabbed her shoulders. “I wish you no evil, Fenix Sahir. I am trying to regain a lost artifact. Rescuing you is a happy mischance for me and a blessing from God for you. Be sure I will not harm you…today.”
    Fenix had moved beyond terror and was much closer to hysteria. Lazarus seemed to feel this. His touch on her shoulder was cold and impersonal. She tried to focus on his words. They seemed to be telling her he did not intend to hurt her. She swallowed hard and a tremulous smile quivered on her mouth. “How can I trust you?”
    He leaned close and she realized he did not smell like a vampire. They reeked of blood, the coppery iron odor radiated from them like garlic breath. He smelled like ashes and