Stake It or Leave It (Budapest Bites #2)

Lucy

“I’ll be back in a few days,” I say into my phone as I stare at the stonework streaked with age and dirt.

“I’ve sent over some dictation via the secure server, so if you can deal with that, and pull the Menzies-Smyth file along with the Robson file and chase up the Met for the disclosure, I’ll deal with the rest when I get back. ”

If I get back.

My eyes trail away from the single bulb shedding a weak light down the filthy walls, across a similarly unpleasant floor which has a rug on it. One covered in stains I’m not going to think about.

“Yes, please give Mr. Howard an update, Carol,” I respond to my secretary who is super efficient as ever, even in my absence.

“I know he’s annoying, but we have a hearing date.

He will make a fuss, but there’s a letter in the dictation which will explain everything, so you can tell him it’s on its way. ”

The chain leading from the rusty iron bedstead to the handcuff at my wrist clanks.

“Oh that?” I say hurriedly. “We’re just about to get on a boat. It’s a trip up the Danube.” I pause, keeping my hand as still as I can. “Yes, Budapest is beautiful.”

I raise my eyes to the window, painted black both inside and out, save for a few cracks in the paint. There’s no chance of me seeing any view.

“I will enjoy myself, thank you.” I force a smile to my face so it can be heard in my voice. “And I’ll see you on Friday.”

Or, most likely, I’ll be dead.

My secretary trills her goodbye. I will miss her. She’s wasted in my firm anyway. Hopefully she’ll leave and get a better job once I’m gone. One that actually pays her what she’s worth, rather than the pittance she gets.

Despite everything, I’ve been unable to get the partners at Holmwood, Seward & Quincey or HSQ as most people shorten the name, to give her a pay rise.

It’s one of the many, many reasons I regularly clash with hierarchy.

But then I didn’t become a solicitor and run all the way to London for work because I shied away from an argument.

I’d have continued to argue until they gave in. Unfortunately I won’t be able to, given I’m most likely going to be drained of blood by the end of the day and my body dumped in the pit reserved for victims of the vámpír.

I can’t see them wanting to turn one of their oldest enemies. My family has killed too many vamps for them to find keeping me alive even vaguely amusing.

My phone chimes with a text message. It looks like the group chat is waking up. Given I left my friends, save for the pregnant bride, Grace, wobbling back to their hotel rooms after a late-night session at the bar, I’m surprised anyone is awake yet.

But then the staying power of Lydia has always impressed me.

Lydia

What’s on the itinerary today?

Eliza

Do you mind? the room hasn’t stopped spinning yet.

Sophia

I warned you about the palinka

Lydia

You warned everyone about everything

Sophia

Was I wrong?

Kezia

Can you all stop typing so loud?

There is a chorus of emojis, mostly laughing faces and the occasional raised finger

I don’t think I’ll be doing much today, got a headache.

Sophia

One of your migraines? I’m so sorry hun

I give her a thumbs up along with the thermometer in mouth emoji. I don’t want to lie to any of them, and yes, I know that’s rich coming from a lawyer, but they are my friends.

And it’s the reason I’ve been lying to them all for years. It keeps them safe, and having them as my friends keeps me sane.

Fortunately, even though they’re in monster filled Budapest, they’re safe under the protection of the Kobór werewolf clan, given my friend Grace is married to their leader, Ferenc now.

I doubt his protection is going to extend to me, not anymore. Not given where I am and why I’m here.

A key rattles in the door to the room I’m being held in. It’s morning, and therefore daylight, but vamps have plenty of thralls to do their bidding during the hours they sleep.

The door swings open, and for a moment I think it’s Dominik Király, the vampire king I was hoping to kill, but then they move into the light or what passes for it. The man is tall, not quite as tall as Dominik, and thin, marking him out as a donor and a thrall.

“Ms. Van Helsing,” he intones.

Thralls don’t scare me. Vampires don’t scare me either. I’ve been trained my entire life to remain calm in their presence…so I can kill them. Even once all the monsters came out into the light (metaphorically in the case of the vamps) a few years ago, it didn’t matter to my family.

Our job was to kill them. And the killing wouldn’t stop because they stepped out of the shadows. Vampires are evil, dangerous creatures and no amount of memes or cute keyrings would convince the Van Helsings otherwise.

“It’s Cushing, actually,” I respond. “Lucy Cushing, and I will be missed.”

He snorts. “If you really believed that, you wouldn’t have come. Nothing hot-blooded leaves Ház Király alive.”

“Ooooh.” I give a mock shiver. “You almost made me scared.” I fix him with the stare I usually reserve for a difficult client or my opponent in court. “You’re going to have to try harder.”

“How about you’re going to be the personal meal for the king? And he likes to eat slowly.” He grins.

I roll my eyes.

“Heard it all before.” I study my nails on the non-handcuffed hand.

I’ve seen plenty in my thirty-three years on Earth. Not just the rising of the monsters from the shadows and into the light, but plenty no human woman should ever have seen.

He’s quiet for a beat, no doubt wondering what might frighten a Van Helsing. I might not bear the name, but the vampire hunting blood courses through my lineage. Passed down from mother to daughter. Just as I will pass it to my child.

The child currently growing inside me. The unborn baby which meant I should have said no to the family insisting I take out the Budapest vampire king while I visited my friend. The one and only thing I should be protecting.

But instead I bowed to the familial pressure and here I am.

Trapped and facing death by a thousand bites.

Or at least that’s what the vamps think.

I have other ideas.