Book 2 Excerpt: The Threat is Realized

Hi again everyone! Besides reading Dresden and whittling down other books on my to-read/to-get list, I am making slow progress on revision of Book 3. Slow but sure gets the job done, so I am told.

I wanted to share a small excerpt of Pursuit into Darkness with fans and new readers alike. I will keep you up to date.

“I thought he was in France?” Valerie said.
“He was. Daniel said Valentino arrived in England about a week ago.”
“When did you talk to Daniel?!” Valerie asked, bewildered.
“Tonight. He was in London, passing through. He wanted to get further inland, away from Dover because that is where Valentino landed.”
“That is not very far from hither.”
“Too close for comfort,” Samuel agreed. “I wish he had stayed in France. We are not ready to fight him. Julia and Adam are not even a century old. Their powers are just starting to develop.”
“Aye. We could go back to Birmingham.”
There was a long silence. “I would prefer to leave England,” Samuel said in reply.
I edged closer and peered around the corner. Valerie shook her head. “The nearest seaport is Dover, Samuel.”
“There’s Brighton,” Samuel murmured.
“’Tis practically next to Dover,” Valerie reminded him.
“Fie upon it. We will need to figure out a plan at the meeting tomorrow.”
“Perchance he will go back to France.”
This time it was Samuel who shook his head. “He will not. We both know why he is here.”
“Samuel –”
“He is here to kill me. You know that as well as I do.”
Valerie sighed. “We still may be able to get out of the country. Valentino must still be at least a week away if he did not need to feed. If he needed to stay in Dover to replenish his strength he could still be two weeks away.”
“I do not think it will be that easy to get away.”
“Damnit, Samuel! It is not just you that he wants to kill!”
“You think I do not know that!” Samuel exploded.
Valerie muttered something and looked away.
Samuel put his hands on her shoulders. “Damn, Val! Do not look like that!” he yelled. He winced and then lowered his voice. “You knew it would come down to this.”
Valerie turned away and stared down the street. “You said you were weaker than he. That you have always been weaker.”
“Aye.”
There was a long silence. “Julia said she had a strange dream two nights ago. One that foretold disaster and death.”
“It may not be that far off.”
“Are you trying to tell me you are going to die, Samuel?” she asked. I waited for his answer, as did she. There was none. “As the cat plays with the mouse so has it been a game,” Valerie muttered. I could barely hear her. “’Tis always had been.”
“Maw,” Samuel said softly. “No one knows who holds the trump card.”