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.I followed his gaze and saw two Vampire paranorms I recognized from the brownstone.One of them had brought the Doppler female to me, my first meal.Vaguely I wondered what had happened to that female.They dragged me to my feet.I felt off balance but my coordination was returning.My elemental powers.I tried to concentrate on them, to call to the earth to open up a chasm beneath Volod’s feet.But I was still too weak.“Restrain her,” Volod said to the two Vampire paranorms.I tried to shrug off their holds, but together they were incredibly strong.They easily restrained my hands behind my back with Vampire cuffs.As Trackers we were spelled to get out of such handcuffs, but as a part Vampire, I was now unable to.“Shackle her ankles,” Volod said.The raw edge of panic cut through me.I tried to call to my elements but they wouldn’t answer.The cuffs wouldn’t allow me to use any of my magic.I kicked and struggled but they held me tight as a third and fourth Vampire paranorm brought forth a spreader bar with cuffs attached to it.They forced my feet apart and placed the bar between my ankles.If I tried anything with my feet, it would throw me off balance.“Take off her weapons,” Volod said.“She won’t be able to use them, anyway, but I want her to feel completely vulnerable.”And then I was stripped of the rest of what could have aided me in fighting Volod.If I’d figured out how to free myself.“Did you enjoy my surprise?” Volod gestured to Lulu.“Isn’t she magnificent? I’ve been keeping her a secret until she was needed.One never knows who might spoil the element of surprise.”“How does she freeze paranorms?” My throat ached as if it had been rubbed raw.“And why aren’t your people affected?”“You were the only ones affected because you were the only ones in the area her spell covered.My Vampires poured out of the mansion and all of the hidden cavern exits in the forest after she froze you.And you happened to be in the building she spelled, didn’t you?”I hated to hear his laugh.I hated him relishing victory.I never should have asked.Lulu looked so smug and beautiful there beside Elizabeth.“That doesn’t explain how she was able to freeze paranorms,” I said.“Soothsayers can only freeze humans.”“When she was turned, it enhanced her powers.” Volod smiled.“I then took her to our newly turned Sorcerer.He showed her the magic she didn’t know she had and helped her strengthen it, until she grew to have the power she now wields.“He also showed her how to freeze you,” he continued, “but keep you fully conscious.Yes, I wanted you to know everything going on.“As long as she lives, Lulu shall serve me.” He lifted his hands and looked to the orange light show in the sky.Then he put his hands behind himself and turned to the scene before us.“Not only do I have this precious gem, your Lulu,” he said, “but I have your council.” He gave a nod to his left.I looked and saw the Paranorm Council standing straight and proud, weapons in their hands.The only one missing was Bethany, and I wondered what had happened to her.Volod gestured to his right.“As well as a pair of your precious Trackers.”My heart ached as I saw Lawan and Gentry.“We have you far outnumbered,” he continued.“I didn’t just have the Vampires and Vampire paranorms that you expected.I had another one hundred and fifty below in the caverns.”A cold chill swept over me.“Our forces outnumber yours by what, two or three to one?” He made an offhand gesture.I felt deflated.Like every good thing had been sucked out of me.Surrounding me were some of the best fighters in the paranorm world.Now every one of them was frozen.At Volod’s mercy.And that was something Volod had none of.Mercy.Volod motioned for a Vampire paranorm to step forward—Fae, I thought, but not a race I was familiar with.“Meet Christopher.” Volod let his gaze drift across the assembled “statues.” “Some of you know him.He has the gift of transference.”The Master Vampire patted Christopher on the shoulder.“After my work is finished here, he will take me straight back to my home, the place that will once again be mine.You know it well.The pyramid, I think you call it.”Volod let his gaze drift over the Trackers on either side of me.He stopped at Nadia.“That one.” Volod gave a nod in Nadia’s direction.“She is good friends with the Drow bitch.She will be first.Even if I wasn’t going to kill all of these Trackers here, she is a Water Fae and cannot be turned.Thus I would never have a use for her anyway.”The thumping of my heart grew faster.“Let her go, Volod.” I struggled to keep a pleading note from my words.Nadia was kneeling in her frozen position.A beautiful ice sculpture
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