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Gregor raised his pale eyes to gaze at Ignatius and he laughed in his mocking tones.

“Well done,” he said, then attacked Ignatius in a fury of blows.

Ignatius matched the dhamphir’s frightening speed. I watched in utter terror as they fought before the open doorway. The clang of metal striking metal resounded through the night.

Vlad rose slowly to hi

s feet and staggered toward the haven. I could see that he would have been fatally wounded if he were mortal.

Reaching the doorway, he leaned in, his eyes red coals of fire, and demanded in a low voice, “Give me a sword. ”

“Oh, no, my dear friend, the battle is over now,” Astir said, finally appearing as he flowed past me in long red satin robes.

“A sword,” Vlad demanded again.

Astir reached out, plucked Vlad from the doorway, and glided backwards, drawing my Master with him.

“Release me at once,” Vlad ordered.

“Not if you plan to do anything rash,” Astir answered.

Ignatius and Gregor continued to battle beyond the doorway, their swords flashing with preternatural swiftness. Ignatius was the stronger of all of us now. But he, too, had been wounded by the blessed daggers and did not seem as swift as he should have been. A few times Gregor almost seemed to gain advantage over my love and it made me gasp in horror.

“Fall back, Ignatius,” Astir ordered in a low voice that rumbled and seemed not one voice, but many. “We must protect the haven. ”

Ignatius hesitated as he managed to shove Gregor off balance, then drew back, slipping over the threshold, walking backwards toward us.

Gregor regained his balance and narrowed his pale eyes on the alcove before him. Swinging his sword back and forth before him, the dhamphir cocked his head as if to listen. His keen gaze peered into the haven. His narrow face wore an expression of slight surprise, but his eyes glittered dangerously. With a confident stride, he approached. His thin lips twisted into a feral smile.

I climbed to my feet as Magda seized hold of me. We clung together in the opulent hallway of Astir’s haven, watching the deadly dhamphir moving resolutely toward us.

If all the vampires had been at full power, I know we could have easily taken him, but we were not and he seemed glutted with power.

Beside me, Astir released Vlad and began to drift toward the doorway. “Stay here, Vlad, and do not violate my domain. ”

Vlad growled with frustration, but he was weakened. With an angry growl, he fell to one knee. Blood poured from his wounds as he gazed at the doorway and the view beyond through matted tangles of his hair.

Ignatius looked back toward the Fallen, questioningly.

“Let him enter and know true power,” Astir answered in that ominous, choral voice.

Ignatius bowed his head to Astir and backed up to where I stood with Magda. He flicked his gaze toward me. I wanted to flee into his arms, but I restrained myself. He did not touch me, but his presence beside me was a comfort.

Gregor sauntered up to the doorway and peered in curiously. I wondered if he could see the hallway or if it was the darkened entry I had encountered in the past. Twirling his sword in one hand, he narrowed his eyes, staring into the foyer.

“Can he see us?” I dared to ask.

“No, but he senses you are here,” Astir answered.

Gregor hesitated, the stepped over the threshold.

Quite suddenly, Astir was as tall as the ceiling and his wings of flame filled the hall. His robe was no longer scarlet, but a pure glowing white. Like a great halo his long golden hair floated and twined around his head. I could not see his face, but somehow I knew his eyes were pure white flame. With ominous intent, he lifted one hand out toward the dhamphir.

“How dare you enter!” Astir thundered in a million voices.

A look of sheer terror flowed over Gregor’s countenance as he stumbled back and fell against the now closed door. Crying out, he covered his face with one hand. The sword fell from his fingers as he collapsed to the floor.

“Kill him,” Vlad ordered.