Page 95 of Kiss of the Vampire

“He can’t see us, can’t hear us,” Levka reassured her. “Just don’t speak.”

But Petroski did look in their direction. Had he smelled Caitlin’s fragrance? With their heightened sense of smell and the fact Petroski was a trained tracker would be to their disadvantage. He didn’t move from where he stood though. He looked as though he wanted to, as if he tried to, but he stood frozen, his face contorting in anger.

Vlad and his buddies remained visible, still in hot pursuit, but suddenly, he spied Petroski and stopped at the Orlando terminal. Vlad began talking to Petroski.

“They must assume we’re going to see Caitlin’s family, Ruric said.

“My foster parents will worry…"

“Shhh, Caitlin. We’ll take care of them when we can.”

Stasio bumped into Levka. “Petroski heard Caitlin. He’s after us again. Well, Vlad and his minions are, too.”

“I can use my magic again,” Caitlin said. Once more, she began speaking in some foreign tongue.

“Here’s a flight leaving. Just slip among the passengers. Ruric, get us some boarding passes,” Levka communicated, trying not to sound as panicked as he felt, ignoring Caitlin’s comment.

“I’m on it.”

Stasio said, “Petroski and the others seem to be having some kind of problem.”

“How’s that?” Levka asked, looking back over his shoulder.

Petroski was wiping at his eyes, not moving an inch, two of Vlad’s henchmen were headed in the wrong direction, and Vlad collided with another of his guys and showed his fangs. What was going on?

Levka reached the passageway leading to the plane until he sensed Ruric nearby. “Did you get the boarding passes?”

“First Class for all five of us.”

They hurried onto the plan, then each took turns going into the airplane’s restrooms, changing into their visible forms, and took their seats in First Class.

“I slowed them down,” Caitlin said, squeezing Levka’s hand. “But my foster parents will have the police looking for me. They’ll be worried and—”

“We’ll take—”

Suddenly, a red-faced, chunky guy in a three-piece suit stopped in front of Ruric’s seat and scowled at him. The businessman held up his boarding pass. “You’re in my seat.”

Ruric showed him a boarding pass for the same seat. “Airline must have overbooked.”

“I have to take this flight home.”

Ruric smiled. “Me, too. It’s a matter of life and death.”

The man stalked off toward the airline hostess. “Miss! Miss!”

As soon as he moved away, another gray-suited guy waved a boarding pass in Arman’s face. “I think you have the wrong seat.”

“Nope. Afraid not.” Arman showed him his boarding pass, then pulled out his medical journal, flipped it open, and ignored the man.

“Where is this flight bound for?” Stasio asked. “Did anyone notice?”

The airline hostess asked to see Arman and Ruric’s boarding passes, then left.

Caitlin rubbed her arms. “I wish we’d just take off.”

A few minutes later, the stewardess offered free airline tickets to two passengers who would give up their seats to the businessmen.

A young couple got off.