Chapter 20

A frightened girl stumbled as Stevenson shoved her into the line. Shrill gasps escaped the bedraggled row of captives when Wadim entered the room and walked back and forth observing them. He stopped in front of a few, cupping their chins in his bony hands and turning their heads to study their profiles. A look of disgust consumed his death-like features.

“There is very little of value here. I expected better,” he spat.

Stevenson wasn’t worried. He’d witnessed this reaction from Wadim every time he brought in a new

load of captives. It was the vampire’s way of getting the

price for the shipment down. Stevenson wondered why

he bothered. It went without saying that Wadim would only have to pay what he wished to pay; if he paid at all. Then Stevenson would be forced to buy back the captives Wadim rejected. More often than not it was at an inflated price. Stevenson was at his mercy. Since Wadim seemed to enjoy his little ga