Bloodliner by Robert T. Jeschonek

wavy gray hair and a neat gray mustache and beard. The man smoked a pipe and wore a brown tweed jacket over a white turtleneck sweater. A red feather was stuck in the band of his brown fedora hat, and he wore sun-shades that clipped over his wire-framed eyeglasses.
    Jonah nodded and smiled. "Pretty place."
    "Prettiest in the world." The man spoke with a smooth English accent, the kind earls and dukes and bankers had in the movies. "I've been everywhere, and I tell you it's true."
    "Glad I came, then," said Jonah.
    "Where on the island will you be staying?" said the man.
    Jonah thought for a moment. "Lion-something. Lioness. I'm not sure. Someone else is doing the driving."
    The man raised his bushy gray eyebrows. "Lyonesse, you say?" He stressed the last syllable of the word, which otherwise sounded just like "lioness."
    "That's it." Jonah snapped his fingers. "Where is it, exactly?"
    The man smiled and puffed on his pipe. "Well now." Turning, he raised an arm in front of Jonah and pointed a finger.
    Pointed away from the island of St. Mary's and out to sea.
    "Actually, let me be more specific." The man lowered his arm to point down at the water. "Right about there, more like."
    The man looked so thoroughly amused, Jonah had to laugh. "Guess I'd better get some scuba gear then, eh?"
    "May I suggest a submersible?" said the man.
    "I didn't even bring a swimsuit." Jonah laughed some more. "But seriously, where is this Lyonesse place?"
    The man nodded and pointed down at the water again. "Under there, like I said."
    "Okay, okay," said Jonah. "Whatever you say."
    "I'm being serious." The man didn't look quite so jolly as he puffed on his pipe. "Legend has it that Lyonesse sank beneath the waves in the time of Camelot. Some say it submerged in the vicinity of these very islands."
    Jonah chuckled. "So you're telling me it's like Atlantis or something?" he said. "It's not even a real place?"
    The man shrugged. "People say they've heard church bells from under the waves. Some have seen things they can't explain. Who are we to say it's not a real place?"
    "I hope it's real," said Jonah. "You've talked it up so much, I really want to see it now."
    Just as Jonah laughed again, the man gripped his shoulder. "I'm not joking, you know. If someone's telling you they'll take you to Lyonesse, you might want to be careful.Word to the wise."
    "Okay. All right." Jonah frowned and nodded. "Thanks for the heads-up."
    The man tipped his hat and smiled. "If you do make it to Lyonesse, look me up and let me know, will you?"
    "Sure." Jonah's attention had already drifted across the ferry to Stanza. She gazed out to sea like before, wind still whipping her hair across her face, hiding her expression.
    Ever since she'd saved him from the blonde vampire in the alley behind Halcyon, Jonah had trusted her. He'd been annoyed that she kept secrets, but he'd still trusted her enough to go with her and do what she told him to do. Maybe it was just the fact that his parents had trusted her enough to hire her, but he hadn't seriously doubted her good intentions.
    Until now.
    Was Stanza leading him and Mavis into some kind of trap? If Lyonesse wasn't a real place, then where was she actually planning to take them?
    And why had she bothered to come so far to take them there? What could she do to them there that she couldn't have done in the U.S.?
    As Jonah watched, Stanza turned and looked his way. This time, she smiled...or at least he thought so. Her wind-blown hair obscured her face, and she turned away before Jonah could get a definite read.
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    *****
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    Chapter 19
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    Shakespeare strolled into the pub on St. Mary's island in disguise and doffed his brown fedora hat with the red feather in the band. He took a bow before the corner table, holding out his hat as James applauded.
    "Once again, I have returned to that which held in awe the London theatre-going masses." Shakespeare straightened, then took another bow.
    "Jonah didn't suspect anything?"