The Peregrine Omnibus Volume One by Barry Reese

about the chamber, oblivious to the dust and cobwebs that surrounded him. In his eyes, this was still a palace of wonders, a place where he and his followers could live out their days in splendor. “I once intended to take a mate, a woman who would bear me holy children. I have conducted many experiments upon myself, Mr. Trench. That is why I am so long lived… and so powerful. But my bloodline cannot continue unless I have a woman who can bear such unholy seed.”
    “Bear it?”
    “Most die at its touch. It burns them up alive, from the inside out.”
    Trench swallowed hard, trying to ignore the images that came to mind. “I don’t understand why you think that I could…”
    “Have you ever seen a woman like this?” Rosenkreuz held out an open palm. An image began to form in the air above his hand, slowly shaping a familiar visage. “Long ago, I coveted this girl… but she was denied me, through her own willful arrogance. But my second sight has told me that in this time, in this place, she lives again. Give her to me.”
    Trench licked his lips before speaking. “I do know her. Her name is Evelyn Gould. She’s a rather poor excuse for an actress.”
    “She is beautiful,” Rosenkreuz responded, his eyes flashing hotly.
    “My apologies. I didn’t mean to insult her.” Trench ran a hand through his hair, unsure how to continue. The girl was in America… and Trench didn’t have time or patience to journey back there just to retrieve her. Could he somehow steal the key?
    And then he felt it… a subtle shift in his reality. He felt bile rise up in his throat and he turned away from Rosenkreuz, vomiting up the contents of his stomach. He smelled burning reptilian flesh… and heard the dying screams of his mentor.
    “What is wrong?” Rosenkreuz asked. The ancient being had approached Trench but avoided touching him. Instead, he gazed at the sick features of the other man with distaste.
    “K’ntu is dead. The man who tutored me in the dark arts… who prepared me for the opening of the Cage. He’s dead.”
    “How do you know this?”
    “I think he sent me a message… right as he was dying.” Trench straightened, wiping at his mouth with the back of a sleeve. “You have weapons?” he asked.
    “Of course.”
    “Good. Because my mentor’s killer is on the way here… and best of all, he’s not alone.”
    Rosenkreuz narrowed his eyes. “And this is a good thing?”
    “You bet it is. You ready to meet your bride-to-be? Because she’s with him.”

CHAPTER XIX
    Into the Tomb
    “This place stinks.”
    The Peregrine grunted in agreement. He and Evelyn had crept down the stairs of the Druselturm, able to see very little in the pitch black darkness. Here and there they saw shattered lamps and snuffed-out candles, alongside digging equipment. But all was silent down in the basement area, which only put Max further on edge. The scent of the place was one of earth and age, but there was something else, as well.
    Death.
    Max stepped into the basement and immediately felt his foot come into contact with something. He knelt and examined it with one hand, identifying it. “Evelyn. Stop where you are.”
    The girl did so, gripping her pistol and remaining poised for a fight. She was truthfully scared to death but she didn’t plan on letting Max know that.
    The Peregrine reached into his pocket and retrieved a flare. He lit it, illuminating the entire basement area. Evelyn gasped behind him as the bodies and gore came into view: a small army of Germans, slaughtered and torn apart. It looked like a pack of wolves had been set upon them.
    But far more intriguing was the shattered hole in one of the walls. Max could see a passageway on the other side, one that led directly into the tomb from his visions.
    “Do you think there are more harpies here?” Evelyn asked. She had tended to his wounds as best she could on the way here, but Max had been a bit cold to her. He felt like he’d reached the end of this