“There’s more than one way to carve a poem,” Silvie said, twirling her knife from a fold in her blouse. She slammed it into the table they were seated around.

“Nice,” Karas said. “That is a ten-thousand-dollar slab of sandalwood from Indonesia you just defaced.”

“The knife is from the future and will fetch you ten times that,” Silvie responded.

“Touché.”

“So, just how much wealth have you managed to acquire in your time here?”

“Enough to own a small country if I so choose. You once told me about the game Thomas Hunter taught you to play with the Horde ball.”

“It was how we were first chosen,” Silvie said.

“It’s a very big game here; they call it ‘football.’ I own two teams. With your speed, you could both become huge stars here.”

Johnis spit to one side. “Doesn’t interest me.”

“Please, we’re not in a jungle here,” Silvie chided. “Mind your manners.”

“Sorry.”

Karas let out a short giggle. “Brings back memories.”

“Yes, sorry.” He took a deep breath. “There is something I was wondering if you might help me with. Assuming it’s not too much trouble. I don’t want to presume upon your wealth, but—”

“Enough,” Karas said. “My wealth is your wealth. What is it?”

He spoke before she’d fully finished. “A Chevy.” His eyes shone like the stars. “A red Chevy.”

Karas smiled. “Like the beauty you stole in Nevada? The sweet racer with the cherry paint job and souped-up engine that you tore up Las Vegas with?”

“Yes. That Chevy.”

“Not a problem, my friend. I bought it as part of your get-out-of-jail package. Cost me twice what the owner had in it, but I paid every dime gladly. One day that car will go down in history. The Chevy that Johnis of Middle, world-renowned driver, first learned to drive in.” She stood. “In the meantime, I have something else for you. Wait here.”

Karas returned a minute later, gripping a wooden box in both hands. She set it gingerly on the table, opened it, and withdrew the black Book of History she’d harbored for all these years.

She set it next to theirs. The three books sat side by side: one brown, one green, one black.

Johnis stood and walked around the table. “We have to protect these at any cost.”

“I’ve spared no expense doing so. I’ll show you the vault before we leave. No one can know. For all we know, he’s watching us at this very moment.”

“Alucard?” Silvie glanced at the perimeter.

“From a satellite in the sky,” Karas said. “From the stars. Unlikely, but we have to be careful.”

“Then let’s take a new vow,” Johnis said. He dropped to one knee and placed his right hand on the black book. “To never stray from our task of finding the seven before the Dark One does.”