Bait

"Done," August sighed, feeling the beams of the cage lock together.

"Goddess, at last," Penelope exclaimed. "No wonder Nedra finds that exhausting. And that was with two of us! Now how do we get him in here?"

"I believe you will need to be the bait, my dear," August said softly, her eyes sliding to find Penelope's. "He is here for you."

"No problem," she shook her head to dispel the worry that she felt August projecting. "I will do whatever I need to. Let's just get it done and then figure out what is next before this island collapses entirely."

The thunderous sky and earth were still rumbling but seemed to otherwise have settled now that Nedra was not conscious of what was occurring. Perhaps it was her fear alone that had destabilized the portal. If they could contain the vampire in the cage before she regained consciousness, then the integrity of the portal might just be safe.