Dampyr #104 (2008) pages 52-53: A scent of sulfur

Hanneke has disappeared, and Harlan blames Kurjak: “Hanneke was entrusted to you! You shouldn't have left her alone!”

“You've been repeating that all day, friend. I can still kill myself if you want.”

“I don't expect that much. But I'm worried about her. We've searched half of Prague for her, and her cell phone is still switched off.”

“I thought a police officer would be capable of taking care of herself.”

“Not against dangerous adversaries like ours, Kurjak.”

“Sonderling wants you. Who would have thought that bastard would be so cowardly as to go after the blonde girl? If he and his devils have harmed a single hair on her head...”

“What would you do in that case? Would you go down to Hell to look for her, like Orpheus?” (Harlan's flip-phone goes DING)

“You got a text message. Is it her?”

“It's from Caleb. 'Someone is lost in the fog. Help him find his way.'”

(Inded, Nikolaus is nearby in the fog, with Kavka the raven. Being a demon, he is not on the whitelist of people who can find the Theatre of Lost Footsteps for themselves.) "I was hoping you could show me the right path, my friend. But I fear that even you are not welcome at the theater. Perhaps someone knows that a scent of sulfur still lingers on your plumage.”

“This way, Nikolaus.”

“Harlan!” (Later at the theater...) “For centuries the 'Theater of Lost Steps' has been forbidden territory for me, and now I find myself coming here often. Aren't you afraid that I might betray your trust?”

“The friendship that binds you to Harlan is sincere, Nikolaus. That's enough for me.”

“Yes. I tend to forget that you read other people's minds like an open book, Caleb. I find it embarrassing.”

“Get to the point, Nik. I've never seen Kavka in this state before.”