“I believe he’s on our side,” Kellen said, walking up beside me. “I don’t see any human wanting the vampires to reveal themselves since humans are the vampires’ most efficient means of food.” He placed his bowl in the sink and leaned against the counter next to me.
“I don’t understand why the vampires want to be revealed,” I said, pouring dish detergent into the running water. “Won’t they be hunted down and killed?”
“Not likely, not if they have their way. They’ll reveal all of us, not just themselves.” He pulled a hand towel from the drawer next to him, and I handed him a clean bowl to dry. “It’s hard to tell how the major governments will react. Some will decide to ally with whomever they believe will come out on top.” He put the dry bowl in the cabinet over his head and took the next one. “Others will band together and try to eliminate all the supernatural races.”
“So, our best chance is to stop them from spilling the beans.” I pulled the plug from the sink and watched the soapy water swirl down the drain. I supposed it made sense, but how did it benefit the vampires? “Do the vampires intend to eliminate all the other supernatural races?” I asked.
“I don’t think they want to eliminate them, but they would see everyone bowing to the vampire council,” he replied. “If they could take control of both the humans and supernaturals, they wouldn’t have to worry about food supplies or anything else for that matter.”
“And they aren’t like Logan, are they?”
Kellen shook his head. “No, he is very much the exception.”
The thought of vampires ruling the world soured my mood. I had visions of humans being farmed like cattle and shuddered. Kellen placed his hand on my shoulder, and I looked up at him.
“Unless Logan comes back with really bad news, I think we should meet with Mr. Smith,” Kellen said, handing me the towel.
“At a place of our choosing?” I asked, drying my hands.
“You got it,” he replied.
I twisted the towel between my fingers. There were more questions I wanted to ask but couldn’t form the words.
“Let’s go practice harnessing your magic,” he suggested. “There’s a lot you need to learn.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweat covered my aching body, and a thin layer of dirt covered every inch of my exposed skin. I didn’t care as I stretched out in the middle of the room, exhausted. I practiced recognizing my elements within my environment and calling to them. After three hours, I could call one or the other, but not both together. The smallest distraction undid all my hard work. How did I manage the enormous task of healing the guardians and now be completely unable to focus?
I gazed at the ceiling and frowned. Moonlight from the high windows revealed scorch marks covering the stone above. I suspected they were a tribute to Kellen’s practice sessions.
The buzzing of his phone on the bench near the door drew my attention.
“Yeah.”
I rolled over on my stomach and propped my chin in my palms.
“How much time?” Kellen asked, his voice rising with concern. “And what about you? Do you have someplace to go?”
I rose to my feet and dusted my hands on my blue jeans.
“Alright, I’m locking it down. Text me as soon as you can.” His hand dropped to his side, and the screen on his phone went dark. I didn’t move as he stared at me.
“We’re leaving,” he finally said. “We have less than thirty minutes to lock down the estate and get out.”
He picked up his shoes and left the room.
“Wait,” I called after him, stopping to pick up my own sneakers. “What happened? I assume that was Logan.”
“I’ll explain everything once we’re on the road,” he shouted over his shoulder as he jogged down the hall in front of me. “Pack a bag, and be ready in fifteen minutes.”
He disappeared around the corner, and I stopped in front of my door. My hands shook as I turned the knob and hurried into the room.
I pushed open the trunk at the end of my bed and noticed my filthy hands.
“Five minutes.” I ran to the shower, shedding my dirty clothes on the way.
Seven minutes later, I stood clean and fully dressed by my pile of clothes and toiletries, realizing I didn’t have a bag to put them in. Should I take the time to search Logan’s room or throw them all in a pillowcase? The thought of carrying around a flowered pillowcase made up my mind for me.
I rushed through the bathroom and into Logan’s space, feeling guilty for a moment, but not enough to have second thoughts. I jerked open the closet door and found two backpacks. I snatched the closest one and ran back to my room.
I stuffed all my clothes, hair brush, tooth brush, and shampoo into the bag, then looked around the room one last time, hoping I could come back to it. Surely Kellen’s concern was temporary.
I jogged down the hall to the large living area. It was dark and quiet, lit by a single lamp next to one of the small seating arrangements. I strolled towards the glass doors and realized they were blocked by large sheets of metal. My gaze darted to the windows to find the same. Was the entire house covered in metal sheeting?
The door leading to the garage opened, drawing my attention. Kellen’s look of determination and control reminded me of the first time we met.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
I nodded, adjusted my borrowed backpack on my shoulder and followed him out. Dirt still covered his clothing, and I felt a little guilty for taking the time to shower and change. Apparently, he didn’t have the same luxury.
I tossed the bag in the back seat. Kellen barely waited for me to close the door before he backed out of the garage. My eyes widened as the garage door slid down, and four sheets of metal unrolled across it. Maybe the whole place was covered.
Kellen sped across the desert until we reached the back gate. He pushed a remote on his visor, and the gate rolled open. When his vehicle cleared it, he put the car in park and jumped out. I twisted in my seat and watched the gate roll back into place. Kellen placed his hands on the stone wall, standing perfectly still. After several moments, a low rumble shook the SUV. A slab of rock sheared off the wall and slid over the metal gate, covering it completely.
Kellen’s shoulders shook violently, and he slumped to his knees. I pushed open my door and stumbled from the SUV, reaching his side within seconds.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, placing my hand on his shaking shoulder.
He didn’t answer as he pushed himself to his feet. I stepped in front of him and took in a sharp breath. Tears rolled down his face, but he didn’t try to brush them away.
“We need to go,” he said, his voice strained.
I nodded and got back in the car.
We rode in silence for nearly an hour, giving me too much time to think about all that had happened in the last three days. How had I gone from a penniless, unemployed nobody to this? I still struggled to know what this even was.
I glanced over at Kellen’s permanent scowl. I knew I should say something, but I couldn’t think of anything that didn’t sound petty or ungrateful. He had done so much for me, and now he was running from his family home because of me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He glanced at me, and his features softened. “You shouldn’t be. This isn’t your fault.”
I almost started to argue with him but held my tongue. It would be petty and selfish. He didn’t need to hear me whine about events that he experienced with me. “Where are we going?” I asked instead.
“We really only have two options,” he replied, looking at the darkness in front of him. “We could go to the nearest portal and hide in the Magister’s Palace, or we can go to Victor’s.”
“You really think Victor’s is an option?” I asked. The man was totally intimidating and tried to keep me there against my will.
“You really think seeing the Magister is an option?” Kellen asked, glancing my way again.
“Oh, yeah, five hu
ndred thousand dollars and death threats.” I leaned my head against the window, watching the dark desert roll by.
“Yeah, him too,” Kellen said, tapping his long finger on the steering wheel. “Why now? Are they trying to flush us out of the estate where we’re relatively safe? Or are they forcing the other players to take sides by accelerating the timeline?”
“Why didn’t we stay?” I asked. “Logan and your defenses kept them away last night.”
“I’m not Logan,” Kellen stated. “He can match their speed and strength. The guardians only had to fight against a handful of vampires. The council is sending fifty tonight.”
My eyes widened. Would the guardians I just healed be there when we got back? “What about the guardians?”
“I told them to stand down,” he replied. “The vampires will breach the walls, but hopefully they’ll assume we ran when they find the house sealed.”
“This isn’t just about me, is it?” I asked. “This isn’t about some bounty on my head. This is about starting their war.”
Kellen nodded. The lights from passing cars illuminated his features. His deep scowl resurfaced, and I wished there was something I could do to help. I thought of my decision to commit to Kellen’s cause. Not just Kellen’s, but the elements as well, which also meant the mages. Although, according to Kellen, only some of them.
My thoughts wandered to Kate, who didn’t have a partner yet, and the Magister, who destroyed hers. Was being a vampire really a better option than going insane? Logan seemed normal, but maybe he was the exception.
What was I doing to my own partner by not totally committing to him? Earth had said Kellen didn’t need a partner, but his role in this fight would become harder without me. Could I abandon him like that? Could I deliberately make his job harder and possibly risk his life because of my indecision?
I looked out the window again, not really seeing the endless desert that passed. How could I commit to someone I’d only met three days ago? I assumed it was a lifetime commitment, and it wasn’t like I could just get a divorce if things didn’t work out.
I sighed and leaned my head on the window, staring out into the darkness.
Chapter 20
The slowing vehicle woke me from a fitful sleep. I peeled my face from the window and looked over at Kellen. He rubbed his eyes with his palm, blinking several times.
“I’m sorry, Kellen. I should’ve stayed awake and talked to you,” I said, sitting up in my seat.
“Don’t worry about it,” he replied gruffly. “We need gas.”
He nodded to my right, and I followed his gaze as he pulled into a small gas station. The lights above the pumps were the only ones on.
“No hope for a bathroom,” I grumbled.
“At least it’s dark enough to go behind the building without being seen,” Kellen suggested. “Go while I pump the gas. I’ll wait for you to get back before I do the same. There should be something in the glove box for you to use.”
I flipped the latch on the glove box and found a pile of napkins and a couple of packaged wet wipes. Was he always this prepared? Reluctantly, I slid out of the SUV and walked towards the small brick building. I passed by a door with the unisex bathroom symbol on it. I jiggled the handle, but it wouldn’t open.
“Damn.”
I circled the back of the building to find the silhouettes of two large garbage cans overflowing with trash and what looked like an old metal chair. My nose wrinkled at the smell.
“At least they won’t notice anything I’m leaving behind.”
I took care of business and headed back the way I came. An arm wrapped around my middle, pinning my arms to my side, and a rough hand stifled my scream. I stomped on the foot behind mine and threw my elbows backwards into a solid stomach.
“Well, well,” a harsh voice whispered in my ear. “Quite the little fighter.”
I bit at the fingers that covered my mouth, and they moved a fraction of an inch, far enough that I couldn’t reach them, but still too close to let out my muffled cries.
“Keep fighting, and I might have a snack before the boys get here,” he whispered again.
His tongue ran across my neck, and I quit moving. Was he a vampire? Is that why I didn’t see him?
“AJ! Are you done?” Kellen yelled from around the corner. “You’re not the only one who needed a break.”
My captor’s hand clamped so tight across my nose and mouth, I could barely breathe. I kicked his shins and stomped on his feet. When that didn’t work, I kicked outward, knocking over one of the garbage cans.
“AJ?”
I could hear the worry in my partner’s voice and knew he’d come around the corner any minute.
“Don’t move, lover boy,” my abductor called out as Kellen rounded the corner. “I haven’t eaten in two days, and she would make a lovely treat.”
The darkness prevented me from seeing Kellen’s expression, but I was sure he was scowling.
“Let her go, and I won’t kill you,” Kellen replied in a low voice.
“You won’t kill me before I drain her dry,” the vampire countered. “So be a good boy, get in your truck, and leave.”
“Not going to happen,” Kellen said. “AJ, ninety percent of your body is made of what?”
“This isn’t trivia night!” the vampire shouted, his hot breath blowing across my ear. “Don’t push me into killing her.”
I knew the answer to Kellen’s question, and I also realized what he implied. I needed to use my connection to water to make the vampire let go.
“You won’t kill her,” Kellen stated. “If you do, you won’t last until morning. You and I both know you need her alive.”
The vampire’s huff blew through my hair, and I thought I heard a whisper as it passed.
“You’ll be dead in five minutes when my back up arrives, so keep talking, little human.”
Five minutes and Kellen would be dead. I didn’t even want to find out if he could fight against a vampire, let alone several. I focused on the hand pressing against my lips. How was I supposed to move it? I closed my eyes and called to the moisture beneath his skin. It was sluggish and slimy, but I pulled it anyway. I could deal with slimy for a few minutes if it gave us time to leave before reinforcements showed up.
“What the hell?” the vampire exclaimed in my ear. Was that panic in his voice?
I ignored him and continued to pull against the sluggish slime. As soon as his grip loosened, I pushed his arms away and ran straight towards Kellen. I opened my eyes just in time to trip over the metal chair, falling to my knees. I crawled farther away and turned to look at the vampire.
A trail of fire soared over my head, illuminating what looked like a mummified corpse. I gasped in horror, watching as Kellen’s fire consumed it within seconds. That thing had just had its dead arms wrapped around me.
My partner pulled me to my feet and grasped my shoulders. “I still need to piss,” he said. “Stand right here and don’t move.”
I nodded, still in shock over what I’d seen. I thought it was a vampire, not a mummy. No—he’d been a vampire, and I sucked every drop of moisture from him. I clapped my hand over my mouth, trying to swallow the bile in my throat. Kellen turned his back to me. When I heard his zipper, I turned and ran towards the SUV.
“Damnit, AJ!” he yelled from behind me, but fear and revulsion over what I’d done drove me to the car.
I jumped in and locked my door. A few moments later, Kellen joined me and sped back onto the highway. I clasped my shaking hands in my lap and looked out the window, trying to slow my ragged breaths.
“You okay?” Kellen asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I wasn’t trying to… I was just trying to get him to let go.”
“He would’ve killed you,” Kellen said. “And if he didn’t, his buddies would have. You did what you had to.”
“I thought they wanted me alive?” I asked. “Isn’t that what you said, and he all but agreed?” I turned and looke
d at him. “They would’ve killed you and taken me.”
He glanced at me, but his expression was unreadable.
“I couldn’t let them kill you,” I whispered. “But I thought I could just make him let go, and we’d run for the car before the others showed up.”
“Do you really think he would’ve let us leave?” Kellen asked.
I knew the answer, but it didn’t make me feel better. Why did I feel guilty about killing a vampire, anyway? I knew that answer, too. Logan. But he wasn’t a normal vampire. He was Kellen’s friend and trusted ally, at least that was the way I saw it. Logan was committed to their cause just as much as Kellen.
So, why was I still avoiding a commitment to my partner? It was obvious, even to me, that I didn’t want to see him hurt or killed. I couldn’t walk out on him the night before when Logan told me to. The thought of not having him there scared me. Was it because I hated feeling so incapable of taking care of myself?
“We won’t stop again until we reach Victor’s,” he said, interrupting my thoughts.
“Okay, I just hope we have a better welcome this time,” I replied.
“Don’t count on it. He’s going to be pissed when he finds out we’re running.”
“And bringing all our new friends straight to him,” I added.
“You got it.”
“Lovely.”
Chapter 21
Just as the sun started to rise, we wound our way towards Victor’s lodge.
“We need to be united when we reach them, AJ,” Kellen said, breaking the silence that still hung between us.
“I know,” I replied. “That’s exactly what they’ll see.”
He opened his mouth to reply, then snapped it closed. I could see the frustration on his face, but I couldn’t force myself to do something I wasn’t ready for.
“Only our combined strength will prove our worth. Unfortunately, we will have to prove it.”
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“We’ll be challenged,” he replied. “And losing isn’t an option.”
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