by Mara Leigh
Zuben claimed I could pass for a vampire, but the effects of his blood might have worn off by now, and closer inspection would reveal my humanity.
Reaching the opening, I pause to gather my courage and then peer around the corner. Relief floods in to temper my fear. Humans. At least I’m pretty sure they’re not vampires because a beam of sunlight shines into the cave-like space from high above, and no one seems bothered by it, calmly passing through the light.
If I spotted this group of mostly men on the streets of Philadelphia, I’d change direction, but here, even this rough looking crowd, tattooed, shaggy haired, and dressed like a motorcycle gang, seems safe. Or at least safer to me than vampires right now.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” One of the women glares at me, striding forward. “This is a vamp-free zone.”
“I’m not—” The rest of my intended sentence is trapped inside of me. Three of the men transform into wolves.
Massive wolves, with bright shining eyes that seem to emit light from within and snarling lips revealing sharp teeth.
Turning, I run.
“That’s right, baby vamp!” the female shouts after me. “You’d better run. And stay out of wolf territory you blood-sucking whore!”
Fear and adrenaline drive me to keep running, dashing recklessly through multiple turns until I have absolutely no idea how I would find my way back to where I started.
Rounding a corner, I hear a voice that freezes my bones and stops my heart, halting me dead in my tracks. It’s Psycho.
“Fuck, I need blood,” he says loudly. “Human blood. Hammering Gracen’s cunt took a lot out of me.”
“Won’t be long,” says a voice I don’t recognize. “Only be a few days until we get humans.”
“Can’t wait that long.” Psycho’s voice echoes through the halls, making it harder for me to be certain which direction it’s coming from. “Where’d that little human bitch go?”
“Why didn’t you feed from Gracen when you fucked her?” the other voice asks, and I realize it’s probably that guy named Corney.
“I did. Do you think I’m an idiot? It’s human blood I crave now. And human pussy. Should never have let that little tramp in the red dress go.”
Certain now of which direction his threatening voice is coming from, I head the other way, trying to think, to curb my panic. Where can I hide?
I turn into a darker passageway. Vampires can see in the dark, but maybe Psycho won’t expect me to go into a place where I can’t see. Keeping my fingers against the jagged stone wall, I question my plan.
I can barely make out the shape of my hand when I wave it in front of my face, but I keep moving forward, fingertips against the rough, cave-like shape of the space. As my eyes adjust, dim light from the passage behind me glints off facets of roughly hewn rock.
Sensing movement ahead, I stop.
Glancing around, I wish I could see, but instead I listen intently. Someone—or something—is moving. The footsteps are barely discernible, but I detect heavy breathing and, at erratic intervals, what sounds like a faint moan. It doesn’t sound human. Is it my imagination?
I spin back toward the entrance, and the faint light from the hall seems too bright now, making me squint, but as much as I want to be somewhere I can see, I know with certainty that danger lurks in the halls I just left, grave danger, and whatever danger might be in here remains to be seen.
Better to go with the devil I don’t know, than Psycho.
I turn away from the entrance, and something large crosses the space ahead of me. Moving from left to right, it’s like a shadow within the darkness. I can now perceive a slight amount of light glinting off the far end of the cave.
Or is my fear tricking me into seeing things? I shake as my recurring nightmare of being trapped in the darkness haunts me. In that horrible dream, I’m in a hole in the ground, not the cellar under the farmhouse, another one, smaller, and above me others scream in terror.
It’s not real, I tell myself. It’s only ever been a dream. I need to get myself together if I’m going to survive.
“Hello?” I whisper, and then wait, but hear no response, see no further movement.
My options narrowing and my desperation growing, I continue forward into the cave, keeping one hand on the wall, the other extended in front of me.
My extended hand strikes another surface, more rock, and I realize I’ve reached the back of the cave, or perhaps a bend in it. So I follow along the back wall, moving slowly, carefully, until the opening into the main passageway is no longer visible.
Sensing movement, I freeze and listen. “Hello? Is someone there?” My voice seems so small in the space, and my entire body shakes, both from fear and the cold. With each step on the freezing, damp stone, my bare feet sting and pains shoot up my legs to penetrate my hips and tighten my back. My fingers, scraping along the wall, are nearly numb.
I’m going to die of hypothermia, if whatever is in here doesn’t kill me first.
Something scrapes the stone floor, scratching, and I hear what sounds like a heavy exhale, almost a huff. It’s an animal in here with me, but maybe a calm voice will soothe it.
“Who’s there? Please. Don’t hurt me.” My voice sounds shaky now, my plea pathetic, but pathetic is all I have left, and each step forward is a bigger challenge, more painful than the last. I can only hope that whatever is in here takes pity on me—and that it isn’t hungry.
My extended hand strikes another wall. This part of the cave is shorter than the first. At least I think that it is. I don’t trust my perspective anymore and didn’t think to count my steps.
I turn the corner, continuing to explore the space. If I don’t find a blanket—or something—I’ll die. One step. Two. Three.
“Hello?” I call out softly.
Something, or someone, groans, then huffs, and I stop.
Two small lights appear ahead of me. Almost like eyes, but they’re too far apart and they can’t be eyes because there’s no light for the eyes to reflect. But my first guess is confirmed when the eyes blink, glowing when open like they are illuminated from within.
I scramble backwards, and my head strikes rock, the sharp impact followed by throbbing pain.
The bear!
Of course it’s the bear. I thought I was in an entirely different part of this prison, but it seems I wandered into the bear cave. The one place that Gracen claimed would be worse than facing Psycho.
I cower, wanting to run, but the pain in my head has momentarily scrambled my sense of direction. I’m not even sure which way I came in. And isn’t running the worst thing to do when confronting a bear? Or is that only wildcats? And do the rules of the wilderness apply down here?
The animal’s shape is clear now, and I detect a faint glow coming from an arched opening behind the beast as the gigantic shape lumbers toward me. Even down on all fours, the bear is nearly as tall as I am, and I watch in terror as it plods ahead, one massive shoulder shifting forward, then the other more haltingly, followed by a muffled moan.
This is how I die? As a bear snack?
His eyes, like a sea of gold sparks, rise, lifting higher and higher, now several feet above my head.
Not sure what’s real and what’s my imagination, I survey the shape of the beast, a shadow within the darkness, a massive animal nearly twice my height now he’s up on his hind legs.
His upper body lowers again, filling the space between us, and the bear howls when his front paws strike the stone.
His hot breath warms my body, but the sound sends chills into my heart. I don’t know much about bears, but the cry sounded more like pain than a warning or battle cry.
His snout nears me, and I hear snuffling sounds as he takes in my scent, then his head turns, and one of his enormous shoulders presses against my body.
Firmly, but gently.
The bear’s not trying to crush me, I hope, and the heat from his body and the softness of his fur makes me moan in relief.
&nb
sp; My hands lift off the stone wall and fall onto his fur, and my upper arms soak in the warmth. If I’m going to die, at least I’ll die warmer. The thought of fighting against this beast ridiculous. I could fight, but I’d lose.
The bear backs up a few steps and my hands slide out of his fur, then he rises onto his hind legs again, filling me with terror.
One of his paws lands on the stone wall above and next to me, the beast’s chest now in front of my face, his scent musky, but not unpleasant—fur with a faint hint of campfire smoke.
His other paw lands on the stone near my waist and he tugs me, as if hoping to nudge me off the cold wall.
One of his claws presses hard against my flesh, and I jerk forward to avoid being punctured.
The bear scoops me off my feet, then rolls down and onto his side, enveloping me, completely trapping me in his powerful body and warmth.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ryker
Seeing Ember in that hallway, I felt the worst terror of my life—and I’ve been through some shit.
Now, my fear has morphed into rage, but I mask my emotions. Every instinct inside me says that drawing Tavi’s attention to Ember would mean she’d take my place in that torture chamber, or something even more horrible, so for now I must leave her behind.
Adding insult to injury, I have to walk alongside this Zuben asshole—the one who got us arrested.
I cannot wait to kill him. I’ll tear him apart with my bare hands.
When I woke down here, I was stripped naked and strapped into that chair, my skin already burning from silver cuffs and my body aching from the aftereffects of whatever it was they injected into my bloodstream. I assume the same shit they used the first time Zuben had me picked up.
The masked guards had several vamps take my vein, and I was forced to watch them burn. Then my chair got dragged under that shaft of sunlight, Diederik showed up and my own torture started. The sunlight burns were horrific, so horrific I’m not even sure when Octavia entered the room, but I didn’t give up a thing—especially once I realized they thought my blood would let vampires walk in the light, and who they were really after was Ember.
I thump my fist against my leg. I should have been more careful. It should have been obvious that those vamps in the square weren’t cops. Distracted by Ember’s kiss, I wasn’t paying fucking attention.
Serves me right for thinking with my dick.
If I hadn’t kissed her in the square, none of this would have happened.
But I need to focus on what’s most important now. My urge to save Ember is strong, but I need to look out for number one. Always. Call me selfish, but I know who I am.
What’s best for me always comes first.
We reach a huge metal door, and massive iron bars grind as they unlock, shifting to the side. One of the DEFTA security guards pulls a lever and the huge door itself slides, revealing an industrial-sized elevator cab. The group enters, Octavia encircled by her five burly lovers, who stick to her like erotic glue.
Once, several decades ago, Octavia wanted me as her mate, and I have to admit her offer was tempting—for about thirty seconds. As great as the sex was, once upon a time, no way would I ever give up my freedom to be with one woman forever. No fucking way.
Ember. Fuck. I wince as I think of her again. Right now, the idea of losing her seems even worse than being tied down to one woman. Is she the one who might make me commit?
Nah. Who am I kidding? I’m not wired for anything long-term, and even if I were, no way would I deserve someone like Ember.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to get her released, and to do that, I need to talk to Octavia. I need to charm her, figure out a way to get Ember out without revealing what her blood can do.
Because the main thing today’s torture exposed beyond pain, is that Ember’s blood only let me take sunlight for a limited time. And if Octavia discovers a way to walk in the light, Ember will spend the rest of her life locked up, kept barely alive while being daily drained of her blood.
The elevator doors open, and we enter a long, dark tunnel, walking far more quickly than any human could fathom, traveling miles in less than a minute without running.
Where the fuck was that dungeon, and where are we now? Given Tavi and Diederik’s presence, clearly it’s all part of DEFTA, but for all I know, they’ve got buildings and underground facilities all over the state, all over the country.
We arrive at another large elevator door, this one more modern, like a hotel service elevator, and I step inside. I glare at Zuben, wishing I had the power to kill him with my eyes, but his are filled with so much fear and pain. I almost feel sorry for the dude. Not bloody likely.
After an ascent, the elevator doors open into a huge open space, concrete, with thick support pillars. Looks like an empty parking level under a high rise.
Looking back at me, Octavia licks her upper lip, upping my confidence that I’ll be able to charm her into doing whatever I want. Shit. I’ll even fuck her if that’s what it takes. Not that fucking Octavia was ever a hardship…even if right now my body craves Ember.
We cross the open space toward yet another elevator, and this one is too small for the entire group.
“Diederik,” Octavia says. “You and your team stay behind.”
“But the prisoners—” the security head starts to object, but Octavia lifts her hand to stop him.
“I wish to speak to the prisoners alone,” Octavia says. “If I have need for your services, I will summon you.”
Scowling, Diederik bows his head and he and his team of guards stay back as Octavia, her mates, Zuben and I enter the elevator cab. Her tallest mate pushes one of two buttons and we start to rise.
Fuck. My mind scrambles through strategies. What am I going to say to get Ember released? How do I explain why they mistook a human for a vampire? Maybe I’ll just make the security guys out to be idiots—so stupid they took a human by mistake.
No chance can I tell Octavia what really happened. Whatever that was. In truth, I have no fucking idea why Ember burned in the sunlight or under the silver netting.
And since I my ability to take sunlight expired, it holds that silver will no longer burn Ember.
The elevator opens directly into what must be Octavia’s new office, but instead of going to her desk, she crosses to sit in a red-velvet, wing-backed chair, and her mates take positions around it, a wall of silent muscle.
I want to laugh at the suggestion I might have ever been her mate. No fucking way would I ever have let her tame me like this.
“Come.” She gestures for me and Zuben.
I move toward one of the chairs opposite her.
“No,” she says. “Come closer. Both of you. Stand before me.”
Like a trained puppy, Zuben swiftly takes a position of attention in front of her, chin high, arms stiffly at his sides. Obedient. Subservient. What Octavia is used to.
“Whatever you want, Tavi.” I saunter up and cross my arms over my chest, shifting my weight to one side and smiling. “Happy to fulfill your every desire.” I hope my double entendre comes through.
It does. A smile teases her lips and she shifts on her chair, crossing her legs to highlight them through the high slit in her blood red skirt.
“We can talk about desire, later.” She shoots me a knowing look. “First, I demand an explanation.”
I’m about to make a quip about issuing some demands of my own, but she directs her attention to Zuben.
“You lied to me. You told me Ryker’s blood held special powers, and because of that, I arrested an innocent vampire and had him tortured—all for nothing.” The rage in her voice is clear, and I’m fucking glad I’m not the target. In Octavia’s mind, I’m an innocent victim.
“With all due respect,” Zuben bows slightly. “Ryker is not innocent. He’s a thief, a pirate who has stolen much from DEFTA, from you. I have proof.”
Leaning back into the chair, Octavia flicks her wrist. “You think I give a shit abo
ut a few bars of gold? You misled me! How dare you!”
Zuben raises his chin. “I did not mislead you. I had strong reasons to believe that Ryker had…had access to knowledge that is key to my research.”
I turn toward the tall Egyptian vampire as he speaks. Zuben clearly knows about Ember’s blood, something about it anyway, and I’m ready to throttle him if he even begins to bring up Ember.
I remind myself that he hasn’t, not yet, and contain my anger.
Zuben makes Ember sound like a science experiment. Perhaps this has played out just as he planned. He tricked Octavia into capturing us, and now he has Ember trapped in a dungeon where he can do what he wants with her. Yes. He plans to keep Ember for himself and doesn’t want his boss to know the truth.
“Zuben, you are either a fool or a liar.” Octavia’s eyes narrow. “And at this moment, I don’t care which.” She turns to one of her mates. “Fetch Diederik. Zuben needs more time to consider his actions, and I need time to consider his fate.”
Diederik comes into the room, along with some of his guards.
“Take him back to the dungeon,” Octavia says, pointing at Zuben.
Diederik motions for his team. They grab Zuben, who looks ambivalent about Octavia’s orders, making me even more sure that Ember’s capture was part of his plan.
Diederik grabs my arm, and I yank it away.
“Not him,” Octavia says.
“But he’s the one you told us to arrest,” Diederik says, his voice tight. “My team only captured Zuben because he was with this clown.”
“I’m not done with Ryker.” Octavia eyes me like a tasty treat, her gaze telling me all I need to know about why she’s not done with me. What she wants.
And now that I know I’m safe, I’ll give Tavi whatever it takes to get Ember released without explaining how she ended up in that dungeon in the first place. Especially now that Zuben is going back down there to carry out his no-doubt horrific experiments.
The guards lead Zuben from the room, and he looks back at me with alarm in his eyes, as if he’s trying to convey some kind of message, but I don’t speak Egyptian Robot Code. Asshole.
