by R. L. Perez
“She would never.”
“You don’t know that.”
She crossed her arms and glared at me. “What happened to the old Leo, the one who was kind and gentle when I first got here? The one who promised he’d do everything in his power to help me?” Her cheeks were red, but her eyes blazed with an intensity that made my blood boil.
I drew closer to her, enjoying the way her pulse quickened at my nearness. “He’s still here. And still willing to help you. Here in the caves.”
“But—”
“We don’t have much time,” I said, my voice growing louder and my blood pulsing in anger. “You told me your priority is to find a way to escape Lilith’s curse. My priority is breaking free of the Count’s time loop. And now you suddenly have a new goal you want to pursue? This is madness!”
“Leo, I have to!”
I gritted my teeth. “You are not free to roam about, Brielle!”
“Why not?” she snapped.
“Because I don’t trust you!” I cried.
Her eyes widened briefly.
Dammit, Leo, I said to myself. I hadn’t intended to reveal this to her just yet, but I couldn’t ignore the rage building inside me. It was either yell at her, or drink her blood—which, obviously, would’ve crossed a line. “You have fought me every moment since we met until it served your purposes and you needed help. Then, you expected me to meet your demands and provide you with refuge. I have been nothing but hospitable and accommodating to you, which is more than I can say of you when my life was in your hands. And now, despite the mysterious circumstances of you showing up here unannounced, you expect me to travel back to the home of my enemy—the place where my family was killed—and sacrifice my men to rescue someone I don’t know.” I stared down at her, cocking my head. “Do you not understand why I would be suspicious? Why I might suspect you to be leading me to a trap?”
Indignation and fury swelled in her eyes. She gritted her teeth. “I am not a spy, Leo.”
I lifted my shoulders and frowned. “Your actions have given me no reason to trust you, Brielle.”
“If you don’t trust me, then what the hell have I been doing here?” Brielle shouted. “What about our conversations, the things we’ve said to each other? Why would you talk to me like that if you still saw me as an enemy?”
I leaned close to her until I could taste her sweet breath and feel the anger rippling through her body. Something within me growled like a hungry beast. “Because it seems you and I treat our threats differently, Brielle.” I paused, and my gaze darted briefly to her lips. She wet them, and the beast within me rumbled in response. “And just because I don’t trust you doesn’t mean I see you as an enemy.”
I gathered my shadows around me and shifted to my bat form. Ignoring her anger and confusion and the fact that I’d unintentionally revealed my mistrust, I flew from the room before I did something else I regretted.
34
Brielle
STILL REELING AFTER the strange argument with Leo, I stumbled my way through the caverns until I made it back to my own room. My heart thrummed anxiously in my chest, my head spinning from what I’d learned.
I time traveled. It’s been months since the Count imprisoned me.
Izzy could already be in danger.
If Leo thought I would just sit here in this luxurious guest cavern without doing anything, then he was an idiot.
A part of me knew he was right—that my time was limited. That Izzy’s life would mean nothing if I exploded into a fiery beast and killed her. I had to find a way to push Lilith out.
But I couldn’t ignore my friend. Not after she risked everything to get me out.
I’ll bring her here, I told myself. Then, we’ll all work together to find a way to get rid of Lilith.
A small voice nagged within me, still unsatisfied. But I pushed it away, determined to focus on rescuing Izzy. She could already be imprisoned. Tortured. Or even killed. I had to save her.
But I needed to keep up appearances with the coven. The vampires had sharper senses than I did. If I tried sneaking out right away, someone would figure it out.
I had to wait until the right moment. Until they were all feeding.
Over the next few days, I bided my time, trying to observe the vampires’ schedule and get my bearings in the confusing tunnels. I wandered the caves, sometimes stumbling awkwardly into another vampire’s room and blustering my way through an apology before rushing out.
At night I slept fitfully, my dreams plagued by flames and screams. I often woke covered in sweat with that same disturbing euphoria taking over me.
I didn’t go back to sleep after the nightmares. Instead, I wound through the tunnels, trying to familiarize myself with the complicated network of paths.
One afternoon, I found myself in the dining room. The cushions were spread in a circle and unoccupied, though there was one vampire feeding on his Donor. My heart sank when I noticed them. If he was feeding, then it meant the coven staggered their feedings. So not all of them would be preoccupied at once.
Which I should’ve figured out. It would’ve been stupid to leave the coven defenseless during feeding time.
I strode toward the snack bar like I belonged there, ignoring the vampire and his Donor. They seemed completely enthralled by each other; the Donor had her body wrapped around the vampire in a tight embrace.
I munched on a few slices of cheese and gathered some bread and apples in my skirts for my journey. Then, I noticed a knife used for cutting fruit. I buried it between the apples and casually strolled out of the cave.
The darkness of the tunnels pressed in on me, blinding me. I ran my free hand along the edges of the cavern, feeling for the sharp crevice I remembered during my last trip through the caves.
But I didn’t find it. Frowning, I stumbled farther into the tunnel. Low murmurs reached my ears. Then, a high-pitched giggle.
I stopped short. This definitely wasn’t the way to my room.
A deep voice said something quietly, and the girl laughed again.
I swallowed, my throat dry. I definitely shouldn’t be here.
But . . . maybe whoever it was could point me in the right direction.
Gathering my courage, I plastered a look on my face that I hoped seemed innocent. Then, I strode forward, hefting my skirts up to conceal my stolen food. The tunnel opened to a wide cavern. A vanity rested on one end of the wall, covered with jewelry and combs. Next to it was a wardrobe thrown open wide, revealing several silky gowns.
On the opposite wall was a king-sized bed, and two figures were tangled in the sheets.
My heart lurched in my throat, and my face burned. Idiot, idiot, idiot.
I whirled, hoping to flee, when a voice stopped me.
“Brielle?”
I was so startled I almost dropped the food from my skirts. My insides froze, and I slowly turned. The sheet fell forward to reveal Leo in bed with a woman with light brown hair. I recognized her as his Donor.
Heat rushed through me, fierce and embarrassing. I shook my head numbly. “I—sorry. I got lost. I . . .”
Leo laughed, waving a hand. The sheet slipped farther down, revealing a sculpted torso of scars and hard muscle. The sight made my tongue feel like sandpaper. “You can join us, if you like.”
The girl uttered a shrill squeal and slapped Leo’s arm playfully. “Oh, stop. He’s just teasing.” She turned to me with a superior look on her face. Her eyebrows lifted just a bit, like she felt she needed to explain Leo’s behavior to me. Like I was a child.
I resisted the urge to glare at her. “Right. Um. Sorry to intrude.”
My face was on fire as I turned and ran from the room. Leo and the girl’s laughter echoed behind me, and anger swirled within me. I couldn’t tell if I was angrier at myself for getting into this position, or at Leo and the girl for laughing at my expense.
As I weaved blindly through the tunnels again, I focused on another unpleasant feeling worming its way through me
—a mixture of discomfort and embarrassment. Leo slept with his Donors? Was that even allowed?
Well, obviously. The girl sounded like she was enjoying herself.
Which sent another confusing array of emotions through me. My skin burned again, and I pushed the thoughts from my mind. Gritting my teeth, I surged forward until, finally, I reached my bedroom. I placed the food and knife in a sack and shoved it under my pillow. Then, I sank onto the mattress with a deep sigh. Exhaustion prickled at the corners of my eyes, and my body sagged. The sleep deprivation from the past few days was wearing on me.
Every part of me longed to leave this place. I had to get Izzy out of the castle.
But . . . then what? Go into hiding with her? Doom her to be slaughtered by the monster within me whenever Lilith saw fit?
I covered my face with my hands. More than anything, I wanted to be with my family again. They would know what to do. Between the Count torturing me and Leo suspecting me of being a spy, I yearned to be with people who trusted me. Who loved me. People I could trust not to turn on me or try to kill me.
If Mom, Dad, and Angel were here, I knew they’d work with me to find a solution—one that didn’t kill me.
“Are you all right?” a soft voice asked.
I yelped and nearly jumped out of my skin. Guadalupe leaned against the opening of the cavern, watching me with an unreadable expression.
I couldn’t believe I hadn’t smelled her. Being in these caves—surrounded by vampires—had dulled my senses. The whole place reeked of vampire, so I could never tell when one was approaching.
Which made my own scent even more obvious. I tried not to let that deter my plans to sneak out and find Izzy.
Now that I noticed it, a faint, flowery smell reached my nose, mingling with the dulled scent of vampire that I’d grown accustomed to.
I rubbed my forehead and forced a smile. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Guadalupe cocked her head and took a hesitant step forward, careful to avoid the sunlight filtering from the ceiling. “You don’t need to lie. I know you’re enduring a lot right now.”
I watched her for a moment, remembering her confusion earlier when it seemed like she didn’t know I was cursed. “What do you know about me?” I asked slowly.
Guadalupe shrugged. “Only what Leo has told me. You were imprisoned and injured by the Count. You escaped and came here.”
I blinked, waiting for more. But that was it.
That’s all he told her?
It seemed stupid. Why wouldn’t he warn his coven about me?
“He didn’t tell you anything else?” I asked.
Guadalupe said nothing for a while. Then, she murmured, “My cousin keeps many things from us. He’s our leader, and he’s earned his privacy. I know there is more to you than what appears, Brielle. But if Leo isn’t prepared to divulge that information, then I must respect that.”
He keeps many things from them. That didn’t surprise me. But then I thought of his sister. How many people knew about her and her fate? How many knew that Lilith had tried to possess her?
If Lucia had been kept a secret, then it would make sense that Leo would conceal the truth about me as well.
But that made me insanely curious. Why? If his coven was so important to him, why would he remain closed off like that? His sister was gone. What harm would it do to open up about her? Besides, Ronaldo had told me that demons revered Nightcasters because they were seen as holy vessels for Lilith. Surely, revealing his sister’s curse would’ve been a good thing, right?
“You seem to understand about keeping secrets,” Guadalupe said suddenly, her eyes appraising me shrewdly.
My gaze snapped to her. “What do you mean?”
“You haven’t told us anything about yourself—who you are, where you came from, or why you’re here. You’re as elusive as Leo himself.”
I shifted my weight on the bed, suddenly uncomfortable. I am not like Leo.
But her words speared through me. I’d been thinking about how ridiculous it was that he hadn’t opened up to anyone here. But how long had it taken me to open up to Izzy about my secret? And I’d never opened up to my family about how alone I’d felt.
I’d always been so determined to be strong and capable. I’d seen opening up as weak.
In many ways, I still saw it that way.
I rubbed my nose. “It’s hard to know who to trust. I thought I could trust those in the castle, but . . .” I trailed off with a shrug.
Guadalupe chuckled without humor. “I understand.” She strode closer—as close as she could get without touching the sunlight. “I want you to know, Brielle, that you are under our protection. You are an honorary member of this coven now. As long as you are with us and don’t betray us, you will be safe.”
I almost laughed. “I’m a light witch. I can’t be part of this coven of vampires.”
“You certainly can,” Guadalupe said in a firm voice. “We consider the human Donors a part of our coven as well. Your species—your magic—makes no difference. You are still ours to protect.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I looked at her. “You can’t mean that. Why would you trust me?”
“I never said we trust you. I don’t even trust Leo half the time. But the Count has made an enemy of you just like he has with us. In a sense, that makes us allies.”
Enemy of my enemy . . . I pressed my lips together and nodded slightly.
The corners of Guadalupe’s mouth curved upward in a smile. “We feed in an hour. You are welcome to join us.” She inclined her head and left the cave.
My heart jolted in my chest, waking me from the emotions swirling within me. One hour.
As soon as Guadalupe’s flowery scent vanished, I jumped up, wriggling out of my ridiculous gown and into the trousers I’d arrived in. Thankfully, someone had washed them, but they still reeked of blood and dirt.
I didn’t bother putting on a shirt. Instead, I found a jacket in the wardrobe and wrapped it tightly around myself, then used a belt to tighten it further. My chest left much to be desired, so it wasn’t like anyone would see anything exciting anyway. Besides, I had no other shirts to wear, and I couldn’t exactly move stealthily in those stifling gowns.
I slid the knife into my pocket, grabbed my sack of food, and looked at myself in the mirror. The jacket covered me well enough. In fact, I looked perfectly appropriate if I’d been in my time.
My time. I didn’t even want to dwell on that. But once I thought it, I couldn’t push it from my mind. Would I be stuck here forever? Would I ever see my family again?
Shut up, Brie, I snapped at myself. One thing at a time.
When I deemed myself ready, I approached the tunnels and listened hard.
Nothing. I sniffed deeply, closing my eyes and trying to filter through the smells. Guadalupe’s scent lingered, but it was stale. Nothing else but the musty scent of moisture and rocks.
I took a deep breath and raised my free hand.
“Magic above and powers that be,
Light the way in front of me.”
A faint blue glow emanated from my outstretched hand, illuminating the path before me. I surged forward, knowing my time was limited. The glow was like a beacon, alerting the others to my presence. If anyone noticed it, they would investigate.
So I ran through the tunnels, using the light to guide my way. I noticed the crevice I’d found earlier and turned right, away from the dining room. I paused for a moment, sniffing again. Foliage. Dead leaves. A chill in the air.
Yes, I was close.
I kept going and uttered a spell to remove the light when I noticed sunlight just ahead. My chest swelled with excitement.
Freedom. I’m coming, Izzy.
I stopped short when a familiar voice drawled, “Going somewhere?”
35
Leo
BRIELLE’S PULSE RACED, her eyes wide when they locked onto mine. I smirked and crossed my arms. Did she honestly think she could escape so easily?
My arrogant expression made her blood boil, and I laughed. “Come now, Brielle. We’ve already discussed this.”
“You don’t want to risk your coven? Fine. I’ll go myself.”
“And reveal my secrets to the Count? I don’t think so.”
Brielle stepped forward, her nostrils flaring. “I am not abandoning my friend.”
I stepped closer to her too, and she shrank away from me involuntarily. I felt her heart race, giving me a sense of power. “You were the one who begged me to chain you up when you first got here. Because you were dangerous. Say you rescue your friend and escape the castle. Then what? Doom her to die by Lilith’s hand?”
She flinched, and for a moment I regretted my words. But no, she needed to hear this. I vividly remembered the explosion in the Castillo de Coca when my sister had met her demise at Lilith’s hand.
Brielle needed to know about this.
“Are you strong enough for Lilith?” I asked in a soft voice. “Because if you aren’t, I’ve seen what happens when she tries to take over. It’s catastrophic. Do you really want to subject your friend to this fate?”
Brielle gritted her teeth. “You don’t know that.”
“Very true. But your friend is probably living comfortably in the castle right now.”
“Or she isn’t because she’s living with that monster.”
Something inside me swelled with satisfaction hearing her speak of the Count with such hatred, but I shoved the feeling down. “I know you aren’t accustomed to following orders,” I said slowly. “But my order is final. Do not cross me, Brielle.”
She lifted her chin. “Or what?”
A challenge. Fire roared within me in response. I cocked my head at her. “I’ve bested you before.”
Brielle dropped her sack to the ground. She drew a knife from her trousers and brandished it toward me. “You won’t succeed again.”
I threw back my head and laughed. Then she tackled me, pinning me to the ground. My shadows swirled around me in response, but before I could shift, she muttered a hasty spell.
