by Raven Steele
He looked up and shrugged. “I was raised in the sewers beneath Coast City so I never grew to love the sun like you guys, but it will be nice. I just hope whatever magical potion we’re going to take will last long enough.”
“We’ll just need to be quick.” I leaned into Mateo, needing to feel his touch. His arm came around me, and his fingers rubbed against my bare arm, leaving heat in their wake. Part of me wished we could wait. I missed my time alone with him.
“How many do we have going in?” Angel asked.
“Eight.” I counted off each one. “Me, you, Mateo, Aris, Lynx, Briar, Loxley, and Luke.”
Angel rubbed at his brow and sighed. “Should we have more? I mean, we already know that place is crawling with Hydes.”
“We’re not strong enough for a full-on attack,” I said. “Not even close, but maybe with just a small handful of us and it being daytime, we might go unnoticed. If anything, it will surprise the Phoenix.”
Aris held up his phone, a map on the screen. “Found it.”
“Found what?” Mateo asked.
“The best way to travel through the drainage tunnels to Raven Street. It’s kind of complicated to get there and we may have to break down a wall depending on how old this information is, but I think we can get there.”
“Good work,” I said.
Adelade’s perfume wafted into the room with Detrand behind her. She held up a small case. “All done. I made a couple of extra does just in case. Use them wisely because I can’t make more without more time. I didn’t have enough ingredients with me as most are extremely rare.”
Roma walked over to her, the wisps of her long skirt sighing as she walked. “May I look at them?”
Adelade shrugged. “Of course.” She handed her the case.
Roma unzipped it and removed one of the small vials. She held up to the light to inspect it. “What’s in it?”
“Just the regular stuff, plus I added a little root from a coral tree.”
Roma turned to her, eyes wide. “You have that?”
“Not anymore. I used the last of it up.”
“Impressive.” She smiled at Adelade. “Maybe you can show me your work sometime?”
“Perhaps.” Adelade returned the smile, but it looked forced. Only a few of us in the room knew the real truth of what was really in the small glass container.
Briar turned down the radio until it was silent. She looked at each of us. “If anyone wants to back out, this is the time to do it.”
“Samira?” a familiar voice said.
I turned around. Teddy stood just outside the door. I jumped up and ran towards him. We met half way and he wrapped his arms around me tightly. “I didn’t believe her when Lynx texted me about you. I thought you were dead.”
His shoulders shook as he silently cried. It wasn’t a reaction I expected. After a while, he stepped away, embarrassed.
Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away quickly. I rested my hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. “What about you? Has something happened?”
“It’s just,” he shook his head, “after you disappeared, things got really bad at Winter’s Cove, especially since Naburus died. I assume you had something to do with that?”
I nodded, feeling a swirling of emotions. Happy satisfaction that I’d killed Naburus, concern about what might be going on at Winter’s Cove, and an overwhelming desire to fix this. To help the people at Winter’s Cove and get rid of the sadistic murderer at the helm.
Mateo came to my side, knowing how I was feeling, to offer his support. His hand on the small of my back calmed the churning emotions in my stomach.
Teddy took in the way everyone sat in a half circle, two briefcases at our feet, the determined look on our faces. He straightened. “I know I wasn’t invited to whatever it is you guys were about to do, but I’d like to be a part of it. I can’t go back to Winter’s Cove. Not yet anyway.”
Briar looked at me, shrugging. “I don’t care what he does.”
“Teddy,” I said to him, “this is going to be dangerous.”
“No. Living with Korin is dangerous.” His eyes darkened, the anger inside him spilling outward. “Just put me to work actively doing anything that might hurt him.”
“You are welcome to join us,” Mateo said.
“We’d love to have you,” I added. “Have a seat. We’re discussing plans now.”
Just then Gerald stepped into view from around a wall. “If he’s going, can I?” His gaze flashed to Briar. “I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds, but I’d really like to be a part of this.”
Briar nodded. “Why the hell not? But put Samantha in charge of security while we’re gone.”
He nodded and smiled, looking directly at Loxley. She couldn’t help but grin back.
“Now we’re at ten,” I said. “Let’s remember the goal of this mission—to free as many prisoners as we can. Nothing else. Are we all in agreement?”
I looked specifically at Teddy. The anger in his voice earlier had reminded me of the way I’d felt when I’d first snuck into the cathedral. The results of my actions had almost killed us, as I had wanted to destroy everything in my path and didn’t care if it put me or my friends in harm’s way.
But this time, I only had one goal. Stop Korin’s army from growing. Fortunately, this goal also fulfilled a stronger desire of mine. Free the prisoners, specifically Rocky and Oz.
We couldn’t wait any longer.
Chapter 6
Teddy nodded in agreement, as did the others. We all wanted this.
Aris glanced to the window and the grey light that was beginning to fill it. “The sun will be up in thirty minutes.”
“Everyone gear up!” Briar said. “I’ve got whatever you need in the training room downstairs.”
Briar had found my swords in the old church and kept them for me, even sharpening them too. After thanking her, I stroked them, so grateful that she’d kept them in good condition. They were like old friends, and I’d missed them.
I added a few daggers onto my person, then picked up one of the blasters Oz had created and turned it over in my hand. Just holding it made me miss him. Hopefully we would find him among the other prisoners at the cathedral.
“I can’t wait to shoot this!” Gerald said as he attached his own blaster to his hand. The Ames de la Terra had dropped off over two dozen of the weapons a few days ago. Briar had said she had to keep them locked up because her pack was begging to use them against each other.
“Are you ready?” Warm breath on the back of my neck sent a wave of pleasure all the way to my toes. Mateo’s arms came around my stomach, causing it to lurch pleasantly.
“I think so.” I leaned into him, reveling in the scattering of goosebumps his lips sent along my neck, and the way his arms tightened around me possessively. The love I felt through our bond was overwhelming.
I turned around, catching his face with the palm of my hand, and stroked his skin with my thumb.
His eyes stared into mine, showing through his gaze what I already knew he was feeling inside. He didn’t try to hide it, not in front of all these people. He gazed at me with such utter devotion that I couldn’t hold back either. I stood on my toes, kissing him gently, allowing warmth to slide down my throat and spread through my chest. Someone whistled but I ignored them, determined not to hold back any longer.
I loved this man, and would scream it from the mountaintops if I could.
His hand clasped my side, his lips claiming mine as his kiss grew deeper.
Then the sounds of clashing swords caught my attention and our kissing slowed to a stop. Matteo pulled back, disappointment filling the bond between us both ways. He thumbed my lip, then turned to face the room.
I followed his gaze, wishing we could be alone together right now. But there were much more important things we needed to address.
Briar was pretend fighting with Luke with a short sword while Aris, Teddy, and Angel studied an array of daggers against the wall. Gerald and Loxley hudd
led together in the corner, quietly talking. Gerald stepped forward, running his hand through her chestnut brown hair, then leaned down and kissed her. She clasped her arms around his waist, kissing him back. We weren’t the only ones needing to express ourselves tonight.
“I didn’t realize they were together,” I said.
“Apparently they spent a lot of time together searching for us.” He raised his eyebrows mischievously. “At least something good came from what happened to us.”
I nodded, but my smile slipped away. “I just hope everyone is prepared.”
“It’s going to be okay. We’ve all survived much worse.”
“Have we?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up my swords from off the floor and stuck them gently into the scabbard on my back. “We’ll survive this. I just know it.”
“Before we go,” Aris said, his voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, “we should probably all wear these.”
He bent down and reached into a bag on the floor. I frowned wondering where it had come from. He straightened and held up a black ski mask. It was the same one he used to wear in Coast City to protect his identity. “We need to make sure Samira and Mateo’s identity be kept secret.”
“What a good idea!” Lynx took it from him but frowned when she examined it closer. “It will mess up my hair. Do I really have to wear it?”
He stared at her, blinking slowly. Then, without warning, he surprised her by pulling one down over her face. She squealed but wasn’t fast enough to get away.
“Hey!” she cried, her green eyes peering out the opening.
He bopped her on the nose with his finger. “You’re still beautiful.”
She fell silent, speechless.
Briar reached down and removed one from the bag. “I can be a condom-head for a few hours.”
Luke groaned and grabbed one for himself, while Aris handed out several more.
A few minutes later, we returned upstairs, all of us loaded with weapons and a mask. Detrand, Adelade, and Roma were there to greet us.
“You sure you don’t want to come?” Briar said to Detrand. “I feel like you have a lot of rage inside you that could use a release.”
He gazed heatedly at Adelade. “I find my release just fine.”
Briar snorted.
He turned back to Briar, scowling. “I have other things to attend to.”
I waited for him to explain further, but when he didn’t, I said, “There’s a coffin for you to sleep in downstairs while we’re gone.”
“We’ll likely return to our accommodations in the city.” He rested his hand on my shoulder. “Be careful.”
I nodded. “I will.”
He grinned, showing sharp teeth. “You’d better.”
I smiled, then turned towards everyone, feeling nervous. It was so strange to have all these feelings again, and I did not miss the anxiety I was now feeling. Focusing hard, I shut it down, tapping into my vampire self.
“Let’s go.” I shoved Briar forward. Together we walked outside, crowding into two vehicles. One for those going underground and another for those breaching the Raven Street entrance.
As we drove toward Rouen, I held the small case holding Adelade’s blood tightly in my lap. It was worth more than gold to vampires, more than power, more than anything. Vampires would kill to walk in the day. I sighed wistfully, just imagining feeling the sun’s warmth on my skin again. I wondered how many times Detrand had experienced it.
“This way,” Aris said from the front passenger seat. He pointed to our left.
Mateo drove through a residential area until the houses gave way to thriving businesses. This was the good part of the city, the part mostly untouched by supernatural hands.
Aris glanced up from the screen on his phone. “Park anywhere along here.”
I frowned and looked out the window. We hadn’t reached Hell’s Peak and weren’t even close. “Are you sure?”
“It’s the closest entrance to the tunnel leading beneath Raven Street. We’ll have to go on foot the rest of the way.”
“I hate sewers,” Angel mumbled as he exited the car. He circled around and met us on the sidewalk. The horizon was beginning to yellow. We had minutes to get underground before we burned and slightly longer before heavy sleep overtook us. We’d need to take Adelade’s blood soon.
Teddy rubbed his hands together and puffed air past his lips. It was an usually muggy late night for summer. I could feel the moisture on my skin, and sweat ran down my back.
“Let’s do this.” Mateo rocked back and forth on his heels, my own nervousness leaking into him.
As we walked, Mateo at my side clasping my hand, Aris said to Angel, “This tunnel might be bad. From everything I’ve read it hasn’t been used in over fifty years. In fact, we may find it impassable.”
“What will we do then?” Teddy asked.
Mateo and I looked at each other worriedly. We didn’t have a backup plan.
Aris glanced back at Teddy, his voice firm. “We start digging.”
Aris walked another block, then turned down an alley and behind a large department store, several stories high. Squatting in the middle of the road leading to the parking lot, he easily lifted the metal manhole cover. It groaned in protest, as if it hadn’t been touched in decades. Warm air that smelled of death and old dust oozed out. I grimaced and turned my head away.
Holding his hand over his nose, Mateo kneeled down and peered inside. “Looks okay here. Who wants to go in first?”
Aris didn’t hesitate. He jumped through, then yelled up, “You coming?”
I looked at the others. Since none of them decided to go, I said, “Babies,” and jumped inside landing a few feet from Aris. The smell inside was even worse and I coughed. Aris didn’t seem bothered by it in the least.
The rest of the men joined us with Angel coming in last, looking miserable. He rubbed at his arms. “Should we take the potion now? I can feel the sun rising.”
Before he finished his sentence, I too felt the familiar wave of intense drowsiness wash over me. I lifted the case and was about to unzip it but hesitated. I didn’t know how long it would last for and any miscalculation could get us all killed. “Let’s wait a little longer. Fight the sensation.”
Aris nodded his head to the right. “It’s this way.”
He flipped on a flashlight spreading a stream of light down the old tunnel. Its walls were mostly dirt held back by rotting two by fours, six feet across. Water dripped from above, making the earthy floor muddy in several spots.
“At least it’s clear,” Aris said as if he could sense all our distain. He strode ahead, scanning the light up and down across the warped wood.
“You really grew up in a place like this?” Angel called up to him. He was walking behind me and Mateo with Teddy by his side.
Aris laughed. “Not like this. Well, parts of it were, I guess. No, I lived in a much better place. My mentor and good friend,” he paused to swallow what sounded like emotions, “repaired the tunnels and also made a home of them. It was a good place to be raised.”
“What happened to him?” Teddy asked.
I cast him a sharp look over my shoulder, but he only shrugged.
“Roman died saving my life,” Aris said. “I would be a different person if it wasn’t for him.”
“He sounds like a wonderful man,” Mateo offered. I squeezed his hand.
We walked in silence the rest of the way. I could hear Teddy’s labored breathing behind me. My lungs had begun to feel tight, too. My eyes felt heavy, and I blinked, trying to keep them open. We needed to sleep but I wasn’t ready to stop. Not yet. Just keep moving until we took Adelade’s blood.
Aris turned several corners. Only once did we have to step over a partially collapsed tunnel. Aris stopped and stared up. “We’re here.”
“Can we take the potion now?” Teddy asked. “I’m exhausted.”
My hands couldn’t unzip the case fast enough. I quickly hande
d a small vial to each of us. None of us said anything as we popped the tops and swallowed the contents in one gulp. It tasted sweet, like raspberries and cream, but I caught the blood in it, too. If I had to guess, she’d merely added a bunch of sugar and flavoring to her blood.
Angel lowered it from his mouth, licking his lips. “That was amazing.”
“Wow,” Teddy added.
Aris studied his empty vial. “She said there was coral tree in here?”
“I don’t taste it at all.” Mateo was also staring at his container.
“All that matters it that it works,” I said. “How do you feel?”
While they took a moment to examine how they felt, I realized the nagging tugging on my bones had stopped. In fact, I felt like I’d just woken up. My bones felt lighter, my muscles revived. It was amazing.
“I feel good.” Angel nodded. “Really good.”
“Me too.” Teddy stretched his arms high.
I grinned, loving the feeling of life, real and honest-to-goodness life, coursing through my veins. I sucked in a deep breath, but when I felt eyes on me, I lowered my gaze to Aris. He was watching me closely, his eyebrows knitted together in concentration. I quickly averted my gaze, afraid he might try to guess what was really in that vial. Aris had studied as a chemist and had a very observant mind.
I glanced up at another manhole. “Is that the way through?”
He still stared at me. “It is.”
I didn’t tell them our time was limited. One second too long and we’d all end up dead. I simply started climbing, anxious to feel the sun on my skin and make a dent in the Phoenix’s army. “Then let’s get going.”
Chapter 7
The metal bars of the ladder leading up to the manhole chilled my palms, making me alert. I reached the top and, using vampire strength, shoved it upward. The sound of earth and grass tearing followed the motion.
“What was that?” Mateo called up.
I stuck my head into the opening. I’d just torn up part of the lawn surrounding the cathedral. Blinking into glaring sunlight, I leapt out and called for the others to join me. I didn’t see them come up. I was too busy staring up at the bright blue sky, not a cloud in sight. I laughed out loud but quickly covered my mouth, realizing where we were. It was hard to do. The sun just made me feel … happy.