by Deanna Chase
***
After hours of lying on the cold floor under bright fluorescent lighting, I had a plan. As gratifying as it was to fantasize about a Maude-free world, murder wasn’t in my chemical makeup.
But I could develop a neutralizing potion.
Something to render her harmless. Like shock therapy. And with a little help from my Truth potion and Influence, I’d have the ability to force Maude to incriminate herself. A vision of her in an orange prison jumpsuit sent a chill down my spine.
Maude’s life in lockdown would be worse than death. All the concrete coupled with the total absence of nature would drain her until she was a shell of her former self. She’d exist in a perpetual zombie state, withered wings and all.
I suppressed a shudder. Death would be kinder.
Time to focus, Willow. One way or another, Maude needed to be neutralized. But first, I had to get out of there.
If I had any chance of being released from my chains, I’d have to appear to cooperate. Fighting back would only get me more restraints, or worse—drugged. I made up my mind to be the model prisoner. The only thing left to do was wait for someone to appear.
I didn’t know how much time had elapsed, but when the door finally opened again, my dry throat ached and my eyes blurred from lack of sleep.
“Here.” A large man in a pale blue uniform squatted and held out a cup with a straw. “Drink.”
“What is it?” I croaked.
“Water. Go on.”
I shook my head, not trusting it to be drug-free.
“Please, Agent Rhoswen. You’ve been left here alone for hours. You must be thirsty.”
I turned and met hazel eyes. “Can’t. Could be drugged.”
“I promise you it isn’t. Please, take the water. I couldn’t help you before, but I can with this.”
Taking in his lean build and dark skin, I finally recognized the guard. “You brought me here.”
“Not out of choice. Now take the straw.” He moved it closer to my lips.
A faint scent of hand soap filled my nose as I sniffed, trying to catch a whiff of any potions or drugs. I shouldn’t trust him. He had, after all, told me he couldn’t defy the Arcane. But I couldn’t resist. With my throat screaming, I took the straw and drained every last ounce of the liquid and asked for more.
He nodded in approval. “I’ll be back.”
I tucked my bound legs up and pulled myself into a sitting position, ignoring the aches in my shoulders. Gods, what I wouldn’t give for a hot bath.
The door opened again. Maude walked in, holding a clipboard. “Good evening.”
It was evening? Did that mean I’d been there for over twenty-four hours? I squinted at the clock with blurred vision—a sign of dehydration. No luck. “Where’s Link?” I asked before I could stop myself. If he was chained in a kennel…forget about cooperating. Maude could go to Hell.
She tapped a pencil on her chart. “Didn’t anyone tell you? No, they wouldn’t have since I ordered you sequestered. Time usually does wonderful things for unsavory attitudes.”
I bit my tongue, unwilling to be baited.
“That’s good. I knew given enough time you’d settle down.” She barely concealed a smug smile. “Your shifter was released into Agent Kilsen’s care shortly after you were detained last night.”
Imprisoned was more accurate. “You mean Phoebe wasn’t detained also?”
“Why would she be? You’re the only one who refused to cooperate.”
What exactly happened the night before? Hadn’t Phoebe taken on a few guards while I’d fought my captors? I replayed the scene of Link leaping to my defense, but unless I was addled due to lack of food and sleep, I couldn’t recall Phoebe getting into the mix. Why hadn’t she fought for me?
Phoebe had to have a plan. And Link was with her. The black cloud hovering over my heart lifted. Help was coming. I had to be out of the restraints when the cavalry arrived.
“I see,” I said, trying to keep my expression neutral and failing as a cramp claimed my left shoulder. I cried out, unable to even cradle it for support.
“Not very comfortable, I see,” Maude said. “If you’ve decided to consent to the testing, I can have you released.”
“Okay,” I huffed.
“Excellent. Your guard will be in with dinner momentarily. He’ll release you then.” She didn’t bother to hide the self-satisfied smile.
You’ve won this round, Auntie, but the battle is far from over.
Moments later, my sympathetic but useless guard arrived. Once my hands were released, I spent a great deal of time rubbing life back into my muscles.
“Here.” He pushed a plate of fruit and a bran muffin in my direction. The fruit was on the verge of rotten and the muffin was stale, but I ate it all anyway. I needed whatever energy I could get.
“Do you have any protein bars?” I asked when he picked up the plate.
He frowned. “I don’t think you’re allowed special requests.”
“Oh, come on. It’s just a protein bar. I’ve barely eaten, and I’m starving. There are usually some in the conference room.” I widened my eyes and pushed my lips into a pout. “Please?”
He glanced around the room as if checking for witnesses, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll look, but I’m not promising anything.”
I smiled. “Oh, thank you…um…I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
He smiled back. “Billings. Henry Billings.”
The name fit his apologetic, meek persona. How in the world had he become an Arcane Guard? He was more suited for the accounting department. “Thanks, Henry. I owe you one.”
He grinned and hurried out.
It took a few minutes to get my legs untied, and by then the overwhelming urge to use the restroom had taken over. I scanned my empty, one-room cell and grimaced. The place was worse than jail.
A few minutes later, the metal door creaked and Maude stepped in with two new guards. “We’re ready for you. Behave and we won’t use the restraints.”
So much for my energy bar. “Restroom?”
“In a minute.”
I nearly wet myself right there.
Gods save me from this. I promise to be a better person.
Guards flanked me on each side, offering me no choice but to walk with them through the halls of the Arcane. Most of the labs had wide windows with sinister metal instruments surrounding examining tables. I imagined vampires, werewolves, and all walks of demons being dissected and studied on those tables. The Arcane was big on understanding anyone or anything who might be an adversary.
Was I the first faery to undergo such treatment? It was likely, unless Maude had uncovered another fae in town with unusual abilities. New Orleans just wasn’t home to many of us.
Maude stopped and motioned to a door marked Women. “You have two minutes. After that, the guards will come after you.”
I didn’t hesitate. After I finished my business, I frantically searched the tiny room for any opening. No windows or easily removable ceiling tiles or vents in sight. I suppressed the urge to slam a fist into the wall. Instead, I took my time washing my face and finger combing my hair. When the door popped open, I raised my hands in surrender and continued with my escorts.
At the end of the hall, Maude produced a key and turned to me. “Your testing will be done here. I’ll be monitoring from another room and the guards will stay positioned right outside, so don’t get any ideas.”
Maude pulled the door open and pushed me inside. I stumbled, barely keeping my balance with outrage clouding my brain. How dare she? I righted myself and then froze. The hair on my arms stood up as the overwhelming sensation of vampire hit my awareness. In reflex, I turned to flee, but the door shut tight with an ominous click. I knew without checking it was locked.
Sensing vampire movement, I dropped and rolled, only to hear chuckling from across the room. I stood and brushed invisible dirt from my jeans. His medium-length black hair covered his profile as he shook with mirth.
“What are you laughing at? It’s not like you aren’t locked in here with me.”
He leapt. In one swift movement, he closed the gap between us. His close proximity forced me against the wall, his fangs dangerously close to the vein in my neck.
I gasped. “I’m the inventor of the Sunshine potion. This won’t go well if you bite me.”
Careful to not touch me, he placed a hand on either side of my body. He leaned in, his sharp teeth raking against my skin, leaving trails of pain. I pressed into the wall, barely breathing.
Ouch. Even their teeth made me hurt. He had to know I’d taste horrible, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t or wouldn’t attack if he was hungry enough. How long had this one been locked up?
There was no way I was strong enough to fight him off. I had to try, though. I shifted, spreading my legs for a better stance.
His chest rumbled with laughter again while his mouth worked its way close to my ear. “It’ll be better for you if you follow my lead,” he whispered.
“That’s the last thing I intend to do.”
He pulled his head back and grinned. “Feisty. I can see why David keeps you all to himself.”
I moved. One fist shot out, catching him in the gut. Before he could recover from the surprise, I brought my knee up, aiming for his man bits. Vampires might appear to be made of stone, but even they had sensitive areas. Anticipating my move, he shifted and caught my leg before I could connect. He twisted and a moment later I lay face down on the cold concrete floor, my back blazing from his contact.
“Get off!”
“Oh, I am, sweetheart. I am.”
“Freakin’ perv. Let me up.” I struggled to keep the whimper from my voice. With his body covering mine, I feared I’d pass out soon.
Through the agony I barely noticed the hot breath in my ear until he whispered, “Chill out, Rhoswen. David sent me.”
“What?” I threw my head back, clocking him.
He swore and gripped me tighter. “Attack me one more time, and I’ll have no choice other than to hurt you,” he said, his voice still barely audible. “They’re listening and watching.” When I didn’t move, he rolled off me and raised his voice. “There we go, that’s a tame kitten. We’ll get along just fine after I’ve fed.”
My mind whirled. David sent him? Was that good or bad? David had just strolled out, leaving me, as if he didn’t give a damn. He hadn’t even tried to bargain for my right to leave. Was he trying to help? I grimaced. If so, it was way too late. Even if what the vampire said was true, what could he do? He was imprisoned, too. And now he was going to feed off me.
I clamped my eyes shut. Maybe I should let him do it and get it over with. He would anyway, eventually. A weight settled in my stomach. Had I really just considered letting a vamp bite me?
The thought of fangs in my skin made me queasy.
I sat up and eyed the vamp. “What’s your name?”
His lips curved into a half smile. “Getting friendly now? I like that.”
I gritted my teeth and sent him my she-devil glare.
His smile turned into a full grin. “Damn. I like a girl…uh, faery with attitude.”
“The name is Willow. And yours would be…?”
He shook his head, still grinning. “Nathan. Nathan Fuller.”
I gaped and then closed my mouth, remembering I was being watched. I’d heard about Nathan. David had talked about him. Hell, I’d even spoken to him on the phone once when I’d answered David’s phone. My eyes met his, and he gave me the tiniest of nods.
Maybe David did have a plan. Although for the life of me, I had no idea what it could be. He’d now gotten his girlfriend—or ex-girlfriend—and his supposed best friend locked up in the Void division. Escape would be impossible. Or at least highly improbable.
“So the easy way or the hard way?” he asked.
“Excuse me?”
“They want me to feed from you, and it appears we won’t be leaving this room until I do.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “What makes you think they’re ever letting us out?”
“I was told to feed, then they’d run tests. I don’t see any equipment here, so it seems logical we’ll get moved.”
“Who told you that?”
“Some faery in a white coat with black wings.”
“That’s Maude.” I sought out a camera in the corner and glared at the lens, knowing she could hear me. “She lies.”
He nodded. “They all do, but I have to eat anyway. I haven’t had a drop in five days.”
I scooted back in reflex. He must be really old, or he’d have lost control and taken me already. Five days was way too long to go without eating for most vamps.
He moved closer, slow and deliberate. “I don’t need much. It’ll be over before you know it.”
Fear kept me rooted to my spot. “But the Sunshine potion.”
“I know, little Willow. Don’t worry. I’ve tasted it before. It isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be.”
Crap, crap, crap.
His words pushed my fear into full on terror. He’d tasted Sunshine-tainted blood before. He didn’t mind? It wasn’t that bad? Had David really been best friends with a vampire for all those years? Is that why he’d turned?
One hand came to rest on my shoulder. Through my fear, I didn’t even register the pain it caused. His eyes stayed trained on mine, and when he gently guided me into a prone position, I didn’t resist. My mind had gone blank.
His head came down, the strands of his black hair creating a curtain, shielding our faces from prying eyes. He mouthed, “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.”
A faint no tried to work its way out of my mouth but died on my lips.
He’d already pressed his teeth to my neck. Oh, God. I could feel my vein pulsing against him. Thump, thump, thump. I squeezed my eyes closed and waited, knowing with one puncture my whole neck would be on fire.
Chapter 16
I wasn’t wrong. It hurt. A lot.
Nathan’s fangs pierced my skin in one smooth motion. Liquid acid exploded, charring my insides instantly. His arm circled around me, forcing me closer.
Molten lava flowed through my neck, my chest, my back. I clenched my fists, frantically pounding against his shoulders in protest. My head swam and a vision of Phoebe’s sun agate entered my mind. One flash and the horror would end.
Screaming, I bucked.
Nathan dropped his hold and scrambled to the opposite wall.
I curled into a ball, whimpering as I rocked.
Slowly, the pain succumbed to a dull ache, leaving me battered and bruised. After a while I sat up, wincing with each tortured movement.
Nathan still sat against the wall, watching me.
“What?” I asked.
“What happened?”
My vision blurred as I glared. “You bit me and took enough blood that I probably need a transfusion. Or some orange juice at the very least.”
He frowned, studying me. After a moment his frown deepened.
“What?” I asked again.
“First of all, I barely took any blood from you. Way less than I normally would because, let’s face it, you don’t taste that good.”
“It’s the Sunshine potion.”
“Obviously. Second, you have a purple bruise right where I bit you.”
Fingering my neck, I carefully explored the puncture marks. Curiously, they didn’t hurt at all. How was that even possible? The rest of my body still suffered from his assault. I met his eyes and clamped my hand over the area.
“I don’t leave bruises,” he said.
“I bruise easily.”
“I can see that.” His gaze traveled over me from head to toe, lingering on sections of my exposed skin.
I glanced down at the black-and-blue marks visible in every spot he’d touched me and scowled. Perfect. Talisen had his work cut out for him. Again.
“Do you have some sort of disorder?”
Yes. A
vampire one. I focused on the wall just above his shoulder.
A key rattling in the door drew his attention, and I was saved from further questioning as two guards walked in. I jumped to my feet, ignoring the screaming in my back.
The shorter one reached for my arm, stopped, and took a moment to study my appearance. “Whoa, looks like the vamp roughed you up. Shoulda played nice, I guess.”
I jerked back, bumping into the other guard.
“I’ll take her,” said the tall, lanky one.
“Whatever. I don’t need a hassle tonight, anyway. You, vamp. You’re with me. Don’t try anything stupid, or I’ll have to tag you.” Shorty crossed the room and pulled out a small gun designed to hold vampire tranquilizers.
“Don’t accidentally shoot yourself with that thing again,” Lanky said to his partner. “I have better things to do than take care of your sorry ass.”
Shorty glared and aimed the gun toward my guard.
Lanky snickered, gripping my arm.
“Hey!” I protested.
“Move it, sister.” He pushed me through the threshold and practically dragged me down the hallway.
“Where are we going?” I demanded.
“The director ordered tests.”
“I know that. Are we going to another lab?”
He ignored my question and turned left at the end of the hall. I knew this wing. There weren’t any labs here. But there was a stairway to the dank basement. It was rumored to be magically enhanced to stay dry despite the New Orleans high water table. I flared my wings as if they could somehow slow us down. The basement door came into view, and a familiar panic rose in my chest. They wouldn’t do scientific testing down there, would they?
They would if it wasn’t sanctioned.
I dragged my feet and stumbled.
“Keep up,” he barked. “I thought you fae were supposed to be graceful.”
“Not when we’re locked up for hours and then fed to vampires.”
He laughed. A bemused, casual laugh. It didn’t fit the don’t-mess-with-me attitude he had going on. “I guess that could make anyone feel off-kilter.”
“Off-kilter. That’s one way of putting it.”
His steps quickened as we neared the door. I scanned my surroundings, desperate for any means of escape. If I stayed, at best I’d have weeks of painful testing ahead of me. At worst, Maude would find a way to capitalize on whatever I’d done to turn David into a daywalker. It was the kind of power my aunt couldn’t resist. Maude would kill for it if she had to.