by Maya Daniels
“First I want to find that insufferable male to give him a piece of my mind.” Folding her arms under her breasts, she sniffs. “He thinks just because he can lock me in this room that I’m not going to rip into him.”
“I’m assuming you are talking about Alex?” I see Leo widening his eyes comically.
“I do not know his name, Francesca. You don’t exchange pleasantries with your kidnappers,” she tells me like I’m a simpleton and need it explained.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I breathe in deeply. “He is dead, Mother.”
“You can’t possibly …”
“I killed him,” I deadpan, waving my hands at my blood-soaked clothing and cutting her off. She looks at me dubiously but thankfully doesn’t comment.
“We are all clear.” Zoltan’s voice coming from behind Leo speeds up my heart until I see my mother turn her full attention on him. Then it jackhammers for a different reason.
“And who might you be?” Her arms unfold, her hands smoothing down her clothing while she bats her eyelashes at the Daywalker.
“That’s Zoltan.” Closing my eyes, I pray for patience. “Another … friend.”
“For an awkward creature, you’ve sure made a lot of friends.” She’s not taking her eyes off him, and I grind my teeth.
“He is a Daywalker.” I have no idea what possesses me to say it.
My mother jerks back like she’s been slapped, her mouth moving like a carp out of water. Groaning, I clench my fists but it’s too late now to take the words back. Very slowly, I turn to face Zoltan and a lump forms in my throat. His blue gaze is intently focused on me, his shoulders hunching slightly as if he will walk up to me. My mother hisses, jumping between us and breaking the spell.
Zoltan scowls at his feet.
“Don’t you dare touch her with your filthy hands, Daywalker.” Hissing at him, she even lifts her hands, fingers curled into makeshift claws at his face. “You’ll have to go through me first. Francesca, step back child.”
Leo looks like he swallowed a lemon.
“Zoltan, meet my mother Sophia,” I grumble, wishing the ground would open so I could jump in the hole and disappear. “Mother, this is Zoltan. He helped me come rescue you.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Drake.” Inclining his head, the vampire looks from me to my mother and back. If only I can read his mind to know what he is thinking.
“You fornicate with Daywalkers now?” She turns on me with murder on her face. “What in the fates name is the matter with you girl.”
I’ve had enough.
“Are you going to move so we can leave this damn place, or should I leave you to find your own way home … Mother?” Squaring my shoulders, I frown at her.
“You … you …” she stutters, lost for words.
“I thought so.” Moving around her, I stride to the door. Zoltan has to move so I don’t smack into him. “Move along then. We don’t have time to linger for your tantrums.”
We all shift like a wave, falling in step with each other. I can feel the heat of Zoltan’s body at my back, just as I can feel my mother’s glare drilling holes in the back of my skull. Leo, on the other hand, I can hear clearly. He is clearing his throat, coughing. and choking so he doesn’t laugh. Unfortunately, I find nothing funny at the moment.
“We can’t leave yet.” My mother’s desperate outburst jerks me to a stop, so I look at her over my shoulder. “Not without …” Gulping air, she twists her fingers in front of her. “Not without your brother.” The words are tangled together.
“Nice try.” My mouth hurts from pressing it too tight. “I don’t have a brother,” I tell the two males that look shell-shocked. “Any other bullshit you want to say to stall?”
“It’s true.” When her breath shutters, I feel like someone just ripped my heat out of my chest.
“Father never said …”
“He has a different father, but he is still your brother.” Her chin kicks up, daring me to say something.
Oh, I fucking dare. I dare a lot.
“And you accuse me of fornicating?” Getting in her face should’ve made her back away, but she stiffens her spine.
“He is half human. You cannot leave him in the hands of these monsters. Have you no heart?” That last part is a sob and I shrivel inside, until the look in her eyes hardens. “They got him because of you.”
Closing my eyes, I pretend it doesn’t hurt that she always finds something to tell me I’m nothing or unworthy. Anything to say that once in her life she didn’t regret having me. I come up empty. A stray thought pops in my head, making me wonder if I was the one tied to machines, would she stop to save me?
My eyes snap open.
“Fuck!” Spinning around, I bolt back the way we came, sliding in the blood from the dead hunters Leo and I killed, ramming my hip and shoulder in the wall. I can hear Leo jabbering behind, explaining fast to them why I reacted the way I did. Zoltan’s beating footsteps catch up to me just as I reach the room with the glass wall. I have no idea what those machines are, but they are definitely not good since they are connected to Roberti and Alexius. I rattle the doorknob, but my sweaty palm slides off it, making me scream in fury.
Zoltan shoves me away and barrels through the wall instead of the door like it’s made of paper. White dust and plaster rains down on him, turning him all white like a ghost. I have no time to think about anything but the male on that metal bed. Sprinting, I skid to a stop when I’m standing right above him.
“No,” I whisper through numb lips.
All the air is pushed out of my lungs and the ground disappears from under my feet. I feel myself going down and I tense, expecting the impact to hurt since I can’t stop the fall. Strong familiar arms wrap around me, one under my knees and the other around my back, lifting me to a firm chest. Zoltan’s nearness is the only thing keeping me sane at this moment.
“Francesca?” Zoltan says my name softly like a question. I can hear his heart pounding in his chest as his arms tighten around me.
“I know him.” Looking up at his face, I see him frown. “I saw him the first time you took me to the human realm. He stopped trying to get me to go with him and not to the portal. I think …” Swallowing thickly, it takes two tries to finish the sentence. “I think he knew they were waiting for us.”
“Oh, no,” my mother breathes.
Chapter 18
“You guys have to see this!” Daren skids down the hall, missing the open door before sticking his head back inside the room.
The beeping of the machines drills holes into my pounding temples. I press myself closer to Zoltan’s chest like I can make myself merge with him, like I can disappear for a little while. The Daywalker turns his body to the side so he can see the mage who is staring wide eyed at all of us gathered around the bed with my brother’s unmoving body stretched out on it.
My brother.
The thought dunks my head into deafening silence, like I’m drifting in an abyss with just intervals of static bursting through here and there. How did my life get messed up so fast? Although I complained all the time and lived with a crippling fear each day that someone will find out what I am and kill me … life was actually not that bad. Now there’s some new revelation every day that digs my grave deeper than the day before. Eventually, it’ll be a bottomless pit where not even my soul will be able to find a way out.
“What did you find?” Zoltan’s deep voice vibrates through his chest under my ear. calming me more than it should.
“You can stand on your own feet,” my mother hisses under her breath, watching Zoltan like he is a venomous snake.
“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. You’ve got to come see.” Daren pushes of the door, walking in cautiously and stealing quick glances at my brother. “Who’s that? One of ours?”
“Francesca’s brother.” Leo stares the mage down intently as if daring him to say something about that little bomb dropping.
A quick look passes between my moth
er and Daren, and I just know without asking. Daren knew about this, just like he was obviously having secret conversations with my father about me. What else will tonight bring? Is my dead father coming out of his grave? Will I grow a second head? At the rate things are going, anything is possible. A hollow, humorless laugh comes from me, and every head in the room turns my way.
“Can we remove the machines without hurting him?” With great reluctance, I wiggle out of Zoltan’s arms and he lowers my feet to the ground but doesn’t remove his hand from my shoulder. “Before I lose my shit with all the crazy here, I’d like to go home.” Another crazy laugh bursts through my lips. “Home. What a fucking joke.”
“Francesca Drake, language,” my mother snaps, and I round on her.
“You want fucking language, Mother?” She takes a step back, her eyes bulging out at my animosity, but I’m way past caring. “How many different species did you fuck without finding it important to tell me about it? Are there more children scattered around the human realm? Sienna? And you dare lecture me about fornicating?” My entire body is vibrating in anger. “It’s called fucking, Mother! At least I don’t pop out children left and right.”
“Francesca.” Zoltan pulls me back to his chest, tightening an arm around my waist. “I know you are angry, I’m furious on your behalf, but we can’t do this here. We cleared the hunters but it’s still not safe. Let us go, love.”
That last word is the only thing that penetrates the red haze that is blurring my vision. My mother’s mouth drops open comically and I would’ve laughed if I myself wasn’t shocked speechless. Very slowly, I turn in Zoltan’s arms while searching his face for any indication that he’s used it to manipulate me into calming down. Or by a mistake. My hands lift to his chest, my fingers trembling from all the emotions swirling inside me when I see that he has removed the mask of indifference he’s had after my stupid behavior. He gives me a small smile that weakens my knees, pulling me closer to him.
The clearing of a throat jerks my eyes around the room and my face heats in embarrassment. Leo offers a quick grin. winking conspiratorially at me. I thump my forehead on Zoltan’s chest. The vampire’s hand glides up and down my back, melting me against him, but I’m aware that all eyes are on me. Well, maybe not all, but the three males and my mother. That is enough to pull me out of the mushy feelings messing with my head. If Zoltan has forgiven me, we can talk about it after we are out of this place.
“Where is Astara? Fenrir?” Stepping away so I can think straight without Zoltan’s sinful scent filling my nostrils, my eyes fall on the Alpha, because I’m refusing to ask Daren the traitor anything. “Tenebris? You said they are alive.”
“We secured the other part of the building.” Daren seems a little pale, his green eyes a touch too fevered and too wide. “They stayed to keep guard until I get the rest of you. We weren’t sure if Sophia was in any state to walk around.” When I raise my eyebrow, he blushes furiously. “If she’s been hurt I mean.”
“Let’s hope she’s not pregnant.” The words are out before I can stop them.
“How dare you.” The tone of voice my mother uses is one I’m very familiar with. Involuntarily I flinch, hating myself for it.
“Can we move him, or should we just take everything with us?” Thankfully Leo changes the subject, which saves me from continuing the argument with my mother in front of everyone.
“Do we know what any of this is?” Moving closer to the bed, I stare at the sleeping face of my brother. “Is he sedated or in a coma?” An idea occurs to me, so I look at Zoltan over my shoulder. “Can you use your mind f—your mind power to force him awake?”
“I can try.” His lips quirk on one corner at my slip up. “I’m hesitant, though. What if they pumped him full of something that will harm him if we wake him too quickly?”
“I really think you should see what we found before you do anything.” Daren sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “Fuck. This changes everything.”
“I will stay with him,” my mother says softly, reaching for my brother’s hand when it becomes obvious I’m not sure what to do.
“You should see it too, Franky.” Daren is already walking out, leaving us the option to follow him or not.
With a nod at my mother, I hurry after Daren, and Zoltan and Leo right behind me. All sorts of thoughts and scenarios are playing in my head, from mutilated bodies to summoning rituals being performed here. I wouldn’t put any of it past Roberti. My brother’s handsome face floats to the front of my mind, his voice begging me to go with him and not at the portal. Would he have told me who he was? Did he know who I was at the time? Too many questions and not enough answers. For every answer I find, more questions pop up.
“You okay?” Zoltan takes my hand, slowing me down just as Leo moves around me and jogs ahead to catch up to Daren.
“I’m not sure.” Releasing a shuddering sigh, I lace my fingers through his and hold my breath to see what he will do.
“We will figure it out.” Giving me a reassuring squeeze, he wiggles our hold to make our hands fit together better. In my uncertainty, I am gripping only the tips of his fingers, making it awkward. “This place looks like a storage facility for whatever they are doing.”
“You mean apart from holding hostages?”
“That, too.” He chuckles. “Your mother really is something.”
“No kidding.” Not wanting to discuss my mother right now while I’m still angry with her, I blurt out what’s been bothering me since I found out I have a sibling. “You think they knew he was my brother and that was why they took him? Alex wasn’t sure he had my mother here, and that was how I tricked him into leaving the room so I could free myself. Roberti hasn’t been here to confirm it. So how would he know about my brother when I didn’t even know I had one.”
“I cannot say, Francesca.” Taking the left curve of the hallway, Zoltan rubs his chin. “You coming to the Academy uncovered an entire organization functioning under our noses. We knew about the hunters, but we were clueless that our own were the head of that slippery snake.”
“I still don’t think Roberti is the mastermind behind it all.” The voices of the others reach my ears, coming from open double doors near the end of the hall. Roaring cries of the panther can be heard through the sound. “He is power hungry and arrogant for sure, but to want to destroy Sienna? The place he lorded over for so long? Someone else is pulling the strings and they promised him something better, otherwise he would’ve never given up the influence he already had.”
“You think they promised him the human realm?” Zoltan sounds doubtful. “He will need an army of at least a hundred times the number of hunters in this world to take control of it.”
“Even with a Titan on his side?” I tilt my head to see him better and he flashes his fangs at me.
“Especially if he frees a Titan. No one in the human realm can control those, of that I’m sure.”
“Not even you?” His smile grows at my question, sending my pulse into overdrive.
“I’m not from the human realm.” He winks and I almost trip over my feet.
We reach the double doors, so I regain my balance with a hand on the doorframe. The implications of what the vampire said are running through my head, making me dizzy and it takes me a long moment to understand what I’m looking at. Zoltan stiffens and his fingers tighten on mine painfully, confusing me even more. Astara, Leo, Daren, and Fenrir are standing in the middle of the large space that stretches before my eyes. Tenebris is pacing close to the doors like a guard, his face twisted in a snarl and sounds like cries, roars, and purrs mixed together are coming out of him without a pause. His smooth black fur is charred in a few patches, the hairs sticking out with no shine to them. Behind them all, rows and rows of metal cabinets with glass doors are lined up as far as my eyes can see. In the closest one, clearly visible bags of blood hang on little hooks attached to the top of each shelf. The first cabinet is also open, one bag of blood missing from it. When my gaze s
wings to the people clustered in the middle of the room, I see it in Astara’s hand. My friend also looks green in the face like she’s about to puke.
“I don’t get it.” I jump out of my skin when Tenebris shrieks at me. “Shut up cat! We knew they were dealing with blood, so why is this so shocking?” Looking away from the grim faces, I turn to Zoltan. “What am I missing?”
“Human?” He doesn’t look at me, instead addresses his sister.
Astara shakes her head then winces, pressing a hand to her stomach. “It’s synthetic.” Her voice is hoarse like she’s been screaming. “Lucky Daren was here to purge it out of me because I can still feel remnants of it.”
Releasing my hand, Zoltan walks to his sister, his long legs eating the space with heavy thumps of his boots. It’s always fascinating to watch him walk. Every time his foot touches the ground it’s like him telling the earth it should bow to him and be grateful for having his weight on it. Snatching the bag from Astara’s hand, he brings it to his nose, jerking it away the same second.
“What in the fates name is this?” The vampire glares at the bag, his face twisted in disgust.
“I can’t be one-hundred percent sure until I confirm with one of our medics but I think it’s a mixture of multiple species in one.” Fenrir doesn’t sound like himself, and I notice him holding his ribs on the left side while favoring that leg too.
“They are making super blood?” I snort because it sounds ridiculous saying it out loud.
“No.” Daren rushes to a corner of the room I can’t see from the door, grabbing a folder and bringing it to Zoltan. “It’s worse than that.”
My feet move on their own, curious to see what Daren has found. The folder is open between Zoltan’s hands and he flicks pages fast, then his movements slow. His head lifts as he locks eyes with Fenrir before returning his attention to the pages. When I reach him, I lean on his arm, sticking my head over it to see what problem we will be facing now. My blood curdles in my veins.
“They didn’t know he was your brother,” Zoltan tells me, not taking his eyes off the pages. “They search for half bloods then feed them the synthetic blood of mixed species, creating a new generation of hunters with all the qualities of the species but none of the setbacks. The strongest predators they can find to unleash on Sienna and on the humans.”