by Rye Brewer
I swallowed hard—harnessing myself to a steel wire was one thing, but what she was doing?
“Damn it,” I whispered.
I guessed it wasn’t a good time to tell her I had always been afraid of heights in my human days. Being a vampire had changed a lot of things about me, but not that.
“Come on!” she called.
I had to do it. I’d followed her and told myself to get over it as I hung hundreds of feet in the air.
It was over quickly, and I was on my feet again in seconds. Of course, it had felt like the longest seconds of my life. Except for a few moments ago, when I thought I was going to lose her.
We’d made it in the nick of time, too, since shouts came from the roof of the St. Regis only seconds later. Two muscle-bound thugs who could only have been Genevieve’s security team.
“I guess they found us,” I said.
Anissa bent, pulled one of her blades from her boot and sliced the wire on our side.
It fell against the St. Regis, useless.
“Come on.” She took my hand.
We used the rooftop door instead of climbing down the side of the building, then coursed down the stairs and back to the high-rise.
28
Philippa
Lucian’s dungeon was dark, dank, the way I would imagine a dungeon being. He even called it a dungeon, the sick monster.
“I invite you all down to the dungeon,” Lucian had said as he pushed away from the table once his goblet was empty.
Allonic, still in pain, had been led away by the two guards.
Lucian’s smile was evil. “I would like you to see how we’ll accommodate this intruder.”
How could I stay behind? I needed to know what he’d do to Allonic, even if there was nothing I could do about it right away. My stomach churned the entire way down the stairs to where Lucian kept his prisoners.
I wondered why a building that had originally been a home for priests would house a dungeon, then guessed it hadn’t originally been used as a dungeon. Only Lucian was twisted enough to think about turning it into one.
The walls were solid stone and seemed to shimmer with moisture which gave off a musty scent that made my nose wrinkle.
Allonic was already shackled to one of them by the time we arrived. He didn’t look at any of us as we filed into the room—Lucian’s guards, his sons, Genevieve and her group, and me.
I stood in the back, away from the rest. Trying to keep from throwing up.
I couldn’t let them keep torturing him. They tried burning him with silver, but that was pointless—he was half-shade, so it didn’t hurt him the way it hurt us.
I remembered trying to chain Anissa up with silver when we first met and wondering why it didn’t bother her. I hadn’t known then she was a half-blood. When the silver didn’t work, they decided to cut Allonic instead. Not deep cuts. Just enough to hurt him by inches, one slice at a time.
I gritted my teeth every time he winced or groaned. I had to get him out of here somehow. Without the shackles, he might be able to throw a portal. How could I get them off him?
“Do you feel more like talking now?” Lucian asked in the same cold, heartless tone of voice he had used in the banquet hall. “Now that we’ve given you a little time to become more comfortable in our presence?”
Everyone chuckled but me and Allonic.
I wanted to claw Lucian’s face to shreds.
Allonic gave no sign of hearing the question.
I could tell it was only enraging Lucian more with every passing second.
I wanted to scream at the both of them to stop it, end it. Anything to make the torture stop.
After a long time, everybody lost interest. Even Valerius. I heard the rumble of throats being cleared, shuffling feet, murmured conversation.
Lucian got the hint. “All right. Now that we know our guest is secure and comfortable, we’ll have a celebration upstairs. After all, it isn’t every day we capture a shade—a hybrid one, at that.”
He beamed with something that could’ve passed as joy if he’d had a soul.
I struggled against the urge to glance back at Allonic one more time before following the group upstairs.
The closing of the door behind us was like a death knell. What would they do to him while none of us was looking?
Valerius kept catching my eye throughout the party as he chatted with some of Genevieve’s crew. He knew I knew Allonic. He had to. He had seen us together at Sorrowswatch. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Of course, it would mean giving himself away.
I hated knowing we had another secret between us. I forced a smile and chatted with Landon, wondering how much longer Lucian would want me to stay around. I needed to get help to Allonic as soon as I could.
Unless there was a way I could get him out on my own… But what was I supposed to do? Was there a key to the shackles? If there was, Lucian’s guards probably had it. How was I going to get it away from them?
For the first and probably only time, I wished Anissa was here. She would be able to free him. Knowing he was here, in pain, because of me was like a weight crushing my chest with every breath.
I excused myself to go to the powder room. When it was clear nobody followed me out of the banquet hall, I went straight for the stairs to the dungeon.
If anybody asked, I could always say I wanted to get another look at the shade.
I tiptoed down the stone stairs and found him still shackled to the same spot.
There was an entire row of shackles on the wall. I wondered how many prisoners were generally kept there at one time. The thought sent a shudder through me.
He stood there with his head hanging low. He didn’t flinch when he heard me coming. Had they broken his spirit so easily?
“Allonic,” I whispered.
That got his attention, but just barely. He raised his head enough to tell me he heard me, but he wouldn’t look me in the eye.
I was almost glad for that, since I wasn’t sure I could stand if it he did. My guilt was worse than any I had ever felt. I stood as close to him as I dared and tears filled my eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I am so, so sorry. I had no idea anything like this would happen. You have to believe me. It’s killing me to see you this way. I’m going to get you out, I swear.”
He didn’t move a muscle. He didn’t say whether or not he blamed me for getting him caught and tortured.
“I will get you out of these shackles if it’s the last thing I do,” I whispered fiercely, swallowing back my tears. There was no time for them. And they wouldn’t help him escape. “When I do, and you portal out of here, I need you to meet me on the roof of the high-rise. You’ll be safe there, I promise. You don’t have to worry about getting caught. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Okay?”
He still didn’t answer, and I almost growled in frustration. What did I have to say to get him to acknowledge me?
Then again, why would he want to meet me anywhere when I had done this to him?
A noise startled me. I jumped and peered up the stairs in time to see the hem of a long, black dress as Genevieve descended.
I darted into a corner and curled up in a ball, hoping the shadows would hide me. Allonic was motionless as the beautiful vampire approached him. What was she doing here? If she started torturing him again, I couldn’t cower in a corner and let it happen. But if I helped him, everyone would know he had come here with me.
“I have to say,” she purred as she drew closer, “I admire your strength and your courage. I’ve seen bigger, stronger men than you break down and sob like babies after receiving the sort of treatment you have. I applaud you. There are too few really strong, admirable creatures left in the world.”
She ran light fingers over the iron headband and clicked her tongue. “And to see you like this, shackled like a common animal, used for our entertainment. It’s a crime. You’re worth much more. Lucian… well, he doesn’t often see value as clearly as he should. But I do. And you have value
.”
She stepped back, crossing her long, slim arms over her curvy body. “I have a deal I think we could both benefit greatly from. If you’re as smart as I’m already sure you are, you’ll accept my terms.”
Of course. She would never approach him like this unless there was something she wanted.
I almost laughed at how ludicrous it all was. If she thought she could bribe somebody like Allonic, she had another think coming.
“You’re not much of a talker, are you?” she asked with a slight chuckle. “That’s all right. I like the strong, silent type, too.” She swept her hair back from her shoulders, and I caught a faint whiff of perfume and flowers. “Then let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we? I’ll free you, here and now, in exchange for your help and gratitude.”
I chewed my lip, wondering if he would respond or if he would keep up the silent act.
For the first time all night, he raised his head and asked, “Help with what?” His voice was a little weaker than usual, but he still sounded clear and strong.
My heart went out to him all over again.
She stood in quarter-profile, and I just made out her smile. “I need a spiritwalker. And I need your gratitude.”
“Why do you need a spiritwalker? What do you mean by gratitude?” His eyes met hers, burning as fiercely as ever.
“There’s no time to discuss that now—and I don’t feel like sharing my reasons at the moment,” she replied in a low, sweet tone with a hint of an edge to it.
“I won’t do anything to hurt the shades,” he said.
“You don’t have to worry about that. The shades aren’t my enemies.”
“Who is?”
Her smile widened. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
The sound of laughter filtered through the closed door and reached our ears.
Genevieve glanced up the stairs then turned her focus back to Allonic. “We don’t have much time. You’d better decide quickly. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Lucian has plans for you that I don’t think you’ll enjoy very much.” She winced for effect.
A chill ran through me as I imagined what he had in mind. Something told me nothing I came up with would touch what his twisted mind would imagine.
“A spiritwalker and my gratitude,” he repeated.
“That’s right.” Her body was rigid with concentration, like she was hanging on every word he said. She was desperate for his help, even though she pretended to be the coy seductress.
“All right. I agree.”
She relaxed. “I’m glad to hear it. Meet me in room 709 at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan. Are you familiar with it?”
“I’ll find it,” he promised.
“Let me see your hands, then.”
He leaned closer to her, and she unlocked one of the shackles.
I knew I wasn’t imagining things when I noticed her caressing his hand after she released it.
She did it again with the other hand.
If he noticed, he didn’t react. What was she playing at?
“I look forward to spending more time with you,” she murmured in a playful tone as she unlocked the iron headband.
Allonic didn’t reply. Instead, he took the iron pieces in one hand and threw a portal with the other. I didn’t know what he was getting himself into, but it was almost worth it to see him step through the portal and vanish.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. At least he was out of here.
Genevieve stood there for a long moment, breathing rapidly. She had gotten what she wanted, or was about to. What was with the flirting?
I wondered exactly what she meant by gratitude and why he had to meet her in a hotel room. No, my head was running in all directions, and I was overthinking it. Or was I?
She turned toward the stairs, and her smile was triumphant. She almost glowed.
I cowered in the shadows, hoping she wouldn’t notice me. I didn’t draw a deep breath or uncurl my body until she was upstairs with the door closed between us.
Allonic was free, but I couldn’t get to where he was. And I needed to talk to him. How had they captured him? What was he going to do next? How would he get out of his agreement with Genevieve, because I couldn’t see him letting her use him the way she obviously panned to? I couldn’t follow him to the hotel, of course. How could I get to him?
I stood up, brushing off invisible dust. I felt disgusting, soiled, even though I didn’t look that way. Some things had a way of getting under the skin. Like what I had witnessed that night. I tried to shake it off.
I couldn’t let Lucian know I had been to the dungeon. Genevieve couldn’t know, either.
I was on my way to the stairs when a glint caught my eye. A piece of metal on the floor. I wondered if it was part of the cold-forged iron used on Allonic.
But no. It shone like gold.
I went to it, bent down, and picked it up.
A ring.
I turned it over in my hands. It had blood and dirt caked on it. The smell of the blood filled my senses. I spat on my hand and rubbed the ring as clean as I could—the cleaner it got, the surer I was I recognized it.
It was one-of-a-kind, a signet ring with a capital G surrounded by leafy vines. It had been my grandfather’s, and my father had given it to Gage.
“Gage,” I whispered.
Gage was my grandfather’s name and my brother’s name. And our father had given the ring to Gage as they shared the same name.
I had seen Gage wear it every single day. What was Gage’s ring doing in Lucian’s dungeon?
He was supposed to have been a guest of Lucian’s, not his prisoner.
I slid the ring into my pocket and went back up to the party.
29
Sara
I couldn’t get over how salty the air smelled. Beyond the glorious sensation of sunlight warming my skin, the fresh, salty air was my favorite part of Hallowthorn Landing.
I breathed deep so it would fill my lungs all the way as I walked through the village.
It was a cute little village, the one in Hallowthorn. Quaint was maybe the perfect word for it. The only problem was the way the villagers hid from me. I couldn’t say for sure, but it seemed like they made it a point to go indoors when they saw me coming. I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to pretend I didn’t notice. Or care. Although I could feel the eyes on me from behind windows and half-drawn curtains.
If witches lived and trained there, the villagers probably weren’t used to seeing vampires. We didn’t make it a point to socialize—or even live remotely near each other.
Their fear made sense. I wished there was a way to tell them they had no reason to fear me, but I was the girl who shot lightning from her hands. That didn’t make me exactly safe.
I turned my face away from the front window of a bakery and crossed the cobblestone street at double time.
I headed back toward the docks. I was happier there. There weren’t any people going out of their way to avoid me.
The birds circling the sparkling water didn’t fly away when they saw me coming. There was a sort of makeshift fence at the edge of the wood planks, running the length of the dock, made of thick lengths of rope strung between wooden posts. I leaned on one of those rough posts and looked out over the water.
A sigh slipped from my lips. I didn’t know if I was sad or lonely or confused or what. Maybe all three.
“You’re new around here.”
I jumped at the sound of a man’s voice.
He was standing only a few feet away—how had he snuck up on me? I glanced around to be sure he was talking to me then pointed at myself.
He smiled. “You’re the only other vampire on the dock.”
I straightened.
He was tall, handsome—but weathered. He had seen a lot. His eyes were lined. His hair was a deep, vibrant shade of red that shone in the sun. He wore clothes that had seen better days—cargo pants and lace-up boots and a long, khaki coat that swept around his knees when he walked.<
br />
“You knew I was a vampire?” I asked in a small voice.
“Of course. You’re not a witch. I can tell a witch from a mile away. And you’re not human. I can smell human blood from twice as far.” The corners of his mouth twitched up in a smile.
“I guess that makes sense.” I looked around again.
He was alone.
“What brings you here, then? You’re the only other vampire I’ve seen.” I decided it would be best not to tell him about Mom. There was still so much about her I didn’t understand.
“You have a lot of questions.” He was still smiling, though, so he didn’t seem to mind. He slid his hands into his coat pockets and stared out over the water. “I’m here to get help with something. Otherwise, I wouldn’t spend much time here.”
“Why not? It’s a pretty place. We can let the sun touch us here.”
He chuckled. “Yes, but we’re not welcome, are we?”
He had a point.
“I guess I would feel the same way if I had a choice.”
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Sara.”
“Hello, Sara.” He eyed me. “I’m Fane.”
“What are you doing here?”
I whirled around and saw Mom rushing toward us. Her face was stormy.
“I-I was just walking around—” I sputtered, panicking. I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to be out on my own.
She used to look that way back when Anissa or I would break something or disobey her.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” She reached my side and glared at Fane.
I turned toward him. Maybe he could explain Mom’s murderous tone of voice. His expression was neutral. I was on my own.
“Mom, this is Fane,” I started.
Her hand flew up.
My mouth slammed shut—I knew better than to talk back to the hand.
“I know who this is, only his name isn’t Fane.”
“What?” I glanced from her to him. He still hadn’t flinched.
“His name isn’t Fane.”
“Yes, it is,” he murmured.