By The Moon (Live By Night #3)

Chapter Ten

J erome shivered, a cold breeze striking his skin, and he opened his eyes, wincing at the throb in his head. Rolling over, Jerome hissed. The floor was cold, and why was he naked? Slowly pushing himself up into a sitting position, Jerome stilled, waiting for the room to stop spinning and for his stomach to stop rolling. He swallowed, his mouth dry like it had been stuffed with cotton, and glanced around the room he was in.

It was bare, with no windows. The floor appeared to be concrete. The walls were the same but that was it. There was only one way in or out, but as Jerome concentrated on the door, he realized there was no handle on the inside. Furrowing his brow, he attempted to stand, but his legs gave out and he fell heavily back on the floor.

Closing his eyes, he tried to reach out to Louis but there was nothing. After several attempts, he opened his eyes and rubbed a hand over his face. Moving slowly, he got up onto his hands and knees then pushed up so he was standing but leaning against the nearest wall.

Louis? Again, nothing but a dull throb in his mouth.

This wasn’t good. The last thing he remembered was his surprise at seeing Skylar. It was still daylight outside and the last person he expected to see was a vampire. He was standing in the shadows, keeping him from the sun’s reach, but still, why had he been there?

Skylar had appeared nice, friendly. Had said he was visiting a friend and thought he’d come and say hi. Jerome had asked about this friend and Skylar had winced, saying she was human so didn’t know about him. It seemed so plausible to him but he knew very little about vampires and how they interacted with humans.

When Skylar had suggested getting a drink together, Jerome had thought he was being nice, so had agreed. Entering the store room had also seemed a good idea. That way Skylar could move them to a shop without being seen. It never occurred to Jerome that stepping inside the room put him in danger, but here he was. Naked. Alone. Lost.

Taking a deep breath, Jerome placed a hand on his chest and willed his heart to slow. He shook out his hands when he felt adrenaline rush through them. Panicking wouldn’t solve a thing. Jerome needed to think, and fast. He had to find a way out or attract attention so when Skylar came in, Jerome could attack and get free.

It would have to be quick. Vampires were faster and stronger so Jerome knew he would only have one chance and that chance had to work. Licking his dry lips, Jerome studied the room again. Nothing. No pipes, no nails or screws in the walls, no areas of the floor that Jerome could try to dig up and use. He hated to admit it, but it was capable of holding him. Skylar had thought this out well and made sure the room would do the job he’d intended it to.

Louis? Jerome paused, waiting for Louis to respond, but again, there was nothing. Tilting his head, Jerome gave his body a check, noting where he hurt or areas that didn’t feel quite right. His head pounded, his mouth still felt like crap and Jerome had to assume he’d been drugged. That could potentially stop him from reaching out to Louis.

“Shit,” he murmured softly.

Jerome stared at the door when he heard movement there, and squinted, turning his head away when the door opened and bright light flooded the room. “I see you’re awake.”

He recognized that voice. “Skylar.”

“That’s me.” Skylar kicked a bucket over to him. “Piss in this.” A plastic bottle full of water rolled his way. “Drink that. I’ll be back later.”

“What? Wait!” The door shut and Jerome shouted again but Skylar was gone. Reaching for the bottle of water, Jerome examined it as best he could in the dim light then opened it. Sniffing it, he took a mouthful and sighed when the cool liquid hit his throat.

Drugged. Damn, and he had no idea with what, but it had to be strong because he couldn’t reach Louis. Something vampires had created? How would he know? He was still new to this world and had no idea of what they could and couldn’t do. He never imagined this would happen to him. He and Louis were still so new and still learning about each other. They’d barely begun and now he was here and he couldn’t reach his mate.

Sipping the water, Jerome searched the room again and still found nothing. He shivered as the cold breeze reached him again and he scanned the door, finding a crack at the bottom where it wasn’t flush with the floor. He could see a strip of light as well, but no moving shadows indicating if Skylar was outside.

Jerome needed a plan. Something that would make Skylar come into the room. Something that meant he would have no choice but to enter the room and check on Jerome. Maybe he was sick because of the drugs Skylar had given him. That could potentially work.

“Skylar,” he shouted feebly. He needed Skylar to hear him, but also hear that he wasn’t well or was weak. “Skylar. I feel ill. My head hurts. I feel sick. What did you give me? I have allergies.” Allergies? Well, if it got the vampire inside the room with Jerome, he’d say anything.

There was movement outside. Jerome could see the shadow under the door and moved into a kneeling position, bent over and holding his stomach. He groaned as the door opened, then cried out when Skylar punched him. Jerome didn’t have time to defend himself before Skylar dragged him from the room by his hair. Jerome grabbed Skylar’s hands, trying to get himself free. At the same time, he tried to get his feet under himself so he could stand and walk, but Skylar moved fast.

Jerome was aware of entering a new room and then being picked up and thrown onto a mattress. Skylar leapt the distance and punched him again. As Jerome lay disoriented, Skylar yanked his arm above his head and cuffed it to the wall. Twisting as he sat up, Jerome pulled on the cuff then stared at Skylar who now stood by the door.

“Why are you doing this?”

“He won’t find you here. You’re all alone now.”

Skylar left the room and Jerome slumped on the mattress. What the hell? Skylar had kidnapped him over Louis? Didn’t Skylar know they were mates? Louis had assured him no one interfered with mates, how important they were, how cared for. So why had Skylar taken him? Was he jealous of Jerome? Or was he jealous of Louis?

Louis?

Jerome waited but there was still nothing. How long before the drug left his system, and would Skylar drug him again? He didn’t have an answer but he knew he had to fight no matter what. He wouldn’t be a victim to some vampire he’d just met. Louis had waited for him, let him grow up, and had told him everything before they’d mated. Skylar wanted something and so he’d done this instead of talking to him or Louis.

Jerome shook his head. Why was he trying to figure the nutjob out? He barely knew Skylar, so he had no idea why he’d done what he had. All he knew was that he could be in danger. Was more than likely in danger, and he couldn’t reach the one person who meant more to him than anyone else in his life.

The door suddenly swung open and Skylar leapt on the bed, causing Jerome to be jostled and the cuff to dig into his skin. He stared at Jerome intently and Jerome stared back. He wasn’t backing down and showing any fear to this vampire.

“Pathetic human,” Skylar whispered, sending shivers of alarm through Jerome. “No one will find you here. I can do whatever I want to you and no one would know.”

“They’d know when you went to work. They’d scent me on you.”

“Would they?” Skylar smiled but it wasn’t friendly. “Good thing we aren’t at my house. I can go there, shower and change and no one would be the wiser that I’d spent time with you.” Skylar looked down Jerome’s naked body. “I can see why he would be attracted to you.”

Jerome resisted the urge to cover himself. Staring defiantly at Skylar, he muttered, “He likes it too.”

Skylar’s hand whipped out so fast, Jerome didn’t see it coming. He felt it, though. The hard slap to the face had him gasping in shock and pain. “Feisty. I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”

“Louis will find me.”

“How? He has no idea where you are, and I know you can’t communicate with him.” Skylar chuckled. “I took care of that straight away.” Jumping off the bed, Skylar waved. “See you soon.”

Jerome watched the door slam shut then stared at the cuff, searching for a weak link. It was clear Skylar thought very little of him because he was human, and that could work to his advantage. The cuff was hard, thick leather but there was some stitching that Jerome could pick at.

He clearly was supposed to be here for some time, so Jerome breathed deeply, calming himself. Staring at the cuff, he dug his nails into the leather around one of the stitches so he could get underneath it and hopefully loosen it enough so he could break the stitch. Then he would move to the next one. It would take some time, but it was clear he had plenty of that and it kept him busy and kept his mind off where he was.

As soon as the drugs wore off he would reach out to Louis, though going by what Skylar had said he was aware they could talk telepathically. Jerome knew Skylar would have to drug him again before the ones he had already been given were expelled from his system. It was simply a matter of when.

If only he knew what time it was, then he could figure out how long the drugs were in his system for. Without knowing that, Jerome wouldn’t be able to figure out how long to delay taking food or water. He could feasibly manage two to three days without water but he was certain Skylar would force him to drink before then. That’s if he was still alive.

No, he had to keep Jerome alive because if he died Louis would know. He’d feel it through their bond and then he too would die.

So Jerome was kind of formulating a plan with what little he knew, which was better than nothing. He wasn’t going to sit there and do nothing. He was going to do everything in his power to escape the cuff or reach out to Louis. No, he was not going to be an easy victim. Not Jerome. His parents didn’t raise him that way, and he knew Louis would be searching for him. They always talked to each other, and by now it had been several hours, so Louis would know something was wrong.

Jerome was certain about that. Certain about Louis. The vampire hadn’t waited years for Jerome to grow up to then not be concerned when they couldn’t communicate. Louis always stayed in touch, even if it was to ask how his day was going or to tell him how proud he was. Louis would search for him and when he found him, he would come for him. Jerome actually felt a small amount of sympathy for Skylar.

If Skylar knew Louis as well as he believed he did then he would also know the kind of vampire he was. Jerome relaxed slightly. He still had to survive the next few hours or days before Louis found him, but he knew Louis would. Louis would save him.