Chapter 27 #2
“Let her,” the other guy said, amused, but the kind that was cold and mean.
The crinkles around his eyes weren’t even that kind-looking anymore.
They made me think of the talons of crows, and now I better understood why they called them crow’s feet to begin with.
The man’s gaze sharpened on me, and I had to curb the impulse to squirm.
“Please. Go on.” It was an invitation and a trap in one.
I hesitated, then tilted my head as best I could so I could meet his gaze head-on.
“Maybe I got double-crossed. Maybe I’m tired of being the junior partner who does the work while the men make the deals.
” I smiled thinly. “Cut David and Luther out, and maybe I help you.” Perhaps he’d buy it, sharks like this believed anyone would choose what was best for them.
He would expect it, find it familiar, at least, that’s what I hoped.
David spluttered in shock, and I gave him a triumphant grin. I would never betray Luther, obviously, but him? In a heartbeat. “You can’t be serious…” he said, and his gaze went from me to the Sunworld representative.
The vampire laughed, genuine delight flickering across his face.
“Oh, this is interesting.” He considered me for a long moment, his head cocked at an angle, and his dark eyes assessing me as if he thought I might be lying.
I was, but I hoped he didn’t figure that out.
“I’ll have to think about that. You should do the same—think carefully about your circumstances. ”
Then he turned and walked back up the stairs.
David followed, shooting me a venomous look before the door closed and darkness reclaimed the room.
I sagged against the chair, breath shaking.
That had been a close call, and I tried not to think about how deadly this could turn.
I’d never so much as heard Luther mention drinking blood from a person directly.
He’d shown me his supply of packaged blood in the storage basement below his store.
This guy? I had a feeling he was more of a “direct-from-the-source” type, and I really didn’t want him to consider me a meal on legs.
“If ever there was a time for you to prove you can breathe fire,” I whispered, “now is it.” It was the only option.
Belfry couldn’t open the window to get help, so I had to do it for him.
I wasn’t sure if I’d survive another round with the Sunworld rep; he was such a cold shark that it terrified me to even think of seeing him again.
Belfry peeked out from behind a stack of rotting baskets on the shelf across from my uncomfortable wooden seat.
I don’t breathe fire, he said, denying the very thing he’d bragged about from the moment I’d met him.
I could have taken that answer as an admission of the truth, but I didn’t.
I’d seen that puff of smoke. Back then, I’d chosen to believe it was a trick of the eye, but right now, I needed very much to believe that it wasn’t.
“You’re a magical bat familiar,” I said. “Now would be a great time to start. You can do it, Belfry. I know you can.” I shifted awkwardly in my chair to raise my hands a little, painfully tied behind my back as they were. Once I was free, I could open the window and let him out.
He hovered closer, eyes huge. I could burn you. That sounded less like a denial and more like an admission. Hope surged through me, yes! He could do it!
“I know,” I said softly. “It’s the only way.” It would hurt like hell if his flames licked my skin, especially the fragile skin on my wrists. It was a price I was willing to pay. We couldn’t sit on our asses and wait; we had to do something.
He swallowed, then flew to my wrists, clinging to the rope.
A moment later, heat bloomed, searing, sharp, unforgiving.
I bit down on a scream as pain lanced through me, the smell of scorched fiber filling the air.
Not just fiber, but something that smelled shockingly good, considering it was my own skin that was burning. It made my stomach twist in horror.
Almost, Belfry squeaked desperately. The rope snapped. I gasped, hands free, skin screaming but functional. There was no time to cry; I bolted for the window, fingers clumsy as I fumbled with the latch. It gave with a metallic click, and I shoved it open to the pale morning.
“Go,” I hissed. “Find Luther. Get help.” I pointed with one hand out the now-open window, too small for me to possibly slip through myself, but definitely big enough for a tiny bat like Belfry.
I tried very hard not to take notice of the red blisters on my skin. If I did, I knew it would hurt worse.
I won’t leave you… Belfry protested fiercely, desperately. He landed on my jacket lapel to press his snout to the good side of my chin. Please, Jade. That vampire is dangerous. I knew that, and that’s why he needed to go find our own dangerous vampire.
Footsteps thundered above, fast this time.
They sounded alarmed, and I knew they were coming for me.
Somehow, they’d either sensed the window opening or smelled the stench of burned flesh and rope.
“Go!” I snapped, and I bodily picked Belfry up and shoved him out the window.
He shot through the opening, a dark blur against the light, and vanished.
I turned just as the basement door opened again.
The vampire from Sunworld descended alone, his gaze flicking to the open window. “Too small for you,” he said mildly. Then his eyes dropped to the burned rope. “But that’s fascinating. How did you manage that?”
I lifted my chin, every nerve screaming in pain and fear, and met his gaze. “I’m not telling you anything.”