Chapter 79
Chapter Seventy-Nine
APRIL
It’s funny how things change in the blink of an eye.
As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I can’t help but notice the woman looking back at me is nothing I would’ve imagined a month ago. I also used to think her a monster not that long ago. As a matter a fact, I hated seeing her with her perfect skin and glossy hair.
Now, though?
I begrudgingly have to admit that I admire her.
Her dark locks fall around her shoulders, the golden glow in her level stare twinkling from the chandelier hanging from the ceiling above my head.
The simple black cocktail dress hugs the curves I did not have when I was scuttering through sewers and underground tunnels to stay alive.
Lifting my hand, I trail my fingers up to my shoulder, marveling at the silky skin under my fingertips.
The woman in the mirror looks confident.
She is power and elegance personified.
Yet, her gaze is empty. Hollow.
A beautiful shell with emptiness like a gaping abyss in her soul.
Disgusted at myself, I spin away so I can give my back to the reflection that has unsettled me.
How did it all go so wrong?
Slipping my feet into stilettos, I square my shoulders.
It doesn’t matter how it came to this. What matters is this: I am done playing the victim.
The frightened little girl that used to jump from her own shadow died a long time ago, in this very building.
For some dumb reason, I keep clinging to her like a lifeline, even after my memories from many lifetimes ago returned.
It is time to let her go and deal with the shit storm the mages left behind.
Yanking the door open, I head to meet with the Guardians who will accompany me on this little road trip.
My thin heels smacking the marble makes it sound as if my feet are applauding me for still standing instead of curling into a ball and rocking back and forth like I want to.
Plastering a reassuring smile on my face, I nod here and there as I pass people, hoping no one will notice I’m holding onto my sanity by a very thin thread.
If the two Guardians did their jobs right, Sebastian is busy chasing a dead end and I’ll be able to slip out without drama.
He means well, Sebastian.
I know that without a shadow of a doubt, but this fury churning in my chest can’t be denied. The mages, along with the one that calls herself my friend, lashed out at us when we least expected it.
We paid the price.
And what a steep price it was …
My feet falter for a split second when my gaze locks on Marcus waiting for me at the front doors.
I guess he decided to tag along after all, regardless of all his bitching earlier.
Dressed in a black woolen suit that must’ve been tailor-made for him, he leans one shoulder on the wall, his arms folded across his chest and one ankle crossed over the other like some fashion model ready for the cover of a magazine.
Even with his hair longer than usual, he is a sight to behold, but only if you ignore the glower clearly displaying his displeasure at my plans.
“There is no way you had time to feed.” He greets me with a sneer that is more a reflection of his own anger than how he feels about me—or my diet—at this moment.
I know I’m testing his patience, but I don’t have the time or energy to think about stupid things like feeding or sleeping.
My demons woke up when we lost Andrei, and nothing but the blood of those who wronged me can sate them.
I can feel them whispering incessantly at the back of my mind, urging me to do something, anything really, as long as we get revenge.
We paid a price, but now we will collect our due.
“Isn’t that why we are going out for lunch?” Tilting my head, I make sure he sees how unimpressed I am by all the mothering he’s doing. “What do you think?” Spreading my arms to the sides, I turn in a circle, my knee-length dress swirling around my legs. “I can almost pass for a human again.”
“Only a blind person would think you human, bella.” Pushing off the wall, he juts his elbow at me, and I tuck my hand in it.
“I might be one of those blind ones when Sebastian finds out I didn’t warn him you were planning to leave the safety of this building.
He will gauge my eyes out with a hot poker. ”
“Eww.” Slapping his shoulder, I let him guide me down the stairs to the idling car waiting for us. “Mental image, you asshole. I hope you don’t expect me to eat after sharing your macabre thoughts with me.”
“I see you found another excuse to blame me for everything.” Chuckling, he motions with his chin for the Guardian to get in the car so Marcus can close the door for me. “Hop in, we need to get this over and done with before anyone even notices our absence.”
His forehead puckers when he glances at the sky, and I follow his gaze.
Dark, sinister clouds like some bad omen dart across the gloomy sky, moving faster than they normally would.
The faded blue darkens just as a strong wind gushes at us, flinging my hair to dance around my head and billowing my dress around my knees.
A shiver slithers up my spine. Without waiting to be told twice, I duck inside the car, sliding across the leather seat to make room for Marcus.
It’s not late enough for the light of day to be departing as rapidly as it is, and the towering skyscrapers sprinkled all over the city cast their shadows across the pavement, which isn’t helping much. No, it only adds to the ominous mood.
“Let’s move,” Marcus tells the two Guardians in the front as soon as he is in, closing his door with a loud bang. “It looks like a storm is coming.”
For whatever reason, my mouth dries up at the words, and I swallow thickly, turning my face to the window so he doesn’t notice my unease.
The car is quiet as we glide through the streets of downtown Los Angeles, the buildings blurring in my unseeing eyes.
After the Council fell and we took over, things improved in a lot of ways.
Humans don’t need to hide anymore, and any offense or cruelty towards them is punishable by death.
Sebastian announced it the same day we killed the fuckers, but I knew it would take time for people to believe his words.
I was too far gone with Andrei’s death to know exactly what was going on, but I trust he did everything he could to reassure them.
My breath fogs the glass as I take in the bustling city, realizing his plan has somehow worked.
“We are here,” Marcus says from next to me, and I blink away the thoughts clouding my mind.
“That was fast.” Mumbling under my breath, I wait until he rounds the back of the car to open the door for me. “I didn’t notice we stopped,” I told him as I stepped out on the sidewalk next to him.
“I realized you were not up for chitchat when you ignored my first five questions.” He chuckles at my raised eyebrow, tucking my hand in his elbow and leading me to enter the building in front of us.
The valet takes the keys for the car, and the Guardians follow a step behind.
“My heart bleeds that you would do such a thing like ignore me like I don’t exist.”
“I have a feeling you think you are funny.” Smiling thinly at the doorman, I enter through the glass double doors while keeping my gaze locked on the elevator ahead. “Allow me to assure you, you are not.”
“I’m crying inside right now.” Marcus shakes his head, ducking with a pained look on his face. What a drama queen.
The Guardians at our back snort, then cough to cover their laughter, and the asshole next to me grins like a dumbass.
“Seriously, you’re not funny.” But my lips twitch despite how hard I try to keep a stern face. “If Andrei was here, he would’ve agreed with me.” My stomach drops at the mention of Andrei, and I sway on my feet.
“I got you.”
Marcus tightens his hold on me when I lean my weight on his arm so I don’t drop in a heap on the floor.
All the humor evaporates from his features, and he speeds his steps to reach the elevator.
Dizziness makes the space we’re in spin for a second, and cold sweat numbs my body.
Trusting him to keep me walking, I focus on breathing through my nose, deep even breaths that will prevent me from fainting.
I can feel the Guardians at my back snap to attention, their instincts taking over to protect me from whatever has made me act like this.
Too bad no one can protect me from stupidity.
Obviously, not even I can save myself from being idiotic and stubborn.
The silver doors of the elevator slide open, and Marcus ushers me inside, the Guardians stepping in and hiding me from preying eyes with a living wall made of muscle. As soon as I hear the ping announcing we are on our way up, I brace myself.
“Minchia!” he spits fuck in Italian venomously.
“Now, now Marcus, no need for profanities.”
“If I didn’t respect you as much as I do, I would’ve put you over my knee and spanked you like the disobedient child you act like.
” Marcus growls at me through clenched teeth.
“And don’t even try to say it’s because of Andrei, you hear me?
Do you think he would want to see you wasting away like this? ”
“You might be right.” My lips are still numb, but I manage to push the words out.
“I might’ve delayed feeding for too long.
” Blowing a breath through pursed lips, I try to smile reassuringly at him, but judging by the glare I receive in return, I fail miserably.
“Let’s get this done with and I’ll feed … I promise.”
“There is no need for promises, April.” When my eyebrows climb all the way to my hairline, he frowns at me. “I’ll be standing next to you when you feed to make sure you go along with it.”
“I can tap your vein,” I supply sarcastically, and he snorts.
“Don’t tempt me, or I’ll stop the elevator right now.”
Wisely, I keep my mouth shut.
Feeding makes me too relaxed, and I need to be alert right now.
This crazy plan of mine is an opportunity to learn what our enemy is doing, and I will not mess it up.
The sooner I find the vermin that killed my friend, the faster I’ll get revenge for his death.
At the moment, that’s all that matters. If I knew what would happen next, I would’ve fed on Marcus without giving him a heads up. Just like the old times.
The elevator doors ping loudly and open with a whoosh.