Blaire
BLAIRE
This place is creepy as fuck! mind-shouted to Roman. He turned, giving her a nod and a brief smile.
It’s up there with the creepier places I’ve been.
And that’s saying something, seeing as you’re like … Methuselah, and you’ve seen just about everything there is to see in this world.
Roman shot her a withering look, and they continued to creep along another deserted, shadowy corridor. Joking was the only thing stopping from letting out a scream. They were lost, she was sure of it. But still, Roman continued on, as if he knew exactly where he was going.
Where are all the agents? wondered.
It’s the middle of the night, and I don’t think we’re in a hybrid-heavy sector of this place right now, Roman replied.
Does that mean you actually do know where we are? she needled. They came to another corner. Roman pressed her back against the wall, peering around the corner.
No one can see us, she grumbled, but he ignored her, checking thoroughly that the coast was clear before they moved on. There was a set of stairs leading downwards directly ahead of them.
I do now, Roman retorted, striding for the stairs. Farida said to go down if we wanted to find Jude.
When did she say that? demanded, trotting along behind.
When you were talking to Jack outside the Vault.
At the bottom of the stairs, there was a heavy metal door with a panel beside it; a print scanner in the middle of it.
“Fuck,” Roman hissed, pressing a fist to the wall beside the panel.
Hysteria threatened to burst out of . Of course they would need some form of identification to get into whatever was behind this door. Probably cells for prisoners, if Roman was right, and they’d found the place Farida had been directing him towards.
“Shittiest plan ever,” she muttered.
“Who’s there?” a trembling male voice filtered down from above them. Roman’s eyes glowed in the dark as he met ’s. Fear lurked behind those green irises.
Footsteps descended the stairwell. Roman pushed behind him.
“I … I’m armed! I have a handgun!” the man quavered, his footsteps inching closer.
Stay behind me, Roman ordered. wasn’t about to argue. She’d had fucking enough of being held at gunpoint to last her an immortal lifetime.
Booted feet appeared in their line of sight.
Will the cloak still hold if he heard us but couldn’t see us? wondered frantically.
We’re about to find out.
Short, stocky legs and then a round torso descended into view. And then a head, with a straggly beard and small, beady eyes above puffy, ruddy cheeks.
His eyes locked on them.
Shit.
“Who the fuck are you? What are you—”
Roman moved like a blur, the heel of his hand connecting with the agent’s nose. The man’s head snapped back with a sharp crack, blood pouring from his nose and eyes. watched in horrified fascination as Roman dragged the lifeless corpse down the last few stairs, lifting the dead man’s hand and pressing his thumb to the panel.
With a hiss and a snick, the door swung open.
Problem solved, Roman thought.
Indeed, replied dryly as Roman dumped the body on the stairs, stooping to collect the abandoned handgun and passing it to . She looked at it dubiously.
Extra protection, Roman explained. It will make me feel just slightly better about whatever is on the other side of this door.
I could just zip them into goop , reminded him. The thought turned her stomach, but she had to admit, it was an effective tactic.
I’d rather you not have to get close enough to any of them to let them touch you, Roman quipped.
Wordlessly, took the gun. Roman leaned down, brushing his lips lightly to hers.
I love you, Sweetest.
Love you, too, she replied and then followed him as he strode into the darkness beyond the door.