77. Chapter Seventy-Seven
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Elowen Briar
Scattered Bags
The room spins around me in quiet colors.
Blood bags lay scattered on the floor. Some empty, some half-drained.
The smell is everywhere, copper thick in the air, sweet and sharp.
I sit in the center of it all, knees drawn up, lips still sticky with red.
My throat burns from swallowing too fast. My hands tremble from hunger only partly eased.
Imani leans against the wall with her arms folded, her eyes narrow.
She’s watching me closely, but not with fear.
Her gaze is heavy with calculation, with worry hidden behind her steady front.
Kai stands near her, shifting from foot to foot.
He scratches the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the scene but unwilling to look away.
They don’t speak, only toss new bags to me every few minutes.
They just stay close enough to help, but far enough to dodge if I lunge.
Which I don’t anticipate occurring. The silence in the air presses thick against the walls until it breaks with movement.
“I won’t hurt you guys. Seriously, I’m not delirious.
I know what I’m doing. I’m just so fucking hungry.
” I wipe my mouth as I finish the sentiment.
“I guess it’s my nerves. I don’t know why he left. ”
“He wouldn’t just leave you. Also, has Beau ever struck you as the type to leave a door wide open?
The motherfucker checks the locks three times a night so his mind doesn’t convince him that someone will break in.
” Kai interrupts, but continues. “Plus, I know you won’t hurt me.
You’ve shown restraint already. Beau just always drinks his rations in his room, so this is new territory for me.
If patrons want to drink blood in the speakeasy they have to keep it concealed.
Undisclosed bag or cup. No free-drinking blood while you’re there.
” The lump in the back of my throat aches as I picture him saddened over something I said.
I don’t mean to hurt his feelings. I continue to drink from my bag.
“You couldn’t hurt me if you tried, love. Plus, immortality is a big no-go for me. All this is perfect just the way it is.” Imani gestures at her body. Kai glazes his eyes over her body before being caught and mean mugged by her. “We need to get a plan together.”
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin, honestly. Who would kidnap Beau?” Kai asks.
I stop drinking and wipe my mouth clean, “What about Kalevala?” Imani stops dead and looks at me. I can see her gears begin to turn as she recollects the story of how Kalevala attacked him the night I wrecked.
“Kidnap him to make him fall for her? Why would she think that would work?” Kai asks, but continues.
“I met her a few times in the speakeasy. Beau may not want to tell you this, but he knew someone was creeping around and stirring shit up in the speakeasy. I don’t think he put two and two together until towards the end, but I think she’s psychotic enough to pull it off.
She’s crazy enough to think that she could make him submit to her.
” My heart sinks to my stomach and I feel nauseated.
“So, Kalevala. We think Kalevala took him. I have to go find him.” I stand up and brush my clothes down.
“Woah, slow down. Beau would kill me if something happens to you again. We need to stay here. Give him time to figure it out. Beau can work his way back out of this. The only way for us to help him is to make sure you stay safe. That means indoors with us, and not answering that door no matter what.” I push past him, using a little more force than I mean to.
“Elowen, please. Just stay here. Your hunger isn’t controlled yet.
What if you hurt someone?” That stops me dead in my tracks.
I stop at the door and turn back around.
Imani speaks up and gestures at Kai, “Don’t let this go to your head, but you’re right.
” She looks back to me, “Stay here with us. We have plenty of blood for you and we can take turns leaving if we have to, but the biggest help for Beau right now is to stay right where he can find us again. You’ll be the first person he wants to check on when he gets out from wherever he is. You know that, right?”
Kai scoffs, “Wow. Tell me I’m right and then admit that Beau would choose Elowen over me in the same sentence. Hurtful!” I head back to the couch and sit back down.
If staying here and being mindful of my urges is the best case scenario, I’ll stay, but he better get back here quick.