Authors: Jayde Scott
He nodded.
"Promise?"
"I give you my word."
What was it worth? "One more thing. Is it going to hurt? I'm not so good at dealing with pain."
"I assure you there's no pain involved." He stretched out both hands, waiting for me to grasp them. I didn't. He squinted and pul ed back his arms. "So you're ready to give up your own life to save Aidan?"
"It's al my fault. I'd do anything to set it straight," I said.
"But you hardly know him." He opened his mouth to say something else, then closed it again.
"What?" I asked, irritated.
He peered at me intently. "You know he's a vampire, right?"
Did no one but me miss that tiny detail? Rain poured down on me as realisation kicked in. I had fal en for a real vampire, like the ones in myths and legends. It was crazy but true. I could final y understand how a person could give up everything for someone else, even though I couldn't imagine doing this for Cameron. Then it struck me—Aidan and I shared a connection deeper than anything I ever felt with any of my exes. Hopeful y he felt the same way. Too bad I might never find out.
"Your gift wil help our entire civilization."
I rol ed my eyes. "I get it. You're helping your race, even if it means kil ing me."
"Last chance to back out. Are you sure Aidan's worth never seeing your family again?"
Why wasn't he assuring me I wouldn't literal y die? I faltered as the downpour intensified. Aidan meant everything to me. I'd make the ultimate sacrifice and give up my former life. Staring into Devon's eyes I said, "He is worth it."
Devon nodded. "To show our gratitude we'l see to it that your family's taken care of financial y."
Wel , at least my parents and Dal as would never have to worry about money again. "Deal. But you'l have to show me proof that you've kept your word before I keep mine."
Fishing in his pocket, he retrieved a tiny silver phone and placed it on the damp ground, then pushed it toward me, careful not to touch the iron bars. "Keep it switched on. The moment you hear his voice, you leave Aidan's premises and walk down this road—" he pointed at the street behind him "—otherwise he's dead."
When I nodded, Devon turned and disappeared between the trees. I picked up the phone and put it in my pocket. My old phone vibrated. I peered at the unknown cal er ID, deciding I might as wel answer.
"I've been trying to reach you for ages. You should switch that thing on more often," Dal as said. He didn't sound his usual easy-going self.
"I told you I've no reception." I breathed in, annoyance washing over me. "You're such an idiot. Do you have any idea what mess I'm in because of your stupid plan?"
"Listen, I have bad news and bad news. You pick."
Yet more worries. Could my life get any worse? "Just tel me."
"The diamonds are worth nothing." He paused. When I didn't reply, he said, "You stil there?"
My heart fluttered in my chest. If they were worthless, maybe Dal as didn't sel them just yet. "Yeah, I am. Do you stil have them?"
He hesitated. "Yeah, that's the other bad news. I couldn't sel them, not even on eBay. They're not the real deal."
"Are you tel ing me the diamonds are fakes like cubic zirconia?"
"Not just the diamonds, the other gemstones as wel . What a waste of time, huh?" He laughed. "But there's more, sis. There's tiny symbols etched on every stone. You can only see them under ultraviolet rays. Pretty freaky, eh? So I had them inspected by a friend of mine who runs a lab."
Groaning, I kicked a nearby pile of leaves. "A lab? Oh, Dal as, please don't get us mixed up in drugs."
"Don't be sil y. A science lab, obviously. Now, get this. Hold your breath and sit down." He was into show and drama big time. Al eyes on Dal as.
"Just spit it out," I said, impatiently.
"Apparently, they're unknown minerals. In other words, they're not from this world. Whoa! Is that wild or what? Can you even begin to imagine?"
I blew out a breath. "Believe it or not, somehow I can."
"Now I do have some good news. I was going to ditch them when I found somebody who's interested. My buddy's coming by today to pick them up and take them to a paranormal investigator. He says maybe they've something to do with the world of vampires and werewolves. He matched up the symbols with some legend he found in some old book. Says there's a race every five hundred years or something. What a load of crap, huh?"
Werewolves? Were they real as wel ? Nervously, I peered to the nearby bushes, wrapping my soaking wet coat tighter around me as if it could protect me. "No," I yel ed. "Don't you dare give him the stones! Bring them back. Bring them back right now."
"What for?"
"I know who the owner is, and she's quite fond of her stones. Do you hear me? She's very sentimental. So bring them back."
"No way. What if she traces their disappearance back to us?"
I smirked. "Bit too late for that. Just do me a favour and do as I say. I might not be here when you arrive, so wrap them in something and leave them in the kitchen. And Dal as, don't you bail out on me, or I swear I'l kil you."
"What if—"
"No ifs. This is serious," I yel ed, cutting him off.
"Okay." Dal as took a deep breath. "You can count on me."
Yeah. Heard that one before. "Hey, before you leave, I just want you to know that no matter how mad I get at you, I'l always love you."
"Even when you kil me?" He laughed, taking none of this seriously. "I love you too, sis."
"You mean the world to me. I wish I could give you a big hug." I tried to hide the quiver in my voice. "Take care, Dal as."
"Are you crying? Don't get al mushy on me. I'l be there as soon as I can."
After hanging up, I hurried back inside. Dal as would arrive soon with the stones. Clare said returning them wouldn't change anything, but I could at least hope. It was a waiting game now. Aidan would be safe soon, and then I'd leave the gemstones up to him. I changed my clothes and tossed the wet ones into the tumble dryer, then dropped on the sofa and stared at the wal s, unable to shake off the feeling that I didn't get the best deal. In fact, I wondered whether I got a good deal at al .
Several times, I woke up to find new succubi probing my cuts and wounds. The pain was so intense I hung on to my consciousness like a shipwrecked person onto hope that rescue was near. But I knew my rescue might not come for a while. How long did I have before the succubi's poison coursed through my body, moulding my wil to theirs until I longed for what they had to offer? I had no idea and no wish to find out either.
Where was Kieran when I needed him? The corners of my mouth cracked as I tried to cal him even though I knew words were useless. My powers were weakening and any telepathic bond between us would be lost in the depths of Layla's magic-infused dungeons anyway.
Something moved before my eyes. I focused my gaze as the chains cut deeper into my flesh. A pang of pain rippled through my body and I let out a cry, hating myself for nourishing Layla's self-satisfaction on which she thrived. The flicker of a girl appeared; a tiny shape with huge, brown eyes I would never mistake, not even in death.
Amber inched nearer, almost touching me. The succubi shifted, but didn't notice her. Was I dreaming, imagining my mate? I clenched my teeth, suppressing another cry. No need to worry her. Amber stood in front of me now, a deep frown set between her brows, the succubi's flowing dresses brushing against her jeans. I opened my mouth to speak out a warning. Don't come nearer. Don't let them touch you. "Amber." My voice was barely louder than a whisper, but if she could see me, she'd sense the warning.
The succubi hissed, pushing their nails into my flesh. A new wave of darkness washed over me, and with a last glance at the one I loved, I let go, eagerly fal ing into oblivion that'd gift me a few merciful moments of peace.
***
I lifted my head, waiting for that vengeful probing to come back with ful force. When it didn't, I opened my eyes warily. Had Layla tired of me? No chance in hel . Did she come up with a new plan to force me into submission? That was a more likely explanation.
Through my hazy gaze I first noticed the succubi cowering near the opposite wal . The soft light of a torch highlighted the fear in their pale faces.
What scared them? The chain around my neck cut deep as I tilted my head to the side, gnashing my teeth against the blinding pain, and peered at Devon's face.
"Hold stil ." Devon's eyes—two dark pools that seemed to suck in the light—glazed over. The chains loosened a bit, but not enough for me to squeeze through. Devon shook his head.
Two Shadows appeared beside him, a slender girl and a tal , blond guy. I turned my head away, not out of respect but to avoid disrupting their concentration, so they could continue their voodoo stuff, or whatever they were doing.
Meeting Shadows here was the last thing I expected. I was dying to know why my life-long enemies were helping, but I'd save my questions for later. Someone had asked them for help, and I had a strong feeling it wasn't my dear brother. I groaned at the thought of Kieran storming the Lore court this very moment, fal ing into Layla's trap while Amber saved my life. The chains came loose and the pain ebbed to a bearable level.
"Get him out now. I can't hold them in place," Devon hissed.
"I'm not touching a vampire," the girl screeched in a Scottish accent, like I carried some contagious disease. "Especial y not a bloody one.
That's disgusting."
While their banter continued, I forced my body into motion, squeezing through the maze of chains now floating mere inches away from my wounds. Several times I came too close, the sudden pain leaving me on the brink of unconsciousness. My legs gave way beneath me, and I dropped to the floor moments before Devon's concentration slackened and the chains tightened in mid-air, holding onto something that wasn't real y there.
I rose to my feet and turned to face my enemies. "Thank you."
Devon scowled. "Don't thank me, thank Amber."
I glared after him as he turned to leave. What kind of deal had she made with them? Did she even know what she was getting herself into?
"Let's get outta here," the blond guy said.
The succubi hissed yet didn't move. I had no idea how the Shadows kept Layla's slaves complacent, but it seemed to work. With a wary glance back, I fol owed Devon out of the dungeon through narrow catacombs with torches on the wal s, wondering how the Shadow knew the way so wel .
The stale air smel ed of earth and decay, of burned flesh and body fluids. If the Shadows were bothered, they didn't show it. My head throbbed badly. I swal owed down the bile in my throat, and kept walking.
A fresh breeze caressed my skin. Devon quickened his pace until we reached an opening and stepped out into the night. I realised we were out of London, surrounded by trees and grass. The girl retrieved a silver phone from her pocket and held it to my ear. "Tel her we've kept our part of the bargain and that you're okay."
At the second ring, Amber's unsteady voice answered, "Aidan?"
"Yes, I'm okay. They broke me out. I'm coming home." I barely had time to inhale before the girl snatched the phone away.
"Our deed's done," Devon said, but he didn't leave. "Your lucky we're not here to kil you."
The girl tapped her booted foot on the ground as she peered at me, hate pouring from her unnatural y black eyes. The phone in her hands vibrated. A brief nod toward Devon and the Shadows sprinted into the night without another word.
I turned to inspect my surroundings. To my right, railway tracks stretched into the woods; to the left were concrete buildings surrounded by high fences. Dogs barked somewhere in the distance. I had no idea where I was, but there was no doubt I had higher chances surviving here than in Layla's dungeon.
A peek at the black sky told me it was before midnight. I had to find a way to warn Kieran of Amber's pact with the Shadows—if it wasn't too late already. Ignoring the pain in my thighs, I walked to the buildings. They looked like warehouses locked for the night, but I gathered somewhere in there had to be a phone. Watch dogs threw themselves against the fence, crazed by the smel of blood. I hesitated for a moment, then climbed up the fence as fast as I could and jumped to the other side, landing on my feet. Canines pierced my flesh, tearing through the muscles and tendons in my legs. Baring my fangs, I spun and growled at them, ready to fight for my life.
Clare and the others were gathered in the library, plotting Aidan's rescue, going through possibilities over and over again as though they had al time in the world. I excused myself and slipped away before anyone noticed my jumpiness. One mistake, and al could be lost. Devon's warning echoed inside my mind. He'l be dead. I shook my head, shaking off the thought at the same time. No, Aidan wouldn't die. Not if I played by the Shadows' rules.
The first time the phone vibrated on the washing machine, I held my breath. Could they have done it already? The phone vibrated a second time and I pressed the response button. Lifting it slowly to my ear, I whispered, "Aidan?" It wasn't a question; it was hope coming from somewhere within my heart—the part that no other but he could ever fil .
"Yes, I'm okay. They broke me out. I'm coming home," Aidan said.
I wanted to ask him what happened, when he'd be back. Hundreds of thoughts raced through my mind, relief washing over me like a warm rain shower in the summer, pleasant yet leaving me yearning for more. But in those few moments, my throat felt dry, unable to form a word. And then the line went dead.
They had fulfil ed their part of the bargain, and now it was time to fulfil mine. I'd spent the entire day pondering over my options. Run out of the house as fast as I could, praying the vampires wouldn't catch me, or pretend to have business outside and hope they'd be too busy to question my word?
Buttoning up my coat, I snuck up the basement stairs. The door to the library clicked shut as though they tried to prevent me from spying. I exhaled with relief and quickened my pace before anyone changed their mind and decided to pay me attention after al . I reached the telephone in the hal when the door to the library opened again and Kieran peered out. "Need something, Amber?"