But I don’t want to push my luck. I race out of the small room, slamming the door shut behind me. I’m in a hallway, probably a basement.
“Hecate, fix this lock!” I shout, pointing my finger at the doorknob. Hopefully that slows them down when they wake up.
I race as quickly as I can down the hallway, keeping my ears open for any sounds. Those must have been the only vampires guarding me. Maybe I can make it out if I’m quick enough. Then I can find a taxi, go back to the hotel…
I turn a corner and find a staircase. I take the steps two at a time, pushing through my exhaustion.
There’s a door at the top of the staircase. I press my ear up to it, but I don’t hear anything. It doesn’t mean much - vampires are deadly quiet. There could be a hundred of them on the other side of this door and I wouldn’t be able to tell. But I know there are two vampires right behind me. And once they wake up and get themselves out of that room, they’ll be able to come for me much quicker than I can run.
I don’t like my odds, but I’ve got to keep going. I turn the doorknob slowly.
Another long corridor. The basement was lit by overhead electric lights, but this one is almost completely dark. I shut the door behind me as softly as I can. My eyes don’t adjust well to the dark, even after months of working underground. But I don’t dare cast a light spell.
I step forward tentatively. The next door I come to is open slightly. With a prayer to Hecate, I tiptoe through the door. It takes me into a massive, looming hall that appears to be deserted. There are three-story windows along one side, confirming that I’m on the ground floor. There’s got to be a way out somewhere, I just have to find it.
It’s safer to go back along the corridor than stay in the hall. It’s too large, and there’s nowhere to hide.
I turn back to go down the corridor.
And I stop in my tracks.
The blood freezes in my veins.
Towering before me, his dust-coloured eyes rimmed with crimson, is Lazarus Gray. His long black hair hangs lazily down past his shoulders, darker than the black clothes he wears.
“I was hoping you would wake up soon,” he says, a satisfied twitchon his lips.
I don’t have any time to waste. I take a deep breath, grounding myself down to my feet. I feel the floor support me, the air around me, the moon up above.
I raise my wand in a shaking hand. “Graceful Goddess, protect me!”
My spell knocks him several feet into the air and against the door I just came through. But he’s not completely out. He’s much stronger than the two newborn vampires. Still, maybe it’s enough to give me a head start. At least I’ve startled him.
I run in the opposite direction, deeper into the hall. It’s cluttered with wooden chairs and tables, which I maneuver as best as I can. I’ve got to find a way out, before-
“No!” I gasp, as a clammy hand tightens around my wrist. The pain, along with my fatigue, is enough to make me drop my wand.
The ancient vampire pulls me around, twisting my arm and holding it behind me, pinning me to him. It’s a deliberate, practiced move that I have no hope of resisting. If I had my full strength, perhaps I would be a match for him, but in my current state, all I can do is hope for a quick and painless death.
Which is unlikely.
“Well, well, well,” he says with a grimace. “I didn’t expectthat. A witch, and a Hecate witch, at that. I’m surprised Celine keeps such company. How utterlyopen-mindedof you.”
“If you’re planning to use me to get to her, your plan is doomed,” I tell him, trying my best to keep my voice steady. “She found out that I’m a witch, and she wants nothing to do with me.”
I wiggle hopelessly in his grasp, but his grip only intensifies. A slow, sadistic grin mars his features.
“Kill me if you want,” I breathe. “But she won’t come for me.”
“Oh, I’m definitely going to kill you,” Lazarus replies. He maintains his vice-like grip on my arm, and with his other hand, caresses the side of my cheek.
Despite my efforts to twist away, I can’t escape the chilling touch of his fingers.
“But I think we’ll wait for Tudor’s eldest progeny. I have a feeling she’ll show up. And I’m going to enjoy making her watch.”
A fiery rush of anger builds inside me. Drawing myself up as muchas I can, I lean forward and spit in the vampire’s face.
“Howdareyou,” he snaps, taking his hand from my cheek to wipe his face. His eyes are clouded with red now, his fangs protruding slightly past his thin, pale lips.
