Michael bends down, then hands me a small, sheathed blade. It’s warm and makes me feel a little less vulnerable.
Then the lights go out, plunging the clearing into darkness. Someone screams. As my vision adjusts, I see the woman who told me off in the van running, blindly, her hands out. I can see, but realise she, and the other humans, can’t see much at all. I remember standing at a fence, Joaquin’s hands on me as I stared into the depths of the forest. And then what we did after. Oh, darkness. We cannot be here.Icannot be here.
‘We have to get out of here,’ I say.
‘Agreed.’ The tension in Michael’s voice matches my own.
‘What’s our best option? Fighting back-to-back? Damn. I wish I had a larger blade.’
Michael laughs.
‘What?’
‘You’re amazing, you know that?’
‘Just don’t want to die today. And I’d be pretty happy if you could avoid doing the same.’
‘No one is going to die today.’ The voice is cool, and female. ‘Not even you, Michael, though darkness knows you deserve it.’
I realise, with a start, that the clearing is full of figures dressed in black.
Vampires.
ChapterForty
SECRETS AND LIES
Afigure comes forward, moonlight faint on her face. She’s tall and curvy, with long blonde hair. Her face is pretty, almost doll-like, with her cupid’s-bow mouth, pointed nose and wide blue eyes, a sprinkle of freckles across her pale skin.
‘How does she know your name?’ I take a step away from Michael, the knife clutched in my hand.
‘Yes, tell her, Michael. How do we know each other?’
‘Cut the bullshit, Cass.’ Michael’s voice is low and fierce.
Cass?The female comes so close that her black leathers brush against me as she kisses Michael on the cheek. Then her attention turns to me.
‘Who the fuck is this?’ She bends her head, sniffing.
I stiffen, lifting my chin. I don’t care who she is, or who she thinks Michael is to her, but I’m not prey to be scented. ‘Stop sniffing me.’
‘She smells like you.’ Cass lifts her head, her eyes wide. ‘Is she another blood-borne human? I thought they were all murdered.’
‘Her name is Emelia.’ Michael grits out the words.
I’ve had enough. ‘Who the fuck are you?’ I hiss. ‘If you’re going to hunt us, just get on with it. Or let us go.’
‘Hunt you?’ Cass bursts out laughing. There’s more laughter, from the other vampires in the clearing. ‘Have you told her nothing, Michael?’
‘Just get on with it.’ Michael’s voice is hard, his arms folded. Then, to me, ‘They won’t let us go.’
‘He’s right, I’m afraid.’ Cass grins, her dropped fangs delicate points. ‘Come on. It’s time to show you your new home.’
Our new home?I’m so furious I barely notice as the vampires close in on us, herding us towards a path through the trees. Michael reaches for my hand. I pull away. Hurt lances, deep in my chest. I storm ahead of him, but he catches my arm.
‘Let go of me!’
‘You need to stay close.’
