Page 58 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“My phone?” My tension returned in full force, only worse. Why didn’t she sound…worried?

“Yeah! I haven’t been able to get ahold of you. But never mind that. How’s your vacation treating you?”

“Va-vacation?” My head snapped sideways, to look at Zola. Everything instantly slotted into place.

“Yeah, you’re having a good time, right?”

“Can you hold on a moment?” I didn’t wait for an answer, covering the microphone. “Zola, why does she think I’m on vacation?” I accused.

“Marco visited her after we brought you here. That’s probably the story he willed her with.”

“He… He did what?!” I kept my voice a low hiss, but didn’t wait for an answer. I put the phone back to my ear. “Ania? You still there?”

“Yeah! So, tell me everything. How are you enjoying Italy? Is it everything you thought it would be? Please tell me you found a sexy Italian guy to show you around?”

“Hah!” A high pitched, laugh fell from my lips. Mainly to cover my shock. This wasn’t Ania—making Marco’s manipulations obvious. The Ania I knew would be pissed at me. Because I would never leave the country without bringing her along. Never. She would have known immediately that something was wrong. I wanted to point out the obvious, but I couldn’t get the right words out.

“It’s… It’s really great so far. Are… How are you? Is everything okay? You’re not hurt or anything?”

If Marco stole so much as a drop of her blood, there would be hell to pay.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Great actually! You’ll never believe what my parents surprised me with for graduation.”

“What?”

“A backpacking trip through Europe—with Carley. They gave me the tickets a few days ago. A whole itinerary, too. All we have to do is catch trains, show up, that sort of thing. Even the museum tours are already set up. It’s going to be amazing!” Ania sighed, obvious excitement ringing in her voice. A spear of envious desire stabbed my gut. We’d talked about doing this together with Carley, more than once.

“I wish you could come,” Ania added. “But maybe I’ll get to see you when I swing through Italy? That’s one of the stops along the way.”

“That’s… Wow, that’s amazing.” My stomach sank with disappointment. “Maybe you will. When do you leave?”

There was a loud commotion in the background. “Now, actually. I’m already at the airport.”

I sucked in a breath. I wasn’t going to get to see her before she left. “I… That’s great! You’re going to have so much fun. I… It’s really good to hear your voice. I don’t tell you enough how much you mean to me. How much… How much I love you. Just be safe, okay?”

“Lils,” she gasped. “Way to go all sentimental on my ass.”

I gave her a watery laugh. “I just needed you to know that.”

“I love you too, little giraffe, you know that.” I rubbed my eyes, shocked they were dry, despite the ache in my throat. “Hey, I gotta run. Mom’s calling on the other line. Ugh. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. She’s probably about to go psycho on me—make sure I packed extra underwear and all that. Oh, and send me some pics while you’re in Italy! Especially of the sexy guys you’re meeting.”

“Okay,” I breathed. “Of course.”

“Good. Okay, love-you-bye!” The line went dead.

I held it to my ear several moments longer, processing. I wanted to be angry—so angry. All that time spent worrying about Ania, that she would be frantic over my disappearance, and she was fine. It was easier this way. Even if no one had told me a single thing. There was only one person to blame for that.

I was too exhausted to feel anything other than relief. The fight had gone out of me completely.

“I didn’t think I’d get to hear her voice again,” I admitted, handing Zola the phone. “When I was with them…on that table.”

Just the thought of it…

Suddenly I was back there again, under the harsh fluorescents, stretched out on the operating table. No. No, I wasn’t there. I was here with Zola.

An arm came around me and Zola hugged me to her. “I’m here. It’s all right. You’re safe.”

Those words… Days ago, they would have affected me more than they did now. Now? I felt…numb. There wasn’t a single tear clouding my eyes, as if I’d given everything I had to the witches.