Page 44
“Talk,” I demanded, not holding back on my abilities any longer. “Did Mordock send you?”
“Yes. He got me the gig. He wants you to join the team.”
“You mean be a vampire?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He sneered. “Why you deserve being turned first is beyond me. But at least he told me if it wasn’t possible to get you to him in time, it was okay to kill you.”
I tried not to look like that had any effect on me even as Julian watched me carefully for a reaction. We’d expected that much, but hearing him say it so bluntly had my insides turned upside down.
“What’s your name?” I asked a bit more softly.
“Vlad,” he answered, and I almost choked. Seriously?
“Did you pick that after becoming vampire obsessed or something?”
Julian elbowed me lightly. Right. Get back on track, Char.
“It’s my name and my destiny,” Vlad said.
“Are there any more of Mordock’s people on the island?” Julian asked.
“Not currently, but he’s working on finding a way. How are you making me talk? I’m supposed to be impervious to glamour.” He wiggled, struggling again, but Julian’s foot held firm.
So Mordock hadn’t shared my secret with him. Interesting.
“You’re going to bring us back to Mordock for a little surprise visit soon, Vlad,” Julian said.
“No. I might talk, but you can’t make me defy my master.”
One of Vlad’s hands slipped into a pocket while the other tore at Julian’s leg uselessly. He was going for something, but I had no weapons to defend us. I didn’t worry much because of Julian, but when Vlad pulled a small syringe from his pants, I panicked and kicked as hard as I could at his hand.
I succeeded in hurting my foot. But it was enough for Julian to realize what was happening and grab Vlad’s wrist and twist until bones crunched. The needle dropped to the ground where I snatched it up while trying my best not to vomit as he screamed in pain.
“It’ll mend quickly with vampire blood in your system,” Julian said, stepping away to allow the man to sit and cradle his injury. “You may want to get that set before it heels wrong. It’s looking a bit…backward.”
“Asshole.” Vlad had the balls to spit at Julian’s shoes.
“You’re lucky,” hissed Julian. “You attempted to kill me, but worse, you attacked and threatened this woman. You should thank me for not breaking every bone in your miserable body.”
“Julian!” I grabbed his arm, and he stopped speaking yet continued to glare at Vlad.
“I’ll kill myself before I betray my master,” Vlad said, getting to his feet.
“No, you won’t,” I said. “You’ll behave and do what we require of you. In return, you won’t be harmed.”
“You cannot promise that.” Julian turned to face me.
“I’m not going to abuse this power,” I said with confidence. “I will not command people because it’s convenient. But I did this so that you wouldn’t have more of an excuse to torture him. He’s the bad guy, so don’t act like you are.”
I’d never imagined a vampire looking shocked, but that’s what happened as Julian backed up a step and his mouth opened in an O. He recovered quickly, but I’d seen it clear as day—my words had gotten to him.
He turned to Vlad. “You will not be harmed by me, but you will face justice for what you’ve done.” Then he lifted the giant man easily and shoved him in the opposite direction of the car.
“How far of a walk is it to the base?” I asked, hurrying to catch up without stumbling in my heels. A glance around showed only trees in every direction and the soft glow of first morning’s light peeking over the tops. I could smell the ocean, even hear the back-and-forth rush of the waves on the shore, but I couldn’t catch a glimpse.
“We’re close,” Julian said, eyes on Vlad even though I’d already instructed him to behave. “Luckily, we were almost there when he jumped onto the road.”
True to his word, Julian led us out onto the far side of the tarmac not ten minutes later. I resisted the urge to yell hallelujah as we made it the rest of the way over even ground to the entrance of the base. Leaning to hover an eye over a black pad near the doors, Julian used his clearance to override the locks, and they slid open.
