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“Not in the bunkers.”
“The rooms aren’t as small as you think.”
“I don’t like the thought of being underground.” I didn’t want to think about the soil packed around the tunnel we walked through. My skin was crawling by the time we reached the small room. There was just enough room for a bunk bed, sink, and table pushed against the wall with a hard, plastic chair.
“Great.” I touched my throat, feeling as if my lungs were half the size.
“We won’t be in here long.”
“This is ridiculous.” All I could think about was escaping.
He closed the door, turning the circular locks until they clicked, and the door settled. “You’re right. It is doubtful a vampire can get in here. We have a ton of security measures up. But not impossible, so better be safe than sorry. You’re one of a few thousand sorcerers left in the entire world. So we have to make sure you’re safe.”
“They let my mom go out and fight. She’s a sorceress too.”
“She’s also highly trained. Her powers are an asset.”
I sucked in a deep breath, but dizziness forced me into the chair. The walls were closing in, and I wanted to tear my skin off. “Please, Draven, can’t we go back up?”
His face crumpled. “I don’t have the authority.”
“Gods, please.” I curled my fingers into fists, digging my nails into my palms until they left half-crescent marks. My red curls poured around my face as I bent over. “I can’t stay here.”
“Here, drink this.” He handed me a bottle of water, which would do nothing for my claustrophobia. I threw it on the bed. I didn’t want to be ungrateful, but I couldn’t think about anything apart from finding a way out of this room. “I think there might be some dry goods in a box under the bed.”
“I don’t need snacks.”
“I don’t know what else to do,” he admitted.
I focused on my breathing and turned my ring around my finger until the skin underneath was red and raw. “Draven, tell me more about the vampires.” The order fell sharply from my lips as my anxiety grew. I needed something to take my mind off being in here.
“You know the stories,” he said simply and sat on the edge of the bottom bunk. “That the goddess Salenia cursed her lover with vampirism.”
I pressed my back against the wall, feeling the slithers of cold press against my bare skin at the top of my back. “Everyone knows that, but I assume there’s more to the story. People don’t make crazy decisions like creating a race of bloodthirsty creatures for no reason. Not even goddesses.”
“Haven’t you asked your mom about this?”
I guffawed. “I did, and what do you think she said?”
He didn’t respond.
I kicked back against the wall then walked to sit on the bed. “We’re stuck in here for gods know how long, and I’m going crazy. At least try to have a conversation with me.”
He pressed his fingers against his temples, then straightened upright. “I don’t know everything. A lot of it is lore, and some of it is classified.”
I twirled a lock of hair around my finger, a habit I’d picked up years ago. “Please. I won’t say anything.”
He shot me a look. “We both know I can’t tell you any classified information.”
“I know, but you can tell me anything else. You know all the books about their history are banned. Except in the guild and the royal family’s personal library.”
“For good reason.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a fanatic. I’m not going to go looking for them or want to become one of their blood donors.”
My gaze fell into his, neither of us looking away until he shook his head. “A lot of it is just stories. Nothing is proven.”
“I still want to know.” I sat next to him.
