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“He has more support than you think. Julian might be able to stop this auction, but our kind will rise.”
I wish I’d taken more time to understand the vampire hierarchy. I’m lost, trying to determine who “our kind” refers to and what man has their support.
“Nicely done, Ratilda. You’ve officially stepped into the batshit crazy category,” Katina says, coming up behind this Ratilda woman.
“Maggie,” a man’s voice shouts to my left.
Marcellus motions for me to hurry to him. My feet stay rooted in place while Ratilda and Katina trade insults and I question whether to trust him or not.
When I look back toward him, all I see is the broken man from his estate. The one who helped me train. The man who protected me for almost a year.
Without another thought, I make my way toward him. Marina is too caught up in what’s occurring between the two lady vampires to notice my retreat.
He’s signaling for me to hurry. With one last look over my shoulder, I practically run to him.
“Maggie. Why... what are you doing here?”
I blow out a breath. “That’s a long story.” I look over my shoulder again. “You shouldn’t be here,” I say. “They’ve come for you.”
He nods. “I know.” Sadness radiates from him as usual, but I don’t have time to think on it.
“I need your help. I’m taking those girls to safety,” I say, pointing toward the stage. “How do I get them out of here?”
“Back through this hall,” he says, motioning over his shoulder. “Take it to the fork and go right. You’ll find an exit. It’ll blend into the wall, but if you simply push, you’ll get out.”
“Thank you.” I lift my hand to his shoulder and squeeze. “I wish things could be different.”
“Me too,” he says. “Go. Save the girls.”
I nod, rushing back toward Marina. Ratilda has hold of her arm, but not for long.
Katina grabs her sister by the throat, pushing her backward, and in one swift motion, dislocates Ratilda’s arm, breaking her connection to Marina.
“Go,” Katina shouts. “I’ll take care of her.”
Marina waves her arms in the air, drawing the attention of some of the girls.
“Girls, run!” she bellows.
I take my position next to the stairs that lead down to the hallway where Marcellus instructed me to take the girls. All I can do is pray that he’s not betraying me and sending us directly into harm’s way.
He’s no longer in the archway, but a girl is. She’s dressed in a blue dress similar to the yellow one I always wore. Her hair is blond, just like mine, and is pulled into a high ponytail. She motions for me to come toward her. She looks so... familiar.
“Maggie,” Marina shouts, pulling my attention from the hall to her.
Most of the girls are headed my way, but two remain, curled into themselves on the stage. “Go help the others. I’ve got these two.”
“Are you sure?” I don’t like the thought of leaving her behind. She’s holding up well, but what if something happens?
“Go!” she shrieks, and I jump into action, ushering the girls toward the exit.
When we’re in the dark hallway, I call to the auburn-haired girl who seems to be in charge. “What’s your name?”
“Ashley,” she says, strong and assured.
I nod. “Take these girls to the fork and then go right,” I repeat Marcellus’s directions.
Ashley looks down the hallway and her shoulders start to shake. “That... that’s where the cells were.”
My eyes close at the mention of what these girls have endured. “You’re not going back there,” I promise. “Trust me. My sister was here once. We will save you.”
She takes a deep breath and bobs her head, before instructing the girls to follow her. “I’ll be right behind you,” I call out.
Marcellus steps into the small stream of light, floating in through the archway leading to the auction. He’d been in a pitch-black room to the right.
“I’ll ensure nobody gets back here,” he assures.
“Thank you, Marcellus. I will have your back when all of this is said and done.”
He offers a small smile but doesn’t say anything else as I run down the hall toward the girls and what I hope is our safety.
