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“So, do what you must, Mason, and do it fast.”
“What about you?” I asked.
She smiled bitterly. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve been a prisoner, just like the girls in the basement. You know what?” She looked out the window. “What a beautiful night. I think I’ll take my old Chevy out for a ride to the beach. I haven’t driven in so long, I miss it.”
I shook my head. This was taking a turn I had not expected.
“Without the blood transfusions, how long will you live?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Who knows? I might get two weeks, I might get a month. I’ll make the best of it. That’s all I wish, Mason. To be rid of this house, of the knowledge that the basement is never empty, and to be rid of... him. I wish to take long walks on the beach every day, catch every sunset and every sunrise.”
“But he’s your son.”
“Hm. He’s changed. His obsession with keeping me alive has changed him.”
I wanted to say something else, but she raised a hand to stop me.
“No more questions. You’ve got more answers than you thought you’d be getting tonight. I have a long drive ahead ofme if I want to catch the sunrise on the beach. For once, Vincent won’t bring me back by force. I trust you to make sure of that.”
She turned and left. I stood there, stunned, trying to wrap my head around everything I’d learned. After five minutes, I snapped out of it and told myself I’d have time to think about it later.
Maya was waiting for me.
Chapter Fourteen
Maya
I heard Mason’s footsteps thundering down the stairs, and I jumped to my feet. I wrapped my arms around myself and stared at the door, knowing it was unlocked, but also knowing that I didn’t have the courage to march over to it, open it, and meet him halfway. It was as if Lockwood had damaged me so deeply that I couldn’t even save myself anymore.
Mason barged in, and the first thing I noticed was the way he was glowing. It was as if a fire was burning inside him, so bright and powerful that it spilled through his skin. I saw actual flames lick the surface of his skin, and his eyes were aglow.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“We have to go now.”
“Did you get...”
“Yes. We have to go now, Maya.”
He closed the distance between us and scooped me up into his arms. I clung to him as he rushed out the door and up the stairs to the first floor.
I smelled smoke. As he ran through corridor after corridor, the smoke became denser. I felt my eyes starting to sting and water. How big was this house? All I’d seen of it was the basement. I took in the sparkling chandelier in the main hall, and when I looked at the stairs that led to the next floor, I saw flames licking the walls.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“I told you I was going to burn this place to the ground.”
“I didn’t think you meant literally.”
He opened the front door, and we were out in the fresh air, finally. It was dark, and he crossed the lawn toward a truck that was waiting in the driveway. It was massive, as big as a tank, so I concluded it must have been Mason’s car, since no human wouldneed such a big and clunky means of transportation. As he ran, I clung to him more tightly and looked over his shoulder.
The mansion was impressive. Under the moonless sky, it was ablaze. The fire had started on the top floor.
“What happened to Lockwood?” I asked.
“In his room, sleeping. I made sure to block the door, so he can’t get out.”
I didn’t know how to feel about that. Dr. Vincent Lockwood had kidnapped me and kept me either cuffed or tied up for days. He’d drawn my blood after giving me a concussion and effectively erasing my memory for God knew how long. I was better, but I still had gaps. Did I think he deserved to die? Yes. Did that mean I could stomach the fact that he was about to be burned alive?
