ChapterTwenty-Two
FIFTEEN SECONDS
The darkness is absolute and, just for a moment, I’m afraid. I’m alone with a vampire, who could do anything to me and no one would ever find me. As soon as the thought comes it’s gone. It’sKyle. He’s sworn to protect me. And he loves me.
He takes my hand, pulling me gently to him. ‘You all right? You looked sort of panicked.’
‘Uh, no, I’m fine.’ There are tears in my eyes though. I bury my face against him.
‘Okay.’ Kyle’s voice is deep in the dark space. ‘What do I need to do?’
‘There’s a couple of levers, quite high up,’ I mumble, my face still pressed into him. ‘I couldn’t reach them. But you can.’
‘Where… ah, I see.’ I hear a click. There’s a damp odour, the air cool.
‘What is it?’ I hope to darkness it’s not a dead end.
‘Stairs. Going up, though. And quite cobwebby. Don’t think anyone’s been up there for a while.’
‘Not that one, then.’
‘Don’t think so. I’ll try the other.’ There’s another click. ‘Jackpot. Stairs again. Going down, this time. They’re heading in the right direction, at least.’ He scoops me up in his arms.
‘Hey!’
‘What? You can’t see, and I don’t want you to fall.’
‘No cobwebs!’ I squeal. Air whooshes around us.
‘Not a one, I promise.’
I feel as though I’m falling, gripping him tightly. After a few moments, he comes to a stop.
‘What is it?’
‘A door.’
He puts me down and I lean on him. Metal rattles, then there’s a cracking sound. A sliver of night sky appears, the air fresh and cold. Kyle’s hand touches mine.
‘Top up your anti-feed.’
I reach for the little vial and spritz myself, the violet scent filling the small passageway. Kyle pushes the door open further, sliding through the gap. His head turns, silhouetted against the sky.
‘Come on,’ he says. ‘Quick.’
I slide through the gap, into the cold November night. Kyle picks me up again. ‘Hold tight.’
I glimpse a dark mass of trees and realise where we are: at the foot of one of the towers, close to where the Great Forest enters our boundaries. Kyle heads straight for it, at top speed. I hold my breath, curling into him as he moves between the trees, leaves brushing us, the rattle of twigs. My whole body tenses, waiting for the guards to challenge us. Bertrand will figure out soon, if he hasn’t already, that we’re gone.
‘Hold tight.’ There’s a moment of weightlessness and we’re over the fence, still running. After a few minutes the thud of Kyle’s feet becomes louder and I open my eyes. We’re on a road, trees either side of us. I lift my head.
‘Is this the road into town?’
‘Yes. We’ll be there in a few minutes. Just hold on, Emelia, I’ve got you.’
I relax as we speed through the night, the dark bank of trees giving way to buildings as we reach the outskirts of Dark Haven. We pass the burned-out restaurant, then the Dome, a line of people waiting outside as we flash past.
‘Are we?—’
