There’s no answering smile. Instead, he tugs on a small black box attached to the front of his jacket, bringing it to his mouth.
‘We’ve got a live one here,’ he says. My heart sinks. ‘Thinks she’s a vampire. Lady of Raven, no less.’ He laughs. A moment later there’s an answering squawk of noise. He speaks again, then lets go of the box, returning his attention to me.
‘Right. You going to tell me who you really are?’
I just did.My mouth opens and closes. Why doesn’t he believe me?Because he doesn’t know who you are,my mind replies.Just like everyone else.
‘Right then. Come with me.’ He jerks his gun at me, then turns and starts along the path. I have no choice but to follow. If I try to run he’ll shoot me. I can’t help sniffing. I’m so fucking tired, my throat hurts and I’m desperately thirsty. The pain of Kyle’s betrayal is held behind a dam in my mind. I cannot release it. If I do, I’ll break.
We emerge from the trees, and there’s the guard hut. It looks different in daylight, mostly because there’s a large gun mounted on the flat roof. An open-topped vehicle is parked next to the hut, painted the same greens and browns as the clothes the guard is wearing, the Raven emblem silvered on the side door.
My captor comes to a halt. ‘Right,’ he says. ‘You need to tell me who you really are. Or are you still going with the whole “lady of Raven” thing?’ He snorts. ‘That’s a laugh, if I ever heard one. The only vampire who ever came out during the day.’
‘But it’s true,’ I say. ‘IamEmelia Raven. I’m just… human…’ My voice trails off because I know how stupid it sounds. What had Jessie said, that she hadn’t even known vamps could have children? If she didn’t know, I doubt this guard would, either.
He walks around me, his gun still pointed at me. ‘Tell you what, I bet you’re a blood dancer. Maybe got it on with one of our high lords and now have ideas above your station.’
‘That’s not true! I’m telling you, my family are expecting me.’
‘Is that so?’ He stops, putting his face close to mine. ‘Because Bill says he’s no mention of you on the pass list. And Ravens, as far as I know, are vampires. So tell me, pretty girl, who do you dance for? Maybe you’d like to entertain me. Or maybe,’ his expression hardens and he raises his gun so it almost touches my chin, ‘you’re one of those rebels, trying to trick your way onto the estate.’
‘I’m not,’ I manage to say, trembling from head to toe. ‘I swear it. You have to let me pass.’
‘Oh? Who says?’
Raven says.I remember Kyle on our first night out together, holding a vampire by the neck. I grit my teeth. No. Not here. Not now. I push the pain of his loss back once more.
‘That’s enough!’ Another voice rings out.
My captor tenses, glancing to the side. ‘But sir?—’
‘Lower your weapon! That’s an order!’
My captor’s throat works visibly. He obeys, lowering his gun and stepping back from me, standing to attention.
‘What’s all this?’ My rescuer is dressed similarly to the other guard, though he’s also wearing a black beret with a flash of silver at the crest. He’s taller than I am, with a brown beard and golden-brown eyes set in a reddish weathered face. ‘Who are you?’
I clear my throat. ‘Emelia Raven.’ I try to sound like my mother, but it’s hard when my voice is shaking. However, I stand straight, looking him in the eye.
His eyes narrow, then he turns his attention to the other guard. ‘Is there a reason for detaining her?’
‘Sir! She is not on the list, sir.’
‘So you decided to stick your gun in her face? You know how this works. That list is never fucking up-to-date, anyway.’
The other guard’s jaw clenches. He salutes. ‘Sir!’
‘Right, young lady.’ He turns his attention to me. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To the Raven estate. Er, sir.’
‘Who’s meeting you?’
‘Meeting me?’ I shake my head. ‘I told you, I’m Emelia Raven. Surely my family have put the order out, that I’m missing? I just need to get home.’
He presses his lips together, frowning. ‘Raven don’t share their concerns with us.’ He folds his arms, considering me, then sighs. He jerks his head towards his vehicle. ‘Hop in. I’ll take you as far as the town. I have business that way.’
‘Oh, thank you.’ Relief floods through me. I run to the vehicle, opening the door and sliding into the front passenger seat. My rescuer gets in as well, pulling the side door shut and starting the engine. The other guard still stands to attention as we pull away. I resist the urge to give him the finger, huddling in my seat instead, thanking my lucky stars to be in a car rather than on foot. I’d have been lucky to make it to Dark Haven by nightfall, the short winter days working against me. I’d have done my best, though, because there’s no way I’m going back. Not to the girl I was. Not to the dusty room where Jessie is waiting to change, where ash blows in the breeze. Nor to Mistral, and whatever he had planned. I’m going home. And when I get there, I am going to be the next Raven.
