I stride down the hallway, my heart slamming in my chest.Hold it together.I keep my head high all the way until I find a closet that I know is for cleaning supplies. I slip inside and lock the door behind me before dropping to the floor and wrapping my arms around my legs. Before I can let what just happened fully sink in, the little black box on my hip vibrates. I stare down at the new hardware Ajax gave me this morning, cursing it in my mind. I push the little button.
Report to the security room.
I glared at it.Who knew pagers were becoming a thing again? Apparently, the vampires. I stand to my feet, feeling beyond weary suddenly. I step back out into the hallway and start making my way to the security room to stare at screens for the rest of the afternoon. On the way, I give myself a pep talk. I remind myself it’s best this way. I really am a monster. I’m a vampire, and that won’t ever change. Hunter may not know the reason why I’m doing what I’m doing, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter because I am doing to this girl what they did to Ava. And I’m okay with it. If it keeps Ava and her baby safe, then I’ll keep doing it. And I know that makes me a monster. I have to live with what I’m doing. I’ve made my choices; I am who I am. Nobody wants to face it, but I know who I am, deep down. So I’m not going to tell Hunter why I’m doing what I’m doing. It doesn’t matter. He needs to do what he needs to do, and I have to do what I have to do. He’s better off keeping his distance from me; I’ll probably just get him killed anyway. That’s what I excel at. It’s better if he learns that now. I’m not sure what I was doingwith him anyway. Did I think we could have a relationship? A wolf and a vampire? The thought is laughable.
I reach the heavy metal double doors and take a deep breath. I push all my emotions and everything to the back of my mind. I’m on my own now. I need to keep my tasks at the forefront of my mind. I need to find Ava’s blood and destroy it, so the vampires never have a tie to her again. If Hunter doesn’t deliver Ajax, then I will. I just need to keep my head down and stay focused. I don’t know what will happen after that, but I don’t allow myself to think past my mission. I enter the huge room and embrace my cold side. No feelings. No hurt. I’m not sure when I forgot my own rules, but I won’t forget them again.
I find my seat between the other two vampires at the security wall, but don’t say a word. I settle in for the long afternoon. The only thing exciting that happens is a super soldier twitches in his resting state. That’s enough to sound the alarm. It ends up not being anything important, but at least it kept us busy. When I finish, I make my way to the healer’s room. She opens the door on my first knock and steps out into the hallway. “What’s your name?” she surprises me by asking.
“Why?” I ask in return.
She shrugs. “I guess knowing the name of my captors makes the experience a little less hellish.”
I take in her words. “Sherese.”
She glances up at me, as I have a few inches on her. “That’s a weird name for a vampire.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Is it?”
“Yeah, you should be like an Alice, Esme, or Rosalie or something like that.”
My lips twitch. “Are you naming the vampires from Twilight?”
She shrugs. “Maybe.” I don’t ask her name because I don’t want to know. That will just make it harder.
Something about her reminds me of Ava, and I make myself focus on my task. Thankfully, she doesn’t talk again until we get to the room. “You’re different.”
I cut her a glance. “What do you mean?”
She shrugs. “You’re not like the other vampires; you’re different.”
Anger burns through me at her words. “And yet, I’m about to hurt you. So, not all that different.”
She stares up at me, and I feel like she can see through me to my very soul. “We all do things for a reason, Sherese.” Her words tear through me, and I turn away before she can see how her words affect me. I strap her down, but I’m careful not to make it too tight. I don’t meet her eyes when I lower the mask over her face. She stares up at me, and I notice the dark circles under her eyes. She closes her eyes, and I see how pale her skin is. I look away, so I don’t think about it. I collect her blood and then wait for her to wake up. When she’s finally awake and able, we start the walk back to her room. She’s silent, and I find myself missing the conversation from earlier.
When we get to her room, she slips inside without a word. I stand outside her room for a minute and then head towards the elevator. My mind is lost to a whirlwind of thoughts, and I’m almost back to the apartment when I stop short. There’s no way Hunter’s going to want me in his space, not after this morning. I turn around, wandering aimlessly. I try my thumb on several closed doors I pass. All of them flash red. Finally, one flashes green. I stare at it and then open the door slowly. It takes me all of two seconds to realize the room is completely empty. Nobody lives in here. I close the door as relief flows through me. I get busy making the bed with the bedding from the linen closet. There are a few odds and ends products in the bathroom, and it’s enough for me to take a shower. When I step out, I debate a moment but end up putting on my clothes from today, sansunderwear. I’ll have to figure out something in the morning. Not tonight, though. I drop onto the bed and stare up at the ceiling. I miss having Hunter’s warmth next to me in bed. As soon as I realize I’m thinking about Hunter, I abruptly stop. Nothing good will come from those thoughts.
It takes me two days to cave. The second day, I’m up early. Before I can overthink it, I head to the apartment I shared with Hunter. I don’t bother knocking, but just scan my finger and open the door. Hands wrap around my neck, and I throw out my elbow. Suddenly, the hands disappear. “Sherese?”
I jerk away. “What were you trying to do? Kill me?”
Hunter scowls at me. “I didn’t know it was you coming in.”
“Yeah. It’s me.” I stride past him. “I’m just here to get my things, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
I grab my bag and stuff all my belongings into it, throw it over my shoulder, and stride to the door. Right before I open it, I turn back to him. “I’m not sure how much longer the healer can last. You’d probably better get her out soon.” My words are not exaggerated. Yesterday, she had a hard time walking to her room. She was too weak. It gave me flashbacks of Ava when she got so weak.
“I’ll be making my move soon.” I nod and open the door. “Sherese.” I turn back to him. “Make sure you stay out of my way when I come for her.”
I don’t react in any way to his words, even though they burn. I nod. “I will.” I can give him that at least. I won’t fight him. If he can get the healer out, that would be really good. Really, really good.
I make my way back to my room, drop off all my stuff, and then head to the healer’s room. When I knock, she doesn’t answer. Frowning, I knock again. When she still doesn’t answer, I get a bad feeling in my stomach. I unlock the door with my thumbprint. I stride into the dark room, my eyes adjusting as Ido. I take in the healer, lying on her bed. I stride over to her and drop down next to her. I put my thumb on her wrist, feeling for a pulse. I feel one, but it’s weak. “Healer,” I say softly.Nothing. “Healer,” I try again, shaking her this time. There’s still nothing, and fear bangs out a rhythm in my chest. “Come on. Wake up.” When I feel her pulse again, it’s even weaker. I stare at her a moment, willing her to wake up. Then I make a decision. It’s a terrible decision, one that will have devastating consequences. But there’s no other option. I pick the girl up; she’s so light in my arms. She’s practically skin and bones. I walk over to the door, take a deep breath, and then listen. I crack the door and peek out. When I don’t see or hear anything, I take off. I blur down the hallway to Hunter’s room. I adjust my hold on her so I can use my thumb. Before I can open the door, Hunter does. He stares down at me. “Change of plans,” I tell him as I stride past him. I whirl around as soon as the door is closed. “You’re taking her and getting out now.” I can tell he’s shocked. “Hunter, she is going to die if she doesn’t get out now. I’m sure I’m already on the cameras getting her out and bringing her here. You have to take her and go now. I’ll get you both out.” I all but drop the girl in his strong arms, and he easily catches her. “Let’s go now.” At the door, I stop and turn to him. “You’re only going to get one shot at this. Run fast.” That’s all I say before I yank open the door and blur down the hallway to the elevators. When I get there and push the button, I turn back and breathe a sigh of relief to see he’s right behind me. When the elevator doors open, we step inside. I stare out the doors as I push the close button repeatedly. I don’t breathe a sigh of relief, even when the doors close. There are so many things that could go wrong. I don’t look at Hunter, but I can feel his gaze boring into the side of my face.
“What about you?” he asks.
“What about me?” I snap, willing the elevator to hurry.
“Are you coming too?”
