Gideon resumes the role of protector, stepping between me and the crack. Slamming into the wooden frame, he knocks the door open, bouncing it off the inside wall. The sound of breaking glass and splintering wood echoes through the space.
The lycan alpha squints his eyes, giving me a silent warning. I nod in response. He enters the room with Simon directly behind him. Stella and I let them take the lead.
The room reminds me of my grandmother’s attic. White sheets cover large pieces of what I assume is furniture, protecting it from the elements of Louisiana summers. Boxes are stacked neatly along the edges of the rooms and cover most of the perimeter.
“Show yourself,” I warn. My voice sounds weak, even to me. A testament of how unprepared I am to meet whoever or whatever is here.
Behind us, the heavy door slams shut, while the sound of sliding metal tells me that we’re locked inside. “We’re not scared of you,” I continue.
A soft laugh echoes off the brick fireplace. “You should be,” a deep voice answers. “There are quite a few things you should be scared of.”
“You’re nothing more than a faceless voice. Why would I be scared of that?” Something heavy crashes to the ground behind us. I refuse to acknowledge what it is. “If you were powerful and ancient, you wouldn’t be hiding in the attic of a boys’ school.”
A heartbeat later, a man is standing in front of me. He’s wearing a loose-fitting shirt with puffy sleeves, a pair of skin-tight pants, and knee-high boots. He sniffs the air in front of me with a wicked smile. “Chamberlin’s child.” He bows his head. “Welcome.” He sweeps his hand through the air graciously.
“It’s not much to brag on,” I answer, hoping to hide the terror behind my words. “Callum O’Brien?” I already know the answer.
“At your service.” He looks behind me, as if he’s looking for someone. “Where is your father?”
I scoff. “If you mean Harrison, your guess is as good as mine. He’s been sort of an absent father.”
Callum’s deep laugh surprises me. “You amuse me. That’s rare.” Curly red hair and bright blue eyes are not what I pictured when I thought about the man whose wrath makes Harrison Chamberlin nervous. He looks more like a leprechaun than an ancient vampire. Oh, my God. Are leprechauns real?
“Where’s Cyrus?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know who Cyrus is.”
“With all due respect…you’re lying.”
Callum smiles, moving closer. “Not only are you beautiful, but you’re also quite brave.” Or dumb repeats through my mind. He steps even closer, bringing deep growls from behind me. Callum turns his attention toward the wolves. “You brought dogs, I see.”
I refuse to take his bait, ignoring his jab at my friends. “We’re here for Cyrus.”
Callum stands straighter. “I believe you mentioned that.” He looks me in the eyes. “Do you know why I’m here?”
“For me.”
Deep lines form as he smiles, highlighting an action that’s been repeated many times before. “As lovely as you are, my dear, you are not what brought me to this godforsaken land.” He dramatically wipes his hands on his waistcoat as if they’re covered in filth. “The humans here are so…” he clears his throat, stopping his sentence midway through.
“No,” he continues. “Other than your delightful company, I’m here for someone far more powerful and intriguing.” Callum turns his back toward us, peering through an old window overlooking the street below. “Someone whose powers are far more than I’ve experienced before. Someone with powers that are highly… desirable.” A name whispers through my mind…Terrin. He turns quickly, almost as if he heard my thought.
“Whoever they are, they sound pretty amazing. I don’t know who you’re talking about,” I lie.
One side of Callum’s mouth lifts higher than the other. “Is that so?” Abandoning the window, he resumes his spot from earlier. “One thing antiquity gives you, other than fine woodwork and artistic talent, is the ability to see through lies.” He sniffs the air, reminding me of Simon. “He’s nearby.”
“Who?” I continue my facade.
“The boy,” he answers. “The one I’m seeking.”
“The school is filled with boys. To be honest, that’s a little creepy.” Why am I antagonizing the ancient vampire?
The smile leaves his face. “Do not mistake my hospitality for acceptance. I could take the life of you, along with your dogs, before you noticed any movement.” Seconds later, he’s behind Stella, with an arm wrapped around her neck. She yelps in response as Gideon leaps toward the vampire. Before he makes contact with Callum, he’s thrown to the side, knocking him into the brick walls of the attic. Simon is clearly torn between protecting his sister or his father. He moves closer to Callum, growling a pointless warning.
“Okay,” I answer, hoping to diffuse the situation. “You’ve made your point. Let her go.”
Callum follows instructions, releasing his hold on Simon’s sister. “Bring me the boy, and you can have your precious Cyrus.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible,” I retort. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
