Manni laughs as I tap her shoulder, telling her I’m finished. She leans away and touches the braid. Tears prick in her eyes, but she tries to hide them by blinking fast before they fall. “Yeah. I can see her scolding me when I finally leave this place. She is fiery and has an attitude. That’s how I know she is still out there. She can surviveanything.”
I rest my hand on Manni’s shoulder. “When we get out of here, we should find her. I’m certain Jax wouldn’t mind.”
Emily’s face pinches. “Would he? I get the vibe that he only cares about you.”
“And Cole.” My hand falls away from Manni’s shoulder. “But even if that is so, he will follow me.”
Manni’s smile falters. “Thanks, Saya, but I still don’t know if I want to go. I don’t trust Jax after our last run.”
“About Vinny…” I say, trying to find the right words. “I’m sorry…”
She shakes her head, takes a deep breath, and puts on a strained smile. “Damn, it’s hot today. I’m already looking forward to our morning shower tomorrow!”
Emily and I glance at each other, sensing that Manni needs a break from her past, and silently agree to change the subject to dinner. Cole chimes in, and we all distract ourselves by complaining about the lack of food here while we wait for Jax and Dan to return.
CHAPTER FIVE
ERYTHROCYTES
All blood from Feeding Grounds is to be taken to the Undercity.
— Serun’s Law
A deep redlight flows over me, making the diamonds across my white leotard and tutu glisten. The curtains open, and I face the sea of crimson glowing eyes that fills the theatre, consuming me.
They don’t clap.
They watch, for I am their entertainment.
I stare vacantly at the water slipping between my toes as I recall the dream I had last night. As much as I love ballet, dancing in front of nightwalkers isn’t something I’d want to do anytime soon.
“Three minutes left,” the Bleeder calls from theentrance of the women’s bathroom early the next morning. His face concealed by a mask, I can’t tell if he takes pleasure in seeing Feeders naked or not.
Do they find us attractive? They are still human, after all. They must feelsomeemotions—surely everyone experiences desire. EvenIwant. Not their blood, though. The stench of human blood makes my lip curl, and I enjoy regular food. Hunger grounds me in the belief I’m human…
Human enough, at least.
Manni hands me the soap. After I rinse off all traces of Jax from last night, I clean the soap by scraping off a layer, then pass it to Emily. She laughs but pushes the soap away and says, “Maybe we should have separate soap after you visit your situationship.”
“Oh…maybe,” I reply, my voice flat.
“You should smile more, Saya,” Manni says. “We hardly get to see it.”
I step into the spray, and suds trickle down my long, blonde hair. My eyes narrow as a memory bubbles up, and my eye twitches as I clamp down on my fangs.
My scream shatters the room, and tears prick my eyes as Mum pulls while sobbing, “I’m sorry, Saya. I’m sorry! But these are the only parts of you that won’t hold to the glamour!”
Another sharp pull, and my gums throb, aching for release. Sucking in a deep breath, I shove her away, and she flies across the room. Shadows swirl around me, and sparks of red light electrify the air.
Her eyes widen as she rises and limps back to my side. She falls to her knees, dropping the pliers and cradling my face. “I’m sorry. I just…If anyone finds out, I don’t know what they would do to you.Please, cling to the glamour, and hide yourself from the world.”
The shadows melt into the ground, and the red light dissolves into fragile tendrils in the air. “I know…But why is it happening now, after I bloomed? I thought I justlookedlike one of them, not that Iwasone…”
She brushed at my white hair. “I don’t know why they’re coming through now, but I need you to promise me something.” I nod, too afraid to speak. “Don’t laugh. Don’t talk with your mouth too wide, or it will show your fangs. Can you promise me that?”
“Okay,” I breathed.
“I’ll try,” I say to Manni.
