“Isn’t it super suspicious if we all walk out of this tunnel together?” I asked.
“Do you know how I can move so fast you can’t see me?” Clive asked.
“Sure.”
“They can too,” he said.
Clive opened the huge, screeching metal door. We walked out, closed it, and continued down the hall.
Did they get out? I asked.
If they didn’t, it’s their own fault. Will you be okay if I meet Sebastian?
Sure. Go play with your friends. I’m going to try to sleep.
We stopped at the turn leading to our bedroom.
Sweet dreams, darling. He kissed me and all thought dribbled out my ears. There was only Clive. When we finally broke apart, his eyes were vamp black and he was walking me backward to our room. He can wait.
“No, no. You have a meeting.” If the Guild is still standing when we’re done here, I want you to be a part of it. They need you. Besides, I’ve already caused enough of a scandal tonight.
He paused, his eyes lightening to their usual stormy gray. You’re right. We’ve probably pushed it enough for one night. Fine. Sleep well, love. He gave me one more kiss and then headed back toward reception while I went to our room.
After I closed and locked the door, I put my bag on the coffee table. “Listen up,” I whispered to the ghosts I knew were lurking. “I need sleep, so you guys need to leave me alone. Megy! Okay?”
I received no response, which I took as hopeful. I went to bathroom, took down my hair, brushed my teeth, and considered whether pajamas were a good idea. I had to get changed regardless, so I decided to chance it.
Bed or couch? Why did the bed make me feel more vulnerable? I turned on the fire, turned off the lights, and lay down on the couch. Clive had said it was okay to listen in on his meeting, so that’s what I decided to do.
Closing my eyes, I searched my mind for the cold green blips that meant vampires. They were harder to see than normal. The haze of ghosts obscured them. Megy! The blips came into focus and I searched for Clive. Finding him, I squeezed into his blip.
Hello again, love. You chose a good time to visit. They’re testing our fighting skills.
Looking out through his eyes, I saw a training room with mat floors. The other two men, Oliver and Frank, were only wearing trousers. Do me a favor and look down. He did and I saw that he too was barefoot and shirtless. Nice!
Don’t make me laugh, please. They’ll think me quite mad.
The women had changed out of their dresses and were wearing tank tops and yoga pants.
Do you fight each other? Because that seems like a really good way to get rid of the competition.
No. Points are taken off for killing our opponents. We’ll be fighting a few of my kind who are known for their superior skills.
Is it a free-for-all, or do you get to watch and assess the others?
One at a time, so we, along with Guild members, can judge. He glanced around the room. Sebastian stood by a far door. Cadmael, Vlad, two men, and a woman waited along the opposite wall, not talking to each other or the applicants.
Who are the others?
The woman is Chaaya. She’s one of the Asian Counselors. The smaller man with the long dark hair is Dakila, also an Asian Counselor. The last one, the tall one with sandy-colored hair, is Henry. He’s the other Australian Counselor, along with Thomas. Those three, Vlad, and Cadmael are the judges.
But no pressure, I said. And what’s with the timing of this? They poison you and then make you fight? This is all a plot.
I’ll be fine. I’m quite extraordinary, remember?
I snorted as Sebastian opened the door beside him. A Black vampire, dressed only in dark trousers, walked in. He surveyed the five applicants and then nodded at Clive.
Noab was an Ethiopian warrior in life. He’s an excellent strategist and rarely ever loses a fight.
