“But the displays are all out here,” I protest, not understanding.
“Yes, but I don’t want to see those,” she mutters, tugging on my arm. “Come on.”
“What are we doing?” I whisper as Trina drags me into the hall behind the main floor.
“I need to see the vault,” she says, looking around furtively. “And this is my only chance. I know Angela has left the electronic locks off tonight, and I stole a key yesterday.”
“What the fuck?” I say, not understanding a single word.
Trina sighs with exasperation. “I need to get into the vault to find a certain book. Angela has been locking them away—but I know she left the electronic alarm off tonight so she could take a few of her favorite people in without going through the computer system. She hates using the codes and always screws it up—she wouldn’t want to look stupid in front of her city friends.”
“That would be worth the risk of leaving the security alarm off?”
Trina chuckles. “Far bigger risk to look dumb in front of everyone by setting off the main alarm. It would deafen everyone, call the cops, and ruin the evening for sure. She trusts the key a lot more than the software, anyway.”
“Okay,” I reply as Trina drags me up the hall. “So why do you need to get in again?”
“I found a book,” she says, struggling to walk fast in the heels. “It had a ritual for unlocking my powers, but it’s incomplete. I’m sure the rest of it is in here.”
For a moment, the words don’t hit me; I’m too busy getting dragged along by Trina, still wobbling in her heels. When the words do sink in, a confusing bubble of feelings rises in me.
Then we might be able to end the curse! We could save everyone!
The elation I feel at the very thought of this quickly evaporates when Trina looks back at me, and I see her wide smile, how her eyes shine with anticipation.
Is she… just trying to wrap this up, so she can leave me?
“Trina,” I say with every intent of confronting her, right here and now, but she stops suddenly, peering around the next corner.
“Okay,” she says. “This is the vault. Wait here for me and be my lookout.”
“Trina,” I say again, trying to hold her back, but she gets away from me. I hear the clicking of her heels as she disappears down the hallway. My anxiety rises every second she’s gone, and I have to wonder exactly what I’m hoping for here.
Of course, helping my people is my top priority, but I can’t stand the thought of losing her.
The second she gets back, we’re sorting this out for good. I need to know what her intentions are.
I’m so lost in thought, it’s a shock to notice someone in the hallway nearby. I have to quickly cover my reaction and act as if I’m supposed to be here. When I turn towards the person and smile, ready to bullshit my way out of the situation, that’s when I realize it’s Angela.
Well. We’re fucked.
“Owen!” Angela exclaims, taking my arm. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”
She leans in to me, stroking my arm and almost resting her head on my shoulder. Her long, pure black hair is loose to her waist, and her slim figure is enhanced by an extremely tight, equally black dress.
“Oh, I just got a little lost,” I say, smiling bashfully. “I’m not familiar with the place.”
She smiles back, her dark red, perfectly painted lips curving upwards in a smirk more than a grin.
“Well, I was about to bring some of my friends up for a private viewing in the vault… but if you’d like a private interview of your own, I’d be more than happy to oblige.”
She looks up at me from under her lashes, stroking the lapel of my jacket with one finger.
Shit. What the fuck do I do now?
“Angela,” Trina’s voice rings through the hallway. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Angela doesn’t take her hand off me, just turns her head and gives Trina a sideways look.
