“I’ll insist on making the slayer card Jade’s picture.” I announced to myself—I’d made numerous plans for the task force’s odd card game since I’d been sealed in this coffin and had talked them over solo.
I talked because I wasbored. So bored!
And if I didn’t talk, I wouldn’t keep on planning what I would do when I got out, which meant my mind wouldn’t be busy.
It was vital that I keep my mind busy—for my mental well-being.
I didn’t have the luxury of losing it in here, and while I could put myself in the stasis-like sleep most elder vampires choseover living, I was keenly aware that there was a very good chance I wouldn’t wake up for a few months or years if I did that, and I refused to lose even a minute with Jade and her very mortal time.
Jade.
She was working to find me, I knew it.
I just had to be patient…and hope that she wouldn’t have to face Gisila to find me.
“Not that I don’t think she can’t handle Gisila. It’s just thatIwant to face Gisila and dole out the punishment she deserves,” I grumbled.
I sighed, then automatically felt for Ambrose’s ring before I remembered I didn’t wear it when in task force gear.
Don’t think of Ambrose.
I rubbed at my eyes, then released a very undignified honk of laughter.
“Killian must be furious that he can’t find me, either.”
Killian’s crabbiness was enough to cheer me up and keep me sane in my box.
I tested kicking the coffin again, but the metal lid was still sealed on—either with magic or some physical means my vampire strength—admittedly lesser than a werewolf’s—couldn’t break.
This would have been a much more comfortable experience if I could turn into a bat, but Gisila’s seal kept me from accessing that power.
I sighed. “I don’t mean to be impatient, Jade. I’mnotimpatient, because I know you are trying your best. You are incapable of anything less. It is merely that I don’t like sitting here, with that winged lizard on the loose.”
The hiss from the pumped air was my only reply.
I closed my eyes.
I won’t sleep, and I won’t go crazy. I’m too spiteful for either option. But what do I do?
A moment passed, before I came up with an idea.
“I know, I’ll plan how to best convince Jade to let me drink from her. I always figured I’d have to do a PowerPoint presentation for her. I’ll just plot it out now. Inexcruciating detail.”
While I started verbalizing the many pros of the idea, there was a thought in the back of my mind.
I wondered…Jade was definitely the reason why I wouldn’t go crazy in this darkness, or give into sleep.
Didn’t that mean, then, that despite the pain a human’s inevitable death brought, despite the gaping weakness they gave us…they also brought us great strength?
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Jade
The moment I set foot in the muster room for my usual night shift, I was immediately inundated by questions from my squadmates.
“Any word?”
