“Bingo!” Gabe nods. “The code to the room is zero, two, one, four. I created it.”
I put my hand to my heart. It was our anniversary. Back when Gabe and I started dating when we were humans, he bought me Valentine’s Day candy and asked if I’d be his boyfriend. Though I roll my eyes every year at our anniversary’s predictable date, his thoughtful passcode was undeniably cute. It showed I actually meant something to him.
“But what about you?” Jude asked, exasperated. “I’ll make sure Vinny doesn’t get hurt, but how will we know you’re okay?”
“Once the war breaks out, meet me at the fountain in The Wastes, it’s in the middle for both of us. We’ll help the humans fight off the vampire army.” Gabe’s strong hands found my waist, pulling me close as his lips met mine. “You can do this, I know you can.”
“I have to,” I breathed. “To atone for my father’s sins.”
“What about the secret vampire army? Shouldn’t we figure out a way to stop them?”
“I know nothing about them, so we’ll have to hope we have enough manpower to defeat them all.” Gabe turned to Jude, putting one hand on his shoulder and looking at him dead in the eye. “I’m trusting you to protect him.”
“If you can’t be there, I’m his next best protector.”
With a gentle pull, Gabe brought Jude near, their lips meeting in a sweet kiss. I watched as Jude lifted his arms, grabbing at Gabe’s jaw to pull him deeper. The kiss lingered far longer than mine, and I crossed my arms. “Alright, you two, let’s go. We can discuss how this will workafterwe’re done saving the world.”
With a shared smirk and a lingering look that spoke volumes, they turned, and we parted ways with our guns loaded and our hearts burning with desire.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“AndIthought the Silvertown was grim,” Jude commented as we made our way outside Elysium.
The Wastes remained unchanged, the same desolate expanse I remembered, though crimson stains marred the stone walkways—remnants of the humans’ last visit. Exiles, with their feeble and skinny bodies, lay piled all around. Some lay sprawled in the streets, while others slumped haphazardly against buildings or on benches. A thick blanket of snow covered the area, settling over the Exiles like a layer of fine white dust.
“What are these…things? I don’t know how else to describe them, but they feel sad— hopeless.”
I nodded, running my hand across my welted skin from the constant itching coursing through me. “Exiled vampires are banished to The Wastes for one reason or another by the vampiric authority.” He looked at me. “The people my father and Gabe work for, well, used to work for.”
“What makes them look like that?”
“That’s what happens when you don’t drink blood. Your body still lives, but slowly withers away. When they get too old, they’re usually thrown to the Dogs.” I looked around, seeing moundsupon mounds of Exiles around. “Although it appears there are more of them than usual because the Dogs have been disabled.”
We passed the large fountain in the middle of the courtyard, and I knew we were getting close. It was weird to be out here in the daylight. When I snuck away on my birthday, this place seemed so mysterious and dark, yet in the light it was dangerous and run-down. I can see why I was always told not to come here, aside from the thieves and Exiles who were looking to drain me.
I noticed the alleyway and waved to Jude. “This way.”
“You sure?” He stopped, looking at the crumbling buildings. “This seems sketchy.”
“Trust me.” Together, we crept down the shadowy alleyway, the rough brick of the hotel scratching against my hand as the familiar building loomed. The sign, though unlit in the daytime sun, still clearly displayed its faded yet powerful letters, confirming our arrival: The Carlton.
I led Jude through the front door and into the once grand lobby, its faded grandeur now hinting at past glories. We went through the door next to the large desk where the wizened man sat, checking people in. Glancing right, I saw the men’s locker room and remembered when the lights started blinking when the Unicorns first attacked.
At the end of the hallways was the bamboo-clad tiki bar, where freshly washed plastic coconut cups were heaped on top of each other. A stack of rattan chairs sat beside the drained hot tub, its smooth surface cold and slick to the touch.
“Sauna? Play Room? What is this place?” Jude’s head was on a swivel from seeing a contraption like a hot tub for the first time.
“It used to be a hotel, but it was repurposed when the vampires took over.”
“Repurposed into what?” He opened the sauna door, showing a quiet room with rows of worn, wooden benches.
“Uh…” My cheeks reddened. “It’s a place people go…to have fun.”
He poked his head into the Play Room, and his mouth dropped. “What the hell are those swings used for?”
“Don’t touch anything.” I couldn’t help but laugh at his naivety. There was no way I could tell him what each of these rooms was used for—or that I was yearning to come here just to let loose before we met. This adventure scratched that itch for me, but I never want to go back to being controlled like I was.
I walked halfway up the staircase to the second level and leaned over the railing. “C’mon, Jude, we have to hurry.”
