Page 84 of Bound

Would they think I ran? I can’t stand the thought. I lovethem.

I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, unable to take anotherstep since each one feels like a step away from them. I lean against the brickof a building. The tears can be held off no longer, and I sob into my hands.How can I be here, so far from them? I still feel them. Not the way I didbefore. But they’re in my heart. The demon was right. I’m nothing on thisplane. I was someone on the Faery plane, and not because marriage made me aqueen. It wasn’t Beck and Cian’s love, either. Their love wasn’t what made meinto the woman I became there. My love had.

Loving them made me a better person. Love transformed myheart into a huge thing with the capacity to forgive even myself.

I weep in the middle of the street and vow to hold on to it.I’ll hold on to the love I have for them. If there’s any way to get back tothem, I will find it. There are vampires on this plane. Dante talked aboutthem. I read some interesting theories on them. Some believe they are theoriginal vampires and there’s a whole hidden society here on the Earth plane, amighty council that rules the supernatural world. I’ll find them. That’s whatI’ll do. I am a queen, and I can trade on that. The vampires will help me—ifthey don’t eat me first.

I feel slightly better now that I have a plan. It’s aninsane plan, but it’s a plan. I stretch and feel the satchel on my hip andrealize I have something that might prove valuable. The vampire computer isstill in my bag. Its shape and weight are a joy. I won’t be able to connect tothe vampire version of the Internet, but there are thousands of DLs on everysubject imaginable that I can read. Dante showed me some anthropologicalarticles from a scientist who spent years on the Earth plane studying the vampireshere before his contract with the demon came up and he was dragged to hell.

Vampires are serious about science.

It’s getting late. I have to deal with the fact that I don’thave a home anymore. I need to find a place to stay. Where did the lady say thehomeless shelter is?

Turning back to the sidewalk, a neon sign catches my eye. Mymouth drops open as I realize my salvation might not lie with a bunch of vamps.Fate. It’s nothing less than fate. It is not coincidence that I walked throughthe night to get to this spot.

I suddenly know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will gethome. I will see them again. The neon sign in front of me proves it.

Dellacourt Electronics

If it’s broke, we’ll fix it

And it looks like someone is still home. There’s a light onin back of the store, and someone is moving around.

The Vampire and Earth planes are mirror planes. And thatmeans I might just have friends here. Oh, he doesn’t know we’re friends, buthe’s about to find out.

I bang on the door with all my might. I pound and pound, notcaring if I bother the neighbors.

“Dante!” I yell with a mad sort of glee. “Open the door,Dante!”

After a long moment, a familiar face peeks out the window.His eyes are narrow with suspicion.

“We’re closed, crazy lady.” The human version of Dantepoints to the sign in the window that has been turned to Closed. Heobviously thinks I’m insane, but he’s still Dante. His eyes move straight to mychest, and he boldly checks me out.

“I’m here for sex, Dante.” I know exactly how to manipulatehim if he’s anything like his other self.

Dante opens the door immediately.

“Really?” He’s slightly thinner than his vampire counterpartand is dressed in worn jeans and a comic book T-shirt, but he’s Dante all thesame.

“No, idiot,” I say with a tearful smile as I push my way in.I can’t help myself. He’s the best news I’ve had all day. He’s hope. I throw myarms around him. “But I am so glad to see you.”

He hesitates only a second before letting his hands find mywaist. “I’m glad to see you, too. How do we know each other? If I owe youmoney, I’m really sorry. I don’t have any. Did my sister send you?”

“No, Susan didn’t send me.” The explanations are going tobe…weird. “You don’t owe me money and get your hand off my ass. I’m a marriedlady. And you’re going to help me get home.”

Dante steps back. “You want me to call you a cab?”

“If only it were that easy. I need a hell of a lot more fromyou, but I know you’re up to the task. It’s fate. Do you believe in fate?”

“Not for a minute,” he says with a shrug. “Although, if itgets me something, I’ll believe in fate, sweetheart. I can believe in anythingyou like.”

There’s one thing I have that might make this less weird. Orat the very least more believable. I reach into my satchel and pull out theunassuming computer Vampire Dante gave me. It’s the proof I need. “How aboutvampires?”

Human Dante makes a couple of vomiting sounds. “Oh, god, no.Not one of those. Please go away, Twihard. Do you know how many comments I’vegotten since Twilight came out? I know I look a little like him, butseriously, not even for tits like yours will I put in plastic fangs and actlike I can sparkle.”

So like his vampire counterpart. “First, you do not looklike him. Not even close. Second, I told you, I’m married. Third, pleasesparkle for me. It would be funny. Now, shut up and listen. I think you’ll findthis interesting.” I hand the computer to him.

Dante takes the tablet but doesn’t seem impressed. “This isan iPad. I think it’s nice that you have one. Can I go to bed now?”