Page 21 of Blood Lovers

“It’s an illusion.”

I look to my right and find my grandma standing next to me. She’s young too, maybe twenty. Younger than I am now, for sure. She is fair, and blonde, and gentle-eyed. But still, I can feel the wickedness hiding inside her. “I can hear you. That’s not possible. There’s no sound in a dreamwalk.”

“This is my dreamwalk, granddaughter. You are not me. Not yet.”

Not yet? What does that mean?

“Look at him. Tell me he’s not pretty.”

I give a little noncommittal shrug. “I can see it, I guess.”

“That’s how they get you, darling. With the beauty. Never forget, Syrsee. The Devil craves beauty. Even in himself.”

We stare at each other. And I want to say so many things, but mostly I want to say I’m sorry.

Grandma reaches up to touch my cheek with the palm of her hand. It’s no longer frail and her skin is no longer transparent. Then she cups my whole face in both of her hands. “That boy is coming for you.”

The scion. She means the scion. “Yeah. He’s only two days behind.”

“The magic will be gone with me. You must learn to do it on your own. You must make your own choices now, Syrsee. I did what I could, but I can’t live your life for you.” She nods to the beautiful man drinking blood from a child just a few feet away from us. “He will come for you too. He will get you. And he will make you offers, dear heart.” She frowns and smiles at the same time. “These offers will tear at you.”

“What kind of offers?”

“They will tear at you. At your heart, and your soul, and your desires. He will make promises, darling.” She’s still cupping my face with her hands. “You need to be ready to hear them. Because they will be magnificent promises.”

“I’m not going to—”

“Oh, but you will.”

“Grandma. I have the entire Guild of Guardians on my side. They’re not gonna let him—”

“They don’t get a say, Syrsee. Only you get a say. And you. Will. Say. Yes.”

“But I won’t.”

She smiles again. “You’re not listening. This is done. It is known. He is going to promise you something you want very badly.”

“What, though? I don’t need anything.”

“No. You don’t. But someone you love will. So be very sure about the man you give your heart to, my love. Because he will be your downfall. He will steal your soul.”

I blink. And the room changes. And then Zusi is bursting through the door again. “Time’s up, Syrsee! Let’s go! He’s already on the move!”

I look down at my grandma. I’m holding her now. The same way that vampire was holding his feeder.

She is dying.

And so is her magic.

“You are the nightmare she has been waiting for.” These words slip past my grandma’s lips like they were a whisper left over from the illusion.

“What? What did she just say?” I look at Zusi, hoping she heard that. “Did she just say ‘nightmare?’”

But Zusi only has one thing on her mind. Getting me out of here. “We need to go now!”

Zusi grabs my arm, pulling me towards the door. But I resist, looking back at my grandma. “What did you say, Grandma?”

She has one more breath and when she takes it, she breathes out her final word. “Run.”