Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Allow me.” Theo jerks me to my feet, my head swimming as I search for Juno in the dark.
“Juno,” I call, but all I hear is ‘I’m sorry’ as if it’s coming from everywhere, the sound like a pounding headache.
“Now that you’ve found your friend, I assume your business here is complete?” Theo is jovial as he pulls me from the room and into the hallway. Vince stands a few paces away, his haunted eyes meeting mine. “Going to shoot me again, old man? It was fun the first time. But I daresay you ruined my suit,” the vampire taunts him.
Theo, whistling a tune, pulls me past Vince and toward the door where I came in. He stops before he reaches it, just a few feet shy of the sunlight streaming in through the windows. “It’s been a pleasure, Dr. Clark. Please do come back and visit soon.” He lets go and whistles his way back down the hall.
When I turn to look, Vince isn’t there. No one is.
I walk back to the hotel in a daze. Some of the soldiers stare, and one asks me if I’m okay. I don’t speak to them, just walk straight to the elevator. Once I’m in my apartment, I turn on the shower and stand under it, Aang’s blood rushing down the white tile as I let the cold water pour over me.
Time passes. I don’t know how much. I’m not here. I’m nowhere.
“Georgia?”
I’m sitting under the spray when I hear my name.
“Georgia, is that you?”
I know the voice. It’s Evie. Evie’s alive. At least, she was. Aang isn’t. Aang was ripped apart. I saw his head. Touched it.
“Oh, god, Georgia!”
Someone turns off the water.
“You’re freezing!”
The water starts again, but this time it’s warm.
“Your lips are blue. Shit, Georgia. What happened?” Evie is in front of me, crouching down and getting wet.
I stare at her. She’s so pretty. Her brown eyes and blonde hair. Gorgeous, really. She’ll still be pretty when Theo tears her head off just like Aang’s.
She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “You’re scaring me.”
Am I? How can I when I’m not even here?
“Georgia, please. Snap out of it.” She presses her palms to my cheeks. “What happened? Where’s Aang?”
That’s a good question. Where is Aang?
“Shit!” She pushes my hair off my face. “What do I do? Georgia, please—”
“Get out!” A snarl, one that doesn’t scare me. He’s never scared me, if I’m being honest. I suppose now’s the time for it, to be open and truthful about the nightmare I’m living.
Evie stands. “What did you do to her?” she shrieks. “Look at her! She’s catatonic!”
Am I? I don’t think so. I’m just not here. Leave a message.
Valen, his big body taking up so much space in the shower, sits down in front of me and pulls me into his lap.
“How dare you touch her!” Evie screams.
“Do you have any sedatives?” Valen’s voice is calm, smooth. “Perhaps in the lab?”
“No, I don’t have any fucking sedatives. This isn’t a pharmacy!”
He cradles me against his chest. “Leave. Now. She’s safe with me.”
The droplets hum, drumming on my head and against Valen’s dark sweater. It’s turning black now, soaking up the water. Or perhaps it’s blood. Aang’s blood. My blood?
Evie doesn’t answer. I think maybe she’s gone like me.
“Georgia?” Valen’s voice is soft, velvety. Blue eyes envelop me, holding me safe in a bubble deep under the sea. “I need you to drink.”
How do I tell him I can’t because I’m not even here?
“It’s all right.” He re-positions me so the water doesn’t land in my face. I see him clearly now. The way he looks at me. The emotion in his eyes.
“I’m not here,” I say softly.
“That’s all right.” He smooths my wet hair off my forehead. “I am.”
“What are you?” I ask.
“Yours.” He bites his wrist then presses it to my mouth. “Sleep, Georgia.”
I taste the first bit of metallic warmth, more of it filling my mouth as I embrace nothingness, running towards midnight oblivion with my arms spread wide.
28
“—did this to her!” Gage’s shout almost wakes me, bringing me to the edge of consciousness.
“You’re lucky I don’t gut you right here, right fucking now.” Valen, his tone cold as death and twice as dark.
“You told me you’d protect her. You—”
“She is not your concern. She is mine.” Valen’s snarl echoes around my halfway dreaming mind.
“He could’ve killed her. You weren’t there!” The accusation in Gage’s voice is sharp and acidic.
“Don’t you think I know that!” Valen roars. “I was busy working with your pathetic military trying to get her somewhere safe before Gregor comes for her. You’ve failed me on that front, and you continue failing me as you have for years!”
They’ve known each other for years?
I dip back into whatever dream I’d been having. I was somewhere sunny, palm trees overhead. Music floats on the warm breeze, the gentle ocean waves lap at my feet.