Page 88 of Nyte
Haven
Haven could stillfeel the taste of Cypress on his lips. The comforting weight of his body. It shouldn’t have felt so good. But God did it.
His absence ached. But it was a good ache. One that meant that for now, at least for a little while longer, Cypress would be safe. He would live.
Behind the cell bars, Haven leaned against the solid stone wall, observing the wreckage of their battle with Merick. Blood stained the floor, smeared across the cement and brick, caked into every exposed crevice. Merick’s body lay limp and discarded like the trash he had been in life. If nothing else, looking at his dismembered head gave Haven a chill of satisfaction.
After what he had done to Cypress...Haven couldn’t think about it.
Instead, all he could do was wait. Hope that Sirene would be able to escort Cypress to safety. And that someday, he’d be able to see his human again.
Despite his dire circumstances, a weight had lifted off Haven’s shoulders. Aside from Sirene and Thorne, no one knew about Tobin, about the guilt Haven held inside for what had happened to him. Now, Cypress knew as well. And he hadn’t turned away, hadn’t blamed or condemned Haven. Instead, he’d shown him compassion. Not pity. Haven couldn’t stand any more pity. But Cypress had never pitied him. Never.
Hours passed. He wasn’t sure how many. He was thankful for the time it took for his discovery. The longer it took, the longer Cypress would have to escape. But eventually, the sound of booted footsteps drew his eyes to the barely illuminated hallway.
“What the hell!” A horrified vampyre stumbling upon Merick’s blood.
So be it. Haven would play his part.
“Help!” he cried out, rushing to his feet, grasping the bars in clenched fists. “You there! Help me! The prisoner has escaped! He’s killed Lord Merick!”
He shook the bars, acting the damsel in distress. The cells of New Avalon were meant to hold vampyres and humans alike, so he hoped his performance was adequate. But as the guard raced around the corner and came to stand, shuddering in front of him, he knew he was safe. If only for the moment.
“Lord Haven! What happened here?” the guard rasped.
“Can’t you see? The prisoner escaped! He killed Lord Merick and locked me in this cell! What are you waiting for? Get me out of here!”
“But...how? How was a human able to overpower Lord Merick?”
“He’s not an ordinary human! He’s a slayer! He’s been trained to kill us! I’m lucky he didn’t do the same to me!”
The guard’s face twisted in contemplation. His eyes roved Haven’s bloodstained shirt.
“He attacked Merick. I tried to help him.”
“The human overpowered you both?”
“He knocked me unconscious. Threw me in this cell. I only came to after the deed had been done. Why are you questioning me? Thorne will hear of this! Now open the damn cell!” He gestured to where Cypress had thrown the keys, just out of reach.
The guard hesitated before doing as Haven commanded. “Are you alright, my Lord? You’re not hurt, are you?”
“Hardly. Though it wasn’t for his lack of trying. He slit my throat. We need to alert Lord Reyber and the council. Send someone to hunt the bastard down.”
“My Lord…” Again, the guard seemed to stutter under Haven’s glare. “Why do you think he didn’t kill you? Surely he knew a cut to the neck wouldn’t be enough to end your life.”
“How am I to know how the mind of a filthy human works? Likely he mistook the fact that I didn’t rape him as a kindness. He’s been obsessed with me since Lady Varney sent him here. And now he’s made an enemy of me. He’ll find out what a mistake it was to keep me alive. Come. With me.”
He feigned a stumble, so the guard surged forward to assist him back to his feet.
“Lord Haven!”
“Don’t mind me. We need to get to the council.”
The guard slipped an arm under Haven’s shoulders and assisted him up the stairs.
He knew his appearance would draw attention, but as they emerged from the dungeon tunnels, gasps and stares were directed his way.
“Get Lord Reyber! Assemble the council! There’s been a prisoner escape!” The guard pushed through the throng that had gathered around.