Page 42 of Blood that Burns
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LAW
“What’s with the goofy grin?” Anderson calls from his perch in the shadows.
I turn my head to deliver my fiercest scowl. It falls short because the dick chuckles, which is so unlike the broody, hard Neil Anderson I’ve come to know.
“I wasn’t smiling.”
“And I’m not a vampire,” he grunts.
I roll my eyes, needing to get out of this block and away from Anderson’s too-keen scrutiny. I’m happy that the girls are reunited and that for once, things are going smoothly. That does not equal me grinning like a lovesick puppy. Or whatever the hell he said.
“Where are the others?”
“They’re in block E. Chad’s down there,” Anderson says, never removing his eyes from the girls huddled together in the cell.
“Are they making any headway?”
He shakes his head slowly, puffing out one side of his cheek. “Their transitions have been almost nonexistent. They’re stubborn.”
“That’s true, but I think it’s more than that. They were too privileged in their former lives, and I think a part of them doesn’t want to deal with the reality of their new situation. They were New Orleans royalty.” I blow out a ragged breath. “Their money will make it easier than most for them to transition back into their former lives.”
He shrugs. “You and I know this, but they’re half mad.”
“Half?”
“Full-fledged.” His mouth twitches. “Head that way. I’ll radio Chad to let him know you’re coming.”
“Keep a close eye on things. I know she’s doing well, but you and I both know that setbacks can come swiftly. No harm had better come to Maggie.”
He smacks his lips. “They’re fine. I’ll watch them.”
I sense a slight hint of annoyance at my words. Anderson can rib me all he wants about goofy grins, but the vamp’s got it bad for Shannon. I have no doubt she’ll bring him to his knees before her time here is through.
I head off toward the new block, wondering what I’m going to find. A dozen of my former friends are grappling with their new reality, and this will be the first time I’ll see them since that dreadful night.
The shame has been too great. It was my party where they were taken, and therefore their change is on my shoulders. It’s a heavy burden to bear.
I’m outside the thick metal door that separates me from them, and I don’t need to step through to the other side to know it’s complete bedlam. Their screams of insanity rattle my eardrums, and my stomach turns. It’s so much worse than I even imagined.
The door swings open and a young, brown-haired boy that’s built like a brick house looks up at me with impatience.
“Well, you comin’, or you gonna stand out here all night?” His thick Bostonian accent catches me off guard more than his insolence.
“What’s the hurry?” I snap.
“Anderson told me I could take a break when you got down here. My head’s pounding, man. I’ve been listening to their screeching for hours.”
“It’s been like this all day?”
He nods. “This is tame. Earlier, one of them was banging his head against the bars, getting blood all over. While another was throwing feces at me. I’ve seen a lot, Prince, but today has me at my breaking point.”
I rub at my temple, feeling sorry for the kid. He can’t be much older than twenty-five, close to Maggie and Marina’s age. I wonder how and when he turned.
Instead of asking and opening a topic I’m sure he’s not eager to discuss, I pat him on the shoulder.
“Go ahead. I’ve got this. Take as much time as you need.”