Page 74 of Blood that Burns
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MAGGIE
We pull up to a monstrous warehouse in the middle of an industrial part of town. The front is plain grey metal that extends toward the sky, at least four stories high. The moon is covered by clouds tonight, so the ominous place is shrouded in darkness that only manages to make it creepier.
The inside is likely crawling with evil vampires, ready to stake their claim on innocent girls stolen from their lives.
Just like Marina was.
She steps from the car she and Julian rode in. Her sapphire dress hugs her curves in all the right places. Her legs shake under her, as evidenced by the way she wobbles, and based on the look Julian’s giving her, he’s struggling to cope with that. The idea of allowing her to walk back into this place of nightmares has me on edge, so I can only imagine how he feels. The shift in his expression says it all. He almost looks green.
“Ready, sis?” I ask, sliding up next to Marina, hoping to give Julian a moment to compose himself.
We don’t need him freaking her out.
She offers a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s nervous, and it’s radiating off of her.
I stand tall and push down my own fears, determined to be the one to help calm her. We need to keep our heads about us. To make it out of here. I squeeze her hand, and she nods as though I’d said the words out loud.
“I’m ready.”
We take a few steps, and I look over my shoulder to see Julian stomping toward us.
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask, peering at Julian, who now looks murderous.
Her eyes roll and she grins. “He took some of my blood to fuel up.”
We share a look. Thank God. She managed to get him to cooperate. It was vital, according to Lucresse.
“She’s weakened,” he bites out. “I took too much,” he says as he approaches us.
I drop her hand, running back to the car, where I have a drink that could help with that. Rushing back to her side, I hand her a bottle of iced tea, but a brooding Julian isn’t quite satisfied with that, and he pushes his way between us.
Marina’s face falls and her head swivels as she takes in her surroundings. I don’t even think she’s hearing us at this moment. She’s too lost in her own dark memories.
“I’ll be right beside you, Marina,” I promise, hoping to ease her concern. She’s pale as death and Julian isn’t helping, but saying so will only make matters worse. So I step away, giving them some time.
“Everything okay?” Law asks.
“I’m fine, but she’s not,” I say, nodding my head in Marina and Julian’s direction.
“I knew this was going to be hard for both of them. What the hell does Reese know that she isn’t saying?”
I’m wondering the same thing. Based on Marina’s reaction and Julian’s distraction from it, I can’t see how this scenario will end well for any of us.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Yes?” It comes out more like a squeak, giving away my edginess. The closer we get to game time, the more my nerves are ratcheting up.
“You don’t sound convincing, Magdalena,” he growls. “Maybe you should make the right choice and sit this one out.”
Pulling myself together, I slap him in the gut, playfully trying to lighten the mood for both our sakes. “Stop being a brute. I know what to do.” He levels me with a look that indicates he’s not convinced.
“Are you sure about this?”
I nod. “I won’t let her go alone.”
His eyes close on a deep breath, but when they open, I can tell he’s resigned. “All right, let’s run down the plan,” he calls out to everyone.