Page 76 of Blood that Burns
Damn him for continuously bringing up my weaknesses. Once this is all over, I will figure out how the hell to block him out.
We walk the rest of the way in silence. Marina is tucked under Julian’s arm, looking a little less frazzled.
I hope she can hold it together. This place has to bring back such awful memories for her. I can’t imagine the internal struggle she’s dealing with. But I need her to be strong when we get in there. There isn’t time for meltdowns. We need to be in and out if we want to survive.
When we get to the front door, Law turns to me. “Ready?”
I nod, because my nerves won’t allow actual words.
Julian swings the doors open and a gasp escapes me. The room is grey and white, stark but for the colorful ball gowns of the vampires milling about. They’re all elaborately dressed, wearing various masquerade masks, feeling entirely tooLabyrinthfor my liking. At any point, David Bowie is going to pop up with his crystal ball and the room is going to erupt in chaos.
“This place is horrific,” I say to Marina, whose eyes are trained on the stage ahead, where the human girls stand raised above us.
“It is.” The words come out shaky, and not for the first time tonight, I wonder if Marina can do this.
“Stay close to me,” Katina whispers. “I’ll try to mask your scent as we get into the fray, but it may be no use. Your scent is strong. It’ll be what gives us away.”
“Ever the optimist,” I say, unsmiling in this den of vipers.
“Aww, you sweet human. Didn’t your sister warn you about me?” Katina’s playful tone is at odds with the mission ahead. She sounds far too comfortable, which has me questioning if it’s an act for those around us. If so, she has one hell of an acting career ahead of her.
“Not effectively,” I say, pulling my gaze ahead, focusing on the girls we need to rescue.
We’re meandering through vampires, and I have to consciously refrain from shivering. They’re beautiful with their elaborate costumes and perfect features. Beautiful, deadly creatures.
My gaze catches on a full-figured vampire wearing a blood-red gown. Only half of her face is shrouded by her mask. The exposed part has my heart stuttering. Her eyes glow red. That familiar hue has my body locking up.
A hand wraps around my free wrist and before I have a chance to see who it is, I’m twirled into the chest of a white-haired vampire, whose eyes also glow red. I gasp as he runs his nose up the curve of my neck, inhaling my scent. My eyes slam shut, and a sob escapes me.
“You smell divine,” he coos.
“Please,” I beg, keeping my eyes closed, terror running through me.
All the training that Marcellus and I had done proves worthless in this moment. I’m paralyzed by fear.
“Remove your paws from the lady,” Katina grits through her teeth, “or I’ll dismember you.”
My eyes fly open when I’m ripped from the evil man’s arms. Marina clutches my hand and drags me forward. I don’t have a moment to regain my composure.
“We’ve gotta move,” Marina says, heading toward the stage.
I don’t dare look around, for fear I’ll be pulled back under. So far, nobody else has stopped us, but I don’t want to know if more vampires are on to who we are and what we’re doing.
“I’m here to stop this once and for all.” Marina says to a woman who rivals Katina in the bizarre department. Her head falls back and she lets out a crazed laugh.
This has to be Katina’s sister.
“You absolute fool. You’re human. I can break you in half with one hand.”
“Get away from her,” I growl, drawing the attention of the psycho vamp.
“Twins,” she murmurs. “Interesting. He was right.”
Who was right? Who is this evil woman referring to?
“You knew. Someone tipped you off.” Marina’s voice is low, as though she’s merely working out the details out loud.
The creature bares her teeth in response, and I consider pulling my dagger now and driving it through her heart, but her next words stop me short.