Chapter 39

Clara

I followed closely behind the vampire, Ronan. The vampire woman stayed right by my side. She didn’t touch me, but I felt her eyes on me the whole time. The other two freed prisoners followed us.

One of them was injured. I heard the scrape and thump of a limp, and the occasional hiss of pain. I twisted around to look, and saw that the impatient one was helping him to walk. He had slung the injured one’s arm over his shoulder and had his own arm wrapped around the injured prisoner’s waist.

I was surprised. From the stories, and what I’d seen of Kyle, I would have expected the vampires to leave an injured prisoner behind. But then, what did I really know about vampires?

If one of my parents had been one of them, maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to judge. They didn’t have to help me, after all.

“Everyone hold still a moment,” Ronan ordered.

The vampire held his hands out in front of his chest, palm to palm. He pressed his hands together, and drew them apart slowly. A ball of pure darkness formed between his hands.

Ronan flicked the fingers of one hand, and the ball expanded until it filled the hallway, wrapping around each of us in turn.

The vampire woman grinned at me as I stared wide eyed at what could only be vampire magic.

“It’ll keep us hidden,” she whispered to me. “So long as we’re good and quiet.”

I nodded my understanding. As Ronan had pointed out, I didn’t have much choice but to be quiet. But I was careful where I stepped anyway. I couldn’t talk but I could still step on a creaky board.

Ronan led us down the hall, and held up a hand to tell us to stop at the foot of the stair.

“I’ll scout ahead,” he whispered.

He darted up the stairs, or I assumed he did. Once he started moving I couldn’t see anything but a shifting shadow against the dark.

He didn’t make a sound as he moved. For all I could see or hear there was nothing on the stairs but a shadow.

We waited. I barely dared to breathe. The vampire woman put a hand on my shoulder. I wasn’t sure whether she was offering comfort, or trying to keep me close.

The shadows shifted, and Ronan appeared inches in front of me. I gasped and stepped back, almost colliding with the injured vampire.

“Sorry to startle you, pretty one,” Ronan whispered. “Our escape route is clear. Let’s go. Everyone stay close.”

We obeyed. I don’t think we were nearly as silent as Ronan, but fortunately for us he was right. Our path was clear.

I worried that Ronan might have done something to make sure we weren’t spotted. Had he attacked any potential witnesses?

What would I do if they attacked someone while we escaped? I couldn’t just let them hurt one of my own people. But what could I do to stop them? Would they leave me behind if I tried to protest?

Somehow, my resolve was never tested. We moved through empty hallways until we reached a door that led out into the garden. I heard shouting in the distance, but there was no one in sight.

Ronan led us through the garden and between two buildings until we reached the wall that protected the royal compound. I saw how they had gotten past our main defense.

There was a ladder leaning against the wall. I glanced back at the injured vampire. Would he be able to climb?

“Up and over, folks,” Ronan said.

“You go first, Kara,” the vampire woman said.

I shook my head. I wasn’t Kara.

“Go on,” Ronan said. “We’re right behind you. I have to help Kieran. Do you think you could help him down the other side?”

They wanted my help? Would they really trust me that much?

I nodded. I could help an injured man off a ladder. That was not too much to ask at all.

I scrambled up the ladder and over the wall. There was a second ladder on the other side. I looked around, to be sure that there was no one waiting, and then climbed down.

Strangely, climbing over the wall felt more final than just slipping through it had been. I was really abandoning everything I’d ever known. But what choice did I have?

I waited in the darkness, until a pale face appeared at the top of the wall. I climbed back up when I realized that the injured vampire, Kieran, was too weak to hold onto the ladder. I braced him against me and helped him half climb, half slide, down to the ground.

“Thanks,” he rasped. I nodded and patted his hand.

I studied the injured vampire while we waited for the others. There was blood dried on the side of his face and bruises visible on his face, neck, and chest. His arm was strapped to his side, and I knew one of his legs was hurt. It was pretty obvious he’d been beaten.

The vampire woman came over the wall next, followed by the vampire who had been helping Kieran. Ronan came last, bringing the ladder with him.

“Get the other one, will you, Brett?” Ronan asked.

“Right,” Brett picked up the other ladder. “Are we seriously bringing these all the way back?”

“Nah,” Ronan said. “We’ll dump them at the tree line. I just don’t want to leave an obvious trail.”

“Right, right.”

“Tracy, can you and our new friend help Kieran?” Ronan asked.

I nodded. Between the two of us, we got Kieran on his feet.

“We’ll figure out your name once we’re safe,” Ronan said.

I nodded. Right at the moment, I just wanted to get away. I would figure out what to tell the vampires, and how to tell them anything, later.

We reached the tree line, and Kieran slumped between us. Tracy yelped and lost her grip. The injured vampire fell to his knees, barely conscious.

“Damn,” Ronan cursed.

“He won’t make it,” Tracy said. “They hurt him, a lot. He was stubborn. Wouldn’t say a word.”

“Yeah, that sounds like him,” Ronan said. “He needs blood. I’m betting you two are too hurt to donate?”

Tracy nodded, her shoulders slumped. Brett held out his arm, but Ronan shook his head.

“Won’t do us any good to get Kieran on his feet if you collapse,” Ronan protested.

He took out a small, silver knife and held it against his own arm.

“You can’t,” Tracy hissed. “You’ve used too much power tonight. Without you, none of us will make it.”

“Well, what option do we have? I’m not leaving him. I’m not leaving anybody,” Ronan said. “I can do it.”

I looked from one grim face to another, and then to the injured vampire.

I held out my arm. The vampires fell silent, staring at me.

“Are you offering what I think you’re offering, pretty one?” Ronan asked.

I nodded, and pointed to the knife.

I was scared, but I wanted to help. They had helped me, when it would have been easier and safer to leave me behind.

Ronan looked at the ground, shaking his head for a moment. Then he looked back at me and nodded.

“Just a bit,” he said. “I’ll make the cut small, and pull him off before he takes more than a sip. We don’t know how being fed on will affect you.”

I nodded and held out my arm again. Ronan took my wrist in his hand. His touch was surprisingly warm and gentle. I thought vampires were supposed to be cold to the touch, like a corpse.

Ronan made a shallow cut on my arm, and Tracy guided Kieran to the blood. He latched on and I felt the pull as he sucked blood straight from the cut. It felt strange. It should have hurt, but besides the first bite of the blade I felt no pain.

Kieran drank, and the world narrowed to the feeling of his mouth on my skin. I couldn’t describe the sensation, but I found that I wasn’t repulsed or frightened. I thought, distantly, that I should have been.

Then, Ronan pulled Kieran away. He growled, reaching for me. I found myself reaching back.

Tracy pressed a bit of cloth over the cut on my arm. I realized she’d torn her sleeve to make a bandage. Ronan helped Kieran to his feet.

“Thank you,” Kieran whispered. “I’ll pay that back.”

I just smiled at him and held the bandage in place.

“Huh. Figured it’d keep him moving, not get him up and talking,” Ronan said. “Anyway. Let’s go while we can.”

No one argued. They just followed the vampire into the dark woods. I glanced back at the wall, at the only home I had ever known. And then I turned, and followed the vampires.