Page 122 of The Guardian's Curse

Her eyes flitted around the room. The apartment looked like a model, without a single touch of personality.A petite blonde woman sat on the couch with Danielle, holding her hand tightly. Her sister was staring at Olivia with terror in her eyes.

None of it added up, but one thing was clear. She needed to get Danielle the hell out of here. Shifting her hand carefully, Olivia looked up at the brawny man. He grinned, baring strangely sharp teeth. “Shit, you really are identical. Darken her hair a little, and they’ll be a matching set,” he said. As he spoke, she could see the vein in his throat shifting along his windpipe.

She had often fantasized about returning to the past, finding Mike Mason, and putting something sharp in his throat. That ship had sailed, but this would have to do. With a strength that surprised her, she stabbed the key into his throat. The man jerked in surprise and clapped a hand to his throat. Blood spurted through his fingers. “Bitch,” he gurgled.

“Dani, let’s go!” she screamed, breaking away to reach for her sister.

But Danielle just sat on the couch, staring at her. “I’m so sorry.”

Where was the blonde woman?

Hands wrapped around her shoulders and yanked her back so hard she stumbled. “You shouldn’t have done that,” a woman’s voice hissed. Inexplicably, warm lips closed on her throat. Then something sharp pierced through her skin, and a hand closed on her throat. Black closed in, and the last thing she heard was her sister crying out a fading apology.

I’m so sorry.

* * *

Consciousness was accompanied by a sharp pain in her forearm. Olivia shook awake and let out a shrill scream when she looked down to see messy dark hair swaying slightly below her.Slurping sounds accompanied the pain in her arm, sending acid through her nerve endings. Gleaming red eyes lifted to glare at her. “It’s awake,” the man complained. Blood dripped from his lips.

Her blood.

She tried to clamber to her feet, but something bound her limbs to a chair. Her right arm was untied, but held tightly by the man with the glowing red eyes. “Help!” she screamed.

Feet shuffled behind her, then someone shoved a cloth into her mouth. As it was tied tightly, her hair tugged painfully against her scalp. She looked around frantically. Dilapidated walls surrounded her, covered in graffiti that was dimly lit by a single electric lantern in the corner. In the far corner, a man in black folded his arms over his chest, watching her intently. The dark brown hair and well-groomed beard were the same she’d seen in Dani’s apartment.

“Mmph!” she protested, lunging out of the chair. Then he was gone in a blur, and a hand closed on her throat.

Cool lips brushed her ear. “Go ahead and scream,” he said, his voice curiously gentle. “It tastes better when you’re afraid.” Teeth sank into her arm again as he held her from behind. Panic overwhelmed her. She couldn’t think straight, couldn’t even grasp what had happened to her. The pain of the bite intensified, and she felt tears leaking from her eyes as she panicked, trying to catch her breath. The grip on her throat faltered, and she saw a large hand tap the other man’s head. “That’s enough for you. Pay up if you want more.”

The man who’d bitten her raised his head. His blood-stained lips curled into a sneer. His red eyes skimmed over Olivia appreciatively. “Tasty,” he said.

The dark-haired man pressed her free wrist to the chair and strapped it down. The stiff metal and tilted back reminded her of a dentist’s chair designed by a sadomasochist. She tried in vain to pull at her limbs, but there was no give. Ignoring her muffled screams, the bearded man pressed his fingers to her throat. A few seconds later, he said, “That’s enough for today.”

He bent in front of her and pried up her eyelids. His red eyes flitted back and forth. Then he loosened the straps on her limbs and pointed a finger in her face. “Don’t fight me. I’d rather not, but I’ve got no qualms about breaking your spine if you decide to kick me in the face or some other nonsense.”

Fear prickled down her spine as he lifted her out of the seat. He moved so fast it made her head spin, and before she registered what direction she was moving, she was in a smaller room. Peeling cinderblock walls were covered in graffiti, and the warped frame of a chalkboard hung on one wall.

A classroom?

The manhauled her to the far corner of the room. The windows were all covered in black-painted wood. In the corner, a metal plate was fixed to the wall with a length of heavy chain. He secured it around her wrist, then pointed to a bucket. “Be civilized and don’t do it on the floor.” She stared in horror, realizing her other hand was free to untie the gag from her mouth.

She fumbled it free and said, “What are you doing with me? Who are you? Where’s Dani?”

“Dani’s just fine,” he said. The way he said her name with such familiarity infuriated her. “And you will be, too.”

“Let me go!” she screamed.

His eyebrows arched. “Or what?” He grasped her chin. “It’s remarkable. You really are identical. Our patrons will love it.” His eyes scraped over her, and he added, “You’re a little thicker than she is. Shouldn’t be a problem.”

“What?” she breathed. “What are you talking about?”

“Rest up,” he said, patting her cheek.

“Hey! Who are you?” she shouted.

But he walked out of the dark room without looking back.She tried in vain to pull away from the chain, but it was tight around her wrist. With about four feet of chain, she had enough slack to get to the center of the room, but no further. Everything near her had been cleared away, except a stained bucket that reeked of sewage.

She stared in horror at her surroundings. “This can’t be happening,” she whispered. She was still wearing the sequined dress that she’d worn to the seniors’ party at Fernbrook. No personal possessions. No phone.

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