Page 76 of Soul Sucker

“Yes.” The touch of his hand made her feel breathless. She wanted him again. Wanted him right now… She pulled away. “This is weird.”

“I know.” He hesitated. “Suddenly, I don’t care about getting out of here.”

“Well, I do.” She balked at his intimate tone. “It’s just sex, remember? Now should we try that service hatch again?”

He cleared his throat. “When you get up there and find the hatch, open your mind and I’ll feed some magic through to you, okay?”

Vadim sounded remarkably composed for someone who had just had amazing sex in an elevator. Far too composed, actually. Ella made sure to almost kick him in the nuts as she scaled him to sit on his shoulders.

“Okay, I’ve found the wheel.”

“Keep still.” She felt the strange sensation of magical power flowing through her fingertips and the wheel started to spin until there was a creaking sound.

“Now try the latch.”

She reached for it and it sprang free, allowing her to push on the panel and reveal the still, fetid blackness above the elevator. Even though she hadn’t been short of air, the sight of the open escape hatch made her breathe more easily.

“What now?” she asked.

“Get down, and we’ll make sure the elevator is set in the off position. We don’t want it starting up as we’re climbing out.”

“That would be bad.” She climbed down and waited while Vadim searched the control panel once more.

“Got it. I think.”

She found herself touching his sleeve. “So how are we both going to get out of there?”

“Do you remember all your jokes about me being a chicken?”

“How could I forget them?”

“Well, we’re going to use that flying ability to help us get out of this elevator shaft quickly.”

“I can fly now?”

She sensed him smile. “Not quite. We’ll start by you climbing out onto the top of the elevator and then wait for me to join you. You’ll have a better sense of balance and the ability to jump higher and faster.”

“Like a helicopter?”

“Sort of. You’ll notice the difference when you have to jump or reach for something.”

Ella glanced dubiously up at the hatch and then back at Vadim’s broad shoulders. “Will you fit through there?”

“I have no choice.” He cupped her cheek, his fingers warm. “I can’t let you go by yourself, now, can I?”

“It’s okay. If you got stuck, I could probably manage it from here and get help.”

He kissed her softly on the lips. “Thank you. Now up you go. I’ll bring your backpack and jacket up with me.”

She did as he asked and managed to pull herself out of the service hatch without any issues. It really did feel as if she had an extra spring in her step. Whether Vadim’s magic was still helping her or not, she didn’t care. It took all her resolve to neither look up or down, but to concentrate on the small square of the hatch where she hoped to see Vadim emerge. Magic swirled around in the heated darkness and Ella raised her shields. One minute she was alone and the next Vadim crouched beside her.

“There should be a ladder against one of the walls.” Vadim’s shoulder brushed hers as he leaned forward. “Ah, here it is. Do you want to go first?”

Before he even finished speaking, she was reaching for the ladder and grabbing the metal rungs. She started climbing and again, found it easier than she had anticipated. Had she gained Vadim’s legendary fitness along with his magic? That was something she was more than willing to appropriate.

It seemed to take forever to reach the first set of metal doors that led back into the SBLE offices and the obstructed stairs.

“Should we keep going?”

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