Page 55 of Feathers From the Sky

“What the fuck?” I mutter, grabbing my phone from the desk as the computers beep again. The cabin and Charlie’s truck don’t smell of tobacco. I haven’t spotted even a single cigarette, nor did I smell it on the man the night before. It’s hard to miss with my sense of smell, so it doesn’t make any sense. Texting Margot, I explain that I think it’s a front for something since Charlie didn’t smoke, and I’m certain there are more people involved than the old crackpot.

I’m startled by a high-pitched ringing sound like last night, only it’s far louder since I’m inside. It’s almost debilitating, vampire hearing more sensitive than human, and I cover my ears. It doesn’t help the noise rattling my fucking bones, and I stumble back. The monitor with the message on it has changed, the background red with black words.

The shark returns.

That’s when it hits me, and my eyes widen. It’s more than a failsafe. It’s an auto-destruct, and I probably only have seconds to get out alive. Sprinting up the stairs, I’m on the porch when the entire cabin explodes.

Tossed into the air, I roar in pain as tiny pieces of silver embed into my skin. I slam into a tree across the driveway, and the last thing I see is the encroaching dusk through the leaves above me.

19

GWYN

“It’s been three damn days!”I shout, and the vampire beside my door doesn’t move, doesn’t react at all. “Where is he?”

Nico doesn’t reply, but he points a steel-toed boot to the granola bar, banana, and bottled water sitting on the ground beside my bed. I flip him off, but I lean over and grab the banana and the water, anyway. I’m feeling woozy, and the blood loss is finally getting to me. Light-headedness is what I blame for my concern about Roman’s whereabouts.

“I know he’s okay, because he wouldn’t trust all these people to drink from me without swearing to him first.”

Nico doesn’t say anything, his silence deafening. His dark jeans and grey henley match his boring personality. He rolls his sleeves up, displaying golden forearms lean with muscle, and he smirks at me beneath an errant strand falling free of his slicked-back hair. He kind of looks like a hotter 1970s John Travolta and it’s clear he knows he’s pretty. I know I should be afraid of him, afraid of all the vampires, but short of being rude, he’s done nothing wrong.

Except refuse to answer a single question I’ve asked.

“If I’m still alive, that means he is, too.”

Not sure if I imagined the minuscule tilt of Nico’s head, I shout, “Aha!” but he doesn’t react. I try not to think about it as I toss back half of the water in just a few gulps. I need Roman to be alright—for my own safety. That’s all it is. It has nothing to do with the way my stomach dropped the last time I saw him, the wounds on his stomach in dire need of attention. It has nothing to do with the pity I feel for him and his search for answers about his brother. And it certainly has nothing to do with my absolutely unhinged desire to let him ravish me. How could I think of that when he was my captor, a vampire, and his people had been the reason for so much suffering? I need him not to stay away, because how can I burrow into his conscience if he keeps his distance? How can I make him desire me enough to keep me alive if he won’t even see me? Margot has been noticeably absent as well, and it’s making me desperate. Shaking—from fear or blood loss, I do not know—I peel the banana and take a bite.

Nico had turned around when I drank my water, and I wonder if it’s because my throat being on display so boldly was too much for him to bear. I could use that to my advantage.

“You know, I don’t think Roman would mind you drinking my blood since you’re already sworn to him.” Nico grunts, stretching his neck, but he keeps his back to me. “I’ve let Margot do it. You’ve let, what, half the coven drink my blood the last few days.” I’m exaggerating, but barely. Based on overheard conversations, I estimate the number to be a little under a third of the vampires in the coven, but I can tell most are old and important. Their vows will mean something. I hold out my arm. Even though his back is to me, I know his preternatural hearing will let him know exactly what I’m doing. “Go on.”

Though most of the vampires who drank from me the past few days were older, holdouts who had yet to declare for Emile or Roman, there were a few younger vampires who Nico had to pull off me. He’d healed me before I knew what he was doing—a swipe of his tongue on my wrist—and he’d shivered and called it quits because of it.

“What does it taste like to you?” I whisper.

That gets his attention, and he turns halfway to face me. “How do you know—”

“Margot. She won’t tell me what I taste like to Roman, but she says I taste like a rocket pop to her.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“How old are you?” I ask, genuinely curious. Letting my eyes peruse him, I try to place him in another time period. It isn’t the first time I’ve done it since he’s been babysitting me, and I truly have no idea. I know he’s older than Margot, but that’s the only thing I’m certain of about him.

“Old.”

“It’s a flavored ice pop. Kids get it from the ice cream truck. Do you know what that is?” Nico stares at me as if I’m some sort of idiot. “Shit, I don’t know, man!” Frustrated, I pick at a hangnail, and when the faintest hint of blood swells up by my nail, Nico starts tapping his foot. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s breathing through his mouth.

“Go put on a bandage.”

“Ah, yes, I’ll just go find the first aid kit that Roman has magnanimously left for me,” I say, knowing full well there is exactly that in the bathroom. It’s one of the first things I found when I tossed the room, searching for anything of use. When Nico’s phone buzzes, I slip off the bed and pad over to him.

He’s definitely not breathing.

“There’s a first aid kit beneath the sink,” Nico deadpans.

“Is that Roman? Give me the phone,” I say, darting my hand out to grab it, but he pulls the phone back with that supernatural swiftness. It’s been days since I’ve seen my captor, and I’ve lost my patience.

Stomping to the corner where I know one of two cameras is placed, I jut my chin up as I stare into the blinking red light.

---