Page 9 of Maddie

One.How was he supposed to choose? They all seemed important. What were they running from? Where were they running to? Vampires? Mind control? What were they planning to do with him and Alice? Kill them? Why the fuck were they ignoring the fact that two vampires were tearing each other apart? “What’s with the underground tunnel?” he asked before he could stop himself.

“This is where the portal to Wonderland is, and you’re in the city of Scarlet. All of the portals are underground. Now”—she put her hands on her hips and looked up at him—“are you coming?”

Noah stared at her as if she’d spoken gibberish. It was a little late to ask him that now, considering she’d already dragged him into this hellscape. What else was he going to do but follow her? Run? With his luck, he’d only get himself drained dry within the hour. Besides, they had his sister. He grunted in anger which Maddie must’ve taken as ayes.

“Welcome to Wonderland,” she sang. “I really don’t prefer to influence humans but most of the time it’s necessary.” With a flick of the wrist, she whirled away from him, then glanced back over her shoulder. “Shall we go?”

“Give her to me.” Noah stepped up to Ferris and slid his arms under Alice, pulling her away from the vampire. It didn’t matter how far they had to travel—he’d be damned if he let anyone else touch her, no matter their motives.

“You sure you can carry her all the way to the safe house?” the vampire asked, relinquishing Alice.

“Don’t worry about me.” Noah hoisted Alice higher, adjusting his grip. “What’s going to happen to her? Will she be okay?”

Maddie ushered him forward and gave a surprised gasp. “I almost forgot! Drink this.”

“Drink wha—”

She pressed a smooth glass bottle to his lips. Cool, tasteless liquid flowed over his tongue and down his throat. He sputtered, half of it spraying Maddie in her face.

She wrinkled her nose in distaste and wiped it off with her arm sleeve. “It will allow you to see better since Wonderland has no sun. The muted grays in the morning will be fine for you, but tonight we’re going into a lowly-lit part of the city.” Maddie poked at his back to make him walk faster. “Now, chop-chop. We don’t want to get separated from Ferris.”

Get separated? Ferris was right—gone.Noah searched the lit street and watched him turn left at a crossroad. How had he moved so fast? It wasn’t— Noah winced.It wasn’t natural, he thought. But it was …for them.

“Go on then, slowcoach,” Maddie insisted. “Ferris has the keys to the safe house.”

A sharp scream sounded in the distance, quickly turning to a moan. Noah’s heart pounded and his breath came quicker. How did a nightmarish place like this exist and no one know about it? If anyone found out, he was sure the world leaders would find a way to bury these portals. They could block the tunnels with cement or throw a bomb down the holes.

“Bloody hell,” he whispered to himself. “Where are we?”

“Have you been listening to anything I said, mortal? Your sister has enemies searching for her.” Maddie placed her hands on his back and pushed him, holding Alice, farther into the city. “There are many vampires who travel here for the portal. We have to get to the safe house before we draw too much attention.”

Noah heard the truth in her tone and hurried his steps to where he’d seen Ferris disappear. It must’ve been the right direction since Maddie finally stopped shoving him and moved to walk at his side.

Noah kept her in his sights while canvassing their surroundings. No shops stood nearby, but some of the homes featured balconies. Instead of the planters and patio furniture people decorated them with in his world, these were empty. At least for the most part. Two or three contained strange, abstract sculptures that filled the entire space. Spirals and jagged edges, pieces that appeared unfinished. The red lanterns only made them more ominous.

“What are you thinking?” Maddie peered up at him.

Noah swallowed hard, fighting the urge to put some distance between himself and this vampire. He needed her though. Someone had to help him save Alice, and it wasn’t like he knew anyone else willing, or even capable, of it.

“Not sure what to think,” he mumbled. It wasn’t a lie.

“Your sister will be… Well, she’ll be fine for now.” Maddie gave him a look of sympathy. “Let’s have hope that a little blood will fix her right up and one day she’ll be able to control her bloodlust.”

Bile rose in the back of Noah’s throat. His sister, drinking blood… What the fuck was actually going on here? If only he could wake up from this damn nightmare.

“Here we are.” She stepped through an already-opened door into a pitch-black room.

Not quite pitch black. Noah blinked a few times until vague shapes formed. Inside the black stone building, Maddie, Ferris, and a few blurred pieces of furniture stood, waiting. He blinked again and an ornate grandfather clock came into focus.

“Get in here, dumbass,” Ferris snapped, suddenly in the doorway. He grabbed Noah’s arm and yanked him inside before shutting the door.

Noah stumbled over the threshold and nearly dropped Alice. Maddie clasped Noah’s shoulders, steadying him, as his gaze fastened on her honey-colored eyes. “Thanks” he said, shuffling away from her touch.

“Set your sister on the settee,” she told him, then scurried into an adjoining room with rows of cupboards. She opened one at a time, rifling through whatever was stored there. “Ferris, can you bring me some water?”

Noah’s arms ached with the weight of carrying his sister, even though it had only been a few streets, so he took Maddie’s advice. After laying Alice on the black velvet settee, he grabbed one of the round decorative pillows and lifted her head. She groaned as he adjusted it beneath her.

“It’s okay, sis,” he lied, and felt her forehead as if seeking a temperature. Ridiculous, maybe, but what did he know about becoming a vampire? She looked like herself, as she always had, and it was hard to reconcile that she was something different now. “We’ll get you sorted.”

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