Page 75 of Bishop's Flight
Lucas froze. “You’re a fire vampire?”
“Yes.”
Lucas frowned. “In my whole life, I’ve never met a single fire vampire and now I know two. I feel like that’s not a good sign.” The boy heaved a big sigh and knocked his head against the wall. “It doesn’t matter. Zasha is in check, and they know it.”
She turned to him. “What do you mean, Zasha is in check?”
“They’re one move away from inevitable loss.” Lucas rose and straightened his pants. “Checkmate.”
“I know what checkmate is, but why do you say Zasha is in check?”
“They said they wanted to spend time with you but that their partners wanted the city from Agnes and Rose. I told them Agnes and Rose wouldn’t give up Las Vegas because they wouldn’t sacrifice a whole city for one person. Checkmate. They lose.”
“Why do you think Agnes and Rose wouldn’t give up the city?”
Lucas shrugged. “It’s not logical.”
“Logic doesn’t really apply to parents and children, does it?”
“They’re not my real parents.”
Brigid leaned against the wall, pressing her hands to the fiberglass, feeling the metal behind it. “Real parents by blood don’t necessarily mean they care about you more. My adoptive parents were much better than my mother and my stepfather.”
“What about your dad?”
“He died when I was a baby.”
Lucas pressed his lips together. “Mine too.”
She felt the aching hole in his chest as if it were her own. She had never even known her father, but she missed him keenly. “I’m sorry.”
“It was a long time ago. I don’t really remember him.” He shrugged again. “Just pictures.”
Change the subject. Don’t give in to despair.“I wouldn’t discount Agnes and Rose if I were you. Or me. Where do you think we are?” She started feeling around the room, reaching up to touch the low ceiling and test the walls. From her initial impression, there weren’t any evident seams or vents.
“On a houseboat, I think. I went with Miguel and some guards one time. I’m pretty sure that’s where we are.”
“Smart lad.” Brigid kept pressing her hands along the walls. “Probably Lake Mead.”
“That makes sense.”
“What do you say we try to find a way out of here?” She turned and put her hands on her hips. “What else are we going to do?”
“I tried to pick the lock, but I couldn’t.” He walked over. “Do you know about picking locks?”
“A bit.” She glanced at him. “I’m very glad you already know about vampires. If I had to put up with a blubbering and confused teenager, this’d be a lot more annoyin’.”
“Glad I don’t annoy you.” His voice betrayed dry humor. “I’d prefer to keep all my blood for my own use, thanks.”
“Ya know they put us in the room together because they thought I’d kill you.” Brigid bent down to examine the lock. “They don’t know me very well.”
Lucas pulled over a chair to watch her. “To be fair, Zasha said they wanted to know you more, not that they knew you well. Deep down, I think they want to be friends.”
“That’s… terrifying.”
“Yeah.” Lucas narrowed his eyes to peer at the lock. “I don’t know you well, but I can already tell I don’t want to be friends with either of you.”
“Harsh.” Brigid barely contained her smile. “But I appreciate the honesty.”
