Page 97 of Those That Don't Exist
“No, not if I can help it.” Ty leans down so his mouth is next to my ear. He coils his body around mine once more as if he too can’t allow any space between us. We stay close to the door and listen.
Footsteps stomp on the staircase, two sets. We have seconds before they discover their leader bleeding out on the floor, and that we’re no longer chained to the walls.
“Once you’re out the front door, I need you to run to the trees. Don’t take the road. Wind your way into the forest and about half a mile in you’ll find the river. You should be able to hear the water. Use it to get yourself back to the city. The water will cover your scent.”
“Won’t they look for us in the city?”
“Yes, they will, but at least in the city it's harder to track people amongst all those other scents, all those other bodies. Get to the harbour and get on the first boat out of here ok. I don't care where it goes, get on board. Plan a route to West Scotia and find a vampire called Henry Nox. He’s my friend, the historian. He’ll look out for you. Can you remember his name?’
Why would I need to, Ty will be with me.
“Ty?”
“Can you remember it?” Ty whispers harshly in my ear.
“Yes, yes. Henry Nox. West Scotia. That’s where we’re going.”
Ty’s hand comes to my jaw as he turns my head. I’m not expecting it as his lips brush mine in a soft kiss I feel to my very core. His tongue sweeps out once across my bottom lip before he breaks the connection. I savour the taste of him, capture this moment and imprint it fully to my memory.
“Good. Be ready to run.” Ty straightens, moving to open the door a fraction.
We listen as the vampires enter the room we’ve been stuck in for days and the chaos which breaks out. We hear the start of them trying to rouse Ronan and Adicious before we’re moving once more.
Ty pushes me from the room so I’m the first to hit the stairs. I don’t need any encouragement, making a run for it. I try to keep my footsteps quiet but it's impossible with the burst of speed and the creaky wood they’re made from.
Profanities come from behind us as we reach the top, at least one of the males is in pursuit.
“Don’t stop,” Ty orders me as we take off down the corridor. His hand pushes at the base of my back to keep me moving.
As we enter a wider space which must be the entryway, and I spot the front door, two other males step out from another room. Whether they heard the commotion or just happened to be walking this way I don’t know but they look surprised to see us. I try to stop my forward momentum but collide into both and we all go to the ground.
Thankfully, they seem a little stunned so don’t manage to grab me in a tight hold as I roll myself free. I must’ve hit one of them head on as pain radiates from my nose and a sticky substance runs across my lips. I regain my balance, standing as quickly as they do. I turn to find Ty punching one of the guys that was on our tails.
“What the fuck?” the tall one beside me says. His eyes are wide as he takes me in. I quickly note his size and tattoos, recognising him from the alley but not remembering his name.
“Grab her,” one of the ones engaging with Ty shouts. Ty has fully unleashed his shadows. They’re winding around the vampires - which now total five - like snakes, preventing them from moving past Ty as he fights the closest one back with his only good fist. I stare in awe at the sheer use of power.
“Get to the door Red,” he shouts to me.
Right. I spring into action, darting under the arms of the giant one as he makes a lunge for me. Maybe he hit his head and is dazed because I easily evade his attempt, and he doesn’t make a second. Instead he heads towards Ty.
Shit, it’ll be six on one, there’s no way he can manage those odds. I make to step towards the group but Ty stops me.
“Get to the door Aurora,” he orders again.
Maybe he has a plan, the shadows are far more powerful than I knew. They’re coiling around the vampires now like rope, managing to hold most of them at bay. Including the giant one who seems to not even be fighting being held in their grasp.
I reach the door and yank it open. It's not locked. I throw it wide, seeing the outside world for the first time in what feels like forever.
“Ty, come on,” I yell, braced to run for the trees.
“Red,” Ty shouts over the fray. “Go.”
He can’t mean…?
I turn back more fully and see the exertion on Ty’s face. Two of the male vampires have nearly broken free of the shadows' grasp and Ty is having to brace himself, hand outstretched to pour as much power into them as he can.
“I’m not leaving you. We can outrun them.”
