Page 62 of Trapped for Her Blood
Chapter Nineteen
Ember
Zuben and Axestay close at my sides as Psycho leads us through the dungeon, carrying a torch so I can see too. Vampires have such an advantage in the dark, which might explain why they’ve been so successful at feeding from humans without our knowledge for so long.
I didn’t want to tell Zuben, not in front of Psycho, but I can see fairly well in the dark right now too. It must be because of Axe’s venom.
Axe feeding from me left me wanting sex—badly—but Zuben showing up with Psycho not only removed the opportunity, it was a pretty effective lust killer.
While we waited for Axe to transform back into human form—vampireform, I guess—Psycho told me that he was once married to the vampire who trapped us all down here. Octavia.
Sadness floods me for a moment thinking about how Ryker has left me for this woman—even if I don’t want to believe it.
During his story, Psycho confessed that he’d raped his wife, and I froze in fear, but Zuben, clearly sensing my emotions, wrapped me in his arms and made me feel safe.
Psycho apologized for threatening me the other day, and he clearly regrets what he did to his wife—even if I sense his regret is more that his act of rage is what led to his becoming a vampire and being trapped down here.
Turns out, Psycho has never known life as a vampire outside of this place. Never had anyone to teach him about vampiric life and culture—whatever that is—so it’s no wonder he’s a little…off.
On our tour, which has gone on for hours, we’ve already been to the heavily guarded gate where they bring humans for feeding, and another one they use to bring in new prisoners. Being unconscious at the time, I have no memory of my arrival or which gate I came through.
We’ve walked for miles, and even though I’m still energized from Axe’s venom, I must admit I’m starting to tire. These tunnels all look the same, wind endlessly and lead nowhere.
We reach a sharp bend.
“Down this way.” Psycho gestures. “Back in the day, this bit of tunnel stretched close to a hundred miles to the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.”
“For what purpose?” Zuben asks.
“Bootlegging.” Psycho’s chest swells like he’s proud. “This tunnel saw a lot of Canadian whiskey in its day. Moving it through here took time, but coppers had too much advantage up on the river.” Psycho’s his voice sounds wistful as he talks about his bootlegging days.
“This is clearly the way to escape,” Zuben says. “A hundred miles is nothing.”
“Good luck with that,” Psycho answers. “Tunnel’s blocked less than fifteen miles in. Collapsed.”
“Then we will clear it.” Zuben sighs as if the answer’s obvious.
Psycho, looking smug, folds his arms over his chest. “I spent the better part of ten years, round the clock, shifting boulders. All it did was narrow tunnel for about a mile. Fucking waste of time.”
“But if we work together,” Zuben says. “I am not well studied in matters of manual labor, but if we all pitch in…”
Psycho shakes his head. “Without dynamite, mining tools, there’s no way. Would take a hundred years, based on how far I got in ten.”
He looks at me. “She got that long?”
“Have you been down this tunnel?” Zuben asks Axe.
Nodding, Axe pulls me in tighter. “Before I found my cave. Yeah. I hid in this tunnel for a while. It dead ends about fifteen miles in. He’s not lying.”
“Why would I be fucking lying?” Psycho glares.
“I will investigate this tunnel further,” Zuben says, “but now, please show us every other possible route in or out of this hell hole.”
“Next one is kind of far,” Psycho says. “At a human pace, it’ll take about hours.”
Taking my hand, Axel goes down on one knee, which puts our eyes almost level, but even on his knee he’s taller than me. “Get on my back.” He pulls my hand onto his shoulder.
I climb, holding tight around his neck, and he loops his arms under my legs to keep me secure against his muscle-padded ribs. Zuben looks annoyed, like he wishes he’d offered to carry me first, but then he gestures ahead.
