Page 104 of Livewire Witch

He thinks that’s a good thing? I boggle at him, trying to prevent my eyes from bulging in disbelief.

The one time Ember decided to be proactive and organized, andthiswas what he came up with? Causing chaos at a ball and unleashing zombies among the populace?

“And what makes you think they’re not just going to use us as tools? Get what they want, get on top and then chain us up in cages?”I fume.

My head’s spinning so fast I feel like I might actually puke. The smell of Felix’s blood in the air isn’t helping, either.

“That’s not going to happen, Silv. We’re their saviors. Do you think that even with their powers suped up, the vamps can do anything against rabid zombies?”Ember just grins at me. The same relaxed grin I’ve seen a thousand times before. Except, this time, it’s almost like it’s the smile of a stranger.

I blink three times in quick succession, like that’s going to help me make sense of this entire fucked up situation. “You’ve released zombies into the city and you don’t have any way of controlling them? What happened to the demon Simpson said animated the zombies in the first place?”

“Of course, we have a way of controlling them.” He grins. “You.”

I shake my head again, like that can ward off his words.

“And the demon?”

He shrugs again. That little movement is really starting to piss me off.

“He might’ve skipped town as soon as we paid him. Doesn’t like hanging around people too much, apparently. So he did his thing and then he was gone.”

I don’t know this man. The one who made a deal with the vampires behind my back. Behind all of our backs.

“Does anyone else know about this?”

“Nah, I thought it would be a nice little surprise. Didn’t want anyone fucking anything up, especially not with how your boy-toy keeps meeting with the scummy Archarcans. Didn’t want anything to slip.”

He didn’t want anyone to talk him out of this terrible idea; he means.

“It’s interesting what happens when the vamps drain someone whose blood is full of Rapture. Their super speed is insane, so is their compulsion.”He gives a little wink and I understand why I had no chance of fighting off the compulsion that brought me to this room. “What do you think when the vamps share their blood with one of us?”

I shake my head at him, responding out loud. “I have no idea.”

Then Ember calls to one of the vamps that’s been waiting outside the room. I’m not sure if it’s the one that compelled me, or the one that stabbed Felix. But I guess it doesn’t matter. Ember gestures to the guy who holds out his wrist and bites downhardon the vamp’s flesh.

He then proceeds to tear into the guy’s wrist and drink his blood.

I’m horrified. Disgusted.

Then he grins up at me, his teeth stained red. “Right now, I can hear the thoughts of every person in that room. Hell, I canhear the thoughts of the entire city if I choose to. You know, people will do an awful lot if you know all of their secrets and threaten to reveal them.” He rolls his eyes. “I should have done this years ago. Although you wouldn’t believe the bullshit that most people spent their time thinking about.”

Screams echo through the building, causing Ember and Simpson to flash matching grins.

“Seems like the fun’s just getting started.”

31

Silver

Idon’t look at Ember, or at Simpson as I charge through city hall toward the sound of screaming.

I’m spitting mad. Rage is fueling me and making me forget everything. I’m barely thinking straight as my feet pound against the carpet.

Someone needs to stop this before things go too far.

Simpson is a nut job. He’s dangerous, but he’s not the person I’ve known for almost a decade, who I’ve lived with for just as long. He’s not the person I see as a little brother. Who I’ve supported time and time again, when he couldn’t find work, or he thought his art should come first—before survival, or the rest of his family.

I was aware that there were things I didn’t know about Ember. He has a past that is so murky it’s practically opaque.

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