Twenty-Eight
Beth
Beth's next breath froze in her throat, and her muscles seized up. She stared at the figure in the doorway as it moved slowly forward, a hand detaching from the main shadow and reaching forward. Reaching down for her.
“Ssshhhh,” it said.
That broke Beth's paralysis and spurred her into motion. She grabbed something from among the mess on the floor- she didn't know what it was, nor did she care- and she hurled it with the strength of a woman terrified. It connected with a thunk and a curse from the mouth of the shadow. Beth jumped to her feet and backed away. She'd never have a chance, trying to get through a vampire to the door, but now she was in a bad position: trapped in the tiny closet with the vampire blocking the only door and her back against the wall. She was standing in the floor-sink with nowhere else to go. Oh, God, oh, God. Even if I somehow get past it, the only place to go is that dark hallway where it'll get me anyway.
Beth suddenly realized, in a moment of clarity, how much she'd come to depend on Mick for safety in situations that involved other vampires. She also suddenly realized why he didn't want her involved in that part of his life. She wished she'd listened to him.
The figure moved closer, reached out for her, speaking words that she was too scared to hear. Beth reached over, snagged the wooden-handled broom, and held it in front of her. The figure chuckled, and Beth struck out and connected solidly. As the chuckle turned into another curse, the broom was yanked viciously from her hands, leaving splinters behind. It clattered as it hit the floor somewhere behind the vampire.
A pale hand flashed out and seized her arm, then pulled her forward hard. Beth's body connected with a slightly taller, much harder body, its flesh cool through its clothing; the familiar lack of warmth did nothing to reassure her.
Beth opened her mouth to scream but those powerful hands spun her around quickly, dizzyingly, and one of them slapped over her mouth as she was pulled back against the cold chest. In a last ditch effort at self-defense, Beth rammed an elbow into the abdomen behind her. The vampire grunted slightly in reaction but didn't loosen its hold.
“Stop it,” a male voice hissed into her ear. “Be quiet. It's me.”
Beth stilled. She didn't have much choice, really, but she also vaguely recognized the voice. And he certainly expected her to know who he was.
She tried to turn her head but he was holding her too tightly. Realizing what she wanted, he released her.
Beth stepped away and turned to face him. She could see him well enough as he stood in the yellow slant of street light through the window. His clothes were torn and his face showed deep gouges down one cheek that had not yet healed. He was a bit worse for wear, but he was alive, and she recognized him instantly.
It was her savior from the kitchen.
“Jackson. I thought you'd be dead,” she admitted.
“I've got a little life left in me yet,” he said with a chuckle. “Besides, I've got a job to do.”
Beth knew what he meant by that and she pulled herself up as tall as she could. “I told you, I'm not leaving,” she said in a voice full of confidence. She wasn't sure if she was faking it or not.
“I can make you,” he threatened without conviction. He seemed more resigned than anything. “I can pick you up and carry you out.”
“And the moment you turn your back, I'll come right back in,” Beth snapped back.
Jackson’s brow furrowed in bemusement. “Have you no sense of self-preservation, human?” he asked her. He seemed genuinely curious.
Beth wasn't sure how to answer that. Instead, she reiterated her original statement. “I'm not leaving until I find Mick.”
He growled in irritation and stepped forward, but Beth held her ground and he stopped inches from her.
“Woman!” he snapped in exasperation. “You will do as you’re told! It is for your own good. I must get you out of this building.”
“And I told you-”
“Yes, yes, I know. You're not leaving. How does he stand you? How can he tolerate a human who does not obey?”
“Obey?” Beth asked, indignant. “Obey?! Who are you to- ….....who do you think you........what makes you think-” Beth stuttered to a halt, breathing heavily in her self-righteousness, not sure which question to ask first. Obey, indeed!
The vampire stared down at her with impassive eyes, giving no sign as to what he might be thinking. Beth stared up at him, matching his gaze, and finally decided it best to let his imperious comments go. This wasn't the time or the place, and he had helped her, after all. Nothing would be accomplished by standing in a closet and arguing with a sexist. Or whatever he was, to think he was so superior to her, the mere human.
“Listen,” she said, taking a deep, calming breath. “You can do whatever you want, but I'm going out there to find Mick.”
“You can't,” he protested. “It's not safe. I followed your scent here, and so will she, if she chooses. Going further into the building is foolish. I have orders to keep you safe.”
“Then keep me safe,” Beth demanded, though her heart sank at the thought that the female vampire wasn't dead, and she wondered how Jackson had fought his way free of her. “But you'll have to go with me to do it, because if you try to force me out of the building- or make me do anything else I don't want to do- I'll fight you tooth and nail. You're stronger than I am, but that'll be sure to draw attention, won't it? So you'll actually be putting me in more danger rather than helping me.”
Beth wasn't sure she followed her own logic, and Jackson looked dubious too, but his expression took on a look of resigned exasperation.
“Fine,” he mumbled. “But you must have light. You're noisy enough without stumbling through the darkness.”
Beth sighed and toed one of the flashlights on the floor. She tried not to show her relief that he'd given in. She hadn't known what to try next. “I thought of that,” she informed him. “But the flashlights don't work. No batteries.”
Jackson reached up to the very top of the shelves, well above her head. “Did you think to try one of these?” he asked in amusement. In his hand was a hurricane lamp. He shook it a little and she heard the splashing of the lamp oil inside. A book of matches was taped to the side.
Beth couldn't help grinning, ignoring his smug look.
Moments later, the lamplight illuminating some of the darkness on her way through the door and extra matches in her pocket, she heard the vampire muttering as he followed her.
“You have no idea what you're doing to me, do you? My Sire is going to be less than pleased about this turn of events.”
“Whatever,” Beth said dismissively, trying to peer beyond the light her lamp afforded with its flickering flame. “Blame it on me.”
If she didn't know vampires didn't have to breathe, she'd have sworn she heard him sigh.
Mick
Mick's head snapped toward the door at the far side of the large basement room as he heard the definite noised of someone entering.
A deep inhalation gave him the scent of more than one vampire entering, but he didn't take the time to identify individuals. He'd know soon enough.
“Josef,” he hissed. “Josef. Wake up!”
Josef's head lifted, and he pulled himself straight as he looked around almost blearily. Josef's eyes were taking on a pale hue with a yellowish tint, and Mick didn't like the glassiness of them. Mick had watched as his friend slowly succumbed to the weakening of his body and slumped into a sleep that would have been of a healing nature if the silver were removed. Mick had also felt Josef's worsening state as his ability to block it from Mick dissolved with his strength.
Mick had attempted, at first, to keep Josef alert and talking, but he'd soon had to abandon that as Josef had quit responding and given in to the pull of his restless dozes.
Mick could only hope that perhaps it was refreshing or re-energizing his friend to some small degree.
The tap-tapping of high heels told Mick who was approaching long before he caught her scent or turned his eyes from Josef.
Sylvia approached, just as Mick had known she would again, and with her was Gerod, the other vampire who had been at Malcolm's meeting.
It didn't surprise Mick. He'd known Sylvia wouldn't be doing this alone. From what he understood of the Elders, betrayal of the Council was the highest offense thinkable; it was almost unthinkable. They operated practically as one unit. What other solution could there be than that the whole charade was a Council-sanctioned event?
Seemed like a whole lot of useless trouble to him, though. If they wanted Mick executed or tortured, they'd had ample opportunity before, and it wouldn't have even taken any one other than Malcolm.
Mick tensed as Sylvia and her companion approached, and he sensed Josef doing the same. Mick didn't have to look at Josef to know that he would be doing his best to hide his weakness. They were predators and knew better than most that showing weakness could mean death. Especially by their fellow predators.
“Having a good time, I hope?” Sylvia tried to joke in her stilted manner. Her glance flicked between the two, and Mick knew her eyes had missed no detail.
“The hospitality leaves something to be desired,” Mick complained casually. “Fine for a visit, but I wouldn't want to live here.” That elicited a smirk from Gerod.
“No need to worry about that,” Gerod said, his words matching the smirk.
Mick decided he'd had enough. “Enough games, Sylvia. Don't you think it's about time you tell us what's going on here?”
“You haven't figured it out yet?” Sylvia asked in mock surprise. “And I'd heard so much about what a wonderful investigator you are, Mick.”
Gerod didn't seem inclined to continue his partner's games. “You're an abomination, St. John,” he answered abruptly. “You are a vampire who figured out how to become human. What do you think that will do to our kind if word gets out?”
“I think word's already out,” Mick rationalized. “Otherwise, how would you have heard? And if it’s escaped your notice- I'm no longer human.”
“Yes, we know the story.” Sylvia waved a dismissive hand. “You chose to turn back to the vampire you'd hated so much to save your one true love, blah blah blah...”
It sounded much more romantic and heroic than it actually was to Mick.
“But the point is, you did it. You found an escape from vampirism other than death. And that cannot be. Not only are you an abomination, but when it is discovered, there will be chaos among us. There will be anarchy. We can't let that happen.”
“But I don't even have it anymore,” Mick tried to explain. He let the comment about being an abomination slide by. This wasn't the time to nitpick.
“But you know it,” Gerod pointed out. “You've done it with success. Even if you choose not to give the secrets away, you will be made to eventually by someone who wants it bad enough. There are those that will get what they want by any means necessary.”
“You mean like you?” Josef said with a sneer from beside Mick. It was the first time he'd spoken since Sylvia and Gerod had entered the room.
Sylvia smiled icily. “Yes,” she agreed. “Exactly like us.”
“Okay, fine. So, I'm the abomination. What about Josef? Why is he involved? He's done nothing. You can release him.”
“Ah... Josef.” Sylvia tap-tapped in her heels to where Josef was restrained. She reached out and lightly touched his shredded and inflamed wrist. “You were not part of the original plan,” she said to him as he stoically refused to react in pain to her touch. “But your loyalty to your friend will be your death. You involved yourself.”
“And it's just as well,” Gerod added. “You are his maker. His second one, anyway. There will be those who wonder if your bloodline as a sire is the key, or part of it, whether it's true or not. Best to simply eliminate both of you. Then there is no one left to tell secrets that should remain secrets.”
Mick's hopes of them at least sparing Josef were dashed, though they hadn't been that lofty in the first place. Mick looked at Sylvia with something like sorrow, and for the first time, felt the stirrings of actual betrayal.
“I trusted you, Sylvia,” he said quietly. “I talked to you, confided in you. We were friends. And now this? You would kill Josef?” His voice began to harden. “And what have you done with Beth? Is she dead already? You disgust me. You call me the abomination? Maybe you should take another look at yourself.”
Something flashed momentarily in Sylvia's eyes. Regret? Remorse? It was just an instant before she turned her gaze away. When she met Mick's eyes again, they were as cold and hard as ever in her impassive face.
“Stupid young one,” Gerod snarled. “Don't you get it? She was never your friend. She did those things, got close to you, to hear your secrets, to learn your weaknesses. It was all to work toward this end.”
“Yes,” Sylvia said softly. She left Josef's side and tapped her way to stand several feet away before turning to face them. “And here we are.”
“We are not completely inhospitable,” Gerod said with fake concern. “We will let you choose your method of death. What's it to be? Decapitation? Fire? What's your pleasure?”
Mick looked over to Josef and saw the same gravity he was feeling reflected in his friend's pained eyes. It seemed they were at the end. They'd come up with no plan to fight or escape. If there was ever a time for the heartfelt words that he and Josef so often avoided, this was it.
“Josef, I-”
The far door once again opened, catching the attention of all. Four pairs of eyes swung to see who entered.
Great, Mick thought. Could this get any worse?
Apparently, their execution wasn't to be a private affair. The three Eldest felt the need to witness it, perhaps.
Strangely, though the situation couldn't get more dire than imminent death, seeing Malcolm, Rake, and Nigel cross the room toward them sent chills of dread through Mick.
Beth
Beth knew she was getting closer. She had to be.
They'd somehow ended up back in the large kitchen, where she'd been handcuffed for a while, and where Jackson had fought the female vampire. They'd come in through a different door, one at the back, and Beth realized it must have been a service door to the back hallways of the hotel. For room service, perhaps, and deliveries.
Beth looked around the room in frustration, noting the signs of the fight.
Her shoulders sagged as she looked at Jackson. “We've looked everywhere on this floor. I guess it's time to go up one.”
Her voice was reluctant. She really didn't want to go up into the dark hallways and check each room and closet one by one. But what choice did she have?
“Woman, I will say this again. It would be the smartest thing for you to leave. Let me take you to a safe place.”
Beth turned to face the vampire fully. “Listen,” she said, though her tired voice lacked its usual fire. “For one thing, my name is Beth. Not Woman. Got that? And you can go to whatever safe place you want, but you're going without me as long as Mick's still here.”
She turned her back on him and stalked toward the swinging dining room doors. She hoped he would follow - he was a source of safety, and it was easier not being alone - but if he didn't, she would go on alone.
She gave a small smile when she heard him heave another sigh and step into line behind her.
Then an idea occurred to her, and she stopped suddenly.
“Yes?” Jackson asked her curiously.
Beth looked around the kitchen. This area seemed favored by the woman vampire. First, Beth had been captive in the lower wine cellar or basement, and when she'd escaped, she had emerged into this room. When she'd been recaptured, she'd been brought back here, to the kitchen, to be restrained.
Beth's eyes moved to the door that she knew led down. That was one place she absolutely did not want to go.
But she had light now. And it just felt right that she check down there before moving to the higher floors.
She didn't want to go down there.
But she had to.
She pulled the door open and held the hurricane oil lamp before her to light the dark stairs that she knew led to another door. Beyond that second door at the bottom of the stairs would be the cellar.
She broke out in a cold sweat in remembered terror of her first light-less wandering down there, but she forced herself to take the first step. After that, it wasn't all that much easier, but it was faster, as she wouldn't let herself stop or hesitate.
Jackson followed her without a word and in no need of the light from the small flame.
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Beth's next breath froze in her throat, and her muscles seized up. She stared at the figure in the doorway as it moved slowly forward, a hand detaching from the main shadow and reaching forward. Reaching down for her.
“Ssshhhh,” it said.
That broke Beth's paralysis and spurred her into motion. She grabbed something from among the mess on the floor- she didn't know what it was, nor did she care- and she hurled it with the strength of a woman terrified. It connected with a thunk and a curse from the mouth of the shadow. Beth jumped to her feet and backed away. She'd never have a chance, trying to get through a vampire to the door, but now she was in a bad position: trapped in the tiny closet with the vampire blocking the only door and her back against the wall. She was standing in the floor-sink with nowhere else to go. Oh, God, oh, God. Even if I somehow get past it, the only place to go is that dark hallway where it'll get me anyway.
Beth suddenly realized, in a moment of clarity, how much she'd come to depend on Mick for safety in situations that involved other vampires. She also suddenly realized why he didn't want her involved in that part of his life. She wished she'd listened to him.
The figure moved closer, reached out for her, speaking words that she was too scared to hear. Beth reached over, snagged the wooden-handled broom, and held it in front of her. The figure chuckled, and Beth struck out and connected solidly. As the chuckle turned into another curse, the broom was yanked viciously from her hands, leaving splinters behind. It clattered as it hit the floor somewhere behind the vampire.
A pale hand flashed out and seized her arm, then pulled her forward hard. Beth's body connected with a slightly taller, much harder body, its flesh cool through its clothing; the familiar lack of warmth did nothing to reassure her.
Beth opened her mouth to scream but those powerful hands spun her around quickly, dizzyingly, and one of them slapped over her mouth as she was pulled back against the cold chest. In a last ditch effort at self-defense, Beth rammed an elbow into the abdomen behind her. The vampire grunted slightly in reaction but didn't loosen its hold.
“Stop it,” a male voice hissed into her ear. “Be quiet. It's me.”
Beth stilled. She didn't have much choice, really, but she also vaguely recognized the voice. And he certainly expected her to know who he was.
She tried to turn her head but he was holding her too tightly. Realizing what she wanted, he released her.
Beth stepped away and turned to face him. She could see him well enough as he stood in the yellow slant of street light through the window. His clothes were torn and his face showed deep gouges down one cheek that had not yet healed. He was a bit worse for wear, but he was alive, and she recognized him instantly.
It was her savior from the kitchen.
“Jackson. I thought you'd be dead,” she admitted.
“I've got a little life left in me yet,” he said with a chuckle. “Besides, I've got a job to do.”
Beth knew what he meant by that and she pulled herself up as tall as she could. “I told you, I'm not leaving,” she said in a voice full of confidence. She wasn't sure if she was faking it or not.
“I can make you,” he threatened without conviction. He seemed more resigned than anything. “I can pick you up and carry you out.”
“And the moment you turn your back, I'll come right back in,” Beth snapped back.
Jackson’s brow furrowed in bemusement. “Have you no sense of self-preservation, human?” he asked her. He seemed genuinely curious.
Beth wasn't sure how to answer that. Instead, she reiterated her original statement. “I'm not leaving until I find Mick.”
He growled in irritation and stepped forward, but Beth held her ground and he stopped inches from her.
“Woman!” he snapped in exasperation. “You will do as you’re told! It is for your own good. I must get you out of this building.”
“And I told you-”
“Yes, yes, I know. You're not leaving. How does he stand you? How can he tolerate a human who does not obey?”
“Obey?” Beth asked, indignant. “Obey?! Who are you to- ….....who do you think you........what makes you think-” Beth stuttered to a halt, breathing heavily in her self-righteousness, not sure which question to ask first. Obey, indeed!
The vampire stared down at her with impassive eyes, giving no sign as to what he might be thinking. Beth stared up at him, matching his gaze, and finally decided it best to let his imperious comments go. This wasn't the time or the place, and he had helped her, after all. Nothing would be accomplished by standing in a closet and arguing with a sexist. Or whatever he was, to think he was so superior to her, the mere human.
“Listen,” she said, taking a deep, calming breath. “You can do whatever you want, but I'm going out there to find Mick.”
“You can't,” he protested. “It's not safe. I followed your scent here, and so will she, if she chooses. Going further into the building is foolish. I have orders to keep you safe.”
“Then keep me safe,” Beth demanded, though her heart sank at the thought that the female vampire wasn't dead, and she wondered how Jackson had fought his way free of her. “But you'll have to go with me to do it, because if you try to force me out of the building- or make me do anything else I don't want to do- I'll fight you tooth and nail. You're stronger than I am, but that'll be sure to draw attention, won't it? So you'll actually be putting me in more danger rather than helping me.”
Beth wasn't sure she followed her own logic, and Jackson looked dubious too, but his expression took on a look of resigned exasperation.
“Fine,” he mumbled. “But you must have light. You're noisy enough without stumbling through the darkness.”
Beth sighed and toed one of the flashlights on the floor. She tried not to show her relief that he'd given in. She hadn't known what to try next. “I thought of that,” she informed him. “But the flashlights don't work. No batteries.”
Jackson reached up to the very top of the shelves, well above her head. “Did you think to try one of these?” he asked in amusement. In his hand was a hurricane lamp. He shook it a little and she heard the splashing of the lamp oil inside. A book of matches was taped to the side.
Beth couldn't help grinning, ignoring his smug look.
Moments later, the lamplight illuminating some of the darkness on her way through the door and extra matches in her pocket, she heard the vampire muttering as he followed her.
“You have no idea what you're doing to me, do you? My Sire is going to be less than pleased about this turn of events.”
“Whatever,” Beth said dismissively, trying to peer beyond the light her lamp afforded with its flickering flame. “Blame it on me.”
If she didn't know vampires didn't have to breathe, she'd have sworn she heard him sigh.
Mick
Mick's head snapped toward the door at the far side of the large basement room as he heard the definite noised of someone entering.
A deep inhalation gave him the scent of more than one vampire entering, but he didn't take the time to identify individuals. He'd know soon enough.
“Josef,” he hissed. “Josef. Wake up!”
Josef's head lifted, and he pulled himself straight as he looked around almost blearily. Josef's eyes were taking on a pale hue with a yellowish tint, and Mick didn't like the glassiness of them. Mick had watched as his friend slowly succumbed to the weakening of his body and slumped into a sleep that would have been of a healing nature if the silver were removed. Mick had also felt Josef's worsening state as his ability to block it from Mick dissolved with his strength.
Mick had attempted, at first, to keep Josef alert and talking, but he'd soon had to abandon that as Josef had quit responding and given in to the pull of his restless dozes.
Mick could only hope that perhaps it was refreshing or re-energizing his friend to some small degree.
The tap-tapping of high heels told Mick who was approaching long before he caught her scent or turned his eyes from Josef.
Sylvia approached, just as Mick had known she would again, and with her was Gerod, the other vampire who had been at Malcolm's meeting.
It didn't surprise Mick. He'd known Sylvia wouldn't be doing this alone. From what he understood of the Elders, betrayal of the Council was the highest offense thinkable; it was almost unthinkable. They operated practically as one unit. What other solution could there be than that the whole charade was a Council-sanctioned event?
Seemed like a whole lot of useless trouble to him, though. If they wanted Mick executed or tortured, they'd had ample opportunity before, and it wouldn't have even taken any one other than Malcolm.
Mick tensed as Sylvia and her companion approached, and he sensed Josef doing the same. Mick didn't have to look at Josef to know that he would be doing his best to hide his weakness. They were predators and knew better than most that showing weakness could mean death. Especially by their fellow predators.
“Having a good time, I hope?” Sylvia tried to joke in her stilted manner. Her glance flicked between the two, and Mick knew her eyes had missed no detail.
“The hospitality leaves something to be desired,” Mick complained casually. “Fine for a visit, but I wouldn't want to live here.” That elicited a smirk from Gerod.
“No need to worry about that,” Gerod said, his words matching the smirk.
Mick decided he'd had enough. “Enough games, Sylvia. Don't you think it's about time you tell us what's going on here?”
“You haven't figured it out yet?” Sylvia asked in mock surprise. “And I'd heard so much about what a wonderful investigator you are, Mick.”
Gerod didn't seem inclined to continue his partner's games. “You're an abomination, St. John,” he answered abruptly. “You are a vampire who figured out how to become human. What do you think that will do to our kind if word gets out?”
“I think word's already out,” Mick rationalized. “Otherwise, how would you have heard? And if it’s escaped your notice- I'm no longer human.”
“Yes, we know the story.” Sylvia waved a dismissive hand. “You chose to turn back to the vampire you'd hated so much to save your one true love, blah blah blah...”
It sounded much more romantic and heroic than it actually was to Mick.
“But the point is, you did it. You found an escape from vampirism other than death. And that cannot be. Not only are you an abomination, but when it is discovered, there will be chaos among us. There will be anarchy. We can't let that happen.”
“But I don't even have it anymore,” Mick tried to explain. He let the comment about being an abomination slide by. This wasn't the time to nitpick.
“But you know it,” Gerod pointed out. “You've done it with success. Even if you choose not to give the secrets away, you will be made to eventually by someone who wants it bad enough. There are those that will get what they want by any means necessary.”
“You mean like you?” Josef said with a sneer from beside Mick. It was the first time he'd spoken since Sylvia and Gerod had entered the room.
Sylvia smiled icily. “Yes,” she agreed. “Exactly like us.”
“Okay, fine. So, I'm the abomination. What about Josef? Why is he involved? He's done nothing. You can release him.”
“Ah... Josef.” Sylvia tap-tapped in her heels to where Josef was restrained. She reached out and lightly touched his shredded and inflamed wrist. “You were not part of the original plan,” she said to him as he stoically refused to react in pain to her touch. “But your loyalty to your friend will be your death. You involved yourself.”
“And it's just as well,” Gerod added. “You are his maker. His second one, anyway. There will be those who wonder if your bloodline as a sire is the key, or part of it, whether it's true or not. Best to simply eliminate both of you. Then there is no one left to tell secrets that should remain secrets.”
Mick's hopes of them at least sparing Josef were dashed, though they hadn't been that lofty in the first place. Mick looked at Sylvia with something like sorrow, and for the first time, felt the stirrings of actual betrayal.
“I trusted you, Sylvia,” he said quietly. “I talked to you, confided in you. We were friends. And now this? You would kill Josef?” His voice began to harden. “And what have you done with Beth? Is she dead already? You disgust me. You call me the abomination? Maybe you should take another look at yourself.”
Something flashed momentarily in Sylvia's eyes. Regret? Remorse? It was just an instant before she turned her gaze away. When she met Mick's eyes again, they were as cold and hard as ever in her impassive face.
“Stupid young one,” Gerod snarled. “Don't you get it? She was never your friend. She did those things, got close to you, to hear your secrets, to learn your weaknesses. It was all to work toward this end.”
“Yes,” Sylvia said softly. She left Josef's side and tapped her way to stand several feet away before turning to face them. “And here we are.”
“We are not completely inhospitable,” Gerod said with fake concern. “We will let you choose your method of death. What's it to be? Decapitation? Fire? What's your pleasure?”
Mick looked over to Josef and saw the same gravity he was feeling reflected in his friend's pained eyes. It seemed they were at the end. They'd come up with no plan to fight or escape. If there was ever a time for the heartfelt words that he and Josef so often avoided, this was it.
“Josef, I-”
The far door once again opened, catching the attention of all. Four pairs of eyes swung to see who entered.
Great, Mick thought. Could this get any worse?
Apparently, their execution wasn't to be a private affair. The three Eldest felt the need to witness it, perhaps.
Strangely, though the situation couldn't get more dire than imminent death, seeing Malcolm, Rake, and Nigel cross the room toward them sent chills of dread through Mick.
Beth
Beth knew she was getting closer. She had to be.
They'd somehow ended up back in the large kitchen, where she'd been handcuffed for a while, and where Jackson had fought the female vampire. They'd come in through a different door, one at the back, and Beth realized it must have been a service door to the back hallways of the hotel. For room service, perhaps, and deliveries.
Beth looked around the room in frustration, noting the signs of the fight.
Her shoulders sagged as she looked at Jackson. “We've looked everywhere on this floor. I guess it's time to go up one.”
Her voice was reluctant. She really didn't want to go up into the dark hallways and check each room and closet one by one. But what choice did she have?
“Woman, I will say this again. It would be the smartest thing for you to leave. Let me take you to a safe place.”
Beth turned to face the vampire fully. “Listen,” she said, though her tired voice lacked its usual fire. “For one thing, my name is Beth. Not Woman. Got that? And you can go to whatever safe place you want, but you're going without me as long as Mick's still here.”
She turned her back on him and stalked toward the swinging dining room doors. She hoped he would follow - he was a source of safety, and it was easier not being alone - but if he didn't, she would go on alone.
She gave a small smile when she heard him heave another sigh and step into line behind her.
Then an idea occurred to her, and she stopped suddenly.
“Yes?” Jackson asked her curiously.
Beth looked around the kitchen. This area seemed favored by the woman vampire. First, Beth had been captive in the lower wine cellar or basement, and when she'd escaped, she had emerged into this room. When she'd been recaptured, she'd been brought back here, to the kitchen, to be restrained.
Beth's eyes moved to the door that she knew led down. That was one place she absolutely did not want to go.
But she had light now. And it just felt right that she check down there before moving to the higher floors.
She didn't want to go down there.
But she had to.
She pulled the door open and held the hurricane oil lamp before her to light the dark stairs that she knew led to another door. Beyond that second door at the bottom of the stairs would be the cellar.
She broke out in a cold sweat in remembered terror of her first light-less wandering down there, but she forced herself to take the first step. After that, it wasn't all that much easier, but it was faster, as she wouldn't let herself stop or hesitate.
Jackson followed her without a word and in no need of the light from the small flame.
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