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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ENDER
“We’re landing,” I say as I nudge the man who is still dead asleep. How the hell could he sleep so soundly surrounded by people he doesn’t know or trust?
“Already?” Mads asks as he sits up and stretches. “When did any of that happen? I slept so well. You’re a pretty fine pillow, if I might say so.”
I just grunt and look down at the phone the old guy had chucked at us. “Finn has asked us to stay on the plane until everyone is off, then they’re going to get us from the runway in case things are being watched.”
“Ooh, sneaky. I like it.”
“You haven’t told anyone we’re here, right?” I ask. “Not even your boss?”
“Nope. Not a soul. I’ve been quiet and well behaved. I should get a gold star and very much would like you to be the one to give it to me.”
I raise an eyebrow, not quite sure what all of that means.
We watch the people head out, and I really wish they’d hurry up. I’ve never seen such slow people in my life. Do they just want to live here? But once they’re finally out, I rush after them, thrilled to be free of this small plane that made me feel uneasy. Once outside of the plane, the attendant waves us over to the door which they open to reveal Marcus, Finn, Claude, and Alexei at the bottom.
“Welcome home,” Finn says.
Alexei tsks, seeming disappointed I’ve returned.
“We have a vehicle over here, and we’re going to take you directly to Orin’s where you’re going to tell us everything. And then we’ll go from there, understood?”
“Very much,” I say.
I start down the steps a second before I see someone else walking toward us. It’s the lady from the picture that Finn sent me. I don’t recognize her and had told him as much, but he never told me she was coming.
Marcus whips around. “Did we invite the council? How did you even know we were here?”
“One of the people who was taken is my own, is he not? He’s under my care. Mads, come along.”
That voice… that fucking voice. I recognize it. I didn’t recognize her face, but I know that voice.
I put an arm up, shoving Mads behind me. “You’re not taking him anywhere,” I say as I slowly walk down the steps toward her. “I know that you work for Abel. I recognize your voice.”
Her expression hardens and she refuses to meet my eyes. “I… will admit that I once worked for him, but that was many years ago. I no longer see eye to eye with him.”
“I remember you. I remember that you had human slaves you treated worse than animals. Abel gave you someone special to me. You remember her? You remember me? We never met face to face, though, did we?”
She takes a step back. “I am different now.”
“Vivian, please leave the premises. I don’t know who permitted you entry, but we’d like you to leave. I’m not sure why the council thinks it’s their right to butt into everything,” Finn says. “Mads and Ender will be going with us. I would like to have a discussion with you when we’re done.”
“I refuse to let you take Mads,” she snarls, but she should know better than to snap at Finn when Marcus is around.
Marcus’s aura immediately becomes suppressing. “Don’t you dare speak to him that way.”
But Vivian holds her ground. “Mads is going with me.”
“How about letting me decide where I go? That could be fun,” Mads says. “Delightful, even.”
Vivian waves toward him. “Mads, let’s go.”
“Vivian, tensions are high. I’m going to go with them and explain to them what’s happening because it’s their job to keep us safe. Once we’re done, I’ll meet with you.”
“You’re coming with me now,” she demands.
Mads’s brow furrows. “Vivian, maybe if you act a bit more… civil, you can go with us, and we can all explain what’s going on.”
“I’m explaining nothing to a group of insignificant vampires who have absolutely no idea what they’re sticking their nose into. I have information on where Grady is. Let’s go.”
That piques Mads’s interest. “You know where he is?”
“Let’s go. I don’t have time for this.”
Mads looks over at me. “Let me get Grady, and then I’ll be back.”
“If you leave with that woman, don’t ever come back,” I say as I start toward Finn and Marcus. Everyone should just reward me for not ripping her fucking head off.
“But she knows where Grady is.”
“Yeah? She also drained and killed my sister-in-law because she ‘cried too much.’ I think that’s what you said, wasn’t it?” I ask Vivian. “Because she cried too much, begging to know what happened to her child you ripped her away from.”
“You act like you didn’t kill people,” she snaps.
“There was a fucking difference,” I snarl. “I was forced to. Were you?”
“I have changed. I really have. You can ask Mads. The guilt over what Abel convinced me to do weighs on me every day. That is why I’m dedicating my life to stopping him. But first we have to prevent him from getting any more information on how to kill vampires. Do you understand how horrific it’d be if Abel got access to the way to make that drug? You’d never even get a chance to fight him. He’d kill you instantly. I have information that Grady is being transferred. We know that they will intercept it. The whole reason for the transfer is to give Abel’s men time to take him. If he’s given to Abel, he’ll know how to make the ammunition and might not need Mads anymore. He’ll probably make it his goal to kill Mads so the information can’t be passed on to someone like me or the VRC.”
I still vote we kill her.
Mads seems a bit torn on what to do now. “I really do think we need to find Grady, whether you wish to work with her or not.”
“Let’s go somewhere discreet and speak about all of this,” Finn says. “Let’s go to the VRC.”
“I don’t have time,” Vivian retorts.
“If you want our help, you’ll make time,” Finn says sternly.
The very last place I want to go is somewhere with this woman. Everyone constantly wants me to make changes that suit them, never giving a shit what I have to deal with.
Mads reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Ender, Vivian really has been good to me. It’s very upsetting to hear what she did in the past, but I can honestly tell you that she’s been risking her life again and again to keep me out of Abel’s hands. She really wants to stop him, and I think that she could play a vital role in this. I’m not asking you to get along with her or forgive her, but please, hear her out. I fully understand that what she did is unforgivable. But if she can lead us closer to getting answers, then just use her for that.”
My eyes are transfixed by the gentle hand on mine. I stare at it for a long moment before nodding. “Fine.”
I think everyone is shocked that I agree, but Mads is all smiles as he turns to Vivian just before I hear a gunshot.
I drive Mads back as Marcus shoves his group back. Vivian stumbles then looks down where blood blooms across her chest. Her eyes are fixated on it as she staggers back. Quickly, I turn, but from here, I can’t see who shot the gun.
“I’ll find them,” Alexei says, but I block his path.
“The ammunition they’re using would kill you instantly,” I warn him.
“I don’t plan to get shot,” he snarls at me.
When he tries again, I’m faster and stop him. “Most people don’t. The second that bullet hits you, you’re dead.”
“Please,” Mads begs. “Please let’s just get away now. Please. I don’t want you guys to die because of me. Please?”
“We’re falling back now,” Marcus orders.
Vivian staggers before dropping to her knees.
“No, no, no…” Mads says as he moves forward but I tear him back, wondering why the hell they all want to be so reckless. She is definitely not worth risking a life over.
“We don’t know where they’re coming from, and we know that they have a clear shot of where Vivian stands. If what she said is right, you might no longer have the protection you had,” I warn him.
Mads nods as we confirm where we’re going before I rush over to grab Vivian and carry her toward the vehicle Finn is opening up for us. We all hurry into the large SUV with three rows that fit all of us. Even so, another shot is never taken. No… whoever it was wanted to just get rid of Vivian. But why?
She’s shaking as blood dyes her shirt red and her eyes seek out Mads. “Mads… save me… Mads…”
“I don’t have the antidote. Do you? I don’t have anything,” he says apologetically. “Fuck. Fuck.”
She’s grabbing for him desperately, aware that he’s the only chance she has at coming out of this alive. He pats her down, searching her pockets and anything on her, but he comes up empty. A sob escapes her as Mads pins a hand over the wound, but I’m not quite sure what he thinks it’ll solve. She’s going to die because she’s not like me and I don’t think she’s a true vampire.
“What the fuck was that?” Finn asks as Marcus speeds down the road.
“Evidently, someone wanting to keep Vivian quiet,” Marcus says. “We’re going to Orin’s to get Rylee, and then we’re moving these two. With this ammunition being used, we are in over our heads.”
“M-Mads,” she begs, and I can tell it’s tearing Mads apart. He knows he could save her life, but he’s also aware that he doesn’t have time to.
“I’ll save you. We’re getting the antidote now,” he says as he smooths her hair back. She eases when she hears his words. “We’re nearly there. It’ll all be okay. It’ll be okay.”
Her grip loosens before it falls, and she stops moving altogether.
“Fuck…” Mads whispers, and while I was prepared to rip the woman’s head off mere minutes ago, seeing Mads grieve over her doesn’t make me feel good.
“I’m sorry,” I say for some reason. I’m not even sure why. I’m not sorry she’s dead. She might have sworn she’d changed, but the person I knew, the woman I heard outside of that darkness, was a monster. Can time really fix everything? Especially those who suffered because of it? And if it can, what does that mean for me?
“Thanks,” Mads says. “Fuck… this is all my fault.”
“That’s like saying what I did was my fault too,” I tell him.
“Of course it’s not. You had no choice. I had a fucking choice,” Mads says. “I chose to do this. I chose to trust Grady. And this is where it’s gotten me.”


CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ENDER
Finn twists back in the passenger seat to look at us. “You mentioned Grady… are you talking about Patrick Grady? The guy who released the drug that caused vampires to attack humans? After his attack at the concert, he was arrested and has been serving time in prison.”
“Yes.”
“And how do you know him?” Marcus asks.
Mads takes a deep breath, but I feel like he’s finally understood that this group is likely the only ones who will be able to help him. “He was a student of mine for one semester. He did an overseas short-term program where we became acquaintances.”
“You helped him create the drug he used to cause vampires to lose control?” Marcus asks.
Mads shakes his head. “No. At least not intentionally, if I was involved at all. I would have to look at the composition of the drug to give you a better idea. I mean, I can’t deny he might have learned something from me that helped him concoct it, but that was his own creation. I had no say in it, but what I did create… was the drug that just killed Vivian…” Mads says as he looks down at her still form. “And the drug that killed the council members and those at the pier. My intention was to put it in ammo form to kill the vampires who killed my family. I was a human whose whole fucking life had been torn apart by two vampires, and I wanted them to suffer for it. I don’t even know if I really ever was going to go through with it. But I had this idea. This big fucking idea of how I would kill the two who murdered them. And Grady encouraged me and made me see that it was a possibility. He had a similar sob story, told me a tale about a family member being killed which might not have even been true. I had no idea what he was doing. I had no clue he was part of some… movement. He stole some of my research and the drugs I’d made, and now here we are.”
He’s quiet as he stares at the dead woman before looking up. “Vivian was helping me find him so that I could put an end to this. Instead, it looks like I’ve snagged the attention of a man who wants to use me to eradicate a significant portion of the vampire race.”
“Have you told anyone how to make it? Even Vivian? Or anyone else?” Finn asks.
“No. Grady is the only person who knows, and he only knows how to make a diluted form of it. But I can’t tell you who he has told. He took my research and ran, well aware I wasn’t going to help him ruin the lives of others. No one seems to know what happened to him since the location he was supposedly at has never seen him. I’m unsure if there’s a malicious reason behind this or if it was an attempt to hide him from those who might use him for evil. If we can figure it out, we can find him and… fuck if I know… force him to never tell anyone?”
“That can be done,” I say.
Mads looks uncertain about what I’m implying.
Marcus tells Mads, “We’re going to stop at the VRC to deal with Vivian. I’ll have DeGray and Briar meet us there and they’ll handle that while the four of us take you to Orin’s to get Rylee, and then we’ll move you to a different location. We cannot have anyone learning what you know.”
“How do we even trust him?” Alexei asks. “I think we should hold him at the VRC until we know more.”
“Abel tortured him for days and he didn’t cave,” I say, positive that Mads isn’t the one we need to be wary of right now.
Mads bows his head. “I know a promise isn’t much, but I truly don’t want this to get out. There are people I really do care about… I wish I’d never made it. I wish I’d never gotten drawn into Grady’s ideas of revenge… of making those who hurt us pay for what they did because we were so weak compared to them. I was allowing grief to push me forward and I know I now must pay for that mistake. If I have to die to do it, then that is my only option. But I will tell you this. I do know an antidote. I was smart enough to know that I did not want to create something so powerful without a way to counteract it. Grady was against it. He called it a waste of time, so I know he doesn’t know how to make it. Hell, he probably doesn’t even realize that I accomplished creating it, which means that if Grady does end up in Abel’s hands, we’d be the only ones aware of how to counteract the drug. Get me to a lab where I can make the antidote, and then after that, you can do whatever you want with me.”
“If we take you somewhere to make it, how will we know you’re making the antidote and not the drug to kill people?” Finn asks.
“I watched him make it. He administered the antidote to me after I’d been shot. I will watch him again to make sure he’s mimicking the same steps,” I assure them.
“You can lock me in the lab for all I care, and I will inject myself with the antidote to prove it to you,” Mads says. “I really am not a horrible guy. I just… I was forced to watch as two vampires slaughtered my family. I was left bound in the house with their bodies until someone found me. It fucks with you… and I made a mistake because of it.”
“Why?” Claude asks. “If someone was merely doing it for fun, why would they have left you alive? Did they want something out of you back then?”
Mads looks pained as he slowly shakes his head. “They wanted… what I created. I just hadn’t created it yet. During a trial of a different sort, I’d accidentally made something that caused a vampire I worked with to not heal. She touched what I’d made, and as she jerked back, she burned her fingers, but they wouldn’t heal because of whatever properties were in what she’d touched. It took her about five minutes or so before she healed from such a minor burn.
“It was at that moment I realized that on a lower scale, I’d created something that could harm the healing abilities of vampires. I destroyed every ounce of it. I don’t know who spread the information of what I’d done, but it reached the vampires who hunted me down and slaughtered my family. Much of that night remains a mystery to me. They tried to torture the information out of me, but since I didn’t even know how I’d made it, I had nothing to give them. So why did they just give up? Why didn’t they keep torturing me until I finally figured it out? Unless… I don’t know. At times I’ve wondered if it was tied to Grady.
“When they held us hostage, I tried to give them what they wanted so I could save my family but I just… I had no idea how to recreate it. And instead of pushing me harder, they just killed them… first my sister, then my father, and then my mother. After that, they simply… left. And it made me wonder why… it made me question if they truly never expected me to create it as they killed my family but wanted to drive me toward some idea of vengeance. To give me a reason to make it. I asked myself that question again and again after Grady betrayed me. I truly don’t have all of the answers you want,” Mads says. “I was foolish enough to let someone use me for their own gain.”
“I get it,” Finn says quietly. “If I… the bullets you made are the only reason I’m here right now. I illegally took them to kill my own monster… but if I was smart enough to have created something that could kill him? I would have again and again. And I’m not sure if I’d have ever thought of the consequences. Hell, I joined the VRC to kill him. I joined with some fucked-up idea of using the vampires on the team to save me. I was putting lives at risk for my own gain. I really can’t say that I’d have done anything differently than you if I were in your shoes.”
“It’s hard when you’re a human,” Alexei agrees. “You feel so insignificant compared to a vampire. I knew how to fight them as a human, but I was taught from a young age how to fight. And I would have done whatever I could to protect those I cared about. You have an excuse for what you’ve done. Where the fuck is Ender’s excuse?”
I stare out the window, positive that if I don’t look at him, I won’t have to answer. It’ll irritate the shit out of him, and he’ll probably try his best to kill me, but it is what it is as we sit in this vehicle, locked in together.
“Did Ender tell you he tried killing Finn and Claude?” Alexei asks Mads. “You seem eager to defend him, but did he tell you that he threw Finn off a bridge and nearly killed Claude?”
Mads looks over at me. “Was there a reason why?”
When I don’t defend myself, Alexei says, “Because he’s a fucking psychopath who only cares for himself.”
I refuse to engage with them. “I just want Rylee back in my care and Abel dead, and then I’m gone. You’ll never have to deal with me again.”
“Ender, I really can’t imagine you did that without reason,” Mads says. “Why don’t you tell them so they understand?”
I grit my teeth, well aware my reasons won’t be enough. “I knew Marcus would catch Finn. I wanted to keep him from stopping me and I knew that would preoccupy him.”
“What if I hadn’t?” Marcus asks, voice cold. “What if I hadn’t caught him?”
Their voices just crash around me as I stare out the car window and question if I should just get out.
“Ender, if you’re truthful, they’ll be more willing to help you. It’s obvious we can’t do this alone,” Mads says.
“I don’t want their fucking help.”
“I want to punch you so fucking hard,” Alexei snarls.
“Guys, it’s fine,” Claude says. “Please, let’s stay focused. I know you’re upset, hon. But let’s just focus on stopping this Abel guy. And then we can fixate on hating Ender. Sadly, it seems like he has information that we need.”
Mads is staring at me as I clench my jaw.
“His voice,” I whisper.
“Claude’s voice? What about his voice?” Alexei snaps.
“He was with Abel. I heard his voice.”
“I was?” Claude asks.
“You heard it? You never even saw him and you just… assumed it was him?” Alexei demands.
“There was nothing to fucking see in that darkness. All I could do was hear, and I heard him. Hell, maybe I saw him too, I don’t remember, I just know he was there,” I snap.
“Do you think you could tell me when this was? I’d love to know if I really do know this Abel guy,” Claude says. “I have traveled a lot and met many people. I don’t… recognize the name necessarily, but it doesn’t mean that I never met him.”
“I don’t know. It was a long time ago. That period of time was… I don’t know how long ago.”
Alexei doesn’t seem pleased, but I don’t give a shit if it means I can avoid telling him.
“If you told them the truth, I bet they’d be more willing to help you,” Mads says.
“I don’t want to tell them the truth. Do you want to recount how your family was killed?” I ask.
He grimaces. “You’re right. I do not. I’m sorry.”
Fuck. “I… didn’t mean to bring up bad memories. I’m not good at this shit.”
“You don’t have to tell me more,” Claude says. “But if you do remember when or how I might know Abel, it would really help.”
“Alright.”
We pull into the VRC before anything else happens, and they discreetly escort us into a different vehicle, another large three-row SUV, as they talk to DeGray and Briar and transfer Vivian’s body into their care.
I close my eyes and try to think about when it was that I’d heard Claude. Lost in that darkness, time shifts and moves in strange ways, and it’s hard to piece it all together.
At the time I heard his voice, I was in the dark because I refused to kill a child. Abel killed them anyway. But why does any of this stand out to me? What makes Claude’s voice stand out?
The car door opens and the four of them get in. Finn turns in his seat so he can look back at us. “Brooks is getting information on where to send you, and then we’re going to focus on finding out where Grady is.”
Mads speaks up. “Before we hunt for Grady, I insist on being taken to a lab. I want to make enough antidote that everyone here has some on their person. The ingredients are extremely expensive and hard to get, but I think it’s vital for the main detectives who will be trying to stop Abel to have them.”
“Okay. I’ve informed Brooks, but we don’t happen to have a chemistry set lying around anywhere,” Finn says. “He’s looking into getting you over to the university.”
“Thank you.”
When we reach Orin’s, I still have absolutely no idea why I recognize Claude’s voice. Clearly, if I can’t even identify it, I should never have focused my attack on him. But my mind isn’t always reasonable after years spent with Abel.
Mind in turmoil, I get out of the vehicle and follow them up to the house. I’m honestly surprised Rylee isn’t already running out and making me promise to never leave her again. But when Finn opens the door, I freeze.
“He’s here, get Mads away,” I order as I rush in for Rylee. I don’t have to go far before I find her sitting at the dining room table. She’s seated next to Abel, who pats her head as he looks at me.
Orin is seated across from them, looking extremely tense, and another vampire I don’t recognize is seated next to him, his head bowed like he can’t even manage to look up with the aura Abel is exuding.
Abel smiles as he watches me. “Such a sweet girl here, Ender,” he says as he pats her head again. Rylee hugs her cat as she gives me a desperate look, obviously wanting to run to me but aware she can’t with Abel by her side.
“Orin and I were discussing his possible position as head of the US council. At first, I wasn’t certain, but I think he’d do well,” Abel continues as he stands up and walks toward us.
I want to kill him. I want to rush over and cut his fucking head off, but with how weak I currently feel, I know there’s absolutely no way. And even with Marcus, Claude, and Alexei here to back me up, I’m aware that there’s no chance Abel would put himself in a position where he’d be at risk. He must have vampires surrounding the place to protect himself.
“Pleasure to meet the rest of you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” he says as he stops in front of us. “I know Ender, of course. We go way back. Marcus, I don’t believe we’ve ever met. For being such an influential and impressive man, you sure don’t like to stick your head where the power is, do you? It’s good to finally meet you.”
“You’re under arrest for the abduction and attempted murder of Mads and Ender,” Marcus states.
Abel smiles. “Come on now… I’m the head of the council—creator of the council—and that man there is one of the most wanted vampire killers, while the other created a drug to wipe out vampires. Do you really think they’re going to take their side? How exactly is that going to work? You think the council won’t back me up when I simply state that we were apprehending two known killers?”
Marcus grits his teeth. “I’ve never come across your name on the council.”
“I guess as the founder I never really thought I had to tack my name on something I own, but I could be wrong.” His attention shifts off Marcus like he’s already bored of him. “Oh, and you are the infamous vampire hunter. You were quite the pain in my ass. Killed a couple of friends of mine,” he says as he eyes Alexei before moving on.
“Claude, right? We meet again. It was always a pleasure dealing with you,” he says, then turns to Finn.
“And Watson’s little pet⁠—”
“Stay the fuck away from him,” Marcus growls.
“Watson was good to me, and even though this nasty little human killed such a great man, I would never destroy something he adored.” He reaches out to pat Finn’s head, much like he had Rylee’s, but Marcus tries to smack his hand away. The room becomes so suppressing that Marcus just barely manages to slide Finn behind him as Abel’s aura fights against Marcus’s. If Marcus can’t defeat me, I can’t fathom he could defeat Abel.
Abel chuckles as he starts toward the door. “Ender, come along now. You know it’s time you returned home.”
I grit my teeth as I fight against the aura that once was capable of controlling me. I’m drawn into the darkness the moment I feel it, dragged straight down, and I know the only way out is to do as I’m told⁠—
A hand presses against my chest and my eyes snap open. Mads’s fingers dig into my shirt, giving me the strength I need to pull away from Abel’s control.
When I look up, Abel is watching me as I focus on Mads’s hand and the strength it gives me to stay in control. Abel merely grins, but it’s a look that tells me he’s not happy. He walks out of the house as I question why the fuck he left us all alone… and what he has planned.
Rylee bolts out of the chair, setting her cat down before rushing over to me and grabbing me. Only then does Mads’s hand pull away from me, but now I have Rylee to ground me.
“I was so scared. He was so scary. What’s he want? Why was he like that?” she asks as I pick her up and squeeze her.
“It’s okay,” I assure her. “You’re okay.”
“What the absolute fuck was that?” Finn asks. “Why was he so strong?”
“Because Watson created him. I don’t know how, but I know he called Watson his maker. Maybe using Miller’s research? Maybe using Miller himself? Fuck if I know. They didn’t exactly share their findings with me,” I say as Rylee’s fingers dig into my shirt. “You’re fine.”
“You okay, River?” Finn asks.
“Y-Yeah. I just… that was terrifying,” the vampire I didn’t recognize whispers.
Finn wonders, “Why’d he just walk out? If he wants Mads… why just leave?”
Well, that’s easy enough to figure out. “He’s confident he has or will have Grady. As for the rest of you, he’s giving you a chance to join his side. Same with Orin. It’s a threat. Do what he asks, and he’ll reward you. Don’t and he’ll kill you. He knows that all of you are influential and useful. So why dispose of you when he could use you? You’d be wise to do as he asks,” I say. “I will deal with him myself. If you will just watch Rylee for a little bit longer⁠—”
“You are not doing this yourself,” Mads insists. “How exactly do you think that’ll turn out with you doing everything alone?”
“Hopefully, it’ll turn out with him dead,” I say as I set Rylee down and try to guide her back to Orin, but she refuses to let go of me.
Finn protests, “He can’t just… take over. He can’t just… he should be arrested and… fuck.”
“How are you going to arrest him?” I ask. “He’s literally the creator of the council which stands at the very top. Nothing the VRC can do or say matters to him.”
“If we work together—” Alexei begins but Marcus cuts him off.
“He was not alone here,” Marcus says. “Once we made contact with him, I could feel the vampires closing in. He has his own fucking army. Just because we stopped people who were likely working with him, like Chief Bowman and Addison, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more to fill their spots. Ender is right. We are influential in the VRC and with the vampires outside of it. He’s seeing which side we take.”
I try to urge Rylee to the others, but her fingers are digging so tightly into my shirt that she’s threatening to tear it. “None of it will matter if he’s dead. As soon as I recover, I’m going to kill him. Take care of Rylee until I’m done.”
I turn toward the door, but Claude steps in front of me and grabs the front of my shirt. It immediately puts me on edge, but the look on his face stops me.
“What did he do with them?”
“What?” I ask.
“I was selling artifacts at the time and was asked to transport some people into Abel’s care since I was going there to deliver a book. What did he do with them? I didn’t speak their language. What did he do with the people? Were you there? You were the vampire who was chained up, weren’t you? He told me you were a killer. I remember that you begged me to kill you.”
I jerk back, having forgotten that. It’s not like he was the only one I begged for help.
“Let me leave.”
“What happened to them?” Claude sounds so desperate to know.
“I don’t know,” I lie. “Can I go now?”
“Why did he keep you chained up? He told me not to go in that room, but that last night, I heard something and went in.”
“Let’s just… leave it here,” Mads says as he gently pulls me back. “Let’s figure some stuff out. I think it’d be best if we went to the university first. Can we go now? That sounds like a good idea. I feel like time isn’t extremely on our side. Should we all go? I think so. I think the more the merrier thing.”
“I’m going on my own,” I counter.
Mads narrows his eyes at me. “You’re going to let me get murdered? And you’re not even going to wait to take an antidote with you? The one you took wore off long ago. So are you just going to wallow around in misery when you could have gone with me? You aren’t even back to normal yet.”
“En, what’s going on?” Rylee asks. “Please don’t leave!”
“Stay until you feel better or else this will be an absolute waste,” Mads says.
I take a deep breath and nod. “Fine. We’re heading to the university now, then. Rylee, let’s go.”
“I need my cat!”
“Leave the cat.”
“He’s sad alone!”
“If you lose the cat, don’t come crying to me.”
“I would never cry. I’ve never cried since I was like a baby,” she says, but the way she eyes Finn and Orin makes me feel like that’s not quite true.
“I… think I’m going to head to the department to join Bentley,” River says. “I’m not quite sure I’m cut out to help with this part without Bentley’s assistance.”
Finn smiles at him. “Of course. He could definitely use your help there. We really don’t know what to expect or what might come of this. You need to be careful, though.”
“I will be,” he assures us.