Shayna approached her, palms out. “Taran. Innocent people are dead. And they’re going to keep dying. We have the opportunity to help. Can’t you see that?”
Taran’s face darkened with rage and something else I couldn’t recognize. “We already help people every day as nurses. That’s more than enough. We don’t owe the goddamn world our fucking lives. For shit’s sake, how much more can we go through?”
And there it was. Taran was afraid. And rightfully so. Our past was mired with sorrow and wickedness no one should ever experience. She wanted to end the nightmares. Not to create new ones. Here I was telling her that not only would I willingly subject myself to torment, but that our little sisters might come along for the ride.
Emme surprised me by smiling softly. “Don’t be bitter, Taran,” she said gently.
I just stared at Emme. As the smallest and most sensitive, she had been the most wounded by our past. And yet she had been the first to say we should help. She was the first to step in, ready to fight, despite her escalating dread and fear of pain.
Taran didn’t say anything, stunned into fuming silence.
Shayna slung an arm around her. “Look at it this way: Maybe we’ve been given our abilities for a greater purpose. Maybe this is what we’ve always been meant to do.”
Taran shrugged Shayna off. “March into impending doom? I don’t think so. Quit fooling yourself into thinking we’re something special. We’re not. We’re just a bunch of freaks.”
Shayna smiled patiently. “Taran, you know that’s not what I’m saying.”
Emme squeezed my hand again. “What are you thinking, Celia?”
I sighed. “I think we were better off when no one knew about us. That said, we can’t pretend to be blind.” My face met Taran’s. “Nor can we run away.” Shayna started to say something, but I cut her off. “I’m going to do this. I’m going to help Misha. But I don’t…I can’t let you come with me.”
Taran threw her hands in the air. “What the hell? Do you really think we’ll let you do this on your own? It’s all of us or none of us.”
I cursed under my breath, certain we were signing our death warrants, but knowing we wouldn’t be able to live with ourselves if we ran.
Taran fixed her glare on Emme and Shayna. “You two better know damn well what you’re signing up for. Celia and I know what we’re capable of. The blood from our first kills still stains our hands.” She closed her eyes tight and shuddered. “That shit stays with you forever—no matter if the kill was righteous or not. If you can’t deal with it—don’t. We’ll leave now and drag Celia’s ass with us.”
Shayna exchanged glances with Emme before stepping forward. “These aren’t people we’re going after. They’re monsters.” She shrugged. “Monsters have no place in a world I want to belong to.”
Emme nodded despite the tears moistening her soft and trusting green eyes. “I never wanted to know what it’s like to take a life. But if it’s between our lives and theirs, I’ll do what it takes to make sure we live through it.”
The breeze from the lake brushed against my back like a gentle encouraging nudge forward from a friend. I clenched and unclenched my fists, terrified and yet raring for a fight. “Fine. I’ll call Misha.”
CHAPTER 13
The vampires greeted us on the steps of the mansion, standing at parade rest. Black cargo pants covered their muscular legs. Fine-gauge sweaters of black silk tightened over their powerful biceps, triceps, and abdominals. Combat boots sheathed their feet. These vicious creatures of the night looked dressed to maim, maul, murder.
We looked ready to crash at the nearest homeless shelter.
My sisters and I had decided on old jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers after Taran said, “I’m not getting that nasty bloodlust shit on my nice clothes.”
I zipped the front of my sweatshirt to conceal the spaghetti stain on my tank. Nothing like feeling like a complete jackass before charging into battle.
The vamps parted smoothly to allow their master through. Misha bowed his head. “Ladies, you have my deepest gratitude. If you will, please join me for an early breakfast. We shall leave within the hour.”
“Early” seemed the appropriate term. Sunrise still remained hours away.
I shoved my hands into the pockets of my old sweatshirt as the breeze from the lake intensified, turning the air dense and crisp. A dangerous storm brewed in the distance, threatening to fall upon us like the mighty fist of Thor. I glanced over my shoulder before following Misha inside. I’d hoped the break of dawn would bring strong light to aid my sisters in battle. Without the night vision the vampires and I possessed, the tremendous drawbacks they faced continued to escalate.