And up …
I leap out of the window and land gracefully on the roof.
Holy jumping vampires, I can't believe I made it.
They said my powers hadn't even kicked in yet, either, so just how powerful will I become?
Powerful enough to rid the world of evil, murderous vampires.
Guilt crushes my chest.
Maybe running is the wrong thing to do.
When my gaze travels back down, Rhyland is standing in the midst of vampires, preparing to jump through the window after me. And he's smirking. Fucking smirking.
The guilt inside me shatters into a thousand raging pieces.
I don't think anymore.
I jump off the roof.
If I thought my queen powers had unexpectedly surfaced, vampire, oh vampire, was I wrong. Because, when I land from the three-story fall, I roll my ankle and fall face first into the ground, right near the line of vampires still waiting to get into the club. Some gasp. Some laugh. Some snicker and point. It's like high school all over again.
Graceful, Raven, real graceful.
So much for being a badass queen.
Forcing myself to shake off the embarrassing fall, I stumble to my feet and run like hell away from the club.
Away from my family.
Away from the king.
Away from my fate.
8
Don't hate me just yet. While I did take off running away from my future, I feel guilty about my decision. And eventually, I'll return to my fate, or whatever you want to call this curse looming over me. First, I need a timeout to think, to breathe, to process everything that's happening. That my future, which felt like it had finally just started, is no longer mine.
I'll admit that I'm the afraid, frightened little vampire I spent years being. I don't want to be her again, but she's a ghost, hanging out inside my body, reminding me that I still get scared. That I'm terrified right now.
As if I can outrun the fear, I continue sprinting down the sidewalk until I end up near some boarded-up stores and shops lining the eviler side of Mystic Willow Bay. The air is quiet except for faint screams echoing from nearby. From demons doing something sinister probably.
I slow to a stop, trying not to panic. Out of all the places to run, I came here. What was I thinking?
A rational voice whispers in my ear, You weren't thinking; that's the problem.
That voice. That stupid, obnoxious voice.
I grit my teeth. How did you get into my head?
It's a secret, Rhyland whispers, his playful tone like fangs on metal.
Well, leave me alone.
Not until you tell me where you are.
Never.
Raven, just tell me. His gentle tone only irks me more.
How the heck did he get inside my head? The only vampire that should be able to do that is my soulmate, and Rhyland sure as hell isn't that. If anything, he's my anti-soulmate.
Maybe it's a weird king-queen gift or something.
Raven? Rhyland's voice fills my head again. I need to know where you are. It's too dangerous for you to be alone right now.
Not any more dangerous than being around you, I'm sure.
What's that supposed to mean?
Like you don't know.
He doesn't respond, and I latch on to the silence, walking down the sidewalk. I keep my pace quick, trying to ignore the feeling that I'm being watched. Every store in the area is boarded up, giving anyone the opportunity to watch me without me being able to see them.
Rhyland is right. I shouldn't be alone right now.
I fish my phone out of my pocket to call someone to come pick me up. I've missed ten calls from Effie, three from Anders, and a countless number of texts. The last one I received was from Effie, with a simple: Where the heck are you!!! I'm getting worried!!!
I tap my fingers against buttons as I reply.
Me: Something crazy happened and I had to bail from the club. Can you come pick me up?
Her response is almost immediate.
Effie: Of course. Where are you? And seriously, what happened?
Me: I'm downtown near all those fields and warehouses. As for what happened … it's a long story.
Effie: Why the hell are you out there? Do you know how dangerous it is at night over there?
Me: Yeah, I know. I didn't mean to come here. It just sort of happened.
The screen abruptly lights up with an incoming call from Effie.
"Hey," I answer as I powerwalk toward the direction of the main part of town. "Are you heading to come get me?"
"Yep, Anders and I are heading your way right now," she says. "Anders is driving, though, so I can talk to you and give you my complete attention, because I figure you're going to need it."
She's right, but …
"How do you figure that?"
"Because the last time I saw you, Kingsley was storming up the stairs of the club with you over his shoulder."