A Job From Hell (21 page)

"Why?" I shook my head. "I'm sorry but I don't need saving. Maybe pour al that energy into a worthy cause, like saving the whales, or the Rainforest. I hear trees are being cut down at an alarming rate."

"He's kil ed before and he'l do it again," Devon said. "Doesn't it make your skin crawl knowing you were bunked up with Vlad the Impaler?"

"Huh?"

"Look him up when you get the chance. The point is, Aidan and Rebecca kil ed hundreds in their bloodlust hunt." Devon grabbed my hand, inching closer until we stood mere inches from one another. My breath caught in my throat as I stared into his black eyes. "The Shadows fight to keep humans safe from monsters on the prowl. I know our image was tarnished when Connor tried to kidnap you. But I want you to know my brother had only the best intentions in mind. He was desperate since he didn't know how much time we had left." His tone was honest. Even though he fel quiet, I felt as though his voice was stil talking to me at the back of my mind, whispering unspoken words in my ears.

"Who are you people?"

"We're the good guys," Devon murmured. His gaze turned soft as he brushed a wisp of hair out of my face. "I hope in time you come to see that.

Breaking away from Aidan wil be good for you. Besides, it can't be fun snuggling up to an ice cube every night." He hesitated. "Or shal I say, corpse?"

I smiled warily. "Al the more reason to invest in flannel nightwear."

Smirking, Devon pul ed away. "I'l end on this note. Aidan has kil ed his lovers in the past and I won't to let him repeat history."

"Why?"

He shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "Because I like you." For a moment, I wasn't sure I heard him right. I opened my mouth to ask in what way he liked me, but Devon took my hand and led me under the low branches of a tree on the narrow path. My hand felt strange in his as we crossed the open space. We turned right until we reached an opening in the wal and squeezed through into yet another corridor. He didn't let go of me until we halted in front of a huge door of polished metal.

Devon opened his mouth to say something when I lifted a hand to stop him. I'd heard enough. Now, I needed time to make sense of his words.

"Aidan's your sworn enemy," I said, "so it's hard for me to trust you."

"You trust him more? That's disturbing." The door opened. Devon let me pass through, fol owing a step behind. I took in the narrow stony passage with torches lit on both sides of a long aisle, marvel ing at how much it resembled the others we had passed. We walked in silence for a while, the dul thumps of our boots echoing from the wal s.

My mind reeled. There were so many questions I wanted to ask. Did Aidan say anything? Did he know about my deal with the Shadows? But I kept quiet, praying Devon would get the hint and keep his mouth shut too because I couldn't deal with more reproach and mind control, until we reached a great hal with a marble altar set up in the middle. A strong, chil y breeze swept my hair across my face. My heart started to race, hammering against my ribcage. Judging from the distance we had put behind us, we couldn't be anywhere near the open space with its blooming trees. The scent here was different too, less flowery, more earth-like and damp, just the way a mountain would smel in the cold Scottish summer.

Gazing around, I searched for the door to freedom. If I could just see it, I might be able to distract my captors and make a dash for the woods.

"You're shivering. Here." Devon took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. I mouthed a thank-you, careful not to give away my enthusiasm at being so close to a way out. His obliging attitude was part of his plan to sway me in the Shadows' favour. On the other hand, why would he want to deceive me when I was already cooperating? I was being paranoid again. He said he liked me. I wondered whether his words meant more than he let on. I took a deep breath and focused my attention back on our surroundings.

Devon led me past the altar to an opening in the wal , like a giant hole. Behind it stretched darkness. The dim light of the torches barely cast enough light to il uminate our way as we walked through, entering yet another corridor in this maze. A shiver ran down my spine. Even though I knew it wasn't from the cold, I wrapped Devon's jacket tighter around me.

"You okay?" Devon whispered, grabbing my hand again.

I nodded, but didn't pul away. We entered another open space. From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw motionless shapes leaning against the wal s, surveying our every move, waiting in silence as if they, too, were carved of marble like the altar we passed. Had they fol owed, or did they keep guard? Either way, there were so many of them, even if I found a way out, how far would I get before someone spied me and raised alarm?

At the far end of the space, a dais of stairs led to an upper platform with a door. Devon pressed his palm against a carved triangle. Light flickered where his skin touched the wood, and the hinges moved with a loud groan. We entered a rock chamber, and the door shut behind us.

Holding my breath, I looked around. More torches il uminated the vast room. Oriental rugs, in the colour of autumn leaves, covered the stonewal s. Thick logs burned in the huge fireplace to my right. I turned to the girl and the man seated on ebony thrones overlaid with red velvet when Devon hissed in my ear, "You're about to meet our queen, Deidre. Keep your head bowed."

Doing as he ordered, I caught a glimpse of ivory skin and silver hair that spil ed onto her dress, surrounding her elfin figure.

"I want a better look at the girl," Deidre said, her thin childlike voice ringing a bel .

"Go," Devon whispered as he gently pushed me forward, bracing me when I stumbled.

Deidre held out a hand and whispered, "Come closer."

I looked up, my gaze shifting to the bearded man sitting on the throne, pale and unmoving. When he didn't even blink, I turned to the girl, taking in the hip-long, silver hair, smooth skin and dainty physique. She looked barely older than twelve, but something glittered in her black eyes; old knowledge, pride and something else I couldn't pinpoint.

Deidre drew a sharp breath, then lifted one hand, motioning me to take a step forward. "This is Amber?"

"Yes, Deidre. She was chosen by the vampire," Devon said, head bowed.

"I stil can't see her face," Deidre said. I could hear impatience in her voice, so I approached, my boots making an unnerving clicking sound on the shiny marble floor, until I stood a few inches away from her.

"Chosen for what?" I asked, suspiciously, as I tried to push away the image of the girl in The Exorcist, a movie Dal as made me watch a few times. Eerie atmosphere. Check. Pale girl dressed in a flowing dress. Check. Weird talking. Check. I held my breath, waiting for the demonic voice to start cussing.

"I can't tel you. Revealing this particular secret shal be the vampire's pleasure, or agony, however he might see it." Deidre ran her fingers up my arm, barely touching Devon's leather jacket. "You've come to offer help in this dark hour?" Her authoritative voice stood in stark sharp contrast to her fril y dress and friendly smile.

"Yes, Deidre. Amber agreed to a pact: her skil for the vampire's life," Devon said. I shook my head. Was a verbal agreement even binding? I'd never heard of one to hold up in court. A good lawyer could surely get me out of this bad deal in a heartbeat.

Deidre's gaze never left me. She had the same coal black eyes as Devon and the other Shadows, as though they were siblings. Her lips were the colour of frozen rose petals, barely moving as she whispered, "Let her speak for herself, warrior."

"Devon's right, we had an agreement." I noticed the sword sheathed along Deidre's right hip. Honestly, a sword? Could she be more psycho?

Deidre placed a hand on my shoulder, and squeezed. A freezing sensation seeped through the thick material of clothes. I imagined myself slapping her hand away, but refrained from fol owing my instinct.

"I saw you in my dreams hundreds of years ago," Deidre whispered. "Yours is so beautiful and yet so tragic a fate. But first you'l reunite us with what is ours." Did she say hundreds of years? Unless my parents lied about my age, I was only seventeen. Deidre smiled coldly and continued her monologue, "You're a rarity among mortals and immortals, pure and striking. I reckon you've pledged your al egiance. Don't betray our trust or you'l die, and the vampire with you." She paused, glancing past me at Devon. A guttural hiss escaped Deidre's throat. "He thinks they share a bond."

"Only fools believe in bonds," Devon whispered. "The vampire made it up to suit his purpose."

I cast Devon an irritated look because I had enough of al the bad-mouthing. They were Aidan's enemies and I didn't trust them. They might seem more human than a vampire, but between the bloodsucker and the Exorcist kid and her black-eyed clique, I'd take the bloodsucker any time.

"Did you know he has the ability to influence your mind?" Deidre asked. "He'l feed on you night after night, sucking your blood and destroying your wil to live."

"You're kidding." Aidan happened to leave that tiny detail out. At this particular moment, he didn't seem so mysterious, good-looking and eternal y al uring. A chil ran down my spine. Did I trade Cameron's wisecracking, partying and womanising for a guy with an uncontrol able hunger for human blood? My taste in men was despicable. What came next? A werewolf? A zombie?

Deidre returned to her throne, chiffon shuffling as she draped her frock around her. "That you're here shows me you're ready to beg for help, just like our Angel once did." She paused again, the sudden silence stirring a storm of different emotions in me. The Exorcist kid was lying. Aidan could neither mess with my mind, nor would he ever drink from me. And yet, he wanted something, something they al seemed to want. I couldn't trust anyone; not Aidan, not the Shadows, and certainly not bloody Dal as who brought this disaster upon me in the first place. From now on, I'd only trust myself.

"I need answers." My voice quivered. "Angel said I could never go home again."

The sudden oppressing silence hung heavy in the air. I could slice the tension with a knife. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. Maybe Angel and Devon didn't know what they were talking about. Deidre might let me go home in a few months. I should've been more specific by offering my skil for two years, three tops, and then demand to be brought home.

"You're part of our world now, Amber," Deidre said, eventual y.

My heart sunk in my chest. "No."

She titled her head slowly, her voice remained soft. "It's a smal price to pay for a second chance in life."

I shook my head. "There's been a misunderstanding. I wasn't under the impression I'd be spending the rest of my life here. I want to go home."

"To be with Aidan." Deidre sighed and brushed a hand over her dress. "You need to fight it if you don't want to be the vampire's captive for the rest of your life."

"I'm not his captive." I wasn't. Was I?

"What do you know about vampires? Nothing but a few titbits Aidan's tossed your way. You are naïve, and he knows it. He wil use that to his advantage."

Deidre was laying it thick. "How can you say that?"

"Do you enjoy being bitten, hurting until the pain makes you wish you were dead?"

"This is al too crazy for me," I said.

"You fel for his charm like many others before you. But Fate has brought you here in your time of trouble. We're the beacons of light in the darkness. Think of this world as a lighthouse, and think of yourself as a ship lost during the storm. We are your refuge providing guidance and safety. As a mortal, this might take a while to sink in, but Angel wil be at your side to teach you our ways. In time, Aidan's influence on your mind wil die down."

I swal owed the sudden lump in my throat. I knew I should take Aidan's side, but something in Deidre's words rang true. Ever since entering Aidan's house I felt different. Past relationships faded from my mind. I never believed in mind control, but I also never believed in immortals, magical powers and seeing the dead, and they existed. The Exorcist kid's words were starting to make sense. Aidan had kept a lot from me. "Wil I ever get my old life back?"

Deidre shook her head. "I can't undo the kind of mind spel the vampire cast on you. As long as he lives, you won't find peace. The only way to protect your mind from him is to keep away. Is there anything we can get you to make you feel more comfortable?"

A bottle of Prozac would be perfect. Good old Valium would do the trick, too. Maybe a padded cel for being nuts enough to fal in love with a guy who wanted to get a little tipsy from sipping on my red blood cel s every night. I smiled, bitterly. "I'm good. Thanks."

"Here's a smal token of my appreciation." Deidre stood up from her throne and reached me in a few slow strides, pul ing out a rectangle box wrapped in lace from the sheath of her swords. I stared at it, hesitating. The only gift I wanted was freedom. So it better be a map out of this place, a key to the dungeon door, or a pair of red heels I could click together three times saying, "There's no place like home." Anything else was just worthless stuff.

"Take it," Deidre whispered.

I opened the box and pul ed out a large butterfly-shaped moonstone pendant dangling from a silver necklace.

"It's cal ed, Butterfly of Hope. The butterfly symbolizes a new life. The stone wil protect you." Deidre fastened it around my neck and took a step back to admire it.

"It's beautiful. Thank you." I wrapped my hand around the smooth metal. It felt like a warm fire against my skin, comforting me. I wondered what it real y was for.

"Lead Amber back and ensure she receives a room worthy of a queen," Deidre said. "And don't veil her mind. She shal be able to find the way back to my chambers." After walking around for hours through this maze, I doubted even a GPS system could help me, but I smiled in response nonetheless.

"That's unheard of. The vampire—" Devon started.

"I shan't turn away a soul in need," Deidre said, sharply.

Devon bowed and we left.

***

"It wasn't so bad, was it?" Devon asked, as soon as we were out in the open again.