Aden’s full lips pulled up into a smile, but it wasn’t nice. Scorn dripped off every word when his mouth opened again.
“ Glory, let me introduce you to our Uncle Nicolas.”
“ Uncle.” Glory repeated, still not believing her ears.
“ You never told her?” Nicolas’s laughter bounced off the walls of the darkened hallway. His hawk like face looked thrilled.
A growl shuddered out of Lupe’s wolf form and she edged closer. Glory, shocked as she was, didn’t miss the way Gabriel looked back at Lupe quickly, concern etching into his beautiful features.
Roslyn’s panther form was slipping around Damien, going to the opposite side of where Lupe was. They were forming a strategic fighting stance.
Damien still hung back, and when Glory glanced at him, his shocking blue eyes stared her down.
Great. He was mad too. Was he mad enough to change sides again?
“ Last time I checked, taking a guest away from their host without asking wasn’t polite.” Nicolas baited, after a moment of the Montez’s not rising to bite his earlier bait.
“ Oh? I wasn’t aware freezing a guest in order to gain information was polite either.” Anna answered sharply, her delicate features icy.
Nicolas smiled, happy that one of them was willing to fight his words.
“ No, no. Its not. As you can see, Glory is not froze. If anything she looks quite warm.”
Glory frowned as everyone turned back to look at her. She was in the warm stage of her fever, and she could tell her cheeks were flushed.
Aden’s amber eyes locked on hers for a moment, taking in her position still standing by Damien. His head declined in a briefest of nods and Glory felt her stomach drop. What did that mean?
She took one step forward, intent on going to him. Just because she was standing by Damien didn’t mean she had chose him. A soft purr caught her attention as Damien’s teeth closed over the hem of her shirt, tugging her back. He didn’t want her up closer to where a fight was brewing.
To be honest, she didn’t want to be up there either. But she wasn’t about to let Aden do something stupid because he thought she didn’t love him.
She broke free of Damien’s gentle hold with a jerk and stumbled up next to Aden.
Aden glanced down at her, scowling. Glory glared right back. His full lips tipped up in the smallest of smiles before he turned his attention back to Nicolas and the others.
Nicolas wasn’t looking so happy anymore.
“ Camille. Call for the others.”
“ Others?” Aden’s voice dropped dangerously lower.
“ That’s right. Camille and Joel are my right and left hands. Do you think I would let them be wasted by fighting you?”
Glory could see Aden visibly tense as Joel’s name was mentioned.
“Are you sure you couldn’t let Joel stay and participate in the fun?” It was Gabe’s voice that trembled in fury.
Nicolas looked almost like he pitied them for falling for his trick.
“ Not this time, I’m afraid.”
Glory felt her own temper rising to take over her fear. How could he sound so nonchalant? He was acting like this was no big deal.
Glory’s eyes whipped over to Camille. She was still looking as stunning as ever. Her eyes flashed burgundy before they rolled back into her head. Her arms rose, like she was getting ready to embrace someone.
“What’s she doing?” Glory murmured.
Aden’s eyes rolled. “ She’s just telling the others to come telepathically. But she’s being very over dramatic.”
Camille’s eyes snapped open, still glowing burgundy in the dim light.
“ It’s a shame I cant stay. I would love to personally rip you limb by limb.” She said, sounding flirtatious.
Aden offered a smile.
“ You could try.”
Her seductive grin dropped off her full lips and they lifted, a quiet snarl slipping through her teeth. She took a step forward, her high heels slapping the cobblestones.
“Camille.” Nicolas’s voice held a warning. Camille froze, a smug grin filling her face once again.
“ Forgive me, Master. I forget my place.”
Aden relaxed slightly.
“ Of course. Must listen to Master.” Aden taunted.
Camille’s features grew cloudy.
“Careful Aden.” Anna advised. Aden shot a glance her way, and nodded briefly.
“ Come, we must be going now. The other’s are on their way.” Nicolas smiled and stepped back. “ They can be quite testy at times.” He added.
Another person stepped out of the shadows that Glory hadn’t seen before.
It was only a child, looking to be around ten. He was small, looking like he didn’t get fed enough. Compassion welled up in Glory and she took a step forward.
“ Don’t.” Aden’s hand grabbed her arm, gently pulling her back.
“ But he’s so small.” Glory protested.
“ Teleporters usually are for some reason.” Aden answered, never taking his eyes off the group.
“ You’re burning up Glory.” Aden murmured, changing the subject.
“What?” Glory stammered, confused by the subject change. She glanced over at Nicolas, Joel and Camille who were grouping around the small boy.
“ Teleporters. They all seem to be smaller than other people. I’m not sure why.” Aden revised back to their earlier conversation subject.
Glory couldn’t answer Aden. She was too busy watching what was happening. Camille and Joel rested a hand on the boys shoulder and the boy took both of Nicolas’s hands in his own. The air around the group wavered, and Glory blinked. When she opened her eyes, they were gone.
“Whoa.” Glory breathed and looked around. They truly were gone.
“ You’ve never seen anyone Teleport.” It was a statement not a question.
Glory turned to Anna. She was smiling softly, and Glory missed the air waver around her. In less than a second, she was standing behind Glory.
“ Wow.” Glory exclaimed as she whirled to face Anna.
“ How else do you think we got down here?” Gabe asked, trailing fingers through Lupe’s fur on her head.
“ Well, then! Why cant we just Teleport back out then?” Glory asked.
“ It’s a little late for that.” Aden was moving, blurring as he rushed to her side.
“ Listen to me,” He grasped her hot face in his hands, making her look him in the eye.
Glory stared up at him silently, scared by how urgent he was acting.
“ I want you to go back in the room they kept you in. And don’t come out until we come for you.”
Glory blinked. “ I’m not going in there! I’m staying here. With you.”
Aden’s eyes warmed a little, but he shook his head. “ No. I cant fight knowing that you’re out here in danger.”
He glanced over his shoulder, and Glory was suddenly aware that the others had taken up a defensive position. As she looked down the hall, many eyes became visible, glowing in the dim shadows.
“ Aden…” Glory pleaded.
Aden gripped her upper arms lightly and set her a good foot away from him.
“ Just go.”
Glory frowned but turned, retreating back into the cold cavern that minutes ago held her captive.
“ Please keep them safe.” She murmured and went back into the furnished part of the room. She glanced around. A wooden chair sat in the corner of the room. Was the stories true? Did wood hurt Vampires more than metal or steel?
Glory’s legs were shaking. She might not be cold anymore, but exhaustion was creeping in.
With her strength ebbing away, she knew she had to hurry. Glory grabbed the chair and slammed it against the floor. The legs of the chair snapped off and Glory grabbed one, examining its sharp edge. She could defend herself well enough with this.
She walked quickly to the door, telling herself to ignore the shaking in her legs. She could do this. She would do this.
She slipped into the hallway, which was in chaos. She saw Roslyn down the hall, pinning one vampire down. Anna was having fun with her telekinetic abilities, along with Damien. Three of the many vampires flew back down the hall, knocking others down on their way.
Gabe was fighting with another, down the opposite end of the hall, which left Lupe and Aden.
Glory glanced up to see Lupe’s wolf body flying through the air as she launched herself at a vampire who was trying to get to Aden.
Aden.
Glory focused on him. Three vampires had him pinned against the wall. He managed to get one off, and as it hit its head on the ground, it stayed down.
Lupe was taking care of the vamp who had tried to join the fun, so now only two remained. Glory walked forward confidently. The shaking in her legs was replaced by adrenaline as she drew closer.
She ignored the action around her. Only one thing mattered. Getting to Aden.
Once she was closer, she saw what was really going on. One of the Vamps had a wooden stake pressing close to Aden’s heart. The other Vamp stood a few inches away, teeth elongated in case help was needed.
The Vamp holding the stake shifted, preparing to drive the wood into Aden’s heart.
“ Uh um.” Glory cleared her throat. She positioned the wooden stake close to its back. It flinched at started to turn. Before it got the chance, Glory drove her crude stake home, piercing the Vamp from the back. It made a sound close to a gurgle and started to fall. Glory pulled the stake clean, knowing she might need it again. The Vamp fell at her feet, blood still trickling from the wound. She looked up, feeling Aden’s eyes on her. His amber eyes were wide in shock. He quickly killed the other Vamp and stepped closer to her.
“Are you all right?” His hands cupped her face, pulling her closer. Glory nodded meekly. Everything was starting to blur.
“ I-” She started to tell Aden what was going on, but everything went black.
The last thing she saw was the cobblestone floor rising to meet her.
Hmmm.... What to do, what to do....Aden? Damien??? Damien....Aden???? *sigh*
