what? Three . . . four years? You look exactly the same as I remember.”
The council member glared down at her through brown eyes. “Yes,” he agreed darkly. He walked over to a high cupboard and pulled out a disposable poncho, the new plastic smell filling the air. “The last time I saw you was the night you led the vampires to infiltrate our base. Your actions led to the slaughter of half our council, not to mention hundreds of great warriors.” Unfolding the cheap material, he then pulled it over his head, covering the dark blue Gucci suit he wore.
Giving an awkward shrug, she grimaced. “Would you believe me if I told you that I had nothing to do with that?”
“Would you believe me if I said I forgive you and that you’re now free to go as you please?”
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be so snarky about it. A simple no would have sufficed.”
He took a step toward her, then seemed to think better of it. “I’ve been looking forward to this meeting for some time.” He turned and opened a low cupboard. Instead of having shelves like the other one did, this one only contained a silver table that Arthur wheeled out. She couldn’t see anything but the top layer of the table, which contained an assortment of knives—some sharp and gleaming, others dull and rusty—and tubes filled with green, yellow, and orange fluids. “Especially since we now have your son in our custody. Looks like we finally are going to win this age-long battle.”
Heart seizing, Leisha tried to show no reaction. How did they capture Liam and Samantha? The only way they could have taken them was if they killed Nikita. “Don’t get too cocky, Arthur. That’s usually when something bad happens.”
“Is that what you did?” he asked. “You thought you were safely hidden away and got too comfortable?”
“Perhaps.” She looked up at the ceiling, her back taut. “Who was Katie?”
Arthur shrugged. “Just one of our human employees.”
“Didn’t know you had any of those.”
Picking up a small, rusted blade, he smiled. “I know.” He pressed the knife into her side. It punctured her skin in a harsh pressure, and Leisha clenched her jaw against the sudden sharp pain. “We learned that humans are able to get close to vampires without them detecting anything.” He slid the incision up to her ribs and Leisha gasped. “Of course, we had to be careful with you since you can read minds. So we got Katie. She’s a wonderful actress, and can keep her mind focused on her role so that she doesn’t think of anything else while she performs. And, with the help of hypnosis, there was no way you’d be able to read more of her mind than we wanted you to.” He pushed into her fourth rib.
Leisha grunted. It felt like he was practically chipping into her bone. “How did you know my escape tunnel led out into the park?” she grated out. She wanted to scream at the agony, but didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Arthur smirked. “We all thought that would be the obvious spot.”
Despite the burning pain, Leisha laughed.
Arthur drew his hand back, his eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny?”
“Do you think I’m that gullible?” Leisha taunted. “The tunnel doesn’t lead to the park because, you’re right—it’s the most obvious place to have it there.” She could feel the triumph shining through her eyes. “You don’t have my son.”
Sighing, Arthur turned back to his weapons. “It was worth a shot. It’s easier to get you talking when you think you’re already defeated.” Grabbing one of the vials, he opened it and upended the orange liquid over her open cut.
Rivulets of acidic agony shot through her. It felt like he’d mixed vinegar and hot sauce together and put them on her wound. Leisha clenched her jaw to keep from crying out. The pain wasn’t going away; if anything, it was getting more intense. Sweat broke out over the back of her neck while goosebumps sprouted on her arms.
Without
The council member glared down at her through brown eyes. “Yes,” he agreed darkly. He walked over to a high cupboard and pulled out a disposable poncho, the new plastic smell filling the air. “The last time I saw you was the night you led the vampires to infiltrate our base. Your actions led to the slaughter of half our council, not to mention hundreds of great warriors.” Unfolding the cheap material, he then pulled it over his head, covering the dark blue Gucci suit he wore.
Giving an awkward shrug, she grimaced. “Would you believe me if I told you that I had nothing to do with that?”
“Would you believe me if I said I forgive you and that you’re now free to go as you please?”
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be so snarky about it. A simple no would have sufficed.”
He took a step toward her, then seemed to think better of it. “I’ve been looking forward to this meeting for some time.” He turned and opened a low cupboard. Instead of having shelves like the other one did, this one only contained a silver table that Arthur wheeled out. She couldn’t see anything but the top layer of the table, which contained an assortment of knives—some sharp and gleaming, others dull and rusty—and tubes filled with green, yellow, and orange fluids. “Especially since we now have your son in our custody. Looks like we finally are going to win this age-long battle.”
Heart seizing, Leisha tried to show no reaction. How did they capture Liam and Samantha? The only way they could have taken them was if they killed Nikita. “Don’t get too cocky, Arthur. That’s usually when something bad happens.”
“Is that what you did?” he asked. “You thought you were safely hidden away and got too comfortable?”
“Perhaps.” She looked up at the ceiling, her back taut. “Who was Katie?”
Arthur shrugged. “Just one of our human employees.”
“Didn’t know you had any of those.”
Picking up a small, rusted blade, he smiled. “I know.” He pressed the knife into her side. It punctured her skin in a harsh pressure, and Leisha clenched her jaw against the sudden sharp pain. “We learned that humans are able to get close to vampires without them detecting anything.” He slid the incision up to her ribs and Leisha gasped. “Of course, we had to be careful with you since you can read minds. So we got Katie. She’s a wonderful actress, and can keep her mind focused on her role so that she doesn’t think of anything else while she performs. And, with the help of hypnosis, there was no way you’d be able to read more of her mind than we wanted you to.” He pushed into her fourth rib.
Leisha grunted. It felt like he was practically chipping into her bone. “How did you know my escape tunnel led out into the park?” she grated out. She wanted to scream at the agony, but didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Arthur smirked. “We all thought that would be the obvious spot.”
Despite the burning pain, Leisha laughed.
Arthur drew his hand back, his eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny?”
“Do you think I’m that gullible?” Leisha taunted. “The tunnel doesn’t lead to the park because, you’re right—it’s the most obvious place to have it there.” She could feel the triumph shining through her eyes. “You don’t have my son.”
Sighing, Arthur turned back to his weapons. “It was worth a shot. It’s easier to get you talking when you think you’re already defeated.” Grabbing one of the vials, he opened it and upended the orange liquid over her open cut.
Rivulets of acidic agony shot through her. It felt like he’d mixed vinegar and hot sauce together and put them on her wound. Leisha clenched her jaw to keep from crying out. The pain wasn’t going away; if anything, it was getting more intense. Sweat broke out over the back of her neck while goosebumps sprouted on her arms.
Without
Similar Books
