My numb legs finally gave out and I sank to the floor. Leaning against the bed I reached into my short’s pocket to retrieve my cell phone and dialed a number I knew by heart.
“What?”
“Colby, they took Rurik as well.”
Silence answered my statement. “Why?”
I’d hoped he wouldn’t ask. Shame of how complicated my love life had become flamed my cheeks. “Tane…cares for Rurik.” I still couldn’t say loved.
He sighed into the phone. “Doesn’t change our plans. We find Tane, we’ll find Rurik.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see because I choked on a sob.
“Connie.” He said my name with concern. Something I’d never heard before. “When you get tired of this lifestyle, you can come back to work for me anytime. No questions asked.”
“Okay.” I sniffed like a five year old, but not comforted by his offer and closed the line. How the heck did Luckard and Archios get involved together?
Archios seemed to be Tane’s right hand man. What more could he want? He could never rule the vampire nation. Only a Nosferatu had the power to unite the different factions.
Even if they had an unlimited source of the drug, Archios couldn’t use it to control everyone. Damn, I wish I knew what he wanted it for.
Why did Luckard need Archios? If he killed Tane could he try to succeed him? I never took vampire politics 101 in school so I wasn’t sure if that’s how it worked. It seemed too easy. Nothing involving vampires was simple. Maybe he needed Archios’
connections and supporters to make it work.
Pulling my knees close to my chest, I leaned my forehead against them and closed my eyes. Exhausted from the past few days of craziness, I wished for my knight in shining armor to come to my rescue. The question remained, what did I need rescuing from?
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours. My mind drifted from thought to recollections to regrets. Each moment that went by meant less of a chance of finding my vampires.
A flash of memory yanked me away. The manacles on my wrists, pressed to a dirty wall, the bite of the whip as it tore my flesh—I groaned and pulled my knees tighter to my chest. What would they be doing to Rurik?
He’d heal every time they’d cut him. Nausea formed in the pit of my stomach. The things they’d do to him a human wouldn’t survive. Could Tane watch?
I struck the hardwood floor with my fists. Helpless, I needed to wait on Colby or Gwen to find a trail. They did it last time, except they followed my cell phone signal. No phone this time, just a fading scent and a foggy mind connection.
The window, hidden by heavy drapes and wooden shutters, cracked open. The sound snapped me out of my misery. I rolled into a crouch and stayed behind the bed. All our games of fox and rabbit taught me how to hide and how to run, but sometimes a rabbit needed to stand its ground.
A thump followed as if the sneak tumbled through the window.
My heart rate skyrocketed as adrenaline pumped into my veins. The muscles in my arms and legs tensed with anticipation. I heard a delicate sniff. A clumsy, crying burglar?
Sounded as if we were related.
As the thief stepped past the foot of the bed, I sprang. My shoulder connected to the back of their knees and we rolled head over heels. A high-pitched screech accompanied my attack and I wasn’t the one making it.
I twisted and sat on top of a petite body, fists ready. A warning bell clanged in my head and I hesitated enough to see the tear smudged face of Belatia.
She held her hands in front to ward off any blows.
“Bel?”
Peeking through her pale eyelashes, she glanced at me. A shudder shook her body as a sob racked her chest.
I got off her and she sat up.
Dirt stained tears streaked her cheeks. Her clear blue eyes shone like sapphires as she stared at me in earnest. “Connie, I’ve been trying to find you.” She wore a black t-shirt with a Guns and Roses emblem on the front. Not Bel’s usual, old fashion style. The left shoulder had a rip, the knees of her jeans bore mud stains, and her hands looked as if she’d been digging.
“What has Archios done to you?” I was going to kill him if it was the last thing I ever did.
His sweet, innocent wife broke into more tears and hugged me.
Patting her back, I tried to have patience. I tried to be sympathetic and comforting, but ended shaking her shoulders. “Bel, pull yourself together and talk to me.”
She retreated from my arms and spoke between sobs. “He’s done something terrible, Connie.”
No shit.
“R—Rurik and Tane, he’s got them. I woke in a strange place and heard a scream.”
I flinched.
“I went to go see where it came from and climbed the stairs. Luckard was there with my husband. At first, I thought we were prisoners, but then I saw Archios hurting Rurik.
My husband has lost his mind and is conspiring with the enemy.” She fell back into her tears.
“Where?”
She shook her head. “I was so scared. Luckard yelled at me and Archios yelled at him, so I ran and came to find you.” She took my hand. “I know I’m not smart and I get right and wrong confused sometimes. What they’re doing is wrong, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Can you take me to where they are?”
She nodded. “It’s all Luckard’s fault, Connie. You have to explain to Tane so he doesn’t hurt Archios.” Her eyes pleaded for me to understand.
“I will.” The lie cost me a piece of my soul. Like Tane said, Luckard didn’t have the support or the brains to pull this off. Archios was the mastermind behind all of this. Bel would never understand; love was blind.
“I can lead you there, but we need to jump from the window.” She stood and crossed the room.
“Why can’t we use the door?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I knew the answer.
Bel rolled her eyes. “If someone recognizes me in my disguise I could get in trouble.
I’m sure someone is upset about Tane and Rurik missing.”
Yeah, silly me. “I can’t jump from this height and survive. I’ll meet you outside.” I got to my feet. “What direction are we going?”
“Over the mountain, through the jungle and into the city.”
My heart stopped. “Can’t we take a car instead?”
She stared at her shoes. “I don’t know how to get to the city by the roads. I always went this way.”
“Archios made you go through the jungle?”
“No.” She shook her head and glanced at me. “I’m not supposed to go to the city but…but sometimes I get lonely.”
I sighed with exasperation, not wanting to hear why Bel was confined to the mansion at the moment. “Fine, through the freaking jungle it is.” I spun around and exited the room. Walking at a brisk pace through the mansion, I called Colby. “I’ve got a lead.”
“How?”
“Archios’s wife.” I trotted down the stairs.
“Where are they being kept?”
“I don’t know yet. She’s a little simple and can’t give me directions. She’s going to lead me to them.”
“No, it sounds like a trap. Wait right there. Gwen will send some of her pack over.”
“She’s too frightened, Colby. They might make her bolt. I can’t take the chance.”
“How do you plan to rescue them all by yourself?” His voice rumbled with anger.
“I’m not. Once I get there, I’ll call again. It can’t be too far, Bel came by foot.”
Heavy breathing sounded through our connection then he whispered to someone on his end before returning to our conversation. “We’re scattered around the city at the moment, but when you call we’ll be ready.”
I hung up before he changed his mind. Not knowing if either of my vampires could hear me, I sent them a mental message. I’m coming.