Page 102 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

I can see multiple questions run past her eyes, but there would be time for that later. Right now, we needed to get out of here or we’d be stuck in the loop with them.

We move past them as fast as Alana is able to, making it to the end of the hall before the loop starts up.

Quickly glancing over my shoulder, I see the area rewind as if on tv. The door lock rebuilds itself, along with the door, the bomb disappearing as if it was never there.

Just as the guards start to move backwards, I pull Alana along.

“Come on.”

We head to the stairway, keeping an eye out for any incoming guards before Alana needs a quick break.

Leaning her against the wall, I pull out another one of Jazmyn’s special concoctions and throw it at mine and Alana’s feet.

Her eyes go wide in horror as she tries to back away from the pink smoke.

“It’s okay. It’s just going to hide our presence from any of the guards.” I reach out, grabbing a hold of her fragile hand, squeezing it softly, afraid it might break.

Giving her a reassuring smile, I tell her how the potion works. “We should be invisible to everyone we pass. But we have to stay quiet. The potion only covers our scent and physical bodies. It doesn’t cover sound.”

Alana nods her head, watching on with intrigue as I take out two vials of foul-smelling dark brown sludge.

Why did it always have to be the disgusting one you had to drink? I cringe as the stench hits me, Alana leaning as far from the smell as she could.

“Bottoms up.” I knock it back, wincing at the thick sludge that tasted like rotten socks wrapped up in beetle dung, and then covered in mucous.

Disgusting, but I’d drink it daily if it meant I would be free of King’s tag, even for just a few hours. It would only give us that long before it wore off, so we needed to move quick.

With the foul aftertaste still on my tongue, I pass the second bottle to Alana, telling her to do the same.

She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “I know it tastes rotten, but it’s what’s going to get us out of the hotel.”

She looks warily at the vile. Swallowing hard, she winces as though she can already taste it.

Her indecisiveness was wasting time we didn’t have.

“Just knock it back. Please, Alana, trust me. I will get us out of here,” I beg her.

Her eyes soften as she nods her head. Taking the vile, she eyes it suspiciously before glancing back at me. I give her a reassuring smile, hoping she’ll hurry. Luna and the guys would be waiting.

Giving me an uncertain smile, she throws the vial back, coughing and gagging as it makes its way down her throat.

I pass her a bottle of water from my stash. She grabs it, gulping it down like air. Handing back the empty bottle, she gives me a shy smile. “Sorry.”

I laugh, grateful to see her smile. “Don’t be.”

Swiftly packing up the empty vials, I throw them in the bag and look at Alana.

“Remember, we have to be quiet. But they won’t see us, so don’t worry.”

Just to be safe, I lead Alana out through one of the least used hallways. It’s mostly apartments belonging to the staff, so there are not many guards about.

We pass the odd guard here and there, none of them so much as sniffing in our direction. I start to relax the further we get from them, a mixture of nerves and excitement, the closer we make it to the side entrance of the hotel.

Glancing at Alana, I see the tension in her shoulders and stress on her face the closer we get to freedom.

A sharp pang hits my heart thinking about what King must have put her through for her to feel so nervous, even to get away from him.

One day, he will pay for all the pain and torment he caused. I know there has to be a balance somewhere and he will get his sooner or later.

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