Page 33 of Black Hand
“I’m pretty sure it’s for a demon,” Dominic continued, and my lips twitched at the corners.
“She insists on calling me a vampire. Humans think that vampires are soulless monsters, no? That’s the same as a demon.” My lips barely moved, but Dominic chuckled at that.
“At least we are being entertained.” His deep voice rumbled in his chest, and it raised goosebumps on my arms.
“I’ve been thinking.” I changed the subject because the longer he kept smiling and acting the way he was, the more difficult it was for me to keep my distance.
“And before you deny it, be aware that I remember some things from the night Veronica was killed.” I could feel his eyes burning a hole into the side of my face, but I kept my gaze on Alice as she moved around, this time with a bird feather in her hand. “You have an informant in the Syndicate. I heard him tell you to get me out of there.”
“I do.” He was watching me intently, his voice giving nothing away.
“Is it Samir?”
“What difference does it make?” He shifted slightly and his shoulder made contact with mine, the touch sending a current through my spine. “When they lose their usefulness, they are going to die, too.”
“Fair enough.” I nodded once to show him the respect I had for his statement. “But I think I have a plan on how to cut a big hole in their impenetrable shield.”
We both flinched when Alice flicked water from a cup in our direction, and our reaction made the human grin like a fool. Unable to stop myself, I snickered, at least until I noticed that Dominic stared at me with parted lips. A blush crept up my cheeks and I ducked my head to hide it.
“Do tell,” he prompted after clearing his throat.
“We expect them to attack tonight, right?”
“Like every night, yes.”
“What if we are not here when they arrive?”
“You are still not fully healed, and the human has a shed full of animals. Where do you plan on taking them all?”
“To pay the Council a visit.” I turned to face him as I said it, and his eyebrows shot all the way to his hairline. “After a few attacks that haven’t gone their way, the Council will send most of the guards tonight. They are going to flatten this place to the ground with or without us here.”
“And you know this how?”
“I’ve seen it happen way too many times.” I didn’t look away when his eyes narrowed, the thick lashes framing them casting shadows over his high cheekbones. “A small number will be left to guard them, but they are arrogant enough to think neither you or I will dare go to them now that they are hunting us.”
“What if they expect it? The three of them are aware that you know the way they operate.” Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned heavily on the wall. “No, it could be a trap.”
“There or here, we will die tonight either way.” His head snapped my way. “They’ve already scouted this place enough by now to know everything there is about it. All its weaknesses. Us going there will at least give us a slight chance.”
“You are asking me to trust you.” It wasn’t said in accusation, but he did look at the pendant when he said that.
“Yes.” Butterflies erupted in my stomach and my ears buzzed from the rushing of the blood in my veins. “Yes, I’m asking you to trust me.”
He was silent for a long time, and it looked like Alice was nearing the end of whatever it was that she was doing, so I was certain he wasn’t going to answer. So when he spoke, my body gave a jolt as a reaction to the unexpected sound. It made him grin, the carefree smile giving him a boyish look.
“Very well, Brooklyn.” Cracking his neck, he turned to watch Alice do her finishing touches. “Let us do this your way, but remember one thing: just because I said that I want the pendant off your neck so you can live and I can still keep my oath, it doesn’t mean I won’t do it.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I told him dryly.
“Okay guys, I think I’m ready,” Alice announced, waving us to approach her. “Come stand at the center of the pentagram, Brooklyn, just don’t step on the salt. You, Dominic, stand on the outside of the circle close to me so you can go take the pendant off when I’m done.”
Dominic and I begrudgingly shuffled to take our positions, Alice watching where we were placing our feet like a hawk. When I tried to pass her, she touched my forearm to get my attention, which made me look at her face.
“Was he flirting with you?” Human whispering was like talking in a normal tone of voice to supernatural ears. Dominic heard her as clearly as I did.
“Yeah.” Glancing at him, I stepped over the circle and ignored the flipping of my belly from his look. “He was flirting.” I spoke louder, smiling sadly at her excited face. “Now what?”
“Okay, I’m going to draw the sigil in the air in front of your face with each object representing the elements, and after that we will pour salt water over it.” Adjusting her glasses, she peeked at the open book at her feet. “According to the book, if the sigil is used for binding without knowledge or agreement from the bound person, the salt water, with the help of the elements, will negate its effect.”
