Page 68 of Blood Claims
Two words that felt like a thousand words broken…
“They Lied.”
25
THE COST OF LIES
The second I read these words, I dropped the picture, backing away from the sinks, shaking my head, telling myself,
“No… no, this can’t be happening.” But then my gaze lowered to the proof of it right there on the floor. My eyes quickly closed tight, as if this would have the power to eradicate the sight of my friend hurt and held captive. But then a phone started ringing from somewhere in the room, making me shriek. I turned, trying to find where it was coming from, checking the stalls until I saw it there on the back of one of the toilets.
I picked it up, seeing the ‘caller unknown’ written there. So, I answered it and put it to my ear like it was weapon. As if someone could reach through the screen any minute and grab me.
“Hello?”
“Oh good, you’re not a dumb bitch,” a male voice said, making me grit my teeth and force myself to say the obvious,
“You have my friend.”
“Bingo. And I have to say, she is looking mighty tasty, so if you ever want to see the goth bitch again, then I suggest you do everything I tell you.”
My heart plummeted as terrified panic consumed me.
“What do you want?!” I forced myself to say.
“You,”was their chilling answer, and I nearly asked if it was the Shadow Master from my dreams, but thankfully stopped myself. For starters, his voice was completely different. Unless this person was working for him?
“Me?” I asked.
“Yes, a simple exchange, you for your friend.”
I closed my eyes tighter and agreed.
“Alright, what do you want me to do?” I asked, knowing this next part of their plan was so I could get past the brother’s seeing me, because I wasn’t a fool. They would never let me do this. But then, they had lied to me. Had made me believe Stacey was fine and at some safe house somewhere. When in reality, they most likely just wanted to get me back to the fortress in the sky so I couldn’t run.
“There is a package taped to the back of the toilet, inside it you will find a black pendent,” he told me, and it quickly took me back to the witch and what she had used to escape.
“A portal key… to where?”
“Clever girl. Yes, it is a portal key, but it will only take you to the street outside of the hotel. You need to activate it by crushing it under your foot,” he instructed, and clearly this had been a well thought out plan. Them going so far as to kidnap my friend just to get me to cooperate and away from the brothers.
What was going to happen after that, I had no clue. But either way, I couldn’t risk Stacey… I would do anything to save my friend. Which was why I didn’t hesitate to say,
“I will do it.”
“Yes, yes you will, and I don’t need to tell you that if you try and warn anyone, I will enjoy draining the bitch dry… so, see you soon, Vanessa Cadell.”
Then he hung up, making me throw the phone to the floor in my anger, the screen cracking as it bounced on the tiled floor. I then reached behind the toilet, and, like he said, I found a package taped there. After ripping it off, I walked out of the cubical as I tore open the package, letting the pendant roll into my palm.
I couldn’t help but look to the door, knowing that I should try and warn them somehow. However, I looked down at the picture of my best friend and the pendant instantly dropped from my hand. Then with my eyes closed, I said,
“I’m coming, Stacey, just hold on.”
My foot rose before I stomped it down, crushing the jewel under my shoe. The rising smoke was a sensation that was choking, making me gasp as my whole body was consumed with darkness. I swear I felt as if my body was not my own, as if some drug had been injected and that numbing feeling had travelled up my legs to the rest of my body. To the point that I barely had time to lift my head and cry out before I was then being dropped.
I landed on the floor, the unyielding sidewalk meeting my knees as I collapsed. My hands barely had a chance to save me from face-planting before I was then grabbed roughly from behind.
“Ah!” I shouted in shock before I was manhandled to my feet.
