Page 47 of Taken By the Ripper
s Claude had predicted, the vampires began stirring closer to sundown, judging by the scuffs of shoes against the echoing floor and low, muttering voices. How many vampires lived down here? How many were considered normal for a vampire den?
Claude’s hardened expression silently told her that this was a large den, but she didn’t dare even whisper her questions, afraid one of the vampires might hear her speak.
Soon enough, the faintest sliver of sunlight peeking into the room dissipated like a flame extinguished by a quiet breath. Sundown had arrived. And with it…
A grunt pulled her attention toward Claude’s tall frame. He grunted, then huffed, and finally released a garbled growl as his body shifted into something larger. Something darker. Something far more formidable.
“There you are,” she murmured. Emotion suddenly overcame her, and she launched herself into his ghoul arms and held on tight around the waist, burying her head into the ragged clothing barely covering his chest.
He released a long, labored breath as if the transformation had taxed him. “I was always here with you.” His gentle hands smoothed down her hair, much of which had escaped her bun hours ago.
“But Claude is—”
“—is still me. Just the less informed half of me.”
“Because he can’t remember his ghoul transformation.” Her face heated when she realized she’d kissed Claude, and it had been Jack the entire time. Or the other way around.
Jack—no, Claude—no, Jack—answered with deep, rumbling laughter, the sound shaking against her ear. “We are one person.Icannot remember my ghoul transformation in my human form. It makes for a…complicated situation.”
She lifted her head from his chest to look him in the eye, but she never released him. “Is there a way to help you remember?”
“I don’t know.”
Then she jabbed an accusatory finger into his chest. “You owe me several apologies and an explanation.”
He snatched her hand and lifted it to his lips, giving her fingers a slow, loving kiss. “I was trying to protect you. To tell you as little as possible. It shouldn’t have come to this.” He sighed. “But I will tell you everything. I promise. Or rather, what I haven’t said already. You now know pretty much the entirety of it, minus a few minor details.”
“What do I call you, then? Jack or Claude?” Because she was still having a hard time wrapping her mind around the fact that they were the same person.
“Claude is my name.”
“It’s not very ghoul-like.”
He snorted and gently chucked her chin. “Call me whatever you like. I’ll always answer.”
Somewhere down the hallway, a door slammed, and the sound reverberated against the stone walls surrounding them. It was nearly time to enact their plan. But first…
“How did the vampires not learn of your human identity when they first captured and turned you?”
“My body stays a ghoul when overly distressed. They didn’t find out because I never transformed back. At least until I was safe.”
“Why not use that other ghoul’s blood? The one that turned you.”
He grimaced. “Because I killed him to protect myself. Now there is only me.” He grinned. “Didn’t Claude tell you?”
She gave him a dead stare. “You conveniently left that out.”
“Because it happened when that part of my mind was unconscious. Claude wasn’t aware. Jack was.”
She rubbed at her temples. “You are giving me a headache. Well, the vampires likely know your identity now.”
“Perhaps. I don’t believe they are aware I can shift. None of them came in to check.”
“You’re sure?” Because she could have sworn to have felt at least one pair of eyes on her all night.
“I’m sure. Now let’s hurry. The night slowly approaches, and you won’t have Jack for very long.”
She nodded her head. “I’m ready.”
