Page 74 of Sergi
Somehow, this mission, even through the torture, had made him feel more alive than he had since before the tragic murder of Devon’s parents. When he wiped his eyes, he noticed Alex had also been laughing, but then she straightened, reality settling in.
“There could be guards coming.” She didn’t move. No fear, but something else was in her gaze, and it required more strength than he imagined to glance away.
He scanned the office, finally seeing the lab and remembering why he’d come here. “I need to find evidence of what’s been happening here.”
He caught the slight change in her expression, unsure if it was sadness or disappointment. Had she hoped he’d come for her?
She shook herself as if settling the wolf that had shown in her eyes. “I think I have what you need.” She pulled out a rag from both pockets along with a USB drive. “I have several vials of human blood and three vials each of what should be Magic Poppy, Blood Poppy X, and one of the shifter serums. Assuming, of course, they didn’t break while Gheata tossed me around.”
“Let me see.”
While she unwrapped the rag, he asked, “What’s on the drive?”
“There’s a folder named SMP that has something to do with shifters, and I found another folder labeled BPX, which was the name on the last Blood Poppy vial you took.”
That vial, which they both assumed was some variation of Blood Poppy still coursed through him. His reflexes were faster than normal, even after the torture, and his senses heightened. Right now, Sergi felt as if he could take on several guards and never break a sweat.
“That’s good. Did you find anything on Magic Poppy?”
“I didn’t have time. I was transferring the last folder when Gheata came in. I barely had time to grab it before he noticed.”
Alex opened the rag and tapped the vials of human blood. Sergi took them and immediately began swallowing them.
“Do you need all of them now? You seem to be doing well enough.”
When he drank the last vial, he tossed it on the counter. “Human blood has different nutrients than Blood Poppy. I have more energy and strength for the moment, but I haven’t eaten in some time, and the Blood Poppy masks my body’s true weakness.”
“Should we grab more before leaving this level?”
“No. That was enough for what I have left to do. Let’s go.”
Sergi led the way down the hall, but rather than going directly to the vent he’d used to drop down, he opened doors, searching for easier access to the ventilation system.
“What are you looking for?”
When he opened the next door, he ushered her in. “This.” He pointed up.
“All the rooms have one.”
“Yes, but not all of them have one right over the counter.”
She nodded, climbed onto the counter, and studied the vent. “I need something to use like a Phillips-head screwdriver.”
Sergi shook his head. “I was going to take care of that.”
She snapped her fingers at him. “But I got here first. Do you have something or not? Maybe there’s something in one of the drawers.”
He reached into his pocket and handed her the Swiss Army Knife.
She grinned. “Don’t tell me. They send vampires to Boy Scout camps.” She opened the knife to the right tool and began removing screws.
“We’re on a time crunch here.”
“Females are excellent at multitasking.”
“I don’t remember you being so obstinate before.”
“I’m not. I just don’t have to play the submissive anymore.”
