Page 17 of Until Forever Comes
“You know I can,” I said.
“Good.” He nodded. “If you scent or hear anyone, and I meananyone, other than me coming down these stairs, you move the bookcase wedged in a corner and use the escape tunnel.”
“Where will the tunnel take me?” I asked.
“Where will….” He sighed in frustration. “It’ll take you away from danger, away from here.”
Away from him. That’s what he meant. Well, I wouldn’t use the tunnel, but I saw no sense in arguing with him about it. He’d be able to concentrate on whatever needed doing with the other vampires if he felt like he’d won that go-round with me. So I nodded and slowly moved down the stairs, surprised at how well I could see in the dark. As soon as I heard the door close and lock, I tiptoed back up and sat smack dab in front of it, waiting for whatever would come next.
TURNEDout a solid wood door didn’t do a thing to prevent me from hearing every word spoken on the other side of it. While I was glad to be able to monitor the happenings in the next room, I knew I’d need to keep still and quiet if I didn’t want to be discovered. Though it shouldn’t have been an amazing feat, I’ll tell you I was relieved as can be that my body cooperated with me on that count.
I was still getting accustomed to it, my seemingly new body. No more pangs and cramps that made me twitch and groan. No more tightness in my chest that had me gasping for air and feeling light-headed. No more aches in my limbs and swelling in my veins. My insides felt like they finally matched my outsides, like I fit.
What Miguel had done to me wasn’t something I could match with a pocketknife. No wounds, no pain, and so much blessed release. I shivered with the memory of him drawing out my blood and caressing my skin.
“Miguel?” Ralph’s voice was a fair bit shaky and a whole lot surprised.
“In the flesh,” Miguel answered darkly.
“How’d you…. I didn’t mean to….” Ralph was sputtering, more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
“Oh, damn, I was so worried.” That was Ted. I heard footsteps quicken and figured he was racing toward Miguel. “Are you okay?” He paused. “You look better.” Another pause. “You look really good, actually.”
“I feel good,” Miguel answered. Though he didn’t raise his voice, he somehow managed to sound scary as could be when he said it. “No thanks to any of you.”
Ted didn’t reply, but the other vampires were doing the verbal equivalent of tripping over themselves to apologize and make excuses.
The sound of a whimper quickly followed by flesh hitting flesh brought every other noise to a halt. Miguel’s grunts didn’t sound pained, so I knew he wasn’t being hurt. That knowledge kept me behind the door. And though I’d sworn to myself that I’d stay still, I couldn’t hold back a wince when I heard vampires begging and crying. By the time the violent sounds finally stopped, I was equal parts sick and grateful.
“Have I made myself clear?” Miguel asked, and I wondered whether I’d missed part of the conversation because he hadn’t said anything in some time.
Several voices responded with a breathless “yes” and though I recognized them as being the same vampires who had restrained Miguel, none of them were Ted or Ralph.
“What’s that, Ralph?” Miguel said.
There was no reply, and I wondered why Ralph wasn’t answering. Lord, if I had to hear any more begging and crying I was sure I’d retch.
“I can’t hear you.” Miguel’s tone gave me goose bumps. If it had been directed at me I might would have soiled myself.
“Miguel,” Ted said nervously.
“You going to tie me up again, Ralph?”
“Miguel.” Ted was firmer.
“Because you need to understand that if you do it again, you’ll be done.” He paused. “I’m not hearing an apology. Maybe I should just go ahead and finish you off now. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”
“Miguel!”
“Stay out of it, Ted,” Miguel snapped. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“Damn it, Miguel! You know full well that he can’t talk because you’re crushing his windpipe.”
“Oh, am I?” His tone dripped with sarcasm. “Oops.”
“He made a mistake and he knows it, just….” Ted paused. “Please, give him another chance.”
After a moment I heard gasping and coughing. What I didn’t hear was an apology.
