Page 29 of Bite of Sin

But instead, all I could think about was her.

Chapter12

Kali

Igrabbed my bag, relief filling me now that I had my supplies again. Unzipping it, I double checked that everything was there, even though it was still in the hiding spot I’d stashed it in earlier. It had taken me much longer to find my way back than I thought it would. When Zan dragged me to Impulse, it had gotten me all turned around. But none of that mattered now. I was leaving.

The city was full of vampires wandering around, but I planned to walk right past them all and go out using the street where I entered. If the lotion covered my scent with Zan being so close, then I didn’t need to worry about passing some in the street. I tightened the straps of the bag over my shoulders and hurriedly made my way out of the building.

As I walked through the streets, I ran a hand over my chest until my fingers brushed against the necklace they’d locked on me. Pax seemed positive that I couldn’t run away with this on, but even as unease filled me, I wasn’t staying here. The chain was too thick and the lock too strong for me to break, so I’d have to wear it until I came across a tool I could use to cut it off.

A chill ripped through me. Usually I would go to Warner or Helena for help. Helena was dead, and Warner might be too. Even people from the Clovers like Tim and Jill couldn’t do much, since it was too big of a liability for me to try and go back to Project Hope. I needed to find the Clovers who lived free. But they were always on the move, and I wasn’t good at tracking. I might never find them.

A bit of my fight left me, exhaustion curbing the anger that had been pushing me forward. What was I going to do to avenge Helena by myself? Against PARA. And to stay alive when surrounded by vampires. The lotion that Warner had given me would only last so long. I’d learned so much, but never had I imagined having to navigate this cruel life by myself.

I turned the corner, relief sweeping through me when I recognized the street. This was how I’d entered the city. Straightening up, I quickened my pace, only to pause when I noticed two vampires milling around about fifty feet in front of me. Lifting my chin, I surged forward. If I could sit in a place they called Impulse, with dozens of vampires surrounding me, I could walk right past these two. Both of their heads snapped up when I got closer, their conversation ceasing.

One of them threw up their hand, stopping me in my tracks. “No one is allowed out tonight. Turn back around.”

My jaw fell. “What?”

The vampire ran a hand through his long brown hair to push it out of his face. “You know how it works. Whenever the humans are hunting, we stay in the city. They’ve been out nonstop the last couple of nights. No wandering until they stop.”

The other vampire scoffed. “You’re the tenth one to try and leave tonight. Everyone is getting antsy. But orders are orders.”

Orders?There was a hierarchy here? I knew vampires had leaders. Every human knew who Amaros Kane was. He was the vampire who had led the war when it first began. Rumors were that he was still in charge, even if he hadn’t been seen in years. He kept himself hidden because PARA was out to execute him. Along with his sons. Though, from what Warner had told me, they were even harder to find. No one knew what they even looked like. But ever since the war had ended, the search for them had slowed.

The one with long hair suddenly stiffened, his nostrils flaring. I took a step back when he looked back at me, his glare scrutinizing. He sucked in another large breath through his nose before advancing toward me.

“You’re Zan’s,” he hissed. “You aren’t allowed to leave.”

My mouth grew dry, dread climbing down my limbs. “No, I’m not—”

“We were already told about you,” the other vampire spoke up. “Everyone who watches the streets has already been ordered not to let you through. I wouldn’t try to leave again.”

I swallowed thickly at his threat as I backed away from them. Neither tried to follow me, but I could feel their stares as I turned and jogged down the street, darting around the first corner. I slumped against the closest building, letting my pulse slow down. What kind of power did Zan have around here? Their communication was still shocking. Those vampires were taking orders. It contradicted so much of what I’d learned.

And how the hell did they know about me? He smelled something. I dipped my head down, grabbing the necklace from under my hoodie and raising it to inspect it. I had no idea how, but this had to be the reason. I narrowed my eyes, lifting the necklace as high as I could and sniffing it. I couldn’t smell anything, but vampires had an excellent sense of smell. What was inside it?

I rolled the hollow necklace through my fingers, realizing there was an even greater urgency to get this the fuck off me. Letting the necklace fall back to my chest, I rubbed my eyes, wishing I could just erase the last few days. But there was no going back. There was only surviving. I wasn’t about to give up now.

I pushed off the wall, heading to the next street, my heart dipping when I saw the entire road was blocked. Cars and other large items were stacked at least twenty feet high, and it looked anything but stable. One wrong move and the entire thing would come crashing down, making enough noise to alert all the vampires within earshot. With my heart in my throat, I moved to the next street, trying to maintain a casual pace so I didn’t look suspicious.

“What the hell?” I breathed out, seeing the same homemade wall as the previous road. Were they all blocked? Panic crept across my chest, making my heart pound faster. Maybe this was why Zan seemed so confident that I wouldn’t leave the city.

I spent the next hour going to every street that led out, only for them all to be blocked just like the first two. Vampires were still out, and I looked at every one of them, just waiting to see Zan or the twins. But they never appeared. Not that they needed to. My hope of leaving was fading more every second.

The doors were open at the next building, and I glanced inside. I clenched my teeth, seeing the entire place was impassable. I couldn’t even walk five feet inside because it was full of random items that looked like they had been shoved inside. Was every building on the outskirts of the city like this? I wasn’t sure I’d have the time to check. The sun would be rising, and I needed a sure way out before then. I couldn’t get caught in the sunlight while still trapped here. They’d find out I was human. Or maybe new vampires could walk in the sun. But I couldn’t take that chance unless I was positive I could leave.

“Fuck,” I muttered, running my hand through my hair, only to wince when my fingers got caught in the tangled mess.

I would wait. The vampires couldn’t patrol the only open street in daylight. It was my best chance to leave. Once the sun was up, I could walk out with none of them able to chase me. At least for that day. I could find a good hiding spot in the forest by then. With a deep breath, I spun around and headed for a building closer to the city center. I estimated I had a couple of hours of darkness left. I wanted to find out as much as I could about this place while I was here.

After walking around for a while, I stopped in front of a huge building. From the old rusting sign, this used to be a hotel. The books I used to read in the library were the only reason I knew what a hotel was. There were so many things I didn’t know about life before the war, and if I wasn’t surrounded by vampires, I’d be fascinated with this city. I’d only ever seen Project Hope and the forest. What else was in the world that I didn’t know about?

My steps were hesitant as I made my way across the worn tile floor. There was a cardboard sign readingCommunity Showers. Second Floor.

A sudden burst of laughter had me whirling around. Two women vampires were staring at me, their eyes dancing with mischief. One had blond hair that was wrapped in a bun on top of her head. Her pale blue eyes darted past me to the sign I’d been looking at. The other one had black hair that went nearly to her waist, and she twirled a strand around her finger.

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