Page 6 of Bite of Sin

“We’re going to find the convoy,” she hissed under her breath, “and follow. I want to know where Lisa is going.”

My pulse quickened as I hurriedly glanced around to make sure we weren’t overheard. Helena couldn’t just blurt things out like that. We’d get thrown into the cells in an instant.

“No,” Warner replied in a hushed voice. “It won’t change anything other than you getting in trouble.”

“Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

Her palm flew up, crashing against her brother’s nose, and he let out a curse as she raced away. Warner wiped the trickle of blood away, not wasting a moment before chasing after her, and I was hot on his heels. We had to catch up to her before she got to Lisa, or there would be hell to pay.

Chapter2

Kali

“Helena, wait,” Warner demanded in a low voice as he raced to catch up with her. “You’re gonna get yourself killed.”

Helena ignored him as she darted around a corner, and my heart pounded when we lost sight of her. Warner pulled farther ahead of me, and I scanned the street, hoping none of the city officials were watching. The narrow roads were lined with attached homes and apartments that were falling apart. The sidewalks were overgrown with weeds, and the roads were cracked and full of deep potholes. Not that it mattered, since almost no one who lived here had cars. Vehicles were a luxury that only government workers had.

Luxury. The only reason I knew that word was from school. I’d only ever known survival. Working for the scraps of food to curb the hunger pangs I used to think were normal. As an orphan, I’d always felt unwanted. Because we were extra mouths the city had to feed. Everyone had their own problems here and couldn’t afford to worry about children who weren’t theirs.

But I wasn’t a scared child anymore. I’d found friends who became family, and we leaned on each other for everything. Swallowing my fear, I ran around the corner, my stomach twisting painfully when Helena slipped out of sight again. But I knew exactly where she was going, and from how Warner swore under his breath, so did he.

The tall walls that surrounded the city came into view, and like always, dread filled every inch of me. We were taught from an early age that the gray bricks were the protection between us and the vampires. For our own safety, no one was ever allowed out. But the older I got, the more one question plagued me. Were the twenty-foot walls that were layered with barbed wire really here to keep us safe? Or to keep us where the government wanted us?

Warner stumbled to a halt when we saw the grate lying on the ground next to the tunnel.

“Stay here, Kali,” he ordered as he crouched down.

“Like hell I will,” I hissed. “I’m not just waiting here for you.”

“It’s too dangerous—”

“I don’t care,” I cut him off sharply. “You and Helena are my family. I’d have nothing left if something happened to you.”

He shot me a glare but didn’t argue with me any more. There wasn’t time to sit here if we wanted to catch up to Helena. He pushed his blond hair out of his eyes before lowering himself into the tunnel. I sat down, letting my legs dangle in the darkness as apprehension churned in my stomach. Once we went through the tunnel, we’d be in vampire territory. This wasn’t the first time, but we’d always gone there prepared with weapons, which we weren’t now. Anything could go wrong.

I scooted forward, falling into the tunnel, and even if it was only about a six-foot drop, it seemed a lot longer when I couldn’t see. There was a rope, but I only needed it when we came back into the city. The soles of my leather boots slammed to the concrete ground, and Warner’s arm wrapped around my waist, steadying me. The musty air hit my nostrils, the dampness settling on my skin. It was much cooler down here, and a shiver ran down my spine.

“I hope someone doesn’t see the open grate,” he muttered, letting me go. “We don’t have time to reposition it.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

At least I hoped so. If anyone caught us leaving the city, we’d be punished. I forced that thought out of my mind, reaching my arm up and slowly moving until I felt the rough wall. Usually we brought flashlights, but this time we were going blind. As long as we stayed near the wall, we’d be able to find our way.

Warner was in front of me, and we quickly moved through the darkness, my ears straining for any sound of Helena. Footsteps from far ahead echoed around the tunnel, and Warner called out her name softly. But if anything, that only made her go faster.

After what felt like forever, a small light protruded from the darkness ahead of us, and I let go of the wall, racing ahead. Helena had left the cover off, and we climbed through the narrow hole. I sucked in a lungful of fresh air as I scanned the forest around us while Warner heaved the heavy cover back over the hole. Usually we put weeds and dirt over it, but there was no time for that now.

“Come on.” Warner grabbed my hand, pulling me with him as we started running. The sun was going down, and my nerves crept through me, making my pulse thud. Night was when the vampires came out, and we’d be sitting ducks without stakes or our other weapons. We delved deeper into the forest, the shadows growing larger as the sun dipped behind clouds.

“There she is,” I breathed out, catching sight of Helena before she ducked behind a tree.

Warner let go of my hand, rushing to catch up to his sister. He disappeared for a second before I heard Helena shriek. I caught up to them as Warner pulled Helena into the small trail clearing.

“Let me go,” she demanded, struggling against him.

“We’re going back.” Warner slapped his hand over her mouth when she started screaming. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

Helena tore away from him, batting his hand away. “I’m following Lisa, and you can’t stop me, Warner.”

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