“It doesn't look like medicine. It's red.”

  “Trust me, it's medicine. It's nothing you have ever heard of before, but it will save you if you drink it.”

  “What do you mean? How can that thing save me when nothing else has?”

  Megan swallowed. The worst thing that could happen was if Stacey refused to drink it, and by the look on her face Megan suspected that Stacey didn't want to touch it. At least at first. Then Stacey looked at the blood filled vial and slowly realization struck her. Megan knew that Stacey understood the same moment that she heard Stacey gasp.

  “Megan, what have you done?”

  Megan tried to hold back her tears. “Everything I could to save you.”

  “Did you get that from some kind of black market?”

  Megan shook her head. “No, it's nothing like that.”

  “Then what did you do?”

  Megan hesitated. Should she tell Stacey everything or not? If she didn't, Stacey would suspect that something was wrong, and considering what was to come, Stacey deserved to know the truth.

  Megan lowered her gaze. “Do you remember the rumor that stated that the Vampire King's blood has healing qualities?”

  Stacey nodded, and if she could have screamed out her next questions, she would have. “You went to the Vampire King?”

  “Yes, he agreed to give me some of his blood to save you if I ...” Megan interrupted herself. The memory of what happened last night made her blush but also sent an unpleasant chill through her when Jillian crossed her mind.

  “If you what?”

  Megan hesitated again.

  “Megan, you better tell me or I will never talk to you again.”

  Megan snorted. She knew it was an empty threat. “He ...” Megan took a deep breath. It would be better if she just said it and get it over with. “He wanted me to be his prey for one night.”

  Megan met Stacey's gaze. Her sister looked at her with her mouth wide open.

  “Don't worry. I'm fine,” Megan assured her. She didn't want to go into details. Her sister didn't need to know the graphics of it all. “I played his game, and when it was over, I got the blood.” She handed the vial over to Stacey. “Please, drink it.”

  Stacey stared at it as if she couldn't believe what she was holding. After almost a minute she looked up at Megan again. “He didn't hurt you, did he?”

  “No, he was a gentlemen who just needed an adrenaline kick.”

  “So ... he what? Chased you around for a few hours?”

  Megan shrugged. “More or less.”

  “And then what?”

  “And then he gave me the blood, and here I am. Now drink. It works. Trust me.”

  Stacey became more suspicious than ever. Megan had never been able to fool her. It was almost as if Stacey had a sixth sense. Megan knew she couldn't hide the sorrow in her eyes. Stacey saw it. She had always been able to see when things were wrong.

  Stacey looked at the vial once more before she nodded. “I will never see you again, will I?”

  Megan winced. How Stacey had figured that one out, she could only guess. She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out.

  “You don't look like one of them,” Stacey said after studying Megan.

  “I'm not a ...”

  “Not yet.”

  Megan bit her lip. “No, not yet.”

  Silence filled the room for a short while. The sisters watched each other. Their smiles said more than words ever could. The sisterly love between them would always be there, even if they would never meet again.

  “I can't believe you did all this for me. I could come with you, you know,” Stacey said.

  Megan's heart made almost a flip. To have her sister by her side would have been the greatest joy.

  “You could,” Megan said, but she knew what Stacey would say. Stacey had never had anything against vampires, but she had stated many times that the last thing she wanted from life was to become one.

  “But you know I won't.”

  Megan sighed and nodded. “I know.” Megan gently squeezed Stacey's hand. “Live your life, sis. Be happy. Find you prince charming and have a bunch of kids, and who knows, maybe one day, when you least expect it, we will meet again.”

  Stacey snorted. “We better.”

  Megan smiled. “Now drink.”

  Megan helped Stacey open the vial and watched Stacey pour the blood down her throat with shaky hands. Megan held her hands close by just in case Stacey would need her help.

  Stacey laid her head down on the pillow with a sigh once the vial was empty. “I feel warm on the inside.”

  Megan's hope awakened. “It's working. Soon you will feel even better, but keep this to yourself. Don't tell anyone about how you got healed.”

  Stacey grinned. She looked better already. “The doctors are going to flip out.”

  “Let them. When the right time comes, people will know the truth.”

  Stacey nodded. “What's he like?”

  “He is ... wonderful. I'm drawn to him in the worst kind of way, and I don't want to run anymore. Stacey, everything we know about the vampires is wrong. Don't listen to the rumors anymore, and Jaromir is not a monster. Believe me when I say that you would have loved to meet him.”

  Curiosity awakened in Stacey's eyes. “Alright, sis. I will not listen, but you better come back one day and tell me all about it.”

  “Stacey, I can't ...”

  Stacey hugged Megan's hand back and Megan felt that Stacey's grip was firmer compared to how it had been just a few minutes ago. “I know you can't promise, but at least promise that you will try.”

  “It's too dangerous, Stacey. If someone finds out that your own sister has become one of them and that you spend time with me, you could get killed. People aren't fond of vampires. They haven't been accepted among humans yet.”

  “Not yet, but one day.”

  They looked at each other for a long while. Finally Megan nodded and straightened her back. “I understand. When that day comes, I promise I will do everything I can to see you again.”

  “That's good enough for me.” Stacey sat up and hugged Megan. Tears ran down her cheeks. She wasn't that pale anymore and she didn't seem aware of how strong she was now. That she could sit up without help was a miracle in itself. “Then I will see you soon, right?”

  All Megan could do was nod. “Soon.” That soon could mean days, years or maybe even never. Only time could tell.

  “Thank you for everything, Megan. Thank you for saving my life and please tell Jaromir how grateful I am.”

  “I will.”

  Megan didn't want to let go of her sister, but when she looked out through the window, she saw that the night had fallen. Jaromir's game was about to begin and she had to leave. Megan knew that everything would be alright with Stacey now. It became obvious with each passing minute that the blood had worked. Megan promised herself, while she gave Stacey one last hug, that she would always keep an eye on her and make sure that she was safe. That was the least she could do.

  CHAPTER 27

  Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. Jaromir hadn't showed up and that worried Megan. She knew that he wouldn't just ditch her. She had felt his desire for her from the first moment the bond had been put in place. She meant too much to him. She still felt it in that tiny little string that remained of their bond, but it frustrated her out of her mind that it wasn't stronger. If the bond would have been stronger, she would have known if something had happened to him, but there was no indication whatsoever of that. Not even Shane had showed up. No phone call, no text, no nothing. They had exchanged phone numbers, and when she called there was never an answer. Instead, there was a death silence that scared her.

  She waited for one hour, for two hours and then a third hour. The only thing that happened was that her worry grew stronger. Over and over again she tried to determine what was happening through the string of the bond that remained, but it grew harder with each passing minute.

  The darkness outside the window to her apartment didn't promise nice things, but Megan knew what she had to do. She couldn't wait any longer. She would go crazy if she stayed here without knowing what was going on. She had a sick feeling in her gut and she knew it was there for a reason. Something was going on. She just didn't know what.

  Megan put on her jacket and within minutes she left her apartment. Like the night before, she went to the club, but this time for another reason. It took her almost an hour to get there and it felt like the longest hour of her life.

  The silence she had experienced in her apartment seemed to be here as well. Everything was too quiet. She still had a block to walk to get to the club, but everything felt so different to how it had felt the night before. Yesterday there had been vampires everywhere. Now she didn't see anyone. Just silence, darkness and a fraction of light from the street lights. All she heard was her own steps echo against the house walls. A lonely bird sat on an empty bench. It turned its head toward her when she came closer, made a sound and flew away. The birds sudden movements made Megan flinch, but she controlled herself. She had to admit to herself that she was more nervous this time than yesterday. There was something in the air that hadn't been there the day before. It wasn't death, but it was a silent threat, almost like a promise that stated that if she came too close, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

  Megan kept moving forward with her gaze locked on the next corner that she had to round to get to the club, but her steps had slowed down. Before she knew it, she stood still, just staring at the corner. Just a few more steps and she would be by the club, but she didn't move. Everything within her screamed that she should run, that she should stay away.

  When she tried to take a step, pain struck her in her chest. Megan gasped and bent forward from surprise. It hadn't been a physical pain. It had been an emotional pain.

  The bond.

  It was Jaromir. There was no doubt in her mind. He knew that she was nearby. Maybe he felt it, and by sending her those emotional feelings filled with despair, sorrow and longing, he was trying to tell her something.

  It said run, save yourself.

  Without a second thought, Megan turned around and headed the way she had come. Now she was sure that something was wrong. She didn't have to wonder, but knowing didn't calm her. Instead, she became even more worried. Jaromir wasn't safe and everything within her told her to find him, to go to him and to keep him safe. The feelings were so strong that she was sure that she would kill anything in her way in order to reach him. She realized that her vampire traits were stronger now, and right now that was a good thing. It took away the tip of her fear and filled her with anger and determination.

  Megan stopped in her tracks. She wouldn't leave. Jaromir needed her, just like she needed him. Something was happening to him and she couldn't allow that.

  Megan was just about to start walking toward the club again when she noticed something moving in the corner of her eye. She barely had the time to turn her head around when someone pressed a hand against her mouth from behind and another hand grabbed her by the waste. She was pressed against a warm and strong body.

  Megan screamed but her sounds were muffled by the hand against her mouth. She wiggled for all she was worth to get free when a familiar voice spoke behind her.

  “Calm down, Megan. It's me, Shane.”

  He let go of her and Megan spun around. “You scared me! What did you do that for?”

  “Shh,” he silenced her. “Keep your voice down. It's not safe here.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him. Megan followed him, confused and worried like never before.

  “What is going on?” she asked.

  “I'll tell you soon. Just stay quiet right now.”

  Megan didn't dare to do otherwise. Shane never let go of her hand while he led her through allies without lighting. It was difficult to see anything and she almost stumbled on her own feet, but Shane never let her fall. He was immediately there when she managed to slip.

  “Thanks,” Megan said.

  “You're welcome,” he answered.

  Shane opened a door that was hidden deep down inside an alley and they went inside. Megan found herself inside a fancy looking bar. It was like she had went back in time to the twenties. Everything seemed to be made from wood. Everything from the floor, the walls and even the chairs that were decorated with comfortable looking cushions. The light was dim, and when she looked around she saw several vampires staring at her with grim faces. Megan counted fast and wondered what was going on when she counted about fifteen vampires.

  “It she the one?” a woman by the bar with red hair asked. She put down the glass she was holding and approached Megan. The woman looked her over. “She is tiny.” She gave Shane a doubtful look. “Are you sure you have the right woman?”

  Megan had no idea what was going on, but when she looked at Shane she saw irritation in his eyes, but he stayed calm. “I'm sure. Stop wasting time. Time is something we don't have.”

  The other vampires slowly approached her too, making Megan feel surrounded. She swallowed and couldn't help but wonder if she was safe or not. All the vampires glared at her. They looked her over and she almost expected them to jump her, but no one did.

  “What is going on?” Megan asked with a weary look at the vampires who stood nearby.

  “We need your help,” a female voice said to Megan's left.

  Megan turned around and recognized the woman. Megan had met her along with another woman and a man in the hallway to Jaromir's club while running away from him. Megan noticed that all three of them were there.

  “Where's Jaromir?” Megan asked.

  “That's what we want to talk with you about.” The woman came closer. “I'm sorry, we didn't get to chance to introduce ourselves last time we met.” She reached out her hand toward Megan. “I'm Carolyn, and this is Gloria and Ivan.”

  Both Carolyn and Gloria were blonde, but Carolyn looked older and had wisdom in her eyes while Gloria radiated innocence with her big eyes and doll-like face. She had obviously been young when she had been turned. Ivan, on the other hand, was noticeable with his snake tattoo around his throat. His red eyes said “don't mess with me”.

  Megan took Carolyn's hand and shook it before she gave Gloria and Ivan a nod. “Hello.” They nodded back. “Thank you for talking with me yesterday. It helped me a lot.”

  “You're welcome,” Gloria answered.

  “So can someone please tell me what is going on? I'm worried.”

  “That's reasonable,” Shane said. “Can you still feel Jaromir?”

  “Barely. The bond is weak, but it's strong enough for me to sense that something isn't right, and you better start talking before I go crazy from not knowing.”

  Shane grinned and his gaze darkened. Apparently, he liked her feistiness.

  “You two are made for each other,” he said and pointed toward a table. “Sit down. You will want to sit when you hear what I have to say.”

  That didn't sound good and Megan tensed, but she sat down. Being surrounded by vampires didn't ease her tension, but she didn't believe that they would hurt her. Instead, they all looked sad or worried, and their anger was impossible to miss. She had felt it in the air as soon as she had stepped inside the bar.

  “I will get down to business because we don't have much time,” Shane said when he sat down next to her.

  The other vampires came closer. Some stood, others sat. Carolyn and Gloria sat down by the table while Ivan stood behind Gloria with his hands on her shoulders. Megan suspected that they were a couple. The possessive grip Ivan had on Gloria's shoulders told Megan that he cared deeply for her.

  Shane took a deep breath. “Jillian escaped the prison.”

  Megan gasped and stared at him, immediately forgetting Gloria and Ivan. “What? How is that possible? Jaromir said it was impossible to escape from your prison.”

  “And so it is, but she never reached it before some of her friends helped her escape. How she got away is not important right now. What is important is that she is free and that she has Jaromir.”

  His words were like a knife to Megan's heart. For a short while, she was unable to breath. Hearing that Jaromir was in danger didn't just scare her. It also awakened a burning rage within her that made her want to kill anyone who hurt him. Jillian was in deep shit. Even if Megan still didn't know what was going on, she would never let Jillian get away with this now. The thought that Jillian was touching Jaromir or causing him pain made her hiss.

  Carolyn leaned closer. “You really do belong with him. Only a true mate, while still being human, would react like a vampire.” Carolyn grinned. “You hiss like a vampire. I'd say that's all the proof I need.”

  Megan blushed when she realized how she had acted. She couldn't understand what on earth had gotten into her! The hissing had been pure instinct.

  “Proof of what?” Megan asked.

  “That you were born to be a vampire and that you are meant to be his queen. I see it in your eyes. The strength, the passion and desire you have to protect him. No wonder he got attached to you so quickly.” Carolyn straightened her back. “I must admit that I didn't see it coming, you talking with us in the club. You just showed up in front of me, Ivan and Gloria and demanded to have your questions answered. At first it amused me because I had never seen anything like it from a human. Humans usually fear us or avoid us, but you, you just step forward without a second thought.”

  Megan cleared her throat. “Well ...”

  “What Carolyn is trying to say in short words is that you are Jaromir's true mate,” Shane said and gave Carolyn a serious gaze.

  Carolyn sighed. “Yes, I'm sorry. I talk too much. We must get moving.”

  Megan looked them over. “Alright. So what do you know and what do you want me to do?”

  “We know nothing,” Ivan said. “And that's the problem. Jillian stormed the club with several of her friends. Only a few people were there because the club was closing for the day. Chaos broke out and several of Jaromir's workers got killed.”

  “How many friends does Jillian have?” Megan asked and swallowed hard.

 

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