Reckoning (12 page)

Stunning architecture soon gives way to a seedier part of town.
 
The pavement is slightly more uneven and grimy pollution clings to storefront windows.
 
Near the entrance of a small park, a group of underage teens passes around contraband bottles of cheap beer.
 
Even the air pressing through the car vents feels thicker.

Nicolae’s nose presses to the cold glass, watching the city blocks pass by.
 
“Where are we going?”

“
Torrent
.”
 
Roseline’s knuckles pop as she grips the steering wheel.
 

Noticing her death grip on the wheel, Nicolae frowns.
 
“I’m guessing I’m going to regret asking this, but what exactly is
Torrent
?”

“A place I never wanted to see again.”

Chapter 13

Nicolae glances back over his shoulder.
 
The movement catches Roseline’s eye.
 
Her fingers stretch back to grasp his wrist.
 
“Keep walking,” she whispers.

She marches forward, her high heel boots clacking against the uneven pavement.
 
She says nothing about the person lurking in the shadows, but she does not need to.
 
Nicolae has noticed.

Roseline caught the scent three blocks back, not long after disembarking from the Hummer.
 
It curls around her nose, taunting her with delicious mystery.
 
She cannot place the scent.
 
It is not human.
 
Nor does it belong to an immortal.
 

Slush rises around their boots as they cross the street.
 
The damp wetness glides down the slick knee high leather of Roseline’s boots.
 
Nicolae swears as his biker boot clomps down into a hole, spraying tainted slush onto his pants.

“Typical,” he snorts, brushing away the muck.

“Shh,” Roseline hisses, pulling him close.
 
He stumbles after her, struggling to keep up with her pace.
 
“We are almost there.”

The sound of a footfall pulls her glance backward, across the street.
 
Her eyes narrow in on a misplaced shadow.
 
“Did you see something?” Nicolae asks.

She nods.
 
“Two blocks back.
 
Crouching behind that red utility vehicle.”
 
It shifts out of sight when Nicolae turns, as if sensing his appraisal.
 
The muscles in his arm tense in her palm. “Should we double back?”

“No,” Roseline says, leaping over the slush plugged gutter.
 
“I don’t think they will follow us inside.”

“Could it be Fane?
 
Maybe he’s watching us?”

She inhales deeply.
 
Fane’s scent leads in the opposite direction.
 
“No.
 
He is already inside.”

Fear begins to tingle in her core.
 
What if they are too late?
 
Maybe she should check around back for his…Roseline cannot bring herself to think the word
body.

They sneak past the alley that leads to the rear of
Torrent
.
 
She sucks in a breath as she passes.
 
Foul city air burns her throat.
 
Stale beer, body odor and feces inundate her senses, but Fane’s scent is not among them.

She breathes a sigh of relief as they scurry toward the edge of the building.
 
Her hand snakes out to brace Nicolae as she comes to a grinding halt.
 
Her muscles coil, buffeting his momentum before easing him back.

“Thanks,” he grunts, rubbing his abdomen.
 
He is bound to have a bruise by morning.

Fane’s scent is strong now.
 
He passed by here less than half an hour ago, but his scent is not alone.
 
There is something more, something animalistic.
 

“Davros,” she whispers, her voice snatched away by the wind.
 
Her fingers curl around the brick face, tearing off small chunks of mortar as she latches onto the new scent.
 
Her toes curl with revulsion.
 
Vladimir’s lackey is here, searching for her.
 

Fane does not stand a chance in a fight against Davros, but then again, he might not want to see the light of dawn after she shoved his heart through a meat grinder.
 
“Suicidal jerk,” she hisses.

Nicolae peers over her shoulder at the empty road.
 
He sees nothing out of place.
 
“Something I should know about?”

Roseline remains silent, grinding her teeth as she surveys the space.
 
Although the road appears to be deserted, she is not fooled.
 
The entrance to
Torrent
is never left unprotected.

 
A neon sign flashes at the end of the street, illuminating a rusted metal door.
 
To a passerby, it would look unassuming, but its presence raises the hair on the back of Roseline’s neck.

“That’s
Torrent
?”

Roseline nods and pulls him back, shielding him from sight.
 
She drops her voice to a whisper.
 
“You need to listen to me carefully, Nicolae.
 
Do not underestimate this place.
 
It is a hangout for the deadliest of immortals.
 
Humans only enter for one of two reasons: either as blood-slaves or entertainment.
 
Trust me, you don’t want to be either.”

The grim tone in her voice leaves no room for doubt.
 
Nor does the fear lurking within her aqua eyes.
 

“Fane’s not just here for blood, is he?” Nicolae asks.

“No.
 
He’s here for something else entirely.”

A ball of nausea festers in Roseline’s stomach.
 
Should they enter through the front door or sneak in through the rear entrance?
 
The back is sure to be less protected, but it empties directly into a highly populated room.
 
She decides on the front door, which will give her a greater vantage point.

Roseline glances over at Nicolae.
 
Guilt writhes in the pit of her stomach.
 
Nicolae might be brave and proven himself to be an excellent swordsman, but he has no clue what he is about to walk into.
 

“It was a mistake to bring you here,” she whispers.
 
“You should go back.”
 

Nicolae’s suspicion takes root.
 
“I thought you needed me.”

Roseline stares past him, toward the rusted door.
 
“What lies beyond that entrance isn’t a game, Nicolae.
 
Every one of those immortals will gladly rip you apart just for the fun of it.
 
This isn’t sparring class anymore.”

His eyes narrow.
 
“You’re scared.”

“No,” she snorts.
 
Fear dilates her pupils as she shifts her gaze back to him.
 
“I’m terrified.”

“Then I’m not leaving.”
 
He plants his feet.
 
Stubborn determination locks his jaw in place.
 
“If you’re going in, then so am I.”
 

Roseline sighs.
 
She has seen this look before.
 
“What about Sadie?”

No flicker of doubt or hesitation.
 
“She made me promise to watch your back.”
 
Roseline grimaces.
 
Leave it to Sadie to make Nicolae promise something foolhardy.
 

Roseline’s chest clenches at the thought of her harebrained friend.
 
If Sadie were here she would be insisting on joining in too.
 
For the first time since she shipped Sadie back to America, she is grateful for her decision.
 

Counterarguments bloom in her mind but she stops herself.
 
Along with determination, she sees budding pride on Nicolae’s face.
 
His sense of duty, of honor, will not allow him to back out now.
 
Roseline sighs, patting him on the arm.
 
“Thank you.”

Nicolae grins.
 
“I don’t think that will ever get old.”

She offers him a tight smile.
 
“As soon as we knock on that door, you need to be glued to my hip.
 
You got that?”

He nods.
 
“No matter what happens, I need you to play along.
 
No questions asked.”

Nicolae’s lips purse together, but he nods again.

Roseline quickly leads the way.
 
When the rusted door looms over them, she raps three times and waits rigidly beside Nicolae.
 
Seconds pass.
 
An entire minute.

Her expression tightens at the sound of approaching footsteps.
 
The door squeals open on rusted hinges.
 
A giant of a man- towering nearly half a foot over the crest of Nicolae’s head- shoves through the narrow door.
       

“Yeah?” he questions, tossing his head aside to spit out a bloody wad onto the walk.
 
“Wadda you want?”

Large chains, like a Doberman’s choke collar, dangle from his ear and loop through a bullring in his nose.
 
Silver spikes line his eyebrows.
 
Jagged teeth, sawn into points with a metal file, bear down at them.
 

Roseline assumes a casual stance.
 
“Just looking for a good time, mate,” she purrs.

His gaze trails down the opening of her coat, hesitating over her curves.
 
Nicolae stiffens next to her, but Roseline reaches out to grasp his hand, applying enough force to make his bones pop.
 
The giant shifts his gaze and sniffs the air.
 
His pupils dilate.
 
“A snack?”

“You bet,” she smile invitingly, “I’m always a bit peckish after dancing.”
 
She traces a nail down Nicolae’s neck, pausing just over his jugular.
 

The bouncer’s eyes darken with hunger.
 
“Just be sure to share,” he grunts, sweeping back to allow them access.
 

“Of course,” Roseline winks and yanks them over the threshold.
 
Nicolae stumbles into complete darkness.
 
He grapples to keep up with Roseline’s fast pace as the door slams behind them.
 

“Can you slow down?
 
I can’t see anything.”

“Don’t freak out,” she whispers, her breath washing over his ear.
 
He stiffens as she twines her fingers with his.
 
“I won’t let you fall.”
 

They burrow into the dark.
 
Her stride reduces to match his as they approach a set of stairs.
 
“This is done to disorient humans.
 
If one did manage to find their way inside, they wouldn’t get very far.”

“Yeah?
 
Well…it’s working,” Nicolae grumbles.

She moves Nicolae’s hand to the wall and down to the railing.
 
He recoils from the warm stickiness coating the handle.
 
“Is that what I think it is?”

“Just be thankful you can’t see.” She forces his fingers to curl around the rail.

His wooden legs shuffle down the steps.
 
He counts each one, no doubt preparing to make an emergency exit in the near future.
 
Roseline forces herself to be patient as Nicolae fights to control his anxiety.
 

“Only one more to go.”
 
His foot plunges over the edge and he breathes an audible sigh of relief.
 
“We’re not done yet.
 
There’s a winding tunnel up ahead.”

Nicolae nods and reaches out his fingertips to keep track of the walls on either side of him.
 
Years of grime, smoke and who knows what else brushes against his fingers as he moves forward.
 
Roseline remains directly behind him, encouraging him along the way.