Chapter 43

Lynda's scream echoed in the small elevator as it fell with her, Mihnea and Pierre. Time seemed to slow. She looked at her men, still unmoving. Unaware of the danger.

Above them, something hit the elevator shaft hard and propelled them faster.

Lynda screamed. She pushed all her strength and will through her power. “Stop!”

Squealing sounded in her ears along with a clap of air like a bomb. The elevator snapped to a stop. She and her lovers crashed into the floor.

Her bones felt crushed to powder. She couldn't breathe without pain lancing her side and one of her legs. Was it sprained? Had her magic stopped their fall? How long would it hold? Or had they made it to the first level.

“Hello?” a voice called out.

“Yes, we're in here,” she yelled as loud as she could even if it sounded soft to her ears. “Help us.”

Banging sounded on the doors. She groaned, trying to rise up to push the emergency button.

“Lynda!” Mihnea awakened and stared at her, the elevator, and pulled her into his arms. “Are you okay? What happened?”

She shook, her sobs of relief flooding her. But they still had to get out of the building. “The building is on fire and we’re trapped.”

“Merde! My head hurts.” Pierre groaned next to them.

“W-we have to get out...of here, of the building...now.” She tightened her fist in Mihnea's shirt. How long before the building collapse or her magic blew everything to pieces?

Pierre stood, still holding his head. “Why are we in an elevator?”

“No time.” Lynda let Mihnea stand with her. “We have to go now. Get us out of here.”

Pierre nodded, then pried his hands into either side of the elevator doors and shoved them apart. Half-vamps and a few vampires waited on the other side. They helped ease Lynda out, then Pierre and Mihnea climbed out on their own.

“Lynda!” Natasha ran to her. “I tried to find you, but there were so many others I stopped to help.”

“It's all right, let's get everyone out before this place explodes.” She assumed the magic was linked to the building and where she started the fire spell because the tingles across her flesh she felt inside the building were nonexistent outside.

“We called some witches, they're holding the magic at bay, but their power is weakening.”

Mihnea lifted Lynda into his arms. “Let's get her and everyone we can out, then.”

The building shook around them.

“Go now,” Pierre shouted.

Mihnea dashed through the lobby to the glass doors. He didn't stop but kicked them. The glass shattered and she ducked, trickles of shards raining down on them. But he dove forward with Lynda in his arms.

Outside, he didn't stop running.

“What about Pierre and the others?” Lynda squeezed his shoulder, trying to peer over him. Her squirming got Mihnea to set her down.

“Don't worry about me, Ma Chérie.” Pierre ran over to them. Two small half-vamp children in his arms.

Natasha huffed as she carried a teenage boy with a gash across his head toward them. After she set him down, she turned to go back into the building.

But a clap of air boomed. The building collapsed in on itself.

“Baen,” Natasha cried. But Pierre grabbed her before she could run into the rubble.

“It's too late now,” his voice said but stern. “Once the building stops falling, then we can look for survivors.”

How many were dead? Lynda's heart ached for them and their loved ones. She couldn't imagine what they were going through. Guilt wrapped around her so tight only hitching breaths came out. All this death was because of her not knowing how to control her power.

Lynda covered her mouth with her hand. She had to help, had to do something. “Let me down.”

“Your leg is injured.” Mihnea gave her an instant glower.

“I'll be okay it’s only a sprain.”

His eyebrow arched, but he set her on her feet and kept an arm around her waist.

“Natasha, I'm so sorry.” She pulled the other woman into a hug, sobs choking her. “I wish I could fix this...never should have asked you to show me how to use my magic.” People died because of what she did. She’d live with this guilt burning a hole in her heart for the rest of her life.

“It's my fault.” Natasha shook her head. “I should've realized you'd be as powerful...”

“As powerful as what?”

Warmth flooded Lynda as Natasha's magic healed her, but the half-vamp didn’t answer.

“Thank you, but you didn't have to do that.” Lynda stepped back. “There are more people needing your skills than me.”

“Consider it my apology for not being tru—”

“Natasha!” Boris bellowed from across the street.

“So sorry.” She dashed away, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Why was the half-vamp so apologetic? It wasn't her fault about the magic destroying everyone who wasn't able to get out. My mistake that this happened and lives were destroyed.

“Let's help the injured.” She faced Mihnea and Pierre who both shook their head. Pierre frowned and Mihnea crossed his arms.

She ignored their silent protest. “And have either of you heard from Andrei?”

“Not yet but I'm sure we will now that it's night,” Pierre said.

Unease weighed on her heart. Something was wrong. He'd have reached out to them if he could.

“Andrei will turn up, don't worry so.” Mihnea cupped her cheek. “Now let's get you home. Then me and Pierre will return and help the others look for survivors.”

“I'm staying with you both.” The thought of being without them again sent panic racing through her veins.

“Fine,” he kissed her nose and Pierre grasped her hand, “but you will stay out of the way of danger.”

“Yes sirs.” She forced a smile. Sirens rang in the air. The fire department and cops would be on their way. She’d answer all their questions honestly, but as an untrained magic user, they’d give her a warming. She deserved to pay whatever the cost for the lives lost here today. Wrapping her arms around herself didn’t help relieve the pain of what happened here today.

“Are you sure neither of you has any messages from Andrei or anything? Is it like him to disappear like this?”

Mihnea and Pierre exchanged a look.

“What? What is it you're not telling me?” She tugged Pierre closer to her and stepped up to Mihnea.

He sighed. “If we don't hear from him by the time we’re finished here, then Pierre and I will go search for him.”

So there was something wrong in Andrei not returning any of their texts or phone calls. Her stomach rolled. God, had Dracula hurt him and they didn't want her to know? Or was he locked up somewhere? Whoever had him would pay if they touched even a hair of his.

“I'm going with you when you look for Andrei.” She lifted her chin.

“You will stay here with the Russians.” Mihnea squeezed her free hand. “Promise me.”

Behind them, a male cleared his throat. “We will watch out for her.” Boris nodded with a grin. “We have a blood contract, no?”

Right. “What about the zombies?” Her blood had only been given to one, but she had no idea how many were actually infected.

“The what?” Pierre asked.

“I'll explain later.” She kissed his cheek.

Boris shook his head. “I'm afraid they died in the building collapse. Everyone else not affected from the tainted blood got out.”

She hadn't wanted that. She'd wanted to help everyone. “Did you find out if my blood cured the one?” Her mistake had killed how many...regardless if they were monster zombies.

“Yes. Blaze is completely well like me and Natasha.”

She heaved out a sigh. “Good, good. What can we do to help the injured?” She didn't want to risk causing more damage with her uncontrolled power. “Maybe she can siphon off my magic or something.”

For a split second, Boris’ jolly face reminded her of Santa Claus darkened. “Sorry, she's doing political negotiating for me at the moment.”

“But what about all your injured?” Lynda asked. What really was Boris having Natasha do?

He shrugged. “They are vampires and half-bloods, they will heal soon enough.”

True but some might be in severe pain. “What about hunting for survivors?” Pierre asked.

“You are welcome to help, but I doubt we'll find any.” He turned away.

How could the man be so uncaring for his own people?