Chapter 11: The Scream

Jenna kept the door wide open with one hand and kept the other hand free, fingers splayed.

No one was in the lobby. There was a partially eaten bag of chips on the counter along with an open book. Someone had studied here. Someone human, I wondered if they managed to finish their homework before everything started going to hell.

Dorian stayed behind me. He was breathing quietly now and wasn't pressing himself against the walls anymore. "Third floor," he said. "She's in the hall. I can feel her heart beating."

"Mira?" I asked.

He nodded. "And two others. Three."

Jenna moved towards the stairs without a sound from her sneakers. "Stay behind me," she said in a hushed voice. "Don't use your powers until I give the signal that they respond."

"What do you mean by responding?" I asked.

She did not answer.

With each step I took upstairs, my feet seemed to make a racket of noise and announcements for Mira to find me. The only difference is that this time, I did not even try to move stealthily. The third-floor landing.

Mira was leaning against the wall, outside my room. Her arms were crossed, looking at me, with her head cocked to the side. Her hair was longer and darker than the last time I saw her. Her cheekbones were prominent now. And her eyes were glowing slightly yellow instead of brown.

She fed. And not only with blood.

"Arya," she said and grinned. "It's been a while. You look like a mess."

I felt my throat tighten. My hands trembled, but I held them tight in fists. "You're supposed to be dead."

Mira laughed. It was her usual laugh that she had whenever we stayed up late practicing our spells. "I got better."

Jenna moved between Mira and me. "Return the grimoire and I will let you go."

Mira glanced at Jenna. Then looked back at me. "You're one of those Wardens. I heard a lot about them lately. I didn't think you would still be around."

"Well, you see me," Jenna said sternly.

Mira straightened. She was clutching the grimoire to her hip and looking at me. "Want that spellbook? Then come and get it.”

Jenna stayed frozen. "Last chance."

"For what?" Mira tilted her head. "Baby doll, six vampires are waiting,”

Dorian stepped forward. His tone was low and rough. "She's lying. The enforcers haven't arrived yet. They're looking downstairs."

The ghost of a smile vanished off Mira's face. Just briefly. From the moment I saw how her fingers clutched the book.

"Mira, where are they?" I asked. "Are they hiding? Do you just need to give a sign?"

Her yellow gaze shifted to me. "All your life you've always been the smart one, even when we were little."

"You were smarter than I was."

"Don't lie to me." Her tone was venomous. "You were always better than me, stronger, superior. And you know that your mother always favored you."

It hurt me. "Because she's dead because of you."

"She's dead because she put her trust in the wrong person, like you." Mira paused. "That's just what will happen to you too."

Jenna stepped forward. She was fast. Her fingers tried to snatch the grimoire.

But Mira backed away. "No, no, not yet."

And then a scream ripped through the air.

"ARYA! HELP!"

It was Zoe's voice. Human and terrified.

I took a step towards the door. Jenna stopped me. "Don't. It's a trap."

"ARYA! PLEASE! HE'S HURTING ME!"

It was like knives piercing through my heart. Zoe was there. So was Raze and most likely all Mira's vampires.

"Jenna, release me."

"No. That's the plan. You get inside, and you're finished."

"Not a problem."

"Arya—"

I freed myself of Jenna's grip. She let me go. The door opened.

"Go after her."

I ran towards the room.

It was dark there. The only source of light was the pale grey sun in the window. On the floor, Zoe was hugging her pillow, hiding under her bed with her hands covering her head. She was shaking.

"Zoe!"

I crouched beside her. Her gaze was brown and innocent. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"ThereSomeone is talking in my head," she said softly. "I can't make him stop. He keeps saying you're going to die tonight."

"It won't be happening."

I heard a slam.

The sound made me turn. But Mira wasn't here anymore. And the door was shut.

"Gotcha," Mira said through the door

I jumped up, and headed to the door. Grabbed the doorknob. It wouldn’t move. It wasn't locked. But it felt…magically sealed.

"Jenna! Dorian!" I yelled. Immediately Silence met me and Zoe giggled. I turned on my heels.

She had sat up by this point. Her eyes were entirely black. Her smile was stretched far past natural width.

"Hi, Arya," Raze sneered. "Miss me?"

My palms were icy. But my chest felt scorching hot. "Where are they?"

"Who? Your friends?" He stood up slowly, dusting his pants. "Mira and her team are dealing with them. Six vampires against a bloodsucker and a Warden who's been in stasis for half a century." He patted Zoe's shoulders. "Bad odds for you."

"Set her free," I demanded. "Zoe. Let her leave."

"Are you sure? She doesn't want to." Raze stepped towards me. "She signed herself over to me. Remember? This is exactly what she wanted. To get back at her family. Power and security."

"She changed her mind."

"Too bad." Raze leaned towards me, stopping mere inches away. The breath from Zoe's mouth tasted like ashes. "But here's the truth, witch. She isn't good enough for me anymore. She bores me. She is weak and fragile and her body is starting to fall apart."

A pit formed in my stomach.

"So you want me then," I accused.

"No. Your magic," he corrected himself. "Your powers have potential and strength and could keep me alive for decades. Even centuries."

"And if I say no?"

Raze chuckled. "Well, I'll open the portal today in this room. Regardless, your blood will fuel it either way. The only thing different will be whether you suffer before."

From the other side of the door, there was a loud bang. Then Jenna's voice calling, but I couldn't make out the words. Dorian's low growl was next.

"Your friends are persistent," Raze noted. "At least I can admire that quality."

He went to the window and glanced down. Snow was swirling in the courtyard outside.

"One last offer," he proposed. "Give yourself to me and I won't open the portal. Just you and I and eternal life together in your beautiful body."

A knot had tied itself in my throat, making it hard to speak. "If I agree to those terms, what happens to Zoe?"

"She goes free and I'm finished

with her now."

I looked at the door, Out the window, Up into Raze's black eyes.

"Terms?" I asked.

Raze smiled. "You See, I knew you'd come around.”