Chapter 24: The letter

I woke up with a sore neck and dry mouth, lying on the floor of Jenna's apartment. There were several red stripes on my cheeks from the carpet, and my palm was still painful despite all the blisters having gone. Zoe was hugging her knees on the bed and staring into the window.

Jenna leaned against the window pane, arms folded across her chest. Her silver eyes looked tired and had dark circles under them. Obviously, she spent another night waiting for Cross in the parking lot.

Dorian was asleep in the corner, leaning backwards against the wall. His chest wound was finally healed, yet his skin remained grey and his mouth hanging open.

Mira was crouched on the floor near the door, shivering slightly. Her lips were moving, but there was no sound coming out.

Vance raised his head from the grimoire. "She's fighting him right now. Raze tried to get her to surrender while she was asleep."

I supported myself with my elbows. "Are her efforts effective?"

Vance shook his head. "Right now, she's holding on, but he's being patient. And he can last longer than she can resist sleep."

Dorian opened his eyes, blinked and sat up straighter. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing serious," Jenna answered, turning towards me. "Mira had a nightmare. Or perhaps Raze managed to contact her once more. Anyway, she's in charge for now."

I stretched, putting pressure on my spine.

"I can feel Raze's presence in her mind," Zoe whispered, breaking the silence. "It's terrifying."

Vance put a map on Jenna's tiny desk. It was yellow, wrinkled and torn at the edges. "As far as I know, Cross has an estate on the north part of the city. He should be there now, recuperating from yesterday and counting his losses."

Dorian came closer and pointed at a particular building on the map. "I've been there several years ago. It's well-guarded; there are at least twenty vampires there and the whole place is reinforced with silver."

Zoe got down from the bed and approached the map as well. "We definitely need a small and quick team. We can't go to the estate and fight twenty vampires."

Jenna gave me a meaningful look. "As you probably know, only you can approach him without being attacked. After all, Cross wants to get your magic. And he won't harm you because he can't afford to lose such a valuable asset."

My stomach clenched painfully. "So, you want me to become a bait."

"No," Dorian said firmly, slamming his fist against the desk. "We are not using Arya as some kind of a bait!"

"Sorry," Jenna replied calmly, "but you have no other choice. Only Arya is able to talk to Cross."

Vance stroked his chin. "Well, if we can get close enough, I'll manage to bind Cross in place with my spells. Even though this effect will not last long, it should give you enough time to stab him in the scar."

Mira slowly stood from the floor, her sweaty hands still shaking. "I'll participate in this action, as well. As far as I understand, Raze taught me how to use his smoke. Therefore, I can provide a distraction for the guards."

"What the hell?" Dorian asked angrily. "You're practically unable to walk, yet you're offering yourself for fighting against twenty vampires?"

"And why?" she retorted. "I'm tired of feeling useless. At least I have a chance now, since I can see Raze."

I looked around: Zoe was free, yet broken in spirit. Mira was a host for her demon. Dorian always protected me from all perils. And lastly, there was Jenna, who fought all night. Finally, even though I hated this man with passion, Vance was our only expert.

"I'll do it," I announced resolutely. "I'll become Cross's bait. But only my way."

"Don't be so sure, Arya," Dorian muttered, grabbing my wrist.

I shook it away. "And what do you mean?"

"You don't think he won't use you, don't you? You're too young for him."

"You don't understand me, Dorian. It's my magic; it's my fight."

"Be careful," he said quietly, loosening his grip.

A knock on the door startled everybody in the apartment.

Jenna moved forward, peeking through the peephole in the door. Her face suddenly turned white and she jumped backward. "Student. Human. He's holding an envelope."

Dorian opened the door and let the kid in. This boy was definitely a human, his eyes glazed over. He gave us a sealed envelope and walked away to the other end of the hallway.

Vance ripped the seal and took out a page of cream-colored paper with red handwriting.

"I accept your counter offer," Vance read aloud. "Bring the girl to my estate tomorrow evening. Come alone, or it's off. If you fail to comply with this order, I'll burn the hostel with everyone in it." He looked up. "Signed by Cross."

Zoe touched her lips with her trembling hands.

Dorian hit the wall so hard that the wall got a noticeable dent. "Now he has forced your hand. And you're helpless, damn it!"

Jenna looked straight at me. "Now you have made your decision, Arya. What will you do?"

I stared at the envelope. Red handwriting looked bloody, and my heart was empty.

"Then, I'll go to see Cross," I said resolutely. "Though, he didn't mention anything about me going alone."

"We'll be noticed immediately," Vance said. "Remember that he's really old, and he's been living forever."

"If so, then we'll leave the backup outside the estate," Dorian suggested quickly. "Far enough so that he won't sense them. And close enough to attack immediately."

"Okay," Mira said suddenly. "I feel him becoming excited."

"And how?" I asked in astonishment. "I don't want to have a conversation with the demon once more."

"He wants Cross to die," Mira smiled weakly. "He's very excited about this thought."

"Okay," Zoe said, wiping her wet eyes. "When do we go?"

"I suppose tomorrow evening," I answered, looking out of the window. "There's no much time left."

"I'll show you every entrance and exit on the estate," Jenna said, taking the map from Vance's hands. "Vance, please."

"The back entrance," he said after a few moments, pointing at the particular spot. "The service entrance. Most of the guards are positioned around the main entrance."

Zoe took the broken pipe from the corner of the room. "I keep this thing with me."

Mira walked to the window, standing next to Dorian.

"He's watching," she whispered. "Raze is watching all of us right now."

"Let him watch," Dorian replied, never taking his eyes away from the window. "He's going to help us kill Cross anyway."

Mira smirked, her eyes turning pitch-black. "I already told you how to kill him. The rest is up to you."

She blinked and returned her eyes to their initial shade. Then, she started shuddering.

"Easier," Jenna said, grabbing her hands. "Don't be scared."

Mira nodded, although she continued trembling.

I glanced at the envelope on the table. Its content seemed to glow with a crimson light.

I will go to see Cross tomorrow evening alone.

Will I survive until tomorrow night?