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Botosoni clears his throat, but I have no time to listen to anything more that he says.
If they’re camped by the base of the mountain range, I know exactly where they are. I don’t wait to hear one more word. Instead, I fly down the hall, into the checked coat storage area, and rifle through hangers with haste to find a suitable sized coat to wear.
A flash of remorse settles over me, but I push it away. I will return the coat. Somehow, I will find a way to have it sent back here when I am a long, long way from here. After I’ve saved my family from certain death, I will return the coat to the club who can find its rightful owner.
For now, I need the warmth and protection that it will provide heading into the mountain range, because at this time of the night the chill will stop me from getting very far otherwise. I pull a pair of gloves from the pockets of the short black down-like jacket before pulling it on, snugging it into place, and tossing the strap of my purse over my shoulder.
I look both ways exiting the coat closet, suck in a deep breath, and sneak down the back hall dressed in my stolen gear, pull the hood, and walk right out the front door of the club without one person saying good night to me at the door or trying to stop me at all.
The minute I get out on the street, the reality of just how far it is between here and the camp settles in. I could make it, but it will take far longer than we probably have. If something is going to happen, it’s probably not going to happen tonight; it’s too close to dawn. The vampires would have already eaten; at least that’s what I hope as I tentatively push the button to connect to the only person that may be able and willing to help me in a time of need, my friend Aleah.
It takes four rings before Aleah’s sleepy voice comes on the line. “Aleah, this is Catina. I’m so sorry to bother you, but I need help. I have no money to get a ride, and there’s no time to get where I’m going by foot. Would you be willing to drive me up toward the old mountain road that runs along the base, over by the creek area?”
She yawns. “I honestly don’t even know that area. I seldom venture out of the city, but I’m happy to help you. What time is it?”
“It’s almost dawn. I wouldn’t have bothered you this early in the morning if it weren’t absolutely dire that I get to where I’m going really fast.”
“Say no more; where are you? I’ll pick you up. I just need to slip into some clothes.”
“I’m at the Descallia, but meet me about three blocks toward Main Street by the light. I’m trying to avoid being seen by that asshat Master Botosoni.”
Aleah laughs. “I’ve heard the vampire master called a lot of things, but asshat is not one of them. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes, okay?”
“Thanks, Aleah.” I disconnect, staying close to the buildings to go unnoticed as I make my way down the cobblestone pavement that stretches between here and Main Street. I reach the intersection and duck into one of the shop’s entry area alcoves. At least it keeps the howling wind from blowing right through me as I wait.
Car lights in the distance give me hope that Aleah is even earlier than anticipated, but the car keeps driving right through the intersection, on its way to who knows where at this ungodly time of the morning. I pull the zipper on my jacket a little higher, fending off the cold that seems to permeate my entire body and has ever since I heard Botosoni’s conversation.
Another set of lights reflect in the night and flash once as they get closer. I wait a brief second while Aleah pulls up to the red stop before rushing to the car, grateful for one true friend in the world. I slide into the bucket seat of her little blue car and snap on my seatbelt as she accelerates as the light turns green. “Thank you so much. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you this morning. I’m pretty sure my thumbs wouldn’t have gotten me far.”
She yawns, sleepily. “Anything for you, Catina. You’ll have to tell me where we’re going as we get there because I only know my way as far as the mountain access road. I’ve never been farther than that. The stories about the vampires, werewolves, and witches living there used to scare me far too bad to venture there alone once I became an adult.” She chances a glance over at me. “Do you think they still do? Live there, I mean,” she asks.
I nod. “I’m not really sure about all the myths and lore around the mountain and all the underworldlings, but I know for a fact that the vampires and shifters are camped out not too far from the base of the mountain right now. That’s why I’m going. They may be too close to my parents, and it’s just not safe. I need to warn my family and tell them to get far, far away.”
Aleah gasps. “Oh my god, Catina. How terrible. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know it’s none of my business, but your family…” She stops talking, and there’s an awkward silence in the car.
I sigh… “It’s not like I don’t know exactly how bad they are or that I defend their behavior myself, just to everyone else.” I fumble in my purse for something to rub onto my dry lips. “You can say it. They suck. Because they really do, but you just can’t choose your family, you know?
She nods. “I’m sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut. I’ve seen the bruises time and time again when you come into the coffee cafe. I wanted to help before but didn’t know what to say.”
I grimace, having assumed I covered them with enough makeup to keep them from being noticed, but Botosoni said the same thing. He saw the bruising on the skin even when I thought it had well faded from sight. “Some things are worth taking a beating for, and marrying someone I don’t love is one of them. There’s no way in hell I am going to let them get away with that.”
She gasps. “That’s awful. You have to get away from them fast. I hate that I’m taking you anywhere near them. They better not lay another hand on you, or they are going to have to deal with me.”
I reach over and give my friend’s arm a squeeze. “It’s not as though I don’t want to escape them, but soon I can leave them on my own. I’m so close to saving enough to leave them forever, without any handout from the arrogant asshat; thank you very much. A few more months of telling fortunes and lying to my parents about the tip amount, and I’ll be home free. Away from the traveling life and my parents and brothers for good. I promise, you have nothing to worry about.”
She turns onto the main access road. “I thought when he carried you out of that café that you had found true love for sure.”
So much for love. I hold out for someone I care about and find my perfect soul mate, only to have him think me a liar and a con artist out for his money, giving me not one chance at all to explain the situation and why I said those terrible things. Damn him to hell for making me feel love only to take it away.
Maybe I should have stayed and tried to explain it to him. But I can’t ignore the chance to help my family. I could never live with myself if they were torn to pieces by the rogue vampires on a quest for pure blood.” I shiver at the thought of my parents laying in pieces by the side of the road, but this I can’t shake away; this vision is one of the imaginations, sometimes hard to discern from the visions of reality but with one difference. When those come, there is no shaking the images in my head. They stay with you forever, or at least until whatever the vision is comes true.
Another omen of what’s to come begins to swirl in my mind, snarling, gnashing teeth and howling of the scariest kind from a large white wolf.
Sheba…
I touch Aleah’s shoulder with a shaky hand. “Here, let me out here please.”
Chapter 18
