Page 90 of Eternal Surrender

Marcus glanced at his mobile, reading the text. “It’s Anaïs. Belshazzar’s is officially closed.” He frowned miserably and shoved the cell back into his pocket.

“It’s not permanent,” I reassured him.

“Belshazzar’s is living history,” Marcus said. “I’m having a hard time with it.”

“Is it my fault?” Rachel asked.

“No.” Marcus kissed her forehead tenderly.

“What day is it?” she asked, bewildered.

“Wednesday,” Marcus said. “You’re safe now.”

“Has she told you anything?” I asked Jacob quietly.

He shook his head. “And there was nothing unusual found in her blood results. Snowstrom’s scientists were quite thorough.”

Rachel’s attention fell on me again. “Do you have any apples?”

Jacob coughed. “You can’t eat apples, remember?”

She turned back to face him and rubbed her eyes. “I feel funny.”

Marcus took her hands in his. “You and I, we’ve been through so much together and seen so many things.”

“You always made sure I was safe.” She snuggled into him.

I approached Rachel and asked, “How long have you been back in London?”

She stepped away from Marcus. “A few days.”

“Where were you?” Marcus asked.

She went to answer, but the confusion on her face gave away that she didn’t remember.

Marcus tried to get her attention. “I love you, you know that right?”

“You told me that every day.” She waved her hands out by her sides, swinging them from side to side as though hearing some invisible music.

She balanced on her tip toes. “What’s your name?”

I lifted the strap of her dress back up over her shoulder. “William.”

Her hair fell into her face. “I wasn’t the only one there.”

“They captured other vampires?” Marcus asked, dismayed.

Rachel pointed to the door. “Can I go out?”

Jacob gave a shake of his head as though conveying she wasn’t making any sense. “Orpheus always told us to be careful with doors.” She pointed her right toe out and balanced backward. “Doors lead to places.”

“Doors might lead to sunlight,” I clarified.

She held my gaze for a while and then said, “Where’s Sunaria?”

“Can you tell us where you’ve been all this time?” Jacob asked, trying to bring her focus back on us.

“In a cold room with no furniture.” She pressed her fingers to her lips. “Aiden told me I was special because I knew Orpheus.” She looked so frail, lost. “He dipped apples in blood and let me lick it off. It made him laugh.”