“Actually, you’d be surprised how few of those cameras are actively monitored. They’re mainly forensic; helpful for looking back at what’s already happened.”
“That’s not particularly reassuring,” I said.
“Makes most people feel secure though, doesn’t it?" she asked.
The irony in her statement wasn’t lost on me. I had grown to feel secure surrounded by vampires, and yet, I’d nearly died tonight.
The entire situation felt surreal.
She snatched the rifle from my grip and stowed it atop the body in our trunk.
“Hey, you only had to ask,” I said.
She gave me a cold stare that could probably freeze open flames.
“Don’t even start,” she said.
I wanted to snap back with something sarcastic. However, given her demeanor, I chose the diplomatic high road of keeping my mouth shut.
“I hope I don’t have to torch my car after this,” she said while slamming the trunk closed.
I hadn’t considered the post-killing clean-up process. I fleetingly contemplated the merits of watching more TV crime dramas and forensic documentaries.
“Where’s Paige?” Ethan asked, startling me.
I jolted and my heart practically stopped.
“Crap,” I said. “You surprised me.”
Get a grip, Taylor.
“Funny,” Kat said sweetly, though with a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. “I noticed he was there.”
Oh, how I wanted to say something completely out of line.
Calm. Calm. Don’t encourage her. Just shut up.
Ethan must’ve sensed my irritation because he shook his head ever so slightly at me in silent caution.
“I directed those women away from the area,” he said. “But I heard more voices not far from here.”
I noticed something moving out of the corner of my eye and turned to see petite-looking Paige effortlessly balancing a tall man’s body over her shoulder.
“Get in the car, Caleb,” Kat said.
“Ethan! Let’s get this thug into our trunk,” Paige said.
“You got it,” he said, taking the body from her. “I parked over here.”
“Ever the gentleman,” she quipped.
The two of them quickly headed away just as a small group of people exited the elevator not far from us.
“Caleb,” Kat said. “The car. Now.”
I frowned at her, miffed that she was treating me like a child. I gave her a dirty look as I opened the passenger door.
She revved the engine at first, but then casually backed out and drove to the exit as if nothing unusual had just occurred.
I looked into the side mirror to see Ethan and Paige trailing us in their car.
I was beside myself with curiosity over what we intended to do with the bodies, but I simply felt too miffed at Kat to ask her anything. Instead, I silently fumed while staring out the passenger window.
Prior to our Slovenia trip, I’d have put up with such things. Now, I no longer appreciated people telling me what to do.
And I’ve killed two people since then.
Well, one person and one vampire, anyway.
And yet, that fact still hadn’t quite sunk in yet. It also felt unreal, like a bad dream.
And I was surprised by how little guilt I felt over that recollection.
Baldar Dubravko definitely deserved to die, though perhaps not the limousine driver.
Kat remained silent as she drove us back to the estate. The only sounds were road noise and classical music playing over our digital radio.
I had to admit that the cessation of conflict between us was refreshing.
We’d no sooner pulled up in front of our garage when Kat turned bossy again.
“Go inside and lock the doors,” she said. “Set the security system and don’t leave the house until I return.”
This is getting really old fast.
I folded my arms before me and stared back at her incredulously.
“Somebody’s acting awfully bitchy and tyrannical all of the sudden,” I said.
She stared at me with a wholly displeased expression.
“ Tyrannical? Oh, don’t even go there right now,” she warned. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Hey, I didn’t choose for us to walk into an
“That’s not particularly reassuring,” I said.
“Makes most people feel secure though, doesn’t it?" she asked.
The irony in her statement wasn’t lost on me. I had grown to feel secure surrounded by vampires, and yet, I’d nearly died tonight.
The entire situation felt surreal.
She snatched the rifle from my grip and stowed it atop the body in our trunk.
“Hey, you only had to ask,” I said.
She gave me a cold stare that could probably freeze open flames.
“Don’t even start,” she said.
I wanted to snap back with something sarcastic. However, given her demeanor, I chose the diplomatic high road of keeping my mouth shut.
“I hope I don’t have to torch my car after this,” she said while slamming the trunk closed.
I hadn’t considered the post-killing clean-up process. I fleetingly contemplated the merits of watching more TV crime dramas and forensic documentaries.
“Where’s Paige?” Ethan asked, startling me.
I jolted and my heart practically stopped.
“Crap,” I said. “You surprised me.”
Get a grip, Taylor.
“Funny,” Kat said sweetly, though with a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. “I noticed he was there.”
Oh, how I wanted to say something completely out of line.
Calm. Calm. Don’t encourage her. Just shut up.
Ethan must’ve sensed my irritation because he shook his head ever so slightly at me in silent caution.
“I directed those women away from the area,” he said. “But I heard more voices not far from here.”
I noticed something moving out of the corner of my eye and turned to see petite-looking Paige effortlessly balancing a tall man’s body over her shoulder.
“Get in the car, Caleb,” Kat said.
“Ethan! Let’s get this thug into our trunk,” Paige said.
“You got it,” he said, taking the body from her. “I parked over here.”
“Ever the gentleman,” she quipped.
The two of them quickly headed away just as a small group of people exited the elevator not far from us.
“Caleb,” Kat said. “The car. Now.”
I frowned at her, miffed that she was treating me like a child. I gave her a dirty look as I opened the passenger door.
She revved the engine at first, but then casually backed out and drove to the exit as if nothing unusual had just occurred.
I looked into the side mirror to see Ethan and Paige trailing us in their car.
I was beside myself with curiosity over what we intended to do with the bodies, but I simply felt too miffed at Kat to ask her anything. Instead, I silently fumed while staring out the passenger window.
Prior to our Slovenia trip, I’d have put up with such things. Now, I no longer appreciated people telling me what to do.
And I’ve killed two people since then.
Well, one person and one vampire, anyway.
And yet, that fact still hadn’t quite sunk in yet. It also felt unreal, like a bad dream.
And I was surprised by how little guilt I felt over that recollection.
Baldar Dubravko definitely deserved to die, though perhaps not the limousine driver.
Kat remained silent as she drove us back to the estate. The only sounds were road noise and classical music playing over our digital radio.
I had to admit that the cessation of conflict between us was refreshing.
We’d no sooner pulled up in front of our garage when Kat turned bossy again.
“Go inside and lock the doors,” she said. “Set the security system and don’t leave the house until I return.”
This is getting really old fast.
I folded my arms before me and stared back at her incredulously.
“Somebody’s acting awfully bitchy and tyrannical all of the sudden,” I said.
She stared at me with a wholly displeased expression.
“ Tyrannical? Oh, don’t even go there right now,” she warned. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Hey, I didn’t choose for us to walk into an
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