Part 1 (2/2)

”And who says the Highers aren't experiments?” He questions in a low voice. ”I mean, does anyone really know what they are?”

I think of the photos in the book Aiden and I flipped through. It had pictures of perfect creatures that looked similar to the Highers, but without the white eyes and hair. ”From what I just saw, they look like they might be part vamp.”

”Hmmma” Sylas taps his lips. ”That's a good observation.”

I point the stake at his chest and he grins. ”Are you holding back information from me?”

He inches closer so the point of the stake is jabbing him in the chest. ”I told you, I don't lie.” It's the most aggravating thing, not knowing what he's feeling. He rubs his lips together, tilting his head down, and moves his lips for mine. ”But just to be surea”

He's trying to use my gift against me. The closer I get to someone, the more I feel their honesty and whether they're lying. But with Sylas, it conflicts with his gift of controlling emotion.

Before he can seal the deal with a kiss, I scoot my knee up, and press my boot against his stomach, pus.h.i.+ng him back. ”Don't bother. My little lying gift doesn't really work well with you.”

His red lips creep upward and stepping back, he shrugs. ”I was just trying to help you.”

”Sure you were.” I climb off the table, trying to hold my legs steady even though they're shaking from the thought of kissing him. ”We should get back to the hideout. If the Highers are out and about, no one's safe.”

I start for the door, but he wraps his fingers around my elbow. ”Don't go out front. The Highers might still be out there.”

I halt and for the briefest second, I actually consider going out and announcing my presence to the Highers. What would they do if I did? But it's my human state that stops me. I allow Sylas to guide me to the back of the building where we climb out of a small hole in the bottom of the brick wall. Rolling into the alleyway, we get to our feet and dust the dirt off our clothes. Then we climb up a ladder that slants to the flat roof. The next part I hate. I really do.

Sylas turns his back to me. ”Jump on.”

I frown and grudgingly hop onto his back. He loops his arms underneath my knees and then steps to the ledge, peering down at the hard concrete four stories down.

”Better hang on tight,” he warns with a hint of laughter in his voice. ”If you fall, there's no saving you.”

I clasp my hands around his neck. He takes a few steps back and then sprints forward, springing off the ledge and flying through the air just like I used to do before humanity began to take me over. He lands on his toes and I barely feel the hit.

Quickly, I squirm off his back and experience a momentary case of vertigo.

”Gonna make it there?” His eyes scan me over.

My skin heats and I know he's playing his little emotion tricks. ”Knock that off, Sylas.” I march past him with my chin up, shaking off the intensity that tries to yank me back toward him.

He laughs softly and trails behind me. I lie flat on my stomach and s.h.i.+mmy through a narrow gap in the ground. Rolling over onto the metal walkway, I jump to my feet and smack my head on a low pipe. Rubbing the wound, I pick a stray piece of ash from my hair.

He slides inside and cleans ash out of his dark hair. ”Take the medicine Kayla.” He struts by me, intentionally brus.h.i.+ng his shoulder against mine. ”You're never going to make it if you don't.”

I can feel the welt forming on my head. I stay quiet and follow him down the hall, to the main room where everyone's strewn around tables, tipped-over crates, and chairs. The Day Takers hide here during the night. The building is old, the red brick walls chipped apart. Lanterns dangle from the low ceiling and dirt and garbage litter the floor.

He leaves me in the archway and I lean against the wall, watching him stroll up to Emmy and ma.s.sage her shoulders. Emmy tips her head back, her red hair dipping lower on her back, and she gives Sylas a quick kiss on the cheek. Sylas' gaze wanders to me and there's a smirk in his eyes because I'm standing alone, the outcast, and it only adds to his point of me changing into a Day Taker.

Holding my chin high, I walk across the room. The other Day Takers watch me with inquiring looks. There are eight of them total, including Bernard. He's still upset with me for beating him unconscious with a pipe and he refuses to talk to me.

I tap Sylas on the shoulder. ”We're not done for the night. I still need to have my memory session.”

Emmy smiles, her black eyes lighting up. ”Kayla,” she purrs. ”Kill a lot of vampires tonight?”

A devious look spreads across Sylas' face. ”Not even close.” He traces a finger across my cheek and down my neck. ”She needs to be one of us or she's never going to get anywhere.”

I narrow my eyes at him and then turn to Emmy. ”Are you ready to go inside my mind?”

Emmy grins and presses her lips together. ”Always Kayla.” Then she saunters for the doorway, her black dress trailing on the ground.

I follow her and so does Sylas. ”You don't have to come with me,” I tell him. ”I can handle this on my own.”

He knocks me with a spurt of calmness. ”You know you want me to come with you.” His boots thud behind me and there's laughter in his voice. ”Even if you won't admit it.”

I sigh and keep my mouth shut.

Emmy takes us down the hall. We pa.s.s door after door until we reach the very last one. She pushes it open, the bottom scratching against the concrete floor. The room is small with brick walls and a dirt-stained floor. In the center is a tattered leather chair. I climb in and recline backward, staring up at the ceiling that I've come to be very familiar with over the last few days.

Emmy appears over me, her blood-red hair a curtain around our faces. ”Do you want us to strap your hands down?”

Raising my arms, I glance over the red lines healing from the last mind-dipping experience and rub my thumb across my wrist where the faint black numbers mark my skin. ”I'm fine,” I say, thinking of Aiden and his scara”his freedom.

Sylas shakes his head disapprovingly. ”You're making a mistake.” He elbows Emmy out of the way and his lips touch my ear. ”You're letting my brother get into your head, Kayla. Or should I say Junipera”I know how much you like the name.”

Hearing my nickname, I push him back and look in his eyes. ”Don't ever call me that.” That name feels wrong coming off anyone's lips except Aiden's.

He shrugs and takes a step back. ”Whatever. Do what you want.”

Emmy barricades herself between us. ”Are you ready?”

I shut my eyes and inhale. ”I'm ready.” My eyes snap open as she s.h.i.+fts her weight above me.

”And remember, Kayla,” she whispers. ”Don't blink.”

And I don't, picturing the blood-red door as I slip into a state of unconsciousness.

Chapter 3.

The blood red door is sealed shut and I'm standing on the outside. From the ceiling, water trickles in my hair. I glance over my shoulder down the long, narrow hall. It's empty, but a hum of voices flow from the distance. I hurry for the door, but it's locked. Gripping my hand tightly around the doork.n.o.b, I snap it apart and shove the door open.

The stench immediately overwhelms me. I hold my breath and enter, one foot in front of the other, forcing myself to go inside. Chains hang from the concrete walls and blood stains the ceiling and floor. Someone screams in pain and I move toward the sound, my feet colliding with the chains.

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