Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I am serious. I’m not saying I believe it.”
“You mother-fuck—”
“Watch your language.” From Rousseau.
I turn and execute a roundhouse kick to the side of his head. He lands on his ass with an oof.
“Bet you wish you’d kept that helmet on,” I say snidely.
“Watch your mouth,” Dad chides Rousseau. “If you think you’re going to marry my daughter, you won’t speak to my other daughter in that manner.”
“You’re going to let her talk to you that way?” Rousseau stands and rubs his temple.
“That’s for me to say.” Dad turns back to me. “Nice form.”
“Thanks. Not that you had anything to do with it.”
“No. I didn’t.” His facial features soften a bit. “I wasn’t there for you while you were growing up, Hannah. I know that. It was one of many mistakes I made where you girls and your mother are concerned.”
“For God’s sake,” I mutter.
“Hannah...”
“Save it. You’re not sorry. You’ve never been sorry. Now what aren’t you telling me, my king?”
Dad shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He pauses a moment, but then—
“I sent you to Rogan to—”
The door crashes open and two fully-armored vamps interrupt my father’s words.
Damn it! He was going to say something. Something important.
“My king,” one vamp says, “the demons have taken out three of our best warriors. It’s time.”
“Time for what?” I demand.
“Time for you to get the hell out of here,” Dad says.
“Oh, no you—”
A whirling wind surrounds me—like a small tornado—and I’m sucked through a...a...
I don’t know.
All I know is that in no time at all I’m back in Chicago. In my father’s office. I land on my ass with a plunk.
"Ouch." I rise and rub the cheeks of my ass.
Now what?
Rogan.
I must get back to the ether. Back to Rogan.
Why didn’t he come for me? Is he injured? Or worse?
My body goes cold, as if the blood in my veins has turned to ice. But my blood can’t be ice because my heart is stampeding.
I pace across my father’s office carpeting. No one’s here. Is every vampire in the ether fighting?
I look out the window. It’s pitch dark. I didn’t notice because my vamp vision must have adjusted while I was getting my bearings. It’s nighttime here, in the real world. What time is it? I don’t have my phone or a watch.
My hackles rise, and my fangs snap down.
I’m on alert.
Rogan.
Rogan’s in trouble.
I have to get to him.
I close my eyes and concentrate. I have to get back to the ether. I have to! I clench my fists, try to empty my mind...
But...nothing.
How did I get there before? It just seemed to happen. What did I do? How did I—
I rush to my father’s desk and riffle through the scattered papers. I don’t know what I think I’m going to find. A book on how to get to the ether? Directions from a map app?
Yeah, right.
But I do find something that draws my attention.
My gaze falls on a file folder.
Victor Rogan.
And another folder underneath it.
Hannah.
The words of my stepfather ring in my ears.
You’re controlled by nature. Nature has led you to Rogan. But the laws of nature also tell us that what controls us can also be controlled.
I’m a rat. A rat in a maze.
And I—
“Ooowwww!”
I cry out as I double over, falling to the floor and into a fetal position.
62
A knife.
A knife is cutting through my abdomen. At least that’s what it feels like.
But it’s gone nearly as quickly as it came. Still, this is the second time it’s happened. I’m not the hypochondriacal type, but something feels…off.
I need to get myself checked out.
Since I’m back in Chicago, I know where all the hospitals are. I won’t go to the one where I work, though. Dad arranged for me to be on leave while I worked this case for him, and I don’t want them to know I’m in town.
Before I double over again, I grab the two file folders and dash out. I head to my apartment first to change into some normal clothes, and then I grab a cab to an emergency room, leaving the folders at my place.
“Ow!” The blade lances through me again.
“You okay back there?” the cabbie asks.
“Yeah. I’m good. Just hurry.”
A few moments later, he pulls into the ER. I grab a few twenties that I pulled out of my stash at home and throw them into to the front seat, hoping it’s enough.
Then I dash into the ER, using mind control to get me back without filling out paperwork.
A nurse takes my vitals and looks at my chart. “Looks like you’re due for a tetanus booster, Hannah. Would you like to get it today?”
“How do you know that?”
“We’re affiliated with your doctor’s office, so your records come up in our system.”
“Oh. I guess I didn’t realize I was due for any vaccines.”