Slay Alive

Chapter 12

twelve

“Where have you been? I thought vampires ate you!”

A few of the other girls in the dorm look our way curiously. So much for laying low.

I blink at Tamsin’s greeting and close the door behind me. “Hello to you too. Can I ask why you thought I would be a vampire snack?”

“I hope he drains you dry. I know I would.”

I push aside Cade’s bullshit words. Fuck that vampire. I hope he starves to death.

“I heard you were in the Veiled Quarter,” she tells me. “I went looking for you but I couldn’t find you. Started to worry some.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry-but wait, who told you I was there?” I didn’t think anyone saw me go to the quarter. In fact, there was only one soul that knew I was there but why would they tell Tamsin where I was?

“Cade,” Tamsin answers, confirming my suspicions.

I drop to my knees in front of Duskweaver’s trunk. It’s mine now and the only link I have to the woman that took my place. Even if I never meet her, I want to know her in some way. I open it while I talk to Tamsin.

“Why would he give you a heads up on where I went?”

“He was worried.”

“Yeah, worried someone else is going to eat me before him?” The trunk has the normal things I’d expect to see. Clothing, boots, a few more training harnesses that look a little simpler than the one I’m wearing. I’m grateful. I lift the clothing out and see weapons and books beneath. There’s also stakes, a small collection of holy water and what I think are assorted potions. I lift one to look at the swirling purple liquid inside and turn it to read the writing on the label.

Regeneration.

Interesting. “Hey, what does this do? Does it restore my health in a battle all magic style or something?” I ask, holding up the potion to Tamsin.

She gives me a ‘no, duh’ look. “What else would it do?”

She’s got a point there so I just shrug and put the bottle back. “I’m not sure exactly. What do these blue ones-”

“Cade thinks you’re in danger.”

I stop rooting around in Duskweaver’s trunk and lean to the side to give Tamsin a look. “In danger from what? Him?”

She shakes her head. “No, from Lucien, which…given the source material, has me concerned.”

“He’s just being an asshole, ignore him.” A girl walks close on her way to the door. She’s walking slower than necessary and I know she’s doing it because of me. I get it. I’m new and Tamsin thinks I’m off getting eaten.

“Does he know something we don’t?” she asks.

I bite my tongue and stay silent until the other hunter is past me and out of the room. I lean over the trunk and motion for her to move close as I whisper to her. “The only thing I’m in danger from is him . Cade said he hoped Lucien ate me because that’s what he would do.”

Tamsin makes a face when I say that. “He said that?”

“He did. Right after he found me in the quarter. I was doing just fine on my recon run without him too. I’d just gotten eyes on Lucien when Cade just, I don’t know…he just got really mad all of a sudden.”

“What did he do?”

“Nothing, really. Got ticked I was tailing Lucien and said he hoped I got drained. Then he left.” I tell her, leaving out the part where he said I was different now and that I smelled like dirt. That’s not relevant considering the listening ears from the remaining girls in the room with us. The less they question my presence the better.

Tamsin sighs and looks down at her hands. “This is getting complicated, Bonnie. I know he’s an asshole but what if there’s something to what he’s saying about Lucien? Maybe he isn’t the safest way for you to get home.’

I pick up one of the books. The Hunter’s Essential Guide to Briarwood Hollow’s Vampire Houses. My time with Gabriel today was spent reviewing the history of the hunter’s and Briarwood Hollow itself, not the vampires. This is exactly the kind of book that might be helpful trying to figure out where Lucien might be when he’s not at his mansion. I turn the book over and see an E. L, stamped on the spine with a halfmoon over it. The mark of the Eldritch Library. I frown, running a finger over the marking. If the real Duskweaver went to the library before, then why did Gabriel act like we were meeting for the first time? I can’t see the attentive librarian forgetting a face. Maybe Duskweaver avoided him? If she was looking to ditch this world it makes sense. I pocket the book and stand up. I can bring it to Gabriel today when I see if the dinner date offer is still on the table. Logically, I know it is. It hasn’t even been half an hour since I left him in the library, but having the book is the security blanket I need to follow through with returning.

“I think you’re right,” I tell her. “And that’s why I’m switching course to get Gabriel Von Helsing in the mix.”

Tamsin tilts her to the side. “The librarian?”

“Yeah, we spent some time together. He was kind, gracious, interested and safe. Exactly the kind of guy that I need to fall in love with to break Rhia’s magic spell on me.”

“It’s a quest, not a spell,” Tamsin reminds me.

I wave her off. “Chicken, beef. I’m trapped here all the same. I think Gabriel is a safe bet and I really like him. He was kind to me.”

“We all need more kindness. I approve of this pivot to a human because you being with a vampire gives me a panic attack.”

I shrug. “They aren’t so bad. When I,” the remaining two hunters walk by, clearly listening so I have to pick my next few words carefully and not give away I am currently stuck in a game , “when I visited the city, they were kind to me. I guess I’ve got a soft spot for them.”

“I can see that.” Tamsin shakes her head and stands to grab a jacket out my still open trunk. “Here, put this on. It’s getting dark and that means the fangers are going to be out. They’re fine mostly, but there’s always the occasional prick looking to get a bite in. The leather will protect you a bit more. I want you locked and loaded, too.” She grabs a stake out of the trunk and slides it into an inside breast pocket of the coat before she hands it to me.

The gesture touches me. She doesn’t have to worry but she does. It’s something Gio or Donnie would do for me.

“Thank you.” I take the jacket from her. “You know…I know we just met, and hey this is crazy but you’re best friend material. I just wanted you to know.”

Tamsin’s eyes go wide before her cheeks bloom pink and she looks down at her feet. “I-well, that means a lot to me. I’ve never had a best friend.”

I hug her tight then because I can’t imagine what my world would be without my best friends. “Well, you have one now if you want, even though I’m about to be sucked into a different dimension, I guess.”

Tamsin hugs me back. “I’ll take what I can get, Bonnie. Now, let’s get a move on or you’ll never get anyone to fall for you. I’ll walk you to the library so I can hear all about your librarian love.”

The walk to the library is nice. We talk about Gabriel and how soothing and encouraging his presence was.

“He made me feel like he really saw me. Like, I wasn’t just some nuisance but that I was really a hunter.”

When we reach the library, Tamsin hangs back and gives me an encouraging hug. “I have to go meet with Riley about a few changes to the patrol tonight, so I won’t be back until morning but I want to hear all about how this lovey-dovey dinner goes between you and Gabriel.”

I roll my eyes at her lovey-dovey but I do promise to tell her everything before I give her the goodbye Gabriel gave me.

“Fight well, Tamsin.”

Tamsin inclines her head and raises her fist to her chest. “Fight well, Bonnie.”

I watch Tamsin until she rounds the corner and then with a deep breath I push open the library doors and slip inside. It’s darker than it was earlier, the sconces are dimmed and I hesitate for a second. What if it's closed and I scare the hell out of Gabriel coming back like this? I almost leave but I don’t. I can’t.

“You don’t get home if you don’t fall in love. He’ll be happy to see you anyways,” I tell myself and walk further into the library. I pass Thespia’s painting and enter the library’s main chamber. It’s just the way it was when I left it earlier. A few books are piled high with scattered papers on Gabriel’s desk. I approach his desk and smile when I see a steaming cup of tea and the Compendium on Briarwood Hollow’s Heroes still open to the page we read together. I trace a finger along the top of it and turn looking for Gabriel. I don’t see him anywhere, but I do hear voices.

Maybe he’s helping someone?

I lean against his desk, determined to wait for him and maybe do a little more reading in the compendium when I hear Gabriel’s voice raise. My skin prickles, my heart speeds up and it’s like a wave of deja vu washes over me. The sound is so at odds with the soft spoken librarian I met that I rise from the desk and start following the sound of his voice. Something important is happening and I know without a shadow of a doubt that whatever Gabriel is saying I need to hear.

I think about calling out to Gabriel but I don’t. Something isn’t right. I can feel it even as I hear Gabriel’s tone of voice level out to normal. My intuition kicks into overdrive and while I’m normally so stubborn that I don’t listen, this time I do and stay silent as I creep forward through the dimly lit library.

“She’s mine. I don’t need you mucking things up for me,” Gabriel says and I freeze. He’s on the other side of the bookcase I’m standing in front of.

Who is he talking to?

I lean close and look through a gap in the shelved books. Gabriel is standing with his back to me while a man sits at a desk counting money. There’s a stack of books sitting on the table next to the growing stack of money in front of him as well. What the hell is going on here?

“You’re being selfish, you are. The amount of fresh-faced hunters that traipse through this place and into your bed is enough to keep any man occupied for years. Why do you need the new one? I saw her first.”

Gabriel turns and sneers at the man and my mouth drops open at the expression. He’s no longer the gentle and kind librarian I met. He’s mean looking. I don’t recognize this man.

“Is that what you think?” he asks and raps his knuckles on the table. “I’ve had my eye on Duskweaver since she helped with the book transfer to Haven. She’s untouched and much too valuable a prize for a man like you. She’ll be sweet to break.”

I feel sick to my stomach. Everything was a lie today. All of it was a play to get me to trust him, to fall right into Gabriel’s sick little plan and oh my gods, it almost worked.

“A man like me?” The man cackles. “I reckon I’d treat the gal better than you. I wouldn’t pretend to fall in love with her like you do all the rest. I’m surprised Hunter’s Watch hasn’t moved to have you thrown out on your ass. I guess that’s the perk of having a posh family like yours. I’m evil, they know the score from the start.”

“It’s called connection. I crave intimacy in its most pure form. Love, even the illusion of it, removes all barriers to intimacy. You wouldn’t understand raw animal passion, fanger.

A vampire.

What the hell is the great-great-great grandson of Briarwood Hollow’s first vampire hunter doing having a secret library conversation with a vampire?

“Now, now. I’d think an educated man like you would shy away from such malicious name calling but I can forgive you on the grounds that you let me have her when you’re done with her. I could do with a snack.”

“You can do whatever you want with her once I’m done. She’s not much of a hunter at all so no threat to you.”

Not much of a hunter? That sonofabitch. I’m enough of a hunter to punch his lights out.

The vampire clutches his heart and cackles like a fucking villain. “Always looking out for me. I knew you had a soft spot for me.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Gabriel waves him off and points at the books. “How much more can you throw in if I include the first edition? I need the cash right now.”

Oh my gods, he’s selling off the library’s collection for cash to a vampire? What the ever loving fuck?

“Enough to keep your gambling habit afloat if you give me the set,” the vampire says.

“Fine by me.” Gabriel turns and starts towards the bookcase I’m hiding behind. It’s then that I realize he’s going to see me if he gets any closer. So I do the only thing a Cosmo girl can do when she realizes the guy she thought was cute is actually a loser. I kick the bookcase as hard as I can and send it toppling onto Gabriel.

I turn and run as fast as I can towards the exit. Behind me, the vampire yells and I guess Gabriel does too from where he’s buried under books but I don’t stop until I’m outside of the library and around the corner.