Lexi wrinkled her nose. "He knows all the tricks," she said wryly.
We pushed open the gate, our footsteps barely crunching the gravel on the path that circled the house. Cicadas buzzed in the sycamore trees above us, and I could hear horses pacing in the stable.
And then I heard a low moan.
"Hes out back," I said.
Lexi gazed up at the sky. Orange streaks were starting to peek above the horizon; it was about an hour until day broke. "Its too close to dawn," Lexi said. "I didnt realize how late it is. I have to go."
I looked at her sharply.
"Im not protected." Her fingers fluttered to my ring, and I glanced down self-consciously. The lapus lazuli adornment had become so much a part of me, Id forgotten that it made me different from other vampires, made me able to walk in the daylight. Katherine had arranged for both Damon and me to have this protection.
"Well come back tomorrow. The others can help us then," Lexi insisted.
I shook my head. "I cant leave him."
Birds chirped in the trees above us, and from somewhere nearby came the sound of glass shattering. The orange streaks in the sky grew fatter, brighter. "I understand," Lexi said finally. "Be safe. Dont play the hero."
I nodded, scanning the grounds for any guards or animals lying in wait to attack. When I looked up, Lexi was gone and I was alone.
Stealing quickly to the back of the house, I made my way toward the whitewashed stable. Horses pawed the ground nervously, obviously sensing my presence. The stable doors were padlocked with an iron bolt. I grabbed the chain, testing it. Even though Id barely fed since the previous evening, it would be easy enough to rend the chains with my bare hands. But something stopped me.Don't play the hero.Lexis words echoed in my mind. She had become my guide during the past couple of days, and I knew it was in my best interest to listen to her. Better not to leave any evidence of an intruder, better to get the lay of the land before doing anything rash.
I released the chain, and it fell back against the door with a loud clanking sound. A horse whinnied. I walked to the other side of the stable, where a dusty window was open a crack.
"Brother?" I whispered hoarsely through the window. The cloying scent of vervain was everywhere, making me woozy and nauseated.
In the corner, a filthy figure struggled to sit up. Damon. His hands and feet were bound with chains, and his skin was covered in angry red welts. The chains must have been soaked in vervain. I winced in sympathy.
Damons eyes locked on mine.
"You found me," he said, no emotion in his face. "Are you happy to see that Im close to death, brother?"
"Im here to save you," I said simply. The horses were kicking up the sawdust around their feet in agitation; I didnt have much time before someone in the house heard the disturbance.
Damon shrugged, an effort that clearly took all his energy. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. A large cut lined his forehead, slicing into his eyebrow. He looked awful and emaciated; it was clear he hadnt eaten in days. I glanced around, hoping I could find something--a squirrel, a rabbit, a chipmunk--to kill and toss to him, but there was nothing.
"So the cold-blooded killer is going to save me." Damon attempted a wan smile. He leaned back against the wall, his chains rattling.
"Yes, we have to--"
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a door slamming, then a dog barking. I whirled around toward the main house.
"What do you think youre doing?" a voice yelled out. And I stood, my hands raised to the sky, unsure of who--or what--had found me this time.
Chapter 14-15
Chapter 14
My hands still in the air, I pressed my lips together. Id already learned that any sign of stress caused my fangs to bulge and my pupils to grow larger; I didnt want to prepare to attack until I knew what I was dealing with.
"Jake? Charley?" a female voice called as two burly men ran toward me from the main house. Although twice my bulk, they were definitely human. Each man grabbed one of my arms, though I noted with cold calculation that it would take only one quick twist to shake both off before I lunged for my attack.
But I fought with every core of my being to stay still, my hands high in the air, hoping Id just look like a common vagrant. There was no guarantee that a fight would lead to Damons rescue.
A girl walked toward me from the porch and stopped a foot away.
"I apologize," I said to her. I tried to make my voice sound like I was nervously gasping for breath. "I didnt realize this was private property. Im new to town, and I was in the tavern, and, well " I trailed off, unsure of whether my lies would get me into even deeper trouble.
"You thought youd steal from me?" The girl stepped forward. Her hair tumbled in flaming curls down her back, and she wore what looked suspiciously like a vervain wreath on her head. She had on a white nightdress, but she was wearing mens boots, and I could see calluses on her hands. Though she was clearly from a wealthy family, this was no coddled city girl.
"No. No! I wasnt stealing, I was just looking for the vampire," I said.
She knit her eyebrows together. "To steal him ?" she asked leadingly, hands on her hips.
"No!" I said again, my arm jerking involuntarily. One of the men holding me dropped my arm in surprise. "No," I said again, forcing myself to remain still. "I saw the poster for the show down by the lake, and, well, I guess my curiosity got the best of me." I shrugged.
A rooster crowed. Sunlight slowly spilled over the backyard. I glanced down at my gleaming ring, thankful that Lexi had left.
"Okay, then," the girl said. She snapped her fingers, and the two large men dropped my arms. "If you are new to town, then where do you come from?"