Felicia looked at me with horror and sympathy. "I'll leave you to—uh…" she gagged, and from the look on her face, probably puked in her mouth. When she regained some composure, she leaned down. "I think if I can get a few drops of Maximus's blood, I can open the straps. Don't worry, Justin, we'll get you out of here. I promise." She glanced back in Amanda's direction. "And be careful around her. She's effed in the head."
As if anyone needed to tell me that. I briefly wondered who this "we" was, if maybe there were other vampires who were on our side, but didn't have time to ask before Felicia left. I fought the urge to pee as long as I could, anger and humiliation raging inside me. I felt like a caged, abused animal sitting in dog pound and waiting for the axe to fall. The fury within me surged to the point I could feel my inner demon seeking escape. If I didn't give in, I might try to manifest again. Given what had happened last time, I knew such a thing would only lead to strangulation.
Amanda came in, a leer on her face. She held her phone's camera toward me. "You see him?" she said. "Any minute now and he's gonna crap himself."
Repressed anger exploded. I roared. A deep guttural voice came from my mouth, speaking in the strange language I somehow understood. You will be first to die, I translated. My body thrashed. Muscles expanded. My neck pressed hard against the strap, harder and harder. But I no longer cared. I would break my bonds or die trying.
The world collapsed to a tiny circle as my brain burned through its remaining oxygen. But it felt like something was giving. Like the strap might have loosened.
The last thing I saw was Amanda laughing at me.
Chapter 12
Elyssa
"What—how did you get in here?" Elyssa asked as shock rippled through her.
Underborn gave her a lopsided smile. "May we come in before someone notices our presence? I took a considerable risk coming to you."
"You're not coming inside until you explain what the hell you want." This man was responsible for leading Justin through a gauntlet of gray men, hellhounds, and god only knew what else all so he could test his mettle. Underborn's real name was Kevin Sorensen, but he'd also posed as Mr. Turpin, an English teacher at their high school. As a former Templar, this man had survived the massacre at Thunder Rock, unbeknownst to Thomas Borathen, the leader of the ill-fated mission to apprehend Vadaemos all those years ago.
The large man pushed past Elyssa like she was nothing. Underborn followed, slipping in like a greased eel. He pulled a chair from the table in the center of the room, spun it around, and took a seat, propping his arms on the back of it. The big man leaned against a wall and crossed his arms.
"You've got a lot of nerve coming to me," Elyssa said. The desire to smack the smile off Underborn's face threatened to overcome her good sense.
The assassin held up his hands in surrender. "Believe me, Miss Borathen, I did what I did to be sure Justin was up to the task at hand. So far, he has proven himself most capable, if a bit clumsy. He took down Vadaemos." Underborn seemed genuinely impressed.
"He wasn't alone." Elyssa didn't care about credit, but Justin wasn't infallible. Nobody was.
"I know, Templar. It is Justin's ability to form the unlikeliest of alliances and forge a resolution that makes him so remarkable." Underborn scratched his head and looked at the silent, looming figure in black for a moment before continuing. "Unfortunately, it appears we have been outsmarted."
"By Maximus?"
Underborn shook his head. "By Daelissa."
Elyssa smacked a fist into her palm. "I just knew that bitch was involved somehow." She narrowed her eyes. "And what do you mean by we?"
"Naturally, I mean all of us in the collective sense."
"No." She shook her head. "I know you wanted Justin to take on Maximus. Somehow, you have a hand in this mess, don't you?" She crossed the room and looked down at him. "Did you have something to do with the kidnapping of his sister?"
A grim-lipped smile crossed the assassin's face. "I assure you I had nothing to do with that. However, it would appear the entire kidnapping was an elaborate setup."
Elyssa felt a jolt of surprise. "Ivy wasn't kidnapped?"