need something to write in while we’re in Amaranth. No technology there.” He sat at the kitchen table and slid a beautiful journal in front of me, of gorgeous, rich brown parchment, with a suede string attached for binding. “There are quotes inside from some of your favorite authors, including Flannery O’Connor,” he flipped a page and pointed to the header.
“You wrote them yourself?” I skimmed the pages, feeling my mood lighten.
“Figured you could use inspiration. You’ve already given up everything for me, but this is one thing I won’t let you lose. You’re talented, you should write. And we’ll have three months in the city before the rest of the resistance arrives for the final attack. So you’ll have some time on your hands.”
Three months. I still couldn’t believe it. It was so long, so calculated, so … nerve-wracking. I smoothed my hand across the pages and sat across from him. “Thank you, Gavin. I don’t know what to say. I doubt I’ll be able to think about writing while I’m there, but that’s really thoughtful of you.”
He reached across and took my hand, kissed my knuckles. “I know this is scary. But Samira won’t dare touch us. Especially if she finds out we have Arianna. We’re going to make it through this, and your world and mine will be better, soon.”
“Three months is a long time to hold out on that secret.” A shiver ran down my back just imagining what would happen if Samira found out about our one and only piece of ammunition while we were confined to her city. “And what you told Marie is dangerous, Gav. Not to mention very mean.”
“We have to fight dirty right now, Cam. I hated lying to Marie, but it had to be done. Our lives depend on it, you have to understand that. We need to keep Marie calm and cooperative. When Samira sees that the Amaranthians are obeying her again, sees the city return to servitude, she won’t know what hit her when we attack. It’ll look like I’m following through with my promise to restore order in the city and bring the people back into submission. Everything is in place, Camille. I promise you.”
He stood and brought me a hot plate from the stove, his signature chicken parmesan. I had no appetite, but I couldn’t say no to his gesture. I took a bite and smiled, forced another bite down, thinking it might help ease my stomach.
“How will you eat while we’re there?” I wondered aloud, staring down at my plate.
“We have a rationed supply of blood to hold us over while we’re there. And I can get into the castle and sneak some from the reserve if it comes to that.”
“I hope you’re right,” I murmured, running my fingers over my new journal. If we made it out of this alive, I’d have one surefire bestseller on my hands.
“We better get going,” He stood and glanced out the kitchen window. I followed his gaze. Dusk was nearing, and a faint trace of the crescent moon had begun to poke through a hazy gathering of clouds amidst the pink and blue horizon. I swallowed one more bite of my meal, then stood, ready to greet the night.
4
INVINCIBLE
A dozen vampires met us at the familiar bayou, the crescent moon now fully visible against the inky sky. I didn’t recognize any of them except Josh and Scarlet, the curvaceous vixen that made my blood boil each time I saw her. She gave a cutesy-pie wave when she spotted me, then winked, her lips curled into a secretive grin, as though she was laughing at something. What was so funny? Was I missing something? I waved back half-heartedly, then turned my attention to Gavin.
“There are only thirteen of you? I thought this was going to be a war,” I whispered.
“We’re doing this in two phases, remember? This is part one.” He set down his bag, adjusted his combat boots. “The rest of the resistance will join us on the first day of the crescent moon cycle, in exactly three months. This is all we’ll need for now, just to have some manpower and a few extra pairs of eyes while we’re in the city. Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing,” he reached up and gently nudged my arm.
“Okay,” I mumbled, looked down at the watertight bag in my hands, which held my new journal, Vivienne’s text, and a few essentials. I didn’t really know what to expect, only