I stopped and half turned to look back at Marshall. "What's that room down at the end? The one that's separated from the others?"
"Just another feeding room."
"Why is it not in line with the others?"
"It's bigger, that's all." He shrugged, like it wasn't important, but I had an odd sense that it was.
"Why is it bigger?"
He hesitated, and I knew that if I'd been closer, I would have seen that flash of darkness in his eyes again. "Sometimes our clients prefer joint feedings."
I frowned. "I thought you said that vampires watching each other feed can get dangerous."
"It can."
I stared at him as the realization of what was happening in that room sank in. That's why the antiseptic was so strong. They were cleaning, all right, only it wasn't for the dirt, blood, and bugs that might come off their clients. It was the bloody remnants of humanity they were washing away.
I turned my back on him, my fists clenched against the sudden rise of anger. I hated what this place was doing to people. Hated that I couldn't do anything about it. Because of Hunter, because of the threat she represented—not just to me but to all those I cared for. And even to those I didn't, like Jak.
Azriel touched my back again, but this time the surge of warmth failed to calm. I took a deep breath that did just as little, then walked toward that room.
The closer I got, the more my skin crawled.
I reached out and gripped the handle. The metal felt cold under my touch. Cold and somehow otherworldly.
There are ghosts within, Azriel said. Many, many ghosts.
I wasn't afraid of ghosts. I never had been. Until now. I licked my lips and pushed the door open.