the sound, but his point of view remain fixed on the vision of his dying aunt.
“She’s screaming,” said a voice, brimming with curiosity. “That’s new.”
Another voice chuckled as it replied, “She can’t even scream properly, but I still want to make it stop.”
“We can’t touch her. Liss will rip our hearts out if we do.”
“He’s a fool. Look at her! I know you can smell it. He’s trying to keep it all to himself.”
“Don’t be stupid. He said the fae were like a drug. I know you’ve tried balung before. It’s like that.”
“It doesn’t do anything to me now. There’s nothing left but blood—blood and whatever it is that’s inside that fae girl. It smells incredible.”
“You’re right about that, but we still can’t risk it. What are you doing?” Will heard the sound of something move, perhaps that of a step being taken.
“It isn’t a drug. Liss lied to us. You know why? Because it’s really power. She’s full of it, and whoever takes her will grow with it.”
Will saw the creature when it rushed forward, falling on Tailtiu’s frail body. It was the body of a man, heavy-set and bald. As his head leaned down, Will both saw and felt the fangs pierce Tailtiu’s flesh. A moan sounded behind him, and a second form rushed forward from the darkness to latch onto one of her legs. Seconds later and the darkness of the warehouse was alive with the sounds of running feet. The others were coming to feed.
Sickened, Will fought to escape the sight, and for a moment he panicked. Several terrible seconds passed before he regained his wits and thought to send his focus elsewhere. Janice. The world shifted and changed, and then he was once more back in his bedroom.
Janice still watched over him, though her expression seemed to have calmed. Will stared at his body and rushed toward it, feeling resistance as he tried to enter. It might have delayed him under other circumstances, but his desperation was too fresh, too raw. Driving inward, he felt his flesh solidify around him, heavy and warm.
Sitting up suddenly, Will tried to stand and promptly fell over, collapsing onto the rug at the foot of the bed. Janice grabbed his shoulder to stabilize him as he began clambering to his feet, heedless of his lack of balance. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“They’re feeding,” he blurted out. “We have to go. Now.” He was upright now, though still unsteady as he started for the door.
Janice held onto his shoulder. “Wait, let’s think about this—”
He jerked free and kept moving. “There’s no time. She’s at the warehouse. They’re going to kill her, and then they’ll be everywhere.”
She chased after him as he stormed down the stairs to the ground level of the house. “Why?”
“Because her blood is a drug to them. It will send them into a frenzy. They’ve lost control.”
“The sun’s already down,” she protested. “There’s nothing we can do about it. If we go out into the streets, we’re liable to become victims too.”
“Stay here,” he told her. “It’s a big city and there probably aren’t enough for them to come this far. Actually, go to one of the buildings. Find some sorcerers.”
He passed Blake on his way to the door. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“She’ll explain,” said Will curtly, throwing open the door. Rob stood outside, his hand raised to knock, an expression of surprise on his face.
“Will! I found out—”
“Sorry,” said Will as he pushed past his friend, breaking into a run.
“You aren’t even wearing your armor!” shouted Blake from the house, but Will ignored him. He had his brigandine vest on, and that would have to be enough.
Focusing his turyn, he increased his stamina and speed, allowing him to sprint across the campus at an impressive rate. He took note of his surroundings as he ran. It was dark now, the sun was down, and dusk was almost done, leaving only the faintest hint of light on the horizon. The sky was clear, though, with a crescent moon and