Marcus could feel the sedative slowly wearing off, but the pain wasn’t. He knew his time was limited. Most interrogations only lasted twenty-four to seventy-two hours before all the necessary information was gathered and the subject of the interrogation was no longer of any value.

This was no different. By the time Goff had dragged Marcus’s limp body from the trunk of whatever car brought him to this cold and empty warehouse, he’d known what this was. They’d pumped him for any information he’d willingly give up earlier that night at the bar, but now it was time to extract any remaining unwilling secrets from him.

They hung him from the high ceiling with a steel chain attached to silver bonds around his wrists to the point where his feet dangled in the air. The silver burned his wrists as his own body weight slowly caused the chains to cut through skin and muscle.

After stringing him up, Goff and Rok disappeared. During this period of solitude and pain, Marcus put all of his focus into moving his useless body. At first it was only a toe, but after much struggling, he was able to twitch his legs slightly, and periodically he’d grab onto the steel chain and hoist himself up to temporarily lessen the agony of his silver bonds.

However, any relief gained was short-lived because his muscles were still not strong enough to hold him for long.

His mind raced as he tried to think of some way to break the chain in his weakened state. Normally he’d break his thumbs to get out of the cuffs, but the silver was too deeply embedded into his skin for him to wiggle out, even if he did have dislocated thumbs.

As hopes for an escape waned, he held on to the belief that Gena had gotten out okay. She was smarter than Kilk ever was, and she had several talents that he didn’t know about. If, God forbid, he did kill her, Marcus had to believe that she’d wake up, just as she had twice before.

He couldn’t even entertain the possibility that he’d failed her again. It had never made any sense for someone as pure and innocent as Mary or Gena to die because of a monster like him. He had done horrible things in his centuries on this earth. It made sense for him to die.

Rok walked back into the room with Goff and another hugely muscled man with a bald head completely covered with black markings. The tattoos swirled over his eyelids, nose and mouth, and even continued below the collar of his shirt.

“I see you are quite taken with his tattoos,” said Rok in a pleasant voice, as though they were meeting for a casual dinner. Marcus remained silent. “Well, you wouldn’t know this, but where I’m from, every mark tells a story. His markings signify that he is Death come calling.”

Well, that didn’t sound good.

“This doesn’t have to end in death, though. My original offer still stands. You can work with us and we can rule together.”

Marcus coldly stared ahead. No matter what pretty promises came from Rok, Marcus knew that the man had no intention of ever letting him leave this warehouse alive.

Rok seemed to know Marcus wasn’t going to be fooled so easily, as he quickly changed tactics. “Very well. I’ll leave you with Death for a few hours and see if you’d rather have a conversation then, and don’t bother pretending that you can’t talk. I know you should at least be able to move your mouth by now. If you’re really strong, you might be able to wiggle a few toes.”

Marcus carefully masked his surprise. He could move a lot more than a few toes, but apparently that wasn’t normal. The memory of the sweet taste of Gena’s blood filled his brain. Her blood had healed him of his wounds sustained from the vampires outside the Tower. It must still be in his system and fighting off whatever toxin he had been injected with.

As Death approached him, a sharp silver blade in one hand and a hammer in the other, Marcus couldn’t contain a small smile.

––––––––

––––––––

Gena’s eyes snapped open and her body shot off the bed. She looked cautiously around her, and the memories of the prior night slowly came back to her. She was trapped in here and needed to get out, she remembered, but how did she fall asleep?

Though she’d been exhausted, she couldn’t imagine that would cause her to pass out like she had. For all she knew, Vlad had drugged her, though she had no idea how. Screw it. It didn’t matter what they gave her. She was still not sticking around any longer. I’m getting the hell out of here.

After quickly checking to see that the door was still locked, she picked up the tacky red chair next to the vanity and with all her might, slammed the metal chair against the locked door. The wood of the door barely budged, but Gena kept on slamming against the door.

After a good few minutes, her breath came in short pants and she had to set the chair down for a breather.

“It won’t work,” came a soft feminine voice from behind her.

Gena shrieked and jumped to face the voice, holding the chair in front of her as a makeshift weapon. “Who the fuck are you?”

Gena took in the sight of the beautiful woman who stood toward the back of the room. Gena couldn’t be certain, but she had a feeling this woman wasn’t human. Her straight blonde hair hung neatly down to her waist over a stunning white dress that only accentuated the dark brown of her eyes.

Though at first glance the dress looked beautiful, under closer inspection, Gena realized that the dress itself was really plain. She couldn’t identify the material; it hung sensuously like silk but looked soft and light like cotton. There was no complicated pattern or intricate beading. The dress would have looked horrible on anyone else. This woman’s beauty almost seemed to elevate everything around her.

“My name is Tabbris,” she said in that same soft voice. “You can bang on that door all you want, but it will not open without the key.”

“And how exactly did you get in here? Why don’t you just take me out that way?” asked Gena.

“I don’t travel by conventional means,” she said.

Gena slowly relaxed her arms. As strange as this woman was, Gena didn’t feel as though she was a threat at the moment. A sudden certainty struck her. “You’re an angel, aren’t you?” Tabbris nodded her head in agreement. “Where’s my mother?” asked Gena.

“Your mother is not allowed to have any contact with you.”

“That’s bullshit. My entire life was just ripped apart and she can’t even see me herself?” said Gena, with more venom than she intended.

“Anael broke the rules when she had you. There were bound to be consequences. It’s unfortunate you had to suffer those consequences, but that is the way of things,” said Tabbris with that same maddeningly monotone voice.

“So why are you here? Shouldn’t I be cut off from all angels?”

“No. You are only cut off from Anael. As for why I am here, well, there is a set path in which things are meant to happen and I am here to make sure that path is followed. Barring an earth-changing event, things must happen as planned.”

Gena couldn’t keep her bitterness from showing. “Why bother with me then? I was never supposed to exist. I don’t have a destiny.”

Tabbris tilted her head in confusion. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. My dear, not all destinies are a good one. Your father is a prime example. He was killed while protecting family and friends, but there was no fair maiden to cry for his sacrifice. That is what moved Anael so much. She hurt inside for a man who would give up so much, yet had never known true love.”

Gena took the moment to absorb the new information about her parents, but before she could respond, Tabbris continued, “Just because you do not have a destiny does not mean you cannot affect others. The original vampire war was destined to go on for decades. Marcus was meant to be one of the leaders of the anti-human side, but you changed that.

“Despite your lack of destiny, your death effectively ended the vampire war. Marcus was so consumed with anger and grief over the loss of a human that he switched sides and, along with Kirill, killed or converted all anti-human vampires. On top of that, Marcus would have died while fighting Kirill if you hadn’t been there to alter his perspective. Please don’t underestimate what you are capable of.”

“Is he destined to die now?” Gena’s voice shook.

“His destiny is as blank as yours. He was already supposed to be dead. I am capable of seeing many possible futures. I can tell you that in some of them he does die tonight. In others you are reunited. The reason I am here is to make sure that the right ending comes to pass.”

Gena narrowed her eyes. “If everyone has a destiny, why are there different outcomes? Shouldn’t everything be following this ‘set path’ without your help?”

As angry as Gena was, Tabbris didn’t seem to care. She just smiled. “If a pool of water lies undisturbed, the water will be perfectly still. If a leaf happens to fall from a tree to hit the surface of the water, the tiny ripples from that fall will reverberate through the whole pool. Well, thousands of years ago, a huge rock fell into your pool. I have been managing the consequences from that rock ever since.”

Gena had to ask, “What was the rock?”

“Your boyfriend,” answered Tabbris quickly. “All vampires. They were never meant to exist in your world. When they arrived, the entire path was forever altered and everyone’s destiny changed. The damage was irreparable.”

“So is it your job to kill all vampires?” asked Gena.

Tabbris shook her head. “No. As I said, a new path was created and the vampires around us are integral to that path. However, there has been a sudden increase of little pebbles hitting your metaphorical pool and I am here for damage control. I am not allowed to have direct interaction with humans but you are not wholly human, are you?”

Though Gena knew it was true, it still stung a bit to hear out loud. “You’re interacting with me because I’m some mystical loophole?”

“I am very sure I cannot correct the events approaching without some sort of vampire or human interaction. You are my way around the rules.”

Gena had no desire to help anyone affiliated with the mother who had abandoned her with no explanation of her supernatural heritage. “Why on earth would I help you?”

“You will help me because if things go the way I want, Marcus will survive.”

Silence stretched between the two women. Tabbris was filled with the cockiness of someone who knew she was going to get exactly what she wanted while Gena was overcome with the frustration of being pushed into far too many corners.

“You promise he’ll come back to me alive?” asked Gena.

“I promise nothing. There are no assurances, especially when so many stones are falling. I can promise that, barring no more surprises, he should make it out alive. However, you must follow my instructions, even when you don’t want to.”

Before Gena could agree or disagree, the door behind her opened. She turned to see two men she was unfamiliar with and a grumpy-looking Gareth. The two other men were a bit shorter than Gareth, but they both had a bit more muscle under their leather jackets than the eternally pissed-off guard. One had dark mahogany hair while the other had jet-black hair. They wore the same shirt and tie under their jackets, as if they were in uniform.

“Are you done beating the crap out of the door?” asked Gareth.

Gena’s brow furrowed. None of them seemed concerned about Tabbris being in the locked room as well. She looked back to confirm that Tabbris was still there.

The ethereal angel said softly, “They cannot see me unless I wish to reveal myself.”

Gena wanted to ask why she didn’t “wish” to reveal herself, but she just rolled her eyes at the crazy angel and didn’t out her to the three men who now probably thought Gena was the crazy one. A glance downward and Gena saw that her hands were still wrapped around the chair she’d used in her attempt to break down the door to escape the nightclub guarded by vampires.

Maybe she was the crazy one.

“The door is no longer in my way, so I don’t really need to beat it anymore. You, however, are in my way. Again,” she added with a malicious tone.

Gareth smiled at her threat. “I’m shaking in my boots, human.”

Gena shot his smart-ass smile right back at him. “Haven’t you heard? I’m not human. Maybe someday I’ll even tell you what I am, vampire.”

If Gena didn’t know better, she would’ve thought that Gareth’s sarcastic smile now resembled a genuine one. “Follow me,” he said abruptly and walked down the hallway, leaving her no choice but to follow or stay in the stupid room they’d locked her in. A quick glance behind her and she saw that Tabbris followed as well. “Vlad feels bad about locking you away so he had these two enforcers to pick up a present for you.”

Gena doubted Vlad felt bad about anything but was curious as to what gift he thought would make her feel better. Knowing that the two “enforcers” had just come back informed her they were human.

“Vlad can just let me go. That would be gift enough,” she said.

“I think you will appreciate this one,” muttered Gareth as he pushed open two double doors that led to a room Gena had never been in.

This room wasn’t like the one she’d been locked in. Where that room was meant for pleasure, this one was obviously intended for pain. There were various shackles on the walls and one bare wooden table with an assortment of restraints hanging from the sides.

One wall’s sole purpose was to hold assorted S&M-based toys and instruments. However, as distracting as all that was, her eyes were immediately drawn to the young man tied to a chair in the middle of the disturbing room.

“Ryan,” she whispered, recognizing him immediately.

His fearful eyes looked into hers at the sound of her voice, and against her better judgment, she felt bad for him. He’d been forcefully kidnapped and put into a room as intimidating as this. She knew he hadn’t gone peacefully because of the gash along his forehead and the slow stream of blood that trickled down his face.

Though she’d wanted him to suffer for what he’d done to her, it was shocking to see him so helpless and afraid. “What are you doing to him?”

Gareth eyed her curiously. “You told Vlad he could help us find Marcus. If we have his location before dusk, we can head out immediately at sunset with a rescue party.”

“I’m not helping any of you people,” shouted Ryan, seemingly unaware he was at a significant disadvantage at the moment.

Gena looked back to Tabbris; the angel met Gena’s eyes from across the room and gave her a slight nod of encouragement. This was something that was meant to happen.

Gena took a calming breath and approached Ryan cautiously. He was confined at the moment, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

“Ryan, I just need the smallest favor from you. I know you tracked me here by hiding your cell phone in my car. I just need to find that phone,” she said softly. She knew the vampires could hear her, but she wanted Ryan to focus on her and not the murderous others in the room.

Ryan’s terrified eyes darted between her and the three vampires. “Who are you? What are you?”

“I’m just Gena. I’m the same woman you’ve worked with for years. I promise you.” She purposely ignored the second question.

“Why do you glow?” He motioned to the three men. “They’re surrounded by gray but you and the other one are just glowing white.”

Gena looked over to Tabbris, whose expression remained the same. How could Ryan see her?

“You died. I saw you,” continued Ryan.

Gena nodded. “You killed me,” she reminded him, unable to hide the bitterness in her voice. “You’re right. I’m not entirely human, but what exactly gave you the right to do what you did to me? You came into my house without my permission and murdered me. You want mercy from me but have never given me any!” she said with rising passion.

“What are you?” he shouted.

“What the hell are you?” she countered. “Why can you see these things no one else can? Maybe you’re the abomination that should be killed.”

Gena felt a cold hand on her shoulder and jerked at the sudden contact. Tabbris stood close behind her. “Both of you are important,” she said in her serene voice. “Ryan is awakening to a world he doesn’t understand. Though you did not deserve the pain you suffered, his intentions were pure.”

Gena shrugged off Tabbris’s hand. “He’s a murderer!”

Gareth gave her a confused look. “Who are you talking to?”

Gena ignored him as Tabbris said, “He’s gifted. His mind was clouded for years by various poisons that filled his body. Now that they’re gone, he is finally seeing the world as it is. He needs your guidance. He could become a great asset to you in the future.”

“Don’t bullshit me. You know the future. Would he be a good asset or not?” asked Gena.

“What the fuck is going on?” asked Gareth.

“I’m conferencing with an angel who probably knows where Marcus is, but is being a bitch about it. She says that Ryan is important and shouldn’t be hurt,” she quickly recapped.

“I see possible futures. He could possibly be a great asset,” responded Tabbris.

“I don’t see anyone in the room,” said Gareth.

“She is right in front of me,” said an awestruck Ryan. “She is so beautiful. How can you not see her?”

“None of this matters if I can’t find Marcus!” shouted Gena to no one in particular. “Ryan, I’m begging you. You murdered me and I woke up in a strange body in my kitchen surrounded by blood. Marcus is the one who helped me when you destroyed my life. I owe it to him to repay the favor and you owe me this.

“One way or another, you will live, but keep this in mind. If Marcus dies because of you, I will dedicate the rest of my life to seeing that yours is a living hell. I dare you to test me,” she threatened.

The entire room fell silent as everyone looked to Ryan. After a tense pause, he said, “If you can get me a computer with Internet, I can find my phone.”