Inferno

Cassie’s lips parted at his words. It was not the fact that he planned to destroy the people that had tortured them that surprised her, but the fact that he would stop killing for her. “You would really stop killing?” she breathed.



He stared at her for a long moment, confusion and hurt flickered briefly through his eyes. “I would do anything for you Cassie.”



She inhaled sharply, tears burned her eyes. She ached for his unhappiness. “Julian...”



He held a hand up, shaking his head. “I know Cassie. I’ve always known that you would choose him, that he was where your heart belonged. It doesn’t mean that my feelings for you will change though.”



Cassie managed a small nod, her gaze darted behind him to the covered window. “I never meant to hurt you.”



He quirked an eyebrow, the familiar amusement played over his features again. “Don’t get ahead of yourself there princess.”



“Don’t call me princess,” she responded automatically.



He grinned at her, flashing his perfect white teeth. “Your wish is my command.”



“That’s even more annoying.”



He laughed softly, a small rumbling sound that reverberated through his chest and warmed her to the tips of her toes. She was immensely relieved that he still wanted to speak with her, that he did not hate her, and that he could stay her friend. “Thank you Julian.”



He frowned at her, shifting uncomfortably. “For what?” he demanded gruffly.



She smiled over his discomfit, taking some pleasure in aggravating him as much as he liked to aggravate her. “For keeping me sane, for being there for me, for being my friend.” He scowled at her for a moment before turning his attention back to the window. “And for not ripping my throat out the first chance you had.”



He laughed softly as he turned back to her. “Well, the night is still young.”



Cassie grinned at him, moving closer to lean against the wall on the other side of the window. She moved the curtain aside to peer out at the dark street. Nothing moved but the street lights, apparently on a timer, had come on. Their light cast shadows across the road, it spilled into the darkly lit woods.



“Thank you also Cassie.”



She poked her head back out from behind the curtain to look at him. “For what?”



He grinned at her, wiggling his eyebrows comically. “For keeping me sane, for being my friend. For making Dani come back for me.”



She looked at him surprise. “How did you know about that?”



He shook his head as he rolled his eyes. “Blondes,” he muttered, though he smiled kindly at her. “You and Dani did have to touch me to help get me out of there.”



“Oh,” she said dully, a small flush staining her cheeks. “Then you already knew everything that Dani told us about what was going on in there, and what they wanted with us before we got here. Why would you threaten to take the knowledge out of her forcefully?”



He shook his head, his hand clenching slightly on the curtain. “I didn’t already know what she knew. I can’t read two people at once, it’s too overwhelming. And since I can’t stand that bitch, I concentrated on you instead. You also kept hold of me for a lot longer than she did.”



Cassie nodded slowly as she digested this information. “I see.”



He was silent for a moment, his eyes dark and distant. “I’m not sure I can promise anything when it comes to her either.”



“She got us out of there,” she reminded him.



“She helped to put us in there,” he retorted.



Cassie was silent for a moment, torn between her desire to get even with Dani for her actions, and her desire not to see her hurt. At one time she had thought of Dani as a little sister, she had cared for her, and she had been betrayed because of that trust. But she still could not bring herself to let the girl get hurt. “No Julian, Dani will get hers in the end, but we won’t be the ones to give it to her. Besides, we may need her still.”



He grunted softly as he folded his arms over his chest, looking completely disgruntled by her answer. “Are we staying here all night?” she asked softly.



“That’s the plan.”



“If you want to get some sleep, I’ll keep watch for awhile.”



He shook his head, leaning against the wall again. “I’m fine.”



Cassie nodded, resting her head against the wall as she studied the street. Though they had spent every night in their cells talking endlessly, they both remained quiet while on watch. The moon moved across the snow, its light illuminated the street even more. Cassie shifted slightly, she pulled on the edges of the over large sweatshirt she had found in the back, along with a pair of work jeans.



“Did you know they were giving me your blood?” she asked softly after awhile.



Julian tore his attention away from the window. “I suspected,” he admitted.



She gaped at him for a moment. “Why didn’t you tell me?”



He shook his head, his platinum hair falling across his forehead. “You had enough to worry about in there without me adding to it, especially when I wasn’t certain.”



She bit on her bottom lip, turning back to the window. “How did you know?”



“The discoloration in your arm, it’s what happens when vampire blood is introduced into the human system.”



“I’m not human.”



“You’re more human than not.”



“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Cassie jumped slightly, turning in surprise as Devon emerged from the darkness. He strode purposely forward, the shadows hugging his powerful frame. Her mouth went dry, her heart thumped loudly at the sight of him. He was the most magnificent thing she had ever seen, and he was hers. She glanced swiftly away, her eyes focusing on the floor as she tried to get her body under control. Julian may understand where she belonged, but she didn’t want to rub her relationship with Devon in his face.



Devon’s arms encircled her, wrapping around her waist as he pulled her against his chest. He stared hard at Julian for a moment before bending to drop a gentle kiss on top of her head. Apparently he didn’t care what Julian thought, or how it affected him. “You should be asleep.”



“I slept all day,” she reminded him.



“Hmm.” He nuzzled her gently for a moment before pulling slightly away. “Has there been anything out there?”



“Not in a long time,” Julian answered.



Devon turned toward him, his hands tightened on Cassie’s waist for a moment. She could feel the tension humming through him as he watched Julian. Devon was still uncertain what to make of him, uncertain how to handle this change in events, or if he should trust him. Cassie wanted to tell him once again that he could trust Julian now, but Devon had to come about this in his own way, on his own terms. They had once been good friends; she hoped that they could get that friendship back.



Minus the murder, destruction, and women that had once bonded them, of course.



Cassie shifted slightly acutely aware of the fact that she was now surrounded by two of the most powerful men on the planet. Men that could destroy each other if she wasn’t careful. Sensing her distress, Devon pressed tighter against her, gently rubbing her back as he tried to soothe her.



“You can get some sleep if you want,” he said to Julian.



Julian shook his head, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “I’m good.”



Cassie turned back to the window, pulling the curtain aside. Devon leaned over top of her, his chin resting on her head. “How long are we going to stay here for?” she asked quietly.



“We’ll gather things tomorrow, leave tomorrow night,” Devon answered.



Cassie shifted uncomfortably, hating the idea of being cooped up in here for that long. “Why so long?”



“Everyone needs a rest, including you.” She chose to ignore the censure in his words, and Julian’s soft chuckle. She wanted them to be friends she didn’t want them gaining up on her though. “Plus, we need to formulate a plan, and exhausted overwhelmed people do not think well.”



“The same with vampires,” she retorted.



She felt his smile as he rested his cheek against her hair. “Yes, and vampires.”



Cassie leaned into him, savoring in his strength. She was never going to leave his side again, it didn’t matter if he thought it would be best for her, she would not do it. “You can’t send me away again,” she said softly. “Even if it is for my own good.”



He body tensed against hers. “I won’t,” he promised.



“Ever.”



“Ever.”



She turned slightly toward him, searching his intense emerald eyes. She saw the sincerity in his gaze, read the determination in the hard lines of his face. “Good.”



He smiled wanly at her, kissing the tip of her nose. Cassie grinned back at him, wishing that she could kiss him for much longer than that, but knowing that she couldn’t. Her gaze darted to Julian, a momentary wave of guilt crashed over her. Whenever she was around Devon, she forgot all sense of reason, and everything around her. Including Julian. And although his face remained impassive, she could sense the strain in his body. The last thing in the world she wanted was to hurt him further.



She turned slowly back to the window, guilt eating at her. Devon rubbed her back gently as he leaned around her to pull the curtain back further. “Where are they all?” he murmured.



“Somewhere up to no good,” Julian answered.



They continued to watch the road, the moon moving over the horizon as an hour slipped past. Cassie’s feet began to ache; her back grew sore from standing for so long. She leaned harder against Devon, needing to ease some of the pressure on her already wounded feet. “Want me to get you a chair?”



She shook her head, not wanting to move out of his arms for even a moment. She was opening her mouth to speak when Devon stiffened against her, just as Julian’s head whipped to the right. Cassie tensed in anticipation, leaning forward to pull the curtain back further. Devon seized hold of her hand, stopping it in mid air.



“Don’t move,” he hissed.



Cassie froze, her heart thumped loudly, her breath froze in her lungs. Julian and Devon were as still as stone, their eyes focused outside. Cassie was afraid to speak, but she was dying to know what was going on. Devon released the curtain slowly, pulling it back into place with barely any movement. He pulled her back a step, his arms tightening around her.



Then she heard it. The breath exploded from her as her heart leapt wildly in her chest. All three of their heads tilted back as a scurrying noise rattled across the roof, coming from the back to the front. It paused halfway across the roof. She waited tensely, adrenaline coursing through her as she waited to see what the thing was up to, what it was going to do.



A loud crash echoed from above, it reverberated through the room. Cassie jumped in shock, Liam jolted awake his eyes were wide as he searched the darkness wildly. The lantern she had set on the shelf vibrated toward the edge, tilting precariously. Julian moved silently and swiftly, catching hold of it before it clattered to the floor.



Cassie stared at him in wide eyed amazement as he settled it on the floor. Another crash reverberated through the building, causing Cassie’s breath to hitch in her chest. The windows shook loudly. Devon’s arm tightened upon her, pulling her back another small step as the scurrying resumed toward the front of the building.



He glanced sharply at Julian, nodding toward the back. Julian moved as silently as a wraith toward the back of the store. Liam took a step toward them, his hands fisting as his gaze remained focused on the roof. Another loud bang echoed from the back of the store.



Cassie jumped as Devon pulled her back another step. “Move slowly,” Devon whispered in her ear, his voice just barely audible, even to her.



The three of them crept toward the back as something scurried loudly over the roof again. A series of loud grunts and shouts echoed forth. Though they had once been human, Cassie could not help but see the creatures as anything more than apelike monsters now. She hated herself for it, but she knew that she was going to have to keep that attitude if she was going to be of any use against them.



They finally reached the back room. Liam hurried to Annabelle’s side, wrapping her in his arms. Everyone was awake and on their feet, staring up at the ceiling as another thumping crash shook the building. “Do they know we’re here Chris?” Cassie asked softly.



He shook his head, his eyes dark and troubled, his face pinched in concentration. “There’s no reason to them,” he whispered. “There’s nothing but confusion and hunger and destruction. I cannot tell what they do and do not know, or what they want, other than blood.”