Chapter 52

“I know where you live,” he called after her.

Lilitha lurched to a stop.

“Where you work. Running will only make things worse for you—and for your friend. Clara, isn’t it?”

Lilitha’s heart was pounding.

“You run and I will hand her over to the ministry—where she belongs. Come with me now and we can avoid all that. She will be safe, I promise.”

Lilitha turned around. “I go with you, and you will hand her over anyway.”

“No.” He glanced over his shoulder. “We don’t have time for this. Come with me now. If you don’t, I promise you she’ll be in prison by sunup and you’ll be mine, willing or not.”

“I really hate you,” Lilitha said, rage-filled tears swelling in her eyes.

“Unsurprising.” He sheathed his sword and held out his hand. “Come. Come to me now.”

Lilitha’s mouth turned dry. She looked over her shoulder. When she turned back, he was gritting his teeth. “Or I swear to God, Lilitha…”

Her mind and body seemed to be fighting each other as Lilitha jerked toward him. His big hand clasped hers—and it sickened her. It made the vomit swell in her throat. It made her shake so much that her teeth were chattering.

She kept tripping over her feet as they hurried back down the alleyway together. Lilitha looked down at the murdered man in a kind of fog. Mandalay paused briefly to drag him farther into the shadows. It didn’t seem real. None of this ~was~ real. She must be dreaming.

Lilitha was staring at him numbly as he reached over and pulled her hood farther over her face. “You’re covered in blood. Conceal yourself better.”

This time he hooked his elbow through hers, keeping her tight by his side as they walked together at a brisk pace. Lilitha kept her eyes lowered to the pavement, watching their feet, trying her best to match her strides with his.

Tears were coursing down her face. Her body wouldn’t stop trembling. She kept sagging against him and he had to keep pulling her upright, holding her so tightly her shoulder was aching. Why did she have to be so weak and useless? She wished she had Mateus’s strength or Damon’s ferocity or Carmella’s confidence. She’d cut off his head. She’d bite out his throat. She’d drape what was left of him over a lamppost. Lilitha hissed between her teeth as she struggled against the urge to sob.

They turned away from the slums onto quieter, lonelier streets. The buildings on either side were shut and latched. Down another street and Mandalay slowed his pace, glancing left and right, elbow still hooked through Lilitha’s, his hand on the sword at his hip.

They approached an inn. A plaque with a picture of a large black dog sitting on its haunches, tongue lolling, paw raised in greeting, was perched at the top of the window.

The Black Hound.

“Keep quiet,” Mandalay hissed at her. “Keep your eyes to your feet.”

He pulled out a key and Lilitha moaned. It was so much like the last time that it sucked the strength right out of her legs. Out of her entire body. Her head lolled on her neck. Her knees bowed so heavily that Mandalay had to hoist her into his arms.

The sobs kept catching in her throat.

~Not again.~

“Shut up!” he hissed. “Remember what I said…”

Closing her eyes, Lilitha bore down upon her lungs, trying to drive the noises away. They were climbing stairs, his footsteps sounding as heavy as the last time. She imagined the landing the same as before. The door. The innkeeper and his candle.

Lilitha snapped open her eyes as he eased her feet to the floor. Grabbing her wrist, he unlocked the door. It creaked open. For a moment, she saw the same room. The same bed. The same bedside table. The window with its sashes pulled tight. Mandalay standing naked, grinning that lecherous grin.

Then she blinked and the room changed. This one was smaller, fit for only one person: single cot, wooden stool and a bucket of water awaited her. An unlit lantern sat in the far corner. The curtains were open, moonlight pouring within. This time Mandalay didn’t hurl her inside, tugging her over the threshold after him.

The door clicked shut.

He released her and Lilitha stumbled away from him. Panting, she braced herself up against the wall. For a long time, he stared at her, hair blue in the moonlight. His eyes were glittering like stars. Lilitha pulled her hood farther over her face.

“This will only be for a short while.” He nodded at the bucket. “It’s filled with water, and I have clean clothes for you.” He nodded toward the bed where they were folded up in a neat pile. “Fix yourself.” His mouth twisted. “I’ve got to go clean up the mess you’ve made.”

Lilitha clawed her fingers into the wall as her hands shook.

“Don’t make a noise,” he warned her. “If you escape—you know what will happen. Understood?”

Lilitha’s voice caught in her throat.

“~Understood~?”

She nodded. Her heart beat wildly as he glared at her. Then he shook his head, opened the door and left. She heard the key twist in the lock, then his departing footsteps. Lilitha sank to her backside with a sob.

It took a long time before she had strength enough to pull herself to her feet. The first thing she did was go to the door—but it was locked tight. The window was the same. Why she tried, she didn’t know. Mandalay didn’t need bars or locks to keep her trapped. He had Clara for that.

~Clara.~

Lilitha raised her face toward the ceiling as she fought against her tears. She must be wondering where she was. And what about morning when Lilitha didn’t show up? Clutching at her ears, Lilitha bent over with a moan. Then she fell into a crouch, pressing her face into her knees.

She tried to control her sobbing, but it wouldn’t stop coming. Over and over, her chest heaved. She fell back onto her bottom and lay upon the floor, stretched out upon her back. What was the point of anything anymore? Why did she bother trying so hard when everything turned to shit?

She wished she was back with the Diablons. She wished so hard for it.

For a terrible moment, she felt such a burning hatred toward Clara. It swept through her like a hot wave, taking her breath away and turning her eyes hot.

Appalled with herself, Lilitha rolled onto her belly, pressing her face hard into the wood. It hurt her hips. It hurt her nose.

Good.

Pain was good. She deserved it.

Releasing a shuddering breath, she closed her eyes.