Chapter 129

Almara’s Pov

I keep still in place, waiting for whoever this is in front of me to say more. When the awkward silence progresses on for a second too long, I begin to formulate a hopefully non-identifying greeting.

“Yes, sorry I had to go to the bathroom for like the past hour.” I scoot past the tall blond man as though to resume my duties, which I suppose technically I am. “I’m going to clean the councilmen chambers now.” I say, not knowing if the servants here usually announce their duties.

“That’s all right. I’ll do it.” The man says, perhaps a bit too eagerly. This is the only indication I have this might be Bess, still better to be safe than sorry.

“No, I insist.” I say with more determination.

“I’ll help you, then.” The man says.

“Fine.” I agree, anything to get this moving along. So long as I gather the cups. We fall into step and head towards the large double black doors, the ticking of a clock somewhere suddenly filling the silence.

We push open the doors and must have interrupted some serious conversation between the councilmen as they look as us with annoyed surprise and cut their conversation short.

“Claire and Donovan,” Edward greets with no warmth in his tone. “Make your business quick.” He instructs us. I intend to. Both Donovan, who also may be Bess in disguise, and me go instantly to clear the emptied cups sitting on their high desk.

It’s almost the confirmation I need to know for sure that this is indeed Bess, and by the quick glance Donovan’s eyes give me, I think that same is true for her. Perhaps that’s why ‘Donovan’ greeted me the way he did, to see how I would respond.

I go to grab one of the cups and just as my hand is about to grasp the stem of the glass, a bony hand snatches it before I can. “Just a moment.” Edward says, taking the cup and tilting his head back so he can drain the last of the drops. As disturbing his slurping is, it’s also the sweet sound of more spit contact on that cup.

He pulls the glass away from his mouth, though a singular drop of the dark liquid rolls down the side which Edward happily licks up with is tongue. Perfect.

“Should there be any left in the kitchen, you have got to try it. Nothing like spicy blood.” Edward says, suddenly having a child-like glow in his eyes. I have no idea what spicy blood is and I don’t intend to find out, but I mutter a thank you and take the glass out of his hands.

We pretend to do some other cleaning such as dusting, pushing in chairs, straightening the black lace doily’s for a mere ten minutes, each moment that passes is filled with the agonizing anxiety that the real Donovan may walk in.

Just then, I get an overwhelming inkling that this spell is about to wear off. I straighten up from my pretend duties and lock eyes with Bess, something tells me she got the same feeling. We both make for the door when we hear one of the councilmen call out.

“Hang on a moment,” Delfino says. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Bess and I exchange looks of uncertainty. Whatever we’re forgetting I wish Delfino would just tell us. I’m getting this odd tingling sensation in my spine and the ends of my hair are loosing their red vibrancy as they fade to my natural color.

I use my free hand to toss my hair behind my shoulder. “What is it Your Greatness?” I ask, though what happens next is not a response from one of the councilmen. Instead a shattering of glass echoes throughout the large space.

All heads turn to see to source of the noise, which we all quickly learn is Donovan or rather Bess. She’s transforming back to herself. She dropped the glass that contained one of the councilmen’ spit along with the cleaning products.

We all take a moment to watch as her body folds over itself while she shrinks to her short statue, her once blond hair now fading to gray, her skin gaining a warmth that was lacking in Donovan and instead being replaced by her deep wrinkles.

“Go!” I hear her shout and instantly I know this message is for me.

“Seize them!” I think Delfino calls out, but my back is already turned and I race through the doors. I have to at least get outside before I transform so I can safely set down the only glass we have left.

Before I slam the door behind me, I catch a glimpse of one of the vampires grabbing Bess and pulling her away. I scream, but my voice is drowned out by a blaring alarm system.

I sprint down the hall, the tingling in my spine growing to an overpowering sensation. I grit my teeth and push onwards. I have to make it out of here. I repeat this over and over like a mantra keeping Arthur and Grace as a steadfast vision.

Finally, I reach the door that leads me out of here. I yank it open, but the door doesn’t budge. It’s locked. I pull again as if that’ll make a difference, but the door doesn’t budge. I’m met with this splitting headache that makes me shut my eyes and double over in pain.

Remembering the glass in my hand, I very gently set it down just as my vision begins to blur.

“There she is!” I hear someone call and I know I failed. I can’t even see whose going to capture me as the pain in my head increases and the rest of my body adjusts to the changes. I can’t see what’s going on, but I sense a bright light pouring inside the building.

Someone yanks my arm and I’m tripping over my feet trying to keep up with whoever has me.

Just as quickly the pain came on, it begins to lessen. I regain my vision and see it’s Robert whose pulling me to keep up with him. Relief crashes over me, especially as I see he has the cup in his hand. We don’t speak, we keep running.

Eventually we cut a corner and scurry into an alley way. As we catch our breathe I watch as Robert wraps up the cup in some white sheet that looks like cloth. “What are you doing?” I ask.

“It’s to preserve any DNA that’s on an object.” Rober raises his eyes to meet mine. “Including saliva. I bought it while you and Bess we’re in there. Speaking of which where is she?”

I don’t expect it, but a surge of hot tears flood to my face. “I don’t know what they’re going to do with her.” I say. Robert locks his jaw and nods, but doesn’t say anything. “We have to get out of here.” I say even though I don’t want to leave Bess, it’s what she would want. When she told me to ‘go’, I know she was referring to go back to Arthur.

It’s what I would want her to do if I was in her situation. Robert nods in agreement and tucks the glass in his jacket pocket. “Well, we can’t go back the way we came. They’ll have shut down the boats and be looking for us.”

I think of Roman, but I convince myself he’s a smart man. He can get out of here just like we can. We can do this.