So, this is how it all ends? Stuck on a table in some dingy basement with a so-called friend watching in the background. Unsure of what I am still and loving vampires and a wolf. I let out a sigh and wait for the inevitable. With each passing second, I feel the life flowing out of me into the tube.
“Is her blood ready to transport?” Someone calls out from the corner to the old woman.
I make myself open my eyes for the last time to see her. I search for any remorse or empathy in her face, but she’s stone cold.
“Almost.” She stares into my eyes, waiting for the light to go out as she holds her hand up to whoever wanted my blood.
The door burst open, and I hear a commotion coming from behind the old woman. The high pitch screaming hurt my ears, and then I listen to a voice I know. They’ve come to save me.
“Stand back,” Ivor yells.
The old woman holds up her hands and steps away from me, “It’s too late.”
Hunter’s at my side first as Ivor handles the man that put the needles in me. The screams in the room die down. I’m trying my best to stay awake.
“I’m going to switch this P. Hang in there.” Hunter’s voice is soft in my ear.
Someone is quickly taking off all of my restraints. I don’t have enough energy to open my eyelids anymore as the vampire blood takes over.
“How do we switch this?” I could swear I hear Arthur’s voice in a panic.
“Here,” Finley calls out, and I hear clicking noises around me.
My breathing becomes shallow, and it takes every effort I have for each one. My head is foggy, and every inch of me is calling out in pain. My muscles twitch, and my veins throb.
“It’s reversed, Penelope. Hang in there.” Finley is at my head, and his arm wraps around me. His lips kiss the side of my face before he rests his forehead on mine. “We’re going to get you out of this. You just need to keep going until more of your blood is back inside of you.”
I manage a slight nod to reassure him I’m not wanting to go anywhere. His breath on my cheeks makes me want to fight harder.
“I’m not leaving you’re side.” He whispers in my ear.
“It's working.” I hear Arthurs voice. “The vampire blood bag is filling up.”
“Not much longer,” Finley whispers.
“How will we know if it gets rid of just the vampire blood?” Ivor asks, and I feel his hand wrap around mine.
I feel a jolt of energy, it doesn’t last long, but there’s a switch inside my body. I attempt to lift my fingers off the table, and it takes little effort. I open my eyes and see all the brothers around the table.
“Penelope?” Ivor touches my cheek as I move my head to see him. His eyes are watery, and he tries to hide that from his brother.
“It’s working.” I push the words out. My throat is raw and red.
“Did they get her blood?” I hear Clark ask as he enters the room. He rushes to my side. His eyes are large, and his mouth drops when he sees my condition.
“No.” Hunter says, “but they pumped her full of vampire blood.”
Clark shakes his head as he sees the surrounding restraints. “How did this happen? You were just supposed to go to the car.”
“Una.” I use all my extra energy to get her name out.
All the boy's glance to the back of the room, where the group of people are being handcuffed and led out of the room.
“I didn’t see her when we came in,” Ivor says to the group.
I take a big breath in as I feel my body heal, and the pain lessens. I creak my neck to the side to get a view of Clark, who stands back from the table as the Stanton boys surround me. His face is still pale, and his eyes are red.
“Clark.” I take my hand from Ivor and reach out to Clark.
He’s hesitant at first, but steps forward to take it. The Stanton boys all leave to give us a moment.
“If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have sent you out there alone. I thought it was safe.” His hand softly touches the top of my head and runs over my hair.
“I know.” I offer him a smile and rest my hand on his arm. I want him to tell me what’s wrong with him, but I don’t want to ruin this moment. I hate when he’s mad at me. I absolutely cannot stand it.
“I couldn’t tell you about the blood. No one else knew.” He blurts out, and his shoulders set in, in a sign of relief.
“I don’t understand.”
“Your blood is unusual. When you were in prison, we tested it. The first night you came in.” He takes a pause, “it leaked in the secret council. More proof it’s all falling apart.”
“But Una was working with us?” I still can’t wrap my brain around her betrayal. My first best friend and everything was a lie. She had no issues standing feet away from me when I was about to die.
“That’s a shock to me too. I would have never put you with her if I’d known. She was vetted properly.”
“Can you help me up? I think I’m ready.”
Clark places one hand under my head and grabs my hand to hoist me in a seating position. The Stanton boys, who kept an eye on me from a distance, come over as soon as they see me sitting.
“Take it easy,” Finley shoots an annoyed look at Clark. “She needs to rest.”
“I asked him, and no one is resting on a hard table.” I gently feel my forehead, where most of my pain is coming from. “She gave me a good one.”
“She’s long gone,” Hunter says as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “They are all minions.” He nods toward the people chained in the
