Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“I always envied your taste.” I rest my cheek against the dress for a moment.
I wander out of her rooms and past the piano, which I now know belonged to Theo. I’d burn it right along with my dress if I could, watch it crackle and spark until it was nothing but cinders and melted strings. I won’t get the chance.
Slowly, I climb back to the bedroom level and stand at the top railing. The castle falls away below me, level after level, each one slightly jutting out farther than the one above it. The black stone wall, smooth and cold, lies just beyond. I never managed to explore any deeper than the level where Gorsky ambushed me. If there’s anything else lurking in the lower darkness, I suppose it will be the first to find me.
Gazing down, I realize I’ll need to launch myself as hard as I can to clear the piano level. That should give me enough of a fall to kill me. I have to hope I die on impact, but if I don’t, I’ve accepted that fate. I might suffer, but it won’t be for long. It won’t be anything compared to what Valen did to Juno, what he’ll do to me if I stay here, locked in this castle.
I want to be brave and strong. I’m not. I’m scared as I look down into the blackness, my heart thundering, blood rushing. But I’m also resolved. It has to end now. All of it. I won’t be a pawn for the vampires any longer.
With shaking hands, I grab the railing and throw first one leg over, then clamber onto the thin ledge on the other side of the rail. It’s just enough for me to stand using the sides of my feet. Holding on, I lean forward and try to gauge my jump. It’ll take a hard launch, but I’m pretty sure I have enough strength to make it past the next railing. Not much more than that, though. It has to be enough.
Unbidden tears roll down my cheeks, and fear mixes with self-preservation, both screaming at me to climb back over.
My muscles don’t want to obey as I crouch against the rail. I release one hand, only hanging on by one now. My body trembles, vertigo making everything below me appear so much farther away. I close my eyes and breathe in deep.
I hope I’m forgiven just as I hope Juno and Melody are forgiven. Just as Vince hoped he was forgiven.
Bending my knees, I get as low as I can, then spring forward into the open air, into the freedom of death.
18
Recovered Journal of Dr. Georgia Clark
February 3, Year 1, Emergence Era
I’ve always been hopeful but not like this. A new lab, tons of supplies, every single scientific device for epidemiology at my fingertips! I’m giddy. This is it. I can feel it. This is where we make history and save lives. Somebody pinch me!
Iget clear of the piano and the landing below, the fall so quick yet impossibly long. Hurtling down, I close my eyes.
That’s when he grabs me.
The sudden jolt rattles my teeth, and I taste blood where I’ve bitten my tongue. I scream, pain flaming to life in my shoulder. Dislocated from the hard stop.
“What the fuck?” Valen roars and pulls me over the rail, his grip on my arm so strong that my bones ache. “What do you think you’re doing?” He shoves me back into the wall, his blue eyes wide as he stares down at me.
“Just let me go,” I whimper.
“Never!” He leans down until his gaze is level with mine. “I will never let you out of my grasp, little rabbit. You are mine. This body, mine! Your life belongs to me! You will not harm yourself!” he bellows.
“It doesn’t matter.” I meet his glare. “I’ll just do it again. Or something else. Anything to get away from you.”
He takes in a deep breath, his jaw tense as he breathes it slowly out his nose. Then he says, his tone cold and even, “First you want to kill me, but now you’ve changed your mind?”
“I can’t kill you.” I wince as he leans into me, the force of his fury like a blow.
“You’re wrong about that, as you are about most things.” He bares his teeth. “Never try something like this again.”
“Fuck you!” I scream and shove at him, kicking and flailing, anything to get him away from me.
He takes it all, even when I manage to get a hand up and slap him right across his goddamn face. He doesn’t so much as flinch.
I rage and rail against him until my body gives out, my impotent anger burning up like kindling. My shoulder aches, my busted arm hanging limp, and I have an empty feeling inside me. Hollowed out from what I tried and failed to do. I’m still alive. I don’t want to be.