Page 100 of Her Darkest Possession

The bullets crack overhead like rubber bands snapping against the wall, only a thousand times louder. I duck, and pull Amara down with me.

"We can't stop!" Vassily shouts, still carrying Svetlana. "Almost there!"

We rush forward, staying low.

"Miels!" Amara screams as a bullet whizzes past, so close I feel the hot air brushing against my cheek.

Finally, we reach a wall. It looks completely ordinary—nothing to indicate it houses a panic room behind it. Vassily sets Svetlana down and punches numbers into a pad that's hidden behind an otherwise ordinary looking light switch cover.

Svetlana grunts as she pushes herself up to a better position and keeps her gun trained on the hallway behind us.

A mechanical click sounds. The wall swings inward, and reveals a steel door behind it with another keypad.

I can't help but think about the absurdity of needingtwosets of codes to get into the panic room. If the Volkovs were any faster, we might be dead by now.

Don't think about that, we're not out the woods yet.

Vassily punches another code into the second keypad, and this door slides open with a pneumatic hiss to reveal the panic room.

The large panic room has reinforced steel walls and basic, practical furniture. There are multiple monitors that show the security feeds throughout the mansion. Below them is a console that I can only assume is used to switch the numerous views.

Boxes line the walls, and there is enough dry food and supplies to last us for days. Vassily drags Svetlana in. Amara and I quickly follow.

He taps a code into another door, and it unlocks, revealing a closet filled with an arsenal of guns. Everything from rifles to handguns and guns that I can't even begin to name.

He grabs several and starts passing them out to all of us.

Svetlana accepts a rifle, and expertly checks it. Amara and I receive a handgun each and I look down at it stupidly.

I don't know how to fire a gun.

As for Vassily, he grabs a rifle off the rack and rushes out of the panic room.

"I'm locking this door behind me," he says. "Don't open it for anyone. If they don't know the code, it's a trap."

"Where are you going?" I reach for him.

He places his hand on my shoulder and pushes me back into the room. "I made a promise to Tolya to keep you safe, Indigo Malcolmovna. And that's exactly what I'll do."

"No!" I grab Vassily's arm before he can leave. "You can't go out there alone. Stay here where it's safe."

"I can't," he says firmly, prying my hand from his sleeve. "I have a duty to protect this house and everyone in it."

"If you go out there, you'll die!" My voice cracks on the last word. Despite everything, I don't want to lose him.

Svetlana pushes herself up from where she's slumped against the wall. "I'm coming with you," she announces, her voice strained but determined.

Vassily just smiles sadly. "Sveta, you're in no condition to fight. Besides..." He gestures toward Amara and me. "They'll need someone here who knows what they're doing."

The look in his eyes—resigned, almost peaceful—makes my stomach drop. He's not planning on coming back.

"Wait!" I call out as he turns to leave. "Please, just wait."

Vassily pauses at the doorway, his hand on the frame. "There's no time, Indigo."

I rush forward, throwing my arms around him. "Thank you," I whisper against his chest. "Thank you for helping us."

He stiffens, clearly stunned by the gesture. Slowly, awkwardly, his arms come up to return the hug.