Page 87 of Love Bleeds

Jared nodded. He gave me a long look, and then he got up from his chair. "All right," he said. "But we're not going unprepared."

"What do you mean?"

"Remy and Elena have been busy stocking up our arsenal."

"Stakes?" I asked. "We're not going to be fast enough to use those." Vampires were so much stronger and quicker than us, we weren't going to get anywhere with close-range weapons. I'd learned that lesson the hard way.

"Maybe if they can see what's coming," Jared agreed, "but we have some flash grenades too. Also, deodorant and lighters."

"That's actually kind of brilliant."

Jared gave me a smile and gestured for me to follow him out of the room. I went after him to inspect our new arsenal, hoping beyond hope that I wasn't actually going toneedany of these weapons.

* * *

Vlad showed up exactly on time--and what was more, he came alone. I’d had no idea what he looked like, but I knew it was him the moment my eyes settled on him. It wasn’t his pale skin or his jet black hair, or even the long black coat—although all of that certainly contributed. There was just something about the way he held himself, the way he moved, that screamedvampire.

As he came closer, he eyed the two of us with a curious expression. I almost kind of expected him to say something about the fact that I had brought back-up, but he didn't seem the least bit concerned by Jared's presence. He had one hand in his long coat's pocket, and one gripping a heavy-looking black bag.

My eyes immediately fixed on the bag.

That had to be the things I needed.

"Nice to meet you again, for the first time," Vlad said.

He didn't offer me his hand and I didn't offer mine either. "Nice to meet you too," I said, awkwardly. Small-talk had never been my strong-suit, especially not when meeting with paranormal creatures who I'd told to break into my school.

I was still better than Jared, though, who stood by my side without saying anything, his expression completely stony.

We must have made a lovely picture.

Focus on what matters,I told myself.

"Did you... uh... did you get everything?"

Vlad held the bag up. "I didn’t have too much trouble." He glanced at his loot and then back at me. "You’re certain you can make a bomb from this?"

I nodded.

"And you trust me to place it where you need it?"

"I..." I flustered, because I hadn't even thought of what else Vlad might do with a bomb.

"Relax," Vlad said. "I was only curious how far you’ve thought this through. I don’t intend to betray you."

I swallowed and nodded again. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something about Vlad that made me nervous. It wasn't just that he was a vampire either. I couldn't read auras the way my brother could, but there was something....emanatingfrom Vlad anyway. An overwhelming sense of darkness.

He was more powerful than Nicolai.

I wasn't sure how I knew that, but I knew it.

"Why do you need my help?" I made myself ask. As nervous as Vlad made me, and as much as I just wanted to take my things and get away from him, I couldn't put a lid on my ever-inquisitive mind.

Because this didn't make sense, did it?

Why would a powerful vampire like Vlad need help from someone like me?

Why couldn't he take Nicolai out by himself?