Page 112 of Origins of Eternity

“Checking in,” she said to the man at the desk, handing him her ID.

“Credit card?”

“I booked with one.”

“Yes. I need to see it in person.”

“I don’t have it on me. It’s in my purse, which is in the car that ran out of gas earlier today, so I can’t get to it. I can read you the number, though.”

“Here,” Arwen said and put a credit card on the desk. “I had my wallet and phone on me when I went to the bathroom. They didn’t take it when…” She faded out.

“Thanks,” Zara replied.

“We can pick up your car and purse tomorrow, if you want.”

Zara nodded, and they checked in and headed to the third floor, where they walked down the hall in silence, carrying the plastic bag and nothing else, probably looking like two women who’d just met and wanted to find a hotel for sex for the night and not two lost vampires. She’d booked a room with two beds, at least, and when they walked in, Arwen took a container out of the bag, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtain. She then took a long drink, and it made Zara so incredibly sad.

“They have no idea.”

“Who?” Zara asked as she took her own container and sat on the end of the bed closest to the door.

“The people out there, walking to wherever it is they’re going with no idea that there are vampires out there.”

“Sounds like us not all that long ago.”

She took a drink but then tipped it back further because she needed more. It was gross compared to what she’d been drinking recently, but she was hungry, and she didn’t want to hurt people anymore, so animal blood had to be enough.

“I’m sorry, Zara.”

“What? What areyousorry for?”

“For bringing Iro into our lives.”

Zara turned, took another long drink, and set the container down on the desk meant for the business travelers that this hotel attracted.

“It’s not your fault, Arwen. You fell in love.”

“With a vampire,” Arwen replied.

“You had no idea. And you can’t exactly help who you fall in love with.”

“But Iro led Cassia to you. Now, you’re like this, and it’s my fault.”

“What did Iro tell you about what happened?”

“Not much. She got me out of there, and when I woke up, we talked about what I am now and some things I needed to know. She said you’d been turned by Cassia and that she told you to spy on us. The rest, she said I needed to talk to you about.”

“I see.” She nodded and finished the blood before she put the container on the floor at her feet. “There’s more to it than that. Sounds like Iro was being nice to me if you thoughtyouneeded to apologize tome.”

Arwen sat at the side of the other bed facing Zara, who didn’t move to face her because she knew she couldn’t handle that yet.

“Do you remember when you got dumped and cried on my shoulder a few years ago?”

“Yes.”

“That was when I realized it.”

“Realized what?”