Page 85 of Sweeter than Honey
Renata puts a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “I love you. Be safe.”
Hallie pauses, her eyes filled with sudden emotion. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Renata tell any of her sisters that she loves them. “I…I love you too, Renata.”
Without another word, Hallie and Lilith disappear into the red haze around us. Renata takes me up in her arms, and I hold onto her shoulders tightly. She races through the bodies around us and out of the hall.
There’s a battle erupting in the hallway. A supernaturally enormous wolf and panther are locked in combat, blood and fur flying on both sides. They’re much larger than normal animals, and they radiate power and strength. It’s incredible, but also absolutely terrifying. There’s no way around them. Renata runs in the other direction, toward the emergency staircase at the end of the hall.
“What’s happening?” I ask her. “Where are we going?”
“We have to find a way out,” she says. “Or somewhere safe.”
She kicks in the door of the emergency staircase, and races down thestairs toward the alley exit. But she’s forced to stop again. There’s a vampire stationed at the bottom of the stairs, wearing sunglasses, with lanky blond hair. I recognize him. It’s the guard that arrived with Xavian Night, for our meeting at the beginning of the summer.
“Shit,” Renata whispers.
Hoping that he hasn’t spotted us, she darts up the stairs, moving faster than I’ve ever seen her move. I clutch onto her even though I know it doesn’t make a difference. My stomach lurches as she takes us up several flights, to the office floor.
It’s dark, and there doesn’t seem to be anyone here. She senses that I need to catch my breath, and she sets me down by the reception area.
This is all happening so quickly. My knees are weak as I try to process everything.
Renata takes my face in her hands. “Lily, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I say, although my voice trembles. “You should go back, find your sisters! I can stay up here, I’ll be ok…”
She gives me an intense look. “Lily, I’m not leaving you. I’ll get you to safety, I promise.”
“But what’s going on?” I ask, shaking my head as I recall everything that’s happened. “I saw Tudor, and he…did he…?”
“He killed Lavinia Nox,” Renata says, somberly. “In front of the entire Triple Council. He must have escaped from the witch prison, but I have no idea how.”
“Lilith said it was evil witches,” I tell her. “Because of the red smoke.”
“Butwhywould they have helped Tudor?” Renata asks. “They’ve been allies in the past, but not recently. And why…?”
Her words are interrupted by a rustling sound from the offices behind us. Renata’s head instantly snaps in that direction. She puts a finger to her lips, and takes me by the hand.
We creep down the hallway, following the sound. It leads to the Human Resources office. We share a confused look, and then Renata quietly pushes the door open. Mel is there, her back to the door, shoving papers and files into a slippery, waterproof bag.
“Ah!” she says, cutting her finger. “Ihatepaper!”
“Maybe you shouldn’t work in an office, then,” Renata says, her voice reverberating against the wood-paneled walls.
Mel spins around, and her bright, multicoloured eyes widen in fear. “Re-Renata…”
Renata looms over her, allowing her fangs to protrude menacingly over her lips.
God, she’ssohot.
“Put the files away, Mel,” she commands. The mermaid tosses the bag into a corner, and puts her hands up.
“I…I had nothing to do with this!” Mel squeaks. “The conference was going on, and…”
“Tell us everything you know,” Renata snaps.
Mel gulps, her eyes changing colour rapidly. “I had no choice, Renata! I had to do what they told me! It was Xavian Night, he approached the evil witches to strike a bargain with them. He wanted to get Tudor and the wolves out of prison in exchange for free rein over Lazarus’s territory. They didn’t trust you and your sisters…”
“The holding floor,” I gasp, remembering something from the night we were attacked by intruders. “You…you were coming down off the elevator. You saw us go up…”