Page 53 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

AURORA

“ W e need to get out of here.” I feel Ty’s voice vibrate through his chest because I’m clinging to him so tightly.

I didn’t think my fear over Adicious forcing a bond on me could be outstripped but seeing him fighting Ty was the most terrified I’ve been in my life.

Not that Ty looked like he was losing, but it was entirely possible he could have.

If Adicious had turned the tables I would've been stuck, chained, and forced to watch him kill Ty. I’d have been completely helpless to stop it.

I sob anew into his chest, clinging to him even harder, the feeling of him in my grip isn’t enough to prove to my mind that he is alive.

“Are they dead?” I whimper. Please let them be dead.

“Sadly not. My hand is too broken. I would need both hands to snap their necks and sever their heads from their bodies. I’ve done enough damage, they will be out for long enough.”

I nod, taking a couple of deep breaths, Ty’s scent is potent as he’s bleeding from several wounds. I take it in by the lungful. He pulls away way too soon.

“We need to move, Red,” he says softly, placing his good arm around my waist and easing me towards the door. My legs feel more wobbly than those on a newborn foal.

My gaze gets distracted by the glass on the floor, which is shocking still intact because the stool isn’t. There’s still a mouthful of blood left in it, which sits calling to me like a beacon. The rest is soaking into the floor.

Ty spots where I’m looking and steps away from me for the briefest moment. With a burst of vampire speed he grabs the glass and is back, offering it to me.

“Drink it. It’s not much but it’ll give you a small boost,” he instructs.

I take it from him and lift the rim to my lips. I tip the small amount straight down my throat, feeling it ease the burning. Almost immediately it jumpstarts my system. A tiny bit of strength returns. I throw the glass back into the room and it shatters.

“How are we getting out of here?” I ask.

“There’s only one set of steps out of the basement, once we’re up those we’re fairly close to the front door. It’s down the hall to the left. You can’t miss the entryway as it's got this open staircase wrapping around it leading to the upper floor,” Ty reels off a description of the layout for me.

I nod along, trying to memorise the instructions as Ty leads me to the door, cracking it the tiniest amount.

He pulls me into his chest once more as he stops talking to listen intently.

I’m content hearing the thump of his heartbeat.

I focus on it to calm my breathing, not wanting my sobbing to give us away.

“Shit, I think someone’s coming. We need to move.” Ty laces his fingers with mine and darts us out the room, pulling me with him. Thankfully, the small mouthful of blood has steadied my legs and I’ve enough coordination to move at a fast pace and not land on my face.

Ty doesn’t turn toward the stairs but rather away from them, across the small corridor which is lined with a few doors. Are these all cells like the one we were chained in?

He pulls us into one of them and closes the door surprisingly quietly considering the speed.

It’s pitch black in here but I don't sense any other beings.

I don't hear any other heartbeats than our own.

I do, however, feel the caress of multiple shadows wrapping themselves around me.

I could stay here, in their safety for a long, long time.

“Are we going to have to fight the whole pack to get out?” I whisper.

“No, not if I can help it.” Ty leans down so his mouth is next to my ear. He coils his body around mine once more as if he too can’t allow any space between us. We stay close to the door and listen.

Footsteps stomp on the staircase, two sets. We have seconds before they discover their leader bleeding out on the floor, and that we’re no longer chained to the walls.

“Once you’re out the front door, I need you to run to the trees. Don’t take the road. Wind your way into the forest and about half a mile in you’ll find the river. You should be able to hear the water. Use it to get yourself back to the city. The water will cover your scent.”

“Won’t they look for us in the city?”

“Yes, they will, but at least in the city it's harder to track people amongst all those other scents, all those other bodies. Get to the harbour and get on the first boat out of here ok. I don't care where it goes, get on board. Plan a route to West Scotia and find a vampire called Henry Nox. He’s my friend, the historian. He’ll look out for you. Can you remember his name?’

Why would I need to, Ty will be with me.

“Ty?”

“Can you remember it?” Ty whispers harshly in my ear.

“Yes, yes. Henry Nox. West Scotia. That’s where we’re going.”

Ty’s hand comes to my jaw as he turns my head. I’m not expecting it as his lips brush mine in a soft kiss I feel to my very core. His tongue sweeps out once across my bottom lip before he breaks the connection. I savour the taste of him, capture this moment and imprint it fully to my memory.

“Good. Be ready to run.” Ty straightens, moving to open the door a fraction.

We listen as the vampires enter the room we’ve been stuck in for days and the chaos which breaks out. We hear the start of them trying to rouse Ronan and Adicious before we’re moving once more.

Ty pushes me from the room so I’m the first to hit the stairs. I don’t need any encouragement, making a run for it. I try to keep my footsteps quiet but it's impossible with the burst of speed and the creaky wood they’re made from.

Profanities come from behind us as we reach the top, at least one of the males is in pursuit.

“Don’t stop,” Ty orders me as we take off down the corridor. His hand pushes at the base of my back to keep me moving.

As we enter a wider space which must be the entryway, and I spot the front door, two other males step out from another room.

Whether they heard the commotion or just happened to be walking this way I don’t know but they look surprised to see us.

I try to stop my forward momentum but collide into both and we all go to the ground.

Thankfully, they seem a little stunned so don’t manage to grab me in a tight hold as I roll myself free.

I must’ve hit one of them head on as pain radiates from my nose and a sticky substance runs across my lips.

I regain my balance, standing as quickly as they do.

I turn to find Ty punching one of the guys that was on our tails.

“What the fuck?” the tall one beside me says. His eyes are wide as he takes me in. I quickly note his size and tattoos, recognising him from the alley but not remembering his name.

“Grab her,” one of the ones engaging with Ty shouts. Ty has fully unleashed his shadows. They’re winding around the vampires - which now total five - like snakes, preventing them from moving past Ty as he fights the closest one back with his only good fist. I stare in awe at the sheer use of power.

“Get to the door Red,” he shouts to me.

Right. I spring into action, darting under the arms of the giant one as he makes a lunge for me. Maybe he hit his head and is dazed because I easily evade his attempt, and he doesn’t make a second. Instead he heads towards Ty.

Shit, it’ll be six on one, there’s no way he can manage those odds. I make to step towards the group but Ty stops me.

“Get to the door Aurora,” he orders again.

Maybe he has a plan, the shadows are far more powerful than I knew. They’re coiling around the vampires now like rope, managing to hold most of them at bay. Including the giant one who seems to not even be fighting being held in their grasp.

I reach the door and yank it open. It's not locked. I throw it wide, seeing the outside world for the first time in what feels like forever.

“Ty, come on,” I yell, braced to run for the trees.

“Red,” Ty shouts over the fray. “Go.”

He can’t mean…?

I turn back more fully and see the exertion on Ty’s face. Two of the male vampires have nearly broken free of the shadows' grasp and Ty is having to brace himself, hand outstretched to pour as much power into them as he can.

“I’m not leaving you. We can outrun them.”

“I can’t hold them much longer, Red. It’ll give you a head start. Go!” His voice breaks on the last word with the sheer strain of pouring so much magic through his body.

“I can’t, not without you.” Tears fill my eyes once more.

“You have to, Red.” His eyes meet mine and I see it. The truth of his plan.

He knew we weren’t getting out undetected. He knew he’d have to stay to hold the pack back to give me any kind of chance of getting away from them. That’s why he told me how to get off this island. Where to go afterward. I can’t breathe as I realise what I’m about to do.

“Ty,” I beg, knowing it won’t work. My soul cleaving in two.

“Red, please. Let me give you this,” he pants with the effort. “Let me see you get out. Please, get yourself to safety, promise me.”

“No.” My whole body is shaking. I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment.

“Sweetheart, please. I can’t hold them much longer.” It’s the love I hear in his voice which forces me to move.

“I promise.”

With my chest caving in, I turn and run.