Chapter 11

I woke up in a bed that wasn't mine. I wasn't in my hotel room. I stared at a plain ceiling and, when I turned my head, found that most of the room was some shade of gray. Lifeless. Cold.

Jolting upright, I surveyed the room around me. My purse sat on the nightstand, along with a glass of water. The floor lamp in the corner was a dull source of yellow light; the half-open curtains revealed it was dark outside. It had to be the middle of the night.

Where the hell was I? What was I doing here?

Memories barrelled through me, bombarding my senses. Addie. Simon. Blood. Vampires.

Fight or flight?

Flight.

I leaped out of the bed, snatching my purse and bolting for the door. I had to get out of here. I had to call Addie. I was getting on the next flight home; I wanted out of this godforsaken nightmare.

I burst out of the room and into a dark, still apartment. Without bothering to take in my surroundings, I ran straight for the door.

Just as my hand closed over the handle, I felt him.

The vampire appeared behind me, placing his hand on the door above me and holding it shut. It didn't matter that the handle turned in my hand, revealing it was unlocked, or how hard I yanked to open it. The door didn't budge.

I did scream then, terror coursing through me as I spun to face the monster who trapped me here.

Twenty-four hours ago, I never would have believed what I saw.

Simon's fangs were on full display as he smirked at me. He dragged his tongue over the tip of one like he was tasting himself. A bead of blood dropped onto his bottom lip; he made no effort to brush it away.

"Now," he said. "That's no way to treat the man who gave you a place to stay after you fainted in the middle of the restaurant."

"Fainted," I echoed. As I spoke, I felt it again, the swirling feeling that came with losing consciousness. I held my breath and straightened my back. I wouldn't faint again. I couldn't afford to lose control of myself—not here, not now. "Where am I?"

"My apartment. I told you I lived around the corner." He motioned around the room as if I cared about looking around.

"I'm leaving now." I turned the handle again.

Simon shook his head. "No, you aren't."

"I'll call my sister," I warned, unsure how much of a threat that was.

Simon pulled my phone out of his pocket and brandished it in front of me. "I don't think you will."

My heart sank into my stomach and my hand slipped from the handle, falling to my side. Defeat settled deep into me; I wondered if I would die here in this dreary apartment. "What do you want?" My voice was barely a whisper.

Simon's eyes roamed over me, darkening. I tensed, pressing myself against the door. He was close enough that I could feel his breath on my skin. Each time he exhaled sent chills over me.

Finally, Simon stepped back and motioned for the couch across the room. "Sit down, Indy."

I was too afraid to hesitate. I darted across the room and sat on the edge of the black faux leather couch. Simon locked the door, finally licking the blood off his lips. He crossed the room, moving as smoothly as a predator. I wondered if my sister moved like that. How had I never noticed?

Was Addie as terrifying as the man in front of me?

Simon sat on the loveseat perpendicular to me, lounging back and kicking his feet up on the coffee table. His boots clicked as they hit the wood. I watched every move he made, unable to look away.

He held up my phone. "Who's Jackson?"

I flinched. "No one."

Simon extended his arm to offer me the phone. I took it hesitantly, peering down at the screen. I found dozens of texts and missed calls from Jackson. Some of them were vaguely threatening. Others openly demanded I call him back or there would be hell to pay. I swallowed thickly, lowering the phone to set it on the coffee table.

"Why do you care?" I asked.

"Any man who speaks to a woman like that is a waste of space," Simon growled. "I could take care of him for you."

I snorted, some of my fear disappearing at the absurdity of his comment. "Are you seriously offering to kill someone for me?"

Simon's dark smile surprised me. "Yes, I suppose I am."

There was, perhaps, a very dark and twisted part of me that wanted Jackson to hurt as deeply as he'd hurt me. I dismissed the urge, shaking my head and wrapping my arms around my torso. "He's not worth your time."

"What is he angry about?"

I tightened my arms around myself. "I'd rather not answer that."

Simon sighed. "Call your sister."

"What?"

"I won't repeat myself. Call your sister; let her know you're safe."

I swallowed thickly, picking up the phone again. My fingers trembled as I unlocked it and pressed on my sister's contact.

It only rang once before she answered. "God, Indy, where the hell are you? I stopped by your hotel and you weren't in your room; I've been looking everywhere for you." Addie sounded frantic, her voice rising in pitch with every word.

"I'm okay," I breathed. "I'm sorry I worried you. I needed time."

I didn't know why I lied to her. I should have told her I needed help—that she needed to find me right that instant. My eyes met Simon's while I spoke; he traced his thumb over his bottom lip.

"Fuck, I shouldn't have dropped it on you like that," Addie rambled. "Can we please talk? I have so many apologies and explanations, and proof if you need it."

"I believe you," I whispered.

My sister gasped. "What?"

I repeated myself.

She gulped. "Look, I know this is a lot, and I'm sure you have questions-"

I interrupted her. "Can we talk in the morning? I'm tired." My voice was as cold as ice.

"How about brunch?" Addie offered, defeated. "I'll pick you up."

"Sure, thanks." I ended the call and lowered the phone. I turned it off and set it on the coffee table, shifting my attention to Simon. "I have questions," I stated.

He chuckled. "You have a sister to answer them."

I shook my head. "No, she'll give me some sort of sugar-coated version to spare my feelings. You're going to answer them for me."

Simon stood from his spot on the couch. I gasped when he moved to lean over me, falling back against the couch cushions. He placed his hands on either side of the couch behind me, his eyes darkening. "Fascinating," he said. "You were terrified minutes ago, and now you want answers."

I inclined my chin. I was terrified. I was overwhelmed, and wasn't convinced I wouldn't pass out at any moment. But I planned to meet Addie tomorrow armed with the answers to my questions. Selfishly, I no longer wanted her to have the upper hand in this situation. She'd lied to me; there would be no more lies. "Will you give them or not?"

His hand moved to grip my chin delicately, holding me in place. "I'll answer your questions if you answer mine."

"Fine."

Simon returned to sitting on the loveseat. He motioned for me to begin.

"How much of what I know about vampires from popular media is true?" I asked.

He hummed and shrugged. "It depends greatly on the media. In general, most get the immortality correct. We will live forever unless killed by a wooden stake, beheaded, or burned alive. Holy water, garlic, and things that repel vampires are all untrue. We have reflections and can appear in photographs. What am I missing?"

"Daylight," I said.

"False. Obviously." Simon waved his hand. "It's a metaphor, I think. Evil beings being trapped by the night is similar to the monsters that exist under our beds as children, don't you think? Hiding evil things is the only way to manage them."

"So, you think you're evil, then?"

He hesitated. "I believe you owe me a question now."

"Okay," I said.

"Who is Jackson?"

I grimaced. "My ex-boyfriend. Do you think you're evil?"

"Yes," Simon responded readily. "What is he angry about?"

"I lost our baby," I breathed, the answer coming before I could stop it. The words felt like a knife in my gut. "It's my fault."

Simon opened and closed his mouth a few times before nodding. "I'm sorry for your loss."

I tilted my head. My doctor was the only other person to say something like that to me. The words washed over me all at once, stealing my breath. I swallowed. "How do you become a vampire?"

"You have to drink vampire blood, then die with it in your system. Most vampire lore gets that correct, as well," Simon said.

Addie told me she died.

I placed my hand on my chest. Grief seized me. My sister died, and I wasn't there for her. I had no idea.

"Why are you in Paris?" Simon asked.

His question shook me out of the devastation threatening to consume me. "I needed a break from everyone looking at me like I was irreparably broken. My sister lives here; it seemed like a good option at the time."

"Are you regretting that now?"

"It's my turn," I countered. A tiny smile pulled at my lips. Simon nodded and motioned for me to continue. "You drink human blood to survive?"

"Yes. Are you regretting your decision?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "What about animal blood?"

Simon wrinkled his nose. "We can drink it, but it does little to assuage our hunger. As far as I know, no vampires survive off it as they do in certain movies and shows. What is Indy short for?"

"It's Lucinda. I hate it."

"Lucinda," he drawled. "I like it."

And somehow—for the first time in my life—hearing my name didn't sound so terrible.