mark, so much bad stuff can still happen to you.”
I tuck a strand of my long, brown hair behind my ear. “I know. I’m sorry for complaining. I just get so frustrated sometimes.”
He shifts closer and whispers, “Is that why we’re here? So you can try to prove you can take care of yourself?”
“It’s freakin’ scary how well you know me,” I say with a defeated sigh.
“I’d be the biggest asshole if I didn’t. I mean, we’ve been best friends since we could walk. That’s a freakin’ long-ass time.”
I nod in agreement.
Our parents are best friends, and his mom is my dad’s sister, so we were kind of predestined to be best friends. It’s probably a good thing, too. While I like to do crazy, dangerous stuff, Jayse is more levelheaded and keeps an eye on me. He always seems to know when I’m up to something, like tonight.
The main reason I came to the Black Dungeon is because I heard Anastasiya is supposed to be here. She has major status in the vampire world and is the cause behind a ton of human deaths. The Keepers have wanted to get their hands on her for a while, but she typically stays off the radar and has a ton of bodyguards surrounding her when she does make her presence known.
“So, who are you trying to find?” Jayse asks, inching closer as sweaty bodies start to crowd us.
I pull a guilty face, nudging someone when they bump into me. “Anastasiya.”
His eyes widen. “Please tell me you’re joking. That you didn’t come here tonight to try and execute …” He casts a panicked glance around at the mob then leans in toward me. “We’ll never be able to kill her. She’s too powerful.”
“Not if we can get her alone,” I hiss under my breath. “She’s only powerful because she has her precious bodyguards. Take them away, and she’s just a regular, old vampire.”
“No vampire is just a regular, old vampire.” Frustration fills his voice. “And even if we could take her, her guards never leave her alone.”
“That’s not completely true. I know for a fact that, sometime around midnight, she’ll be on the roof alone all by her little old self.”
“How do you know that?”
“Um …” I chew on my lip guiltily. “I may have been tipped off by someone who can see into the future.”
“You went to Elliot ?” His jaw ticks. “You know he’s not a reliable Foreseer. He probably lied to you to set you up.”
“He wouldn’t do that to me, Jayse … I know everyone doesn’t like Elliot, but he’s not as bad as everyone thinks. He just messed up that one time and no one will forgive him.”
“Messed up that one time . He tried to mess around with visions when he knew he wasn’t supposed to and almost set off an apocalypse. And the only reason that didn’t happen is because he was caught before he actually went through with it.”
“That was a long time ago, back when he was still learning how to control his psychic abilities. Even you messed up a lot when you were training,” I say. “Jayse, I’m really sorry, but I need to do this. You don’t understand the pressure I’m under from my mom and dad. They keep saying shit like, ‘When is Alana’s mark going to show up?’ And, ‘If she doesn’t get one, we’re going to have to send her somewhere safe.’ It’s starting to worry me.”
He gapes at me. “They’re talking about sending you away?”
I nod. “For my senior year. They think I should go to some boarding school across the country.”
“But you can’t move.” His lips pull to a sad smile. “My life would be way too dull without you.”
“So you’ll help me with this, then? Let me prove I’m stronger than everyone thinks?” I clasp my hands in front of me. “Please say yes, Jayse.”
He offers me an apologetic look. “I don’t want you to move away, but I can’t let you go through with this. It’s too risky. I’m sorry, but I’m texting for back up.” When I start to open my mouth, he talks over me. “I’m not
I tuck a strand of my long, brown hair behind my ear. “I know. I’m sorry for complaining. I just get so frustrated sometimes.”
He shifts closer and whispers, “Is that why we’re here? So you can try to prove you can take care of yourself?”
“It’s freakin’ scary how well you know me,” I say with a defeated sigh.
“I’d be the biggest asshole if I didn’t. I mean, we’ve been best friends since we could walk. That’s a freakin’ long-ass time.”
I nod in agreement.
Our parents are best friends, and his mom is my dad’s sister, so we were kind of predestined to be best friends. It’s probably a good thing, too. While I like to do crazy, dangerous stuff, Jayse is more levelheaded and keeps an eye on me. He always seems to know when I’m up to something, like tonight.
The main reason I came to the Black Dungeon is because I heard Anastasiya is supposed to be here. She has major status in the vampire world and is the cause behind a ton of human deaths. The Keepers have wanted to get their hands on her for a while, but she typically stays off the radar and has a ton of bodyguards surrounding her when she does make her presence known.
“So, who are you trying to find?” Jayse asks, inching closer as sweaty bodies start to crowd us.
I pull a guilty face, nudging someone when they bump into me. “Anastasiya.”
His eyes widen. “Please tell me you’re joking. That you didn’t come here tonight to try and execute …” He casts a panicked glance around at the mob then leans in toward me. “We’ll never be able to kill her. She’s too powerful.”
“Not if we can get her alone,” I hiss under my breath. “She’s only powerful because she has her precious bodyguards. Take them away, and she’s just a regular, old vampire.”
“No vampire is just a regular, old vampire.” Frustration fills his voice. “And even if we could take her, her guards never leave her alone.”
“That’s not completely true. I know for a fact that, sometime around midnight, she’ll be on the roof alone all by her little old self.”
“How do you know that?”
“Um …” I chew on my lip guiltily. “I may have been tipped off by someone who can see into the future.”
“You went to Elliot ?” His jaw ticks. “You know he’s not a reliable Foreseer. He probably lied to you to set you up.”
“He wouldn’t do that to me, Jayse … I know everyone doesn’t like Elliot, but he’s not as bad as everyone thinks. He just messed up that one time and no one will forgive him.”
“Messed up that one time . He tried to mess around with visions when he knew he wasn’t supposed to and almost set off an apocalypse. And the only reason that didn’t happen is because he was caught before he actually went through with it.”
“That was a long time ago, back when he was still learning how to control his psychic abilities. Even you messed up a lot when you were training,” I say. “Jayse, I’m really sorry, but I need to do this. You don’t understand the pressure I’m under from my mom and dad. They keep saying shit like, ‘When is Alana’s mark going to show up?’ And, ‘If she doesn’t get one, we’re going to have to send her somewhere safe.’ It’s starting to worry me.”
He gapes at me. “They’re talking about sending you away?”
I nod. “For my senior year. They think I should go to some boarding school across the country.”
“But you can’t move.” His lips pull to a sad smile. “My life would be way too dull without you.”
“So you’ll help me with this, then? Let me prove I’m stronger than everyone thinks?” I clasp my hands in front of me. “Please say yes, Jayse.”
He offers me an apologetic look. “I don’t want you to move away, but I can’t let you go through with this. It’s too risky. I’m sorry, but I’m texting for back up.” When I start to open my mouth, he talks over me. “I’m not
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