Page 28 of Bound by Vengeance
“That’s your story to tell,” Vickyreplied.
“This is a place for lost children,” SisterJune said to him. “And it has been for many years.”
“We’re like the Lost Boys,” a small girlwith brown pigtails said. Her smile revealed her missing fronttooth. She couldn’t be any older than seven or eight. “Exceptthere’s no Peter Pan, and we do grow old.”
The giggle she released melted Nathan’sheart. He briefly contemplated gathering all these children andtaking them from here, but take them where? The hunters wouldn’taccept them. Take them to the state and put into foster care? Therewas a reason they weren’t already there.
They had no bruises, he saw no bite marks,they all had healthy color in their cheeks, and some leaned towardpudgy. There was plenty of water, food, and warmth for them here.Their education was lacking, but was it any different than the onethe women at the stronghold received?
He couldn’t judge this way of life when hiswasn’t all that different.
“How didyoufind this place?” Nathanasked Vicky.
“I was at a rave one night in the tunnelswhere we first entered,” she said.
“You youngsters are so strange,” Sister Junemuttered. “Partying in places where most wouldn’t dare toventure.”
“That’swhywe were partying there,thedangerof it all,” Vicky said to Nathan in her bestcreepy movie voice. “It’s a rush for those who have no idea aboutthe real horrors in this world, but I’m always up for a good timeand beer.”
“Of course you are,” Nathan murmured, andshe winked at him.
“So anyway, I was at this rave and thatlittle shit”—Vicky pointed at Elmo who was sitting close to thechimney. Elmo gave her the finger before tossing another log ontothe fire—“stole my clutch.”
“Serves you right for bringing aclutch”—Elmo rolled his eyes—“to a party in thesewers.”
“It was stylish,” Vicky said to Nathan, “andit matched my outfit.”
“Then you absolutely couldn’t leave it athome,” Nathan replied dryly as he got a glimpse of the womanVictoria had been before her captivity. He suspected some of theglib act she displayed now was more of a constant back then. She’ddescribed herself as self-centered, but she’d been open enough tobecome a part of the lives of those here.
“I know!” Vicky agreed, finding it so easyto slip into her almost airheaded, party-girl persona. “So, Elmostole my clutch, and I chased him here. My boots were absolutelyruinedduring it. They were Prada,” Vicky explained toNathan and placed her hand over her heart. “I was devastated.”
“I’m sure,” he said.
“Serves you right for wearing high-heeledbootsin thesewers,” Elmo replied.
This time, Vicky gave him the finger. Elmo’syouthful face split into a grin. He was only thirteen, but thewisdom in his blue eyes was that of a manfarolder. Hisshaggy brown hair framed a face already becoming handsome. One day,women would chase him all over the place, and Vicky would make surehe saw that day.
“I followed him all the way here where I metSister June and discovered a world far different than our own,”Vicky explained to Nathan.
“I see,” he said.
Vicky turned from Nathan and back to Sister.“Can we talk somewhere privately?”
“Of course,” Sister replied. “We’ll go downthe smoke hole.”
CHAPTER 13
Vicky ruffled Elmo’s already disheveled hairwhen she walked by him. “No eavesdropping.”
“I would never,” he replied.
“Good, and don’t send any of the other kidsto eavesdrop either.”
Elmo pouted and tossed another log onto thefire. Nathan couldn’t help but laugh.
“I grew up with too many siblings not tospot a way out,” Vicky said to Nathan as they entered the smoketunnel behind Sister.
Nathan blinked against the smoke burning hiseyes and followed the two vampires into the tunnel. Only monthsago, he never would have put himself in a situation like this withtwo vamps in an unfamiliar place, but he didn’t hesitate. Hesuspected his willingness to follow had more to do with Vicky thanhis alliance with Ronan. For some reason, he trusted her.
