Page 47 of Tainted Souls
“He needs fresh air and a quiet space,” I explain, zipping up the bag. “Safe from prying eyes while he adjusts.”
“He’s lucky to have you,” Haden remarks, coming up behind Evan. “And by extension, us.”
Evan tilts an eyebrow in response, but doesn’t say anything.
“Blod help him,” I mutter, earning a laugh from both of them.
Haden may not have meant much with it, but I feel relieved by his words. Reassured. That me trying my best means something.
“Need backup?” Evan then offers.
“No, but thanks.” I sling the backpack over my shoulder. “I might be out for a while. Don’t wait up.”
At the door, my hand hovers over the knob, pausing. Getting Max out of the hospital will be simple enough, since I know their protocols and blind spots. But once he’s out, where do we go? His apartment?
Mine is clearly occupied by people he’d rather not be around, but his would be the first place for staff to check once they figure out he’s gone. That, and the Upper Heights district is blanketed with devices to alert authorities of anything unusual or suspicious—a surefire way to get caught.
Somewhere far from the urban din would be ideal, the constant barrage making it impossible even for me to filter out the endless noise. Somewhere no one would think to look, at least not right away. The city is crawling with keepers after the incident, however, with checkpoints at every major intersection. Leaving is impossible without proper authorization, which neither of us has right now. The eastern perimeter whereI fought Egon is already compromised and likely under increased surveillance. The southern exit leads straight to Redmoore territory, while the northern and western gates have biometric scanners that would flag Max’s new vampire signature immediately.
There’s only one person capable of helping us slip through undetected.
“Fuck,” I curse under my breath. “I need to see Viktor.”
“What? Why?” Evan and Haden ask in unison, following behind me as I turn back to my bedroom.
“Because,” I say, reaching underneath my bed to pull out a small metal lockbox, “he smuggles unregistered vampires in and out of the city all the time. If anyone knows how to bypass Penn City’s security systems without being detected, it’s him.”
My fingers tremble as I enter the combination—my father’s birthday—and lift the lid. Inside lies emergency cash, fake IDs, and a small velvet pouch.
I empty the pouch into my palm, counting the gleaming pieces. Five pure tanzanite gems, alternating between mesmerizing blue and purple hues depending on the angle.
Each is worth more than a year’s rent in this part of the city, which is the second-most expensive district. I acquired them years ago from a slayer who owed me a favor, saving them for a situation exactly like this.
I take two, just in case, and slip them into my inner coat pocket.
“After what happened? That man will gut you the moment he sees you,” Evan warns from the doorway, concern etched on his face.
All I did was threaten to take down his enterprise, which I do all the time. There is no need to overreact.
“He’ll help me,” I say with more confidence than I should let on, “because I’m paying.”
Everyone has a price, especially people like Viktor.
CHAPTER 10
THE HOSPITAL’S EXTERIOR WALLstretches long before me, moonlight bouncing off the sterile white concrete, giving it a spectral purplish sheen. I count the windows—three floors up, fifth from the left. Little to no guards, just security cameras with blind spots I’ve memorized from years of sneaking in and out of places I shouldn’t be. I pull out my phone and type quickly.
Open the window. Don't panic. Security systems trigger on erratic vampire behavior.
I watch and wait.
After a few minutes, Max’s silhouette appears at the window, his new red eyes visible even from this distance. He pushes it open, leaving it ajar, confusion evident on his face as he peers down.
“What are you doing?” he whispers, his voice carrying clearly to my enhanced hearing.
“Jailbreak,” I mouth, gesturing for him to move aside.
My muscles coil and release as I spring upward, hands catching the ledge of the second-floor window. Using it as leverage, I push off again, sailing through the air until my fingers close around the frame of Max’s window. With one decisive wrench, I break the restrictor, allowing me to climb through.
