Page 124 of Eternal Craving

I knelt at Marcus’ side. “I’ll get Sunaria and then I’ll come back for you. Your sister’s at the River Thames Inn.”

Marcus nodded. “If you see Delacroix, kill the bastard.”

I followed Benjamin up the steps and through the house, vigilant for any sign of a wayward vampire, and worried that this escape seemed too easy. We reached the landing and Benjamin pointed to an oak door a few rooms down.

“In there?” I asked.

Benjamin nodded.

I didn’t sense Sunaria as I approached.

“She’s unconscious,” Benjamin said, as though reading my mind. He quickly closed off his thoughts.

“Now get out of here.” I turned the handle, and he headed back down the corridor.

The room was pitch black. I sized up the shadows. In a corner chair sat Delacroix.

Panic hit me like a fist. “What is this?”

Delacroix’s grin caused a chill to run up my spine. Benjamin sauntered in and sat on the floor next to Delacroix.

“So how old are you really?” I asked Benjamin.

“Fifty.”

I scowled at him. “You snide little shit.”

Benjamin shrugged. “I found out so much just from that little drink I had.”

I clinched my fists. “Sunaria was never here, was she?”

My filthy jacket lay on the end of the bed. Delacroix picked it up and offered it to me.

“I’m free to go?” I studied them, listening to my gut feeling that screamed danger.

Delacroix wrapped my jacket around my shoulders and patted my back.

I tried not to cringe. “What about the others?”

He strolled over to the bed and lay upon it, placing his hands behind his head.

Benjamin folded his arms. “He wants you to go back and finish off your cell mates.”

“No.” I headed for the door.

“Check your jacket pocket,” Benjamin said.

I paused, reaching in and pulling out a silver locket, immediately recognizing it as the one I’d given to Jacob years before. My legs felt weak.

Delacroix snapped his fingers and Benjamin jumped up like a well-trained dog and dropped to his knees beside Delacroix, who patted his head and scrunched his hair. Benjamin’s eyelids flickered in pleasure.

“Do you want to see your son again?” Delacroix asked.

I glared at him.

“The offer is about to be rescinded,” the count mumbled.

Dark futility ran through my veins as I walked out of the room and made my way back to the cell.