We turned and headed back inside. We’d have to take the stairs if we wanted to follow them. When we pushed open the door to the fifth floor hallway, we saw that the door to Rostov’s room was open. We were found out. A moment later, a woman appeared in the doorframe. I recognized her at once. It was the same vampire who’d tried to assassinate me.
“This time, you’re mine,” she said and lunged at me. She grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the wall, suspending me several feet up. Her strong hands squeezed my neck. I rasped. Jamie plunged his knife into the back of her neck. She turned her head for a moment and gave him an annoyed expression. When she did so, I took my chance. I reached into the pocket of my vest and pulled out the holy water. Flicking out the cork, I opened it. She turned at me and grinned. I splashed the water onto her face.
She dropped me at once and let out a howl, her hands covering her face. Her skin smoked with a strange sulfur-like burning smell. She moved her hands for just a moment. I saw a horrid sight. It looked as if her skin was melting from her bones. She fell over, her body burnt to a pile of ash.
Jamie grabbed my hand. “Come on! Someone could have heard her.”
We ran down the hall and took the stairs to the fourth floor.
“We can’t wait for dawn. We need to get everyone out of here now. I’ll go for the girls. Get everyone gathered at the east end of the hotel. Once I have the girls I’ll meet you there.”
“No. We can go together.”
“There is no time.”
“But what if something happens to you?”
His question was multi-layered. “Go to the eastern end of Enita Island to the shoreline. There is another, smaller island just off shore. There’s a boat there. Take everyone to the other island. It is a place of safety. At the center of the island is a stone labyrinth. Follow it to completion. It will take you off the island.”
Jamie looked amazed. “How do you know that?”
“A fox told me.”
“Layla?”
“A kind of spirit, a fox woman, guided me there and told me the labyrinth is a doorway.”
“To where?”
“Out of here.”
“I thought foxes were supposed to be tricksters,” he said absently, but then added. “I suppose it would just be too easy to take the yacht?”
“They can transform into shadow. They could find us if we take the yacht.”
“Yep, too easy.”
“We’ll be fine. I’ll get the girls and meet you there.”
“Layla,” Jamie said grabbing me and pulling me close. “I love you,” he whispered and gave me a deep kiss. “Please, be careful.”
“I love you too,” I replied, and squeezed his chin, kissing him sweetly. “Hey, we survived hundreds of the undead so far, what’s a handful of vampires?”
Jamie shook his head at me. “See you soon.”
“See you soon.” And we set off in different directions.
Chapter 32
The hotel was dead. It was too late for any survivors to still be up, and all of the staff was gone. Apparently they had gone to the party Ian had mentioned. The idea that it was a party worried me. What were they celebrating, and what, besides that poor girl’s heart in a jar, was on the menu? I shuddered to consider it.
I exited the hotel. Hiding in the shadows as much as possible, I went west. I took the path I’d seen Rumor and her entourage take into the thick forest. The air was cool under the trees. They made a thick canopy which nearly occluded the moonlight. I stepped carefully through the woods trying to make as little sound as possible. The earthy woods smell was tangy and sweet. I passed through the woods, worrying every shadow was one of them, and soon found myself at the edge of a very large pond. On the other side was a reception hall. Through the nearly floor to ceiling windows, I could see people moving around. At such a distance, however, they were merely shapes. The room was full of candle-light; the flames bounced on the waters of the pond outside. Apparently, I’d found the party.
I kept low and near the water’s edge. When I neared the building, I heard the outside door open and close, but no one came near me. The sound of happy and excited voices filled the night air when the door opened. When I was finally near the hall, I lay on my belly, snuck up the bankside, and looked inside.