We stepped quietly towards the closed door until we were just outside. When Nathan put his hand on the knob, I had another panic attack.
“No,” I whispered, on the verge of hysteria. “We should think about this. We don’t know who or what is in there.”
“We don’t have any other choice,” he whispered. “Every second that ticks brings mom closer to an eternity spent as a blood hunter. Look, if you’re too chicken, I’ll just go in myself.”
“I’m not chicken,” I snapped, secretly praying that the door was locked.
“Right,” he whispered, turning the knob. When he started pulling the door open, my chest tightened up, making it hard to breathe.
Crap.
I did not want to know what was on the other side of that door, but of course it was already too late. Nathan swung it open and both of us froze in horror at what was waiting on the other side.
Chapter Twenty-six
“What is it?” I squeaked, unable to stop gawking at the hideous creature sitting with its back against the wall. Thankfully, it was caged in some kind of makeshift prison and there were thick metal bars separating us.
“Jesus,” shuddered Nathan. “I have no fucking clue.”
It was very thin and wore a pair of dark jeans that seemed to hang from its bony hips. I stared at its gaunt face, which looked shrunken and withered past the point of being alive. When it opened its eyes, I felt as if the air was sucked right out of me.
“Oh, God!” I choked, recognizing the crystal blue eyes. “Ethan?”
His lips curled up into a grim smile and then his head fell forward as if he’d expended the last of his energy.
I rushed to the cell and tried desperately to open it. When that didn’t work, I began to shake it in frustration.
“What the hell are you doing?” barked Nathan, trying to pull me away.
“It’s Ethan!” I cried. “We have to help him!”
Nathan turned towards Ethan and scowled. “If it really is that asshole, why should we help him after everything that’s happened?”
I didn’t care what he’d done at that point. My heart cried out and I wanted nothing more than to save him. “He needs us! Please, we have to help him.”
Nathan raised his hands in exasperation and moved away from me. “I’m not helping him. In fact, I think he’s well beyond help. I mean, look at him!”
I turned to look at Ethan and it broke my heart. It looked as if someone had sucked the life right out of him, either a vampire or something far worse. Then it hit me…
“Faye,” I whispered.
Ethan opened his eyes, again and blinked quickly, as if trying to answer my question.
I reached an arm through the bars. “Ethan,” I cried. “Come here, let me help you!”
Ethan shook his head and closed his eyes.
“Are you fucking crazy!” hollered Nathan, pulling me back away from the cell again. “What in the hell are you thinking?”
“He needs me,” I sobbed. “He’ll die if we don’t do something.”
“So let him,” snapped Nathan. “You can’t save him, and from what I can see, he needs more than just a little blood to bring his skinny ass back. It would probably kill you to even try.”
“He’s right,” murmured a smooth voice behind us.
We both turned to see Drake standing in the doorway, staring at us with his now-familiar cocky, disarming smile.
“Stay the fuck away from us, vampire,” snapped Nathan, raising his knife.
Drake sighed in and then walked around Nathan towards the prison cell. “You have nothing to fear from me, mate. I’m here to help Ethan.”
“Yeah, right,” said Nathan. “It’s kind of a coincidence that you showed up here the same time as us.”
“I just finished having breakfast,” he replied with a dark smile. “Which is lucky for Ethan, as well as you.”
“Can you save him?” I asked, wiping the tears from my face.
Drake tore off the lock without breaking a sweat. “I’m going to bloody well try. This bloke and I have been friends for far too long to just let him dry up into a pile of dust.”
Ethan opened his eyes and I saw a flicker of amusement in them.
Drake crouched down next to Ethan and laughed. “Looking pretty rough, mate; not a good look for a randy vampire such as yourself I must say. Remind me to never get on Faye’s bad side. Now, smile and show me some teeth.”
Ethan opened his mouth and Drake offered him his wrist.
“You’re just lucky I’m such a good friend. Now, remember to go slow or I’ll have to kick your bloomin’ ass,” he said as Ethan closed his eyes and began to feed.
Nathan and I watched in stunned silence as Ethan slowly began to change. First his cheeks began to fill out, then his legs and arms; finally his chest and muscles began to take on the shape I’d remembered. When it was over, he lay breathless and pale, as did Drake.
“Have to refuel,” groaned Drake, as he struggled to get up. He actually looked like he was ready to pass out himself. “Anyone care to volunteer?”
“I don’t think so, pal,” snapped my brother. “I didn’t sign up to be on anyone’s menu now or in the future.”