He pointed behind me, bringing my attention to the opening. Eli was escorted in the same way I was.

"Yummy," moaned Ludiia. I ignored the urge to scowl at her.

"What is he doing here?" I couldn't keep the panic out of my tone.

Lucian's charcoal eyes narrowed in on me as Eli came and stood beside me, but I still couldn't bring myself to relax, in fact, it made me tenser. I could feel the tension radiate off his body. I glanced sideways at him; he was just as nervous about the surrounding vampires as I was. I could tell by his clenched jaw, his clouded, intense eyes, and his lips that were held in an impa.s.sive line.

"You look a little ... uncomfortable, angel," Ludiia purred. She zipped over to him. "I'm sure I could find a way to relax you." She began running her long fingers over his shoulders, causing jealousy to burn relentlessly in my chest.

"I'm fine. Thank you." His voice was strained and cautious.

Ludiia's lips stuck out in a pout, but she didn't take her hands off him.

"Well, Miss Moore. It just so happens to be your lucky day. I want you to work for me."

The Job.

I couldn't think straight, I was too confused. The higher power was no longer one of us, he was one of them. I would die before I helped out any vampire.

"No. I'd rather die." I didn't mean to say it. The words just fell from my lips.

Lucian drifted forward rapidly, his movements too fast for me to realize his cold fingers grasped my jaw tightly. I winced at the pressure I felt under his grasp as all pretense of civility disappeared.

"Be careful what you wish for," he hissed.

The eyes that bored into mine were deep and black. I shuddered as they searched every inch of my soul. They held no emotion, no life. I felt a lump form in my throat as I thought back to the night my mother was killed, when I was turned against my will. I closed my eyes, swallowing hard in an attempt to hold back the tears that threatened my eyes.

"Let her go," Eli growled.

Lucian chuckled and released his grip. I opened my eyes as a single tear fell down my cheek.

"Interesting, isn't it?" Lucian said, addressing the entire room.

The surrounding vampires chuckled and agreed.

"Perhaps, you would do it if I -" He kicked Eli to his knees and exposed his throat. Ludiia giggled and knelt on the floor beside Eli. Lucian's fangs shot out of his gums and nicked the skin of Eli's throat.

"Stop!" I shrieked, my voice echoing in the silence.

Ludiia looked up at me, smiling with pleasure. I couldn't bear to see another loved one killed in front of me and the smile that spread across Lucian's face made me nauseous.

"Tell me about this proposition," I stammered. I swallowed, reminding myself to force confidence back into my voice.

"Atta girl," a random vampire cheered.

Lucian appeared in front of me once again and Eli rose to his feet, standing closer to me. I could feel his body heat radiating onto me and I relaxed in it. It made me feel safer, it offered me protection, and it soothed my soul. Ludiia appeared behind Lucian, keeping her spiteful eyes on me.

"Ruby," Eli muttered into my ear. "You don't have to negotiate with these people."

I ignored him. "Your plan?" I prompted Lucian.

He clicked his fingers and a big rust colored chair was brought out for him. I bit the inside of my lip in nervous antic.i.p.ation as he got comfortable.

"You might not know that vampires outnumber your species a hundred to one. If you want to survive, you'll take this offer I'm about to explain to you."

I nodded.

"I want to harvest both your species' blood."

I stared at him in astonishment. He couldn't be serious? Did he actually think I'd go along with that? Eli fumed beside me. I could hear a rumble in his chest, building toward a growl.

"If I can provide my kind with your blood without many deaths to your species, then your kind can thrive longer. Your kind will also remain oblivious to what I really am."

"Why are you doing this? Why do you care if we live or die?"

"When you were a vampire, did you ever taste G.o.d or guardian angel blood?"

I shook my head, but I remembered the smell distinctly. They had the sweetest scent I'd ever had the pleasure of smelling.

"What a shame. No vampire would give your blood up, but if I can harvest it and sell it, your species will survive. If G.o.ddesses, G.o.ds, and guardian angels survive, then as the higher power, I'm doing my job and no one will know."

"What do I do?"

Eli inhaled sharply, no doubt confused why I was even considering his job offer.

"You will travel to various vampire sectors and impose my will upon them- No G.o.ddess, G.o.d, or guardian angel deaths until I say so. As for your kind, I will issue mandatory blood donation. It shouldn't be too hard. Don't you worry about the technical side of things."

"And if the vampires don't want to conform to your new law?"

"Kill them."

A nervous chuckle left my lips. "I don't know how to fight and I can barely use my magic. You chose the wrong girl."

"Did I?" His lips separated into a smile, exposing his fangs.

I shivered as he stared at me, like he knew something I didn't.

"You have no idea who your father is, do you?"

What was he talking about? I repeated his words over and over in my mind. Why wouldn't they make any sense? What did my father have to do with anything?

"Did anyone tell you why Hank's venom couldn't fully turn you? Did they tell you why he came back for you a year later?"

I heard a low growl escape from Eli's chest.

"Mr Aleksandrov told me a charm had been put on me as a baby, preventing the venom from turning me completely."

"How creative." Lucian snickered, the other vampires joined in. "And incorrect."

I chewed the inside of my cheek in thought. I hadn't thought about my father. My mother told me he'd bailed on us, plain and simple. I didn't ask any more questions because I didn't care. As for Mr Aleksandrov, why would he lie to me? What would he get out of it?

"Why should I believe a word you say?"

"Because I'm the only one telling you the truth."

I couldn't help but glance at Eli. He was watching me curiously, apologetically.

"Did you and Ivan lie to me?" I asked quietly.

The vampires shifted in their seats, leaning closer, making sure they didn't miss anything. Ludiia dashed over to Eli and leaned against him, claiming him. The jealousy she forced into my chest distracted me from keeping my eyes solely on him. She was smirking at my frustration.

The territorial feeling that surged through my body felt alien-like. Only Eli De Luca could make me feel things I've never felt before.

"Ruby, you don't want to get into this." His voice was hard.

"What's the real story?" I asked Lucian, ignoring Eli's comment.

I didn't know if I could trust what Lucian said, but I had a backup plan. Eli wouldn't lie to me now, not after everything we'd been through together.

"Tamzin!" Lucian called.

A tall Indonesian man walked in through a flap in the side of the door. He wasn't like me or Eli, he wasn't even a vampire. He was human. Tamzin's skin was a deep olive; his hair was slicked back, exposing a narrow face and high cheekbones.

"Bring him in."

"No, don't do this, Lucian. If this goes wrong, you could destroy everything," Eli shouted.

"Do you think you can order me around? You're nothing more than a lowly guardian. You're disposable, replaceable." His voice was icy and flat.

All I could get out of my brain were words. Not formed in sentences or anything that made sense. Was he going to bring in my father? Was my dad a vampire? I couldn't help but feel like my brain was short circuiting and it needed rebooting.

"Wait," I called to Tamzin. He turned to face me. "I accept."

"Ruby!" Eli growled at me.

"But on a few conditions."

"Name it."

"You do not touch anyone at Sage Sanctum. You do not tell me anything about me until I ask. Any more information and I'm going to have nervous breakdown. Lastly, you give me a week to say goodbye to my friends."

"And you reinstate me as her guardian angel," Eli added.

"No." I panicked.

"I'm not letting you do this alone."

Everyone else in the room faded away. I wasn't paying attention to them. It was just Eli and I talking now.

"I won't put your life at risk again, please," I begged.

"I'm not giving you a choice," Eli said through clenched teeth.

His eyes were filled with frustration, a pleading frustration. I couldn't leave without him and he knew it.

"And Eli is to be reinstated as my guardian angel," I muttered to Lucian.

Lucian rubbed his index finger across his top lip in thought.

"I may be a vampire, Miss Moore, but I still stand strongly against Guardian Angel and G.o.d-slash-G.o.ddess relationships."

"There is no relationship between Mr De Luca and I."

"Please," Ludiia scoffed. "The s.e.xual tension is suffocating me."

I scowled at her.

"Ludiia is right. It's painfully obvious the feelings you have for each other. Your actions speak louder than your words. It's disgusting."

"I have a boyfriend. His name is Hunter and he's a G.o.d," I lied, dropping my gaze to the floor. I hoped it would better our chances and take the scrutiny off Eli and I. I was still mad at him for what he did, but if dropping his name helped, it was the least he could do for me.

"Hunter Reeves?"

I didn't know Hunter's last name but I nodded anyway. I glanced up at Lucian, who was rubbing his chin, pondering my conditions.

"Fine. You have a deal. I expect you back here on Friday. You have six days to get your s.h.i.t together."

I exhaled, but I wasn't relieved, although I should celebrate every small victory I get over a vampire. Vampires aren't usually known for negotiating. I must have something he really wants.

"If you breathe a word about this to anyone, I will destroy your school and everyone you know."

In entered the masked men with guns that escorted us in earlier.

"Oh, can't I keep him?" Ludiia complained.

"Not anymore." Lucian replied.

I turned and met her eyes before we exited. She no longer smiled her impudent smile. She glared at me, her jaw clenched.

Out in the open the trees rustled loudly against the cool night breeze, giving an eerie feel. For a moment I forgot where we were. The tent seemed like a permanent structure, not a temporary one set up just outside my school.

My home.

The sounds of the dry crackling leaves beneath our feet were sending shivers down my spine. I was on edge. I glanced over my shoulder and the three anonymous men were gone, leaving Eli and I alone in the bush. The tress cast freaky shadows on the clear path. I tried to force the unwanted images of being mauled to death by vampires from my mind. I needed to get to the safety of my dorm.