Gaslight (Crossbreed #4)(105)
The man’s shoulders sagged, and he recited off a series of numbers that belonged to the crate. “They leave in thirty minutes, so be sure you’re off that boat, or it’s my ass.”
“Thanks! You’re a lifesaver.”
He gave a tight smile and headed back.
I’d taken a chance using Temple’s name when he could’ve been within earshot, but Vampires often muted out sounds to keep their sanity. I glanced over my shoulder as I approached the ship, making sure no one was following. It looked clear, so I jogged up the ramp and made my way aboard.
Two men were roping something off, so I circled around them and walked along the outer edge since all the cargo took up the middle. When I found a walkway that cut through the center, I looked at each crate in search of the numbers. There were so many stacked on top of each other. How the hell was I supposed to get it open? Whatever blood I’d taken from Christian had been hours ago, so most of that Vampire strength had probably worn off by now.
I studied the first three numbers on every crate I passed until I reached the other side of the boat. The outer edge was clear, with narrow passageways through the center, allowing workers to navigate easily around the ship. When I reached the end of the next aisle, I approached a group of smaller crates on the other side. A wooden one stood out, about the same size as the one Kira had arrived in.
I squatted down and read the numbers at the bottom, which were a perfect match. “Hello, darling.”
I searched around me but didn’t see anything useful to open the crate. With time ticking, I flashed back to where the two men were working and hid around the corner. Just within reach were a crowbar and mallet. While one guy was busy telling a sex joke, I crawled around a crate and waited for my chance. As soon as he hit the punch line and they busted a gut laughing, I reached for the crowbar and scampered away.
The last thing I wanted was to get the workers involved and have to knock them out. They were just blue-collar guys who probably busted their ass for that job, and chances were it was the boss accepting money under the table for any illegal shipments.
As I neared the crate, a man in a fur-lined collar stepped into view. Definitely not one of the crew. He pressed his gloved finger against his remarkably small lips, and I knew by his smug grin that it had to be Temple. The lights on the ship revealed his pale skin, a flawless complexion despite his sagging cheeks and droopy eyes.
His black eyes were hollow, lifeless orbs that made me shudder. I dropped the crowbar and reached for an impalement stick in my coat. When his fangs punched out, I flashed to the left, but before I could reach the other side, he appeared around the corner as if he’d always been there.
The walkways were too dark—easy for him to shadow walk—so I stood a better chance in the light. I jumped on top of a shipping crate, then another until I reached the top. Niko had taught me to always keep moving and make sure I never let anyone corner me. The crates weren’t stacked level, so I jumped over a few and ran to the highest level where I could see. Eyes wide, I searched the shadowy passageways.
It wouldn’t take long for him to find me. All he had to do was listen for my heart pounding and heavy breathing. Temple suddenly slithered up the shadows and appeared in front of me. Startled, I swung my arm and missed when he backed up a step. Much too close to Temple, I leapt across the walkway to the other side and turned around. If my aim wasn’t true, he could snap my neck and tear my head away. I’d heard enough stories about rogue Vampires and had witnessed their strength to believe it.
Temple charged after me, and I sprinted away and dropped down to a lower crate. Boxed in, I had no choice but to jump to the ground.
Temple appeared as if by magic. I twirled my impalement stake and threw it hard, but he ducked out of the way. It was my best stake—the one with the heavy metal ring in the center to give it more weight for throwing.
Just as I reached in my coat for another, Viktor’s wolf moved in like a blur. His jaws snapped and latched around Temple’s arm, ripping away the sleeve of his coat. When Temple swung at him, Viktor dodged out of the way with the cunning speed of a predator. They disappeared around the corner by the edge of the boat, so I ran in the opposite direction and turned up another passageway.
Viktor attacked with fury and speed, knowing exactly the moment to let go before the Vampire could strike. From what Viktor had told me, a cunning wolf could easily take down a Mage. But a Vampire? Growling like a madman, Temple kicked at the wolf but missed. When he turned his back, I flashed at him with a stake in hand.
Sensing my attack, he turned, his eyes ripe with malice, and struck my arm as I brought it down. The stake slashed through his hand, and I ducked when he swung a second time.
With my right arm broken from his powerful blow, I sank my fangs into his thigh and swallowed whatever blood I could suck through his pants. Viktor’s wolf savagely thrashed, distracting him long enough for me to get in one good swallow of blood. Draining the Vamp was impossible, but I could use his blood to heal and borrow his strength.
Seconds later, a heart-stopping yelp ended with a distant splash in the water.
I scampered back, caught up on the tail of my coat. Viktor was nowhere in sight.
Temple looked upon me with disdain when he realized what I was—or more specifically, what I wasn’t.
With my arm now healed, I flashed my fangs at him and moved to get up. Temple’s eyes went wide, and it was then that I saw the arms around his neck and head. Christian held him in a death grip.