Page 19 of Mated By the Alphas
But how? How the fuck did she know to come here? And why?
I need to call my brothers, but my phone is next to the clothes I left behind, and there’s definitely not enough time to go back for it.
I could stop her. Shift into my Natural Form, cause a distraction, and scare her away. She’d never know it was me. But if she runs inside instead of running away, she’ll be all alone. Scion or not, she’s no match for a vampire. Fledglings are weak, but a maker is a predator like me. A Fae could dazzle them, a witch might have a trick up their sleeve, but neither would be enough to escape the vampire’s fangs if they were alone.
If she goes in there by herself, she’s dead. And if I don’t go in with her, I won’t be able to protect her.
As she gets to the stop of the broken stairs and peers through the rotten doors, I make my decision.
I have to reveal myself to her.
CHAPTER 9
Ansley
I’m feeling overwhelmed.
The strange sensation that someone is watching me still lingers. The tremors from my bizarre experience at Daisy’s apartment haven’t gone away. Now, I’m standing outside of an old, dilapidated cathedral, seriously considering going inside.
Somehow, I justknowDaisy is in there. I’m as sure of that as I’ve ever been sure of anything.
A part of me wants to call the cops. That’s what I was going to do before my limbs went weak and my eyes rolled back in my head. Before some sort of vision or hallucination brought me here.
But what would I tell them? I can’t explain why I’m here. Can’t explain why I’m certain Daisy is inside St. Michaels Cathedral. I wouldn’t believe it if I were in their position. They’ll think I’m losing my mind or suffering from delusions. They might not even go inside to check.
“I’ll just take a peek. If I see that weird guy she went on a date with, I’ll run away and call the cops,” I decide, nodding along with my plan. “It’s just an old cathedral. Not like it’s haunted. I’m too old to believe in things like that.” Somehow my self-pep talk doesn’t feel as reassuring as I’d hoped it would.
The sensation that I’m being watched gets stronger. I quickly look around, but don’t see anyone. This part of town is run-down. Most of the buildings are abandoned, but there are a few residential houses that show signs that someone still lives there.
I gather my courage and turn back to the set of sagging wooden doors. They’re massive. One is hanging off the hinges. I use my phone to shine a light inside, hoping to see something that will convince me Daisy is inside and I’mnotjust losing my mind.
The beam cuts through heavy darkness, illuminating dust that hangs in the air like it’s been suspended there for decades. The entrance opens into what must have been the main part of the cathedral. Rows of wooden pews stretch into the shadows, most of them broken or overturned. Some are missing entirely, leaving gaps between them.
The floor is littered with debris. Broken glass is everywhere. There are chunks of plaster, mixed with pieces of wood, and crumbled stone. The ceiling soars overhead, vaulted, Gothic, and painted with scenes from Biblical events. I can barely make them out, because most are hidden by darkness my phone’s light can’t reach. I can make out the skeletal remains of what were once beautiful arches, but they’re cracked and crumbling with age and neglect.
Water damage stains the walls in long, dark streaks. In some places, the stone has given way entirely, exposing rusted metal rods and hollow spaces. The stained-glass windows that remaincast colored light across the floor. It’ll be dark soon, but there’s still enough light to make it eerie.
“Daisy?” I call out softly, my voice echoing in the vast emptiness. “Daisy, are you in there?”
I lean closer and the smell hits me. Musty, damp rot. Mildew and decay. There’s something else underneath it that I can’t quite identify. Something that turns my stomach.
I start to cross the threshold when the sensation that I’m being watched intensifies. Then I hear something behind me. It isn’t my imagination. I spin around and see a man standing at the bottom of the cathedral steps.
I recognize him immediately. It’s the same guy from Fletcher’s Bar. The one who was staring at me. The one I almost talked to before he disappeared. He’s wearing a black t-shirt that is a size too small and pants that are a size too big.
“You!” I gasp, taking a step back and nearly stumbling.
I should be afraid. More than afraid, I should be terrified. I’m not. The sensation that someone is watching me fades and it is replaced by something else. A feeling of warmth. Sunshine after a cold rain. A blanket fresh from the dryer on a winter day.
“You can’t go in there, Ansley,” he growls, his voice sounding more like an order than a request. “It’s dangerous.”
“You know my name,” I say, and things just begin to click. Like a puzzle being solved in my head. “You’re the one who has been watching me. Following me. It all started at Fletcher’s Bar the night I saw you staring at me, and it hasn’t gone away.”
“I won’t deny it,” he says. “My name is Hayden. I mean you no harm.”
“But why?” I ask, concern making me tremble, despite the strange sensation of warmth. “Are you the one who took Daisy?”
“Daisy? Who the fuck is… oh, thebartender?” Hayden shakes his head. “No, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is that why you’re here?”
