Page 22 of Ruby Red Sky

After I cleared my plate, I went to the closet and grabbed some fresh clothing. Then I took a quick shower. One thing I’d forgotten to grab when I’d been taken from my apartment, was my cosmetics.

The ensuite had a drawer full of eyeshadow and liner, and a couple tubes of either lipstick or lipgloss. It was hard to tell as I’d never seen anything like them. Even the applicator of the one I held in my hand was weird. It had a bunch of tiny holes in it.

Irritation prickled up my back when I thought about how many women probably paraded through this bathroom, leaving their stuff behind on purpose. Then I remembered Lukas wears makeup.

I wouldn’t have to worry about him bringing people around and seeing things I didn’t want to see.

Then I remembered that I didn’t even want him.

I tossed the makeup down and slammed the drawer shut before yanking my hair back and putting it in a ponytail. I needed to orient myself, and quickly, if I was going to figure out a way to get home. All of my stuff was probably already gone. There were likely wanted posters with my face all over them dominating the internet and street corners.

Still, I needed to leave and set the record straight. Nobody would believe I was capable of that much carnage, would they?

Just like always, the door didn’t want to open for me. I had examined the hinges and peeked at the locking mechanism many times. There was no reason for this. The only thing I could think was that Lukas put some type of spell on it, using whatever it was he used to manipulate objects.

A hand with black fingernails curled around the edge and pushed it open, saving me the trouble.

“Going somewhere?” It was Kiam, Lukas’s bestie. Or whatever he was.

Taking a step back, I said, “I don’t want to stay in here. What are you doing here?” I’d never been alone with the man and didn’t know what to think.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Home.”

He leveled a gaze. “We both know that’s not a possibility.”

“But why? You people have no right to keep me here.” I’d momentarily forgotten I was going for a truce. “Okay, well, I don’t want to be trapped in this room all the time. I’m bored. Can I go outside?”

“Lukas trusted me with your safekeeping. We’ll go for a walk.”

“You? Who are you?”

“My name is Kiam. I’m not natural born like Lukas. I’m from the same place as you.” The hallway was quiet and I tried to pay attention to Kiam while he spoke.

“You’re from New York?” I asked.

A couple of people I figured were servants walked quickly down the hall, one pushing a rolling basket full of material.

“No. The Third. That’s your Realm. The human Realm.”

“Realm,” I repeated. “There’s realms. So, what is this? You don’t really believe that do you?” I asked, but I wanted him to confirm the lie I kept telling myself.

He gestured at me to follow him. I’d come to a dead stop. “There are many. This is the First Realm. Land of born vampires and Kakian demons. You’ll see them around here.”

“What about humans? Are there people here? Not that you’re not a people. Wait, can I call vampires people?” My hand slid down my face. It was important that I got this right if I wanted anyone to trust me.

Kiam grinned at me. “We’re people. And yes, there are humans here—what do you think we eat?”

That part. Lukas had sniffed my neck more than once and I was just waiting for him to bite and kill me. “How do they get here?”

“We bring them. Shouldn’t you be asking Lukas these questions?”

“I never see him.”

Kiam watched me for a moment, and I wished I could read his mind. His mouth slid to the side, and he rubbed it, miraculously not smearing any of the dark lipstick he wore.

We turned a corner and the ceiling was higher, all arches and bowers, marble and gold. We were in what had to have been a castle. I’d guessed that before, from looking out the window for hours, but this confirmed the absolute luxury I now resided in.