Chapter 30: Second Chances
AN: Look! See? I was a good little author and didn't take weeks to update! I am feeling rather special right now. Okay, special feeling's gone and I'm back down on Earth. Not much to say right now, so just go read the chapter right now. I mean it. Stop reading this author's note.
"Quiet," hissed Aleera. We were making our way down a darkened hallway, a rather spooky one at that. While Aleera's vampiric abilities allowed her to tread completely silently, I was not so gifted. She must have been worried that Dracula would hear a lone pair of footsteps and come to investigate, so I tried to make my already light steps even quieter. I must have succeeded, for she did not mention it again.
I longed to ask her where we were going but dared not for fear of blowing our cover. However, I was fighting a double battle: I also had to concentrate on not letting my fear and nervousness leak to the top of my mind, where Dracula would undoubtedly sense it. I must not have succeeded in either one or the other, or perhaps he was just looking for me, because simultaneously Aleera's and my ears picked up the faintest possible rustle of cloth on cloth.
Aleera shot me a look that said, "Hide!" Spotting an open doorway, I ducked in and hid in the triangular space formed between the back of an overstuffed armchair and the corner of the wall. Taking a deep calming breath helped to slow my heartbeat, which had been racing, and also cleared my mind. I waited, expecting to be discovered at any moment.
From far down the hall (Aleera must have moved), I heard two voices.
"Aleera, have you seen Destiny?" I sighed in relief. It was only Verona, and fortunately, Aleera had the situation covered.
"Verona, why would I even care where the little wench is, much less know? I have other things to do than play babysitter." I could imagine Verona's resigned nod.
"Fine," she said. "But keep an eye out for her." The swish of a dress signified her exit.
I still did not move until Aleera appeared in the doorway of the room. She did not say anything, nor did she have to. I crept out from my hiding place and fell silently into step behind her. Two secret passages, one more close call, and one flight of stairs later, we reached the basement.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked dubiously. Aleera had led me in front of a small tunnel just high enough for me to walk in, too small for a normal person. I heard a rustle of cloth behind me as Aleera crossed her arms in irritation.
"This is the only way to get out of here without being immediately caught. Once you're out of this room, you're on your own." Her tone of voice indicated that she did not think me capable of making it on my own, and she was probably privately hoping that I'd die somewhere along the way.
"Where does it lead?" I asked, really not liking this turn of events. If only there was another way…but there wasn't.
"Listen up, because I'm only going to tell you this once. If you forget, it's not my problem. Follow the tunnel. It'll dead-end into the sewers underneath the city. Oh, quit worrying," she snapped, seeing my disgusted look at the mention of sewers. "They're big, brick, and have small paths on either side for the odd maintenance worker. Anyway, go to the right and walk straight for about 300 yards. You should see a ladder on your right."
"Oh, perfect." That was going to be fun.
"I never said it would be a walk in the park, now did I? Take the ladder all the way to the top and if you've picked the right one, the hole at the top should be open. It'll be located in a back alley. That 'Holy Order' lackey should be there waiting for you."
I sighed, trying to remember all that. "Okay. Thank you Aleera."
She shook her fiery head with a smirk. "Oh, don't thank me. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for me. And if I ever see you again, I'll kill you. Remember that." She swept out of the room.
"Some things never change," I muttered to myself as I climbed into the tunnel. I kept one hand on the wall, which was both a blessing, since it kept me on course, and a curse, because I was afraid that any minute I would run into some animal's bones. The thought was not a comforting one.
After what seemed like forever, but was probably only five or ten minutes, the tunnel opened up into the city sewers, just as Aleera had said. The 'path' was actually only a three-foot wide brick walkway. Three feet that separated me from the filthy, nearly stagnant sewer water. The smell was atrocious, but the thought of freedom kept me going.
One thing Aleera had neglected to mention was that there were quite a few ladders on this side of the sewer. If I was the slightest bit over or under the 300 yards, I might never find the right ladder. I shivered. Maybe that was her intent, to have me slowly perish in this forsaken place, alone and frightened. I squared my shoulders against the thought. I would not give her the satisfaction of frightening me and if I had to try a thousand ladders, I would do so.
Carefully, I navigated the path, counting the yards as best I could. When the total reached 300, I stopped in front of the ladder that was positioned there. I looked up, trying in vain to see where it led, but was met only with darkness. I would have to take it on faith, and so I slowly started to climb, not an easy task for me at the moment. Soon, I was shrouded in darkness once more.
My hand, groping for another rung, was instead met with something metal. I felt around the edges. It was circular in shape, and just big enough for a man to get through. I pushed upward slightly and felt it give way. Heartened by this, I pushed harder and over to one side. It opened and, looking up, I could see the sky, something I had not seen in who knows how long.
A hand was offered in assistance and not caring whom it was, I took it without question. Once I was out of the hole, I turned to see who had helped me. It was Damon, leaning against the wall of the narrow alley that housed this manhole. I thought my heart would burst in relief. I bit my lip, not sure of what to say.
"Took you long enough," he said wryly. I smiled, glad that he did not appear mad at me for being as stupid as I had been.
"Well, we had a close call. Actually, two, but that's beside the point."
"Yes it is. Come on." He turned and started walking out of the alley. I followed him, basking in the light of false dawn, comforted that the coming day appeared clear of clouds. But behind those feeling lay the apprehension of what was to come. Any moment now, Dracula would discover my absence. Any moment now I would feel his rage.
Damon stopped, but I, not paying attention, ran smack into him. He had stopped before a nondescript-looking carriage. Opening the door, he beckoned silently for me to get in. He followed, closing the door after him. I sagged against the seat with a sigh as the carriage began to move.
"You were extremely stupid, you know that?" I winced, having anticipated this conversation.
"I know I know I know. Do you think I haven't kicked myself about that a hundred times over?" I crossed my arms and looked out the window. "You don't know how confusing it was to be back there."
"Confusing?" Damon's tone was very suspicious. I kicked myself for that slip of the tongue.
"It's nothing."
"On the contrary," he pressed, "I think it's everything."
"Just leave it okay?" I snapped. I really didn't want to explain to a demon hunter from Rome that I still loved the vampire I was running from. He wouldn't understand at all, and he'd probably get angry with me. I wanted to avoid bearing the brunt of any more anger than I had to. Any moment now…
Sometimes I hated being right, especially when it ended in pain. For a moment, I would just barely feel his presence in the back of my mind before, without warning, I was caught up in the red flood that was his rage. I screamed, hands over my ears, trying futilely to block it all out. He was yelling at me with words that were not words at all.
With a moment of sickening realization, I knew that this was why Aleera had helped me escape. She had wanted me to feel all of this pain just when I had thought myself finally safe and free of it. And if I was accidentally killed in the process, she would shed absolutely no tears over my grave. In fact, she would probably dance on it.
Someone was shaking me roughly and in my delirium, I thought it was Dracula. Shaking my head from side to side, I tried to escape their hold to no avail. Finally, they slapped me and my eyes snapped open.
Damon loomed over me, concern written on his face. Realizing where I was, I was able to summon what strength I had left and kick Dracula out of my mind.
"Are you all right?" Damon asked.
"For now." I was surprised at how hoarse my voice was. But screaming will do that to you. He resumed his seat on the other side of the carriage.
"Why don't you try and rest for a while," he suggested. "It's going to be a pretty long ride.
After a few days of travelling, we finally stopped. Damon opened the door of the carriage and we stepped out into a large sunlit courtyard. It was circled by buildings of a most unusual design, one with many pillars and arches, all out of stone. He led me to the largest one, the one with a dome on top. This, then, must be the Vatican.
Once inside, he practically had to drag me along, because I wanted to stop and look at everything. It was all so beautiful. My country-bred eyes weren't used to seeing so much gold. We stopped at a small wooden confessional. Damon went in and I heard his voice through the curtain.
"Bless me father, for I have sinned." I heard the whir of something being lifted; obviously the phrase was some sort of password of something. Damon poked his head out of the curtain.
"Come on Destiny," he said. Surely there wasn't enough room two people in the confessional. I was quickly proven wrong as I saw that one wall of the tiny room was gone and in its place was a stone passageway. An aging man in red with a white-streaked beard was waiting for us. Damon motioned for me to follow him.
"Is this her?" the man asked, his strong voice at odds with his appearance.
"Yes Cardinal Claudius, this is Destiny. Destiny, meet Cardinal Claudius. He is the head of the Knights of the Holy Order."
The cardinal turned to me with a warm smile.
"Then Destiny," he said, "Welcome to Rome."
Well, she's finally in Rome. Took a while, didn't it? Cookies to everyone who reviews.;D