A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

kidnapped by a
civilization that had been kept secret for thousands of years. My fate was
sealed. Where was Aidan when I needed him the most? Probably getting a good day’s
sleep in his comfortable vampire dungeon.
    Angel returned carrying a breakfast tray
with croissants, butter and cream, then disappeared again to get the coffee. “Hope
it’s what you usually have,” she said as soon as she sat down, pushing a plate
across the table.
    “Is this stuff safe to eat? No poison in
that jelly?” I took a tentative sip of my coffee, eyeing the croissant
carefully.
    “Would you like to switch trays?” Angel
pushed her plate toward me.
    I shook my head. “No, thanks. Sorry, my
nerves are on edge.”
    Angel took a bite of her bagel and pointed
at the mountain below. “Beautiful, isn’t it? Do you like it here?”
    Was she kidding? “I froze all night. My
back’s killing me. I want home, and I’m scared to death. But I guess the view
makes it all worth it.”
    “You’re funny,” Angel said.
    Smiling, I took another sip of my coffee. “I
wasn’t actually joking, but yeah, it’s nice. It’s very different from anything
I’ve ever seen.”
    “Living with the same people loses its
appeal after a while.” Her voice quivered. “It’s strange.”
    We fell silent as a tall, black-eyed guy
approached to ignite a fire inside the marble fireplace. The flames started to
leap greedily at the surrounding glass, gnawing at the logs. I resumed the
conversation. “You don’t seem happy.”
    Angel laughed. “What? What makes you say
that? I had no one before coming here and am grateful for everything.” She
leaned forward and peeked over her shoulder, lowering her voice. “I know you’re
not like them. You’re mortal.”
    “What’s their deal?”
    Angel shook her head, her huge, brown eyes
filled with something I couldn’t quite pinpoint. “I can’t tell anyone. But I
understand the fear you must be going through because I was in a similar
situation years ago.”
    “You’re mortal too?” I whispered, suddenly
noticing the blue vein on her neck, and the freckles on her nose. She didn’t
have the same blemish-free skin like the others. There was no mistake: She was
human.
    Angel nodded. “Yes, just like you, minus the
fancy abilities.”
    “You must’ve been convicted of, I don’t
know, robbing the local candy store. What did you get, twenty years to life?”
    “I was chosen to live among them. I wasn’t given
an alternative because my—” Angel hesitated “—friend lives here.”
So, the girl hooked up with a Shadow. That was even freakier than hooking up
with a vampire.
    “Maybe we could break out of this joint
together,” I said. Even though I infused a cheerful tone into my voice, I hoped
she’d take my suggestion seriously.
    “You’ve laid eyes on a city only a handful
of humans has ever seen in thousands of years. You’re not going anywhere.” Angel
leaned forward, whispering, “I wish I could help you, but I can’t let you
escape.” She drained the last of her cup and pointed at my untouched croissant.
“You should eat up. It may take a while before anyone thinks of feeding you
again.”
    “Even prisoners get bread and water.”
    “Not here. These people hardly ever eat. In
a few days, they’ll have forgotten you’re mortal. You’re stuck here with them
forever.”
    I figured out that much, but the
possibility of not seeing Dallas, my parents or Aidan again wasn’t an appealing
one. “I did all of this for somebody I truly care about. His name’s Aidan.” I
felt myself blush just saying his name.
    “I know all about him. Devon filled me in before
I picked you up. Aidan must think you’re a hero.”
    I smiled. “Or an idiot.”
    “So how long have you been into vampires?”
    “What?” I snorted. “It’s not like that. Not
at all. I didn’t go out one day looking for one, like some groupie. Aidan just
kind of popped into my life. And I had to screw everything up by taking the
jewels and getting this stupid prize. I messed up big time.”
    Angel’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Was
it love at first bite?”
    I had a feeling I’d get that joke a lot. “He
doesn’t bite. Before you ask, he doesn’t sleep in a coffin either. And yes, he
can be a pain in the neck. No pun intended.”
    Angel laughed. “You’re pretty cool. I like
you. I haven’t been around a real mortal in years. I miss it.”
    “Thank you.” I nodded, slightly
uncomfortable. How long