Warriors of Poseidon 02 - Atlantis Awakening

her, and she forced a mocking smile. "Interesting the choice of dosages the vampires use, isn't it?
    Wonder which of you so-called allies they'll use those darts on next?"
     
    One of them cuffed her in the face with his huge hand, splitting her lip against her teeth.
    As the blood ran down her chin, she savored the bitter satisfaction of seeing the doubt on their faces.
     
    Discord and discontent among the ranks, maybe? We'll just see how we can use it to our advantage.
     
    Quinn fought for the calm she needed to come up with options. She'd been in worse situations, but her terror over what they might do to Justice and—especially—Jack was threatening to overwhelm her reason. She tried to slow her breathing, but the head vamp trained his red gaze on her.
     
    Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
    Page 236 of 296
    "I don't like the sound of this one's mouth," the leader said, coming closer. He raised one hand, and the last thing Quinn saw was his fist coming at her face.

Chapter 27
The cabin
    Erin shot straight out of sleep, fighting her way through dreams slashed with fangs and claws and red, glowing eyes. She screamed and fought against the weight suffocating and trapping her.
     
    "Hey, it's me, mi amara. It's Ven. Calm down."
     
    She forced her eyes open and stared into his face. His forehead was furrowed with concern. "Ven?" She glanced down and realized the weight pinning her down was simply his arm that had been resting across her abdomen as they slept.
     
    "Yes, you had a bad dream. It's okay—" His soothing words abruptly cut off. "No, it's not okay. That's sunlight streaming in through the chinks in the west wall. Quinn and Jack should have woken us long before this."
     
    He vaulted out of the bed and reached for the weapons that he always kept near and Erin sat up hastily and pulled on her boots.
     
    "Maybe they slept somewhere else?" She realized as she said it that it didn't make sense, a feeling he confirmed with a quick, decisive shake of his head.
     
    "No way. They're professionals and they would have known we'd expect them to check in as they said they'd do or we'd assume the worst." He finished stowing his various daggers and his sword in their sheaths on his body and then pulled on his long, leather coat to cover it all.
    Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
    Page 237 of 296
    "So we expect the worst," she said grimly. "But it doesn't change anything. We still have to go after the Nereid's Heart now, while the sun is up and the vamps will be at their weakest."
     
    He strode to a window and peered out through the cracks between the boards covering it, then repeated the action everywhere there was a chink or crack large enough to see through. "I don't see anybody, but that doesn't mean anything. Any shifter worth his fur will be hiding in the trees, not sitting out in the open."
     
    He stopped, back to the door, and looked at her for a long moment, then he growled out a vicious-sounding stream of words. She might not have known the language, but it was easy enough to guess the meaning.
     
    "Ven, quit cussing like a wounded bear and tell me what is going on in that five-hundred-year-old head of yours," she said, trying for a smile.
     
    "I'm not five hundred yet and I'm not likely to get there at this rate," he muttered. "Look, Erin, I'm not sure I can do this."
     
    "Do what?"
     
    "Allow you to risk your life. Why don't you tell me how I can find this ruby and you head your pretty little ass back to Seattle and your people?"
     
    Her mouth had fallen open back at "allow you." "I'm sorry?"
     
    He blinked. "Why are you sorry? You have nothing to apologize for."
     
    "I know I have nothing to apologize for, you… you… overbearing Atlantean dunderhead!
    I’m sorry is another way to say excuse me. Or—better—what the hell do you think you're talking about?"
    Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
    Page 238 of 296
    "I get that you're angry at me, but—"
     
    She finished lacing her boots and stood up. "Two words. 'Allow you.' Figure it out."
     
    As she yanked her coat on, he crossed the room and caught her waist and lifted her up off the floor until she was equal in height to him. "My choice is this, gem singer," he said, biting off the words. "I can lead you into what is almost certainly a suicide attempt to discover a priceless, magical ruby that, from all accounts, is hidden somewhere in the middle of Caligula's home base."
     
    "Put. Me. Down.