Warriors of Poseidon 06 - Atlantis Betrayed

Fiona’s gaze in the mirror. “So, do you really like this guy? Do I have to be nice to him?”
    Atlantis Betrayed – Warriors of Poseidon 06
    Page 91 of 188
    “Play nice, boys. Please. Sean, do you have my bag?”
    He handed the leather tote back to her, and she pulled out a handful of chunky costume jewelry, her makeup kit, and a short black wig. She quickly donned the bracelets, rings, and necklaces, and then examined herself in the rearview mirror, considering. She added a pair of giant hoop earrings she’d never normally be caught dead wearing. Then she brushed on a thick layer of dark makeup. Smoky eyes, dark red lipstick, and bronzer. The final touch was the wig. She fit it around her head, pinning her hair underneath it. When she was satisfied that not a single strand of blond showed, she leaned back in her seat and turned to Christophe.
    “What do you think? Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, right?”
    “Who?”
    “No movie theaters where you come from?”
    “Sadly, no, but the prince’s brother Ven has TVs and DVD players in all of his safe houses, so we’ve watched a lot of films.”
    “Of course. The prince’s brother. Anyway, watch that one. American classic.”
    “I like the look. It’s kind of hot.”
    She narrowed her eyes, and he raised his hands.
    “Not as hot as you usually look,” he said, backtracking.
    “Way to go, mate,” Sean said. “Smooth. Really smooth.”
    “Yeah. It’s a gift,” Christophe muttered.
    “This is not a nice part of town,” Sean said, turning down a road that was no bigger than an alley. “Are you sure about this, Lady Fiona?”
    “Yes, I’m sure. We’re going to The Melting Moon, and we need—”
    Sean’s yelp cut her off. “What the hell is that?”
    He swerved the car and then slammed on the brakes.
    A black vehicle—big, some kind of SUV—seemed to fill the windshield as it hurtled toward them at a very high rate of speed. Fiona cried out a warning or prayer or call for help; she wasn’t sure which.
    Suddenly, the bright glow of blue-green energy filled the car. Christophe grabbed her and yanked her down to the seat, covering her with his body. But the expected crash never came; instead the loud screech of brakes sounded in front of the car and, seconds later, on each side of the car, too.
    “We’ve got trouble,” Christophe said, unnecessarily. “Stay in the car.”
    Atlantis Betrayed – Warriors of Poseidon 06
    Page 92 of 188
    He kissed the top of her head, threw the door open, and leapt out of the car. She heard a loud hissing noise and immediately flashed back to a visceral, terrifying childhood memory, and her blood turned to ice in her veins.
    Vampires.
    Daddy.
    “No. Not again. Sean, stay in the car and get down on the floor.” Calling to the shadows, she slipped out of the car behind Christophe, hiding from sight in the darkness and scanning the area. The dark forms advancing on them from the vehicle on this side of the car weren’t alone. More shadowy shapes climbed out of the vehicles in front and on the other side, and as she watched, a fourth pulled up behind them.
    They were barricaded in like sheep in a pen.
    She had no intention of being a sheep.
    Sean jumped out of the driver’s seat, a very serious-looking gun in his right hand and a wooden stake in the left. Hopkins must have been training him to do more than drive her around. She wanted to throw herself in front of him and protect him, as she had when she first met him, but she realized she’d do more harm than good. She was definitely firing that boy later, for his own good. For now, she flanked Christophe and ignored his stream of Atlantean cursing.
    “Fiona, I can smell you,” he said softly. “If I can smell you, don’t you think they can? Or hear your heartbeat? Run, damn it.”
    She’d forgotten. A childhood memory of fear had driven away common sense. She called to her Gift again and used wind and shadow to disperse any sound and scent. In seconds, no trace of her remained, and yet Christophe turned and stared right into her eyes.
    “I will always be able to find you. Get out of here before you get hurt. Please.”
    She knew what it had cost him to add that “please.” He was a man used to issuing commands and having them obeyed. She could tell that from the effortless way he’d taken over a leadership role in their quest for Vanquish. She wasn’t much for obeying, and she had a trick of her own—literally up her sleeve.
    A ninja never left home