Escape
**
Klaus pov
I press a finger to my lips, not even daring to move.
The room I’m in is tiny and bare. If one of Elena’s people decides to come in, there is no way to hide Ruby.
Well, have to fight our way out, no matter how slim our chances of success are.
The footsteps fade. I breathe again.
I quietly crouch down next to the weapons. They look like ordinary weapons-a gun, a knife, a couple of throwing stars. But they’re not ordinary.
They glow red, a sign that they’ve been enchanted by witches specifically to hurt and kill vampires.
I arm myself, handing the spare knife to Ruby. She takes it without protest. She tilts her head to the door, her eyebrows raised in question.
“They’re gone for now. We can talk, but quietly.”
“There’s not much else to say, at least for now.”
Katherine said she’s going to blow up an empty building when they’re ready to move from her side. Judging by the layout of this place, I think our best bet is to shoot through the door, then go through the window at the end of the corridor outside.
I don’t remember much from when I was dragged in here, so I’ll have to take Ruby’s word for it. I still can’t believe she’s actually here.
“You should never have come,” I murmur, pulling her close.
She melts into me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“Like I would ever just leave you here.”
The likelihood of both of us making it out of here alive is slim. I know that if I don’t tell her how I feel now, I’ll regret it for all the endless centuries ahead.
The last time I uttered the words to anyone, they died.
But I didn’t regret telling them. I only regretted not protecting them.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
She says it easily, but with a warmth and conviction in her voice that tells me, she’s telling the truth without even having to read her thoughts.
We stand like that, soaking in the comfort of each other’s presence.
An explosion somewhere out of sight makes the ground shake.
Ruby and I break apart.
It’s the signal.
I grab my gun and aim. The lock shatters. It wasn’t made to be impervious to spelled bullets.
I hold Ruby’s hand tightly as I pull her into the corridor. There is one vampire there, who I shoot in the shoulder. He passes out at once.
The window doesn’t have bars on it, at least, but it is locked.
I shoot the latch and pull it open.
“Come here, quickly.”
Ruby lets me boost her up and she scrambles out. I leap after her, picking her up and breaking into a run.
I make a wide circle around Elena’s coven, heading in the direction of the explosion.
This all feels too easy.
A building is in shambles.
Standing just outside it is Amelia, with Mia. They probably have Amelia here in case I need emergency feeding, but Ruby has restored me.
My heart is swelling with relief as I put Ruby down on her feet.
She collapses, shaking violently.
Ruby?
At first, I think that she’s just shaken from the run, but it’s more than that. She’s convulsing.
“Move, Klaus.” Amelia gently pushes me aside and examines Emi.
What’s wrong with her?” I demand.
Amelia doesn’t answer as she runs her hands down Serena’s body, apparently searching. for something.
“We need to get her back to the coven.”
“Why didn’t you bring your medical supplies here!”
I brought everything I thought I’d need,” Amelia tells me calmly. “This is – I don’t want to say too soon. Let’s go.”
I scoop Serena up in my arms and follow Amelia and Mai to a car.
Mai drives, speeding so fast that Ruby and I are periodically thrown against the car. doors, but I don’t complain.