I stood motionless, waiting until Laurent had gone, then worked to open the windows. They swung outward, giving me a good view of the manor's gardens. I groaned at the distance below.

Where was the creepy ivy when you needed it? I looked at the manor's outer walls. There was nothing I could use to climb down. But that wasn't enough to rule out the idea.

I went to the door, next. When the handle turned, my heart skipped. I popped my head out into the hallway. Empty.

He'd left the door unlocked?

I shut it and frowned. Laurent didn't strike me as careless. So, he'd done it purposefully. Or he was simply that confident in his ability to hold me captive, that he didn't care. That was probably it.

I moved around the rest of the room, taking it in with wide eyes. Throughout my childhood, even into my teenage years, I'd had a recurring fantasy. I'd usually escaped into it while falling asleep at night. It was always a variation of the same idea. I'd get adopted by a wealthy family and go from rags to riches. Or I'd just wake up in a different life. A different girl. It ached sometimes, how badly I wanted out, how hard I held on to the idea, hoping my fantasy would become real. As I got older, I realized the only person who would pull me out was myself.

Teenage me would be screaming with excitement right now. This defied even my wildest dreams. I exhaled, running my fingers over the bed's silk comforter. I'd heard Laurent say red room earlier and expected a bloody monstrosity. This was...elegant. Dark wood walls and furniture to match, with deep red upholstery and bedding. I examined the paintings on the walls, set in gold frames. They were signed—all of them. But I didn't know enough about art to know how valuable they were; something told me each one cost more than my mathematics degree.

I huffed, stepping away, turning in place.

And then there were the amenities. Fluffy robes, house slippers, a beautiful bathroom complete with a giant claw foot tub and shower, toiletries, et cetera. There were even extra blankets in the closet.

Its like my wildest dreams had come true in a twisted, awful way—

Knock-knock-knock.

I whirled towards the door, my heart kicking up. "Uhm. Come in?" I called.

A head popped in, short black bob swaying. In the light, I noticed beautiful streaks of red. The woman in question glanced around. Spotting me, she stepped over the threshold. "Well, now, he certainly wants you comfortable."

"Uhm, hi?"

"Oh! Manners. Yes." She strode across the room. I got the impression she could move much faster, but she was putting me at ease. "Zola Pirani, darling. It's an absolute pleasure." Her voice was breathy, low, sensual.

I swallowed, eying her proffered hand. She nudged it towards me, so I shook it. "Lily Shaw," I managed, then frowned. "Your skin—it's not..."

"Cold?" I nodded. "Of course not, darling. You really believe all that nonsense?"

I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut. I wasn't about to blame Laurent, even if he'd been lying. "Wait, so all the rumors about vampires aren't true? Holy water, crosses, garlic, all that?"

She laughed, throwing her head back. The sound of it made my belly flop. I couldn't help my eyes. They lingered over her long neck, down the length of her perfect body. What would it be like to be her? To live in a place like this? To wear dresses that cost me a year's rent.

She was still in the glitzy gown from before. In fact, she looked like she'd walked straight out of history, a perfect replica from another time. I wasn't generally attracted to females, and yet, I couldn't stop looking.

Her laugher cut off, head straightening. She inhaled, making a show of it, nostrils flaring. They kept doing that around me. Inhaling, like they could smell me. I was growing more and more certain that they could.

A small, pleased smile pulled at her lips. "Don't worry. I have that effect on everyone."

"Ev-everyone?" I stepped back, grabbing at the skirt of my gown, fisting the fabric. The effect she spoke of made my skin flush—confused me, even. Was this one of their abilities? To make humans lust after them, no matter their sex or preference? I'd felt similarly around Laurent, and even Marco, but I'm not sure they'd been purposefully trying to attract me.

Zola simply gave me a knowing look, then strode across the room. With an exaggerated dive, she bellyflopped on my bead, stretching out on her stomach, propping her chin on her hands, blinking at me. My lips parted at the sight. At how comfortable and natural she looked simply making herself at home. "Well, some rumors are very true, the ones that matter. The ridiculous ones, however, well...it's always fun to see what silly kinds of things humans will do to protect themselves."

"Like what?"

A smile stretched across her lips. It made me shiver, but only because it sent frightening chills down my spine. It was a predator's smile. I swallowed.

"So..." she said. I got the feeling she wasn't going to answer my question. "An amplifier, huh?"

I stared at her. Wait. Was it safe to be in here alone?

"Oh, come now, darling. Stop staring at me like that. I'm not going to bite you. I had a little snack before coming up."

I gawked. "A...a snack?"

"Oh, yes. Don't you worry your pretty, little head about it for one moment. I won't touch you, no matter how badly I want you. Besides, we're going to become the best of friends. No? I don't dine on my friends." My mouth opened and closed but all that came out was a croak. "Things have been so boring lately," she sighed. "Well, except for all the disappearing vampires."

I licked my lips. "Disappearing vampires?"

"Well, of course. Why do you think Laurent was at that party earlier?"

"He said something about a demon," I managed, fishing.

"A drug dealer. They're calling it Red Allure," she said, scoffing. My eyes widened. "So, you've heard of it, then? I thought so. Wait, you didn't have any, did you?" I shook my head, hard. "Good girl. That would have been very naughty. Very rude."

I snorted. "Vampires are allowed to drink human blood, but not the other way around?"

"We only drink from the willing. Well, we being those of us who have a shred of moral code left."

"And Red Allure?"

"I can assure you, my darling, no vampire gives up their blood willingly." I frowned. "Whoever is flooding the market is taking it by force, certainly not through honest means." Her face fell. "But never mind that. Ugh. Depressing. I want to hear more about you. Where do you come from? What's your story? Do you have a lover in your life? I've been looking for a new toy, any human recommendations? Ohhh! Tell me all the humans you despise, and I'll go find them, pay them a fun visit. I will even bring them back here, if you need revenge on anyone? I'm always eager for revenge. It's so...satisfying."

My eyes widened in horror as I struggled to keep up with her ping-ponging thoughts. "I...I thought you only took from willing victims."

One moment she was on the bed, the next, she was a near invisible blur, surging towards me. I staggered backwards, tripping, until my back collided with the small breakfast table. The pulse in my neck raced.

"Darling, I can assure you they are willing once I spend a few minutes convincing them."

My breath whooshed from my lungs.

Her gaze caught me up like a fly in a web. She looked like a vengeful goddess and had the power of one too. My body heated. Suddenly I was squirming, my body excited.

"You see?" she cooed. "I bet Laurent didn't try this little trick on you, did he? Stuffy Laurent. All he had to do was will you, and you would have come willingly. But I bet he didn't, did he?"

I considered, then shook my head, eager to answer her every question. There had been a few moments, shameful moments, where Laurent had made me feel things, things I was embarrassed about because of how much I hated him. But it had been my own body betraying me. This felt...different. Not a betrayal, but a blissful submission. A desperate desire to please.

I almost snorted. There'd been nothing desperate about my desire to please Laurent. No desire to please him whatsoever. That asshole could go to hell.

Looking at Zola, feeing her effect on me, made my legs squeeze together. "I...I don't like girls," I blurted, like an idiot. For the first time in my life, a female was arousing me, and I had no idea what to do with that information.

"Of course not, darling," she cooed. She dragged a finger down my cheek. A caress that made me shiver with delight. "But you like me? Don't you?"

"Mmm-hmm?"

She inhaled. "Divine! Such a scent. I would make it feel so good for you, darling. My bite. Older vampires have that kind of ability. So much pleasure, you'd orgasm the second my teeth sank into your neck."

At the O-word, my brain short-circuited. "Uhh...uhm..."

She laughed and stepped away, taking my body's heat with her. "I'm only proving a point, you see? Would you have let me bite you just now, if I'd asked?"

My jaw dropped, the haze of her nearness lifting. I cleared my throat, then rubbed the back of my neck. Confusion left me blinking.

"Well?"

"I...yes." The admission came out as a whisper of shock. Because I would have begged, if she'd kept at it. The realization turned my skin to ice. Something very frightening sank in. But she'd made her point, and she knew it, as a pleased smile split her lips. "It doesn't count as consent if you use vampire tricks."

"Semantics," she said, waving a hand. She walked across the room and hesitated by the doorway. "I suppose your story will have to wait. Laurent did say I was merely to check in on you, to see if you needed anything." Her eyes darted over to the tea try, probably cold now.

"I...I think I'm all right." I didn't want anything from these...people.

"What about clothes?"

"Oh. Right." I glanced down at my gown. Her eyes followed.

"You've good taste," she pointed out. "Eminence? It's last season, sure. But it suits you."

I snorted. "Believe me, I don't have a shred of fashion sense. This is...my friend Ania's." My stomach clenched, just saying her name.

"Oh, darling! What's that look for? It will all be okay. You'll see."

Before I realized it, tears threatened my eyes. It would not be okay, not even a little bit! That's why I had to get out of here. Ania would be worried sick. Not only that, but I had a life to live. I had six years of sacrifice to cash in on.

Zola's gaze snagged on my expression and hers turned hard, knowing. "I believe you're supposed to be thinking over Laurent's offer." The words were spoken quietly.

I swallowed. The offer. Cooperate or die.

"A word of advice," she added. All the softness from earlier was gone, like it had never been there. "Take what he's offering. It's a cruel, cruel world out there, no?"

It was. I knew that all too well. But my version of cruel was vastly different from hers.

"Laurent is a man of his word. If he says he will protect you, care for you, he will. But if you cross him..." Her warning sent ice down my spine. I only managed a nod. "Good. Then stay put. Enjoy your tea. I'll bring some clothes by in a few minutes, so you don't have to sleep in that thing. I'm sure you're eager to get comfortable."

"Okay," I squeaked, blinking after her.

One moment she was there, the next, gone. I moved over to the tea tray in a daze, wondering if I'd just imagined that entire encounter. What an odd person, and yet, a small smile spread across my lips.

I liked her.

Not—not sexually, despite what she'd made me feel. That was just whatever vampire magic she was working, and I hated to admit that—fuck—I probably would have let her do whatever she wanted to me. But no, I liked her as a person.

A soft snort left my nose. Who was I kidding? I'd met several vampires tonight, and she was the only one who'd actually been nice to me, warning withstanding. My only metric was based on Laurent and Marco—both assholes. Vittorio? He'd been a silent presence I couldn't yet gauge.

I pictured a life in which I accepted Laurent's offer. Maybe Zola and I could be friends. Maybe I could be happy here, indulging in luxuries I'd never had. Teenage me was nodding eagerly, bobbing up and down on her feet.

Was that what Laurent wanted? To entice me into captivity? For all I knew this was an elaborate act. An inventive story about the existence of amplifiers–that I was one of them, and in danger. Suddenly, he was the white knight, sweeping in, offering a way to keep me safe, enticing me.

But there was something else I needed to consider. Something far more frightening. If I was an amplifier—and I was still struggling to accept that glaring fact, because why the hell would I be special?—then the likelihood of Laurent using me for his own gain was strong. He'd made a convincing declaration in the hallway, sure. But I'd be stupid to believe him, especially given what had happened to his past amplifiers. At least Marco had been honest. A lamb for slaughter. Was that all Laurent's past amplifiers had been? Was that why Marco had said that?

I needed to get out of here.

A quick glance at the clock told me that dawn was only a few hours away. I could wait until the sun rose, and then take my chances. The door wasn't locked, so perhaps once the vampires were sleeping, I'd just walk right out.

The idea thrilled and terrified me. Teenage me was now screaming in protest. Well, she'd have to get the fuck over it.

Willing myself to be calm, I poured myself some tea, adding cream and sugar. There was enough caffeine to wake me up. I took a bite of the little cucumber sandwiches and groaned. Holy fuck. I began shoving one after another in my mouth. I hadn't realized how starving I was.

Zola returned to find an emptied plate. Her eyes flared with approval. "Here you are, darling. I hope it all fits." She set a stack of clothing on the table. I eyed it. "Tomorrow, you and I will do some shopping. We'll make sure to remedy your...how did you say? Lack of fashion sense."

"I..."

"Oh, you'll be here. Don't worry. You're a smart girl. You won't be going anywhere."

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. It's almost like she knew what I planned. I pulled my eyes away from her face, picking up my teacup and draining it. "Thanks for the clothing, Zola. I really appreciate it."

"Ah, don't mention it, darling. Sleep well."

And then she was gone, and I was left to count down the hours until dawn.