Chapter 05

I stood up and looked down at him.

"Monsters bite back," I said. "So listen carefully. If you ever betray me, I have ten thousand ways to make you wish you were dead."

Nikolai didn't flinch. He lowered his head.

"From the moment you opened that cage," he said, "this monster answers to one master alone." He lifted his golden eyes to mine. "My life is yours, my Boss."

The wind howled outside the cabin. Something in my chest went warm, but I turned away before he could see my face.

"Good," I said. "Then get some rest. Tomorrow, we go home."

...

Two days later, the storm was still going. Snow buried the roads. The whole city had gone silent except for the groans of the infected.

My fortress stood strong. The heaters hummed. The lights glowed. Nikolai sat on the couch eating his third bowl of beef stew like he hadn't eaten in years.

An alarm beeped on the security screen.

[Movement detected at the front gate.]

I tapped the screen. The outside camera showed two figures shaking in the snow. Devlin and Eris. Their lips were blue, and their designer coats were useless against the cold.

They didn't know the camera had a microphone.

"One crazy woman thinks she's the queen of the apocalypse," Devlin muttered, glaring up at my walls.

Eris hugged herself. "Devlin, I'm so cold."

"Hang in there, babe." He pulled her close. "She can't hold this place alone. The second the snow stops, we sneak in. We kill her. Then everything in there is ours."

I sipped my hot cocoa. "Interesting plan."

Then Devlin's face changed. The anger melted away, and he stepped up to the gate with sad, sorry eyes. He banged on the door.

"Please, open the door! We're freezing to death out here!"

I pressed the speaker button but said nothing.

"Morana, I know you can hear me." His voice shook. "I was a total jerk before. I know that. But for the sake of our family's history, please, just let us in."

"Stray dogs in broad daylight," I said. "Get lost."

Eris pushed in front of him. "Morana, we're your last living family! You cold-blooded witch! You'd really just watch us freeze?"

"Mhm." I leaned back in my chair. "And here I am, eyes wide open, enjoying every second of it."

Nikolai walked up behind my chair to see the screen. He was still shirtless from his shower, a towel around his neck.

Devlin saw him. His whole face went red.

"No wonder you broke off our engagement!" he screamed. "You've been keeping some boy toy behind my back! You filthy..."

A low growl came from deep in Nikolai's chest. His eyes flashed gold.

"Sit," I told him.

He sat down right next to my chair, but his eyes never left the screen.

"I'll smash this damn door down right now!" Devlin grabbed the metal gate with both hands and shook it hard.

The electric grid sparked.

Devlin flew backward into the snow, screaming. "My hands! My hands!"

Nikolai looked up at me. "Boss, shall I take out the trash?"

"No rush." I smiled at the screen. "The real show is just getting started. Those two clowns can't do much damage."

I pressed the speaker again. "How's that going, Devlin?"

He rolled in the snow, holding his burned hands.

"You go to the gym every single day," I said. "But for what? No strength. No real body." I turned the camera so it pointed back at Nikolai. "Look at his eight-pack. Take notes, loser."

Nikolai's ears turned pink. He looked away.

"You shameless..." Devlin struggled to his feet. "Morana, you sick freak! I'll make sure everyone knows what you're really like!"

"Oh, and I almost forgot about you." I turned the camera to Eris. "How's my mother's necklace, little homewrecker? Is it keeping you warm?"

Eris grabbed the necklace at her throat. Her eyes filled with hate.

"This isn't over!" she shrieked.

Devlin pulled her away from the gate. "We'll be back!"

I watched them stumble off into the storm. Then I turned off the screen.

...

Devlin and Eris walked for an hour. The snow was up to their knees. Eris was crying, and Devlin's burned hands were so stiff he couldn't close them.

They turned a corner by an old gas station and stopped.

Six men in black jackets stood around a burning barrel. They all held guns. In the middle stood a big man with a scar across his face and a black patch over one eye.

He smiled slowly when he saw them.

"Well, well, well," he said. "If it isn't the pretty boy who owes me blood money." He walked closer. "Did you come all this way to pay up?"

Eris spun toward Devlin. "You told me all your debts were paid off!"

"No, wait, babe. Let me explain," Devlin stammered.

Click. Six guns pointed at his head.

Devlin threw his hands up. "Don't shoot! Don't shoot, Boss Artan!" His voice cracked. "I've got a big deal for you. A huge one."

Artan tilted his head. "Talk."

"There's a billion-dollar bunker up ahead," Devlin said fast. "It's packed with food, medicine, and weapons. Enough for years. And there's only one woman inside. It's easy."

Artan stared at him for a long moment. Then he put the gun right against Devlin's forehead.

"If there's nothing there," he said quietly, "I'll chop you both up and feed you to the infected."