Free Dominion of the Damned by Jean Marie Bauhaus

take the bags with her and dispose of them later, out of spite, but she left them there and headed out of the infirmary.
    Her head swam and the floor tilted a little, but she managed to stay upright as she exited into the hall. She paused to look at the door with the key card lock, but people in the line were watching her. She nodded to them and headed back the way she had come. She had to pass back by the two vampire guards. The male guard made a big show of sniffing her as she passed. He called out, “You smell sweet!”
    Hannah ignored him and followed the trail of people to the end, where she got back in line. The man in front of her turned to give her a questioning look, but she kept her head down and avoided eye contact. He shrugged and turned back around.
    The line moved slowly. After what felt like a small eternity, she found herself back in view of the guards. She kept her head down, letting her hair fall in front of her face. She watched the male vampire through the veil of her long bangs. As she drew closer he did a double-take and eyed her suspiciously for a moment, but he let her pass without comment.
    Finally, she reached the infirmary again. As the man in front of her was ushered inside, Hannah turned to make sure nobody had entered the hallway behind her. With everyone inside the infirmary distracted, she slipped past the entrance and hurried to the door at the end of the hall. She pulled the key card out of her jumpsuit and slid it through the lock. Immediately, she heard it click and turn. Checking behind her once more, she quietly opened the door and stepped through.

EIGHT

    Only Alek would have the audacity to barge into Esme’s office without knocking. He slammed the door behind him and stormed over to her desk, where she sat talking on the phone. “Where is she?”
    Esme held up a finger, refusing to be interrupted. “Yes,” she said to the caller, “I understand. Of course I’ll comply. But you understand this goes against my best judgment.”
    Alek leaned over and placed his palms on the desk. “Where is she?” He said it slowly, enunciating each syllable for emphasis.
    “Yes, my lord,” Esme continued her conversation. “He’s here right now. I’ll tell him.” She hung up and leaned back in her chair. “That was Lord Balthazar. He called to inform me that the Council approved your request.” She shook her head and laughed, bitterly. “You bastard. How dare you go over my head?”
    He straightened and looked down at her. “I wouldn’t have to if you were reasonable, instead of letting old feelings and petty jealousies get in the way of—”
    “Of what, Alek?” She bolted from her chair and came around the desk to face him head on. “Of allowing your feelings, your soft, bleeding heart to dictate how I run my camp? If I allowed you to take every doe-eyed human who caught your fancy, I’d have nothing left!”
    “What have you done with her, Esme?”
    “Who, the girl? Nothing. She was scheduled to make her contribution today. Have you checked the infirmary?”
    “She was there. I changed her bag myself. But since then no one has seen her. Nobody remembers discharging her, and she hasn’t shown up to her work assignment. I’ve looked everywhere for her.”
    Esme folded her arms. “So naturally you assumed that I’ve resorted to nefarious measures to ensure you can’t have her.”
    He snorted. “As if you’re above that.”
    “Touché. But as you just witnessed, I only now learned of the Council’s orders. Why would I bother hiding the girl if I stupidly thought my command was enough to keep her here?” She stepped closer, invading his personal space. He stood his ground. “What did you tell them, Alek? How did you convince them to let you have the girl?”
    “The same thing I told you. That I require her to care for the boy. They seemed to think it was a perfectly reasonable request.”
    “And why, exactly, do you need the infant? What are you really up to at that