THE BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS

FOURTY (ISELEN POV)

"Stop, please, I think this is it." Bluma obeys and stops the vehicle while I check the GPS, the map and coordinates that Gustav told me yesterday. "Yes, definitely, this is the spot."

"We'll have to park the van here, there's no other place to hide it and I don't dare to leave the road because we'd get stuck in the snow and mud. Anyway, not many people seem to choose this path and much less so late at night." The vampire looks around, bewildered, but there's little to see apart from trees, rocks, more snow, a rabbit escaping scared from the bright light... "Where are we?"

"According to the map, this narrow road surrounds the massive gated community. Despite we've been driving for 15 minutes, we haven't reached the halfway... but it's okay." I open the door and jump out of the vehicle, gritting my teeth feeling the cold wind biting my skin. I fix my jacket hood and the scarf around my neck, looking at Ruby doing the same next to me. "Castellano's cabin is supposed to be less than a mile away in that direction."

"All right, we can't turn on the flashlights because that would give away our position if there's a guard patrolling inside the perimeter," Bluma looks at Ivory and Ruby while pointing at the sky. "The moonlight reflected on the snow will help us but it'll be dark under the trees so the vampires will help the humans to walk without spraining an ankle. We'll carry you in our arms if necessary. And now... be quiet."

We all nod, getting ready for the stroll. We went shopping in the afternoon and now we have new boots, warm jackets, beanies and gloves. Vampires feel cold too although hypothermia doesn't affect them and their fingers don't hurt when they get frozen, but they'd rather be sitting in front of the fireplace and sipping at hot chocolate, like humans. Unfortunately, it won't happen tonight. Tassia walks next to me and I try to pay attention to where I put my feet, Bluma has taken Ruby's hand to jump over a trunk and doesn't let it go, which reassures me, although I'd rather see her going back to the hotel. Ivory and Ada walk behind us and the vampire is carrying a coil of rope to tie up Castellano if the idiot decides not to cooperate.

I don't think he'll be helpful and let us kidnap him gladly unless fear paralyzes him or he's drunk. If he's drunk a bottle of whisky after dinner and has fallen asleep, he'll save us lot of effort and drama. But we won't be that lucky.

The forest becomes thicker around us, I can't see the road behind me anymore and there aren't tracks in the snow, not even from animals. It feels like we're in a different planet, a very beautiful one where it's always winter. My boot slips on a frozen rock but I manage to regain balance without Tassia's help. A muffled cry startles me and I turn around scared but Ruby's okay, hugging Bluma while she puts her arm around her waist. Ivory has stepped on a hole hidden under the snow and almost fell on the ground, Ada is fast and holds her arm, helping her to stay on her feet again.

"I'm fine," the Italian girl whispers but my mentor shakes her head, gesturing at Adelaide who nods. Suddenly, the vampires take the humans in their arms and keep walking with firm steps, like we weight nothing. I look over Tassia's shoulder at Ruby, despite the soft moonlight I can see that she's comfortable and smiles while Bluma holds her against her chest. Ivory doesn't look happy because Ada is treating her like a doll and she looks at her with a furrowed brow, till the vampire winks and my employee can't help smiling amused.

"Blumes," Ruby whispers in the darkness. "If I'd met you before I met Iselen, I would've fallen madly in love with you." My friend chuckles while I look at them with my mouth wide open, ready to complain, offended, even if I know that my girlfriend is right. It's impossible not to love Bluma Ahren.

"If I hadn't met Tassia, and hadn't been sick, you'd be in my dungeon right now begging for mercy, my angel. And I'd be a slave to your beautiful eyes."