Afterlife (Purgatory Series Part Three)

Chapter Eleven: Down to Goblin Town

Chapter Eleven: Down to Goblin Town

"A mine."

"Yes."

I scowled in the direction Gabriel had indicated, seeing nothing but a dark hole in the ground. "Fan-freaking-tastic. Because I just love being underground."

Roran shrugged. "I don't know, I kind of think it's a good thing. Once we get Altair out we can cause some kind of explosion and trigger a collapse. The goblins will be killed or buried in there. Mission accomplished."

A sarcastic snort of laughter burst form my mouth. "You make it sound so easy. I can almost guarantee things are going to go south as soon as we get inside. They'll be able to smell us, remember?"

He smirked in response and crossed him arms. "I have an idea for that too, you eternal pessimist."

I tried to force myself not to be distracted by how sexy he looked with that stupid grin and argued, "I am not a pessimist! I'm a realist!"

"Roran's plan is a good one," Gabriel interrupted. "I will do my part and go search the mine for Altair's location."

I rolled my eyes. "Ugh. Fine. But why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?"

Roran cupped my cheeks in his large, warm hands and I knew. I was definitely not going to like this plan.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want, but it's our most likely chance of getting Altair back alive, Thea," he said.

"Just tell me."

"Do you remember when Mara drank shapeshifter blood in purgatory to disguise her true identity?"

I nodded and felt a sinking sensation in my stomach as I realized what Roran was saying. "You want me to drink goblin blood so I will smell like them long enough to get Altair out."

"Yes."

It wasn't that I had an aversion to drinking blood anymore. After everything that had happened with Moroi and Mara, I had accepted it as a part of my life - or afterlife, whatever. The problem I had with Roran's plan was that I was afraid once I started back drinking blood I wouldn't be able to stop.

After getting out of purgatory I had managed to distract myself from the blood thirst by occupying myself with other things: training, research, anything. I hadn't drunk blood since I returned - I thought I might be able to keep from ever doing it again.

But now I had little choice. It was either my sanity or Altair's life and I knew which one I would choose.

"So how will we get our hands on goblins without alerting everyone inside to our presence?" I asked.

Roran frowned and pulled me close, wrapping his arms around my waist. "You're sure you're okay with this? We could do it another way."

I shook my head. "What other way? I'm pretty sure anything else will get us caught or killed. I know I don't have a better idea."

"But-"

"But what?" Roran asked, staring down at me with his big trustful brown eyes. I was afraid I was going to lose that trust very soon.

"...But I haven't drank blood since returning from purgatory and I don't know what it will do to me. I don't know how I will handle it. I might not be able to stop once I start. I-I don't want to disappoint you."

"Thea," he whispered. "You can't help what was done to you - what you are. And if it helps save Altair's life then it isn't such a bad thing. You won't disappoint me and if you feel like you can't get it back under control we will find ways to manage it. Okay?"