Finding Amber (Book 5) Jacobs Broken Mercenaries

chapter 5

Estevan

I count the minutes watching the sun drop down. I haven’t slept a wink. I know she’s in there, I can feel it. I step out from the damp cave as the last bit of light vanishes. Placing my hand out, I feel the glass’s edge and follow it, searching for an entrance. I do this for a long time, slipping between the mountains. Feeling up, down, and around the glass. On my third time circling the dome, I feel it. A slight ridge. Using my blade, I slip it in the gap and pry up, but it doesn’t give. It’s impossible to judge the weak points with an invisible object. I laugh when my hand grips on something hanging and square shaped. A padlock and directly above a handle. It’s your average door, glass and invisible, but a door still the same. I break the lock easily with a single pull, and the door pops open.
Nothing could prepare me for the sight before me now. My jaw drops as I take her in. My shock is debilitating, and it takes a minute before I can form her name.
“Devlin?”
She hisses at me, and I jump back.
No, it can’t be. This is some twisted joke. Penance for my mistake. A whole new nightmare, darker than anything I could imagine. I look up at the heavens, damning them for their cruelty. 
“I’m so sorry, Devlin. I’m sorry you’re like me.” 
She looks sickened by my presence. I don’t blame her. She should be. I’d hate the person who killed me. Even more so for sharing their curse.
“Are you my new torturer? Does he have you beating so many women you can’t get their names straight?”
What? 
“My name’s Amber dickhead. Do your worst.”
She curls up, giving me her back...
This is Amber? It can’t be. She’s the spitting image of my Devlin. Is my mind playing tricks on me?
“What’s your name, girl?”
She ignores me. I take a few steps in her direction and stop when I see her tense. I try again in a gentler voice.
“Tell me your name… please.”
Nothing.
“Are you Celeste’s sister?”
She spins around and charges me, but her chain pulls tight, yanking her back hard. I wince when she drops to the ground.
“You touch my sister and I’ll kill you! You hear me? I’ll kill you!”
Unbelievable, my eyes aren’t failing me and my mind is still sharp. Yet, her resemblance is uncanny. I remember why I’m here and push my unsettling feelings aside. 
“Calm down… Amber. I’m not here to hurt you and I would never hurt your sister.”
Her eyes narrow at me, and she looks up, rubbing her neck beneath the metal collar.
“And why should I believe you? This is probably another twisted game to hurt me further.”
Bloody hell, what has he done to her?
“Listen and listen closely. I don’t know where Mica is, but I know your sister is safe with Grayson. We need to get out of here and try to find a way off of this plane before Mica checks in.” 
She’s still not convinced. I approach her and she tenses. 
“I’m just going to remove that thing from your neck. I will not hurt you. I swear it to the gods.”
As I get closer, I notice the subtle differences; her hair, though the same pale wheat color, is straight not curly. Her brows are fuller, lips too, and her chest. I also notice before quickly raising my eyes. She has freckles as well. Devlin’s skin was flawless. Slipping my fingers beneath the metal, I attempt to break it but strain with no results. What is this made of?
“Yeah, I didn’t think so. I tried for days before giving up.” She says with a sigh, turning her head away. I study the contraption searching for its connection. There’s a tiny pin I should be able to lift out with my knife. I pull it out and grasp the metal. Amber jerks back when she sees the blade.
“What are you doing?” she squeals, with wide eyes. I hold up my hand and place the knife sideways with the sharp end toward me.
“Relax, there’s a pin. I’m going to try to remove it. I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
When she says nothing and just turns away, I accept it as permission.  She’s still as I wiggle the collar around, digging the tip of my blade under the small lip.
“You know you are a vampire. A blade could hardly hurt you, let alone kill you.” I remind her. She ignores me, keeping her head turned. I pop the pin and the metal separates, dropping to the floor in two pieces. Amber’s mouth drops open in disbelief as she rubs her neck. She looks my way and I smile at her awkwardly.
I admit her resemblance is throwing me. The sight of her is painful but exciting at the same time. Devlin was a beauty. Refined and witty. Her soft manner was a comfort.  Amber is none of those things. She’s rude and I’ll mannered. Far too blunt to be compared to Devlin.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She says with an air that drives my point home.
“Sorry. You look like someone I used to know.”
“Whatever. Can I leave now?” 
“Yes, of course we should go.” I tell her. She slowly moves toward the door, not fully turning her back on me. She still doesn’t trust me.
“Do you know the way out of here?” I ask. She stops walking and turns toward me.
“You don’t? How did you get here? Wait, where is here?”
I raise my brows, trying to decipher which question to answer first when she says:
“Never mind. I’ll figure it out myself.”
I don’t even get a minute before she dismisses me and begins walking in a random direction. Towards the hell I came from, to be exact. I jog to catch up to her.
“You don’t want to go that way.” I warn. She pauses and folds her arms.
“Why not?”
Ah, this answer, she waits for.
“Because I’ve been there and the creatures that habitat the area will undoubtedly kill you.”
I can tell she believes me because she doesn’t argue. 
“Okay then, what direction do you suggest?” She asks. I point behind me.
“How do you know that’s the way? Do you have a compass?”
A compass? She doesn’t know.
“Where are we?”
Definitely, she doesn’t know. I try to choose the right words, not wanting to panic her.
“We’re not anywhere on earth but I’m sure we’ll find our way back.”
She looks at me like she thinks I’m certifiably insane. I knew this would be a challenge, but I figured the hard part would be finding her. Surprisingly, she doesn’t question me further, just follows along at a safe distance. I keep heading east. It’s the only other place I haven’t been aside from the black void.
“How do you know my sister?”
I drop back to talk to her but she backs up as well; keeping a four-foot radius from me at all times. Looking at her sideways, I try to imagine her situation. I know if someone freed me, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt. If they hadn’t killed me by now. 
Keeping my gaze forward, I walk slowly.
“She’s my friend’s girlfriend, and she helps us out from time to time. “ 
“Sure.” she says sarcastically.
What now?
“Why do you ask questions when you’re not going to believe the answers?”
Amber shrugs her shoulders.
“Good question.” She says.
This woman is getting on my nerves. Not only is she ungrateful, but she’s rude and insulting. 
“You know you could thank me for saving you.” I suggest. She scoffs, folding her arms.
“How do I know you’re not working with Mica and this isn’t all some scheme?  Get my hopes up to crush them again. You haven’t exactly saved me either, were still here.”
Unbelievable, I decide silence is best at this point. 
The path ahead cuts off to a cliff’s edge. There’s nothing around but rolling hills. 
“What now, Mr. know it all?”
How the hell did I indicate I know everything? She’s got it out for me. 
“I’m not sure. Like I said, I’ve never been here before.”
She mumbles under her breath and I think I hear; So, you say. I ignore it, searching for the best direction to look next. Did I miss it? I hope the hell not. The last thing I want to do is go back to where I came from. If only the window had a bright glowing exit sign. No, I have to find a narrow passage that reflects its image in a distorted way. That will be our exit. Just a smidge easier than the invisible dome I nearly missed yesterday. The most likely and very logical place to put a door is on the edge of the plane.
“We’ll head north, circle the area until we find the exit.”
I wait to hear back-talk. I’m more than a little relieved when I don’t get any. We continue in silence aside from a sigh or complaint under her breath. I find I’m looking back more often than necessary. Amber’s resemblance takes some getting used to is the excuse I settle on.
“I’m hungry. If I don’t eat soon, I’m not going to be traveling much further.”
I stop and look her over. Though I don’t know her normal complexion, she does seem a touch gaunt. When a vampire is hungry, their lips turn white. Amber is no exception to the rule. Looks like I’m hunting today. 
“We’ll procure shelter and I’ll set off thereafter to get… food.”
Amber shakes her head at me, and I ready for her next snide and offensive comment.
“Procure? Set off? Thereafter? Who talks like that?”
There it is.
“If you have a problem with the way I speak, then do not talk to me.” I regret it the moment I say it; Partially. Though her attitude grates on my nerves, her voice is soothing.
“I’ll say whatever the hell I want to say. It’s a free country.”
A noise catches my attention and I place my finger to my lips, biding her silence. Before she can finish her breath; probably to give me another tongue lashing. I place my hand over her mouth and point to the area I heard movement. I take her into the thicker brush, taking coverage behind a cluster of thick trees. A rhinoceros the size of a small elephant makes its way past us, sniffing the air. Amber struggles in my grip, but I hold tight. When the animal is far enough away, I release her.
“Don’t you ever do that again!”
That’s it, I’ve had enough.
“What? Save your life! You are the most self-centered, dim-witted woman I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting. You have done nothing but insult me and question my every move. When really you should be thanking me and be grateful for my guidance.”
She opens her mouth to shut it. Then does it again. At least she doesn’t have another insult at the ready. I cut her off before she can anger me further.
“Stay here and try not to get hurt. I’m going to gather some materials for shelter.”