Sam's bedroll was on the opposite side of the cramped room, the hood of his sleeping bag pulled over his head as he didn't trust the paint to hold out the harsh rays of the sun indefinitely. His skin had been permanently scarred from his near brush with death the day he lost Christie, the savage burns still causing him a great deal of pain. He tried his best to hide it from them, but Alice knew her friend and could tell when he was hurting. It wasn't just physical pain that bothered him though, but the pain of losing someone that he had loved with all his heart, and she understood how that felt all too well.
Alice ran her hands through her hair, her thoughts returning to Katherine and what she had seen within her dream. It had all been far too real to merely be a figment of her imagination, as she had felt the cold of night despite it now being the middle of summer. She had smelled the bartender's breath and had heard the vicious winds whistle through the woods outside. It was as if she had been within that very tavern, a fly on the wall watching events as they unfolded before her. The experience had been so vivid that it felt as though the very blood inside of her veins had been present through it all.
It was new for Alice to think of Katherine as a living, breathing human being, no matter how long ago that had been. Of course all vampires were human once, but it was difficult to think of her in any other way. She hadn't always been a successful business woman, her body once wracked with a sickness that would have claimed her life if someone else hadn't gotten to her first.
The mysterious gentleman, whoever he was, must have been the one to turn Katherine into the night dwelling fiend that she had since become. The question was, what had happened to him since? And how quickly had Katherine succumbed to the darkness? She couldn't have always been so manipulative and wicked, could she? In the vision she had been independent and headstrong, but she didn't seem like a bad person at all. So what had happened in the years that followed to make her that way?
It wasn't the first vision of Katherine's past that had entered Alice's head, a possible side effect of them linking minds, or perhaps due to their shared blood. None of the others had experienced such strange dreams despite their collective heritage, but they also hadn't been cursed with her specific set of abilities.
Despite how uncomfortable she sometimes felt as she explored Katherine's past, Alice knew that her friends experienced nightmares of their own. Matty was haunted by the atrocities that he had committed long before he met her and by giving in to the beast inside of him far too many times to count. Alice had witnessed it once or twice herself and the carnage that followed, but she still loved him regardless and probably always would. Whereas Sam was still haunted by the ghosts of those who he missed dearly; friends who Alice had never met in person, but who they had spoken a great deal about since.
Alice decided not to dwell too much on what she had seen in her dream, believing that it was better to save it for when the other two were awake. She had to try and get some rest, as tonight they had yet another long journey ahead of them, meandering across the country with no specific destination in mind. They always had to be on the move, knowing full well that Katherine had sent people after them. It was all they could do to bide their time as they tried to find allies and come up with a plan of action.
Going back to Calgary by themselves was suicide, and they were far from ready to face the one who had caused so much misery. They had tried their best to escape, but Katherine simply refused to let them go. As long as she was alive, they would never be free. As long as she was on the throne, those that they loved were in peril. It wasn't yet time, but if Alice had anything to do with it, Katherine Louviere would meet her end sooner rather than later.
Chapter Two: No End in Sight
“I don't know why I keep dreaming about her.” Alice had pondered on the subject throughout the day and right into the night until her companions finally arose from their slumber. “These visions keep trying to show me something, I'm just not exactly sure what that is.”
Sam watched her from a chair nearby, peering out through his mess of brown hair. “Are you sure they're not just regular dreams? Not everything you see while you're asleep has to mean something.” His voice was as rough and gravelly as usual, resulting in him sounding old beyond his years.
Alice shook her head, making eye contact with her friend as she spoke. She knew that his scars bothered him and made him feel uncomfortable in his own skin, so she chose not to acknowledge them, treating him in the same kind way as she always had. “I don't think they're normal dreams at all, they feel far too real for that. I think these are events that actually took place, however long ago.”
“I believe it.” Matty jumped into the conversation, sitting just out of sight in the driver's seat that lay beyond the thin wall separating the cab from the rest of the vehicle. “You share the same bond with her that we do, but your abilities make that bond much stronger.”
Trying his best to not scratch at his itchy skin, Sam fought to keep his hands in his lap. He tilted his head to one side as he shifted awkwardly in his chair. “Have you seen anything else about the future?”
Alice shook her head once more, staring at the black paint on the windows as she imagined the world passing them by. “No, not since we were in Miami, and those images weren't exactly crystal clear.”
“So we're still no closer to figuring out what that meant either...” Sam said with a sigh.
A brief silence followed, each of them trying to think of what they could do next. The thought of being mentally linked to Katherine disturbed Alice greatly. If she could see flashes of her mentor's past, then it surely worked the other way around too. The only comfort was that Katherine probably knew all there was to know about her already, which wasn't really that much of a comfort at all. It was still unsettling to know that her mind wasn't her own, her deepest thoughts no longer private, and that every little part of her had been put on display, making her an open book to the woman who had once hidden behind a veil of false friendship.
It did occur to Alice that she could use the link to their advantage, a fact that had so far failed to produce anything useful. She had now seen Katherine as she once was, a seemingly innocent mortal before her life had been taken from her. Whoever she had once been, it didn't have anything to do with the person she was now and so it was unlikely that the knowledge would benefit them at all. Alice hoped that in time these visions would allow her to glean some small morsel of information that could give them an edge over Katherine, the vampire queen who would hunt them to the edge of the earth if she had to.
Alice absently ran her fingers through her long blonde hair, her attention now focusing on her immediate surroundings. The interior of the campervan was dimly lit and had the musty smell of a place that had been damp for far too long. The previous occupants had been heavy smokers too, the stench of cigarettes permeating everything from the curtains to the rugs. It was unlikely that the smoke would ever fade as it stubbornly clung to every surface, leaving behind an unhealthy looking tinge. The seventies decor was mostly brown, with hints of orange and yellow in the form of autumn leaves that appeared on almost every fabric surface throughout the interior. The beds were hard and their sheets stained, but comfort wasn't a requirement for those who were dead. It was far from the most pleasant place to stay, but it was their home for the time being and it was better than trying to sleep outside under the open sky.
The vehicle had been legally obtained and wasn't stolen this time, the group having traded Matty's pristine motorcycle for a mode of transportation that they could all ride in. Unfortunately, they had to dump the van that they had ‘borrowed’ from Miami at the side of the road after police reports made it too hot to handle, but Matty hadn't given up his bike without making a scene. It was clear that the cruiser meant a great deal to him, but after a long discussion and an awful lot of reasoning, he begrudgingly sacrificed his pride and joy for the greater good of the group. Since then the days had turned into weeks and then months that dragged on fu
rther still, their time on the road now seeming like an eternity.
The silence was eventually broken by Sam, drawing Alice's attention back to where he was sitting. “What about the others?” He sat forward in his chair, resting his forearms on his knees as he awaited a response. His long sleeved shirt was crumpled and his jeans were torn at the knees, but they fit him well enough.
Alice raised her eyebrows, sitting there in the same tank top and sweatpants that she had slept in, her feet bare. “What do you mean?”
“Katherine's other children.” Sam quickly replied, clearing up any confusion.
Matty chimed in again, still out of sight as he concentrated on the road. “Most of them are dead.”
“Other than Nadia and Nathalie.” Alice added with a forced sigh. “Neither of which are likely to help us.”
It was obvious from the look on Sam's face that he didn't have a clue who they were talking about. After all, he didn't share the same knowledge of their convoluted bloodline that they did. “Why not?”
“Well Nadia, Katherine's favourite and one of her more recent creations, is loyal to a fault and would never betray her. She has already slaughtered countless others in service to her maker.” That was more of a fact than Alice's own opinion on the matter.
“Not that recent.” Matty interjected. “Unless World War One counts as recent to you.”
Alice rolled her eyes causing Sam to smirk, both of them aware that their other companion couldn't see her reaction.
“And Nathalie?” Sam queried a moment later with keen interest.
“She didn't answer Katherine's summons…” Alice replied. “But from what I understand, it's because she has zero interest in anything other than her own wellbeing.”
“That and she's probably scared.” Matty added with a grumble. “Katherine has that effect on people. Even the neighbouring Kings and Queens are afraid of her.”
Sam furrowed his brow, the burns on his face creasing uncomfortably as he brushed his hair out of his eyes. “And there's no one else?”
Alice forced a half hearted smile. “None amongst her children at least, but I'm certain that Katherine has made more than her fair share of enemies. I doubt that any of them have anything in common other than their hatred of her though, and the dead don't exactly play well together.”
“Right.” Matty voiced his agreement. “That means uniting them under one cause would be impossible.”
“So we're back to square one.” Sam fell back into silence as he propped himself up against the wall next to him.
“Pretty much…” Alice nodded once and lifted her feet up onto the bed, pulling her knees up against her chest. She made herself as comfortable as possible, hugging her legs as if doing so would help her think more clearly. However, there was no instant clarity, just the threat of danger that loomed over them and no solutions as far as any of them could see. Matty and Sam made her feel safe, but she knew that neither of them were strong enough to stand up to Katherine when she came for them. Even if they stood together, it was doubtful that they would come out on top.
Once again Sam broke the silence, this time changing the topic of conversation altogether. “Do you still think about Birchfield?”
Alice pondered for a moment before replying, feeling a little distracted. “Sometimes… But it wasn't the same place after you left. It never really was a home to me.”
Sam's eyes seemed to glaze over, making it look as though he was daydreaming as he spoke. “I think about it all the time. I miss those days… They were simpler times.”
It took a few seconds for Alice to reply as she examined Sam's face. His relaxed expression looked more at peace than she had seen him in a long time and that came as a strange sort of relief. It made her happy to see him like that, the pain of the recent past fading away for the briefest of moments. “You were the best part of my childhood, Sam. You know that I have fond memories of us growing up together.”
Alice meant everything she said. Birchfield hadn't been the same without Sam, as he had been the one to make it resemble anything close to a home for her. That was more than anyone else in the town ever had to offer. Without him, the place had been as unbearable and as inhospitable as any wasteland. The other townsfolk had been downright cruel at times, making it impossible for Alice to settle down or make a connection with anyone else other than her best and only friend. Sam may not have been the same innocent boy anymore, but she still loved him dearly and wouldn't trade him for the world.
These days Sam always had a tired look in his eyes, as if he hadn't slept in years, his unkempt hair matted from lack of grooming. He didn't seem to take care of himself much anymore, wearing the same clothes day after day and only feeding when he absolutely had to. Alice was convinced that Sam had given up on himself, no longer believing that he was worth anyone's time or effort, even his own. He often kept to himself, brooding in the dark as his self loathing took over almost every aspect of his life.
Unable to snap her friend out of it, Alice hoped that it was just a phase that he was going through and did her best to help him through it however she could. It pained her to see her friend trapped in this slump, but she knew that he had to be the one to dig himself out of it and pushing too hard could have the opposite effect, resulting in him becoming even more closed off.
Noticing Alice quietly observing him from across the cabin, Sam smiled lightly, doing his best to appear happier than he actually was. There were no words exchanged between them as she returned the smile, her own much warmer than his, albeit with a slight hint of concern. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and hug the pain away, but he didn't like being touched anymore. It was an obvious side effect of the physical damage that had been wrought upon his body. Sam had been burnt, battered, cut and bruised; all things that a 'normal’ vampire could recover from in a matter of hours. However, due to his specific curse, he was unable to fully heal and had become a mess of scars that would remain with him until the end of time.
Matty’s deep voice called out from the driver’s seat, disrupting Alice's train of thought. “We’re running on fumes, but it looks like there might be a gas station up ahead!”
“Do you want me to take over after that?” Alice enquired, looking towards where his voice was coming from.
“No need.” came his swift reply. “I was planning on taking us as far as Virginia.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, still holding her knees in a tight embrace. “I don’t mind driving for a few hours.”
“Really, I’m fine, Ally.” There was a not so subtle hint of stubbornness in his tone. “...But thanks for asking.”
There was no point arguing and Alice knew it. Matty was as stubborn as an ox and as tough as one too. The only scar he had was the large one that cut into his buzzed hairline, a reminder of his short time in the military as a mortal and the old head injury that resulted in him receiving an honourable discharge. At over six and a half feet tall, he only just fit into the front of the campervan, his knees close to touching the dashboard and elbows bent to grip the wheel. Although, as large and powerful as he was on the outside, he too was a broken man. Like Sam, he had a past that haunted him and the decisions he had made still affected him to this day. A savage rage bubbled just beneath the surface, but he somehow managed to keep it in check, only unleashing it upon those who threatened the people he cared for.
Both Sam and Matty had been damaged beyond repair, their mental states left fragile and close to shattering. They were two very different people, but they also had more in common than either would ever want to admit. Their boyish rivalry had died down somewhat over time, but they still tended to argue on occasion, at least when Sam had the energy for such things. Unfortunately, that was something that was becoming far less common as the long nights went on.
It seemed that Alice liked to collect broken things, herself included. She wasn't much better off than either of them, having been an outcast throughout the majority of her pitiful e
xistence. However, after everything that had happened, she had grown to learn that she was much more resilient than she originally believed.
Alice felt a sudden stabbing pain in her gut and had been a vampire long enough to know exactly what that meant. “I’m feeling a little famished. How about you?” She directed her question towards Sam, a pleasant smile still upon her face.
Sam didn’t respond, merely shrugging his shoulders as he closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall. It was unlikely that he would feed when they did, his lack of fangs still causing more issues than they should. He had never adapted to the situation, nor had he even attempted to. His weak blood had left him labelled as one of the Forsaken and for some reason he seemed to want to live up to the name. At times it was as if he needed to be miserable, but this misery didn't want any company. Perhaps he really would have been better off on his own, no matter what Alice's personal feelings were on the matter.
Matty on the other hand, was feeling the same growing hunger as Alice. “We'll see what our next stop has to offer.” He didn't have the same qualms about feeding, having become quite adept at it over the years.
Following Sam's lead, Alice leaned back against the wall behind her and closed her eyes. She did her best to clear her thoughts, forgetting all about her hunger as she attempted a meditation of sorts. Her mind was always so busy, so it was a pleasant experience to block everything out on occasion, as difficult a task as that sometimes proved to be. She took a moment to quietly pray, knowing full well that she had avoided doing so for far too long. After all, she still counted herself as the good Christian that she was raised to be and strived to act as she believed one should, despite the constant trials and tribulations that made such behaviour almost impossible. All she asked was that her friends were kept safe and that one day they would be able to live their lives without being hunted like animals. All she wanted for them was that they could finally be free.
Blood Queen Page 3