The pair had made themselves comfortable upon a set of leather bound chairs adjacent to the balcony window, the sliding doors wide open to let in the many sounds and smells of the city. A great fan of mood lighting, Katherine kept the lights down low, her choice in music both tasteful and relaxing. It was a pleasant sort of night, the weather calm and skies clear; white capped mountains visible on the horizon. From their vantage point at the pinnacle of the skyscraper, the people in the streets below looked like ants rushing about their business, their own lives insignificant to the immortals high above them.
The servants had left for the night, leaving Alice and Katherine to speak alone, the affairs of vampires not fit for human ears. That suited Alice just fine, as she had questions for her friend that had been bugging her no end. There was always something that she wanted to know, her curiosity regarding the supernatural world as insatiable as her appetite.
"Does it hurt them when I bite? The mortals that is." Alice asked as she nursed a wine glass full of a dark red liquid. She was far from the type who wanted to cause pain and wouldn't relish the thought of harming anyone.
"Would it bother you if it did?" Katherine asked, reclining in her chair as she kicked off her shoes and rested her feet upon the glass table next to her own warm beverage. She was still dressed in her grey business suit, the top of her turquoise shirt left unbuttoned as she took some time to relax.
Alice was sitting on the edge of her seat, bare footed as usual in the silk pyjamas that her mentor had gifted her. "I don't want to hurt anyone." she replied with a genuine expression of concern.
A wry smile crossed Katherine's face as she eased her ward's worries. "No, it's quite the opposite. There's something about our bite that is strangely enjoyable for everyone involved. I assure you that it's quite pleasurable once they get over the initial shock."
"Really?" The answer pleased Alice. She knew that she needed blood to survive, but still held onto the hope that others didn't need to suffer as a result.
"Yes, really." Katherine confirmed with a nod as she shared her knowledge. "I've heard some compare us to mosquitoes or leeches, but that's not the case at all. We're far more than common bloodsuckers. They are pests; less than human, and we're so much more."
Alice quietly sipped her drink, her body feeling rejuvenated by its contents. She took a moment to swirl it around in the glass before looking back at her friend with a warm smile. "I'm glad. I don't think that I could live with myself otherwise."
Katherine met her gaze with keen interest, her hazel eyes twinkling in the dim light. "There's an innocence about you, child. One that's surprising, yet refreshing." Her look was backed up with a smile of her own, however so slight. "Most of our kind wouldn't care if their bite was excruciating, as it's just a means to an end for them. They've forgotten how to enjoy their existence without resorting to sadistic means."
It bothered Alice that anyone could be so careless when it came to human lives, or any life for that matter. Despite everything that she had been through in her life, she still found it difficult to imagine that anyone could be so heartless. "That's really sad…" She sighed as she reached over to place her glass down upon the table. Running a hand through her hair, her expression became one of someone deep in thought. "I feel sorry for them."
"You really shouldn't." Katherine shook her head, adjusting her posture to make herself more comfortable. "They don't deserve your pity."
There was the briefest of pauses before Alice spoke again, sitting forwards in her chair. "I'm scared that I may end up like them one day…" she admitted, her worry clear in her words. She didn't believe herself capable of committing such atrocities, but from what she had heard it was a slippery slope and even those with good intentions could fall.
Katherine rose from her chair without a moment's hesitation, quickly closing the gap between them in just a couple of strides. She stood over Alice, her arm outstretched as she offered her hand. "Come with me, I want to show you something." Her suit looked a little wrinkled now, the fabric creased by how she had been sitting, but she paid it no mind.
Alice tilted her head to one side, looking up at her mentor with quiet curiosity. A few seconds passed before she placed her hand in Katherine's and pulled herself to her feet. She was a little shorter in height than her friend, but not by much, a little thinner too. Katherine had curves that most could only dream of, whereas Alice believed herself to be a little too skinny and always had done.
Moving towards the main door of the apartment, opposite the balcony window, Katherine positioned Alice in front of a full length mirror. She stood just behind her, gesturing towards it with vigor. "Take a look." she insisted, placing her hands on Alice's shoulders. "Now tell me, what do you see?"
Peering at her own reflection, Alice confirmed the fact that she was skinnier than most, her figure never having had a chance to fully develop before her death. A high metabolism had plagued her throughout her life, and now there was no chance of changing that. Her long blonde hair rested on narrow shoulders, blue eyes staring back with uncertainty. Thick eyebrows stood out against pale skin, one of her many features that had been a target for other girls at school. She had been picked on day after day, their harsh words making her self conscious ever since. Sam and Matty were two of the only people who had ever called her pretty, where she herself only saw a plain looking girl who wasn't worthy of such compliments.
In complete contrast, Alice could see her mentor's face in the same mirror, Katherine's timeless eyes staring at her with the most gorgeous of smiles. She couldn't imagine the woman ever having to deal with bullies or snide comments, her skin impeccable, the perfect brown locks of her hair soft and luscious. Someone with such natural beauty had no need for makeup, and yet Katherine seemed to make an effort every night, her style always flawless and highly fashionable. Even her nails were professionally shaped and painted, Alice's own left short and chipped.
Feeling uncomfortable as she answered Katherine's question, Alice peered down at the floor. She was unable to look at herself any longer, not because her appearance brought her shame, but because she had always found it difficult to stare at her own reflection for long. She never knew why she felt compelled to look away, instead coming to accept it as one of her many strange habits. "I see myself..." Alice managed to glance up at her friend's face, her timid response almost as awkward as she believed she looked.
Katherine locked eyes with Alice's reflection, staring deep into them as if she caught a glimpse of something beyond. "Good. But tell me... Do you see a monster?"
Alice forced herself to look back at her own image with great difficulty. She took a minute to examine herself further, her face displaying the innocence that Katherine had seen in her. It wasn't that she was a hateful creature, but she had hurt people before. The pain that she caused had never been done out of spite, but through loss of control and that was what scared her the most. It was the beast inside of her that reared its ugly head on occasion, chasing away her humanity for the briefest of moments. However, Alice didn't want to become the monster that she feared she could be, and would do everything within her power to avoid it.
Shaking her head slowly, Alice had to agree with her friend. "No, I guess not." If she managed to keep the beast locked up, then she would never be able to harm anyone.
"Exactly! You are who you choose to be, whatever you make of yourself." Katherine turned Alice towards her, placing a hand gently under her chin to look upon her face. Her expression was serious as she spoke, her words sounding full of sincerity. "Hold your chin up with pride, and know that you can be whoever or whatever you want to be. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!"
Gazing up into Katherine's eyes, Alice could see a spark of something that had been hidden until now. It was the look of someone who had been through more than she could ever imagine; an independent soul who had seen the world, with the wisdom of the ages and the determination to survive. She was a strong woman who had overcome so much oppression
and still had the strength to keep on going. Alice believed that she was the type of person who would be a perfect role model, especially for someone still so young and naive as herself.
Alice had been more than just a little naive back then, her lack of foresight letting Katherine get the better of her. It was especially surprising, as exploring her mentor's mind had turned up nothing and her visions had failed to show her anything of what the devious woman had been planning. Of course, it didn't help that Alice had no idea how to control her powers at the time, and so she had no clue as to the extent that she was being manipulated; the seemingly friendly exterior that Katherine portrayed just an act. Although the woman's true motives had been hidden, it seemed as though she was preparing Alice for something greater. It was almost as if she was grooming her to take up a role that had never been revealed.
Staring out of the passenger window at a once familiar landscape, Alice took in the sights. The mountain pass was winding ever upwards, the peaks hidden behind a thin layer of clouds as they reached up towards the stars. A long river meandered through the dark valley below, its white waters raging over the rocks towards the lake beyond. The tree line had ended a little while back, the altitude now too great for most vegetation, with only the occasional bush or shrub dotting the side of the road.
It had been a while since Alice had laid her eyes upon those mountains, her previous travel companion having been her late cousin Jolee. She remembered the sadness that she had felt when he died, but couldn't recall what it was actually like. It was a basic emotion that she had somehow lost, the blood in her veins roaring like the river as it replaced those feelings with a primal power that gave a greater purpose to her existence. Her adopted parents were dead, Jolee and her mother had been killed, and Sam was lost, but Alice no longer knew how she was supposed to react. She didn't feel angry or upset; rather determined and hungry for blood. Not just any blood though, not anymore, the nights that she fed on mortal beings seeming so far away. There was a need for something stronger now, something much more potent. She was drawn to the blood of the ancients and would accept no substitutes.
Alice leaned back in her chair, resting her head as Matty drove around another bend in the road. She had spent the last hour daydreaming, or whatever you called such an act at night, reliving old memories of her time with Katherine. However, this time they were her own memories, not those of another playing through her mind. She could feel her companion's gaze as he kept glancing over to check on her, his worry plain to see, but it was more of an annoyance than anything else. With how dangerous the road was, with only a small barrier blocking a fall down the cliffside, she would rather he kept his eyes facing forwards, but couldn't be bothered to make the effort to ask.
Breaking the silence, Matty glanced over at Alice once more, his tone full of concern as he spoke. "Ally, is everything alright?"
Alice didn't move a muscle, continuing to stare out of the window as she replied with a deadpan look upon her face. "Yes. Why do you ask?" The blood in his veins was far too weak to draw her attention, but she found his presence to be useful for the time being.
Matty wasn't convinced by the response, deciding to probe further. "You've barely spoken since… Well, since you drained Alexander dry. Are you sure you're okay?" He sounded distraught, his words a desperate plea that was falling on deaf ears.
"I'm fine." Alice muttered, her voice lacking emotion.
Gripping the steering wheel ever tightly, it was obvious that Matty was becoming increasingly distressed. "I'm worried about you, Alice... Please speak to me."
Alice shrugged her shoulders, glancing over at him for just a second. "Really, I'm fine."
Giving in for the time being, Matty turned his full attention back to the road, his jaw clenched in frustration. "Okay… But I'm here if you need to talk."
It was clear to see that he was struggling since Alice had distanced herself from him, especially since he was unable to understand why she had changed. He couldn't comprehend how she felt; the restrictions of the flesh falling away as she consumed her fill. The ancient and powerful blood had kick-started a transformation within her, but she needed more of it to complete the process. It was so much more than a craving and far more than a mere addiction, her body demanding that she gorged herself as soon as she could. That was the reason they had come to the mountains, their next destination just a few more hours away. Another vampire awaited Alice there, one that was not quite as refined as her last meal, but one old enough to keep her sated until something better came along.
The very thought of another taste made Alice ache. For a brief second she considered feasting on Matty just to make it through, but something in the back of her mind pleaded for her not to. Perhaps there was part of her that still cared for him after all, some last vestiges of her humanity that still required companionship and still held a torch for the soldier who would give his all just to keep her safe.
It was now Alice's turn to observe her companion in silence, the lines on his face more pronounced than she remembered. Even his eyes looked old and faded, as if a light behind them had been snuffed out, leaving a broken shell open to the ravages of time. Vampires didn't age, but for some reason he looked older in this light, his love for her taking its toll in a way that she had not expected.
"I love you, Matty." Alice didn't know where the words came from, but she watched as the spark of hope returned to a man who had almost given up. Those little words had done so much for him, a smile breaking through his tough exterior. She wasn't sure if she truly meant what she said, but she knew that she had loved him once and maybe a part of her still did.
Matty reached across the cab, placing a large hand on Alice's leg as he replied with the sound of relief in his voice. "I love you too, Ally."
Alice let his hand linger there, unsure as to whether she still enjoyed his touch or not. Either way she needed Matty to be at his best, his physical strength and nigh invulnerability almost as much of an asset as his loyalty. It was for that reason that she would tell him whatever he wanted to hear, as it would be as much a benefit to her as it was to him.
There was an odd feeling in Alice's gut, one that she had already forgotten the meaning of. Unsure as to what it was telling her, she believed that it could only mean one thing; it wasn't just her hunger that was making her feel this way, but the fact that she was still at war with herself. There was the raging beast, her fading humanity and the power that they fought for, neither as they had once been. The cage that held the beast had been broken, unleashing it within her, but the good inside her would fight with all that it had left. The balance may have changed, but the battlefield was still the same, and it was tearing her apart.
Chapter Thirteen: The Butterfly and the Wasp
Sam had no idea why he had been brought along, his captors having treated him even worse since the night he wandered off into the woods. Rahna had mentioned something about them not being able to trust him enough to leave him at their camp, which suited Sam just fine, however there was a sinister undertone behind her words that caused him to believe that they were hiding their true motives. It wouldn't surprise him if he was being used as some sort of decoy or cannon fodder should things go south, the wolves considering him to be expendable and little more than a meat shield.
When all of the others thought of him nothing but a failure, Sam had somehow managed to help navigate the endless halls that twisted throughout the building, the entire place an ever changing maze that was haunted by its horrific past. Saint Mary's Asylum was the stuff of nightmares, the derelict building abandoned long ago and left to fall apart at the seams. It had been neglected for years and was barely holding together, making it hard to believe that anyone could reside within that cold and lifeless place. Strangely enough, the building itself seemed to be working against them, as if it wanted them to get lost within its walls, and Sam was beginning to believe that there was no hope of escape.
There was something unnatural about the asylum,
the layout constantly shifting as it seemed to reorganise itself at the drop of a hat. The dusty rooms and the long hallways that connected them were in a constant state of flux, which meant that trying to backtrack or retrace their steps was an impossibility. Paint peeled and pipes leaked, the old drywall flaking to reveal the brickwork beneath. Inoperable lighting hung from the ceiling, their brackets broken and wiring dangerously exposed. It was a terrible place that had been left in such a poor state that it smelled almost as awful as it looked, the rising damp and black mold enough to cause sickness in those with even the sturdiest of constitutions.
Time seemingly had little meaning since crossing the asylum's threshold, the windows boarded up and sealed in order to block out the city as much as it served to trap its unfortunate inhabitants. As seconds turned into minutes and then hours, the group endlessly wandered the unhallowed halls. With uncertainty taking the forefront, it became increasingly doubtful that they would find what they were looking for. Even with Vincent, Rahna and their younger packmate on the case, the specific cell they had been seeking had so far proved to be elusive. Their search had been fruitless so far and their confidence was beginning to falter, the woman that they had come to rescue nowhere to be seen.
Surprisingly, it wasn't the wolves who were first to stumble across something of note, but the least experienced among them. As Sam rounded a corner, he laid eyes upon something that instantly grabbed his attention. A crudely reinforced door had been left wide open, the braces and locks clearly designed to hold something at bay. Strangely, the room that it led to was completely empty, its contents already released upon the world. There wasn't much to see inside at all, the room lacking both furniture and light; the only interest it held, a crudely scrawled message written in blood.
Blood Queen Page 15