by R L Medina
I kept going.
My light bounced around, revealing a narrower hall. I brushed my hand against the smooth, stone wall, heart leaping into my throat. When did the walls changed to stone? Shivers ran up my back. A strange smell hit my nose, making me stop in my tracks.
Blood.
No. Javi.
“Javi? Are you in here?” My voice shook.
I ignored the pounding in my ears and pushed myself forward. Prison cells stood on each side of me. I squinted against the dark, fighting the panic that was spreading through me.
My flashlight went out. An icy fear filled me. I shook it and slammed it in my hand, trying to get it back on. Giving up, I clenched my eyes shut and reopened them, trying to adjust to the dark.
Moonlight streamed in, lighting up the back cells.
Empty.
I swallowed my fear and moved forward. “Javi?”
“Are you lost?”
I jumped at the voice. There. A shadowy form in one of the cells. My heart slammed against my ribs. I should have turned and run, but my legs propelled me forward, some hidden desire to discover what was behind the metal bars.
He laughed. The moonlight gleamed in his dark eyes and his smile revealed his very real, very sharp fangs.
Fear shot through my veins. This was no Halloween vamp with fake blood and stupid, black cape. No. This was real. And it was freaking the hell out of me.
He leaned closer, peering at me through the bars. I shuddered. Thank God for the metal keeping him caged. I could sense his… strangeness, something deep seated in me, telling me to get my ass out of there.
“Come closer,” he hissed. His words were accented, but clear.
Hell to the no.
Alarm filled me as I realized I’d taken a step toward him.
“Stop. Whatever you’re doing. Just stop. The guards are right out there.”
He laughed again. “No. They’re not. You are alone.”
My heart slammed against my chest. Why weren’t my legs working to run away?
“It’s the compulsion ring. Whoever put it on you didn’t expect you to meet a vampire, no?”
Chills crawled over my skin.
“It’s not a ring.”
“Bracelet. Ring. All the same.” His fangs glistened in the moonlight. “Am I your first?”
My eyes bulged. “What?”
He chuckled. “First vampire.”
A shudder ran down my spine. My body remained frozen, but my mind was screaming, begging for me to run.
“No,” I lied.
Which only made his smile widen. “Why do you still wear the compulsion ring? What did you do? What are you?”
I blinked at him. He thought I was a prisoner? I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
“Witch. A powerful one.” I lifted my chin, heart still racing.
His harsh laughter bounced off the stone wall. “You’re no witch.”
The hairs on my neck bristled. I was normally quick on my feet, ready with an answer, but there was something about him that unnerved me so much, I could barely maintain eye contact.
And he knew it.
“I am. Luna Negra Coven. Newly initiated. I’m sure you’ve heard of them. Us.”
He leaned closer to the bars. “They wouldn’t let someone like you in.”
I bristled. “What is that supposed to mean? Someone like me?”
“You’re not their type… too skittish.”
“What do you know about Luna Negra?”
His eyes darted back and forth. “I know better than to get mixed up with them and their radical views.”
“What views?”
He chuckled. “Shouldn’t you know?”
I flushed, hoping he couldn’t see me.
“Come closer.” He reached for me through the bars.
“I can’t help you escape, if that’s what you’re looking for.” I glared at him.
His smile was really starting to get on my nerves.
“What is your name?” The accent was thick now, and if I had to name it, I’d say French.
“None of your business.”
Another chuckle. “How rude of me. I do apologize. I haven’t formally introduced myself to you. I am Gerard Bergeron.”
He fell silent. Waiting for my reaction? Testing me? If he was some well-known vamp and I was claiming to be part of the extraordinaire community, I’d have some knowledge of him.
“What are you in prison for?” The words spewed out of me.
His head shifted slightly, the movement catching my eye. “Drinking blood from humans.”
I sucked in a breath. It wasn’t a surprise, no, but the casualness of his words startled me.
“A false accusation, of course.”
“Of course,” I grunted.
“Humans think their blood is superior, so irresistible to us. But it’s not true.” His eyes flashed. “You know what’s irresistible? Witch’s blood.”
There was that grin again. I shuddered.
“Rose!” Brady’s voice made me jump.
“I’m here!” I hissed.
The vampire stilled. “It’s nice to meet you, Rose.”
Fear spread through my veins. I didn’t want him to know my name much less say it. Holding my breath, I tried once more to back up, but my feet were still not moving.
My eyes snapped up to meet his. Clouds passed by the moon, casting shadows over him that obscured my vision.
“Let me go,” I demanded.
“Uh, uh, uh. You didn’t say the magic word.”
Irritation flared inside me. I’d had enough of his mind games.
“Rose?” Brady held a flashlight up, the light blinding me.
“Turn that away!” I threw my arm over my eyes.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
The light landed on the vampire next. He hissed and backed up from the light, but not fast enough before I made out his face.
Apart from the giant fangs, he looked… normal. Maybe a little abnormally good-looking, but not like the monster I’d pictured in my head.
Brady motioned me away. “What are you doing? Let’s go. We still have to find your cousin.”
“The boy?” the vampire spoke up.
I turned back to him. “Have you seen him?”
“Let me out and I’ll take you to him.”
My hands flew to the bars, my dead flashlight falling to the ground, but even under his compulsion, I couldn’t do it. I didn’t know how the cells unlocked.
“What the hell are you doing?” Brady grabbed my wrist.
Before he could pull me away, the vampire was there. His arm snaked out and wrapped around my neck.
My body slammed against the metal bars. Pain erupted in my forehead at the collision. Why the hell didn’t they build the cells better?
His hot breath was on my face. Up close I could see the frightening gleam in his eyes and the sharp fangs that were too close for comfort. False accusation or not, he was still terrifying.
Fear shot through me. What was he going to do?
“Let her go,” Brady’s voice rose behind me.
I shuddered. His bare arm was ice cold against my skin. I wanted nothing more than to break out of his hold, but my body refused to obey my commands.
Do something, Brady.
“Let me out. Or I’ll bite.”
My eyes widened. No. I tried to move, to struggle, put up a fight, but my body didn’t budge.
“Let go! Get off of me,” I roared. “Brady? Do something!”
“Hold on. I’m trying.”
I relaxed slightly at his voice. At least I knew he hadn’t abandoned me.
He swore. Panic flared inside me.
“Brady?”
The vampire stared into my eyes. “He’s gone.”
My heart leapt into my throat. Tremors ran through me.
“Get me the key,” he demanded.
“I… I don’t know where it is,” I choked out.
Time seemed
to stand still as he stared at me. Trying to compel me to do his bidding? How the hell was I supposed to find the guard’s keys?
His fangs moved closer. I clenched my eyes shut.
“Release her. Now,” a new voice called from behind me.
20
I whipped my head to the side to see, but it was too dark to make out the shadowy form. It sure as hell wasn’t Brady, though. Anger stirred within me. The coward.
“Another student? What is this? Some kind of prison tour?” the vampire growled.
“Do I need to remind you what happens if you hurt another human?” the voice responded.
Grayson, I realized. It was Grayson.
The vampire tightened his grip on me. “I have never hurt a human.”
“Hurting one right now!” I coughed.
“Do you want to die in this prison, vampire?” Grayson continued.
What the hell was he thinking? He was only pissing my captor off more and would probably get me killed in the process.
“Are you going to be the one to kill me?” he scoffed.
“It’s your choice. Death or life? I’m sure even a monster like you has a reason to live. A family?”
My eyes flicked up to see his reaction. Something dark smoldered in his eyes. I suppressed a shudder. I was trapped. Vulnerable. At the mercy of this creature.
“There is no choice. You will keep me here until you tire of torturing me. And then my body will join the millions that you’ve mutilated and tossed aside.”
I flinched. What was he talking about?
“The law states—”
“The law—your law doesn’t make concessions for my kind. No matter what I do or do not do, you will always see me as a monster.”
His eyes met mine. My cheeks reddened. I did see him as a monster. What other way was there to see it?
“You’re holding an innocent girl hostage. Tell me who’s the monster.” Grayson’s voice was hard.
I flushed. Girl? He made it sound like I was some damsel in distress, which technically was true, but the thought made me burn with humiliation. It was my tío’s stupid cursed bracelet that put me in the position in the first place.
He withdrew his arm from my neck, making me gasp. I leapt away from the cell, bumping into Grayson. The vampire stared at me from behind the bars.
Whatever hold he’d had on me was gone, and I could move freely now.
Grayson threw a protective arm in front of me. “Let’s go.”
I rubbed my neck, trying to bring back the warmth. My heart pounded in my ears as I backed up. I couldn’t see the vampire’s face as the clouds blocked out the moonlight, but I sensed his eyes still on me. The creepy psycho.
Grayson led me away back the way we came. I glanced over my shoulder, but the darkness obscured everything.
“What was he talking about?” I turned to Grayson.
He turned his flashlight on and lit up the stone floor ahead of us. “You mean the mutilations?”
“Uh. Yeah. Did you know about that?”
I couldn’t make out his face in the dark, but his silence made me nervous.
“No. But I wouldn’t believe him. The law is meant to protect the innocent, even the extraordinaire.”
An argument was on the tip of my tongue, but I held it in. How could they be so blind? In what universe did an organization with that much power and control not become dangerous. It was clear in every book or movie I’d seen that was how it worked.
“Brady was with me. He left me. I don’t know where he went.”
“He left you? With the vampire?” Grayson’s voice grew hard.
“I think he tried to do something to help, but whatever it was, it didn’t work. Thank you, by the way.”
He fell silent again. I squinted, trying to read his face in the dark, but it was hopeless.
“It’s what any decent human would do,” he finally responded, an edge to his tone that hinted at his disgust for Brady.
A light shone on our faces, making me wince.
“Rose! Grayson. There you are.” Brady sounded relieved.
Grayson strode forward. “What the hell, Brady? Did you leave her with the vampire?”
“What? No… I—”
“Yes, you did!”
Grayson shone the flashlight on him, revealing his scrunched-up face.
“I was looking for Grayson to come and help! I swear.”
“I don’t believe you,” Grayson ground out.
Brady scoffed. “Shocker. You never want to believe I’d do something good. That I can be just as ‘heroic’ as you.”
“Which this clearly proves, you aren’t.”
I stepped between them. “Shut up. Both of you. Javi is still missing. So, save the drama. Let’s find him and get out of here.”
“Why did you wander off then? You’re the one wasting time,” Brady scoffed.
Heat spread across my face. “I thought I heard Javi.”
They frowned at me. I glanced away, not wanting to explain myself to them.
“Did you pick up the trail?” I turned to Grayson.
He didn’t answer.
“Well, did you?” I demanded.
“No. I can’t feel the connection.”
“Great. We have nothing. How long before we’re caught by the guards?”
Grayson shifted beside me. “The guards aren’t here.”
I swiveled toward him. “What did you say?”
“They checked out.”
“What the… checked out? It’s a prison. Not some hotel,” I scoffed.
“For the Morti Par. The prison is given over to the prisoners. At midnight.” Grayson answered.
Chills crawled over me. “What time is it now?”
“Fifteen past,” Brady answered, glancing at his phone.
I swore. “Ugh, Javi. You idiot. Where are you?”
“I say we leave. Your cousin’s probably sleeping it off in one of the cells. He’ll be fine.”
“Shut up, Brady,” Grayson growled.
“If the prisoners get a key… and get out… you know what happens.”
I didn’t. I didn’t want to know.
“Let’s move. Now,” Grayson added.
We walked together, me in the middle between the flashlights. Grayson paused and held his arm up for us to wait.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Take this.” His flashlight shifted, lighting up the side wall of the prison for a minute.
He thrust something cold and metal in my hands. Brady shone his light on it, revealing a long double-bladed knife.
I gaped at him. “What is this for?”
“Just in case,” he responded cryptically. “Do you know how to use it?”
I scoffed. “Hold it up and stab?” I made a stabbing motion in the air.
Brady snickered.
Grayson sighed. “Here, Brady. Take my flashlight for a minute and give us some light.”
Grumbling, he did what he was asked.
Grayson took the knife and made a swiping motion. The air hissed, making my heart jump.
He handed it back to me. “You try. Hurry.”
I held the cool metal in my hand and tried to mimic his movement. Brady laughed. I shot him a glare. I knew how to hold a sword and different knives, but of course it would be one I wasn’t familiar with that Grayson gave me.
“No. Like this. Here.” Grayson stood behind me and wrapped his hand over my wrist. His nearness made me flush. I forced myself not to react. Especially not when Brady was audience to it all. The lights shone on the knife in my hand, Grayson’s big hand over mine.
He moved, moving my arm along with his. Together, we sliced through the air at different angles. Heat rushed through me.
“Okay. Got it. Thanks.”
Releasing me, he stepped away. Cool air rushed in from his absence. I shivered and gripped my knife tighter.
“Enjoy that did you?” Brady whispered in my ear.
My face flamed. “Grow up.
We need to find Javi.”
With that I picked up my pace to meet Grayson’s strides, ignoring Brady’s snickers. The light from the flashlights bounced around, lighting up the hall and darkness in front of us. I groaned. There were rows and rows of empty cells and no end in sight.
Where could Javi be and how long until we stumbled upon cells that weren’t empty?
“If there are no guards, can’t we just turn on the light?” I whined.
“No. We’d have to get to the main grid to turn everything back on. Everything’s offline. No lights. No wi-fi. No phone signal.”
“No witnesses to our death by convicts,” Brady added.
“Wow. This just gets better and better. Where the hell are you, Javi?” I shook my head.
Despite my brave façade, I was freaking out. Trapped in a prison with pissed off, unguarded supernaturals was not what I signed up for. When I found my cousin, I was going to beat the crap out of him.
A loud clink echoed in the distance. Fear crawled up my spine. The others stopped to listen too. It came again. Chains against metal. I gripped the knife tighter, dreading what we would find next.
“Come get me! I know you’re coming for me!” A voice screamed.
Javi.
“What is he doing?” I raced ahead.
Grayson flung out his arm to stop me, making me stumble into Brady.
“We have to assess first. Don’t just run into danger,” Grayson chided me.
My cheeks burned. Of course, I knew that. But Javi was right there and he sounded like he was in trouble.
“Javi?” My voice echoed.
“Shh!” Brady elbowed me in the arm.
I glared at him and his freaking bony elbows, but he couldn’t see me in the dark.
Ahead, the light revealed Javi curled in a ball on the floor. Chains lay broken around him. Alarm filled me, but Brady grabbed me before I could run forward.
His suit was torn to shreds, the dark fabric lay scattered on the cement floor.
“What happened?” My words were breathless.
Javi’s head whipped toward us. His eyes were bloodshot, but he was grinning. Grinning and drooling.
I gasped. “Javi?”
“Don’t go near him,” Grayson warned.
“Why? What happened to him?”
The sight of him feral on the floor tore my heart.
“Fairy bite,” Brady answered. His light shone on Javi’s shoulder. Blood poured from a grisly looking wound.