“Please grab my hand Ellie,” Jenn said, and held her hand out to me. “You can trust me, it is safe here.” I grabbed her hand and allowed her to lead me. In any other circumstance, I imagine no human would be able to see. Jenn grabbed a hold of rope, which led us onto a very thick piece of metal. I still had to pretend to be blinded by the mist and unable to see.
“Try to grab hold onto the rope on your left Ellie, and watch your footing, this can be at times rough,” she mused. I did as she said, pretending to miss the rope next to me a few times. Ellie grabbed a piece of rope that was lowered over her head. With a large tug and a moment later of waiting, the piece of metal slowly began to lift. We were being escalated up the cemented wall. The higher we got the thicker the mist seemed to get and then suddenly, as if revealing a whole new world, the mist vanished. I peered over the tall wall, which was higher than even my own Guild’s. Two men pulled down on levers, which had slowly elevated us. They both looked at me skeptically.
“It’s wonderful to see you back safe Miss. Cadolwadt, who do you have with you?” One of the men asked. They were heavily guarded in metal. I tried to hide the snicker, as if such armor would protect them from vampires.
“Yes, my guest here has suffered from amnesia. I found her on my return to my home and have looked after her since. I’m shocked she wasn’t attacked by Sabers while she was lying down, unconscious. I call her Ellie.”
“She will have to go through the scans and you will have to advise Mr. Richard,” the man said. He returned Jenn’s smile, obviously she had her own techniques of flattery and manipulation. I wondered if Yolo had a laugh about how he could wrap these full grown men around his finger. How unsuspecting of them.
“I will, thank you,” Jenn smiled, stepping off the platform and onto the cemented wall. All around the circular large wall was enough room for three people to comfortably walk along. I was surprised to see so clearly now, after the extent of the mist was below and cascading against the wall. “This way Ellie.”
“I will escort you, Jenn, we have had a few attacks while you were gone. It is always safer to be precautionary,” the same guard said. “Lower the escalator,” he commanded to the other guard.
“From vampires?” I asked inquisitively. It wouldn’t seem like such an odd question, from someone who would have been recently educated on vampires. Jenn gave the guard a nod in reassurance.
“I apologize, Ellie, I only told you of the vampires. There are other creatures within this area, specifically. In the old world, when war broke out, a lot of radiation and miasma were caused. We use this as our guard up higher. Here we are safe, and if we don’t stay too long in the mist we are fine. Within the compound we are also fine. However, there were animals from the human world that were affected. They have in a sense reformed or adjusted to their surroundings. The guards on patrol must wear such heavy armor, because the animals sometimes try to invade them. A few of our own have been picked off and eaten.”
I looked between them, in what I imagine to be an expression of shock. I was surprised to hear this, Yolo hadn’t informed me sooner.
“What form of animal is it derived off?” I asked, wondering if I would be able to relate to the memory of the creature, or if I had even made contact with its breed before.
“There are a few,” the guard said openly, as he continued to escort us on top of the wall. “The one’s we have issues with most are a form of rodent. However, because of them it also helps with the sabers, as a sort of repellent. Although no match for the sabers, I have once seen a pack of them take down a lone saber. They can efficiently look after themselves.”
I had never heard of such mutations on creatures, exactly in what part of the world were we? I looked down at the uneven cemented ground, and then over to my left where there was a thick metal. I could not see anything that was within the human compound from up here. It seemed to be a large dome concealing and protecting the inside. Along the wall, I had now seen three harpoons. I assumed they were used in defense against enemies and the rodents, if they tried to scale the walls? It reminded me much of the tactics Cesar, used. Better to keep a few enemies close, then the real ones closer. How egotistic, yet clever at the same time. The humans presumed they could handle and kill the animals living around them, more than the monsters that lurked and waited to destroy this compound.
“The roofing is a thick layer, it helps us conduct more electricity when we eventually have thunderstorms and such,” Jenn said, educating me as we walked.
“You make it sound so simple,” the guard said, as he strolled behind us.
“There are only a few things, Ellie, can understand and recall, so I like to inform her in such a manner. However, I have found she is good with handling a sword and bow. I will take her to the military sector after I give her a tour. I hope Sydney will be able to find use for her.”
“He won’t just add anyone,” the guard grumbled. I could tell already within this sector, that there was a hierarchy approval, even within the combat section- of which I was not concerned by. I could test the limits of showing my skill, but to such a weak extent that they wouldn’t be suspicious of my human self. But combat was what I was most impressive at, no matter what form I pretended to be in.
“You are grumbling again,” Jenn teased. We approached cemented stairs, where Jenn permitted the guard to leave. She gave me a wavered look, which advised me that we were approaching the scan. The remaining question lingered between us, as to whether I would be perceived as human, huntress or vampire. I wasn’t sure how their scan worked, but if only physically, I was recognized as human. I had already thought of my missing heart to be of concern. But, Yolo had previously mentioned that with my mother’s gift, a replacement of sorts was made. So, within the scan, it should still look as if I had a proper heart pumping and circulating my blood.
I followed Jenn further into the rocky foundation. After twelve steps in, one of the doors behind us had been closed. Low lights illuminated from the ceilings. It reminded me of the Council, they didn’t use flames or candles, this was electricity. On my left was a well-lit white room, which had one male and female, who sat with items I had never even seen before. Was this what they called technology? The male typed vigorously on the board below his fingertips, and continuously looked up at a screen. Was this a computer?
“Good Morning Miss. Cadolwadt, I see you have found a human. Please step her aside, she will have to go after you. Protocol of course,” the woman smiled.
“Just watch after me Ellie, it is safe,” Jenn reassured. It was exactly how I imagined someone would treat a patient with amnesia. I tried to recall my contact with human children and how fearful they were of everything; I felt as if this was how Jenn treated me.
On either side of the narrow walkway, there were two large white poles. I could see long into the distance that there were small holes within the walls. I imagined that if a vampire walked through the scans and failed, no matter how quick they might be, that this would certainly trigger a trap or their certain death. I looked behind me and noticed the same form of holes. If I was irregular on their scan, there was no way for me to escape unscathed.
Jenn walked between the two scanners. I wondered, if Yolo had feared walking through for the first time, uncertain if his woman self would be competent enough for the scans. His gift was truly amazing, to be able to change his entire physical structure. I wondered if he stayed in that form permanently, if it aged and was only mortal.
Rays of small light came from either side, and hovered over Jenn’s skin slowly. The lights flickered green, and the man who watched the screen gave her the all clear. Jenn stepped out and turned to face me with a smile.
“You’re turn, Ellie,” Jenn smiled and gave a quick short glance at the holes within the walls, advising me that if I hadn’t already seen it, I needed to know. She then looked down at the flooring. Exactly below where the scanners were positioned, I could see slight distortion in the ground. If I didn’t move quickly
enough, I imagine that was a trap door and I would plummet into some form of pit. This whole walk was a trap for outsiders. The exchanged glances that Jenn had given me were so quick, that the others hadn’t seen. But, I knew what she meant, what Yolo meant- be wary.
I stepped between the two white bars, inhaling deeply. I am human, act human, I reminded myself. The small white lights projected on my skin. I stood still, very still as if any movement might trigger a reaction. I focused in front of me, and prepared for the light to turn red. If it did, I had to run at vampire speed through to the entrance and jump off the top of the wall. Even as both Vampire and Hunter, I wondered if that would stun me for some time, until I healed from such a massive fall.
The lights turned green and the lady spoke through the glass. “Miss what is your name?” I looked at her for a moment, surprised that I was permitted through. I honestly thought I would have to run. So on their scans, I was considered as human?
“Her name is, Ellie,” Jenn interrupted. She pulled me through by my shoulders, comfortingly. “For now until she regains her memories, she is an amnesia patient. I am going to inform Mr. Richard. I hope to make a recommendation to Sydney, to put her in the combat section.”
The man tapped at the little board underneath his finger tips and continued to stare at the screen.
“It has been noted,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” Jenn said with a wavering smile that he hadn’t noticed. Jenn placed her hand on my lower back, and paced me further into the tunnel. She gave me a side glance, which conveyed she too wasn’t as sure as me. I reminded myself, that her look and her touch, this was Yolo. His hand on my lower back was what I imagined a family member would do, in such a comforting way. Not that I wanted it, but I imagined that was what such a member would do if they were worried.
“Now the tricky part, to find you a place amongst us, Ellie,” Jenn said with a smile as we approached a large closed metal sliding door.
T he sliding doors opened and revealed white walls. There were many doors on either side of me, which had various different numbers on them. There were separate chambers, which extended further. Jenn walked me to another pair of metal sliding doors; the whole tunnel had an eerie silence to it. Using my sensitive hearing, I couldn’t hear any living creature to reside within the rooms and I couldn’t decipher what all those empty rooms hid within.
Jenn placed her hand on a large white button, beside the door. The doors opened and natural bright light irritated my eyes. The sun broke my eyesight for a moment as I squinted, trying to readjust to its brightness once again. Jenn stepped onto the marble white floor, where we were within a glass tunnel. Above us the sky beamed down that oh so irritating sun.
“It appears they have pulled back the dome,” Jenn mused. “We try to have it open for as long as possible, but for security measures it is closed most of the time. To see the natural sunlight within here is a rarity. It often gives the generators a break.”
The air was thick within the glass tunnels. Everywhere I looked around me, outside of the glass tunnels, humans walked. Some with books in their hands, others were chatting and laughing, some children were even training with wooden swords. There were cemented paths throughout the well maintained green grass. There were four glass tunnels in total, including the one we walked through. All glass tunnels connected to the center, where a large statue of a man stood.
“That was the founder of this place. A bit embarrassing to have a statue made of him, in my opinion. Resources surely could have gone towards something else,” Jenn murmured under her breath, so only I could hear. Two men approached us. The fat and bald man wore a white coat that hardly clipped around his belly. The other wore thick leathering, with weapons strapped all over him. They seemed to be in an argument. I could smell them before they had even turned the corner, and into our own tunnel. I could see them through the glass, as they turned from theirs, circled the statue and walked towards our own. The sweet smell of their scent and light sweat, paused me for a moment. I could hear the pulse of their blood pumping, inviting me to take a bite. I counted to ten, as my father had taught me. I could not act out here, I am human.
“Well, you will do as I say; you can’t just be a feral outside the walls all the time. You need to be interested in the studies of experiments as well,” the man in the white coat said to the other, who seemed irritated. “Ah Jenn, it’s nice to see you again,” The man with the white coat cheered. His eyes rolled over me and lingered on my inner thighs, before his expression reached my eyes. “Who is your friend?” I clenched my jaw and froze my every instinct. This man smelt distasteful. My natural instincts were to lunge for him and rip out his eyes, so he could never look at another in such a vulgar way again.
“Mr. Taine, how lovely to see you,” Jenn said, with a fake smile. I could read her particularly well right now, and she didn’t like this man either. “This is my guest, Ellie.”
“Lovely to meet you Ellie,” the bald, fat man held out his hand to me with a smug expression. Still clenching my jaw and fists, I looked at his hand. I would not shake such a repulsive man’s hand. I looked him dead in the eyes, with an expression that stated so. Although I denied my darker self that wanted to rip him apart, I could still express my distaste for him. The other man, who was very broad in size and had sandy brown hair, watched me. He wasn’t as fixated on my body but more my expression. I could see him in the corner of my eye. He rubbed his light rubble around his jaw. A large scar down his neck caught my attention, forcing me to make eye contact with his blue eyes.
“Please don’t mind her,” Jenn said, with another charismatic smile. “I found her. It would appear she has amnesia.”
“Amnesia or not, a woman should know her place and show me some respect,” Mr. Taine hissed. I clenched my hands, trying to contain the shaking fit I could feel coming on. I wanted this man dead, he needed to be dead. What defused me, was how intently the other man watched my every action, studying me. Not like the other man had, but as I would someone else, summarizing them.
“That’s enough,” the other man growled. “Shut your mouth and show me this damn thing, you so urgently wanted me to see.” His voice was rough and domineering.
“Well does the girl not speak or something, is she retarded,” Mr. Taine insinuated. Still within human speed and reflex, I grabbed his arm and twisted his face to hit the glass with such force. I knew I was dabbling in a very dangerous territory, but I would never permit myself to be spoken to like that, no matter what form I took.
“Ellie!” Jenn snarled. I looked over his neck with such temptation, but even I couldn’t be tempted by his repulsive smell.
“She speaks,” I said, calmly in his ear. I looked into the glass and saw the reflection of the other man who did nothing. His arms were crossed as he held back a slight smile.
“Ellie let him go!” Jenn yelled, more seriously. I looked out beyond the glass where a few people had now noticed us. This wasn’t exactly going within character, as to who I was meant to play, but as long as I did everything with human pace, Jenn couldn’t lecture me for breaking our promise.
“Disgusting,” I said and threw him to the side. He took a few wobbly steps, trying to catch his footing.
“I will throw you to the Sabers, you dirty-”
“That’s enough Taine,” the other man said. His voice was rough and sharp, like a bark. He stood in front of me, his broad shoulder blocking me from the view of my prey. “You want to act in such a way, of course you are going to get your ass handed to you.”
Jenn came to my side, her eyes like a wild storm. I looked up again, at the dome that now began to close. Yolo will most certainly lecture me for this.
“Don’t worry about it, Jenn. I will make sure this isn’t reported,” the other man said, looking over his shoulder and at me.
“That would be appreciated,” Jenn said, patting over her skirt. “I actually needed to find you in regards to, Ellie. It seems she is good with crossbow and swords
.”
So this was Sydney. He was much younger than I had anticipated, considering he was the man in charge of their military movement. He looked me up and down, not repulsively, but in measure.
“You look only small, if I hadn’t seen you move so swiftly just now, I wouldn’t have considered you.” He turned with his hands crossed over his chest. “I would like to see what you can do; I’d hate to be disappointed.”
“I don’t think I am one to disappoint,” I said, keeping my eye contact with him.
“That’s a bold statement coming from someone with amnesia,” he said, smugly.
“I am still trying to find myself. But being weak or shy is not something I can sense in myself,” I said, forwardly. I felt relieved almost to have met Sydney and to find him to have such a a personality. I felt I wasn’t as closed off or pretending, that a part of me could stay, even as I pretended to be human.
“Bring her to my training grounds this afternoon. The usual time,” Sydney said to Jenn. He measured me one more time with a distinct expression of appreciation. “Don’t disappoint me.”
He walked off, ushering Mr. Taine, to be quiet. Mr. Taine threatened and spat every filthy name he could conjure at me. By the time they had walked further into the tunnel, the dome was completely closed. Small lights began to flick on all over the grassed grounds and within the tunnel.
“What the fuck was that?” Jenn said. “You can’t be acting like that in here. What did I say, before we came in?!”
“I made a good impression didn’t I?” I shrugged. “I won’t attack anyone. Its fine, I’m in control.”
“You just attacked someone, not even two minutes ago,” she growled.
“I am sorry, I just- I couldn’t not attack, such a filthy man. There is something not right with that man. He smells. . . odd to me,” I said, frowning and unsure as to why that was. “He is not right; he is not a man who should live.”
Token Vampire (Token Huntress Book 2) Page 10