“I think for now, you need some rest,” Chase interrupted. “We all do. If tomorrow night goes to plan, Tythian will take us to the human camp near your old Guild. We need to prepare for the worst, and that is that there are already Hunters there who know our faces and want us dead.” We all agreed we had to prepare for that. I wondered how many of the hunters survived from the ambush of sabers. Did most of them stay together, or like Teary and Tori, Kasey and Kora, did they all separate? It was a risk to take Dillian and Julia, but I couldn’t deny Dillian his right to protect himself anymore, it was because of me, that he was now trapped below ground.
*
Jenn and I hardly spoke after Tythian teleported us to the outskirts of the border to the Human Compound. We walked in comfortable silence. I followed Jenn to do a few rounds to sedate the vampires. They made the rounds different and irregular, so vampires wouldn’t get used to the one person or smell. I could only consider Lincon as the only threat in there. This also gave Yolo an opportunity to assess the new vampires who went in, to make sure none was a part of his own Coven. He had planned his rounds and purpose within the Human Compound perfectly.
Jenn carried her suitcase and board which had the cell numbers of the five vampires she had to sedate. She sedated the first sabers which looked as glazed as the last one she had shown me the day before. I looked into that saber’s cell, noticing it was now gone. I looked at the glass, still surprised they were so confident it could hold them in. If Lincon wanted to escape, I am sure he would find a way.
A woman entered the room behind us, before Jenn could administer the second.
“Miss. Cadolwadt,” the woman interrupted. “The fourth power grid is down. Mr. Richard wishes you to attend to it straight away,” she said with upmost respect.
“Of course,” Jenn responded and looked over the board again. “Do you think you are capable of doing this, Ellie?” she asked politely. I accepted them without hesitation. Yolo was giving me the same access to what he had. The more ground that we could cover, the better.
After the woman and Jenn left, the irritating sound of Lincon’s whistling began. I ignored it as best I could, and injected the next two vampires. I avoided it for as long as I could, until I had to walk past Lincon’s cell.
“Do you hate me or something, why are you ignoring me?” He whined, with his face pressed up against the glass.
“I don’t know you. Don’t talk to me,” I snapped back. I still tried to avoid him.
“I could be of some help, you know. With whatever you have planned,” he smiled smugly as he stroked his goatee.
“What makes you think I have something planned?”
He smiled knowingly, I fell for the bait. But I couldn’t get past the ideal of his gift, it could become. . . useful.
“Because a creature like you, a rare thing- always has a plan. You wouldn’t be wasting your time in a human compound. I can smell all different scents over you. Coven’s, human’s, hunter’s; and you appear to be all of those things. You smell like a delightful human to thirst on now. But when your true form emerges, you are both vampire and hunter. I can’t smell any bi-product on or in you. The one’s they experiment on in here, they all reek of deformity. Not you. You are naturally one. I am a vampire with no purpose,” he mused, as he scratched his white see through shirt absentmindedly. “I get bored easily and follow no one. I simply go where there is food and games. But you, you smell interesting to me. It looks as if. . . it will be fun.”
“I don’t do fun,” I sharply spat.
“No darling, you don’t. But what follows you smells like fun and havoc. I heard two scientists discussing Hunters who had been modified within here. I wondered if that might have had something to do with it. I mean you do have Hunter eyes after all. Maybe you are here to break them out,” Lincon smiled. The area around me swirled and changed. Across the cell from me was Kora and Kasey, unaffected, their saber like physical status gone.
“Please, Ellie, help us,” Kora begged. I did not run to them. This was a lie. Lincon seemed impressed. The two girls vanished, and the illusion was now gone.
“You responded none the less,” Lincon admitted. “I could help you know.”
“What is in it for you, and what makes you think I need help?” I spat harshly. My grip firmed around the suitcase with sedation in it. I felt like a fool for even entertaining the idea.
“Well, it’s simple, Love. I already told you. I want to follow you. I don’t want power or gifts or gain. I am content with mine and mine alone. I just want something fun to do,” he said as he sat down in the corner of his cell. “You know I had a familiar once too, as well. He was so handsome, and I was only about, I don’t know, it was probably late 600’s. Ah, that’s right I was 678 years old, when he came in and swept me off my feet. I knew he was my familiar instantly. You just know these things. I was nothing then, I didn’t even know ‘gifts’ existed. He showed me his illusions, his world, spoke about them to me. After we commemorated and became proper familiar and lovers- I put a dagger in his chest and watch him rot into a corpse.” He waited for my shocked expression, with a smile. “You see, Love, I will only follow what I think is fun. I knew I would be tied down to him the longer I dared be mesmerized by him. It was my first line of defense.”
“Why are you telling me that disgusting story,” I snapped. I could never think or had met anyone who would be willing to kill their own familiar. I didn’t even think it possible. He could not be sane, surely.
“Because of exactly that, you asked why you need me. Sometimes little Huntress, you need someone who is able to do the dirty work when you can’t. I can smell a familiar all over you. I question, what kind of influence he has on a new baby vampire like you. I mean, you have walked in here, full of control and haven’t thirsted on anyone. It made me question,” he frowned to himself. “Perhaps your familiar is suppressing those urges; no new vampire can do it themselves. And, I very much doubt you have friends who could press such an underlying impression of ‘oh no don’t eat that human,’” he began laughing as his mock tone of a squeaky voice. My instincts reacted at the mockery of Chase and my fangs shot through my gums with a growl. “What I am saying is, you need someone in the shadows close, who is willing to do your dirty work. You don’t have to tell me your secrets. In fact, I don’t care. But I have lived just under one thousand years. If you, little mixed breed, can create some fun for me, then consider me yours,” he said with a dashing smile. “Gift and all.”
I looked at him for a moment, and considered this. Usually, I wouldn’t consider such an outsider’s offer. I didn’t need help, but perhaps with such a gift at my disposal, I could effectively break Kora and Kasey out; without asking Jenn for help, nor needing Teary and Tori to come close to this place.
“You are locked in a cell, where there are silver darts and high security down the hallway; how do you dare think you can escape?” I smugly said.
“My dear, I am an illusionist- and in being so I do not give away my tricks freely. Whatever you ask of me, I can do it,” he said, with a smug expression. “Whenever you want.”
“The two Hunters, they are in even heavier security then you. Do you think that you could break them out?” I said out of curiosity. His smile stretched thin.
“I thought you would never ask. But, if you could be so kind as to direct me to where their cell is, then I will have no problem locating them. But, you do understand that the person who doesn’t sedate me last, might lose their life over this,” he said twistedly. “You know, consequence and all.”
“You said I needed someone to do the dirty work for me. So make it happen,” I said sharply. I would not allow him to try and manipulate me into guilt. I had seen enough of the humans to care for what happened to them. They went beyond measures to twist and manipulate their own kind; I was no worse a person then them. “Don’t kill anyone. What they choose to do with that member is consequence of their own beliefs and punishment. I can show you where to go, but yo
u must open your mind to me,” I said. I scanned over his mind. He had done so, very easily. His mind was twisted and sick, it made me want to vomit, yet he was sane at the same time. I ignored the things that propped up and he openly wanted to share with me. The murders and pain he had caused in the past. This was one of the most twisted vampires I had ever met.
“Yea my friends’ say I am a bit crazy,” he mused to himself. He stopped suddenly, serious. “Actually I don’t believe I have any friends. How pathetic.” Lincon was very receptive of my mind. Considering that his gift was mixing with one’s mind, it didn’t surprise me. “I knew you had a gift with your mind, I sensed it the day you walked in.”
I conveyed to him images and direction as to how to get to the secret room that Kora and Kasey were in. I showed him the exits and how to leave the compound. I offered him both exits that I had been shown of either side of the wall. “Very detailed,” he mused. “When will I know its show time?” I sent a huge surge of motivation to him. Instantly he responded by standing. He looked at me with surprise and then smiled. He began lightly tapping his skin. “Well, I can say that no one has ever made me feel like that before,” he mused. “Consider it done. Call on me when you need me. I will be close afterwards.”
“If you cross me,” I purred, domineeringly.
“Little vampire, if you think I will take your threat seriously, you are sadly mistaken in the difference of you and I. You are not the superior one here. It just so happens, that I like you and want to follow these games you have,” he charmed. He continued to chat to me but I walked off. I sedated the next vampire, who looked as if she had been experimented on recently. Her face also had begun to look as if it were melting. What were they doing to these vampires?
After sedating the last one, I left the room and the whistling Lincon, of whom I felt as if I made a deal with the son of all darkness.
I returned the suitcase with emptied syringes, and signed off on it. I had every intention to desert Lincon once his goal was achieved. I couldn’t allow such a dark figure by my side. I did everything myself and I was already crossing over my own beliefs, to allow an outsider’s help. But in this case, to protect and not to risk those I cared about, I had no issue using a vampire that I had no attachment to. If he dies failing to do the task then he dies, I do not care. But if he can break Kora and Kasey out safely, then I do not have to involve Yolo as well. He had already showcased his hatred for them, because they were Hunters. I could now focus on Charlie’s, and how I will provide Tythian access to take his revenge. Would I lead Charlie out or will I bring Tythian in?
I could use Lincon as a distraction. Amongst the chaos and confusion and attention Lincon draws to himself, I could summon Tythian into the Human Compound. It would go unsuspecting and when others found Charlies body ripped apart, they would assume it was the vampires who had escaped.
I wouldn’t have to involve Teary and Tori, and create a plan. I could now focus on securely finding everyone a camp where they could rest, and be safe.
I walked towards the residential area; I wanted to inspect its placement and resources. Sydney was crouched on one knee talking to a young girl. He blocked the open space that allowed me to inspect further in. The girl nodded to Sydney, and looked up at me with caution.
“Ah, Ellie,” Sydney said, waving me over. I assessed the size of the small child which had tanned skin, dark midnight black hair and brown eyes. She appeared to be the age of six, at most.
“Titan, this is Ellie. Ellie is new on my team,” Sydney said to the girl. “Ellie, this is my daughter, Titan.” I looked at her again, now surprised that he had a daughter. The child began to stare at me. “Titan don’t be rude.”
“Her eyes are like Mommy’s,” the child whispered to him, but I could hear. Sydney looked at her and at my eyes for a moment, as if he too had just realized something.
“Why don’t you go play for a little while; I have to go outside and do a few things, okay?” He said. He seemed fully exposed around this child. The hard exterior I had known only yesterday, vanished when he was with this child, his daughter. Titan gave him a hug and ran towards the residential area.
“Sorry about that. Her mother died two years ago. She has been a bit funny around women since,” Sydney said, as he stood up and watched his daughter safely return to a group of male boys her age. “She seems to be growing into a bit of a tomboy,” he mused. He looked at my unaffected face, as if reminding himself who he was talking to. “Right, well I didn’t think you would make it today. Jenn usually comes and goes as she pleases. I am about to check some of the netting we have around the place. Want to come for a round? You will need to get used to the traps surrounding the compound, we race in and out, often. It would be an issue if one of our own members got caught in the traps.”
“Have you hooked yourself a few times?” I mused.
“Again, you have a big mouth,” Sydney retorted.
“Or perhaps you have a big ego,” I counteracted. He clenched his jaw, as if to say something, but he said nothing. We collected extra weapons, which included the bow and arrows that was already strapped to my back. I grabbed another two knives. Sydney and I exited through the front wall, where Jenn and I always walked through. The sun wasn’t as strong today, which left me at ease. It was only another issue I would have to be concerned with. Today, I felt far more relieved and not tempted by the sweet smell of Sydney, to drain his entirety. After my feast yesterday, I was very content. I hadn’t even known I was so hungry, but Chase knew. When would I be able to measure my own hunger and cravings?
We began to walk through the thick mist that pillowed around our ankles. For some reason it pillowed closest to the walls of the Human Compound, it’s thick like miasma smelt unbearable to my sensitive nose.
“You don’t wear a mask or anything?” I asked Sydney.
“Shit, I should have asked if you wanted one, sorry,” he said. “No I don’t, other members do. I don’t rely on them. My body needs to adjust to what the world is. Everyone keeps talking about it reverting to the days, before any of our time. I don’t believe in that. If the animals around us adjust, then so can we humans.”
I considered this, which lead me to my next question. “So what do you think of all the testing and test subjects?” His expression snapped angrily on me, until he softened his expression and continued walking.
“I hate them. I’m fully against it,” he said, pushing back a dead branch that was at his eye level. The branch made a clean snap.
“So why do you capture them and bring them back?” I asked, curious as to why someone would help the very project they were against.
“Because something has to change. Our resources and survival aren’t guaranteed. Fighting is the only thing I am good at. I would have no other role in the Compound and I need to guarantee Titan’s safety. So even if I am going against my beliefs, as long as she is safe, I will continue doing so until the day I die. We can’t live on the outside; I am not so narrow-minded, as to think I am all mighty and powerful. I am basically a piece of meat in the world full of beasts. She is safest behind those walls.”
“The scar that is on your neck, was that from a vampire?” I asked. He was quiet for a moment and hesitated to answer.
“I’ve been attacked by a lot of vampires and sabers. But this one, no. This one was by my father. He had an illness in his mind, which no one realized, until it was too late. He was in charge of the military force, like I am now. One night I checked up on him. He thought I was a vampire, and so he attacked and cut me from my jawline down. I was lucky to survive.”
A high pitched squeal broke our conversation. I held my bow and arrow high into the direction it came from. Sydney held his two swords comfortably by his side as he walked slowly towards it.
“It’s okay, we’ve snagged one,” he said, reassuring me to lower my weapon. I followed him closer to where the Saber squealed. It was high in the tree tops, where it had stepped into a trap. I could smell its suffering
and burning from here.
“Silver?” I said impartial. Of course the netting would be silver. I remembered its effects on my own skin as I tried to free Chase from it. It burnt at my skin, which is why I actively avoided it within the compound. That saber would have felt as if it were roasting alive.
“Good eye,” he said with a smile. “Silver drains the vampires, it’s the only weakness they have. We will leave it here over night. The sun will exhaust it as well. It has probably been trapped here since last night; sabers rarely come out during the day. Hopefully it draws the attention of more and they will be caught as well.”
A flash of speed flew between us. Sydney was thrown back against one of the trees and knocked out instantly. I could smell the blood oozing out of his head. I raised my bow and arrow towards the vampire that lined him up, tempted by the wound. The smell of Sydney’s blood called to me. But I could not move from my spot, in case tempted. I could not attack Sydney. Still full from yesterday, I reminded myself, that I did not need to feast. That it were an illusion.
“Don’t go near him,” I said, still pretending to be human. I couldn’t take much damage if I continued to be human, even if I were attacked, I was immortal. The vampire teased and took another step. I shot an arrow, barely missing him.
“You are very strong, for only a young human girl,” another voice cooed out of the trees. There were now two vampires. Slowly, I circled them, so I could stand in front Sydney. The other vampire did the same, and walked towards the other. The vampire, who had first attacked, seemed to have a hunchback, his neck continued to click and his eye twitched. He continued to walk with his arms forward and his hands crunched over. His physical posture looked to be deformed. But he was definitely vampire.
The woman he walked to held her head high. Her long black hair cascaded to her knees. Her face was gaunt and ghostly white, against her dark brown almost black eyes. I couldn’t sense any other vampires around me. I searched further out, and tried to scan for other creatures. I searched for two in particular. I found them, Teary and Tori, whose mind patterns were so similar to their personalities. I slammed the sensation and urgency for them to run north towards the human compound wall. I knew they would find me, they were both fast. Teary could take them both on, without me breaking my fake identity.
Token Vampire (Token Huntress Book 2) Page 17