Her breath caught in her chest.
Laying in various groups were vampires, sound asleep. Victoria recognized a few from the attack at Zeke’s club. They resembled werewolves more than vampires, huddling together for companionship and warmth.
There were ten, in different states of dress. Some had no shoes, no pants, while one woman wore only underwear. There was blood everywhere, on the walls, on the floor, on each other. A collection of dead rats sat in the corner.
Victoria backed away, not making a sound. She took Kevin’s hand, pulling him away from the nest. They passed the imprisoned Alan, deeper into the tunnel, until they could barely see him, only twenty feet from his brethren.
“I’m Victoria,” she said, keeping her voice low. “This is Kevin.”
“Lars. Lars Dunville.”
“Nice to meet you, Lars. You have our complete attention.”
Lars Dunville broke down. He slumped against the wall, crying, before sliding to the floor. He was exhausted, and looked almost sickly. His appearance reminded Victoria of Zoey when they first met.
“It all started with Alan,” he said, gesturing down the tunnel. “I met him at the hospital while I was getting some easy blood one night. He was desperate to become a vampire, to live forever. Well, I know a guy, sells weird shit.” He looked at Kevin. “Kind of like the stuff you have.”
“Yeah,” Kevin said, his eyes turning dark. “Michael. I knew him.”
“Michael,” Lars said. “Anyway, I know we can’t just bite anyone and have them turn. But Michael said he had something. That not only could I save Alan, but … ”
Victoria put the rest of the pieces together. The magic Michael sold. Lars’ guilt.
“You could make some money,” she finished.
More tears, trailing down his face.
“Yeah. I drank the potion, and then I fed from Alan. And it worked. Alan became a vampire. I was going to help people and get rich. But, when he turned, that’s how he was,” he said, pointing. “Just … bloodlust. Nothing but bloodlust.”
“You played with magic you didn’t understand,” Victoria said, looking at Kevin. She didn’t want to poke, didn’t want to fight. Kevin and she were on solid ground. But she couldn’t pass up the teachable moment.
Lars nodded shamefully.
“I thought it would just work the one time. But everyone I fed from … ”
“You made more like Alan, and kept feeding?” Victoria asked, her eyes growing wide. “Even after you knew?”
“Of course I didn’t! As soon as I realized it was me, I stopped. I’ve only been drinking from rats for weeks. Look at me! Do I look vibrant and healthy?”
Victoria nodded.
“And you control them?”
Lars sighed and stood, still leaning against the wall.
“Kind of. I don’t know. They follow me around. I try to keep them underground. Bring them rats, snakes, whatever I can find. But lately, they’re not listening to me.” He pointed at Alan. “Especially him. Because he’s the first? I don’t fucking know. But the others, they follow him. That attack earlier, at the club. That was him. And the magical goop, it’s like … leaking out of them now. How is that even possible?” He clenched his eyes shut. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s happening.”
Victoria gently patted him on the arm. She was angry, frustrated, but sympathetic. Lars wasn’t an evil vampire, he simply made a mistake. But playing with magic always amplified mistakes.
“Can we cure them?” she asked. “Is there anything we can do?”
“I have no idea. I haven’t been able to get a hold of Michael for weeks.”
She turned to Kevin, who froze and stuttered under the spotlight.
“I-I don’t know. I haven’t found anything at the library yet. I can go back—”
She shook her head.
“No. We’re running out of time. We have to kill them.”
“How?”
“Daylight. The sun will be up soon. We’ve got to get them—”
There was a noise. A cracking sound. She peered down the tunnel, to the ice prison.
“Kevin. How long will your magic last?”
“Should be hours.”
Another crack.
“Shit. I don’t think—”
The prison broke, shattering into pieces. Alan turned in circles, placing his surroundings, before running.
He headed toward the nest.
“Go!” Lars shouted. “Move!”
The three ran, but they were too late. Victoria led the way. By the time they made it to the tunnel intersection, Alan stood in the center, snarling and shouting. The others woke and stirred around him.
Lars stepped forward.
“No! Do what I say! Alan, stop! You stay where you are.”
Alan ran down another tunnel. Five vampires followed.
“Fuck!” Lars turned as he chased. “They’re trying to get out. To kill more people.”
Victoria looked at Kevin.
“Stay here. I’m going to help Lars. You hold the rest off.”
“Hold them off?”
“Yes. Kill them, if you have to.”
“Kill them? I’m worried about them killing—”
A vampire dove at them. Victoria ducked, while Kevin jumped to the side. She ran into the tunnel following Lars, leaving Kevin behind with five mindless, bloodlusted vampires.
*****
Kevin threw a vial at the tunnel entrance where they’d come from. It shattered, sealing the opening with an ice prison. There was still a gap, enough room to escape, so he threw another, blocking the entrance off.
One tunnel down, three more to go. If he could seal off the intersection, prevent them from escaping, then he wouldn’t have to worry about killing anything or anyone.
He shouted in surprise when someone lifted him into the air. The vampire tossed him clear across the room. He covered his head as he slammed into the wall and slid down, almost landing on the back of his neck.
His entire body throbbed in pain as he pulled himself to one knee. Blood dripped from his mouth.
“Kill them, if you have to,” Kevin said aloud, mimicking Victoria’s accent. “What’s stopping them from killing me?”
They approached in a semi-circle, as if stalking prey. Kevin pulled one of his oldest, most reliable potions, and threw it to the ground at his feet.
The white fog swirled and spread. The vampires backed away, startled, but he knew that wouldn’t last long. With their senses, in a small room, they’d find him easily.
He just had to make it more difficult.
Taking a breath, he turned toward the wall and took a step. It felt strange, not holding his feather, and he almost didn’t think the new magic would work.
It worked, almost too well.
Kevin ran up the wall, almost into the ceiling. He had to put up a hand to stop himself. His coat’s magical enhancements let him float, like his old feather, but it just wasn’t the same. He’d mastered his old trinket, the small nuances. How many fingers to use, how tight a grip, all went into controlling just how much he defied gravity. He didn’t have the same experience with his new coat, had barely even practiced.
He didn’t know what he was doing.
His foot slipped from the wall, and he glided along the grimy ceiling.
The vampires were still below. He could hear them snarling and searching. Kevin pulled himself along, trying to put distance between them. He oriented himself in the corner, keeping still, as he reached for his vest.
He slid on his glasses, which cut through the fog. One vampire was staggering dangerously close to another tunnel. He grabbed his final ice prison and hoped his aim wasn’t terrible.
The potion erupted. The prison grew, its ice reaching out like daggers. Part of the prison caught the vampire’s wrist, trapping her in place. Kevin didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. Would she be able to break the prison, like Alan? Did he have a few minutes?
The air rush
ed out of his lungs as someone grabbed his foot and yanked. Two vampires cornered him, fighting with each other for a moment on who would get the kill. That moment gave him enough time to pull out his mirror. He aimed the beam of light at each of them, moving from one face to the next. They backed away, covering their eyes.
But something was wrong.
There were no pained cries, no scorched flesh. Kevin’s mirror, capable of absorbing and weaponizing sunlight, did nothing more than annoy the creatures.
Whatever Lars had created, the day was useless against them.
“You’ve got to be kidding-”
The vampire lunged. Kevin raised his arm out of instinct, and was bitten viciously for the mistake. The creature sank his fangs into Kevin’s forearm, forcing him to the ground. Muscle tore as the creature clawed and slashed. Only the creature’s aggression saved his life. The vampire positioned himself in a way that none of the others could reach Kevin.
That offered little comfort as Kevin shouted. His wrist snapped, and nausea washed over him.
He reached inside his coat, barely aware of what potions his fingers slid over. Finally, he found what he was looking for. It was a simple potion, but dangerous, not to be used in close quarters.
He didn’t have that option.
Another vampire pushed past the others and bit his calf as he slammed the vial into the wall, over his head. The magical blast unleashed, forcing everything back. The room shook from the force. Vampires flew and crashed. The wave of force also caught Kevin. He slid into the adjacent corner, his head smacking the concrete.
His coat mended, fabric knitting over fabric, as he rested on one knee. The same couldn’t be said for him. His wrist was broken, his arm bleeding. His mirror lay shattered at his feet. He shoved it aside.
His hand trembled as he plucked a vial of water from his vest. He downed the healing magic in one gulp.
The vampires regrouped. They moved together, slowly, pushing through the fog. They locked their gaze on Kevin.
The witch stood up. He was nervous, afraid.
He was also angry.
The vampires jumped back as he threw another vial at their feet. The magical flame spread wall to wall, creating a barrier. He wasn’t even sure if fire worked on them, but they halted their advance, regardless.
There were four vampires remaining. One was still trapped, her arm caught in ice.
He reached for his most powerful magic.
“Okay,” he whispered, uncorking a vial with his thumb. “Hope I brought enough.”
*****
Victoria could barely keep up. Alan and his group of magical vampires moved at a fast speed. Lars ran just ahead of Victoria, keeping pace. They moved down one tunnel, then another. She fought panic. If the vampires split up, she didn’t know how they’d follow.
“They’re looking for a way out!” Lars shouted. “Trying to get above ground!”
“Can you control them?”
“No! They’re … not listening to me!”
She pressed on, rounding one more tunnel. There was a ladder up ahead. Alan climbed it first, with the others behind him, and moved the heavy cover aside a few inches. Lars charged the first vampire he saw.
Victoria ran along the wall and jumped, aiming for Alan. They collided on the ladder. Another vampire reached for her, tried to pull her down, but she wouldn’t let go. Bracing one leg against the wall, she pushed back, taking Alan with her. They fell into the dirty water, near Lars, as he battled.
She looked to the ladder, fearful one would escape. But they weren’t interested in escape. They followed Alan’s lead.
Alan wanted to kill.
Victoria’s fingers turned to claws. They were outnumbered, and Lars’ creations were far stronger than the normal vampire.
But they fought wildly, without thought. They had no semblance of teamwork.
They’d gotten the better of Victoria before. She wouldn’t let that happen again.
Alan charged, but she didn’t engage. She ducked and rolled away, taking a swipe at his knee as she passed. Another vampire attacked, and again Victoria avoided, leaping over him.
“Lars!” Victoria shouted. “Are you okay?”
He fought two of them, using a piece of wood that had floated by.
“Not really,” he said. He gestured to two standing nearby, confused. “I got through to them, but … who knows how long that will last.”
The sewers shook. Victoria held onto the wall, shocked. Dust and dirt fell from above. Even Alan and the others paused.
“What the hell was that?” Lars asked.
Victoria could only think of one thing.
“Kevin.”
Two vampires lunged toward Victoria. She stepped aside, knocking them into each other, as the sewers shook again.
Behind Alan, Victoria saw a hint of light. The morning sun poured in from above the ladder, through the half-open cover.
Lars had already noticed.
He shoved one back, into the beam of light. Victoria slashed Alan’s leg and grabbed a vampire. She spun and threw him into another. They both collapsed near the ladder, holding it for balance.
The sun did nothing.
“Fuck!” Lars shouted. “What now—?”
His complaint was cut short. Alan had turned his attention to Lars and rushed him. The sewers trembled once again, but the vampires didn’t care. Three of them wailed as they attacked Victoria. She dodged and moved, but still took a claw across her face. Their options were dwindling. She thought sunlight was the answer, but whatever Lars had done, whatever magic claimed those he fed from, the rules that vampires had to follow didn’t apply.
Maybe they weren’t vampires at all.
“Victoria! Help!”
She risked a look. They had Lars pinned. Alan straddled him, with his fangs in his shoulder. One held his arm, while the third clawed at Lars’ legs.
Turning her back on her own problems, she attacked. She slashed Alan across the face. Then again. When Alan wouldn’t release Lars, she tore through his flesh a third time. Finally, he turned toward her, a mangled mess, and snarled.
She kicked Alan off Lars.
Alan rolled over, clutching his nose. Victoria shoved the two vampires away from Lars and pulled him to his feet. They backed away, shoulder to shoulder, as the five vampires approached. Alan was regaining his senses, rising to his feet.
“What do we do now?” Lars asked.
“Give me a minute.”
“We don’t have a minute.”
Lars shouted and winced. He had backed into the sunlight without realizing. Smoke poured from his right ear and his neck blistered. He quickly stepped forward, back to the safety of the shadows. Victoria held his arm, helping him stay upright.
She was surprised when there were several more uncomfortable whimpers.
Alan and the others stumbled, holding their heads, clearly in distress.
Victoria and Lars glanced at each other.
He exposed his palm to the sunlight, only for a moment. He bled as the flesh split open.
The vampires shrieked.
Lars smiled sadly as he looked at Victoria.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For all of this.”
Alan pushed his way through group and dove forward. Lars shoved Victoria aside. He caught Alan and fell back into the sun.
Every vampire roared, except Victoria.
She’d seen the sun claim so many of her kind. It never got easier.
The collective wails hurt her ears. Lars held onto Alan despite the sun ripping him to pieces, turning him to ash.
Lars looked at Victoria one last time. She knelt and reached for his hand, squeezing it tight, as his body lost its shape. The risk to her was great. Despite her magical gift, her immunity from the sun, fire could still engulf her.
But she didn’t want Lars to die alone.
Alan collapsed onto what was left of Lars as Victoria watched the ash blow away from her fingers.
It was qui
et a moment. She glanced at the motionless bodies around her.
The bodies moved.
She took a step back, readying for a fight. But the slow, unsteady movement, the gasping for breath, the quick heartbeats.
They were all very human.
Alan squinted as he peered up at the sunlight. He covered his eyes, then searched around him. His wounds had all healed, but he was still soaked in blood. They all were.
“Oh my God!” he shouted. “What’s going on? What … what’s wrong with my face?”
Two of the former vampires knew each other. They hugged from their knees as they struggled to stand.
“Carrie! Are you okay? What happened?”
“I don’t know! I don’t remember anything!”
All eyes turned to Victoria. She helped Alan to his feet and held his face in her hands, studying his eyes.
“Are you alright?” she asked. “How are you feeling?”
“O-Okay. I remember … did it work? With Lars? Am I a vampire?”
A voice echoed from a nearby pocket.
“Victoria. Are you there?”
She reached into the stranger’s jeans, drawing a squeal, and retrieved her stone necklace.
“Yeah, Kevin. I’m here.”
“Did you do something? Something weird is going on here.”
“I’ll bet. I’ll be right there.”
She eyed the humans.
“I know you have questions. But please, hold on to them a little longer. Is everyone okay? Anyone hurt?”
One man cried.
“Oh, God. Just … where the hell are we? Whose blood is this?”
“Mostly mine. Follow me.”
Victoria led the mortals through the tunnels. They whispered and gossiped behind her. More emotions seeped out. Some crying and labored breathing.
She approached the intersection where she left Kevin.
The sight stopped her. Two mortals bumped into her from behind.
There were small fires, walls of ice blocking two tunnels. Shattered glass was everywhere, from Kevin’s vials. A mortal woman cried as she tried to free her hand from the ice. Another man shouted from the ceiling. He was pinned above them, held in place by Kevin’s coat. The surrounding walls were cracked in spots, with one nearly collapsed. A woman wandered about, in shock, with no shirt on. A man sat and rocked back and forth, holding his arm, which was bent backwards from the elbow.
Damned and Cursed | Book 10 | Fallen Skye Page 33