“Weakness gets you killed.” Mira pushed harder, and brought herself up on both legs. “And I’m not weak.” She held tight to the silver-coated bars, using them for support. Even with the sting of the metal against her palms, she refused to let go and risk collapsing again.
“Your attitude is what’s going to get you killed. Maybe you should try not to smart off to the handlers for a little? You know, there are rewards for good behavior.”
“No.”
“Somehow I knew you would say that.” With an exasperated sigh, George flopped back onto his mattress.
“I can’t change who I am any more than you can.” Taking a moment to steady herself, she let go of the bars and took a slow but determined step toward her mattress.
“I know. I just hate seeing you go through all this time and time again because you give in to their taunting.”
“I’d hardly call fighting back ‘giving in,’” Mira snarled, appalled that George would even suggest that fighting for one’s own self-respect was a bad thing. “Besides, I won’t have to put up with any taunting for much longer.”
“No. Not again, Mira.” Fear sharpened George’s tone. “No more plans. No more escape attempts. They’re going to kill you the next time you get caught.”
“I’ve got it all figured out this time.” After a few successful baby steps, Mira felt confident she’d regained her strength and allowed herself to relax onto her mattress and rest.
“No. I’m not listening to you. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“So. Be. It. I’m not a fucking animal, George. I’m a vampire. Remember what it was like to be free? To hunt? To enjoy the night? When was the last time you saw a full moon? Do you even remember?”
“Yeah, I remember, but in thirty years, I’ve never seen a vampire escape or earn their freedom, so you can forget about it.” There was an odd finality in George’s tone. Something Mira had never heard before. She decided to take the hint and drop the subject. She propped her head up on her pillow and stared up at the ceiling.
She’d been here for at least thirty years herself, though she couldn’t be quite sure. Days and nights all blended together into one long blur of time. Freedom, though, and the smell of the fresh outdoors – those remained crystal clear in her memory. Sweet freedom. The simplicity and beauty of life before she’d been taken by the humans. Mira’s heart yearned for just a small taste of that joy again.
George wasn’t right. Just because no one had ever succeeded didn’t mean she wouldn’t find a way. She had to. Mira couldn’t live the rest of her immortality locked here as a gladiator until the day she was killed in battle. She’d already lost so much; she would not give the humans the satisfaction of taking her life for entertainment purposes. She’d find a way, or die fighting for her freedom.
The pain, long since buried deep within her, resurfaced. Her last night of freedom had been the most painful. Memories came flooding back and tears rushed to Mira’s eyes. She turned her face into the pillow so that no one would see.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not push away the memory. It played out moment by excruciating moment before her. A small cadre of vampires, Theo at the lead, had taken refuge in a rocky encampment outside the redwood forest, hoping to avoid the human patrol and wait out the day. The coast was still another evening’s run, and if they hoped to flee the country, they’d have to make it to the Pacific Ocean.
Tears soaked through her pillow. That night had been the last time she had seen her lover alive. Theo. His deep green-brown eyes would haunt her dreams for the rest of eternity. Human soldiers invaded their campsite just before dawn. Theo had told her to run, but she refused to leave her lover’s side. Together, they held the humans back as long as they could, allowing others to escape.
The humans had turned their torches on Mira. Blind and exhausted, she went down. Theo tried to come to her aid, but lost his head with a clean swipe of a soldier’s sword. When her vision returned, she found her lover, lifeless, drenched in his own blood.
It was the beginning of the end for her. Frozen where she stood, she hadn’t even seen the soldier who had come up behind her. A silver-lined hood stole her vision, and the next thing Mira knew, she was being delivered to a Social Reassignment Facility. Vampire prison.
No fresh air. No beautiful moonlight. No freedom.
For weeks after, she endured unspeakable torture. The humans knew there was a vampire refuge somewhere, and they knew Mira had been heading for it. It was the only reason she’d been kept alive. But she would never betray her kind.
Having proven her strength and ability to take abuse, Mira was sold into the slave trade to be used as a gladiator. That had become her lot in this life: fight until the day she died her true and final death.
Footsteps echoed in the distance. A fast, heavy pace. Men. Handlers, most likely, here to bring round two of torture, no doubt. Mira dreaded the next round of her penance, but resigned herself to it. Couldn’t be any worse than the lightbox.
“Prisoner 8254-B, stand and make yourself ready,” the short, clipped male voice announced.
Relief escaped from Mira’s mouth in a loud sigh. Weak as she still felt, and knowing her face was flushed with emotional tears, Mira was never more glad to not have her number called.
She listened to the sound of the keypad as the handler entered in the code for George’s cell. Interestingly, his code was only eight numbers, whereas hers was ten. Were all the cells coded with not only different numbers but different lengths of code as well? She’d have to pay closer attention each time a vampire was pulled from their cell. Good information for future reference. George might argue against it, but for all he’d done for her, she’d find a way to get him out too. It was the least she could do.
A soft click confirmed the correct code, and then the cell door opened. Mira glanced over to her friend. The tall, bald vampire held his hands out willingly, ready to accept his shackles. George was always such a good boy. His eyes flitted over to her. “Be a good girl while I’m gone,” he whispered.
“No talking,” the handler barked at him, and then turned in Mira’s direction. “And you, don’t look so cocky. We’ll be back for you in a moment. You’ve earned yourself extra training.”
In an effort to appease George, Mira bit her tongue rather than respond to the handler’s taunting.
Training – that was a funny way to describe it. Just as many vampires died in the training hall as in the arena. “No rest for the wicked,” Mira sighed. She wished she’d had a little more blood to help gain her strength back.
Chapter 4
Harsh fluorescent lights glared down from high rafters. Mira hit the dirt-covered ground with a groan. Still weak from her time in the lightbox, her already screaming muscles threatened to give out, but she had to keep going. The six-foot-five vampire charging her was not about to stop. The only true difference between an arena battle and training was the size of the crowd. Tegan didn’t need a crowd to witness his victory. He’d had a chip on his shoulder since the last time she’d bested him, and given Mira’s weakened state, she was the prime target for his vengeance.
With a growl of fury, Mira summoned the energy to roll away from the foot Tegan swung at her. Dust blew up in the air, stinging her eyes as she maneuvered to avoid another kick.
“Not so tough now, are you?” the large male vampire taunted.
Mira struggled to find her footing and keep away from his wild attacks. He was big and he was skilled, but he was also cocky. Many a formidable vampire had found their end through hubris, and Tegan was well on his way down that road. If Mira let him wear himself out, he’d eventually make a mistake, and that was when she needed to retaliate. Until that time, she’d have to duck and dodge as best she could, preserving what little energy she had for the right time to strike.
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Tegan,” Mira taunted, hoping to rile him further.
“Shut up.” Tegan swung wildly at her with one of
his boulder-like fists.
Either her plan was working, or Tegan really was that bad a fighter. She smirked at the angry vampire. “Why don’t you try to make me? Or are you afraid I’ll muss up that pretty face of yours and your Patron won’t want you anymore?”
It had never mattered much to her before; but now, weak as she was, Mira felt as if she were the only vampire alive who had not garnered a Patron. Servicing anyone wasn’t something she particularly wanted to do, but in her current enfeebled state, she could certainly use the perks. Especially the additional rations. Slow healing and weakness could be avoided if Mira could just have a few sips of the fresh stuff. Nothing worked better than hot blood straight from a willing vein.
Tegan played right into her hands, taking the bait and charging her like a stampeding bull. Mira rolled away and hopped up to her feet just in time to avoid him. Tegan, however, overbalanced himself in an effort to stop when he missed his mark. He skidded to a halt, windmilling his arms to stop himself just before toppling over.
“It’s not a fight if you run away.” Tegan tried lamely to goad Mira. But her record spoke for itself. She was a killer. And if she hadn’t been so weak, Tegan would have been under her boot already, begging for his life.
“Just giving you a sporting chance. I’d hate for you to limp away a complete failure.” Mira kept her cocky tone, though the exertion was taking its toll. To the untrained eye she might have been doing well, but Mira was far from fighting form. Her muscles, weak and sore, responded more slowly than normal. Mira hoped to get the great big brute to wear himself out sooner rather than later, before he caught on to her weakness. Instead of overexerting himself, however, Tegan seemed to be enjoying this little to and fro. Feeding off it. He smiled as he attempted to strike again. She ducked away from his swing, but was barely quick enough. Mira felt the wind break across her face in the wake of Tegan’s fist. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Her body was nearly spent.
Tegan sneered and lunged again, putting all of his preternatural speed into the assault. Mira wasn’t quick enough this time, and the force of his body colliding with hers knocked the wind from her lungs. She hit the dirt again, with Tegan’s massive body crushing her under his bulk. Bones cracked. Pain shot through her chest. Mira was sure she’d just broken a rib or two, maybe more. That was going to take forever to heal without blood.
Tegan looked down at her and smiled. His eyes held that cocky glint that said he had other plans for her now that he had her pinned. And Mira would be damned if she’d allow him to follow through with them. She did the only thing she could. Baring her teeth, she threw her head forward and sank them into the bare skin of his chest.
It was only a moment. Only long enough to taste the coppery sweetness of his fresh blood, but that was more than she’d hoped for. By the time Tegan was able to throw her off, the revitalizing effects of his blood were already invigorating her, healing some of the damage he’d done to her body.
Involuntarily, Mira let out a moan of pure unadulterated pleasure. She couldn’t help herself. Despite the source, hot blood fresh from the vein was a true delicacy. Her entire being awakened with new vigor. A wicked smile spread across Mira’s lips. She slowly opened her eyes and locked onto Tegan’s. While hers were full of wild energy, his showed pure rage, and that was the icing on the cake. She was ready for a real fight now.
“Now, let’s continue.”
Tegan knew before she had even risen to her feet that he’d lost. But being male and a warrior in his own right, he wouldn’t let a little thing like an undefeated warrior fed on fresh blood stop him. Tegan stood and squared himself, ready to fight again, but Mira caught the quiver in his lips.
She stood and slowly cracked her neck and popped her back, making a little more of a show of it than she needed to. The pain of her broken ribs faded. They would be healed in moments as if they had never been damaged. All thanks to fresh blood.
Tegan watched every move Mira made, but made no move of his own to initiate the next fight.
“Scared now?” Mira said wickedly.
“Of you? Never.” Tegan could lie all he wanted; the truth was in his eyes.
“Liar.” Following Tegan’s body posture and movement, Mira calculated the best time and angle to strike. Other than a slight twitch of his muscles, Tegan was not budging from his spot. Probably too scared. She’d just have to make the first move herself. Putting all of her renewed energy into action, she began with a roundhouse kick. Tegan easily side-stepped, caught Mira’s foot, and spun her backwards. Small and lithe as she was, Mira was able to use the momentum to roll back up on to her feet and spin around to face her opponent as gracefully as if she were a dancer. As soon as she faced Tegan, she squared herself again, ready for the next attack.
“This ain’t the ballet, sweetheart,” Tegan spat at her, but there was more fear than anything else in his voice.
“Oh, but I do so love to dance.” Mira dropped and swiped Tegan’s legs. The larger vampire caught himself before he fell. Taking advantage of her opponent’s momentary weakness, Mira delivered a few bone-crunching blows to Tegan’s ribs.
Tegan dropped to the ground clutching his chest, but managed to roll away before Mira could deliver a nasty kick.
“This ain’t dirt crawlers either, Tegan. Is this what you do in the arena? No wonder your record stinks.”
That got Tegan fired up. He pushed himself back up to his feet and ran at Mira in a blind rage. She easily dodged his bullish attack and spun around to make sure he couldn’t catch her from behind.
Tegan came at her again. She recognized the tactic: He was trying to overwhelm her, but he’d exhaust his reserves well before she would. Dodging him again, she threw a wild punch aimed at his gut. It caught him in the side with little effect.
“At least I fight fair,” Tegan shouted. “No stolen blood.”
“All’s fair in love and war. Don’t be a brat about it because you didn’t think of it yourself.”
The two squared off again. Sneering at each other. Mira studied his body movements, watching for any clue as to his next move. She wanted to end this… quickly.
The muscles in his leg twitched. He was going to lunge at her again, soon. She prepared herself.
He was quick, but she was quicker. Tegan came hard and fast, but Mira stepped out of the way and caught him by the arm. They twirled together for a moment before she used the momentum to throw him down to the ground. Tegan landed with a thud, his head slamming heavily against the hard-packed dirt.
Before she came down on him, she cocked her leg back and delivered a crushing kick to his ribs. The satisfying sound of bones breaking told her she had more than hit the mark, but it was Tegan’s groan of pain that made her smile. That cocky bastard needed a good lesson in manners. She mounted him, setting herself hard on his chest, pressing down on those freshly broken ribs.
“We’re done here.” Mira placed a hand on either side of his head, ready to snap his neck if he tried anything stupid… hoping he would try something stupid, actually. Not that snapping his neck would kill the annoying vampire, but it would certainly bring her some instant gratification.
Overhead a voice spoke through speakers. “Training is over. Gladiators, resume your spots and wait for your handlers to retrieve you.”
“You got lucky…this time,” Mira snorted at him.
Tegan spat at Mira. “At least I didn’t cheat.”
As much as Mira wanted to rise to the occasion, his taunting wasn’t worth it. The handlers were coming, and any additional aggression while they were around was bound to earn her more time in the lightbox. She needed her energy, what little of it she could spare, to formulate and execute her next escape attempt.
Chapter 5
Two handlers came to retrieve Tegan, but only one had shown to escort Mira. Luck must have been on her side. She smirked at Tegan as he was cuffed silently and nudged toward the exit. Clearly the loser, his shoulders slumped as he lumbered slowly behind o
ne handler while the other followed, holding his UV torch at the ready. As much as she hated him, the sight of Tegan being taken away in such a manner tugged at her heartstrings. No matter what, arrogant prick that he was, he was still a vampire, one of her kind. Still a prisoner. And being treated this way was wrong.
When Tegan had finally disappeared, Mira looked around cautiously, secretly praying that her other handler would not show. Not that she was ever that lucky, but it would be nice.
“Where’s your dance partner?” Mira knew she shouldn’t have said it, but couldn’t help herself. The fresh infusion of blood and a win in the training arena had her feeling quite cocky. And those handlers were big bullies as it was. Anything to get under their skin was a bonus for her.
“No funny business. Hold out your hands for cuffs,” the handler snapped at her. She assumed it was her regular female handler, but the voice sounded strange. Mira had a sneaking suspicion that she had really shaken her previous handler up. That brought a new smile to her face.
This new handler was hiding her face behind a dark polycarbonate shield.
Humans really went to the extremes to prevent vampires from having any advantage. No eye contact – not that it would really matter if they did, the myth about vampires having mental capabilities and taking control of others thoughts was just that, a myth – but still, this human wasn’t taking anything for granted. The oversized helmet with neck protection was, in Mira’s opinion, a little overkill as well. Sure, she could go for the jugular, but unless she really intended to kill, there was no point. Blood loss was too quick at that artery. Of course, if she was intending to kill, flimsy plastic was not going to stop her. There were hundreds of ways to incapacitate a human without using her teeth. Problem was, as heavily guarded as the place was, it was generally not a smart idea to make trouble. Vampire strength or no, she was outnumbered. The only way out was through stealth, not bloodshed… no matter how tempting bloodshed was.
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