I sat up, my head spinning like I’d just departed a lengthy and vigorous swirly-whirly carnival ride, and I gripped the sides of the cot to brace myself. After a moment I tried to stand, but my legs wobbled and I clumsily sank back down into my make-shift bed. My hands trembled, though not from fear, but weakness, and I attributed it to not having eaten in weeks. I didn’t know how long a vampire could survive without feeding, but I assumed not much longer than I already had. I then remembered I was not a normal vampire, being half-human after all, but concluded that didn’t really answer my question of how long I could live without consuming blood.
“Ruby,” Orie called out from the hatch. “Someone’s here to see you.”
“Be right there,” I replied softly, still trying to get my bearings.
I stood again, this time more slowly and sauntered over to the stairs. I held firm to the wooden handrail and pulled myself toward the cellar door. I crawled through and saw Pandora sitting at the kitchen table, tapping her fingernail on the table. Orie smiled awkwardly at me and then left the room.
“So, I hear you have not been drinking the blood I’ve been sending,” she mused as I stood and tried to steady my wavering body. Her gaze travelled me, up and down. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks,” I groaned, hefting a foot to take a step forward. It was almost more effort than I could manage.
Even though Pandora looked thoroughly irritated, and I was hardly functional at the moment, I was never so happy to see another vampire as I was seeing her. Especially after being confronted by Horus a few days back.
“And… why is it you are not feeding?” she asked, her voice sounding less than enthralled.
I slid into the chair next to her, nervous. What would she do once I told her of my disgust for human blood? She’d probably think I was a freak. But because she now knew my connection to Wilson, she said she’d protect me no matter what. I needed to be honest with her and tell her the truth. I tangled my fingers together and took a shaky breath.
“I just… can’t.”
Pandora’s dark green eyes studied me and she flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“You can’t,” she repeated dryly, obviously unamused. She didn’t ask for an explanation, but I knew she expected one. I sighed and hung my head.
“I’ve only had the blood of animals,” I admitted, twisting one of my hands in the other. “Never humans. It doesn’t appeal to me.”
Pandora furrowed her brows. “You’re starving yourself. You realize that, don’t you?” She dropped her gaze and shook her head. “This is not good.”
A moment of silence fell between us and shame gushed through me. I wondered what would happen to me now that I’d confessed one of my many secrets. If I wasn’t so weak, I probably would’ve been more concerned, but it was all I could do to hold my head up. Pandora looked back to me, her green gaze unyielding.
“Maybe it’s because you’ve yet to taste it, or… maybe there’s something wrong with you, but it is not normal, Ruby Carter. A vampire who does not drink human blood is like a fish that does not swim. It is unnatural.”
I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t very well tell her that I was some freakish half-breed vampire. Wilson had told me not to divulge that information as it could pose dangerous, but he’d also told me that I could trust Pandora. I didn’t know what to do. Pandora rubbed at her temples as though soothing an oncoming headache.
“We need to keep this between us. If Horus found out that you refused human blood, we’d be in a bad situation. He’d say you were acting irrationally and that you’d lost your mind. You’d be right back to square one; awaiting your death. Do you wish to die, Ruby Carter?”
I shook my head profusely, thinking I’d come too far to give up now. I’d already escaped death too many times now to let myself fall into its clutches yet again. Pandora huffed a loud sigh.
“I know this is a hard transition for you and I can’t even pretend to remember what it was like, for it was so long ago when I was turned.” She leaned in and studied me hard. “I hope that’s all this is— a transition. I hope you come to your senses, and fast. That is of course, if you wish to keep your existence.”
She stood as though to go, but turned back around. “I can’t believe I’m even considering this… but… I’ll try to get you some nourishment. Even if I could get a goat from the farm unnoticed, I don’t know how I’m to keep this from everyone.” She sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
I sighed heavily, relief washing over me. “Thank you.”
She spun abruptly, eyeing me in an almost accusatory way. “But by doing this, I’m putting my trust in you. Trust that you’ll eventually come to your senses and begin acting accordingly. You can’t go around drinking goat’s blood forever.”
I nodded enthusiastically, thankful as ever I had Pandora on my side. I didn’t know how much more luck I would have. Pandora stepped through the kitchen door to leave, but I called out to her.
“Pandora, wait. I have a question.” She stopped and turned to me, cocking a brow.
I was about to speak when the loud sound of a motorcycle rumbled by, its reverberations seeming to shake the small house. After a moment or two, the sound faded away in the distance. I couldn’t help but think it was probably another scouting mission to abduct humans. I shook the grim notion away and inhaled slowly, locking eyes with Pandora.
“Um… I was just curious about the humans. The way they are kept is… It’s inhumane and—”
“And?” Pandora sharply interrupted me, placing a hand firmly upon her hip, and I almost regretted bringing up the humans in the first place. But the cat was already out of the bag, complete with claws, a tail, and whiskers, and I couldn’t stuff it back in the sack. I forced a placid grin on my face.
“Well, there are so many empty inns and buildings here. Would it be at all possible to let them have rooms of their own?”
Pandora looked at me as though I’d completely lost my mind, but I didn’t care. I felt strongly about the care of the humans, and though I knew their blood-slave status wouldn’t be up for discussion, I had to at least try to make their living conditions better. I continued voicing my ideas.
“They are unhealthy, and I imagine that has an effect on their blood. If they had room to move around, and clean beds and clothes, and maybe even a common room and patio where they could mingle, they’d be happier and therefore healthier, making their blood even more beneficial to us all.” Pandora frowned but said nothing. “All I’m asking is that you bring it up in one of the legion meetings, if only to start with a better living facility.”
Pandora looked as though she were holding back a scoff, her face tight and strained. “I wonder about you sometimes, girl. You’re the least vampire-like vampire I’ve ever met.” She paused, and after a few moments, her lips peeled into an almost imperceptible smile. “But I have to admit, you’ve got guts.”
I smiled, a laugh bubbling past my lips, thinking that Pandora just might be the ally I needed.
She continued to study me, then shook her head in disbelief. “Wilson saw something in you I’m not sure that I do. If I didn’t know he’d sacrificed himself to save you, I’d think you’d gone bananas.” Pandora released a long breath. “Your request is pushing it and I cannot guarantee anything. But with that being said, I’ll look into it— though I imagine I will be laughed at.”
Delight overcame me and I smiled, hardly able to control myself. Maybe things weren’t that bad after all. “Oh thank you so much!” I beamed.
“Don’t thank me yet.” Again, she gave me a once over, considering my withered appearance. I followed her eyes and, looking down at myself, realized I was rail thin and as pale as the moon itself— a likely resemblance to a skeleton wearing clothes. Pandora clicked her tongue like a disapproving grandmother, causing me to glance back up.
“But you have to promise me you will drink the animal blood I produce, if and when I can do so.”
“I promise,�
� I vowed, meaning every word. She went to leave, but I called out again, stopping her in her tracks. “Pandora?”
She did not turn around this time, her back to me, shoulders rigid with what I was certain was annoyance. I braced myself before asking my next question.
“Would it be too much to add in the housing conditions of the werewolves?”
Her silence fell thick and, for a moment, I was certain she would ignore me. But she finally spoke up, her voice as cold as a graveyard. “Don’t push it girl.” I stifled a laugh, knowing what I’d asked was a lot, and reasoned that the werewolf situation was less pressing and could be handled at a later time.
With that, the red-headed vampire exited the house in a blur, leaving me alone in the werewolves’ kitchen to ponder our conversation.
I couldn’t help but smile, thinking that no matter how hopeless a situation was, things could always get better. I just might be able to make a difference after all.
SEVENTEEN: RUBY
“Thank you.” Earl smiled as he took the pear from my hand. He didn’t waste any time biting right into it.
“How’s your ankle feeling?” I asked, my voice echoing down the cold hall of The Shelter.
Earl looked down at his bandaged foot and from behind a mouth full of pear said, “I think it’s getting better. Still a little sore, but I’ll be alright.”
“I’m so glad,” I replied with a smile, and meant it.
I studied the older man who I’d become quite fond of over the past couple of weeks through the diamond-shaped chain links making up his cage. His eyes looked brighter and his sunken cheeks were rounding out a bit more. I assumed it had to do with the extra food I was sneaking in.
I leaned in and pressed the side of my face to his cage, whispering. “Can you keep a secret?” Earl swallowed and spiked a brow, but I didn’t wait for his reply. I was too excited. “I spoke to one of the leaders here and… well she’s not the head vampire but her opinion is highly regarded. Anyway, she’s going to suggest to the legion that you all are given better living facilities. Maybe an inn or hotel with clean beds and linens.”
Earl dropped his pear and crawled to me, reaching out his shaking hands by the slit in the cage. He reminded me of my dead grandfather and my heart lifted with his smile. I reached through and grabbed his hands in mine, his warmth radiating through me.
“Bless you, my dear,” he rasped. “Bless you.”
“But don’t say a word,” I added, knowing I probably shouldn’t have said anything until the decision was final. “It’s not for sure and I don’t want anyone getting their hopes up just yet. Now I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”
After bidding Earl goodbye, I left the Shelter smiling, hoping what I’d told my new friend wasn’t a lie. Though I wanted to so badly, I did not have the power to free these humans from their slavery. Without any help, they —as well as I— would be killed before I even got them to the gates. But I prayed I might make their living conditions a little more bearable for the time being.
That led me to think about Cloe and her grim situation. I wondered how on earth was she able to endure the torture Horus dealt her, and if there were other Unfortunates here with her same reality. And furthermore, I wondered where the heck she’d been. Ever since my training had ended, I’d been on slave duty all by myself, the young vampire nowhere in sight. But as I pondered her whereabouts, a thought struck my mind. I remembered Cloe saying if I ever had any questions I could find her at the laundry well.
After turning in my cart at Big Nose Kate’s, I ran into Orie and proceeded to ask him of Cloe’s whereabouts. He told me where to find the laundry well and I quickly made my way to a small park on Allen Street.
Just as I hoped, there stood Cloe near a shabby white gazebo in the park, her long brown hair hanging down her back and her nose wrinkled in concentration. She was wringing out wet clothes and hanging them on a line that ran between two large trees, sudsy buckets and an old washboard lying at her feet. An old rusted playset stood behind her, the swings having broken completely off, leaving the rusted chains swinging unattached. Her eyes finally lighted upon me and she smiled, but her expression quickly melted from her face and she dropped her gaze to her work. I wrinkled my brows at her strange reaction.
“Need some help?” I asked, moving through the entrance of the small park to her side. “I finished up early tonight.”
Cloe shrugged but kept her silence, the amber glow of a nearby kerosene lamp highlighting her impassive expression. I couldn’t help but notice she was different somehow, cold, but I ignored her odd manner, reaching into a bucket of warm water to fish out a pair of linen pants.
“I haven’t seen you around lately,” I said, offering her a sidelong glance. “Have you been moved to a different duty?”
“Yes. I’ve been moved.” Cloe’s answer was sharp and dry and I could tell she didn’t want to talk about it. So I brushed aside her dour mood and smiled, willing to change the subject.
“I have some exciting news,” I said, wringing the water from the clothes, the fragrance of clean soap and rose petals arising from the garments. “I spoke with Pandora about the human’s living conditions. She said she’d bring it up to the legion— though I imagine Horus is going to flip in his coffin when he hears.” I laughed at my own bad joke and looked to Cloe. She was tense and, apparently, ignoring me.
“Is everything alright?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Cloe did not so much as glance my way, but spoke dismally. “I don’t think we should talk anymore. It’s better for both of us.”
I blanched in confusion. “What do you mean? Why?” I plucked a couple of clothespins from a smaller bucket and hung the pants on the line, all the while staring at her. “Cloe, you’re the best friend I have here. My only friend. Why shouldn’t we talk anymore?”
During my weeks of training, Cloe and I became surprisingly close. We gossiped about the higher society vampires that thought they were mightier than thou, and laughed about the werewolves’ antics. We spent hours upon hours together, exchanging our views on the world. Why was she now so cold? What made her change?
Cloe pulled a long white shirt from the laundry bucket and squeezed out the water. She said nothing.
“It’s Horus, isn’t it? He doesn’t want you talking to me anymore?”
Cloe hung the shirt on the line and dropped her arms to her sides in frustration. “No, it’s the exact opposite. He wants me to talk to you. In fact, he wants me to become very close to you so I may glean information from you.”
“Information?” I asked, shocked. I felt slightly betrayed, wondering if it was all an act. Wondering if Cloe only became my friend because of Horus. But she’d been so sincere and I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t. Cloe was not just Horus’ puppet. She was kind and sweet and wanted a life of her own. But I realized now just how much I’d kept from her, from everyone really. Maybe we didn’t know each other that well after all. I sighed, readying myself for yet again, another lie. If she was truly reporting back to Horus I needed to be more careful.
“But everyone knows everything about me,” I said. “I’ve only been a vampire for less than three months and have nothing much to tell.”
Cloe wrung out another piece of clothing. “He thinks you’re up to something. He thinks you have some large plan or there is something wrong with you. He’s bound to find out what it is and wants me to do the dirty work. He knows about the humans already and their connection to you. And if you keep talking to me, I’m going to have to tell him what you’re saying. But I don’t want to. I like you and I don’t want to see you get hurt. So please, for both of us, just… don’t talk to me anymore.”
I stood in silence soaking in Cloe’s words, my hair whipping into my face from the breeze. I stared off into the starry night sky, wondering if maybe it didn’t have to be like this. Maybe there was another way. I turned to her.
“Simple enough,” I responded. “Just don’t tell him what I say. Le
ave out the parts that would anger him.”
“That’s just it.” Cloe exclaimed, her voice laden with fear. She finally cast her eyes upon me, her gaze deep and scared. “He knows everything I’m feeling. He may not know exactly what I’m withholding from him, but he knows I am indeed holding back. And he hurts me, Ruby. I just… I can’t do it anymore.”
Anger blazed through my body, burning like fire. To say I hated Horus was a huge understatement. The fact that he was involving me in his despicable actions and putting Cloe in the middle, ticked me off even more. But what could I do? It’s not like my anger would make a difference. I released a reluctant sigh.
“I don’t want that, Cloe. I’d hate for you to be hurt because of me. So if you think it’s best…”
“It’s best,” she snapped and went back to her work.
I looked down at my dirty brown boots peaking from beneath my black dress. I knew why Cloe was so distant lately; fear. And her living in fear every day of her life infuriated me. I wanted to do something for her, to help her. Suddenly a light winked on in my head as I remembered my time with Wilson. I felt a smile tug at the corners of my mouth as I glanced back up.
“I may have a way you can protect yourself from him,” I said, my hope rejuvenated. Cloe looked at me, her wide eyes like liquid lakes, the moonlight sparkling within them. I wasn’t exactly sure if my idea would work, but it couldn’t hurt to try.
I scuffed the heel of my boot in the dirt as I recalled my training at Wilson’s ranch house. He’d taught me how to control my new strength and speed using my mind, and if he could help me to control my body using pure will power, then maybe I’d be able to help Cloe the same way. Maybe she could block her thoughts and emotions from Horus using the same tactics. I walked up to Cloe and placed my hands on her shoulders.
Broken Souls Page 10