by P. A. Warren
Leaving the guys behind, I walk like a bat out of hell towards my dorm. For once in my life I’m not even paying attention to my surroundings. Mikail calls for me to stop from a few yards away, but I ignore him and keep going. I’m fuming mad. I can’t believe the two of them. Why do guys have to solve everything with a fight? It’s like two dogs marking each other’s territory, and I’m the hydrant, only I never agreed to be the hydrant.
Wrinkling my nose at the image that pops into my head, I shudder and rummage through my purse, looking for a piece of gum. I trip, spilling my purse and frantically gather the contents, pens, pencils, my phone and finally the gum. I throw it all in haphazardly and stand. I walk along the sidewalk and notice how quiet everything is.
There are no birds singing, no people talking, not a sound, just pure silence. It’s almost overwhelming because it’s not normal. Quickening my pace, I get halfway to my dorm when I’m grabbed from behind, I feel a pinprick as something is stuck in my neck and my body goes limp. I’m awake, but I can’t seem to move any of my limbs. Helplessness quickly overwhelms me. I can’t scream because I can’t get my lips to say the words. I’m screaming in my brain. Muffled, awkward, dampened sounds claw their way out of my throat, but nobody comes to help me.
Oh God. I try desperately to break free of the hold, but of course that does nothing since my limbs won’t do what my brain is telling them. In my mind¸ I’ve done everything imaginable to move, and when my body doesn’t respond, I stop.
I am carelessly thrown down in some sort of case or something. The lid slams shut, and when it starts rumbling and moving I realize I must be in the trunk of a car. Tears run down my face, soaking the cloth covering my head and making me feel claustrophobic, and making it hard to breathe. And that’s when panic starts to settle in. I’m still trying to comprehend what’s going on when the car stops and the trunk is thrown open. I’m yanked out and thrown into a different car where we drive for at least an hour or so.
They carelessly pull me out as if I’m trash and drop me on some type of gravel studded pavement. Drugged, all I can do is lie there as they kick me in the stomach repeatedly. The pain is excruciating, and I’m on the verge of vomiting.
The guy who pulled me out of the trunk tells his partner to go easy on me as he shoots me a maniacal glare. It’s so scary that I wish I could look away, but my eyes are glued to him in disbelief. He’s muscular with weird tattoos wrapping around his arms, and I watch the tattoos jump as his muscles clench. The man next to him, who I’ve yet to identify but can distinguish him by his voice, told him to get the medicine out of me so I feel the pain.
Cold hands grab me, forcing me to stand on shaky legs that I can no longer feel. They keep giving out under me. He holds me upright and tilts my head to the side, sinking something hard into my neck. He pulls away, spitting and turns my head so I’m looking at him. He smiles widely showing me his bloody mouth and teeth. Did he just bite me? I feel liquid dripping down my neck and blood running onto my white cardigan. I have an offhand thought that the cardigan is now ruined, as if that’s my biggest worry right now. Instantly, I’m overwhelmed with pain as whatever they gave me is drained from my system and it hits me that these aren’t normal human beings. Normal humans don’t bite each other or suck blood from necks. It’s like my brain adds it all together and once it figures it all out, my legs give out, and it causes me to fall and my head hits the ground with a loud crack. Everything spins but I manage to stay conscious.
I don’t have time to react to protect my stomach as a foot suddenly connects with it. Wincing as the foot makes its way towards my stomach again, this time I’m kicked from behind. I scream out in pain and confusion. The beating continues for what seems like forever, and I don’t know how much more I can take, when it abruptly stops, and I’m lying here in a puddle of my own blood and urine staring at the sky and wondering what I’ve done to deserve this.
“Look at that. The hybrid can’t take a little punishment. She pissed herself,” someone says laughing...
The what? Hybrid? Who’s a hybrid, and more importantly, what’s a hybrid? I think to myself as I shakily try to force myself to sit up, leaning on weak arms. I tumble right back onto the pavement.
“Hybrid?” I spit out painfully. “What’s a Hybrid?
“Don’t play the stupid game with me, girl. Griffin has a score to settle with the King, and since you’re the King’s daughter you’re the perfect weapon against him.”
King? Last time I checked we had a President and not a King. “You have the wrong girl,” I try to scream, but it comes out as a warble. “I don’t even know my dad.” The man walks towards me and backhands me across the face.
“Fool, don’t ever talk to me. You are the King’s daughter, and you will shut up.”
Having no other choice, I lay face down and stare at the pavement, tears running down my face as I rest my cheek on it and pray for death. I hum softly, trying to keep my mind calm as the man runs his hands all over my body. My last faltering thought before I pass out completely is that apparently I’m the King's daughter, and the people here do not like him, or me for that matter.
Chapter 11
Jason
I’m so sick of seeing Mikail. He’s like a tick that won’t go away. I look around expecting for Claire to still be here, but she’s gone. Wait! Where did she go? The only reason Mikail would be here would be because someone knows something, and he was sent. He’s a tracker and does the dirty work of the elite. Looking around and noticing that the area is cleared out, I catch up to Mikail a few yards away. He’s walking towards the parking lot, and I speed over to him and slam him to the ground, I hold his throat and look at him in disgust.
“Who sent you?”
Spitting blood into my face, he laughs. “Are you screwing around with Claire? Does she know exactly what or who you are?”
Rolling my eyes with my hand still clutching his throat, I reply, “Does she know what you are? Does she know that you’re here to kill her?” Grabbing my hand, he forces it away from his throat and manages to twist and pin me to the ground. The area is silent except for the sound of us hitting each other.
“I’m not here to kill her,” he says before he punches me in the face. “In fact, if I kill her I’ll be killed.” He lets me go shoving me away from him in disgust.
“Who sent you?” I ask him again.
“What? You haven’t talked to your old man lately?”
“Shit. My dad and I haven’t talked in decades. I don’t have anything to do with him. Since he killed Audra I haven’t spoken a word to him.”
Audra was someone I loved a long time ago. She was the love of my life and we planned on leaving my dad’s clan. She had everything ready, and the day she left the clan someone found out and staked her. I walked out that day and never looked back, and I blamed myself for not protecting her from my dad. If my dad wanted Claire then something big must be at stake. It also meant that if Mikail didn’t do his job then daddy dearest would be visiting here to complete the job, which meant Claire was in far more danger than I thought. Shoving Mikail, I say, “Stay away from her.” I leave him there as I run to the dorms, hoping I can find Claire before someone else does.
Laughing, he catches up with lightning quick reflexes. “You know not everything is as it seems.” He calls to me as I ignore him disdainfully.
I grab my phone and quickly punch in the lock code and dial the King.
“Hello?” his voice rumbles.
“Sir, we have a problem.”
“What sort of problem?”
“Griffin from the Western Clan has ordered a hit or capture on Claire.”
“How did you find that out?”
Pausing before speaking again, I take a deep breath. “Because one of the best hunters, Mikail Tsarev, is suddenly on campus trying to make friends with Claire. He’s a freelance guy and one of the best at what he does.”
“Get her out of there. I don’t care if you have to kidnap her, get h
er out of there and into one of the safe houses. I will text you the location once we get off the phone. Griffin must not get her.”
With a click he hangs up, and I make my way towards the dorm, trying to catch up with Claire. It’s frustrating not being able to use my vampire speed due to people being around. I’m mentally cussing each and every one of them out, when I hear a scream. And suddenly a guy comes out of nowhere and grabs Claire. She falls into his arms, and I see something glint and drop to the ground. Two others appear, and I run towards them, grabbing one guy and snapping his neck and get perverse pleasure upon seeing him drop to the ground. Spotting me, they use their agility to throw her into the trunk of an expensive black car and speed away. The tires squeal, leaving nothing but smoke in their wake.
I slam my fist into the pavement and watch as it cracks into small pieces. How could I let this happen?
Mikail walks up behind me and speaks with clenched teeth as if he’s forcing himself to stand still and not chase them. His expression looks dangerous, and I find myself wondering if Claire means more to him than just an assignment. “I know you don’t trust me and you have no right to, but I know what Griffin’s capable of. I also have a pretty vested interest in Claire, so it’s in my best interest to help find her and keep her alive.” He looks me intently in the eyes. “Let’s be real, Jason. I’m just the guy they pay to bring the victim in. Who do you think does the torturing?”
I shrug as my mind pulls a blank.
“Oh, come on now. You know the answer to that one. Your brother Riley does the torturing. He took over for your dad. Did you never pay attention when you lived with him?”
Shaking my head forcefully, I reply, “I apparently was oblivious to it and have failed in the one job the King required of me: keep Claire safe.” Biting my lip, I remember how horrible Riley was, and I remember how hard it was to live with him and try not to get caught in his crosshairs.
“You know what this means, right?” Mikail says with a grimace on his face.
“No what?”
“We have to work together if we want to get her back alive.”
Rubbing my face with my hands, I don’t give a rat’s ass about anyone in range of me as I race to my room, grab my bag, and fill it with clothes. I knock my mattress off the bed and grab all of my weapons. I clutch my silver injector and then strap it onto my hip. Opening my door, I groan. One of the dorm girls, who think she’s in love with me, stands in the hall. All this energy makes me want to feed, and I let my conscience go. Looking both ways, I pull her into the room and slam her against the wall. I tilt her neck and jam my fangs into her throat, taking what I need.
“Is now the best time to have a rendezvous?”
Pulling back, I snap at him, “I need food, back off!” Taking my time, I sink back into her neck and enjoy the sweet taste of blood.
“Come on, time’s wasting, and if Claire dies or anything happens to her I will kill you.” Mikail says seriously.
I almost laugh at that, but he’s right. Time is crucial. I pull back and lock eyes with the girl and tell her the usual spiel: forget everything. Spinning her around, I slam the door as soon as she’s out. I grab the cooler and the bagged blood from the small fridge and shove all of it into the cooler. I look around; double checking to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything when my phone rings. I glance at the number and groan in distaste. It’s the King.
“Shit.” I look over at Mikail who is now stalking out the door to go get what I assume is the car we’re leaving in.
“Hello, Sir.”
“I asked you to do one job, to keep her safe and you failed.”
“Sir, I’m going to find her now. There was no stopping it. They used some sort of injection on her—”
“Why were you not with her?” he roars into the ear piece.
“It was my fault, and I take full responsibility. I will make this right, and I’m going to apologize now for hanging up on you.” I shut the phone off and stick it in my pocket. I grab my things and rush out of the dorm and duck into the car that Mikail has somehow acquired.
“Nice isn’t it? Now, stop drooling and get the fuck in,” he growls angrily, looking over at me as I jump in the car. “Is that blood on your chin?” he asks, noticing as I wipe it quickly away.
“No,” I lie.
“I still can’t believe you stopped to feed, while Claire is God knows where! I’m going to hurt you the minute I stop the car!”
I listen to him muttering under his breath while I check out the car, anything to distract him away from his anger towards me.
“I hope she drives as fast as she looks.” I swipe my hands through my hair, clenching my hands in tight fists as he slams his foot down on the pedal.
“Oh she drives like a beast.” I watch as he takes the steering wheel, shaking my head at him in disgust.
Chapter 12
Mikail
Sometimes playing the guy who doesn’t give a shit is the hardest job there is. No matter how badly I want to tell Jason to screw off, or break his neck for letting this happen to Claire, I can’t let on that it matters this much to me. I can’t blow off my blasé attitude, even though I might have when she was taken. I tried to be casual, but it was too hard, and too much is at stake for me to be making any more mistakes, Claire’s life for one, and my own as well. Once everything is settled, something even greater is at stake, something I’ve been waiting patiently in the wings for a very long time. I can’t let Jason catch on to my fear for Claire or my cover will be blown, and I can’t have that.
Waiting for his slow ass pisses me off, and when I walked in on him feeding, I had to clench my hands or else I’d have thrown him through the wall. Claire’s life is in danger and he’s wasting time feeding when he could have fed from bags. Jason is an idiot, and I don’t trust him within an inch of my life. Finally, he’s ready to leave, and I walk to my car, the one he thinks I stole.
“Nice isn’t it?” I ask, sinking into the driver’s seat, throwing my sunglasses on, and pushing a small button under my seat to activate GPS for the Queen.
“I hope she drives as fast as she looks,” he says just to agitate me.
I run my hands along the steering wheel, which is just a good luck thing I’ve done since I started driving. Smiling, I hit the gas which causes Jason to slam back into the seat.
“Oh she drives like a beast,” I retort.
***
I know exactly where I need to go, and that place is the King’s house, or palace as he calls it. It’s actually a mansion, but who really wants to argue with a king? Looking at the road ahead of me, I think about the plan I have in place when my phone rings. Keeping my hand on the steering wheel, I answer the phone and am not in the least bit shocked by who answers: the Queen.
“So, my granddaughter has been kidnapped by that hooligan, Griffin, and you’re currently in the car with his estranged son,” she states in a no-nonsense voice, “Why exactly are you in a car with him?”
I glance over at Jason and start talking to her in Romanian. “He’s an idiot. Antony was a fool to send him to watch Claire, and something’s not right there. Why would he do that? You need to watch him. I’m taking us there, since Jason and Antony both think I’m working for the King, and I have to play the part. I don’t trust either of them, but what really worries me…” I say seriously into the phone as I look in my mirror, turning into a long driveway, “…it’s that Griffin has Riley at his beck and call, and the things I’ve heard about Riley would make a grown man cry.”
The other end is silent for a few seconds before I hear a sharp reply, “I’ll take care of it, and don’t worry.”
“Don’t use your powers,” I say seriously into the phone, still speaking in Romanian, “You know they sometimes go haywire.”
“Young man!” she practically yells into the phone, forcing me to pull it away from my ear, “I’ve been using my powers for years and you just keep your mouth shut and do what you have to do to distract Jason.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” I stifle my laugh and hang up as I continue driving down the highway at top speed.
Chapter 13
Claire
I wake slowly at first, and then I remember what happened and jolt awake, slowly moving all my limbs and feeling excruciating pain traveling throughout my entire being. It crawls its way through from my legs, all the way to my head. Trying to get up from the mattress, I stand only to be yanked back down. I look down at my wrists and turn them around, examining the shackles that bind me to the wall. I lift my already hurting arms and try pitifully to break the chains, but it’s no use. They are just too strong, and I am simply too weak to manage it.
I’m so stupid. How could I let this happen to me? I should have been aware of my surroundings. I’ve always had the feeling that someone was watching me, and the one time I let my guard down I’m ambushed.
Where am I anyway? I wonder as I glance around at the room. I make out cinderblock walls and the cot. It’s utterly empty and dirty. Cobwebs are in the corners, and the worst part is it’s so dark, and I hate the dark. There are no windows, just a small light bulb giving a miniscule amount of light. Twisting my head, I notice the door has no locks on the inside. Panic claws up my throat, and I feel my heart racing and my throat starting to close on me. I claw frantically at the chains and barely feel my fingernails cut into my skin as I tear at the restraints. I am oblivious to the pain, however, and keep tearing at them to no avail. The feeling of desolation overwhelms me as I contemplate what’s going to happen to me. Lifting my shirt, I glance down at my stomach and find it black and blue from them kicking me yesterday. I mean, I assume it was yesterday. There is no real way for me to know how long I’ve been here. I wince as I press down on my stomach. I can’t tell if anything is broken, but it’s really tender to the touch. My wrists feel weighted down by the chains and they’re rubbing them raw. I yank on them one last time but it does nothing but scratches the scabbed skin off and makes my already bleeding wrists bleed again.