The Progeny

by Shelley Crowley

  “Of course,” he said with a smile, calculating how long it would take for him to execute his plan, be out of this mansion, and never have to see her again. Another day if he was lucky.

  She smiled and took his hand, squeezing it encouragingly. There it was again. Pity. But Alexander just smiled back, feigning confidence.

  “I’ll see you around,” she said and strolled away. He watched her head back into the house and waited a few minutes before heading in the same direction.

  He stood by the door of the basement with his arms folded and his eyes scoping the hallway. When the man he was waiting for didn’t pass within the first ten minutes, Alexander slid down the wall until his rear hit the floor. Then he sprawled his legs out in front of the door, dropped his chin on his chest, and waited some more. He would wait all night if he had to. It actually sounded a lot more appealing than going back to his room and attempting to sleep alone.

  The wall was uncomfortable against his back as there was very little between the brick and his bones. He knew he looked skeletal even though he hadn’t looked in a mirror for probably the longest amount of time in his life. And he smelt like a sewer. But no one is ever in their best shape when ready to go to war. And that’s what it felt like opposing Nico. Like leaping over the trenches, guns blazing and praying to all forms of celestial beings you didn’t even believe in that you’d make it out alive.

  But when Alexander had been in uniform, he had felt satisfied enough to have at least tried. He had been proud that he had the courage enough to fight for his country and prove all the cynics in his town wrong.

  Now this was different. Now he knew that trying wasn’t good enough. Trying was going to get himself and several others killed. There was no one else to pick up his slack this time. He may need help from others but this was all his idea, and if he failed, it was all on him.

  A heavy thud against his boot jerked Alexander out of his trance. Squinting up, he made out the dark figure towering over him.

  “You’re in my way.”

  Alexander shot up and cringed at the creaking in his joints. “Joe! Just the man I’ve been waiting for.”

  Joe was standing with a key in his hand and a dubious expression on his face. “What do you want? I told you to stay away.”

  “I know. I know.” Alexander closed the distance between them. Clearly unsettled by the closeness, Joe leaned away from his face. “I need your help.”

  “With what?”

  Alexander’s eyes roved the empty hallway and then to the array of closed doors lining the walls. “Is there anywhere we can talk in total privacy?”

  Now looking wary, Joe slotted the key into the basement door. “Yeah, follow me.”

  Chapter 30

  “You wanna what?” exclaimed Joe.

  “Shhhh!” Alexander hissed back and darted a wary look to the camera mounted on the wall. Joe had ushered him into the basement, apparently his friends were guarding the doors because they strolled right through with no questions asked. They were now inside the huge white room which contained the one remaining filled cell.

  “The recording has been switched. I told you that last time. It’s just showing me feeding Vanessa. We can talk. This is the most secure place for you to tell me that you plan to kill Nico.”

  Alexander still cringed at the words.

  “I have to do it,” he replied, now a little jittery. It was one thing mulling over a plan in his head, but actually roping someone else into it made it all feel too real. This was really happening. “My friend is dead because of him.”

  Joe’s shoulders sagged and he scrubbed his greying hair. “Yeah, I heard about that. What happened exactly?”

  “He killed himself,” Alexander managed to get out before his throat closed up.

  Joe grimaced. “Poor fella.”

  “He did it because of what Nico has done to all of us. His cure has torn down the barrier between our vampire life and our lost human life. Everything’s seeping back through and it’s just… it’s too much. Seb couldn’t take it. I’m hardly holding on as it is.”

  “So that explains all this crazy talk.”

  Alexander nodded with wide eyes. “I’m going fucking nuts.” He gestured to his head. “But I know one thing for certain. And that’s that Nico is going to pay for what he’s done to us.”

  “And why exactly do you want to drag me into your craziness? I’m walking on wafer thin ice as it is.”

  “I don’t need you for much.”

  Joe just looked at him.

  “Vanessa’s blood is clean, right?” Alexander asked, dropping his voice to a whisper.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, Nico’s not infected her with anything?”

  “No. Not that I know of. But what does Vanessa have to do with this?” Alexander could hear the trepidation in Joe’s voice.

  “I just need some of her blood.” Joe looked confused again. “And a plastic bag.” Now he looked even more confused. “And someone who has access to the kitchen.”

  “What the hell are you planning?”

  “Just tell me you can help me.”

  Joe scratched his ear, thinking. “Yeah, I know a guy who can get into the kitchen.”

  “And the plastic bag and the blood?”

  “Yeah… I guess.”

  Alexander grinned.

  “You know I can hear you guys, right?”

  Both men turned to look down the cells. Alexander could just about make out the dark form of Vanessa sat on the floor at the back of the room. “And you’re not getting one drop of my blood until I know what it’s for.”

  Alexander shared a look with Joe before they both headed down the catwalk to clue in the voluptuous vampire on her part of his mission.

  _____#_____

  Once vampires were ‘outed’ and accepted, the television companies began to cater to their obvious trouble with catching mindless daytime shows and had them repeated after seven o’clock at night. Alexander had often found himself sprawled out on the sofa watching shows about teenage pregnancies having his hair stroked by his sister while he used her lap as a pillow. He missed the way her fingers massaged his scalp now as he sat curled up on the sofa in the lounge watching some other form of reality show. When he had first plonked himself down onto the comfy cushions, the opposite sofa had been full. But now that two hours had passed, Carrot-top, Shrooms and Gollum had vacated the room. Alexander didn’t find it surprising that he was alone as he watched the huge clock on the wall tick its way to midnight. He was tired and drained, but every time he felt his eyelids drooping, he slapped his cheeks and stared wide-eyed at the flat screen in front of him. He was hoping that miniature nap while he had waited for Joe was enough to get him through the night.

  “Excuse me.”

  Alexander was too exhausted to be surprised by the intrusion as he turned to see a man in a black suit at the open door. “What?”

  “You need to go to your room.”

  Alexander gave the suited man a weary look. “We have a curfew?”

  The man nodded. “I’m doing a final sweep. You’re the last one up. You need to head upstairs now.” He picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

  Alexander rolled off the sofa and onto his feet. He stepped up to the man. In the back of his mind, he remembered what Joe had said about some of the men that worked for Nico and wondered if he was using someone this man cared for as a bargaining chip.

  “My friend died today,” said Alexander, his voice morose.

  The man gulped and the obviously trained steely look in his eyes shifted into one of actual emotion for a millisecond. “I know. I carried out the body.”

  Alexander’s heart fell to his feet. He didn’t recognise the man, but then again, everything that had happened after he had found Seb’s body was nothing but a blur of blood and heartache.

  “I don’t want to go to sleep.”

  “All I need you to do is go to your room so you are accounted for, but from t
he looks of you, a good night’s sleep will do you well.”

  “Are you saying I look rough?” Alexander asked with the ghost of a smirk.

  “I’m saying that it is my job to make sure all of the Cured are safe in their bedrooms.”

  Alexander walked past him and into the hallway. “Usually I’d be flattered if a man like you was trying to get me into bed, but right now you’re an irritating inconvenience.”

  “Would you like me to escort you?”

  Alexander gave a backwards dismissive wave as he wandered down the hallway. “No need, I know the way.”

  The suited man watched from below as Alexander made his way up the stairs. Another man was patrolling the corridor as he entered his room, making Alexander wonder how Seb had gotten away with sleeping in his bedroom. Maybe someone had checked up on them in the night. That explained why Nico was so quick to come to the conclusion that Alexander had been in love with Seb. They sure must have looked like lovers last night.

  Alexander’s gut ached at the memory. He staggered over to his bed and dropped onto it in a heap. Tears burned his eyes and he rolled over to bury his face into the duvet and muffle his sobs.

  The world seemed so small locked up inside the mansion, and the space Seb left behind felt disproportionately huge. He needed to get out of here more than ever. He needed to be back in his sister’s arms.

  Because now he really did feel alone.

  Rearranging himself into a more comfortable position, Alexander stripped off to his boxers and climbed under the covers. He propped his pillow against the headboard and sat upright against it with the duvet bunched in front of his chest like a shield. The bedside lamp was on and was going to stay on all night. The bathroom door was shut and was going to stay shut forever. Alexander’s eyes were sore and his muscles ached but he stayed upright and constantly scoped the room for imaginary intruders.

  One more night.

  Just one more night.

  I can do this.

  He had fought against the bloody German army, crazy religious vampire hunters, Nest vampires, and several feisty one-night stands that had taken a turn for the worst – and if he was able to survive all of that, surely he could spend one night alone in Nico’s house of horrors.

  A film of cold sweat coated him from head to toe, making his hair stick to his neck. He ran his fingertips over the bunched-up duvet, mimicking the stroking patterns his sister would use on his scalp in a desperate attempt to calm his nerves. It didn’t work. His heart was hammering in his chest and with every slight creak, he flinched and jerked.

  Deep breathes, Alexander.

  Get a grip.

  This is embarrassing

  Maybe just letting yourself sleep would be better than this…

  …How magnificent his eyes are. Alexander could gaze into them forever. The sheen of them reflects his own image back at him and Alexander is smiling. Of course, he is smiling. How could he not be in a time like this?

  Seb watches him from his position above, those beautiful jade eyes of his flitting over Alexander’s face in awe. Alexander can feel himself blushing and reaches out to loop his arms around Seb’s neck, pulling him down for a kiss to hide his reddening cheeks. Seb laughs softly as their lips touch and he presses his palms firmly into the pillow either side of Alexander’s head.

  The contact of lips doesn’t feel like enough. The touch is too minor, too delicate, too easy to sever. Seb’s breath hitches as Alexander’s hands explore his bare torso. His fingertips bump over the ridges of his abdominals and when they descend to the curve of his hip bones, the kiss becomes deep and heady and primal and plundering. Alexander groans softly with delight as the tantalising mix of pleasure and pain shoots through his entire body. Seb tugs on his hair harder, curling it in his fists when he notices Alexander’s reaction.

  The kiss breaks and Alexander is left panting. Seb bites his own plump lower lip, his long eyelashes casting shadows over his eyes but Alexander catches the hint of mischief dancing in them before he leans down and his lips brush along his throat. Alexander’s back arches upwards, his body longing for more of his caresses. Seb’s hands are on his hips, his fingers splayed over his naked stomach.

  A wet droplet falls onto Alexander’s forehead and rolls down his nose. He can see the blur of red and rubs it, confused. It’s blood. Squinting, he looks up at the ceiling and gasps as it starts raining. Raining blood.

  Seb leans back, straddling Alexander’s waist as the blood showers them. His head cocks to the side like an inquisitive bird and Alexander blinks up at him expectantly, his heart thrumming in his chest. The blood is thick and is clogging his throat, making Alexander heave and splutter. Seb’s mouth opens as if to speak but whatever words were to be shed become a horrific cry of agony as he is stabbed in the chest from behind

  Blood pours from his mouth, running down his chin and chest as the dagger twists and disappears. Seb’s lifeless body collapses on top of him. Alexander’s struggling to breathe with the weight but then he freezes as he looks upon Seb’s killer.

  Elizabeth is over him, the blood rain streaking her white dress. Her chestnut hair is flailing around her as if she is caught in some sort of maelstrom. She stares down at Alexander with the bloody dagger aloft in her hand. She wails- a sound so loud and piercing that Alexander is forced to cover his ears. The windows of the room blow inwards with a mighty roar and Elizabeth’s bloody figure shatters with them…

  Alexander bolted upright, his heart slamming like a jackhammer in his chest. His legs were tangled in the duvet and the more he wriggled, the tighter and more trapped he became. Panic lodged in his throat as he threw himself off the bed and kicked himself free.

  He was gasping on the floor on his hands and knees, sweat rolling in rivulets between his shoulder blades.

  It was just a dream.

  It was just a dream.

  She’s not going to get you.

  But she is mad.

  It may only be his conscience playing tricks on his mind but the image of Elizabeth catching him with another lover filled him with insufferable guilt and he had woken up with the dire need to scream.

  But he’s dead now, Elizabeth.

  You haven’t been replaced.

  I will love you for the rest of time.

  Still shaking, Alexander looked to the windows and saw the cream hint of the sun through the curtains. His tensed muscles relaxed with relief. It was morning.

  It was a new day. And a very important day at that.

  He was getting the hell out of here.

  To keep himself busy, Alexander dressed himself and started pacing back and forth. The clock on his bedside table read that it was almost seven. He stopped at the bedroom door, suddenly bombarded with a whole new wave of nerves. It was time to put his plan into action. Everyone had their parts to play and needed to play them perfectly.

  In the dining room, Alexander did a quick grab and scarper as he usually did. This morning he managed to get his hands on a tangerine. He peeled it on his way to Nico’s office, letting the skin fall to the floor as he went like it was some sort of trail leading to hidden treasure. Nico – hidden treasure? That was hilarious. He’d probably have that written on his gravestone.

  Not looking up from the tangy fruit in his hand, Alexander knocked on Nico’s office door.

  “He’s not in there.”

  Jennifer was leaning against the door frame, her fingers awkwardly knotted together over her lap. They made eye contact and the way Jennifer flinched was as if Alexander’s look had scorched her.

  “He’s not?” asked Alexander, ignoring her jittery behaviour.

  She shook her head and then tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear when it fell over her eyes and in that second, it was as if a membrane had been pulled back, splitting the scene into two and he saw his own fingers pushing her hair from her face. The memory felt bitter and made him gulp hard. Alexander had kissed many people after Elizabeth as a way to erase her – to forget her taste.
He had never kissed someone to purposely feel closer to her. Until Jennifer. And that had been a terrible mistake. “No. I’ve been waiting for a few minutes myself.”

  “What do you want him for?” Alexander was curious but his tone sounded defensive. He didn’t want Nico to have a hold over her. He didn’t want her falling to his easy charm like the others.

  Jennifer’s gaze lowered to the floor. “Just to talk about stuff. The stuff I wanted to talk to you about when-” She sucked in a breath and pressed her fingertips to her lips, squeezing her eyes shut. “I just have a lot on my mind.”

  Now Alexander couldn’t ignore her anymore. She looked terribly lost. The way Seb had been just before…

  “I’m sorry about the way I acted,” he said a little too loudly so his voice would drown out his thoughts.

  Jennifer looked up at him. “I’m sorry about getting Daisy involved. I didn’t think she’d shout at you like she did.”

  Alexander smiled. “It’s okay. We’ve made up.”

  Jennifer nodded. “So she’s said. I’d like it if… we could be friends, too?”

  More friends? Alexander felt like a bloody celebrity. He’d always been able to count his friends on one hand and the prospect of adding more fingers was rather daunting. But he just shrugged. “Sure.” Because at the end of the day – at the end of this day – they would be strangers again. Free strangers. Going their separate ways.

  And good riddance.

  Jennifer smiled and actually bounced a little with glee before her face fell and her eyes grew wide with empathy. “What happened to Sebastian made me realise that life is too short to hold grudges.”

  There was a tightening inside Alexander’s chest.

  Life was too short now. But it hadn’t been only a few days ago. Back then he had had the capacity to hold a grudge for an eternity. Not that he would have ever stooped that low. But it had been nice to have had the option.

  But Jennifer was right. His life was too short. Too short to stand around talking to a girl he barely liked and brought up bittersweet memories that he was constantly torn between wanting to forget and desperately holding on to.