Night of Never

by Megan O'Russell

  “And dome training is the best?” Kieran said. “Have you seen the vampires of Nightland fight hand to hand? Outer Guard rely on trucks and guns and things we don’t have out here. If she wants to survive, she’s going to have to do it the Nightland way.”

  “I can teach her. I can keep her safe.” Red had taken over Jeremy’s cheeks.

  “You’re not the only one who wants to protect her,” Kieran said.

  “And what a great job you did!” Jeremy flung his arms wide, stepping toward Kieran. “She snuck out into the city because of you. Because you lured her out there.”

  “I never wanted—”

  “Never wanted what?” Jeremy spat. “To steal her I-Vent? To convince her to steal from the domes? You almost got her killed!”

  “To be fair,” Raina said, “I’m the one who actually stabbed her.”

  “Nola can handle herself,” Kieran said. “She’s stronger than you give her credit for.”

  “Then let me learn to punch people!” Nola stepped between Kieran and Jeremy.

  The boys stared at each other.

  “I’ll be happy to keep teaching you,” Jeremy said.

  “I don’t know if you’re the best person for the job,” Kieran said.

  “I have an idea.” Raina took Nola’s shoulders, pulling her outside the green square. “You both want to teach Nola, and no one can agree on who’s the more qualified. So let’s have a demonstration.”

  “Raina, no,” Nola said.

  Raina ignored her. “No better way to see who’s the better teacher than finding out who’s the better fighter. It’s not like you two don’t want to beat the hell out of each other, and I could use the entertainment besides.”

  “Raina, this is a terrible idea.”

  Jeremy and Kieran glowered at each other.

  “They don’t have to if they don’t want to.” Raina grinned.

  Kieran tossed his knives on the floor. “You want to hit me, fine. Give it your best shot, and we’ll see how well that Graylock of yours actually works.”

  “A lot better than ReVamp. I can still walk in the sun.” Jeremy took a step to the side.

  Kieran matched him, moving in the opposite direction.

  “See? They wanted to fight,” Raina whispered. “They’re prowling like angry kittens. It’s cute.”

  Nola balled her hands into fists as they kept circling each other.

  “My father created ReVamp without any of the fancy resources the domes have. He’s the only hope you have for getting more Graylock.”

  “Then I hope he’s up to the task.” Jeremy charged forward, plowing his shoulder into Kieran’s ribs.

  Kieran kicked out, catching Jeremy behind the knee and sending him stumbling to the side.

  “What if he’s not?” Kieran said. “What if he can’t replicate it? What if you gave Nola something you don’t have more of?”

  “We have enough to finish her dose.”

  “And then we just hope no one tries to kill her?” Kieran darted forward, punching Jeremy in the jaw and ribs, then catching him in the chin with his elbow.

  Jeremy stumbled back.

  Kieran lunged to strike again, but Jeremy blocked the blow, hitting Kieran hard in the stomach.

  “I’ll keep her safe.” Jeremy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

  “She would have been safer with ReVamp,” Kieran said. “Even you’ve got to know that. Better supply, being a part of the strongest group the outside has. You made a mistake.”

  Jeremy charged forward, fists raised.

  Kieran swung, but Jeremy ducked, dodging the blow. Jeremy kicked low, knocking Kieran’s legs out from under him. Kieran hit the ground hard.

  “I saved her life,” Jeremy growled.

  “Raina could have done it.” In one fluid movement, Kieran sprung to his feet. “She could have given Nola the ReVamp. Did you not think, or are you just that selfish?”

  “She was bleeding out,” Jeremy said. “I had Graylock on me, and I saved her life. You know who wasn’t there to give his opinion? You.”

  Kieran jumped five feet into the air, launching himself at Jeremy and bringing his elbow down on Jeremy’s shoulder with a sickening crunch.

  Jeremy stumbled back, sweat slicking his brow.

  “Your precious guards were trying to kill her,” Kieran said.

  “And I made sure they didn’t.” Jeremy ran forward, knocking Kieran to the ground, pinning him down with his knees pressed into his chest. “When your precious Vampers blew up part of the domes, it was me who took care of her. You weren’t there to wash the blood out of her hair.” He sunk his knuckles into Kieran’s eye. “You weren’t the one who held her when she was sobbing like she would break apart.” He hit again. “She was bleeding in the middle of the street.” He struck again. “She wouldn’t open her eyes. I thought she was gone.”

  He sprang to his feet, lifting Kieran with him. Kieran didn’t fight as Jeremy slammed him to the ground.

  “I’ve made some mistakes,” Jeremy said. “Graylock wasn’t one. Nola’s breathing. If you don’t like how I did it, go walk in the sun.”

  The air went still. The ones sparring around them had stopped. All eyes were on Jeremy.

  Raina clapped, the sound bouncing off the stone walls. “Now wasn’t that therapeutic?”

  “Don’t.” Jeremy ran his hands over his hair. Blood marked his knuckles. His eyes met Nola’s. “I just…” He shook his head. Without another word, he turned and stalked back toward the tunnels, ignoring the stares of everyone he passed.

  “Kieran,” Nola said. “Are you okay?”

  He rolled onto his back. Bruises covered his face, and blood trickled from his nose.

  “Kieran?”

  “Whose blood was in your hair?”

  “What?” Nola stepped closer.

  The vampires around them had lost interest in the green square. Clangs of weapons and thumps of fists rumbled around the cavern.

  “He said there was blood in your hair. Whose was it?”

  “I don’t know.” Nola stood over Kieran. “Mine, the man I killed, probably some other people’s. I don’t remember all of it. I don’t think I want to.”

  “We never should have sent you back.” Kieran sat up, wincing as he moved. “You wanted to stay with Nightland. Emanuel should have let you.”

  “And what, locked me in a room while he attacked the domes? It happened. It’s done.” She stepped back as Kieran stood. “Fighting about who should have done what to protect me is pointless. I need to be able to protect myself. That’s what I was trying to do before you and Jeremy started beating each other up.”

  Kieran’s shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m so tired of sorry. Sorry doesn’t bring people back to life or rebuild walls. I’m here because it’s the only way I know how to survive, not because I want an apology.”

  “Then what can I do?” Kieran asked.

  “Keep people alive and leave Jeremy alone. If Emanuel wants to hurt people, find a way to convince him to stop. Prove that you’re worth being alive when other people aren’t.” Nola pressed her thumbs into her eyes. “I don’t know what else to say.”

  “My dad will find a way to make more Graylock,” Kieran said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help him.”

  “Who knows what else he can make of it?” Nola said. “Maybe he can find something in it to make ReVamp better for everyone. Maybe the next generation of vampires won’t have to hide from the sun.”

  “What’s the fun in being a creature of the night if you have to work during the day?” Raina shook her head. “I think vampires are perfect just the way we are. Also, I think I’ll teach you to fight from now on. As entertaining as the boys’ spat was, you still can’t throw a decent punch.”

  Nola wavered between laughing and yelling at Raina for starting it all.

  “First, I’ll teach you to hit, then we’ll move on to throwing knives.” Raina’s eyes sparkled with glee.
>
  “I don’t know if I’m a knife—”

  The ground shook under Nola’s feet.

  The weapons hanging on the walls clanged as they bounced off the stone.

  Nola squinted, trying to hear past the questioning voices of those around her. “What was that?”

  “Nothing good.” Raina ran for the tunnel that led toward the mountainside.

  Chapter Twelve

  The ground rumbled again as Raina shoved open the giant metal doors.

  “Was that an earthquake?” Kieran asked.

  Nola’s heart tumbled in her chest. She had read about earthquakes but had never felt one. The earth had spared their area from that curse, even as the sun’s rays scorched and the rain hung heavy with poison.

  “I don’t think so.” Raina ran down the tunnel, Nola and Kieran at her heels.

  Nola’s legs didn’t mind the pace, nor did her lungs scream for air. Only when she looked at the tunnel walls sweeping past them did she realize how fast she was actually running. What felt like a gentle jog was really a full-blown sprint.

  “I’m fast,” Nola said, the words coming out easily. “I’m really fast.”

  “Welcome to the good life, Domer.” Raina stopped, pressing her back to the wall as they reached the first window. The sun shone brightly through the gap, barely leaving enough space for Raina and Kieran to hide in the shadows. “Well shit.”

  “What?” Nola stepped in front of the other two, leaning toward the window.

  Smoke billowed up from the city, rising in a thick shroud of black. Flames lapped at the buildings below, their brightness startling even in the morning sun.

  “What happened?” Kieran said. “The riot fires have never been that big.”

  A light flashed in the city. Flames soared into the sky.

  Tears streamed down Nola’s face as the ground beneath her feet rumbled. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s the Domers,” Raina said. “They’ve finally had enough of their trashy neighbors.”

  “What?” Nola leaned out the window, desperate to see if any of the buildings in the city were still standing.

  “The factories have shut down,” Raina said. “The city is of no use to them. It’s just a cesspit filled with people who want them dead. Why wouldn’t they bomb the city?”

  “Because there are children in the city,” Nola said. “There are innocent people.”

  “Like Nettie?” Raina asked.

  Nola froze.

  “My baby sister is in that burning city, and the only crime she ever committed was being an alcoholic brat. I warned her for years, and she wouldn’t listen. The house is gone, my sister is probably dead. And if not now, she sure as hell will be soon. Why? Because the domes want to live out the end of the world in peace, and the city is nothing more than a disease to be eradicated.”

  “We need to get out there and help people,” Nola said. “Nettie could still be alive. There could be other survivors.”

  “You think the domes will let anyone out alive?” Raina said.

  “We don’t know what happened,” Nola said, “but there are people out there who need our help.”

  “Or they’re all already dead,” Raina said.

  “Nettie could be alive,” Nola said. “We have to go find her.”

  “And do what?” Kieran watched the smoke rise. “We could rescue Raina’s sister. But what about all the others you’d find. We couldn’t bring them here. The domes would follow us back. They’d know where we are, and they’d attack. We don’t have enough food to take in hundreds more people, and—”

  “You sound like them,” Nola said.

  “I hate the domes, but they didn’t get everything wrong.” Pain pinched Kieran’s brow. The bruises from the fight had already begun to fade.

  “Kieran’s right,” Raina said. “Noah didn’t load his ark with every living thing. He took what he could keep alive.”

  “You’re supposed to be different.” Nola shook her head. “Nightland is supposed to be different from the domes, to save everyone.”

  “If Emanuel could, he would,” Kieran said. “That’s the difference.”

  Another rumble shook the ground.

  Nola spun back to the window. The flames that leapt into the sky were deep within the smoke, on the dome side of the city.

  Will the glass even survive?

  “We at least need to know what’s going on,” Nola said. “You say it’s the domes, but it might not be. It could all be a huge accident. Or the werewolves destroying everything, or—”

  “The domes,” Rain cut across her. “No one else would be able to coordinate this.”

  “It could be someone we’ve never even heard about!” Nola shouted. “We need to go see.”

  “We’ll talk to Emanuel,” Raina said. “If he wants us to go, we can do it at nightfall.”

  “That’s so long from now,” Nola said. “How many more people could die in that time?”

  “The Outer Guard could come slaughter us,” Raina said. “They could come blast our tunnels and bury us alive. But it doesn’t matter. We can’t go until nightfall.”

  Kieran studied Raina’s face.

  “I’ll go,” Nola said. “I can run fast now.”

  “No,” Kieran said.

  “The sun would kill both of you, but I’ll be fine,” Nola said. “Even if I get burned, I can heal now.”

  “If you want to commit suicide, there are easier ways,” Raina said.

  “Jeremy will come with me,” Nola said. “He won’t let anything happen to me.”

  “Such confidence in lover boy,” Raina said.

  “We can’t just sit in a tunnel while the city is blowing up,” Nola said. “How far away is the city?”

  “Thirteen miles,” Kieran said.

  “Okay.” Nola nodded, the magnitude of the distance hurtling through her mind. “That’s not too bad, right? I’ve had Graylock, I can do it.”

  “Absolutely not,” Kieran said. “What if something happens to you? How would we find you? How are you going to find your way back?”

  “He’s right,” Raina said. “You were knocked out for most of the trip. You’d get lost on the way back and die in the wild. If you made it to the city, and if you don’t get attacked by any more rogue vampires. Or do you not remember the two who wanted to tear your throat out?”

  “And Jeremy stopped them,” Nola said. “What if the domes did attack the city? What if they’re on their way here now?”

  Kieran looked to Raina, who glared at Nola, her mouth twisted in a frown. “Fine, you get to go and play scout. You don’t go into the city proper, and you get back here by nightfall. You drag lover boy out in the sun, see which group is running through the burning city in triumph and get out.”

  “We should ask Emanuel,” Kieran said.

  “Emanuel will agree with me,” Raina said. “If she’s going to go, she needs to go now.”

  “I’ll get Jeremy.” Nola took off back up the corridor, not waiting to hear the argument Kieran called after her.

  She didn’t know where his room might be, or if he even went back to where he had been sleeping.

  The door to the sparring room burst open before Nola could reach for the handle.

  “Nola!” Jeremy charged into the hall. “Are you okay?”

  “The city is exploding. We have to go see what’s happening.” Nola took Jeremy’s hand, dragging him back into the cavern.

  “What?”

  “The ground shaking—”

  “Bombs are going off in the city?” Jeremy said.

  “Yes.” Nola stopped in front of the sparring vampires. “I need a backpack with water and food,” she shouted over the fighting.

  The sparrers turned toward her.

  “Please.”

  No one moved.

  “Raina said so.”

  The blond girl ran toward the back of the room, pulling a pack down from a shelf. “Ritchie, grab water and food.”

  The man
she had pummeled less than half an hour before ran up the hall toward the main corridor.

  “We don’t keep those things in here,” the blond said. “The water drinkers don’t come to the sparring room very often.”

  The girl moved to hand the pack to Nola.

  “I’ll take it,” Jeremy said. “You’re strong, but you’re still adjusting. We don’t need anything throwing off your balance.”

  “Did you want any weapons?” the girl asked Nola as she handed the pack to Jeremy.

  Nola’s cheeks flushed. “Do you have any Guard guns? I know how to shoot those.”

  The girl nodded to a boy near her age. He opened the weapons locker and pulled out two belts with Guard guns and a slim silver box of darts.

  “I’ll take a knife, too,” Jeremy said.

  “Good,” the girl said. “Keep to that if you can. Darts are worth more than blood.”

  “Thank you.” The weight of the belt was no more than an egg in Nola’s hands, but the reality of holding it took her breath away.

  Where did they get this? Which guard’s body did they take it from?

  Jeremy strapped on his gun and tucked his knife into the side of his boot.

  “I hope this is enough.” The man who’d run down the tunnel returned, four bottles of water, five apples, and a loaf of seedy bread in his arms.

  “It’s plenty,” Jeremy said. “We’re not going far.”

  “We’re going to the edge of the city.” Nola strapped on the gun belt. Clasped as tight as it would go, the belt still hung low around her hips.

  The man loaded the food into the bag.

  “Is there anything else you need?” the girl asked.

  “No,” Nola said. “We’ll tell Raina how much you helped.”

  Nola headed toward the door to the outer tunnel, Jeremy’s boots thumping behind her.

  “Are you sure about this?” Jeremy asked. “I can go on my own. I’ll find out whatever we need to know and come right back.”

  “I’m going, Jeremy.” Nola shoved the door open. “Either you can come with me and do the punching, or I can go by myself. It’s up to you.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Jeremy stayed close on her heels. “If you’re going, there’s no choice in my coming along. You know that.”

  “You’re right, I do.” Nola ran down the tunnel. “Maybe next time don’t argue with me.”