He glanced back at me and pain lanced through his eyes. He was trapped by his captors and I knew what that felt like. I knew how lonely it was, how empty.
Cass walked through the door and I made the conscious decision not to release Varick. I wasn't going to hide my alliance with him. If I was going to ask him to stand up to the Helsings, then I had to start by standing up for my own beliefs.
Cass's eyes slid from Varick's arm to my hand. “Morning,” she said tersely.
I nodded and Varick walked away, heading out of the kitchen. I hung my head, knowing the fight Varick needed could only come from him.
“What's with you and the V?” Cass asked, making herself a cup of tea.
“Oh, lay off me, will you?” I snapped, my anger spilling over.
Cass looked affronted, pausing as she poured hot water onto a tea bag. “I just don't think you should be hanging around with it.”
“Him,” I corrected. “And if you actually took the time to talk to Varick, maybe you'd realise he's not all bad. And maybe you'd start to realise that those Vs out on the island are forced to be here as much as we are.”
“Are you actually defending them?” she asked in disbelief.
“I'm just saying. Sometimes, it doesn't do any harm to see things from both sides.”
“So what? You want us to make friends with the Vs now?”
I huffed, walking away from her, but as I stepped out of the kitchen, I realised her suggestion wasn't all that crazy. Okay, so I couldn't exactly have a rational conversation with a V whilst it was hunting me down on the island. But maybe Varick could. We all had a common enemy, after all.
I went to find him, but found the living room filling with people. Men and women in white overalls were moving through the front door, carrying large metal boxes.
“What's going on?”
None of them answered, but continued to set up whatever equipment they'd brought with them.
Varick appeared, leading the girls into the room.
“Today you'll be prepared for the final round,” he announced.
“Prepared how?” Sakura demanded, eyeing the newcomers with suspicion.
“You'll be pampered,” Varick said, not managing to hide the note of disgust in his tone.
The men and women laid out massage tables across the room, pushing the furniture aside to make room for them. One of them placed a speaker down which started playing ethereal, classical music.
I folded my arms, surveying them.
“Why?” I snapped and Varick shot me a glare.
“Just play along,” he demanded, striding from the room and locking the door.
Angelina was the first to strip out of her clothes, laying down on a table as one of the women gestured for her to do so. Slowly, one by one, all of the girls followed. Everyone but me.
Cass gave me a look that said she agreed with Varick for once. Play along.
The girls started to receive massages from the surrounding beauty crew. I resisted a moment longer before stripping off and laying face down on the final table. I was in desperate need of a massage, so I wasn't going to pass one up. And I supposed if we were going to spend the entire day here at the cabin, I might as well take the opportunity to try and relax.
When every inch of us were massaged and my body felt like jelly, the beauty therapists started waxing our legs, filing our nails, washing our hair in sweet-smelling soap. It soon became apparent that the crew were not permitted to speak to us. So the other girls and I proceeded to ignore them.
“Why do I feel like I'm being made pretty just to get torn apart by Vampires?” Sakura asked as one of the women dyed her hair, restoring it to its bright colour.
“Who cares?” Kite drawled; she was half way through a foot massage and didn't seem to have any qualms about bossing the therapists about.
“We're the final six,” Briony said in a quiet voice. “What if we've already won? What if they're getting us ready to attend some victory ball?”
I shook my head, causing the woman brushing my hair to drop her comb. “Varick said there's another round.”
“So?” Briony chipped in hopefully. “Maybe the final round is eating cake and celebrating.”
“Yeah right,” I muttered.
“Well what do you think this is all about then?” Angelina demanded. She already looked twice as radiant as she had before. Her skin was glowing with a tinted moisturiser and her eyes had been painted in golden shadows.
I considered it and could only come to one conclusion. “I think the Helsings are putting on a show for their spectators. The prettier we look, the more money they'll bet on us.”
“Why? What does being pretty have to do with it?” Angelina demanded.
I sighed, sinking back into the head massage my therapist was giving me. “They're men, Angelina. It has everything to do with it.” At least, those were certainly the type of men who'd attend a sick show like this.
“Not all men are pigs,” Sakura said quietly.
The other girls, me included, scoffed.
“Never met a good one myself,” Kite said. “Killed a lot of bad ones though.” A smug grin settled on her features and a pang of curiosity went through me. Is that what Kite had gone to prison for?
“Well I have,” Sakura said proudly. “In fact, he's waiting for me back in Finland.”
Cass rolled her eyes, but I couldn't fight my intrigue.
“You have a boyfriend?” I asked and she nodded.
“His name's Rico. We met in school.” A dreamy look filled her eyes.
“And he's never hit you?” Briony narrowed her eyes and Sakura shook her head.
“Or cheated on you?” Cass asked and Sakura declined again, a smile growing on her face.
“Well he probably will,” Kite sang. “He's probably off screwing your best friend while you're here-”
“Shut up,” Sakura growled. “He loves me. He would never hurt me.”
Silence fell over the room. I guessed I had more in common with some of the girls than I'd realised. We'd all been hurt in some way or other by men. But maybe Sakura was right, maybe there were good men left in the world.
By the time the beauty team were finished with us, everyone was practically sparkling. The effect was lost on us a little as we were helped into our ball gowns, ready for another round.
Varick returned, his gaze immediately turning to me. He stilled for a moment, then cleared his throat. “You first.” He nodded to me and I frowned with curiosity, following him out of the room.
“What's going on?” I whispered as he guided me down the hall. I caught sight of myself in a long mirror hanging on the wall and barely recognised myself. My lips were painted red, my eyes powdered with greys and blacks. My skin seemed to glow and my cheekbones were much higher than I recalled them being before.
“The Helsings like to create profiles on the last girls. To help the spectators choose who to place their final bids on.”
I nodded, my belly swimming with nerves as he led me into the kitchen. He opened the small back door that led onto the beach, and I was immediately out of my depth.
A huge green screen was erected before me and a camera crew stood before it, being bossed about by a woman in high heels – not appropriate for the pebbled beach – and blonde hair that flowed effortlessly around her in the wind.
She rushed forward when she spotted me, her bright blue eyes piercing through me. Her features were small and her mouth sticky with pink lip gloss.
“This is Dawn,” Varick introduced her. “She's a cousin of the Helsings.”
“Oh my, what wonderful work they've done on you, Selena.” She patted my cheek and I felt the sting of her patronising tone. She was perhaps in her forties but it was hard to tell through all the make-up she was wearing.
“Stand over there for your photo shoot.” She pressed me toward the green screen and I gritted my teeth, stomping toward it, with half a mind to refuse.
I stepped into place, feeling like a lemon as several c
ameras glared at me.
Varick leant back against the cabin wall, watching me, making me unbelievably self-conscious.
“Smile, cherry pie,” Dawn encouraged, painting a smile either side of her cheeks to try and encourage me.
I glowered at her, at the cameras, having no intention of pretending I was at all happy about being paraded like an idiot. “I haven't got much to smile about.”
“Nonsense!” She waved a hand. “You could be a winner of the V Games soon. That's no easy task.”
“Still not smiling,” I said through my teeth as camera bulbs flashed at me.
Varick caught my eye, grinning at my stubbornness and I tried to fight back the urge to return it. A tiny smile pulled at one corner of my mouth and a hundred flashes blinded me.
“Perfect,” Dawn announced with a satisfied grin. She gestured to someone beyond the green screen and a moment later a girl appeared, pushing a V forward on a restraining pole.
I backed up, glancing to Varick for reassurance. He gave me a small nod, but his eyes were dark.
Someone placed a stake in my hand and directed the V in my direction. He was skin and bones, barely human beneath his long hair and anorexic body.
“Kill it,” Dawn instructed, wafting me toward the Vampire.
I shuddered in horror, taking a step back. “No,” I demanded.
“Oh why must you be so difficult?” Dawn muttered. “It's all for show. This one's weak. It'll only take a quick stab.”
My upper lip curled back in disgust. “I'm not going to kill some chained up V. It's not a fair fight.”
Cameras were rolling now, capturing every second of my defiance.
“Do cooperate, Selena,” Dawn pleaded. “I have five more girls to get through today.”
I folded my arms as the V snapped and snarled at me from a few a feet away. “I'm not doing it.”
Dawn's light-hearted expression became cold. “If you don't kill it willingly, I will make you do so.”
I stood my ground, glaring at this vile woman who so boldly tried to control me.
I chucked the stake at my feet. “Then make me,” I snarled, my hands beginning to tremble with rage. I was done being told what to do. Forced into killing when I never had a choice in being here.
Dawn gave a brief nod to the girl holding the V at the end of the pole and, with a wide-eyed look, she released it.
The V ran at me.
I gasped, dropping to the floor, scrambling for the stake on the ground. I had no choice. It was kill or be killed again.
Before it reached me, Varick bolted into its path, snapping its neck in seconds. Bending low, he helped me to my feet, his eyes flitting between mine.
My cheeks grew hot from the intensity of his gaze and even hotter as I realised the cameras were still rolling.
“Perfect,” Dawn announced smugly.
I sensed something deadly in her tone. I felt some secret had been revealed between Varick and I. And dread slid through me as I realised the whole of the Helsing family were going to watch that footage.
Varick evidently felt as nervous as I did about it, his expression cold as he moved swiftly away from me, trying to cover his tracks. “Shoot that scene again. I'm sure Selena will comply this time.”
“No need,” Dawn said lightly.
“There is need,” Varick growled.
“Not the way I see it.” Dawn took out her lip gloss, painting the thick gloop onto her mouth. “On to the interview.”
“Interview?” I breathed, looking to Varick, but he was striding purposefully away from me, not looking back.
I pictured what they might superimpose behind me on the green screen.
My heartbeat stuttered and my legs became shaky as Dawn gestured for me to return inside.
“Not to worry, there are no cameras for this part. I'm just going to ask you a few questions.”
We sat opposite each other at the small kitchen table and Dawn took out a notepad.
“So Selena.” Dawn was suddenly all business, her pen poised above a list of questions already printed out on a sheet in front of her. “Do you have anyone waiting for you back home? A boyfriend perhaps?”
I shook my head. “Just my mother.” I shifted in my seat then added, “She's probably missing me terribly.” Perhaps I could win some sympathy points with the spectators. Though I'm not sure what good it would do me. And I'm pretty sure Dawn didn't write that part down.
She tilted her head. “And would you define yourself as heterosexual? That is, you desire men, not women?”
“What kind of question is that?” I blurted.
She wound her pen through the air, trying to encourage me to answer. “I just need a yes or no answer.”
I gaped at her, but she simply waited for my answer.
I sighed, giving in. “Yes...I'm into men.”
“And are you a virgin, Selena?”
I stood up, glaring at the woman in fury. “That's none of your business.” Why on earth was she asking me that?
She pressed her sticky lips together, eyeing me. “Just a yes or no answer will suffice.”
“You have no right to ask me that.” What kind of interview was this?
“You are being very difficult,” she sighed. “Some of the men think virgins are more desired by Vampires. Old wives tales, that's all. But it effects their betting strategies all the same.”
I gritted my teeth and spat, “Fine. Yes, I'm a virgin.”
She clucked her tongue, writing down my answer. Her interview descended into a probing questionnaire about my life, much of which I refused to answer and gave short, yes or no responses to. I didn't see what difference this would make to my survival. So what was the point? This was all about the spectators, trying to pick their winner. And I didn't want them betting on me, even though I wanted to survive. I didn't want them making money off of my misery.
When Dawn dismissed me, I gladly slipped away, returning to my room before Varick fetched one of the other girls. I felt torn apart. Like this was all some plan to rip into the last ounces of who I was and lay me bare for the Helsings. It made me hope they'd all bet on me, then I could kill myself just to spite them. But that went against my nature. Really what I wanted, was to survive the game then cut down every last one of the Helsings before sailing home to England and never looking back.
My options were limited. Like I was being squeezed through a tube of toothpaste, with only one possible way out. If I tried to leave, I'd die. If I refused to play, I'd die. The only way that equalled my survival was reaching the final checkpoint unharmed.
I screamed into my pillow – something I used to do to relieve my frustration when I heard my stepfather beating my mother. The memories fuelled me now. I'd been too young to do anything about her pain then. Now I was old enough and big enough to fight back, but my nemesis had grown too.
A knock came at my door and I looked up as Cass walked in. Blood was splattered across her arms and a dark look swam in her eyes. She didn't have to say anything, I simply lifted an arm and she joined me on the bed, hugging me close.
“I want them dead,” she breathed and I knew she meant the Helsings.
I squeezed her tighter, knowing what she had just been through. “We cross the finish line, then we find a way to kill them.”
“Promise?” she whispered.
“Promise.”
◐☼◐
I gazed at myself in the full length mirror hanging on the wall. What would my school friends think of me now? So many of them judged me when I was arrested. I supposed I couldn't blame them. The press had torn me apart, painted me as some kind of manipulative witch. It didn't matter what I said after that. Mum had told me, “People will believe what they want to believe.”
But why, after eighteen years of school and a handful of friends I'd known most of my life, did they want to believe that about me?
I laced up my boots, determination filling me. It didn't matter any more. The only way to prove who I really was, w
as to prove it to the whole god-damn world.
A knock came at the door and I found all five of the other girls standing there, dressed for the final round. Before I could say a word, they filed into my room, surrounding me.
“We've decided to team up,” Cass announced and my brows lifted.
“We can all win if we stick together,” Sakura said with a small smile.
Briony looked on at me hopefully.
“Are you in?” Kite demanded, folding her arms.
Angelina gazed out of the window, not seeming onboard with this idea in the slightest.
A grin broke across my features. “Of course.”
Everyone visibly relaxed at my agreement and that seemed odd to me. Why wouldn't I want to team up? Surely that would give us all a better chance at surviving?
I had no time to question it, however, as Kite led the way out of the room toward the lounge.
As usual, Varick was waiting for us before the screen. It was strange to be sat around with so few of us for his presentation.
Before he said a word, he sighed, sinking down onto the edge of an armchair. “Look, I know you all hate me.” I noted he included me in that scenario, though after last night I was fairly certain he knew that wasn't the case. “But I think this whole game is as screwed up as you do.”
“Oh no, you're not growing a conscience are you?” Kite teased, smirking.
Varick threw her a smile that made my stomach tighten. “Apparently.”
“And what are you going to do about it?” Cass demanded, narrowing her eyes at him.
“What would you like me to do? If I try to help you, we'll all die. If I try to take on the Helsings, they'll kill me, then kill all of you. So the only chance you have of walking off of this island, is surviving the game.”
A tense silence filled the room as the truth settled over us. We had to finish this round. We had no choice.
“So how can we survive today?” I asked.
Varick seemed to be avoiding my eye as he stood, gesturing to the screen. A map illuminated across it in blue tones, pinpointing us at the cabin and, just under a mile away, the checkpoint.
Varick pointed to it. “Today's round will last four hours.”
“That's it?” Brony gasped and he nodded firmly.
V Games (The Vampire Games Trilogy Book 1) Page 23