“What happened to Varick?” I was tense, despite knowing Varick had gotten away. I'd met him face to face for god's sake! I mean, alright, he wasn't exactly alive now, but I didn't think that was how he went out.
“He shoved her into the Duke's arms and ran. Shots were fired, but guns weren't like they are now. You couldn't aim straight on those things. I always preferred a sword.”
“So you were a thief?” I asked, not judging him considering my own rather questionable upbringing.
“A pirate.” He gave me that slanted grin again.
My mood lightened and I asked the thing that had been playing on my mind ever since I'd met him. “Why did you save us, in the game?”
Jameson dropped his gaze to his hands, blowing out a puff of air. “No one else was gonna do it.”
It wasn't the answer I'd expected, but I liked it all the same. It meant he had a good heart. And I was in dire need of people I could trust right now.
“What were you, before all of this?” He nudged me with his bare knee.
I grimaced as I answered. “I was still a monster. Now I just have the fangs to match.”
He mused over that for a while, rocking back and forth. “Funny, 'cause you don't look like that to me.”
“What do I look like?” I pressed. I wasn't the kind of girl to let men get under my skin any more. Even one as beautiful as him.
He tilted his head to look me in the eye. “You look like a firefly; the first light I've seen in all this godforsaken darkness.”
Selena
There was only one moment in my life I had honestly felt safe. With Varick's arms around me, his mouth against mine, promising me something with his kiss that I couldn't quite grasp. But I knew it meant everything. I knew it was worth risking the world for. Even though there was every chance I'd find him in that castle as nothing more than the monster I'd once feared he was. If the Helsings were punishing him, they'd have no mercy. And I didn't know what would be left of the man I was just starting to know.
As we sailed into the polar night and the sun was left far behind, Ulvic took me through the plan. Whilst he handed me over to the Helsings, Mekiah and Reason would remain hidden on the boat. During our distraction, they'd sneak into the castle and release their Alpha and Varick, before coming for me. Ulvic would meet us at the boat, and if it all went to hell, he had plenty of weapons to make a stand.
“And when am I going to get a hold of one of these weapons?” I asked, turning his crossbow over in my hands. I was still uneasy about the fact I'd be going in unarmed. But, deep down, I knew Ulvic's plan made sense. The Helsings couldn't know he was helping me.
“You'll get your chance if needed,” he said, looking thoughtful as he rested his hand on the control desk.
I placed the crossbow down beside his bag. “Good,” I said simply, strolling out onto the deck.
Mekiah spun around and Reason glanced over her shoulder, looking at ease, her hair floating around her in the breeze.
The day was long and the further we sailed on, the more anxious I grew. I spent the time practicing my aim with Ulvic's weapons, but nothing I did made me feel much more confident.
When Raskdød loomed on the horizon, my bones turned to ice. I was numb, gazing at it, recognising the lighthouse on the western shore. We arced around the southern coast until the castle loomed on the eastern cliff: a giant square with an imposing tower on every corner. It looked cold and unwelcoming. The moonlight on the grey-brown stones illuminated the fortress, so the world seemed to pale around it.
Reason touched my arm, offering me a smile of comfort, evidently sensing my nerves.
“Why aren't you afraid?” I whispered, her serene expression so out of place near this island.
“Because my Alpha needs me. And if I die saving him, it will be a good death.”
I nodded slowly, not really understanding. As we sailed into the bay, Ulvic called us into the cabin, tying my wrists behind my back with a coarse piece of rope. When he was done, he opened the toilet door and pointed at the small room.
“In,” he ordered Mekiah and Reason.
Instead of complaining about the tiny space, they moved on his command, squashed up against each other.
“Wait at least twenty minutes before you move,” Ulvic commanded.
“I know what to do,” Mekiah growled and Ulvic gave a stiff nod before shutting the door and returning to the helm.
Ulvic steered the catamaran into the bay, pulling up beside the long pier so it rocked and swayed. He led me from the cabin, guiding me to the edge of the boat where we stepped down onto the slats.
I gazed up at the castle as we walked, taking a winding route up an ancient series of stone steps. We headed along a large path leading under an archway into a massive courtyard. In its centre was a stone fountain that spewed water from the contorted faces of women, all wound together as if taking part in some eerie dance.
Two ancient wooden doors barred our way any further, but Ulvic simply yanked me to a halt, waiting.
A cold wind tugged at my hair, but it was the ice in my heart that chilled me. The doors creaked loudly as they began to open and I grew tense, trying desperately to hold my ground, but fearful of facing the people who had forced me into their games before.
Abraham appeared with his lean wife, Katherine at his side. Both were dressed formally as if they were about to attend a dinner party; Abraham in a smart suit that was tailored to accommodate his large muscles and Katherine in a deep mauve gown with her golden hair swept up into a high bun. Abraham tugged on a chain in his fist and a dark-haired girl stepped into view from behind him.
She was a pick of a girl with reams of pale skin, dressed in black jeans and a vest, but I didn't notice much else about her apart from the huge metal contraption strapped over her mouth and nose, a small grate at the front of its protruding shape. It was latched around her throat, looking so heavy that I was surprised she didn't topple over. The chain was attached to a ring at the bottom of it and Abraham pulled on it again to bring her closer. My instinct was to back up; I had no doubt she was a V.
“Ulvic,” Abraham acknowledged him, but his eyes never left mine. Even from the eight paces that parted us, I could see the hunger in his gaze. He wanted revenge. I doubted anyone had defied him for a hundred years. And now here I was, a girl that had probably caused him all kinds of trouble with his clients, especially after they'd found one of them dead.
“Abraham-” Ulvic bowed his head. “It's good to see you again.”
“Thank you for returning Miss Grey to us,” Katherine said, her eyes flitting to me then back to him. “Will you be staying long?”
“Just a short visit,” Ulvic replied, pushing me forward. “I have some business with Ignus.”
As I stumbled toward Abraham he took my arm, his grip like a vice. My eyes slid to the chained girl beside him, something achingly familiar about her eyes. Her brows drew together and I could have sworn a growl sounded from within her muzzle.
I focused my attention on Abraham. “You promised you'd let me go,” I snarled, doing my best to act bitter at being brought back here.
Abraham's azure, lifeless eyes slid to mine. “The deal was that you would spend a night with the winning bidder. Brice Edgewater's death is not something I take lightly. He was one of my most loyal clients.”
“He was a rapist scumbag,” I spat. “And if you think I was going to let him hurt me after everything you put me through-”
Abraham spoke over me in his booming voice. “But it wasn't you that killed him, was it, Selena?”
I bit my lip, trying to hold his unwavering, indigo gaze, remaining silent.
“You messed with more than my clients. You turned my most loyal Vampire against me. Now I have to train in another – do you think that an easy task?” He yanked on the chain again and the Vampire lurched forward, snarling.
“He wasn't loyal,” I bit out, my body trembling. “Varick despises you.”
Abraham invaded
my personal space until we were almost nose to nose. “He is already ruing the day he betrayed me and my family.” His tone was so deadly that it frightened me to my core.
“What have you done to him?” I breathed, unable to hide the way my voice was shaking.
A sneer curled Abraham's mouth and I wondered how I had ever thought Varick was evil in comparison to this man. Instead of answering, he dragged me forward, leading me into the castle, taking me away from all of my allies, leading his trainee V behind him.
I stole a glance over my shoulder, finding Ulvic's gaze stony. My life was now in him and his wolves' hands.
Abraham guided me through the drab halls, the walls towering up around us, the grey flagstones beneath our feet resembling tombstones.
“You're a thorn in my side, Selena,” Abraham muttered, sending a tremor through me. “And it's time to tweeze you out.” He led me into a stairwell and we circled down, down, down into the depths of the castle, the darkness growing thicker the further we descended. My heartbeat grew rapid at the thought of being trapped here. I'd been so intent on saving Varick I'd never considered that I may not even see him, perhaps being quickly executed to put an end to my rebellion.
We entered the underground dungeon, lit by bright lights that glared down at us from the ceiling. The place was clean and white, but the cages lining the walls held filthy creatures. Starving Vs that slammed against the bars as they caught mine and Abraham's scents. Screeches of pain rang out as they burnt themselves against the silver.
Fear grew inside me like a dark flower, blossoming into sheer terror.
What if Varick was one of them now? Thin, grotesque, barely human. How long would it take for him to become that way?
Abraham led me and his new pet past all of the Vampires. Many of the cages were empty and Varick wasn't there. But where else could he be?
We passed into the laboratories where I'd been taken after the game and I grew anxious as Ignus appeared, striding toward us with purpose.
“Where is he?” I blurted, unable to help myself.
Ignus halted, smiling broadly. “Oh you won't find him here, Selena. He's gone.”
“Gone?” I echoed, shaken to my core.
Ignus's smile widened further. “Yes, he's gone to the Isle of Lidelse.”
I turned to Abraham, looking for an explanation and found him paying little attention. He replied anyway, seeming keen to pass me on to his son. “Ignus has developed a new island for the games. Varick is currently being prepped to tear apart the new contestants.” He shoved me toward Ignus, handing him the chain attached to the Vampire girl. “Happy torturing.”
Varick
Winter, 1808
Nirena had been right. The thrill of being a Vampire hadn't lasted long. My newfound strength was countered by my thirst to kill. And every time I succumbed to the urge and killed for blood, I came back to myself, just enough to feel the guilt. Enough to grieve for what I'd done, but never enough to feel entirely human again.
“There are humans who provide more of humanity,” Nirena had explained as Dixon laid down on the tomb in our crypt. We always took turns to test out our new antidotes. “Some have naturally stronger blood. We call them Revivers. And we have found that the Reviver blood mixed with Hunter blood to be even more powerful in providing Vampires some humanity.”
I had yet to meet a Hunter face to face, but Nirena had told me of their strength, of how they were on a path to wipe Vampires from the face of the earth. Nirena and the other Lifers were trying to offer a solution to everyone. Vampires could return to their human form. Hunters may even join us in our endeavour, in time.
“We recently acquired some Hunter blood.” Nirena moved closer to me, running her finger down the inside of my wrist. “Varick, I have a confession to make.”
I raised a brow, waiting.
“I turned you for a reason. Your blood was special. You were one of them. The Revivers. The humans we desire most.”
I nodded, still not understanding.
Harriet looked to me with a brightness in her eyes.
“We have tried blood like yours before. We have mixed it with Hunter blood and tried to establish a cure from it. The mix provides a temporary...elevation. We can feel again for a short while...but it does not last. Our base desires return and we dwindle back into this form.” She touched her heart. “I have a theory, that changing you may also have changed your blood. Would you allow us to try?”
I nodded, offering my arm immediately. Any possibility of humanity was now a priority. I had spent a year or so coming to terms with what Nirena had done to me. Changing me just so I could spend my immortality trying to become human again.
But the thing was done. And I had only one choice left to me now.
Nirena slid a silver-tipped needle into my arm, drawing out my blood which was deepest red. She set to work mixing my blood with the Hunter's.
“Where did you get the Hunter blood?” I asked.
Dixon shot me a smile, running a hand through his dark curls. “A Helsing had me cornered up in Norway. I lured the bugger after me. Took her down and drained her blood into viles. Would have killed her, too, if the rest of her family hadn't showed up.”
“Of course you would have,” Harriet taunted.
“Well I managed to get the blood, didn't I?” Dixon smiled smugly.
“A Helsing?” I questioned, looking to Nirena. I didn't know quite how old she was, but she'd hinted at being present during the War of the Roses. So I placed her at four hundred at least.
“The Helsings are the epitome of Hunters. The strongest, fastest, but also the most boastful. Vampire deaths are celebrated to a degree of insanity in their family. They host large hunts, gathering the Hunters together from across the world to stay in their castle, seeking out Vampires in droves, killing them brutally, mercilessly.”
Harriet piped up. “I heard they take Vampires to their island in the north sea and release them just so they can hunt them down with their friends.”
I grimaced. “I pray never to meet one of them.”
“If you do, I suggest you kill them before they kill you.” Dixon winked, holding out his arm as Nirena prepared to inject him with the new formula.
“Maybe we won't have to worry about it after this,” Harriet said hopefully as Nirena pushed the needle into his arm. And silently, I hoped she was right.
◐☼◐
The last thing I remembered was being given a shot of silver followed by a sharp sting in my neck.
I awoke in darkness, my senses sharpening in moments so I could see through the gloom. I rose to my feet, my boots clanging on the metal floor beneath me.
I was surrounded by bodies: Vs. Some awake, silently standing, gazing at the metallic green walls.
If I wasn't mistaken, we were swaying. So I was certain we were no longer on Raskdød, but somewhere out at sea, being taken god-knows-where. And I had the distinct feeling we were in a shipping container.
Part of me wished I'd remained unconscious, because the fear that was rising in me soon grew unbearable.
More of the Vs stirred and, one by one, the mass of bodies around me rose to their feet.
I grew especially concerned as faces turned my way. Some of the better fed Vs recognised me, and that wasn't good news.
I shifted toward one of the walls, pressing my spine to it, acting calmly. There must have been thirty of us crammed into the space and those weren't good odds for me if things turned ugly.
“Varick, my old friend, how nice of you to rejoin us at last,” a male V addressed me from across the large space. He was as tall as me, broad too with sallow skin and ice-white hair.
“Dontanion.” I nodded to him briefly before turning away. I'd met the Vampire the last time I'd been thrown into the games. Born in the Victorian era, he'd never quite lost his old English accent.
He made his way toward me through the throng of weaker Vs who were paying more attention to gnawing on their own limbs in the hopes of
finding a drop of blood.
“What did you do to rile the Helsings, huh?” He clapped a hand onto my shoulder, his nails digging into my skin. I shrugged him off. I had the upper hand here, but perhaps not against all of them.
“They never liked me,” I muttered, trying to diffuse the situation. “I was always going to end up back here.”
“Nice while it lasted though, I'd imagine.” Dontanion's stagnant breath ran over me and I fought a grimace. He was one of the strongest Vampires in the group, and those whose senses were sharper were all starting to focus their attention on me.
A girl, not more than fifteen in appearance, with hair the colour of hay and scars down her cheeks from her previous life, hissed as she spotted me. “Kill him.”
My pulse rose. Ignus had done this to me on purpose. Left me sentient enough to be aware of these Vs ripping me apart. He probably didn't expect me to make it through the journey.
I had no idea how long we would be at sea for. Minutes, hours, days. However long, I was fairly sure I was damned.
Dontanion smiled at me, shaking his head. “You can see your death,” he stated and I clenched my jaw. He turned to the crowd of Vs, hollering out to them, “This Vampire helped the Helsings keep us prisoner! He is given blood - he gets his pick of the girls from the games! Whilst we have to get by on scraps!”
“That's not true,” I snarled but no one was listening to me. A ruckus of noise was growing as Vs roared their anger. The weaker Vampires were rallied by the sound, evidently thinking blood was on offer.
I calmly rolled up my sleeves, bracing myself against the back wall as Dontanion turned to me.
“I'm stronger than you,” I told myself as much as him.
“You're outnumbered.” Dontanion grinned, launching at me in a blur of shadows.
Claws slashed my neck, my torso, tearing my shirt, but barely ripping skin. I fought back, gripping Dontanion's throat and yanking as hard as I could. It had been a while since I'd had to fight for my life, but my instincts were ready.
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