The blonde led the way out of the main hall and into a different part of the building which she proudly explained to them was for VIPs. Helena questioned her about what kind of VIPs they were and got an annoyed look from the woman in return.
The itchy energy in the air curled around them. Her instincts screamed at her to run, to get as far away from this place as possible. Whatever awaited them upstairs had sent an army of ants marching down her spine.
The blonde scaled the red-carpeted staircase and stopped outside a set of carved oak doors. “Here we are. Alexander is waiting inside with the other gentlemen.”
Lucious let go of Helena’s hand. With his touch missing, her heartbeat launched into another race until it pounded in her head like a drum.
Helena took in a deep breath, and he pushed the doors open.
Powerful energy flooded out of the room. As heavy as a wave, it swallowed her up.
Lucious turned, offering her his hand, but she looked past him in an attempt to locate the source of this immense power. It didn’t take long. Two men sat across from Alexander. One studied them with curiosity while another seemed disinterested as he sunk into the white leather sofa.
Helena’s trembling hand reached for Lucious. He grasped it and pulled her further into the suffocating room. She wanted to match his stride, but her shaky legs wouldn’t listen. The surrounding air was as thick as butter, and she had to think of each limb separately to be able to walk in her heels.
Upon getting closer, the source of this power became obvious. It was an older man, close to his fifties, in a cream suit. His long, ghost-white hair was tied into a rigid ponytail and his neatly trimmed beard and a curving moustache reminded her of a Western Sheriff. His ice-blue eyes settled on her, making her feel uncomfortable in her own skin.
When they were close enough to Alexander, the man ran his finger over his moustache and studied her.
Her attention was drawn to the gentleman sitting next to him. Although not as powerful as the older man, his cheerful demeanour was reflected in his unnaturally white smile which contrasted his dark skin tone. A thick mane of wavy ebony hair reached past his shoulders. His brown eyes focused on Lucious long enough to tell her he didn’t like the man she held on to.
“Lucious, this is Master Vincent and Master Andreaz from the European Council,” Alexander said, pronouncing each name with great care. His body language was somewhat robotic and concealed his usual fluid movements. He must have thought she wasn’t important enough to be included in the introductions.
She pushed the thought aside. This wasn’t the time to feel irritated.
“It’s hard to get to you, Lucious. Hiding must be your forte,” Andreaz said, emphasising his d’s and t's. A wry smile spread across the Councilman’s features.
Lucious didn’t move or say anything.
Helena’s brow creased. She couldn’t think straight with the heavy energy in the room. A dizzy spell made her sway on her heels. She pressed her palm to her forehead. If they didn’t sit down soon, she would be testing out the softness of the sapphire-blue rug under her feet.
As if reading her mind, Andreaz gestured to a seat next to Alexander. “Do take a seat, everyone.”
Lucious edged closer and sat next to Alexander. Given little choice, she sunk into the leather seat beside him.
Sitting didn’t make her feel any better as the proximity of these vampires forced battery acid to climb her throat. Helena swallowed her nausea, catching Vincent’s continuous glances in her direction. The longer he looked, the more thoughtful his expression became.
She swallowed again. Does he think I’m a threat?
Helena caught him staring and her muscles tensed. Her heart nearly stopped beating from the intensity in his eyes. This vampire didn’t need to flaunt so much power. He could impale humans with his gaze alone.
“You don’t feel powerful, but you could be hiding it,” Andreaz said.
She had forgotten to listen to the conversation until now. Her attention remained on Vincent.
“This little girl, on the other hand, seems to have some power up her sleeve.” Andreaz’s words surprised her.
How could I possibly have enough power for them to notice me?
“Ah, she’s confused. Does she not know this?” Andreaz studied Lucious who hadn’t moved since they entered the room. His smile grew into a full-blown grin. “I want to play with her, too.”
Andreaz stood and reached for her.
She squirmed, wanting to vanish from their sight. The prickling energy he possessed was different to Vincent’s. A stinging sensation spread over her wrist. Before Andreaz could grasp it, Vincent grabbed him by the elbow and forced him back down.
“We are not here to play with humans. We are here on Council business.” Vincent’s voice came out as a deep rumble from a cave.
Andreaz shot him a glare and wrestled his arm out of the other Councilman’s grip.
“Why have you not come to our summons?” Vincent directed the question at Lucious. He continued to glance in her direction, but not as often.
She knotted her shaking fingers in her lap in a poor attempt to steady them.
Lucious bowed his head in respect. “You must accept my apologies, Master Vincent, but those who have been summoned to the Council chambers have not been heard from since. I have hidden out of fear that I was going to disappear like the rest.”
“So you sired a human to get out of the summons?” Vincent asked.
Helena’s head snapped to look at Lucious. Was Andrew turned to keep him safe from these men?
Andreaz’s brown eyes rowed over her as if she was an artefact on display, and she shuddered.
“It was a matter of life and death, and I chose to give him a new life,” Lucious stated.
“You are lying,” Andreaz jeered.
Vincent shook his head. “And, what about her? Who is this human to you?”
Lucious looked at her for the first time since they sat down. “She is a donor.”
Andreaz sniffed the air. “She does smell delicious. Could I have a sample?”
The link between them gave a violent jump, and Helena clutched her gut.
“We have many other women available,” Alexander interjected. “They would be more suited to your taste, Master Andreaz.”
Andreaz stood. His energy crackled around him. “Do not presume you know my preferences, Alexander. Your sire’s position won’t keep you safe forever.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“Eliza wants him to come with us,” Vincent said in a levelled tone.
Alexander started to rise.
Lucious clamped his hand on Alexander’s shoulder, keeping him in place, which earned him a puzzled look from his friend. “For what crime?”
“You are wanted for plans to overthrow the Council,” Andreaz said.
Helena felt a burst of energy from Andreaz, shooting towards them. The wave brushed against her shoulder and she grasped it with her hand, massaging the stinging flesh.
Next to her, Lucious doubled over in pain, and Alexander shot off the couch, blocking them with his body before she had any idea of what was going on.
“Master Andreaz, please stop this. This is a neutral ground. I do not wish for a fight to start in my club.”
“Do not get involved, Alexander. Your sire will not be able to pull you out if you join your friend on the execution list,” Andreaz snarled, no longer sounding human. His eyes glistened with a dark orange light.
“This is a mere misunderstanding,” Alexander said.
The energy around Andreaz began collecting again. She sensed a stronger burst of it rushing in Alexander’s direction.
He was lifted off his feet and propelled backwards until his body slammed hard against the wall with a loud thud. The force from his body had created a crack in the concrete on the other side of the room.
Alexander slid to the ground. Her eyes bulged in horror as Andreaz grabbed recovering Lucious by the throat, pull
ed him to his feet, and punched an arm through his gut. His bloodied fist emerged on the other side, tearing a hiss out of Lucious.
Cool blood sprayed her face, conjuring a muted scream out of her throat. Even covering her eyes couldn’t wipe the image from her mind. It remained burned into her memory, replaying over and over again.
Lucious cried out in pain, louder this time, and she forced her eyes open to look at what was happening around her.
Andreaz bent his arm and made the gap larger.
With bloodied hands, Lucious grabbed Andreaz by the throat.
She couldn’t keep looking at them, so she glanced down. Her hands were covered with the red liquid. Nauseated, she scooted off the sofa and fell onto the carpet. She needed to get out of here, but her body seemed to forget how to move. She wasn’t certain if she wanted to panic, hide, or help Lucious. Could she help in a fight between vampires? No matter what conclusion she reached, her body wouldn’t budge. She was trapped in the middle of this, forced to watch by her useless limbs.
Andreaz’s smile withered. He pulled his hand out of Lucious’ gut, and they started exchanging blows. Thereafter, they became a blur. Her eyes couldn’t register the flurry of their actions. An occasional slamming against the walls and smashing of furniture told her where they were.
She registered a sound of bones snapping, and a sudden pain shot through her right leg. Am I hurt? Did they hit me by accident?
When she examined her leg, there was no visible problem. It remained intact and she could move it. No, this wasn’t her pain. It was Lucious’. She bit back a scream. Another wave of sharp pain coursed across her back. Her gut burned as if it was set on fire. She ran her clenched hands across her stomach. Again, there was nothing there.
Vincent knelt beside her. He studied her with the same cold and calculating gaze. “You are in pain. Why?”
She couldn’t speak. His proximity forced her to fight for breath. The longer he hovered next to her, the less air her lungs could take in. She moaned in agony, and her hands shot to her throat. There was no way of fighting the suffering roaring through her.
One last flip of her stomach forced her to roll over and throw up what little food she had consumed that day. What’s happening to me?
Vincent’s presence vanished from her side, giving her a chance to gasp for a breath.
Her body refused to support itself any longer, and her arms caved. She fell on her side, forced to watch the events unfold.
Andreaz had been forced against the wall, held up by the throat by Vincent. A hunched figure sat on the ground at their feet. There was no mistaking it. The link told her it was Lucious. The floor underneath him darkened with blood oozing out of his wounds, soaking his suit. He was losing a lot of blood.
Helena strove to get closer to him to make sure he was alright. Nothing happened. Her nerve endings felt like they were set on fire. Limbs refused to cooperate. She was left to watch the two Councilmen glaring at one another in an unnerving silence.
Please, let this pain end!
Vincent spoke first. “Your childish behaviour is beginning to irritate me. We are supposed to be on neutral grounds here. You condone our laws yet you do not consider following them yourself, Andreaz.”
“You didn’t seem to want to stop me either, old man,” Andreaz mused. He didn’t appear concerned with the situation.
“Sit down!” Vincent’s order echoed throughout the room.
When Vincent let go of Andreaz’s throat, the vampire obeyed. Something dripped onto the ground between their feet. Vincent moved closer to Lucious, revealing a large cut on Andreaz’s chest.
With a horrified expression, the Councilman stared at the increasing bloodstain on his torn shirt.
Vincent sighed and knelt next to Lucious. He spoke in the same commanding tone he used on Andreaz. “Wake up.”
Lucious moaned in pain, and she pressed her palm to her heart.
“We have come to assess the situation, and I have made my conclusion. You will be given a month to collect any evidence of your innocence prior to your trial. The woman”—Vincent pointed to Helena—“will come with me.”
“No! She is not leaving,” Lucious growled.
Vincent ignored him and approached her, leaving enough distance for her to not choke on his presence. “If you come with me, they shall live through tonight. If not, these vampires will be executed. What are you going to do?”
Helena stared at Vincent. She was given a chance to walk away, to go back to her normal life. Such offers don’t come often, she guessed. Knowing Michael, he would urge her to accept.
Her attention travelled to where Lucious was. Their eyes locked. Could she sacrifice him and Alexander for her freedom? They may not be the best of friends, but they had saved her and let Andrew live. No. She couldn’t run.
Helena cleared her dry throat, hoping her voice would be enough to reach Vincent. “I will go.”
“An interesting choice, one I did not expect for someone uninvolved.” Vincent took out a violet handkerchief and proceeded to wipe his bloodstained hands with it. He stashed the dirtied material into his inner jacket pocket and sat on the sofa.
Lucious glared at her. He opened his mouth, but no words left his pale lips. Swaying to one side, he vomited more blood.
The pain began subsiding, and she rolled onto her back. She had seen enough gore for one night. In a way, it was her escape from his anger. The link between them shook, and she felt her energy seeping away. Unaware of his actions, Lucious must have started draining it from her.
With the first link, she was often tired and cold, but right now, she wasn’t certain of the final outcome. She seemed to be reflecting minor amounts of pain compared to what Lucious felt. She couldn’t let him take any more from her.
Through the mind-numbing pain ricocheting throughout her whole being, she concentrated on strengthening her shields. She visualised the second layer of steel. This was something Michael suggested first, and it helped. The link stopped its trembling, and she sucked in a lungful of air.
Vincent must have released Andreaz from his influence because the vampire got up, shouting, “Where is she going to stay?”
“She will stay with me.”
“Eliza will hear of this, you old prick,” Andreaz hissed, adjusting his shirt.
Helena didn’t know who she feared most, a vampire who could burst at any moment into a murderous rampage or a powerful vampire who could choke her with his presence alone.
“You may tell her if you’re so inclined,” Vincent replied in a calm manner.
Something stirred on the far side of the room. She rolled her head and saw Alexander. He was beginning to regain consciousness. The front of his white tuxedo was sliced open, revealing a large purple bruise the size of a basketball on his chest. It faded with each passing second.
The pressure around her changed as both Councilmen approached her.
Vincent’s leaked energy kept her pinned to the ground. “You will have until midnight tomorrow to prepare. I suggest you do not waste time on running away.” After he gave Andreaz a nod, they vanished from her sight and out of the room.
For once, she was glad vampires could leave as fast as they arrived.
As more time passed, the energy levels around her receded. Helena swallowed air to alleviate the burning in her lungs she had noticed amidst her jumble of aches. Using her weak arms, she propped herself up and pushed off the ground to stand on her wobbling feet. The heels made it difficult to balance, so she kicked them off.
Helena staggered to where Lucious lay. She collapsed in the pool of his blood, not caring if her dress got ruined. His face had become a bloody mess of cuts and bruises which were healing right before her eyes. Her lips parted. She reached out a trembling hand and had it slapped away.
“Do not touch me!”
Her fingers stung where he hit her. “I’m sorry if I did something wrong. Are you alright?”
He looked at her with eyes as cold as the Arcti
c. They lit up with a dark blue flame, informing her of his suppressed rage. “I’ll be fine after I feed.”
There was no way she could donate any of her blood tonight. It was hard enough for her to stay awake.
He answered her unspoken question as if he read her mind. “I’m not asking for your blood. Alexander has plenty of that here.”
They both turned their attention to Alexander.
He was already upright, brushing the specks of concrete dust off his tuxedo. Alexander waved at them and pulled out a phone from his trousers pocket. When he finished the call, he staggered over. “Well, that went better than I expected.”
Helena scowled. “What do you mean? We nearly died.”
“Yes, kiddo, near death is better than the alternative. Wouldn’t you agree?” Alexander didn’t care for her reply and squatted next to Lucious. “Andreaz did a number on you, didn’t he?”
“I have underestimated him.”
Lucious winced when Alexander poked him in the gut. With a mixed expression, Alexander retrieved his hand and wiped the blood on his jacket. He eyed them both with curiosity. “So, what did I miss?”
“Must we speak of this now?”
Alexander stood, shaking his head. “I guess it can wait until later.”
Two women and staff rushed into the room. The girls took one look at Alexander and ran to him, muttering things faster than Helena could make out. They poked him everywhere as if to make sure he was alright, which seemed to amuse him for some reason.
Alexander took the blonde around the waist and touched the brunette’s cheek. “Darling, would you be so kind and help out my friend who’s on the floor.”
She smiled a brilliant smile and knelt next to Lucious. The brunette brushed her hair aside with one hand and extended her neck towards him.
Helena couldn’t understand why these women offered themselves up for such pain. It was unbearable, yet they continued to be cattle for these creatures.
Lucious’ eyes glowed brighter. He pulled her closer to him, wrapping his trembling arms around her waist and moved in. His gaze fixed on Helena as he bit into her neck.
A moan of pleasure escaped the girl which was a different reaction to what Helena experienced the first time he bit her. Could a vampire bite feel good, too? Her expression turned sullen. Why am I even considering being bitten by a vampire again?
Russian Roulette (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 1) Page 18