“This girl is here by choice,” Rockley said. “Not all Immortals are so monstrous, huh? I don't personally indulge in such things, but like you said, you're not like me.”
Rockley sipped his wine, taking an interest in his phone as the girl began running her fingers into my hair again. I tried to find the willpower to push her away, but my arms moved of their own accord, looping around her waist and shifting her closer. A stupid grin took hold of my face and my internal compass spun wildly out of control. I knew I'd do anything for this girl. Anything.
She dipped her head, her mouth brushing my ear. “Maybe we should go somewhere more private.”
“What do you say to dat, Silas?” Rockley laughed.
I blinked, trying to force away the urge to say yes. But it was devouring me from the inside out. “Okay,” I felt my mouth moving before I'd made the decision.
The girl took my hand, standing and Rockley pointed to a series of doors lining one wall.
“Silas!?” A voice suddenly reached me. Cass.
My heart pulled me in her direction and I gazed toward the pit where the voice had sounded from. I may have been enraptured by the Siren, but I had just enough willpower to move away from her toward the pit. I gazed over the edge, spotting Cass far below, her hair hanging in wet strands around her shoulders.
She gazed at my torn shirt and the blood staining it with a grimace.
“What have you done?” she snarled.
I shook my head, trying to realign my thoughts. The Siren moved to my side, lacing her fingers between mine. She caught me in her gaze again and a dreamy feeling soothed my concerns.
“Come on, you can talk with her later,” the girl said, a smile dancing on her lips.
“Okay...later,” I said, following her back across the hall toward one of the doors. Rockley's chuckle followed me.
“What's your name?” I asked as we arrived in a red room filled with a large silk-covered bed. Hanging on the walls were all kinds of leather objects I had no interest in investigating.
“It doesn't matter, sweetie.” She placed a cherry-flavoured kiss on my lips, pressing me down to the bed. “You won't even remember your own name after this.”
Cass
Rockley had been pushing starved Vampires into the pit for the past half an hour. I was growing tired and the bodies around my feet were making it more and more difficult to face my opponents. On top of that, I was growing hungry for blood myself. And the more my strength depleted, the more vicious and animal-like my attacks became. Unfortunately, the healing power of their blood was no good to me anymore since my transition into a Hybrid.
Rockley had pulled his chair to the edge of the pit to watch, puffing on a cigar. The smoky scent drifted down to me occasionally, tangling with the metallic smell of blood.
A guard brought another V to the edge of the pit, dangling her over me with a small grin.
“Enough.” Rockley waved him off and the guard yanked the Vampire back by a chain around its neck. It snarled and snapped its teeth.
Rockley stood, seeming bored as he took hold of the Vampire's neck and yanked sharply sideways. A horrid crack sounded her demise and the V slumped down into the pit at my feet.
Rockley gazed at the carnage surrounding me. “Dis is going to call for a restock,” he said as if he were amused by the fact.
I panted, holding my sides as I tried to catch my breath. Black blood caked my arms and was smeared across my clothes.
“Get her out,” Rockley demanded and the guard kicked a rope ladder into the pit.
I steadied my hands on the rungs, climbing up, wanting to be away from the stench of death. The guard hauled me up by my arms and Rockley snapped his fingers, pointing to his chair.
The man released me, moving swiftly to the chair and carrying it back to its place amongst a ring of furniture.
Rockley moved to my side, pressing my elbow as he guided me toward the seats. He gestured for me to sit and I slumped into a chair, too exhausted to protest. He poured a glass of wine and pushed it toward me. “Drink,” he encouraged.
I shook my head. “I'm pregnant.”
He chortled softly. “From what Silas has told me, your baby will be replaced soon enough. So why not enjoy de fruits of your labour.” He gestured to the glass again and I ignored him, folding my arms. Scratches and bite marks lined my skin, but there was nothing life-threatening.
“Suit yourself.” Rockley picked up his own glass, sipping. When he planted it down, he threw a glance over his shoulder as one of the doors opened at the back of the room. A guard stood sentinel beside it and as a girl followed Silas from the room, the guard placed a mask forcefully over the girl's face.
Siren.
Silas walked toward us, rubbing his neck which was lined with love-bites. I wrinkled my nose as he planted himself in a seat opposite us, snatching up a glass of wine.
“Enjoy yourself?” Rockley asked with a sly grin.
Silas didn't meet his eye, drinking a deep glug of wine. “I'm not sure how to feel about what just happened.”
Rockley barked a laugh.
I raised my brows and Silas finally looked at me, taking in my blood-soaked clothes and bruised skin.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his brow furrowed.
I tsked. “Sorry, did I disturb your sex party, Silas?”
He gave me a guilty frown. “We didn't have sex.” He cleared his throat, looking away, suggesting he had done something with the girl. He gazed at Rockley. “I have the distinct feeling I've just been molested.”
Rockley laughed harder. “You enjoyed yourself, did you not?”
“I only went with her because she was a Siren, Rockley. I don't think that counts as willing.”
Rockley shook his head. “You think too much, friend. What is de phrase? Ah yes, you need to take a chill pill.”
I glanced between them, the tension in the room rising. It was clear Silas didn't want to be here. I had no idea why Rockley was so insistent on him staying either.
“I don't sleep with prostitutes,” Silas bit out. “And thankfully she backed off when I found enough willpower to make that clear.”
“She's not a prostitute,” Rockley said dismissively. “Only humans can be prostitutes. She's not human, therefore, it does not count.”
“You have one seriously twisted view of the world,” I remarked.
Rockley glanced at me and I wondered why the hell he was letting me join in with this conversation at all.
“Cassandra,” Rockley tasted my name on his lips, saying it slowly. “Go with Silas to the bathroom over there. He's going to wash you up. When you're done, you'll come back here.”
“I can wash myself,” I said, standing. A guard drew closer, but Rockley held up a hand.
“I want Silas to do it.” He grinned, gazing between us. This was an obvious test. He knew how much I didn't want Silas to touch me.
Silas stood quickly however, gesturing for me to follow.
I stepped after him with a scowl on my face, following him to a bathroom where several cubicles ran side by side opposite a row of urinals. At the far end of the grand space, filled with gold taps and sparkling ceiling tiles, was a large shower.
Silas shut the door behind us, gazing around the room then up at the ceiling. I followed his gaze, listening, wondering if he was searching for cameras. My senses picked up nothing, so I assumed we were totally alone. And that didn't comfort me much. Especially as he was clearly making sure we were alone, too. If he touched me, I'd damn well kill him.
He took my arm, but I shrugged him off, marching to the end of the room and stepping into the shower. I sharply tugged the curtain over to conceal myself, finding a large space with towels piled at one end. Why Rockley's guests would need a shower here made me kind of ill, but I didn't let myself dwell on it as the heated stream of water fell over me.
I sighed, dipping my head to let the shower run over my hair, washing away the blood. The water turned black at my feet, circling
around the plug and draining away.
I remained in there for as long as I could before Silas hissed, “Hurry up,” beyond the curtain. I sighed, grabbing a towel and tying it around my hair before wrapping another around my body. They were as soft as wool, hugging my skin like a cloud.
I stepped out of the shower, meeting Silas's intense expression.
“I need to talk to you. And I need to do it fast,” he whispered.
Something in his gaze halted my retort. I nodded and he stepped closer, lowering his tone even further.
“I'm on your side,” he whispered and I fought the urge to laugh.
“Sure you are,” I snarled.
“No – listen.” He took my arm, his fingers squeezing hard. His eyes were full of desperation and I was forced to bite my tongue and let him go on.
“Do you know what Rockley offered when I spoke to him the night we arrived at the institute?”
I shook my head, my frown deepening.
Silas went on. “He tried to make a deal with me for you, for ten million pounds. Ten million, for one girl. And I knew, in that second that he was going to do anything – anything – to get his hands on you.” He gave me a wide-eyed look. “So I told him about your baby, that I wanted it to be born for the sake of my projects. I was thinking on my feet, started telling him about Emma, and suddenly I was weaving this lie that was getting bigger by the second. Because admitting I cared about you was never going to be enough. I needed a valid goddamn reason for holding onto you. So I bought us four months. Till you had that baby. I told him he could have you after that. I thought it had worked, but he clearly got impatient.” He stepped closer, his eyes hopeful. “And if you didn't believe the lie, too, no one else was gonna buy it either. I had to let Ulvic take Jameson, had to let him wipe his memory. I figured all of that stuff was fixable, reversible. But your death wasn't. And I just couldn't bear it Firefly-ah- Cass. I couldn't let that happen.”
Shock flooded me, followed by doubts upon doubts.
“You're lying,” I said immediately.
“No, I swear it.” He pressed a hand to his heart. “On my life, on Emma's. I swear, Cass. I never meant any of this to happen. I was going to tell you, but I never got a chance.” He reached out, his eyes boring into mine. “I am on. Your. Side.”
Rage consumed me. I struck Silas as hard as I could across the face. His head wheeled sideways and his expression grew taut. “I deserved that.”
“More than that, a hell of a lot more. You told me you were going to cut out my baby, Silas. Who lies about something like that?” I struggled to keep my voice below a whisper, but my mind was spinning out of control. Mad as I was, it didn't come anywhere near to the relief I felt.
Silas gave me a guilty look. “I know it's messed up, but it came out of my mouth and then I had to stick to it. What was I supposed to do?”
“Oh- I dunno? Tell me the truth maybe?” I shoved him hard in the chest, but he didn't stumble, evidently ready for my attack this time.
“If I'd told you the truth, you would have tried to keep Jameson at the institute. You'd never have let him go. And if I'd helped him, Ulvic and Rockley wouldn't have trusted me.”
“People died. Jameson and I killed your guards.” My voice was rising, but I couldn't help it.
Silas bit his lower lip. “Things got out of hand. I'm not exactly used to ordering you around. And I didn't realise I'd have to tell you not to rip everyones heads off, Cass. I thought I could keep the situation contained. Obviously I was wrong.”
“You let them take away Jameson's memories,” I said, tears welling, burning my eyes.
“Easily fixed, I promise.”
I shook my head, overwhelmed. “I don't know what to believe. What if you're lying to me now?”
He moved closer, gently taking my hand and pressing it over his heart. “Because you know me, deep down. I'm sure you do. The real me. And you know I'd never hurt you or your child. Everything I said back out in that jungle was true. I didn't know Jameson was under Ulvic's command. I wanted to offer you the home I didn't think he was going to give. I realise that's not true now, but I meant it. You must know that.”
I felt the thrum of his heart beating beneath my fingers, frantic and pounding.
“Silas,” I breathed, my shoulders slumping as I accepted the truth. “You are such an arsehole. And if you ever lie to me again-” I pounded his chest softly, tears spilling over. Apparently I was a serial crier these days. “Then I'll kill you.” He drew me into his arms and I slumped against him, gripping him firmly. Impossibly, I'd gotten the old Silas back. The one I cared about. The one who truly wanted to protect me. Even if he had caused this situation in part.
“I didn't lie about one thing though. I am the CEO if IDAHO...and I'm sorry. For what I did to you. To The Sanctuary...shit. That alone is enough for you to hate me. And I didn't plan to get your obedience. It just happened and then...I dunno...I had to use it to gain back control when you and Jameson tried to escape. Ulvic had already found you and I had to prove I was on his side. But more importantly, on Rockley's side.”
I frowned, pressing my face into his shirt, unable to move from his hold. I desperately needed comfort. It had been so long since I'd felt I had a friend nearby, and it turned out I'd had one close all along. He drew me closer and the strength of his arms around me felt like a life jacket in a stormy sea.
“I can forgive that...in time. Especially if you get me and Jameson out of here. I mean, you do have a plan, right?” I gazed up at him, squeezing him tighter.
“Yes,” he whispered. He gave me a taut smile. “There was another reason I needed to delay Rockley taking you. And why I had to let Jameson go.”
“What?”
“To develop the cure to the Werewolf obedience curse.”
My brows shot up. “Is that possible?”
His smile dropped. “Yes, I've been working on it for years, but I had my team triple their efforts when you told me about Jameson. I really do want to help him. But the problem is, it's at the lab I was taking you to before Rockley caught us. That was where I was going to tell you all of this. I thought we could get Jameson back together. I could undo the memory erasion at the lab...but now everything's gone to shit.”
My heart plummeted like a stone. At least there was a chance. However small it seemed now. But how were we ever going to get our hands on that cure if it was miles away in a lab somewhere?
“Why didn't you tell me any of this sooner? Back at the institute, after Rockley left?” I pleaded, wishing I could have been saved the heartache.
Silas frowned. “I'd been informed some of my workers were disloyal. One of my most trusted employees told me there were spies amongst us, reporting to Rockley. That's why I was so ruthless to the men who gave him free rein of my institute. And it looks like I was right. I wanted to get you out of there, away from where he'd been, to ensure I wasn't being bugged. I couldn't even trust my helicopter pilot. And I thought if I showed you the cure in person, it would give you proof of all this. You know...damage control.” He rubbed his eyes and I could see the stress this had caused him. I reached out, taking his wrist to draw his hand away from his eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I mean, it was a messed-up lie, but hell, I'm glad you're not who I thought you were. That you were going to...” I couldn't finish that sentence, resting a hand on my expectant bump.
Silas cautiously reached out, laying his hand atop mine. “I'm not insane. And it wasn't all bullshit either. I have been working on the technology to create a clone of Emma's embryo for years. That's probably why the idea came to mind. But if she's ever brought to term, it'll be with a willing mother, I assure you.” He smothered a laugh and I punched his arm.
“I hate you,” I said through a smile.
“You really did a few minutes ago. And shit, Cass, I don't ever wanna be on the wrong side of you again. Did anyone ever tell you you're kinda scary when you're mad?”
I laughed softly, leani
ng back. “Well you're kinda scary when you're pretending to be a mad scientist.”
Someone pounded on the door, breaking the illusion of safety I'd been under. I gripped Silas's arm a moment longer before we walked to the door. A guard opened it, holding out a bunch of clothes.
Just joggers thankfully, no more dresses.
“Two minutes. Rockley's waiting,” the guard said before slamming the door shut again.
I moved into one of the stalls with a sigh, dragging on the clothes before stepping back out.
Silas gave me a tense look. “I can't protect you here. It kills me what he's put you through.”
I nodded, my brow lowering. “It's alright, so long as he doesn't hurt the baby, I can cope.”
He nodded stiffly, guiding me to the door.
I halted him before we exited, whispering, “Have you seen my family, Silas? Can you get them out?”
His brows knitted together. “I'll try, I promise. I've sent a message to your friends. To Selena Grey. I gave them the address to my institute in London where the cure to the Werewolf curse is being made.”
Hope rose in my chest like a rainbow in a storm. A smile lifted my lips high and wide. “Then they'll save us. I know they will.”
Silas squeezed my wrist. “I hope they're as strong as you say they are.”
“Oh they are.” My grin widened further. Silas moved to exit and I halted him one last time, fixing him with a stare. “Silas, do whatever Rockley wants. You have to keep him on side. Don't ever let him find out you're not with him.”
Silas looked like he was about to argue, then nodded. “I'll try.”
He opened the door and we stepped through it, walking toward Rockley. I moved away from Silas, proving my contempt for him to Rockley as he watched us.
“Have fun?” Rockley asked as we joined the seating area. Two guards stood near to where I'd been sitting before.
“Hanging out with a baby-killer isn't exactly what I'd call fun,” I snipped and Rockley grinned.
Wolf Games: Severed Fates (The Vampire Games Book 6) Page 9