“No, dat's why I sent him with you.” Rockley smiled then clicked his fingers at the guards.
At once they dove at me, wrestling me down onto the table which had now been cleared of wine.
I gasped as they held my arms either side of me, keeping me in place. I gave in, knowing it was a pointless fight.
Rockley rose to his feet, taking out his switch knife. He gestured for Silas to approach and passed him the knife.
“V for victory,” he muttered, then nudged Silas forward.
“I said I wouldn't hurt her,” Silas growled, looking to Rockley.
“And I am saying otherwise.” Rockley smiled. “Besides, it's de baby you care about, no? I am not asking you to skewer her belly.”
Silas gritted his teeth, kneeling down beside me.
I caught him in my gaze and hoped he knew what I was trying to say.
Do it.
He dug the blade into my arm.
Varick
Brendan had been doing tests on Selena and I day and night. The conclusion he was drawing frightened me, but it gave me peace too. We were Immortal, it seemed. With strength and healing abilities equal to that of a well-fed Vampire. Brendan believed it had something to do with the combination of our blood. The fact I'd not let Selena drink from anyone else but myself, had passed the same gift to her that she had bestowed on me.
I sat in our room alone. Selena was preparing some food down in the kitchens, alongside her mother. I'd left them be, knowing they needed the time to reconnect.
A dark mood was descending on me as I thought of Jameson and Cass, even Kodiak and Thames. Somewhere, they were in trouble. And I longed to find out where so we could help them. As a breeze rattled against the window pane, I moved to my bag, rifling through it for a jumper. I'd been cold-blooded for nearly two centuries, so it was strange to be affected by the cold again.
I tugged a jumper free and a piece of paper was dislodged, dropping down to land by my boots.
I frowned, stooping to pick it up, recognising the letter Mercy had given to me before we'd departed The Sanctuary all those weeks ago. A small tug of guilt hit me as I realised I'd forgotten all about it, having stuffed it into my bag without another thought.
I dropped onto the edge of the large bed, unfolding the page.
Dearest Varick,
I have little hope that you won't share this with Selena. But I'll ask you not to anyway, to spare me the embarrassment. I doubt you feel you owe me anything. And I understand that. Really, I do.
Firstly, I want to apologise. Sincerely, from the deepest regions of my heart, I am so sorry for what my family and I did to you. It took me too long to realise that what my family did for a living was wrong. I probably won't ever be able to shake off the feeling of regret. Since I made the decision to go against them, I've been in turmoil about everything. But most of all you.
You were our prisoner. My prisoner. And I know I taunted you. But please know this: I always saw you as a friend. In fact, when I was a young girl, you were the only friend I truly had. And maybe that's why things got out of hand when I grew up.
This is the part where I get really embarrassed. But I owe you the whole truth, no matter what you think of me afterwards.
When I grew up, my feelings changed towards you. I used the men to try and make you jealous, I grew obsessed with the idea of you loving me. Trying to gain the attention of the one man who never looked at me with lust or affection. When Selena arrived at the castle, I saw how you looked at her differently and my jealousy got out of hand. In hindsight, it makes me cringe to even think of it. But I only did it out of love. Yes, I love you. I almost didn't want to write it in this letter. But the admission is more for me than you. To get some peace inside me. I don't want you to choose me. Not that I expect you would. I simply want you to know, that my actions toward you were from love. No matter how twisted they were.
Perhaps our friendship was always one-sided. And perhaps you will never call me a friend. I would understand that completely. But a part of me hopes, that one day you will be able to see me as such.
I also want you to know that I admire Selena (it pains me to say that, trust me). And I see now that the two of you are meant for each other. She brings out your light in a way I never could. Don't let her go.
My final ask of you, is that you don't forget about me entirely. I know it's selfish. I'm sure you want to move on from the life you led in my family's home. But I don't want to be forgotten. I'm not sure I know where my place in the world is anymore. But I hope you and the other Immortals will one day forgive me. Accept me even. A small hope, but one I will cling onto for the rest of time.
Enjoy your freedom. I hope it lasts a hundred lifetimes.
Goodbye Varick,
Mercy.
My mouth pressed into a firm line. Sadness weighed inside me. It was true that a part of me had always cared for Mercy. I'd seen the way her family had turned her into the woman she was. But that attachment had dwindled and died when she'd reached adulthood. Her daily taunting and the way she seemed to disregard the games made me despise her. Pity filled me now. At least she had done some good in the end. Friendship was not an easy thing to offer her. But perhaps, in time, I would.
The letter made it easier to forgive her, and it soothed an old wound in my chest. That at least someone had cared during my years of imprisonment. That I hadn't been completely alone in my time under Abraham's rule.
The door opened and I glanced up, finding Selena walking in with two plates of pasta.
“I thought we could eat alone tonight,” she said, then her bright expression dropped as she caught sight of mine. “Is everything okay?”
She set the two plates down on an oak table and moved to my side.
I held out the letter and she took it with a curious look before reading it. When she finished, she breathed a sigh. “I'm glad she wrote this.” She glanced up with a sad smile. “I feel sorry for her.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “I do too, I think.”
Selena brushed my arm. “It takes a strong person to forgive. And I'm not sure I can do so entirely, but maybe you can.”
I gazed down at her soft features, pulling her closer to me. “You see too much good in me that isn't there.”
She shook her head, reaching up to trace her thumbs over my cheeks. “No, I see the truth.” She grinned and I dipped my head to kiss her.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?” I murmured against her mouth.
“Well you saved my life more times than I can count. You weathered the Helsings longer than I could have. And you have a heart of gold Varick, if only you'd see that.”
I gripped her firmly, turning and pressing her down onto the bed, the heat in my veins rising. “You help me see it. Without you, there'd only be darkness.”
“I don't mind a little darkness,” she teased as I weighed her down, moving her further up the bed.
“Our dinner will get cold,” she said, giggling.
My mouth hooked up at the corner. “Then let's eat it cold.”
I tangled her legs around me, running my hands up her thighs until I gripped her waist. Being with her felt like a thousand suns beating down on my back. She was life itself. And now we might have an eternity to share together. Immortality had once been such a curse, but with her it was a sweet blessing. A single lifetime wouldn't ever have been enough with Selena. And knowing she would never fade and die was a gift of an impossible magnitude.
She gripped my hair, drawing my mouth down to hers. The kiss grew heated and I lost myself, needing to be closer to her. I half-ripped her clothes from her body, painting trails of kisses over her alabaster skin.
She moaned my name until it sounded reverent. I soon claimed her fully, knowing I would never get enough of this woman or her body. I was halfway to ecstasy when a knock came at the door.
“Go away,” I growled, lifting my head from Selena's neck.
Selena laughed.
“I think you'll wa
nt to see this!” Twyla-Rae called from the corridor.
I grumbled my frustration. “Can it wait?” I called.
“Not really, sweet cheeks.”
“Come on.” Selena pressed me back and I sighed, getting up and grabbing my boxers from the floor.
We tugged on some clothes before I opened the door. Twyla stood there grinning, a small, rolled up piece of paper in her hand. She looked the same as ever with her gleaming dark skin and short-cropped hair. A ring in her ear was being investigated by a large crow on her shoulder.
“What the-” I started, but Twyla talked over me.
“This crow brought us a message. I think you're gonna wanna read it.” She held out the little scroll and I took it, unfurling it.
Selena gazed around me, reading the words too.
I need your help.
Jameson and Cass are in trouble. I'm with them in Rockley Jones' new resort. We landed somewhere in Wales and I have since obtained the exact address.
My name is Silas Madigan, I run a company called IDAHO. I need you to go to my institute in England where my staff are working on the cure to the Werewolf obedience curse. If you can obtain it, your friends may be saved. Jameson and his pack are under the control of Ulvic Hund. A man who has hurt them in ways I cannot even begin to write in this letter. Cass is being kept prisoner, tortured daily. I cannot leave. But if you can bring the cure to Jameson and his pack, perhaps we stand a chance of escaping. I know it is a lot to ask, but from what I have been told of you, I believe you are up to the challenge. You can find both addresses below.
And please, hurry.
SM
Site F IDAHO Institute:
45 King William's Street Station
Access through Regis House
Give the password: Ever-Earth to the receptionist
Rockley's Resort:
Halkyn Flint Mine
Hollywell
Wales
I clenched the scroll in my fist.
“Can we trust him?” Selena glanced up at me.
My brow creased, the task weighing on me like a tonne of lead, my heart galloping in my chest. “I don't think we have a choice.”
Jameson
Rockley took us on a tour of the resort. Us meaning Ulvic and my pack, plus some random guy who'd won the appearance lottery for the male species. Barring me of course. I had more of the rough, run-for-the-hills look, whereas he was sporting the business bastard style. Complete with brooding expression.
Once we'd completed a tour of the newly built part of the resort, Rockley led us out to the building site beyond the mine. It was so good to get some fresh air. The hotel was vented, but nothing beat the crisp taste of oxygen fresh from the nearest tree. Not that there were many trees about.
We followed a path leading us into the expansive quarry, then climbed up the steep outer ring toward a towering structure surrounded by scaffolding and plastic sheets, concealing whatever was inside. I'd seen it when we'd arrived, but not thought much of it. Now, as we approached it, a nagging feeling pulled at my gut that I didn't want to find out what was in there.
Rockley wore a hard-hat. He'd handed us all one and I'd tossed mine the second he wasn't looking. My skull was its own hard hat. A sentiment not shared by Ulvic who had his strapped up nice and tight under his chin. Everyone else wore one too, but most of them were undone. If Ulvic had ever gone to school, I'd bet he'd have been top of the class, sitting upright in a chair, arms folded.
As Rockley rambled on about how he'd acquired the land, I let my imagination carry me away on that school fantasy. Nadine would have been the hot cheerleader. Even now she had her toned belly on show beneath a black crop top. Mekiah would have been a pro at rugby, and Reason would have been the bookish library girl. I, of course, would have been the most sought after guy in school. Throwing parties every weekend. Had the hottest girl hanging off my arm. Yup. That would have been sweet.
“Hey.”
I glanced around, finding the new guy moving to my side. His hard hat was unstrapped. He had a commanding aura about him that made my eyes narrow. I liked being an Alpha in all respects. And this guy had an air of top dog about him I didn't like.
“Yo,” I said casually as we fell behind the line, trailing toward the building site ahead.
“I'm Silas, you're Jameson right?”
“Uhuh,” I said vaguely.
“We've actually met before.”
“Yeah?” I narrowed my gaze. Didn't think I'd forget a face like that. Those cheekbones were a God-given gift. I wasn't into men, but you didn't forget a face like that too easily. “I don't recall.”
“No...well, it was before you lost your memories.”
I almost halted in my tracks, but felt Ulvic's eyes wheeling our way and kept moving. “Oh yeah?” I pressed.
“I'm a friend,” he said, lowering his tone.
“I seem to have a lot of friends around here I don't remember,” I remarked.
His brows raised. “What do you mean?”
“Means some crazy girl shoved her tongue in my mouth the other night then told me we're in love.” I barked a laugh but Silas didn't look amused.
“You saw Cass?” he asked, his eyes wide.
I nodded, growing suspicious. “You know her?”
“Yes and Jameson-” He gripped my arm and the hairs prickled where his hand lay. “What she said is true.”
I cleared my throat, glancing ahead, finding Ulvic's eyes back on Rockley. “Say I believe you- which I'm not decided on by the way – what exactly is it you want me to do about it?” It wasn't that I'd forgotten about the red-haired girl. In fact, I was mildly obsessed with thinking about her. But the longer I spent in Rockley's resort, the more I realised how difficult it was going to be to break her out.
“Nothing. Not yet anyway. But when the time comes...I'm going to help you and I'll need you to cooperate.”
“Help me?” I laughed. “Why? Am I in trouble?” This was getting crazier and crazier.
“Yes,” he hissed. “I need you to trust me.”
I shook off his arm. “I don't know you.”
“You do,” he growled, his eyes growing desperate. “You just don't remember.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “Prove it.”
His Adam's apple bobbed as he gazed off into the deep quarry to our left. “You have a friend called Varick. You were pirates together a long time ago.”
My gaze narrowed. “Well that's common knowledge, you could have heard that from anyone.”
“He's alive, Jameson. You reunited in the V Games.”
My brows lifted at that. Varick was alive? And I'd actually seen him?
I shook my head. “Come on bro, how am I supposed to believe that?”
Silas's brow grew taut. “What explanation has Ulvic given you for you losing your memories?”
“He said Ignus Helsing did it, so I wouldn't remember the games.”
Silas halted me, his gaze unfaltering. “And why would he do that? What would Ignus Helsing gain from that? You're walking amongst your enemies, Jameson. Ulvic is lying to you.”
Anger rumbled through me like an oncoming thunder storm. “And how would you know?”
“Because-” He hesitated as if he didn't want to reveal what he was about to say next. He lowered his tone to a whisper. “Because I was the one who removed them. I run a company who specialises in Immortal technology. I gave the order which allowed Ulvic to do it.”
A jagged lump rose in my throat. “If that's true, then why do you think we're friends?”
“We have our issues, trust me. I only did it to buy Cass time. Rockley was going to take her away and I needed you out of the picture for a while until I could figure out what to do.”
“Seems a bit extreme.”
“You don't know what happened. We were in up to our necks in shit. I had to get us out of it somehow. I know it wasn't perfect and Christ, I'm starting to regret a lot of the actions I took, especially considering it's all gone to
hell now. But you have to believe me, I did it for your own good, Jameson. To help Cass. And if you remembered her, you would have willingly given up your memories to save her. You love her.”
There was that word again. And it unravelled his whole argument. Because I didn't fall in love. I knew that about myself. I didn't get attached to women beyond one night. Even if she was a stunning redhead with a mouth that could light a fire in my chest.
“I don't fall in love,” I said simply. “Sorry Silas. It's a simple fact. I don't know what your angle is, or that girl's. But your story just doesn't add up.”
“And Ulvic's does?” he snarled.
I thought on that. And he was right. There were more holes in Ulvic's story than there was in Silas's.
“Hurry up back there!” Ulvic called to us. “We're about to go in.”
I nodded, half jogging to catch up with the group. Silas kept pace, giving me a hard stare. I turned away, weaving between my pack and moving to Nadine's said. “You enjoying the tour, sugar-puff?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, like I enjoyed the way you rocked my world the other night.”
I pressed my lips together. “That was a one time thing. Alcohol induced, I reckon.”
She laughed, glancing back at Silas. “Did you have a nice chat?”
“Not really. That guy's weird.”
“What did he say?” she lowered her voice, her eyes intense. Something told me she had a few nuggets of information up her own sleeve.
I kept my tone casual as I muttered, “Says I'm in love with the redhead being kept here. That he took my memories. But he's trying to help me now. And some other bullshit I don't remember.”
Her eyes widened. “He's trying to help?”
I nodded.
She opened and closed her mouth, seeming frustrated then fell back in the line, moving to Silas's side. I craned my head in their direction, taking in their whispered conversation.
“-he doesn't understand,” Nadine was saying in a hushed voice.
“I know. Have you got any idea how to convince him?” Silas asked and my stomach churned.
Wolf Games: Severed Fates (The Vampire Games Book 6) Page 10