“I can't say anything,” Nadine whispered, so low I barely caught it.
What did that mean? Only one thing came to mind. That Ulvic had ordered her to keep quiet. And shit, if that was true, maybe there was some truth in all this craziness.
We arrived at the scaffolding and Rockley pulled back one of the plastic sheets hanging from a railing, gesturing for us to go inside.
Ulvic fell back, moving to my side as we headed under the sheet. “Everything alright?”
“Yeah, Silas was just boring my ear off about his work with Rockley,” I lied.
Ulvic nodded, seeming satisfied. We walked together through a wooden door and stepped into a huge amphitheater. It practically sparkled. The seats were plastic, the top of the huge crescent of chairs fitted with large brackets, looking ready to hold screens. Without the scaffolding I'd guess the theatre would overlook the quarry. At the bottom of the seats was a large stage before a deep pit of sand. But that wasn't what drew my attention most. It was the redhead girl, strung up above the pit, dangling in a harness of chains. Her hands were tied above her to a single chain which hung from the arm of a crane.
“The seats will be inlaid with cushions once the roof is in place,” Rockley explained, glancing at the girl. “But we will have to make do for today's entertainment.” He grinned, gesturing for us to file into the seats before the suspended girl. I spotted an old man high up in the seats sitting next to an armed guard. A flock of crows flew around him, which would have been alarming had the whole situation not already been weird as shit.
I dropped into a chair beside Ulvic, gazing across the pit toward the girl. Her eyes met mine and my gut spiralled. I felt like I'd been punched in the heart. Like some part of me really did know her. And whatever was about to happen to her was not going to be pretty.
Cass
I gazed across at the row of people seated opposite me. My arms were taut from where they were chained above my head. My heart beat a rapid tune as my gaze locked with Jameson's. He was the last piece of my puzzle. There was an open wound cut jaggedly into my heart. And I knew with all my soul, that the only man who could fill that hole, was him.
Fear trickled through me at the thought of whatever I was about to be subjected to. But it gave me a small slice of hope, knowing it might gain me some sympathy from Jameson. I needed him on my side. And at heart, he was a good man. A damn heroic man. And it wasn't in his nature to stand idly by whilst someone was hurt before him.
He muttered something to Ulvic, looking tense but Ulvic waved him down.
Rockley moved to the stage in front of me, raising his arms wide as he faced his audience. “Today, you will witness the beautiful brutality of the games. Sit back and relax, dear friends. Whilst I give you a show to remember!”
I spotted armed guards moving into the amphitheater. Two manned the doors whilst the others surrounded Jameson and the rest of their group. It was clear Rockley didn't expect them to sit through this quietly. Jameson started to look anxious, talking with Nadine beside him. She looked equally worried, and though I didn't know the girl well, I reckoned she wouldn't be too happy about seeing me tortured.
The old man with the crows high up in the stands was given a signal and in a swarm of black feathers, the flock flew toward me.
Music filled the air on Rockley's command, and I had a few seconds of surreal fear as an electronica tune pounded in my ears, followed by the harsh cawing of twenty crows.
They collided with me hard and their sharp beaks started tearing and pecking my exposed skin. Everywhere but my belly. So at least Rockley was keeping his word on that. They picked the scabs off of the newly marked Vs on my arms, put there by Silas. He'd muttered apologies as he did it, even though I knew it would be better if Rockley thought he was into it. But maybe Rockley knew that Silas's heart wasn't up to his blood sports.
Black feathers was all I could see as a crow perched on my neck and flapped its wings to keep its balance. I wriggled wildly, but there was no way to defend myself against them. It took a few moments to register the shouting that was coming from the stands.
Jameson's voice. “What the hell is this?!”
“Sit down and shut up,” Ulvic snapped at him and he fell quiet. Evidently it was an order. Which gave me a strange kind of hope. Because if Ulvic started ordering him around again against his will, it wouldn't matter about his lost memory. Jameson would fight back. I knew it from the deepest regions of my heart.
A beak burrowed into my neck and I released my first scream. I tried to swallow it, but the pain kept coming. I was being mauled, ripped apart, eaten alive. I thrashed as hard as I could, trying to knock them off, but it was useless. I couldn't stomach it. I wasn't strong enough not to be afraid.
The music built to a crescendo, raking against my ear drums. I'd always hated electronica. Now I had a good reason to.
A mechanical whirring sounded and the chain dropped. I cried out as I descended at a rapid pace, plummeting toward the pit far below me. The birds flew away, circling me in a wide arc as they tried to continue their attack. One of them took a peck at my face and I screwed my eyes up just in time to avoid losing an eye.
A gash on my cheek oozed blood.
“Stop it!” Nadine's voice filled the air.
“Sit down!” Ulvic barked.
Rockley was laughing.
“Ulvic – please!” Reason begged.
The chain went taut and my arms yanked in their sockets as I was halted a couple of feet from the ground. A clink sounded and the binds on my wrists released. I swung forward in my harness and managed to smack one of the crows away as it flew at me.
The chain lowered slower and my feet met the sandy ground of the pit. I threw off the harness, stumbling away from it, looking up as the crows circled me, landing on the edge of the pit, gazing down at me with beady eyes.
I eyed the doors around the edge of the pit, my heart pounding loudly in my ears, matching the pulsing beat of the music.
Rockley moved to the edge of the stage, watching me. I could still see the small audience surveying me from their seats. Jameson seemed to be fighting to get up. Ulvic leant close, muttering something in his ear and he fell still, his face turning deathly pale.
Rockley smiled at me before turning to the crowd, arms wide. “This is the beginning of a new era. When the Immortals are revealed to the world, showing them for what they are – a threat to humanity - thousands will come to watch them be killed. To rid the world of their infection. To give humans a chance at fighting back!”
My eyes met Silas's, his gaze dark as he watched me. Vengeance flared in his eyes and I shook my head, frightened of what he was about to do.
The doors flew open all around me. Silas got to his feet the same moment Vs poured out of the doors, desperate for blood, snarling and drooling.
Silas started running. He hit the stage. A guard fired a warning shot.
I gasped, my heart flying upwards in alarm.
Silas collided with Rockley and the two of them fell backwards into the pit, slamming to the ground beside me.
“Madigan!” Rockley roared, throwing a punch at his face.
Silas was ready for it, lurching aside, rolling and gaining his feet in the same movement.
I lowered into a fighting stance, snapping a V's neck as it came at me, my heart thumping in my ears. What is Silas playing at?!
Silas ran toward me, but he didn't make it before a Vampire collided with him. Five more of them sped out of the doors, snarling and growling, barely clothed. They surrounded us in seconds.
The guards ran to the edge of the pit, firing bullets at the Vs closest to Rockley.
I ran to help Silas, throwing the Vampire off him to the ground, adrenaline surging through my blood. A guard shot a bullet into its head and it fell still.
I brought my fists up, ready to fight, but bullets circled around me, cutting down the Vs in quick succession.
Rockley got to his feet, panting and frustratingly unharmed.
I ran at him, my muscles pounding with pure energy, but before I got there, bullets were fired at my feet, making me stumble back. My stomach sank like a brick in water.
Someone threw a rope down into the pit and Rockley took hold of it before being hauled out.
He gazed down at us with a sneer and my stomach twisted sharply. “Get them out. Now. And send our guests back to their rooms.”
Oh god, what's going to happen to Silas?
By the time I'd been dragged out of the pit, Jameson and the others were gone.
Rockley strode toward Silas and grabbed his collar in his fist. “You dare defy me?”
Fear drilled a hole in my chest.
“You expect me to sit here and watch whilst you kill her and that child? I won't do it anymore, Rockley. You're the one breaking your deal with me. And I've had enough.” Silas looked wild, fearsome.
A growl left Rockley's throat as he shoved Silas away from him.
“Get him on de ground,” he commanded two of his guards.
No no no.
They moved forward, throwing Silas to the floor face down.
Two guards restrained me and I swallowed the urge to shout out, my palms slick with fear.
Rockley placed his boot on Silas's cheek, pressing down hard. “You work for me now, Silas. You do not call de shots in dis arrangement.” He removed his boot then slammed it into Silas's ribs. Again and again. Over and over until Silas coughed blood.
Panic flared through me, but I didn't beg. I had to keep up the ruse that I didn't care for Silas, but my heart was screaming the truth. Tears stung my eyes as Rockley kicked him over and over, surely breaking bones. I blinked hard, keeping my face perfectly composed.
Rockley turned to me, a sneer twisting his features. He ran his thumb across his lower lip, deliberating something.
“Get him up,” he commanded and the guards hauled Silas to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth. He wheezed a heavy cough and my stomach writhed.
“What do you say, little vixen? What do I do with people who defy me?” He stepped closer and I lifted my chin to gaze at him.
I took a slow breath, knowing I had to show no mercy to Silas.
“You kill them,” I said, calling his bluff.
He chuckled a laugh. “We are not so different, you and I.” He turned to Silas, considering him. “Unfortunately, I need Silas and his work. So...just this once.” He moved toward him. “Your equipment has arrived. You will do your experiment. I know when to pick my battles. And if you are willing to throw me into a pit of Vampires wid yourself to get your way, den fine. You win.”
Silas's eyes widened as he gazed at Rockley. “I win?” he confirmed, his voice raspy.
Relief poured through me. Thank God.
“Yes, I admire your courage, Madigan. I need men like you in my business. We shall make good partners, no?”
“Yes,” Silas breathed and the guards released him at Rockley's nod. Rockley reached out a hand and Silas shook it.
I couldn't believe he'd gotten away with it. My heart wouldn't settle.
“Then let's not waste another minute. Despite de turn of events, I believe dat was quite de climax to my little show.” Rockley laughed and I saw in him a true maniac. If gaining this man's trust was achieved by nearly killing him, then I wondered what he thought of me and my friends. Maybe he did respect us in some small way.
“Take her back to her cell,” Rockley commanded, eyeing the gashes on my body from the birds. “And give her some Larkspur.” His smile broadened as he eyed me. We both knew what that meant: fresh skin was just a new canvas for him to paint.
I was dragged away, my eye catching Silas's over the guard's shoulder. I gave him a small smile, my heart filling with hope. We had a plan. Now I just needed my friends to show up and execute it.
Thank you, Silas.
*★*
After I was healed in my cell, Jessie escorted me upstairs at gun point, throwing snide remarks at me all the way. I was brought to a room that resembled an operating theatre, with bright lights shining down at me from the ceiling. A large refrigeration unit sat in one corner beside a metallic sink.
Jessie directed me onto the gurney, chaining my wrists down. I gazed at the stirrups by my feet with a scowl. I didn't put my legs up, but the shackles on them proved I could be immobilised if needs be. A knock came at the door and Silas stepped into the room with a doctor's bag in his hand.
“Leave us,” he commanded Jessie.
She skulked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. I strained my ears for signs of cameras, but there was nothing. Silas gazed up at the ceiling too and when he was satisfied there were none, his shoulders slumped.
He hurried to my side, dropping the bag beside me and cupping my cheek. “How are you?”
“I'm fine. Christ, Silas, I can't believe you pushed Rockley into that pit.” We both stifled laughs and he gripped my hand, squeezing.
“So are you here to do your procedure?” I asked dryly.
Silas's gaze darkened. “You know I'm not going to hurt you. But we have to make this look real.”
I nodded as he lifted his bag and propped it on a nearby trolley. He pursed his lips, drumming his fingers on the metal.
“So...what are we gonna do in here?”
“I could scream?” I offered.
He grinned. “Perfect, go ahead.”
He took out a syringe, drawing liquid up into it from a small bottle, then gently exposed my swollen belly, pushing my vest up.
“Just in case someone comes in,” he murmured and I nodded.
I started screaming for help, doing my best to sound convincing. No one came, which was probably a good thing.
“Shut up!” Silas roared and I fell quiet, fighting a smile. He lowered his tone when he spoke again. “I spoke to Jameson. I think he's starting to have doubts about Ulvic.”
“That's good.” I nodded firmly.
Silas turned my arm over, gazing at a jagged V I'd evidently missed when applying the Larkspur. He frowned, running his thumb over the shallow cut. “Does it hurt?”
“No, only when they're being sliced into me.”
His frown deepened. “I'm so sorry.”
“Don't be. There's nothing you could have done.” I flexed my fingers, brushing his side, unable to do more with the shackles holding me in place.
“You know...these cuts don't have to represent Rockley's victory.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, I know a thing or two about mindset. I can be a bit of a workaholic, but that doesn't mean it's always easy for me to work fifteen hours straight then get up and do the same the next day. It's how you perceive things that matter. I can complain about having to work for that many hours. Or I can focus on how much I love my job, therefore I get up and work.”
“I'm not sure that applies here, Silas.” I gazed at the scabbed-over V etched into my arm.
“It does.” He unbolted the shackle on my right hand, raising it and lifting my index and middle finger, forming the shape of a V. He turned them toward himself so I was swearing at him. “All you have to do, is see things from a different perspective. Change the meaning, then it can't hurt you anymore.” He grinned. “You see, it doesn't have to be V for Victory.”
A smile hooked up my lips. “V for vengeance,” I murmured and he nodded, a grin lighting his gold-flecked eyes.
“Exactly.”
I glanced at the door. “I should probably scream again for a while.”
“Or beg, whatever floats your boat.” He winked and I started wailing, begging and pleading for him to stop something that definitely wasn't happening
Silas walked to the fridge across the room, opening it, taking a thick glove from a box beside it. He extracted a small test tube coated with condensation.
“I have to get rid of her,” Silas whispered and my begging halted.
“That's Emma?”
He nodded, turning to me. “I have m
ore embryos cloned.”
He walked to the small sink, opening the tube and washing the contents away. He dried it before placing it on the trolley beside me.
“Done,” he announced, with only a hint of sadness.
I reached out, squeezing his arm. “You'll bring her back some day. I know you will.”
“It's harder to find a surrogate than you might think. I need an Immortal. I don't want Emma being brought into this world as a human. I know that sounds selfish but I just...can't lose her again.”
“Is that possible?” I asked.
“Yes...I could use the mother's stem cells to alter her form. Make her into an Immortal being.”
“What kind of Immortal?” I teased.
He shrugged. “I suppose I'm kind of fond of the Werewolves.” He brushed a lock of hair from my face. “They sure are feisty.”
I laughed softly, then placed my hand on my stomach. “I thought you were looking for the cure to humanity?”
“It seems a long way off. If I can bring her back, I'd like to do so as soon as possible. No point waiting on a cure that might never come.”
I thought of Brendan Grey, realisation hitting me that Silas must have been the man he'd been imprisoned by. I drew my hand away from him and he gave me a curious look.
“What's wrong?” he asked.
“I was just thinking...you knew Brendan Grey, didn't you?”
Silas released a small hmph. “You don't miss a trick.”
“No.” I gave him a sly smile. “So?”
“Like I've said before, I'm not always proud of the way I conduct my company. Back when we acquired Brendan-”
“Acquired?” I jabbed.
“Alright, kidnapped. I was desperate to find the cure to humanity, still holding onto the hope that I could bring Emma's original body back to life. I don't know...I had some ideas that got a little out of hand, I guess.”
“Yeah, you could say that.” I pursed my lips.
He gave me a guilty look. “Well, Brendan got the better of me in the end. Took off with half my work toward the cure and a bunch of Immortals to boot.”
“He's a good man,” I said firmly. “He helped me. All of my friends...” I thought of Selena. Brendan's daughter was someone I would be friends with for the rest of time. And her father was someone I trusted wholeheartedly.
Wolf Games: Severed Fates (The Vampire Games Book 6) Page 11