by Reed, Zoe
“Barely,” I admitted, falling silent for a moment to study the man in front of me. Based on what I’d been taught, vampires weren’t necessarily evil. They acted on single-minded self-interest, and often times it just happened to spell doom for anyone else – like the victims of their bloodthirst. So what was this guy’s motive? “Why are you helping us?”
“Benjamin’s ambitious, and ambition like he’s got is dangerous.” While he answered, I noticed his eyes darting every direction. It was the only betrayal to his composed exterior, and I wondered if him being here was risky. “It’s pathetic, but I’ve grown attached to this world. I’m not about to let an overzealous asshole ruin it.”
I looked him up and down. That was it? He liked the planet earth? It wasn’t because Benjamin was villainous. It wasn’t because he’d found it in the kindness of his heart to help us werewolves out. It was purely single-minded self-interest, but I’d take it. “Why’d you come to me? Why not just go to the Alpha?”
He chuckled, his first show of being completely at ease with my presence, and raised an eyebrow at me. “Seriously? Me, a vampire, just walk right up to the Pack’s front door? I’ve been alive way too long to start making stupid mistakes like that.” He stood there watching me, waiting for a response. He was right about it being stupid to try and talk to Eli, but I wasn’t relaxed enough to start finding the humor in it. “I’ve got a good eye for character, I thought you’d be the easiest to approach. Though, you’re a bit more stand-offish than I thought you’d be.”
“I don’t like surprises,” I answered scathingly.
For some reason I was oddly irritated, maybe because of my injured pride at being so easily pinned by a vampire. Maybe because the once magical snow had started to collect around the collar of my jacket and harden, chilling my warm skin to the point I held back a shiver. More likely though it was the fact that he was acting selfishly. He didn’t care about the werewolves, which meant at any time our ‘ally’ could turn on us. I couldn’t yet find it in me to think there was something more benevolent driving him to our alliance. I didn’t trust him.
“Fair enough,” he said with a smirk as he stood there quietly, studying me with his careful brown eyes.
After a few moments it appeared he was waiting for me to ask any other questions, and when I didn’t say anything he nodded and began to turn. I stopped him before he could walk away. “So um, when I tell the Pack about you, do I get a name to give them?”
“Rook,” he responded, turning back around to face me with a small smile.
“Camille,” I told him, and after a slight, considering pause I took a step forward and held out my hand.
Maybe I didn’t trust him completely, but there was no reason to be hostile and drive him away. His smile grew a bit and gained a friendly glow as he took my hand in his. I really had to fight to hold back a shiver at the icy feel of it, out of a strange fear that it would be rude, but his skin was nearly the same temperature as the frozen air around us.
Dropping my hand he turned, and moments later disappeared around the side of the dorm building. I stood there for a few seconds before a snowflake landed on my nose and melted, tickling as it ran down to my lip and reminding me that the snow on my neck was starting to freeze. When I finally reached the warmth of my own room I sat down on my bed and stared at the opposite wall thoughtfully. All we really knew for sure was that the vampires wanted three werewolves and that, for now, Rook was probably the only one who would help us.
Rook’s boots made the slightest prints in the fresh snow as he glided toward the warehouse a hundred yards ahead of him. He’d been spending a lot of his time around Benjamin’s recruits, playing poker, starting and betting on fights with the others, trying to work his way into their trust. Working himself in had been easier than he thought. Most of the other vampires were young, and they admired the skill of his fists. He thought the way they conducted themselves was barbaric, and aside from gaining their trust the only other reason he engaged in fights was to judge their strength. That would be the most useful information to him when the time came to bring the werewolves into the picture.
The night before he’d been in a bar when the werewolves came in. Since Rook had decided to help them he’d been searching for the perfect moment to tell them of the danger they were in. Last night he left the bar and hid out until they left, and once they did he followed them all the way to the private high school just outside town. Aside from being quite jumpy, the blonde didn’t seem all too surprised when he mentioned the vampires to her. Though she was curious of what information he had, it appeared as though she already knew what was going on. That thought was slightly comforting to him. It made him feel he wasn’t as alone in this as he thought.
Rook strode past the two vampires at the warehouse’s entrance with a nod, and pushed open the large metal door. Instinctively upon his entrance his eyes darted toward the manmade wall that blocked off the far corner of the warehouse. That was what he was here for, and he’d been spending every day in this godforsaken warehouse just to get a glimpse of what was inside. Every time he looked at the light that shined over the top of the wall it drained what little joy he had in a life he already considered pitiful. He couldn’t imagine what effect it would have when he actually got to see what it was. Whatever it was, it could be viewed. He knew that for certain because Benjamin checked on it every single day and had a vampire guarding the door twenty four-seven, like he was worried it would escape.
“Rook!” One of the younger vampires that stayed at the warehouse stood from a poker game with a few others, and shouted when he saw Rook enter. He nodded toward the girl on his left, “Dominique doesn’t think me and Kip could take you two on one. Care to wager?”
With an inward sigh, Rook glanced upwards toward Benjamin’s overlooking office. It looked as though the leader already had a visitor, so he decided he could entertain the others for a few minutes. “Sure. What’re the stakes?”
Once the other two vampires got up from the table they all strode toward an empty space between it and the entrance. Noticing there was about to be a fight, the others did the same, circling the area to spectate. Feeling in his pocket for what he’d come to deliver, Rook took the vile out and shrugged off his jacket.
He dropped his jacket to the floor near the edge of the circle and handed the full vile to the nearest vampire. “Hold that for me. It’s for Benjamin, don’t lose it.” The man nodded and clenched the vile securely in his hand, and Rook turned to face Kip and Ronnie.
“We’re feeling pretty hungry. If we win, you go and fetch us some dinner,” Ronnie said simply, and then after a moment’s thought added with a smile, “Fresh dinner.”
Rook nodded, agreeing to the terms as he began to think of his demands. There was nothing he wanted from them. Money, human blood, and alcohol were the typical wagers, but all of it meant nothing to him. What could further his goal? He was so close to getting what he wanted. Benjamin trusted him, the others admired him, and soon he’d see what he and the werewolves were up against.
“Sundresses,” he said, and both Kip and Ronnie furrowed their eyebrows in confusion. Rook nodded toward a female vampire in the circle around them. “I’ve seen Hailey wear sundresses before. You two put on some cute little dresses after the fight, go down to the liquor store, and come back with enough alcohol so everybody gets a drink.” Rook couldn’t help but smirk as he heard snickers from the other vampires around him.
“Hell no!” Kip hollered instantly, scoffing at how ridiculous it sounded. “I ain’t putting on no pansy ass little sundress.”
Rook shrugged. “I mean it’s two on one, but if you guys don’t think you can do it…”
Ronnie sighed ‘deal’ and received a glare from Kip, who looked like he knew they’d lose and be humiliated, but didn’t want to back out. After another second Kip nodded in agreement, “Deal.”
The excitement around them grew as the dozen vampires began to cheer and laugh. Rook stood there calml
y as Kip put up his fists and began to rock on the balls of his feet, working his way to Rook’s side. Ronnie also put up his clenched fists, but moved a little closer, directly in front of Rook. Rook’s eyes darted skillfully between the two vampires as he watched them carefully. Kip was rocking with his right foot behind, so he’d no doubt throw a punch with his right hand. Though Ronnie was less obvious, his right shoulder was pulled slightly back, also ready to launch an attack with his right fist. But who would throw the first punch? Rook thought as he put up his own. Most likely it would be Ronnie. This would be easy, and Rook knew it, but not wanting to make it look that way he knew he’d have to take a couple hits.
With his hands up to his chest he watched closely, keeping his glances soft and looking for new movement. Then he saw Ronnie tense as the vampire’s shoulder pulled further back, and barely a moment later the first fist came flying. It was more of a swing than a jab, and Rook easily ducked his head out of the way. As Ronnie’s knuckles scraped by his face he saw Kip winding up for a throw. He waited for it, and when the hand came flying at him he dropped on one knee, the vampire’s arm going right over his head.
Avoiding the hit he began to get back up, and leading with his fist he sent it right into Kip’s exposed gut, hearing cheers of pleasure from the group around them. Kip bent over in pain, and Rook swung around behind him and shoved the vampire’s back, sending him flying into Ronnie, who caught him with obvious annoyance. With that flare of annoyance Rook saw in Ronnie’s eyes, he knew that soon his opponents would lose composure, and the fight would look more like a brawl. Especially since it was two on one.
Without warning Ronnie harnessed that aggravation and rushed in, leading with his shoulder. Rook braced himself, but let his feet rest lightly on the floor. He could take this hit, and he would to make the fight seem fairer, but if he resisted it then it would only hurt worse. Moments later Ronnie’s shoulder met his chest, and they both went crashing to the floor. Ronnie had a slight edge by being on top. He sat over Rook’s torso and locked his opponent’s arms beneath him, bringing up and then down his first fist. Rook let those solid knuckles meet his face again a second time, and then a third. As the coppery taste of blood met his tongue with the fourth hit, he wrapped the hands of his locked-down arms around each of Ronnie’s ankles, and with all the strength he could wrenched up, throwing Ronnie completely off him.
Ronnie landed on his back a few inches from the bottom of Rook’s feet, and before he had a chance to scramble up Rook reversed their former positions, sitting on top of Ronnie’s chest. He led first with his stronger left hand, then again with his right. He managed to get in three more hard punches before he felt Kip grab his shoulders and pull him with incredible force off of Ronnie. As Rook hit the ground on his back Kip’s foot met his ribs. He let out a surprised wheeze as pain ripped through his side, and before Kip had the chance to kick him again he brought his arm down, meeting Kip’s legs halfway and knocking the vampire face-first to the ground. Rolling over, he grabbed the back of Kip’s head, slamming the vampire’s face into the hard warehouse floor before darting up to meet a just-standing Ronnie.
While keeping Kip in his peripheral vision, Rook strode forward to meet Ronnie, who, without hesitation, threw a sloppy punch that just missed its target. Rook took advantage of the miss and made a jab that hit Ronnie square in the nose. A trickle of blood made its way down to his lip, but Rook knew he couldn’t stop there. He jabbed again, and again, and when Ronnie’s hands covered his face, he threw his fist into the vampire’s stomach. He saw Kip rising from the ground behind him, and as the vampire rushed him he ducked out of the way, catching Kip’s foot with his own and sending the vampire tumbling back to the floor. Rook let a slight wince crease his expression as Kip hit his already bloodied chin on the ground with such force his head ricocheted and smacked again. The vampire turned onto his back and covered his mouth with his hands, kicking his feet on the floor in pain.
Rook knew Ronnie wouldn’t be finished, but he was caught off-guard when the man’s arm wrapped around his neck, and less than a second later a fist caught him in the face. Ronnie held Rook in place while he brought his arm back, only to send it flying at him again. Rook raised his own arm, and with the extra force of his other hand aiding it he elbowed Ronnie in the groin. As the vampire released Rook and buckled over, Rook tensed his leg, about to bring his knee up to meet Ronnie’s face. But in a show of impromptu mercy he kicked the vampire’s legs out from under him.
With a smirk Rook caught the eye of one of the youngest vampires around the circle. “Hailey, how about them sundresses?”
As the other vampires burst into laughter, clapped, and patted him on the back, Rook glanced up toward Benjamin’s office. Whatever visitor the leader had was just coming down the stairs, and Benjamin stood at the top. When he saw Rook looking up at him he waved his hand, motioning for Rook to meet him upstairs. Rook grabbed his jacket and the vial from the vampire he’d handed it to before the fight, and threw his jacket on as he made his way toward the stairs. When he reached the top he knocked on the door politely, and then turned the handle and made his way into the overseeing office.
“What was the bet this time?” Benjamin asked without looking up while Rook sat in the chair across the desk.
“They have to buy everyone a drink wearing dresses,” he answered simply, spinning the vial in his hand.
The corner of Benjamin’s mouth turned up in an amused smile. “Clever. Tell me, Rook, why do you engage them?” He handed Rook the handkerchief from his pocket, motioning for him to clean the blood off his face.
Wounds already having healed, Rook wiped roughly at his chin until the white cloth wasn’t catching anymore red, and then used it to scrub off his knuckles. “I’m doing you a favor.”
Benjamin raised an eyebrow curiously, and leaned forward with his elbows on the desk to rest his chin in his hands. “How’s that?”
“They’re like children,” Rook told him, nodding his head out the window so Benjamin would know whom he meant. “If you don’t keep them busy they’ll start getting into trouble. From what I can tell, trouble is the last thing you need right now.”
With a nod of understanding and approval, Benjamin leaned back again and outstretched an open hand. “Do you have it?”
Without delay Rook placed the fluid filled vial into the waiting hand. Benjamin studied it carefully, rocking the emerald liquid back and forth in front of his face. “Perfect,” he said, and then placed it into his pocket. “I’ll put it in better hands this time. The idiot who set up the traps on the werewolves’ land used the whole vial for only three. I swear I could feed half those imbeciles to the wolves.” Rook faked a laughing smile, but sat there silently and patiently. After a moment of waiting for him to leave, Benjamin tilted his head questioningly. “Was there something else?”
Rook took a moment to build his nerve. He knew the end was close, he could feel it. It was now or never. “I want to see it.” Benjamin’s eyes glistened with the slightest shock, but his face remained apathetic, and he stayed silent. “I’ve been getting you everything you need, quickly and easily. I’ve been keeping your pets out of trouble. I’m a thousand times more valuable to you than anyone down there.” Rook pointed out the window. “And I’m sure every one of them knows what it is they’re going to be killing for. I deserve the same.”
Benjamin sat back and folded his arms behind his head. He studied Rook with an intense stare for a minute as he thought to himself. After another minute he grabbed the only book on his desk and turned it toward Rook. It was an old, thick book; the blank red cover was faded and dirty. When it rested on the desk in front of Rook, Benjamin flipped it open to a marked page near the end. There were no pictures, no break in the page. Just a single title and a solid block of text that looked like it continued onto the next few pages.
“When I first started this little mission four years ago,” Benjamin began, and motioned to the solid text. “I wasn’t quite sure what we wer
e looking for. I much prefer picture books myself, but this opportunity seemed too good to turn down.”
The title of the section read Phantoms of the Otherworld, and there were two things Rook didn’t like about that title. The first was the word ‘Phantoms,’ and the second was that the word was plural. Underneath the section title was another label. “What’s a Shadow Savage?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard of hell hounds.” Benjamin stood and began pacing at the foot of his desk as he spoke. “According to this, the devil’s got some other little play things. Apparently hell’s got a population problem. The Shadow Savages live in another dimension, but every once in a while they get set loose on the Underworld. This is a good read,” he said distractedly pointing to the book. “Anyway, these Phantoms have an insatiable appetite for souls, and so I started thinking, wouldn’t it be easier to cross dimensions than to raise them from hell itself?” He stopped his pacing, turning to Rook with a grin. “Now maybe the quack who wrote this book was just some whack job warlock, but who cares where the Savages really come from? What matters is that there’s truth in every story. So I started searching, and a year ago I finally found the means to summon them.”
“Are you telling me that you have soul eating phantoms down there?” Rook asked, hardly able to hide the shock from his voice. Benjamin nodded vigorously. “Seems kind of dangerous.”
“Why?” Benjamin asked fiercely, eyes gaining a deranged fire like Rook had offended him, and then he started chuckling. “We haven’t got a soul.” He motioned for Rook to follow him as he started toward the door and down the stairs. “Besides, they were meant for the spirit world, they can hardly exist here.”
Rook glanced toward the manmade wall. Was he finally going to see it? Wait, what did Benjamin mean they could hardly exist here? “Is that why you need the werewolves?”