He pursed his lips. “Bain,” he growled.
Arabella's brows raised. “What's he done now? And why is she here?” She jerked her head at me, but her eyes remained on Hawke.
“I will explain when he arrives.” Hawke sat up straighter in his throne.
Silence hung in the air. I felt awkward standing there, unsure where to look.
Finally, Bain arrived and my body tensed automatically.
“Good morning,” he purred, moving to his onyx throne and dropping smoothly into it. His eyes turned directly to me, piercing and dark. “To what do I owe the pleasure of being woken up this early?”
“You know exactly why we're here,” Hawke snarled at him. “Don't play the fool, Bain.”
Bain lifted a brow, turning to the other leaders with an innocent expression. “I truly have no idea what you mean.”
Hawke sat forward in his chair, his eyes like hellfire. “One of my harem was found dead this morning. Mutilated, her body naked – sound familiar?” he shot at Bain.
Arabella sucked in a breath and Solomon muttered, “Not again...”
Bain seemed unfazed, leaning casually back in his chair. “I do hope you're not trying to point the finger at me again, Hawke. I had nothing to do with those past deaths and I have nothing to do with this one either. I hung the man in my clan who was responsible, what more would you have me do?”
“I want you to stop lying,” Hawke growled. “If the man you hung was the perpetrator, why has this girl been butchered like the others were?”
Bain shrugged. “Beats me.”
Hawke stiffened violently. He snapped his fingers at me. “Tell them.”
“Er-” I stuttered and he caught my wrist, dragging me into the centre of the circle.
All eyes turned to me and Bain smirked as everyone waited for me to speak. I turned my gaze to Arabella, finding her eyes the kindest of them all. Clearing my throat, I said, “Bain said he wished to challenge Hawke for me.” The words sounded stupid. And I was furious at Hawke for bringing me here.
“That is not a crime,” Bain said smoothly. “And what does that have to do with some dead girl?”
Hawke slammed his hand down on the arm of his chair. “Because you offered me men for her and I refused. So you have killed one of my harem to get your revenge.”
My heartbeat quickened. Was that true? Had Hawke really protected me again?
Bain laughed, the deep, rolling noise filling the cavern. “I am not that petty, Hawke. We all know you have some sad little vendetta against me. God only knows why.”
“You have given me more than enough reasons to suspect you,” Hawke hissed.
Arabella raised her palms for quiet. “Forgive me, Hawke. But do you have any evidence that Bain killed the girl?”
Hawke fell quiet and if looks could have killed, he would have massacred an army right then.
“No,” he bit out.
Bain laughed again, rising to his feet. “Well thank you for waking us up for a blind accusation. When you grow up, perhaps you'll be capable of rational thought.”
Hawke lunged at him. It was so fast, I barely saw it. In seconds, he had Bain by the throat, slamming him down into his throne. “You did it, you bastard! I know you did.”
Solomon gasped, rising to his feet and pointing at Hawke. His tawny owl swooped down on him, ripping great gashes in his back.
Hawke stumbled back, releasing Bain. In a flash, Bain took a knife from his hip, pointing it at Hawke as Solomon called his owl off.
I rushed forward, taking Hawke's arm, pulling him away. “Stop it,” I snapped at him, sure he was about to get himself killed.
Bain swung the blade toward me, looking to Arabella. “The girl should not be present for this meeting and Hawke has just assaulted me. These are reasons alone for me to be compensated.” He raised a brow, licking his lips. “Give me the Helsing girl and all shall be forgotten.”
My heart dipped dramatically. No, God no. Please not that.
Hawke stepped in front of me, squaring his shoulders. “Never.”
Arabella rose to her feet, glaring between them. “Enough,” she snarled and they backed off from each other.
“Bain is right, Hawke,” Solomon said in a dark tone. “You have broken too many rules today. You must compensate Bain, as stated in the rules.”
My heart thundered in my ears. I mentally screamed at Hawke.
What have you done you idiot!?
Arabella gave me a sweeping look and I begged her with my eyes not to give me up.
“You can't have her,” Hawke growled.
“It is a fitting consolation,” Bain said, turning to Arabella hopefully.
“No,” she said at last and I sagged with relief. “You will supply him with two men, Hawke. They must have at least seven trials to their names.”
Hawke practically snarled at her. “You know he did it,” he said through his teeth.
“There is no evidence,” Arabella said sharply. “You cannot prove it. And you certainly cannot come here and attack a Clan leader without formal challenge. Be grateful the punishment is not more severe.”
Hawke glared at Bain for several long seconds before snatching my hand and marching me from the cavern. He was moving so fast, I had to jog to keep up.
“Hawke – slow down,” I begged, trying to tug my hand free of his grip.
We rounded a corner and Hawke cornered me against a wall, his chest rising and falling with his rage.
I swallowed hard, gazing up at him, trapped between his arms as he rested his hands against the wall either side of my head.
“He did it,” he growled.
“I'm sure you're right,” I breathed, pressing a palm to his ice-cold chest. “But you have to calm down.”
He shut his eyes, taking a breath. When he opened them, his gaze dropped to my neck. I could see the blood-lust burning in his eyes.
“Come.” He took my hand again, walking slower this time so I could keep up.
As we returned to the cave, Hawke released my hand, muttering an order at me to go to his room. I skirted around the blood-soaked floor as clan members mopped up the mess. I headed upstairs, hearing Meredith sobbing from within the bath house. I tentatively opened the door, finding the other girls huddled around her.
“Are you alright?” I asked as Meredith's watery eyes met mine.
“No. Go away. This is all your fault. You're who Bain wants. You should do us all a favour and join Tenebris.”
I scowled and Elise gave me an apologetic look as I exited the room, shutting the door sharply. I headed into Hawke's suite, breathing heavily, my hands balled into fists.
Rage consumed me as I paced the floor. How was any of this my fault? Would Bain really be so spiteful as to kill someone because Hawke hadn't given me to him?
The door opened and I spun on my heel, half-expecting it to be Meredith arriving to have another dig at me.
It was Hawke. And he no longer looked angry, just dejected. He took in my expression, moving toward me and cupping my cheek. I was taken aback by the gesture, but remained still as he gazed into my eyes.
“Bain is never going to lay a hand on you,” he promised and I could tell he meant it.
I nodded, my skin prickling under his icy palm. He tilted my head to one side and I sighed, scooping the hair from my neck. He dug his fangs into me and I held onto his shoulders as he drank from me. Something about the exchange gave me comfort, strange as it was. He was soothing his own angry heart and I felt like I was repaying him for the sacrifice he'd made by not giving me up.
I tentatively slipped my arms around him, needing something to make me forget about Bain and this awful place.
His mouth raked up my neck and suddenly he was kissing me. The taste of my own blood flooded my tongue. His fingers dug into my waist as he held me against him and my heart rate rocketed upwards. I pushed him back, slapping him in the same motion. I immediately cupped my hand to my mouth, in shock at what I'd done.
&nbs
p; His eyes widened as he gazed at me. Tension ran between us and rippled up my spine.
Before he could say a word, I ducked past him and ran out the door, slamming it behind me. I fled down the steps, darting back into the cave in the direction of the exit. I heard Tykera call out my name, but I didn't stop, sprinting into the darkness, desperate to be alone.
What the hell have I done?
I didn't stop running until the sound of the clan was far behind me. I slowed my pace to a walk, clawing a hand through my hair. Tykera had been right about Hawke. I couldn't trust him not to lay his hands on me. But hitting him? Jesus Christ, he could kill me for that. I kept wandering through the passages, needing to be away.
I was terrified of going back, of what he'd do to me when I returned, of how ungrateful he probably thought I was. But after all he'd done for me, that didn't mean I was going to screw him. And dammit, I had a right to be angry. He'd said himself he wasn't interested in me like that.
My heightened vision kept the darkness at bay, but my body couldn't handle the cold much longer. It was less than freezing away from the fires of the main caverns. And I'd gone down so many passages, I was far from any heat.
I shivered, considering turning back, when voices carried to me.
“-the more pales you carry, the less trips you have to do,” a male voice said.
“Obviously,” a man replied and I stiffened as I recognised Colt's voice.
I crept up to the corner, glancing around it, spotting Colt and another man beside a glistening pool of water, highlighted by a torch burning in a bracket on the wall.
The first man had a pole over his back with two buckets suspended from it, hanging from either end. He strode away into the passage opposite me and I stepped forward to catch Colt's eye.
His torso was bare, the tattoos on his back catching my eye. As he bent to pick up the four buckets on his pole, I stepped forward.
“Hey,” I breathed and his head snapped up.
His eyes widened and in seconds, he'd rushed toward me.
“You shouldn't be here,” he said in a low tone, halting a foot away.
“I didn't mean to be.” I glanced over his shoulder to make sure the other guy was definitely gone.
“Are you alright?” His silvery eyes travelled down me.
I hugged my arms around my bare belly, the cold biting at my skin. “Yeah, I guess.” I couldn't fight a frown and he mimicked my expression.
“What's happened?” he whispered.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, then sighed. “Well apart from someone was killed in our clan.”
“I heard,” he said in a tense voice. “Do you know who did it?”
I shook my head because I didn't see the point in continuing to blame Bain. No one knew for sure who'd murdered her.
I glanced over my shoulder. “I should get back...”
“Is Hawke treating you okay?” Colt asked, his brow furrowing.
I nodded vaguely. He'd done too much for me to demonise him for one kiss.
I stepped away and Colt moved forward. “Listen...” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I owe you an apology.”
“Why?” My brow lowered.
“It's my fault you're here. If I hadn't taken you to my father then-”
“Don't,” I said, cutting him off. “It's not your fault.” I'd played the cards that had landed me here. Not Colt.
“It is. And Mercy, I...” He lowered his tone, giving me an intense look. “I'm going to get us out of here.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What? How?”
“Leave it to me.” He backed up and a part of me longed to reach out to him. I had no idea where the urge came from and I smothered it fast. I was obviously just feeling fragile after my awful morning.
“Well...good luck,” I said halfheartedly, not really believing it could be done.
Colt nodded stiffly and I backed up toward the passage, knowing we had to part.
“See you soon,” I breathed, stepping into the darkness.
“I hope so,” his voice followed me as I turned away and a small smile worked its way onto my lips.
After a few wrong turns, I found my way back to Nox Clan. But I wasn't even remotely prepared for the sight of Hawke's fierce expression. He was in a frantic conversation with a group of people around him and I was tempted to run to my pod and hide. But I had to face the consequences sooner or later, so I remained still, waiting.
When he spotted me, relief filled his expression, followed by utter, abject rage.
He stormed toward me, shoving people aside like dominoes as he came at me. “It is forbidden to leave the clan without permission! I was about to send out a search party!” He reached for me and I lurched backwards, not letting him get a hand on me.
He glanced at the onlooking clan members and roared, “Put her on the wall!”
Men and women ran toward me, snatching my arms and hauling me past Hawke toward a metal hook six feet up one wall. Someone produced a chain and pressed me back against the rock, lifting my hands and chaining them to the ring. I gasped as they stood back, leaving me there like a piece of meat hung up to dry.
“Hawke!” I shouted as he marched past me without a glance, heading into his bloody palace. “God damn you,” I snarled through my teeth.
The rest of the clan headed away, averting their eyes from me. I spotted Tykera appear from her pod and called out to her. Her eyes swung my way then widened. She shook her head and turned away.
Evidently, no one was allowed to acknowledge me. Which was confirmed even more so when Harlen strode by, gave me a 'holy-shit' expression then turned on his heel and headed in the opposite direction.
I went slack in my chains, resting my head back against the wall. How bloody long was this going to last?
After an hour, my arms were dead and everyone continued to act as if I didn't exist.
I shut my eyes, hanging my head forward, trying to block out the world.
I hate this place. I hate Hawke. And I hate this bloody wall.
Time ticked by until the day turned into an eternity. I ignored the clan as much as they did me. Soon, I couldn't concentrate on anything but the throbbing ache in my arms and how dry mouth was getting.
It eventually grew so late, it must have been evening.
“Food!” Hawke shouted, jolting me back to the world.
I eyed him through a sheet of hair that had fallen into my eyes, passing me by without a glance. Meredith followed him with the other harem girls, throwing me a small smirk. Nanook and Elise kept their eyes downcast, but Felicia glanced my way, her eyes shimmering with satisfaction.
Everyone poured out of their pods, sprinting toward the dinner hall to fight for their meals.
I huffed a breath, blowing the strands from my eyes as the whole place emptied out. My stomach grumbled longingly and I tried to suppress the feeling.
A shadow passed over me and I glanced up, spotting a bird swooping overhead. A little white dove.
It circled silently then landed on the edge of a pod, watching me. It was the first time I'd been acknowledged all day so I didn't really mind. Though I wondered who owned it. It seemed only Videns had birds around here. I guessed those of them who controlled other animals weren't able to get them down here in hell.
Some of the clan soon returned, evidently those who hadn't gotten a meal. No one spared me a glance as they headed into their pods, looking miserable.
It was nearly another hour before the rest of the clan returned. My shoulders were killing and I could barely feel my fingers. My temper had crumbled to dust and all that remained was discomfort and the desperate need to lay down.
Hawke appeared amongst the crowd as people started setting up the ring for the brawls.
“Hey!” I called to him as he headed in my direction. He shot me a cursory glance and I pleaded with my eyes for him to release me. He continued on his way, jaw gritted and my internal pleading turned into a lot of harsh swear words.
Just before
he stepped onto the stairs, my anger returned and I yelled, “Who the hell do you think you are, you arsehole!?”
He stopped dead and a hundred eyes swung in my direction. My gut dropped.
Some people looked nervous, others excited. Meredith gazed keenly at me as Hawke swivelled on his heel, turning to face me.
His eyes narrowed on me, his expression fearsome. “I'm the leader of Nox, killer of seven hundred and sixty eight people, including the previous leader of this clan. And who are you but a pathetic Hunter who forgot her place in the world and ended up in Dødstårn for it?”
The whole clan shouted, “Ooh-rah!” and pounded their chests.
Pure hellfire spilled through me as he turned away again.
“I am a Helsing!” I cried, my voice echoing back to me as it bounced off of the cavern walls. “And I'm as fierce as my mother. As strong as my father. But they no longer define me. Because I am the only one of my family who's still breathing. And you know why?”
Hawke paused, his shoulders tensing, but he didn't look back. I took that as a sign he was listening though.
“Because I'm not like them,” I spat. “And I don't care what the hell any one of you thinks of me. And I especially don't care what you think of me, Hawke. Because all that matters is what I think of me. And I don't need to kill seven hundred and sixty eight people to prove I'm worth something.”
The silence that followed was deadly.
I spotted Tykera gazing at me across the room, her lips parted in surprise. Harlen was beside her, looking tempted to start clapping. Thankfully, he didn't. Because I was sure he would have been strung up beside me for it.
Hawke muttered something to a man close by then strode purposefully upstairs to his quarters.
The man he'd spoken to marched toward me, unlocking my wrists. I gasped in surprise, falling forward, having to rest my weight on him a moment.
He grinned at me, standing me upright. “Nice speech.”
I couldn't muster any words in response, too weak to do anything but stumble toward my pod, rubbing my aching shoulders. I gazed up at the twelve foot climb to my pod, unable to think of anything more difficult at that moment.
“Hey Blondie.”
I turned, finding Harlen there with Tykera close on his heels.
Hunter Trials Page 8