He made sure to look merely curious while he explored as he discovered cameras hidden in some of the lights of every hallway. They would expect him to explore and learn; if they had a problem with it, they would stop him, but so far they’d left him alone.
His exploration also helped him keep his distance from Simone. Still, he couldn’t rid himself of the incessant pull he felt to go to her and get her out of here. But he’d discovered no way to do that yet.
Returning to the bathroom, he discovered another circular room near it. The hair on his nape rose as he gazed inside the room. He saw no instruments of torture, but the drains in the concrete floor didn’t bode well for those brought here.
Turning away, he padded down the hall and back toward the corridor where he slept before branching off down another hall. This new hallway ran along the backside of Joseph’s office and housed more closed doors with numbers beside them.
Though he already suspected more bedrooms lay beyond, he had to confirm his suspicion before moving on. He didn’t glance at the camera as he turned the knob and poked his head inside one of the rooms.
The room beyond was identical to his except no clothes littered the concrete floor, and the bed was neatly made. The rooms along his hall were almost all full, but he’d only seen enough Savages in this place to account for the occupancy of those rooms. Most of the ones along this hall were probably empty and waiting for their time to be filled.
Gazing down the long hall, Killean calculated twice as many rooms were lining it as the one where he slept. This place could house a hundred and fifty Savages comfortably; more if they doubled up in the rooms. And this may only be one of many bunkers or shelters or whatever this place was that Joseph had.
What is going on here? What are they preparing for?
The end of the world.
He almost snorted at the melodramatic thought, but the cold certainty Joseph and his followers might be readying themselves for such a thing stopped him. The path Joseph was taking was one that could destroy everything vampires and hunters had spent thousands of years trying to protect. Joseph’s course of creating so many Savages and decimating the hunters could alert the humans to their existence, which might result in total anarchy.
Shit. It was such an inadequate word to describe the dread churning in his gut.
Killean closed the door and continued down the hall. Toward the end of the corridor, the space between four of the rooms grew larger. Killean tried the knobs but discovered them locked. Stepping back, he gazed at the identical doors as understanding dawned.
These four doors housed larger bedrooms, one of which was most certainly Joseph’s. At least one of the other rooms had to be occupied by the guest Joseph greeted the other night. Killean didn’t know if the other two rooms were empty but locked to keep out Savages looking to upgrade, or if other prominent figures in Joseph’s army slept behind them.
Killean resisted kicking the doors in to learn more; that would only earn him a detour from his explorations. Turning away, he strode to the end of the hall and turned left; it was the only option given to him.
He stepped into the doorway of another circular, concrete room, but this one was twice the size of the empty room and Joseph’s office. About twenty feet separated him from a metal shelf set in front of some see-through plastic sections about waist-high off the ground.
The setup looked familiar to him, and it took him a minute to realize the plastic and shelf were part of a human serving area. He’d seen cafeterias resembling this over the years, but without servers behind the plastic dividers ladling out food, and no people pushing their trays down the metal ramp, he hadn’t immediately placed what it was.
Also, when he’d seen places such as this before, there were tables in the room where the humans ate, but aside from the serving area, the room was only empty space and concrete floor. His steps didn’t make any noise as he glided across the room to explore beyond the serving area.
When he stepped around the serving area and walked past some cutting tables, he discovered a metal stove and a large, double refrigerator. He opened the fridge and found it empty. Still, if this room was here, then it had a purpose and it wasn’t to feed Savages. Whatever this place was, it seemed humans originally built it and not vampires.
Bomb shelter. It had to be. But not one built in the fifties and sixties when fear of nuclear war was at its highest, and even vamps were concerned about what the imbecilic humans would do next. Vampires could survive many things, but they had no idea what nuclear fallout would do to them. If vampires did survive, it wouldn’t be pleasant, and it would wipe out most of their food supply.
No, this shelter was newer than those uncertain days, or at least it was more recently updated than the heyday of the Cold War.
And then he realized the Savages could have recently had this place constructed to serve as an emergency shelter if it became necessary. They would require a food supply if they locked themselves in here, and they would have to keep that food alive by giving it nourishment. Keeping humans alive in here would be difficult, as some of the Savages would give in and kill some of their supply; he also suspected those Savages would be slaughtered in return.
He couldn’t imagine anything more horrible than being locked beneath the earth with a bunch of Savages who weren’t allowed to kill their limited food supply.
Walking around the fridge, Killean discovered the room went another twenty feet back. He strolled past the appliances and to the back wall where he opened the door of a pantry to reveal thousands of canned goods stashed inside. He had no idea how much people ate, but there seemed to be enough here to keep them going for months, maybe years.
He closed the pantry door and strolled over to the walk-in freezer taking up most of the back wall. Not only did the freezer contain enough blood to keep a hundred vampires alive for at least a year, but it also held plenty of meat and perishables for humans.
He tried to process everything he was seeing, but his gaze kept returning to the bags of frozen blood. Saliva filled his mouth as he licked his lips; what he wouldn’t give to sink his fangs into someone’s throat, rip it out, and bathe in their blood. Memories of last night’s kill danced across his mind as his body thrummed with excitement.
What he was becoming should repulse him; instead, he found himself pondering when he’d be able to hunt again. He craved the rush of blood filling his mouth, the life slipping into him, and the power it brought. All he wanted—
Stop!
Killean rubbed at his temples as the demon part of him clamored for more death. Must control it.
But he felt as if he were spiraling farther away. Simone! You’re here for Simone!
Drawing on that reminder, Killean gathered the tattered remains of his self-control and finally lifted his head again. He kept his gaze away from the blood as the chilly air flowing over his skin further helped to clear his mind.
If the freezer was fully functional, then they had to be powering it somehow. The same could be said for the lights and the hot water in the showers, but until seeing this freezer, he’d never really thought about a power source for this place. Either they had a self-contained electric grid here, or they were hooked into a natural gas line that wouldn’t be affected by a disaster.
But then, if the world went to shit, he doubted anyone would choose to be plugged into combustible gas… so, their own power source fueled this place.
“What are you doing back here?”
Killean almost jumped at the sudden intrusion, but he kept himself from doing so as he turned toward the Savage standing behind him. How had he not heard the man approach?
Because you’re losing it.
And that was true.
“Exploring,” he replied as he closed the freezer door. “What are you doing back here?”
The man crossed his arms over his chest. “Joseph sent me for you; he says you’re to go to him now.”
Killean bit back the retort of, I don’t give a fuck w
hat he says, but such a reply wouldn’t go over too well, and he had a role to play. Never had he chafed against the responsibilities placed on him by being one of Ronan’s men, but Ronan never treated him like a dog meant to jump when he commanded.
“Now!” the man barked.
Before Killean could think, he lashed out and seized the man’s throat. Lifting the Savage off the ground, Killean smashed him into the concrete. The impact shattered the wall and created a perfect, man-sized indent. He bared his fangs as he thrust his face into the man’s.
“Don’t you ever talk to me like that again,” Killean snarled.
CHAPTER 7
Killean’s fingers dug into the man’s flesh, cutting off his air supply and spilling blood. The man’s feet kicked against the concrete as Killean’s gaze latched onto the red trails streaking his pale flesh. The man choked, and his face turned florid as Killean resisted sinking his fangs into the Savage’s throat and draining him dry.
He hadn’t been able to stop himself from attacking one of Joseph’s men, but he could stop himself from killing one of them. Killean shoved the man’s head off the wall and released him. The Savage slid to the ground and nearly collapsed, before locking his legs underneath him.
“Joseph will kill you for this!” the Savage spat at him as he grasped his throat.
Killean grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck and hauled him forward. The Savage was only an inch or two shorter than him, yet he couldn’t break free of Killean’s grasp as Killean dragged him across the kitchen and out into the hall again. While he was here, he had to play nice and go along with Joseph, but he wouldn’t tolerate some little pissant thinking they could order him around.
A couple of startled Savages stepped out of their way when Killean stalked into the hallway where he slept, but no one tried to stop him. Killean kept the man’s head down and his body hunched over while he propelled him into the hall with the hunters. His gaze flicked to Simone who didn’t look at him, but neither did any of the other hunters as they huddled into themselves.
Killean tore his attention away from Simone’s increasingly gaunt face as he dragged the man up to Joseph’s door and used the Savage’s head to knock on it.
“Come in!” Joseph called.
Killean opened the door and shoved Joseph’s lackey inside. The Savage stumbled and nearly crashed into Joseph’s desk before righting himself.
“What is the meaning of this?” Joseph demanded as he rose to stand behind his desk.
“We had a disagreement, and he believes you’ll kill me over it,” Killean replied with a scathing look at the man he’d hauled in here.
“I did what you commanded me to do, sir! He” —the man pointed a finger at Killean, but when Killean growled at him, the guy quickly lowered it— “was taking his sweet-ass time.”
“I won’t be commanded by some pawn,” Killean said, and when he stepped closer to the man, the Savage edged away.
While here, Killean would do as told when it was necessary, but to survive in this world, he had to take a stand. Joseph wouldn’t expect him to meekly take orders from someone who didn’t possess his kind of power or breeding; it would raise suspicions if he did. In this treacherous, unfamiliar world, every move he made could be the wrong one.
Killean stared at Joseph while he waited to see if he’d played this hand right. For all he knew, Joseph had sent this man to ruffle Killean’s feathers and bait him into a trap. But had the trap just snapped closed and killed him or set him free?
Joseph smirked as he returned to his seat and rested his hands on his stomach. “Leave us, Andre.”
Andre looked like Joseph had told him to fly away as he started to sputter a protest.
“Get out!” Joseph spat, cutting off anything Andre was trying to say.
Andre scurried past Killean and out the door; it banged shut behind him.
“I won’t tolerate insolence here,” Joseph said.
“Understandable, but I won’t tolerate these newbies thinking they can order me around. I am a powerful, centuries-old purebred, and they are simply a means to an end for whatever you’re planning.”
“True,” Joseph agreed as he leaned forward. “Our breeding is far superior to theirs, but they are a necessity.”
“For what?”
“You are far from ready for that information.”
Killean’s teeth ground together in response to Joseph’s condescending words. If the other Savages wouldn’t pounce on him and tear him apart before he could flee with Simone, Killean would go for Joseph in the hopes of putting an end to those plans. But he’d never survive this place, and he’d never learn who was really behind whatever Joseph was doing here.
“Why did you want me?” Killean asked.
“We are going to hunt!” Joseph declared, and settling his hands on the desk, he pushed himself to his feet. “We must both be well fed for tomorrow.”
“And why is that?”
“Because the hunters are ready. Tomorrow night we will be taking some of them out and setting them free to slaughter.”
Joseph strolled out from behind his desk and clapped Killean on the shoulder before leading him toward the door. Killean’s skin crawled at the contact, but something more had the hair on his nape rising. He had to figure a way to save Simone before tomorrow.
• • •
Hungry. So hungry.
Someone had taken a match to her veins, and as if gasoline instead of blood filled them, they’d set those veins afire. She couldn’t think about anything other than the flames devouring her and her burning hunger. Yanking on her chains, she tried to break herself free, but they wouldn’t let her go.
The chains rattled; she jerked more angrily as strange noises filled her ears. Was she making that sound? She scented blood. Was she tearing her skin? Did it come from someone else? Whatever the answers, she didn’t care as she sniffed at the air like a hound on the scent.
Blood. Blood. Blood.
Her head throbbed; her vision blurred. She was dying, but she couldn’t die. She could only feel and suffer and hunger.
Nearby steps caused her head to tip back. It took a few seconds, but her gaze finally settled on the scarred man with the deep brown hair. Name? Can’t remember. Don’t care. Blood. He has blood! And his blood smells so good!
Her eyes latched onto his neck and the blood pulsing through there. NEED!
Something pierced her bottom lip, but the temporary discomfort was nothing compared to the inferno raging through her body.
Killean went to kneel in front of Simone before catching himself. He wanted nothing more than to offer her some comfort, but at his side, Joseph was speaking with one of his followers. Simone stared at him, but her white-blue eyes burned with hunger and Killean knew she didn’t have any idea who he was or what was going on anymore. She was lost in the haze of bloodlust and starvation.
I won’t let you be lost forever, he vowed.
Blood trickled from the skin she’d torn away from her wrists in her attempts to get free. Her fangs had shredded her bottom lip, and the fine blue veins in her cheeks and eyelids were visible as her skin had become nearly translucent. The once elegant angles of her high cheekbones looked about to break through her skin.
“Looks like this little bitch is getting the comeuppance you wanted her to receive,” Joseph said in his ear.
I am going to kill you, Killean promised as he reined in his temper.
“Yes,” Killean murmured.
Simone sniffed at the air as her teeth snapped. The composed, beautiful hunter he first encountered had been replaced by this animalistic, broken version, and though he hadn’t liked her doll-like perfection, he loathed this.
“After tomorrow, she could be yours for the taking.”
After tomorrow, Killean would make sure she wasn’t here.
“Come, let’s hunt,” Joseph said.
It took everything Killean had to put one foot in front of the other away from Simone. Frustration and rage
boiled within him as the blindfold and hood were placed on again before they led him outside.
Simone watched the men stride away from her. They’d taken the tantalizing scent of their blood with them, but the aroma lingered.
I want… hunnnngry… Blood. Blood. BLOOD!
CHAPTER 8
Killean paced the small confines of his cell from one end to the other. He’d found and killed a man last night who was bragging to his friends about the number of girls he’d banged.
When one of the friends quipped, “Yeah, but how many of them were awake for it?”
The man had shrugged and replied, “Who cares as long as I am?”
Killean made sure the man was awake and feeling it as he sucked the life from him.
Yet, the blood and death of last night hadn’t eased his foul mood or calmed his bloodlust. They’d only increased with every passing hour as night approached. He’d been here for three days and he still had no idea how he was going to save Simone.
Stopping, he drew back his fist and drove it into the concrete wall. Dust rained down, the wall and his knuckles cracked. The broken bones didn’t deter him from hammering the wall until his blood streaked it and piles of dust lay at his feet.
Pulling his hand back, he watched as his flattened knuckles popped back up and shifted into place. He flexed his already mending bones as his broken skin knitted itself closed. Consuming the blood of innocents had increased the rate with which he healed. Unable to look at his hands anymore, he lowered them and gazed at the blood coating the wall. He couldn’t scent the Savage on himself like he could the others, but that blood was as tainted as he was.
Turning away from the wall, Killean stalked over to the door, flung it open, and strode into the hall. No one else was about, but he knew better than to go to the hunters again. He didn’t know if he could stop himself from trying to tear Simone free, and if he kept showing an interest in her, it would only make Joseph suspicious of him.
Bound by Darkness (The Alliance, Book 3) Page 5