V games dead before da.., p.15
V Games - Dead Before Dawn, page 15
part #3 of The Vampire Games Series
Darkness washed over me like I was underwater. All I could feel was hunger, rage. The last thing I was truly aware of was Selena rushing up the stairs, her lips forming my name.
It took me an age to realise that my teeth were sunk deep into a soft neck. Blood poured down my throat, warm and sating every ache in my body. I was addicted to the taste. Nothing mattered but quenching that need inside me. As I regained my senses, the scent of Selena washed over me, her hair brushing my cheek as she leaned down – offering her neck to me. I bunched my hand in her hair, extracting my teeth as gently as I could.
“No,” I groaned but she hushed me, shaking her head, tears on her cheeks.
“It doesn't matter,” she insisted. “You're alright. For a moment I thought-” She ducked her head and I wiped the tears from her face, a hole opening up inside me.
“I can't keep doing this to you.”
“What are you talking about?” She almost laughed through her tears, one of her knees nudging mine as she half straddled me. “Varick you saw the sun, for a moment you were human.”
I sucked the last of her blood from my lips, the weight of what had happened dawning on me.
“This is my fault,” Brendan's voice reached us. “It's completely unsanctioned. We should have run the test in more controlled conditions.” He continued muttering to himself and Selena rolled over to sit beside me, gazing down at her father.
“It's fine,” Selena urged.
Brendan looked between us, his eyes creasing with anxious lines. “No, the two of you...this bond you have. I should have realised it before...” His eyes glazed over as he started pacing.
“Realised what?” Selena demanded, her hand linking with mine.
I pushed myself upright, rubbing my throat as the pain of it eased off a fraction.
Brendan paused, looking to us, slightly out of breath. “Your blood is stronger than mine. And Varick is capable of loving you because of it, don't you see? No Vampire I've ever worked with has been able to rise above the thirst for such a thing.”
“But you said the Vs are more human when they drink-” Selena started, but Brendan cut in.
“Yes more human. Not human enough to love someone.” Brendan gazed at me and I felt caught out somehow. Not that I'd done anything I had any control over. Brendan started pacing again. “I should have realised it before now. I saw the way he looked at you, the way you sought each other out in the game, but I wasn't certain until now that he truly loved you. But if I'd accepted it before, I would have known your blood was stronger, that this was a foolish experiment. That we should have taken more precautions.”
I stood and Selena followed me down the stairs. “It doesn't matter,” she said. “Everything's fine, isn't it?”
Brendan reached out a shaking hand to touch Selena's arm and it hit me how much he loved her. My gut spiralled as I caught on to what he was saying. That I could have killed her. That he wanted to protect her.
“We'll be more careful in future,” I spoke at last, giving Brendan a nod that I hoped conveyed the understanding between us. “No more breaking protocol.”
“No more drinking from her directly. Selena will give blood donations,” Brendan said firmly, seeming relieved by my response.
“Wait a second-” Selena started, gazing between us. “Can you both stop talking like I'm not here? I'm perfectly happy for Varick to feed from me.”
“No,” Brendan and I said in unison.
Selena glared at us, the kind of fierce expression that spoke of why she'd won the V Games.
I softened my tone and repeated, “No. Not directly at least. We must do this Brendan's way. To keep you safe.”
“You can donate blood,” Brendan urged.
Selena folded her arms, but the fight went out of her expression as she gazed at me. “Fine.”
Brendan gave us a smile. “I'll leave you to your day.” He left us alone, the quiet between us thick, Selena's scent running over me like sweet blossoms.
Selena sighed, dropping her eyes as some thought took root in her mind. “We need to start coming up with a plan. If the Helsings show up here...”
I resisted for a moment, but knew it was time. The Helsings may have been making their own plans to find us, kill us. And as much as I wanted to put it off, it was time we started making a strategy to deal with them.
I gazed in the direction Brendan had headed, an idea filling my mind. “Perhaps it's time I spoke to Mercy.”
“We,” Selena corrected, giving me a stubborn stare that made me want to kiss her.
“She's more likely to talk to me alone.”
Selena's brows knitted together, then she sighed. “Alright, if you think that's best.”
“I do.”
She gripped my wrist, giving me a pained smile that spoke of how much she cared for me. “I'll see you later then.”
We said our goodbyes and I headed in the direction of Mercy's scent.
The entrance to the basement was located behind the stairs, leading down into a dank-smelling place with dim lamps on the exposed brickwork.
Up ahead was a single metal door - silver. The door was locked, but the key hung on the wall beside it. If I was careful, I reckoned I could open it.
Taking the key, I pushed it into the lock, turning it. I tugged my sleeve over my hand to press the handle and stepped inside. A wave of heat rolled over me from a fan heater, whirring away in the low-lit room. I caught sight of a lumpy shape on a small bed.
“Mercy?” I called. The lump under the cover shifted and I moved to the bedside, gazing down at the remnants of Mercy's pride.
“Get up or I'm leaving,” I demanded and the cover flipped back.
Her eyes met mine and I heard the elevation of her heart rate. She scrambled upright, dressed in an over-sized jumper and jeans. I'd never seen her in so many clothes, and certainly not without make-up. She actually looked...normal.
“What do you want?” she demanded, running a hand self-consciously through her hair.
“To talk,” I said as calmly as I could manage. But I wasn't calm. In fact, my hands had already curled into fists and my fangs were aching with the desire to destroy her. But I knew that wasn't sensible. For more reasons than one. Brendan could have me removed from The Sanctuary if I killed her. And apart from that, she was the only bargaining chip we had.
“I need your cooperation,” I explained. “Unless you want to live in this basement forever.” I gestured to the damp walls.
Fear radiated from Mercy, but no sign of it reached her face. Her features were relaxed, her eyes trailing over me. “What do you want, Varick?”
I inched closer to her, gazing down at her petite form, reminding her of exactly who had the upper hand these days. I couldn't resist a jibe. “Apart from your blood spilled all over these walls?”
She backed up and her legs hit the bed frame. “You wouldn't,” she insisted, her eyes suddenly watery. “I know you were a prisoner of my family but we were...well, we got along okay, didn't we? I never did anything to you.”
“Except threaten me and coerce me into doing terrible things in your name.”
She let out a small whimper of fear as I edged closer. “You killed my brother,” she breathed, a tear sliding down her cheek.
The sight was intensely satisfying. I'd finally struck a blow against her that had truly impacted on her.
She hurriedly wiped the tear from her cheek, jutting up her chin to face me. “I know why you did it. I couldn't accept it at first, but Ignus did a lot of bad things in the name of his work. I know he hurt you. Hurt all the Vampires.” She reached for my arm and I recoiled, glowering at her.
But a dark part of me knew I should play this game once more. If I wanted her to help us, give us information, it was in all our best interests for me to let her believe I cared for her.
I sighed, dropping my head. “It's confusing for me, seeing you here, like this.”
Mercy's brows raised. She wasn't going to be easily fooled twice, and I didn't know if I had the acting skills to pull off the 'internal struggle' I was trying to convey. But anything was worth a shot.
“Anyway,” I changed the subject quickly, turning my back on her as if I were trying to hide something. “The only reason I came here was to get some answers. I need to know what your parents will try to do now that we've wrecked one of their games.”
Mercy's hand pressed to my spine and I fought the urge to flinch with all my might. “That's the only reason?”
“Yes,” I said firmly, remaining in place. “They will come for us, no doubt. Especially if they believe you're dead.”
She extracted her hand and I could almost hear the cogs and wheels turning in her head. “They were angry...I'd never seen father like it. At Ignus's funeral he killed half of the Vs we had left.” After a stretch of silence she added, “They haven't got the means to set up another game anytime soon...but...”
“But?” I flipped around, the word holding a world of terrifying possibilities.
“But their friend does. He's holding a game...in tribute to my family.”
“Another game?” I barked, grabbing hold of her arm. She didn't wince, even though I was sure I was gripping her too tightly.
“Yes,” she breathed.
“When?” I demanded.
“This week,” she revealed.
“This week?!” I bellowed, lowering my face to hers.
“I thought you knew!”
“How could I know?” I snapped.
Mercy's eyes rounded. “Because he knows. He already questioned me about it.”
“Who?” I snarled, but I was certain I already knew the answer.
“Brendan Grey, of course.”
Selena
Despite my burning curiosity, Varick had insisted we round up the rest of our group before divulging a single detail from his talk with Mercy.
I piggy-backed Thames to the large food hall, helping her onto a seat beside mine whilst Varick fetched the other Vs. There were other groups dotted around the room on circular tables, but no Vampires. I supposed they didn't need to come here.
Jameson arrived before I could go in search of him, with Nadine at his side, looking weary. Apart from the circles under Jameson's eyes, he looked his usual self, soon dropping into the seat beside mine with a plate of food bigger than his head.
Nadine sipped on a glass of orange juice, keeping close to his side.
“Varick told me what happened,” I said in a low voice, resting my hand on Jameson's arm beneath the table.
Jameson offered me a grim look, nodding as he speared a sausage with his fork. “What ya gonna do, eh?” He ate it in two short bites.
“How can you eat?” Nadine hissed at him. He shrugged off her fingers which were digging into his bicep.
“I'm hungry,” he answered and she sighed, looking down into her juice like it held all the answers she longed for.
“I'm sorry.” I leant forward to catch her eye. “Nadine, isn't it?”
She nodded, giving me a ghost of a smile.
Varick stepped into the room with Kodiak, Kite and Cass flanking him and my heart flipped over. Jameson placed his fork down mid-bite - which seemed like a big deal when it came to him.
Cass's eyes widened to saucers, but she never slowed down, dropping smoothly into the seat opposite him. Kodiak, Kite and Varick filled the remaining chairs. They looked like four perfect statues brought to life, each movement so delicate and refined.
“You're here,” Cass addressed Jameson, her tone casual.
He lifted his discarded fork to his mouth and ate the contents, dropping his eyes. “Ya-huh,” he managed around the food.
“Thought you were given orders not to be here,” she teased and I kicked her harshly under the table. Being a V, she didn't react, but her eyes slid to mine, her brows knitting together in a question. Hadn't Varick tipped her off about what had happened?
“What?” she mouthed as Jameson continued to eat. Nadine suddenly burst into tears. Kite wrinkled her nose.
Jameson wordlessly dropped an arm around her shoulders whilst continuing to eat with his free hand.
I shifted awkwardly, looking to Varick for help, but he seemed deep in thought.
“How are you?” Kodiak suddenly cut through the silence, evidently not aware of what was going on. He leant past Cass, looking directly at Thames.
She raised her brows in surprise, nodding as she quickly swallowed the cereal in her mouth. “Fine. Except, you know, I can't walk. So there's that.”
“Yes,” Kodiak said, his voice grave. “There is that.”
“We need to talk about the Helsings,” Varick changed the subject. He leant in closer, lowering his tone. “Specifically, we need to talk about Mercy.”
“What do you mean?” Jameson looked up.
“Mercy's here, Brendan has her locked in the basement,” I filled him in.
Jameson stilled for several seconds before continuing to eat as if the news hadn't affected him.
“How's the little brat doing?” Kite asked, her eyes flashing with delight.
“Brendan's treating her better than the Helsings would treat us,” Varick answered.
“You went to see her?” Cass asked.
Varick gave her a grave look as he nodded. “She told me her parents are attending another game...this week. It's being held in their honour.”
My heart plummeted. “Another game? Where? Who's holding it?” I demanded, unable to get the questions out fast enough.
“I don't know,” Varick growled. “But I think your father does.”
“Why wouldn't he tell us?” I hissed.
“Who cares where it is?” Thames said.
“Because if we know where they are we can...” I struggled to finish that sentence.
“You can what?” Kite laughed. “Show up at the game and shoot them?”
“Well why not?” I snapped. “We can find a way in-”
“That'd be suicide,” Jameson pointed his fork at me.
“Not if we were careful,” I insisted, looking to Cass for back-up.
She frowned. “We need to find out more.”
“Yes,” Varick sounded exasperated. “No one's doing anything until we have more details.”
Silence fell at the table and I rose to my feet.
“Where are you going?” Varick stood.
“To talk to my father.”
His jaw ticked, then he nodded, gesturing for me to lead the way. I practically jogged from the hall and Varick took the lead as he used his sense of smell to locate my father.
We soon arrived in a narrow corridor and Varick pointed to a door. “He's in there.”
I remembered to knock at the last second.
“Come in,” Brendan called.
I stepped into a large office of cherry-oak wood and deep, magenta carpet. Brendan was perched against a desk with Nirena before him. They gazed at us expectantly and I quickly composed myself. “When were you going to tell us about the game the Helsings are attending?”
Brendan's face paled and Nirena slowly unfolded her arms, looking to him for direction. From her expression, it was obvious she knew about this too.
“Well?” I pressed.
“Who told you?” Brendan stood up straighter.
“It doesn't matter. Were you ever planning on telling me?” I demanded.
Brendan's guilty expression gave me my answer.
“Why did you keep this a secret?” Varick stepped in.
Brendan's eyes fell on me. “To protect you.”
My heart tugged a fraction.
“You have already been through so much, Selena,” he continued. “And I have seen the fire in you that would have you go after the Helsings. And I cannot let you do it.”
“That isn't your decision to make,” I snapped. I took a breath, attempting to soften my tone before continuing, “Please, Brendan. If you know more about this game, you need to tell us.”
I felt Varick's eyes on me, but didn't turn my gaze from Brendan.
“Brendan has spies amongst the game spectators,” Nirena answered when my father didn't. “He sets them up to be invited to all the Hunter events.”
“Nirena,” Brendan hissed.
“There is no point keeping this from them now,” she said.
Silence stretched through the air for a moment.
“Alright,” Brendan sighed, giving in. “Well...what Nirena said is true. I started using spies a few years back to reach out to Immortals. Able to smuggle the odd one from the games. They're not always like the Helsings' games. They're not so heavily guarded.”
I nodded, waiting for him to elaborate.
He moved around his desk, his brows drawn together as he opened a drawer, extracting something from it. “Those of my men who are still undercover have received a new invitation.” Brendan walked to me, slow and defeated as he handed me a cream card, embossed with golden lettering. My eyes dropped to the words written on it.
You are formally invited to the Hunters Festival.
Held in the name of the Helsing family for both Hunter and man alike, to show our support for their recent loss.
The event will last three days with games held in their honour like nothing you have ever seen before.
RSVP in the usual way.
Location will arrive one day before your departure.
I fought the urge to crush the invite in my fist. “Who is this from?”
“A wealthy Hunter named Rockley Jones,” Brendan said as I passed the invite to Varick. “He has held games nearly as long as the Helsings have.”
“But they are not quite so civilised,” Nirena added.
“And the Helsings' games are civilised?” Varick snarled.
Nirena quickly shook her head. “Not at all. But believe me, I've heard the stories, Varick.” Terror blazed in her eyes. “Peeling the skin from living Vs. Burning women in fine dresses whilst the spectators warm their hands on the flames. Rockley has a certain type of clientele. But if he is inviting all the Hunters to his event then-”
“Then we have an opportunity,” I cut her off, turning to Varick, excitement and fear darting through my veins. All the Hunters gathering in one place, making themselves the most appealing target I ever could have imagined. “We have to be there. We can finish them.” I gripped his arm and he gazed at me, looking uncertain.
