Getaway, p.1
Getaway, page 1
Getaway
Silver, Volume 2
Yara Gharios
Published by Yara Gharios, 2023.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
GETAWAY
First edition. April 11, 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Yara Gharios.
ISBN: 979-8215250099
Written by Yara Gharios.
Table of Contents
TIMELINE CHART
CONTENT WARNING
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Episode 3
Other Titles by Yara Gharios
Sneak Peek
TIMELINE CHART
Day of capture
|
(1 year)
|
Day of escape
|
(7 years)
|
Now
CONTENT WARNING
This novella contains sensitive subjects, such as:
Suicidal thoughts
Abusive relationships
Violence using fantasy magic
Coercion and manipulation in a sexual context
CHAPTER ONE
Seven Years Ago
day of escape
Adam’s heart hammered in his chest on the way to Master’s quarters. The narrow hallways almost seemed to be closing in on him, but he tried not to let his fear show on his face.
Master only ever summoned humans to his quarters during feeding time. He rarely asked to speak to one of them, with the exception of Devon and Shiloh. Granted, he often addressed the servants he crossed paths with, and he did have monthly check-ins with Adam, but never in his quarters. During their last meeting, he had been unusually curious about the human staff’s history at the estate, inquiring about each one’s individual relationship with both the vampires and the werewolves.
Lately, however, he was calling some of the staff members for a private talk. Adam had a terrifying suspicion it had something to do with Lord Henry, a much older vamphyr ruling over the supernatural population in some of the neighboring states. Things between the two lords had been tense for the past few weeks. Adam dreaded the possibility that Master was looking to recruit some of his own servants to make a move against the other vamphyr. Seeing Vince leaving the quarters with a self-satisfied smirk on his face—and no bite marks on his neck—all but confirmed it.
When he reached the door, Adam stood for a moment to brace himself and calm his heartbeat while he could still get away with it. Then, he raised his fist in a knock, and the door swung open, revealing a beautiful young redhead with pale skin. Her blue eyes were ringed in a faint red circle, which gave his heart a new reason to beat erratically. She smiled gleefully at him, revealing pearly white fangs protruding from her teeth.
“Adam!” the vampire greeted him in a sing-song voice.
“Gracie!” he replied in the same manner.
“You’re looking dapper this morning—although maybe it’s just the suit.”
He pretended to frown with concern, slipping into their usual game. “And you’re a little pale. Are you sick? You should try going outside. Nothing like a little sun to bring some color back into your cheeks.”
She giggled and proceeded to wipe the corners of her mouth. “Babe, I literally just ate. Give it time to kick in. But hey, if you’re offering, I wouldn’t mind going for seconds.”
As a high-ranking servant, Adam interacted with supernaturals on a regular basis. He was used to them being cordial with him and was mostly professional in return. Grace, however, was a unique case because she’d known him since she was a human child and him, a fresh recruit. At the time, he hadn’t known vampires could be born like humans, so naturally, he’d treated her with kindness—a decision which evidently left a lasting impression on her, considering she now acted like they were close friends. Mostly, he played along because she often confided in him and occasionally shared something useful, albeit inadvertently.
Still, he could never quite get used to the sight of a freshly fed vampire no matter who they were. Even her voice reminded him of creepy children in horror movies, conjuring up images of her eight-year-old-self asking him to play in a chilly, monotonous voice.
All he could do right now was smile back to stop the shivers from running down his spine. Grace loved startling him, which was why he didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she had succeeded.
But then Master’s grave voice interrupted their banter. “That’s enough, Grace. Let him in and shut the door.”
“Yes, Father,” she responded obediently.
As she moved out of the way, her beam closed into a tight-lipped smile, but not before letting Adam see her fangs retreating back up into her upper jaw.
This was one of the many reasons why he was always on edge around vampire. Unlike every other race, some vampires, like Grace, could conceal the physical features that gave away their supernatural nature. They blended in among humans more easily than other supernaturals, which was why they were usually the ones who recruited new servants. Hybrids would do the job better since they could also go out in the sun, but there were too few of them in existence anyway.
Well, there used to be too few hybrids. If Adam was right, then Master was about to change that.
Barely two steps in, Adam froze at the sight of Robert, Grace’s brother and one of the youngest vampires at the estate, tied to a chair by the window. He was evidently unconscious, his chin resting down on his chest. Next to him, the curtains were wide open, which was odd: it was still dark outside, but dawn was fast approaching, and no one was lifting a finger to remove him from the path the sunlight would shortly follow. Adam wondered what the boy could have done to deserve punishment, but it was more of out of curiosity than concern. He had no sympathy for vampires, even fledgling teens like Grace and Robert, who hadn’t reached full immortality yet.
Wasting no more time, Adam turned toward the tall figure standing at the other end of the room.
Dressed in a fine gold and wine-colored dress robes, Lord Drake appeared no older than 20, but he was an imposing sight to behold. With his tall, toned build, flawless tanned skin, and wavy brown hair, he might have once been considered handsome. But the golden eyes and permanently protruding fangs ruined whatever beauty he might have once possessed.
Beyond these physical features, there was also a certain power that emanated out of vamphyrs. It was in the magic they wielded, which was so powerful that even humans, who were devoid of any type of magic, could sense it. It struck fear in anyone who encountered it and was one of the reasons why their race was hunted to near extinction for so long.
More than that, however, there was something about Lord Drake specifically that made him different from other vamphyrs. Out of all the lords that Adam knew—and he had met his fair share—no one could strike fear and caution into his heart like his current master. Just the way he walked around Robert, fixing his golden eyes on Adam, caused beads of sweat to drip down the back of his neck.
“You wanted to see me, Master?” Adam asked, infusing his voice with politeness.
“You know Robert, I assume.”
Adam knew better than to answer with anything but the full truth. “Not as closely as some of the others, but yes. He was a child when I was recruited.”
Master nodded thoughtfully. “Are you aware that he was the one responsible for Pru’s fate?”
The question was like a jolt to Adam’s system, causing his entire body to tense up. He hadn’t heard that name in years, generally preferred not to even think about it. Why would Master bring up old wounds after so long? Did he actually mean to recruit Adam, or was he tormenting him?
From the look on Adam’s face, the vamphyr was able to deduce the answer to his own question. “Robert was young and going through a rebellious phase. He thought he was ready to feed on his own without supervision. I’m sure you can surmise the rest.”
Adam balled his fists as he struggled to tame his anger; at Robert, at Master Drake, at Lord Benjamin—Adam’s previous Master and Grace and Robert’s father—and the entire vampiric community. It took all his willpower to stop the burning sensation in his eyes from materializing into tears.
“I’ve brought him here because I have a proposition for you. In a way, Robert is a sign of good faith on my part. A gift, if you will.”
Involuntarily, Adam’s eyes drifted toward the unconscious vampire, suddenly realizing the reason behind the boy’s current state.
“As you know,” Master went on, “since my ascension as lord, I have been committed to improving the lives of all races at my estate.”
Adam had to physically restrain himself from scoffing. The vamphyr truly believed what he was saying. After all, he was the only one of his kind that didn’t invade people’s minds without permission—though if anyone mocked or disregarded his vision, then all was fair game. Yeah, he was merciful that way.
“Among other things, it is my hope to eradicate the prejudice against hybrids and werewolves, so they are more accepted in our community, but also to make sure human servants are treated fairly. My predecessor failed to properly punish Robert for his actions agains t Pru, so I am about to rectify that.”
Adam gulped. “And how exactly do you need me, Master?”
“I am giving you permission to choose his punishment. You can either leave the curtain open and let the sun reduce him to ash, or close it and exact your vengeance on him yourself.”
It still unsettled Adam how nonchalantly Master could speak of killing one of his own vampires—someone who, for all intents and purposes, he viewed and treated as one of his children.
“Of course, the second choice comes with a condition.” There it was. “I would like you to be part of the first hybrid squad in history.”
Squads were usually made up of werewolf or vampire servants turned by Lord Benjamin. Wanting Adam to join them meant that he literally wanted him to join their species. Someone like Master or even Vince considered this offer an honor, but not Adam. He never once wished to be turned into anything. Sure, he made good use of his rank, but that was only because, after eleven years and countless attempts, he had given up hope of ever escaping. It was the only way he could survive.
But he would still rather die than be turned into a supernatural.
Adam couldn’t outright refuse, but he didn’t want to witness the execution of a teenage vampire, either. He had to figure out how to turn down the offer in a way that would still please the vamphyr’s desire to punish Robert. And for that, he needed more time.
“Master, I’m honored by your generosity. Could I have few days to think about it?” he asked. He didn’t need to try too hard to make himself seem rattled. “The news about Pru, I’m not... Finding out what happened after giving up hope for so long... I need to process that first. In the meantime, I’ll think about how I would like for him to be punished.”
At the last part, his gaze drifted toward Robert once again. The sky was starting to change colors, illuminating more of the room and everyone in it. Soon, the sun would be filtering in through the window, and if Robert was still there when it did, he would most certainly die.
Adam wanted to leave so badly, but out of respect, he waited for Master to consider his request and respond first.
After a moment of silent contemplating, the vamphyr finally said, “You have until tomorrow night.”
CHAPTER TWO
Now
‘Remi spy. Master is watching you. Hide.’
At first, Silver couldn’t make sense of the words, but then her thoughts starting racing.
How could Remi betray everyone in the sanctuary? Betray her? And how did the skinwalkers find out? Neither Levi nor Quinn would have taken the time to leave Silver a message if the sanctuary was under attack. Perhaps they evacuated everyone as soon as they discovered Remi’s betrayal.
Her friend being a traitor hurt beyond words, but she shoved that part down for now to focus on the second part of the message, which terrified her to her core. Levi had most likely written the message, and he was normally extremely careful with his words. He had clearly written that she was being watched, not the sanctuary, which also implied that the surveillance was still ongoing—but how? She’d only seen Remi for a couple of hours, and it was the first time they crossed paths in weeks. Master couldn’t have been watching her through him.
There was only one explanation: Adam.
Vamphyrs sometimes used a squad member as another pair of eyes, inserting themselves into the latter’s mind. If something happened to the squad, the vamphyr would know instantly without needing anyone to report it to him. Usually, Master only did it with either the squad leader or a member he didn’t trust and wished to keep in check. Silver had assumed that wasn’t the case with Adam, but it had to be.
Except...
Why had one of the hybrids that just ambushed her at the base run away when they saw him? If all three were reporting to Master, Adam would have helped them subdue her, not just stood there gawking, equally shocked to see them.
Was Remi working for someone else? That was a distinct possibility, but Silver couldn’t fathom what that person’s goal could be. There were no signs of a struggle at the sanctuary, but the hybrids had been lying in wait at the base. They’d held back during the ambush, likely trying to capture her without inflicting damage. Did that mean someone else was after her? Someone other than Master?
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind her, but she didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“What the hell was that?” Adam panted. “Who were those hybrids back there?”
The astonishment in his voice made her blood boil. It didn’t matter if he and Remi weren’t conspiring against her; he was still a threat she hadn’t seen coming. That fact bugged her more than anything right now, and she clung to it as a way to anchor her thoughts and center her feelings. It was time she took care of the hybrid once and for all.
Her pearl eyes remained fixed on the message Adam couldn’t see, her fists turning white and her breathing ragged. She stayed immobile as he approached, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, reaching toward her. Concern. “Hey, Shi—”
There was nothing gentle about the way she came at him.
Energized by pure hatred and terror, her hand flew up to his throat, and she effortlessly lifted him up, pushing him through the door and dragging him all the way inside the hut. The move disoriented Adam, who winced in pain when his back unexpectedly slammed against the wall. Though he was taller, she lifted him high enough for his feet to dangle.
She reveled in the shock and fear on his face for a moment before telepathically forcing her way into his mind. He was too weak to resist her power, which pleased her even more.
“Stop,” he gasped.
“Be quiet,” she snarled back.
In seconds, she found what she was looking for: a pair of golden eyes flashed in her mind, staring back at her with hunger.
“Shiloh,” a voice that belonged neither to her nor to Adam desperately called out in their joined minds. “Please, come home.”
Focusing on her rage, she put up a mental block and forced Master out of Adam’s mind. After that, she did a quick sweep to remove any lingering traces of his power. When she was satisfied that nobody would be able to spy on her through the hybrid’s eyes, she retreated from his mind. It was a struggle to drop the magic altogether, given how worked up she was, but a few moments later, the silver color finally withdrew from her eyes.
“I’m not asking nicely this time,” she ordered, her voice deadly.
Her physical hold on Adam hadn’t relaxed in the slightest, but the force of her grip constricted his airway. His feet were still not touching the ground. In an attempt to breathe, he started squirming and clawing at her hand in. Reluctantly, she allowed him the mercy of lowering him enough for his toes to support his weight again.
“Now, you’re going to ans—” she started to say.
But the dance began before she could see it coming.
In a flash, Adam lifted his leg and kneed her in the stomach. Her body reeled back, but her grip moved from his throat down to his collar again. Regaining her balance, Silver clasped his clothes and threw him backward as hard as she could, not aiming for any particular landing point.
Spryly, Adam twisted in midair and landed on all fours in an attack stance. He was obviously better trained than the rest of his squad, but then again, so was she. When he lunged at her, she was prepared for it and blocked his oncoming fists. Her hands itched to grab her staff and put it to use, but it was easier to control her magic when her battle instincts were focused on subduing, not killing.
Then he came at her from the side, and she latched onto his forearm and ducked under it. Her feet glided around him, hoping to twist his arm behind his back, but he anticipated the move and threw a punch at her side just as she was ducking. The surprise attack caused her to loosen her grip, and he took advantage of the split second before she could retaliate to strike again, this time going for her face. This blow hit her even harder, but she wasn’t about to let it distract her.
Dodging his next attack, she twirled away and out of arm’s reach. By the time he went after her, she had lifted one leg backward mid-twirl and aimed it for his waist. The force of her kick combined with her movements toppled him over, but he grabbed her ankle while going down and threw her sideways. Luckily, the wall was close enough to allow her to ease her fall and land on her feet.
