Varick
As 5am approached, I sat on the staircase in the entrance hall. Not that I had high hopes of Selena waking up for whatever reason she had in mind. Still, I'd wait and see.
Tonight had been...impossible really. I'd barely entertained the idea that we'd be capable of such a human thing. But the moment I'd broken the news to Selena about the Helsings, seen her face fall for the first time in days, I'd started to forget my doubts, desperate to comfort her. To be close to her. And to hold onto this peace a little while longer.
But every taste of humanity I got, I wanted more. It was like a drug; the longer I had to go between feeds, the more I craved it, feared the oncoming hunger, the detachment to my emotions.
I shuddered. I could never go back to that place again. I'd climbed from the pit of hell, but I was barely holding on by my fingertips.
A question nagged at me to be answered. If no cure could be found, was I able to live like this? To keep feeding from Selena, using her to remain as human as possible?
I shut my eyes, the pain of that reality setting in. How could I put such a burden on her? What kind of life would she have chasing shadows with me? Living her daytime life alone whilst I skulked in the darkness?
And what would happen when nature set in and she'd start to long for children? A family?
I couldn't offer her that. And that knowledge threatened to one day break my heart.
Footsteps caught my ear and a voice spoke a moment later, “Ah, you're here already.”
I stood, approaching Brendan at the bottom of the stairs, holding something in his hand.
“Selena asked me to meet her here.” I dropped off of the bottom step, trying to get a better look at whatever he was holding.
He checked his watch, glancing upstairs, evidently not wanting to elaborate until Selena arrived.
“Did Darrell speak to you of what happened to Ulvic's pack?” I asked.
Brendan gave me a grave look. “Yes, I'll double the guards at the perimeter. Two Helsings might be strong, but they're not enough to take on an entire island of Immortals.”
His words lulled me into a feeling of security. He was right. We were safe here. Truly.
The door banged open behind me and I turned to find Selena jogging down the stairs, dragging a jumper on and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “I'm here,” she announced, almost bumping into me as she hit the bottom step.
A grin tugged at my mouth and I had to fight the urge to kiss her in front of her father. Instead, I folded my arms, waiting for her to give me an explanation for this meeting.
She rolled up the baggy sleeves of her hoodie, thrusting an arm towards Brendan.
I frowned, watching as Brendan procured a syringe and took a sample of blood from the crook of Selena's elbow. I started to cotton-on as I waited, my skin prickling with tension. Did they really think her blood could cure me? Surely we knew the answer to that by now.
“It's not a cure,” Brendan confirmed. “But when our blood is injected into a Vampire, they have some enhanced...humanity. For a brief time,” he added, moving toward me.
I held out my arm, looking to Selena who was grinning from ear to ear. Brendan pushed the silver-tipped needle into a vein in my forearm, pressing slowly down on the plunger.
When he was done, he stepped back, gesturing for Selena to take the lead. She ran her fingers absently over the place the needle had pierced my skin and I felt the warmth of her fingertips like they were on fire.
Slowly, my body reacted to the blood. Some of my Vampire senses dulled, but my emotions flared brighter, my heart began to beat harder until it met a steady, human rhythm.
The constriction in my throat eased to nothing, until my thirst literally vanished. My hand went to my neck in delighted surprise and Selena's smile brightened.
The next sensation made me double over and I gripped the banister for support. It felt like a balloon was expanding inside me. Air ran deep into my lungs and out again until I was wheezing.
“Is he alright?” Selena's voice drifted to me.
“He's breathing,” Brendan announced, sounding elated. It had been so long since I'd done so that it wasn't until he said it that I knew his words were true. Of course, I naturally took in air to talk, but this was different. I needed to do this.
I stopped trying to control it, letting my body take over, oxygen flowing freely into my lungs. I cupped my mouth and nose to block the passage and sure enough, my lungs began to ache for air.
“Selena,” I turned to her in absolute awe.
“I've never seen progress like this,” Brendan said, shaking his head in surprise before checking his watch.
Selena gripped my wrist and I felt her everywhere, electricity exploding down my veins, bringing every part of me to life. I grabbed her, kissing her, lifting her into the air, inhaling through my nose – having to.
Selena danced away, taking my hand and dragging me toward the door.
“Dawn,” she whispered and I shook my head, suddenly fearful. The sun had despised me for so many years. “Trust me,” she encouraged and it took me an age to nod in response.
She reached for the door, twisting the knob and pulling it open. I flinched instinctively, but no pain met me. I squinted at the light, moving into the doorway just as the sun spilled over the horizon. My breathing increased as I clung to the door frame, my senses so human it was like I'd been reborn. Coral and pink tones leaked through the sky, the amber sun lifting and rising, gazing right at me.
“Not possible,” I breathed.
“Fifteen seconds,” Brendan announced. “This is a record.”
The heat of the sun met my cheeks, seeping into my skin and it took all I had not to crumple to the ground at the feeling.
Pain suddenly rushed across my hands, scoring its way to my throat.
I lurched backwards, my skin singed and smoking, an ache in the base of my throat rising like acid.
I was tumbling into darkness faster than I'd ever known. My knees hit the floor but I could barely see, writhing as my body tore apart from the inside.
“What's happening?!” Selena screamed, her hands on my back, trying to calm me.
But I knew what was happening. I was dying. Returning to my Vampire form. My lungs compressed and stopped working altogether. My eyes seared from the sunlight they'd been exposed to. And my throat. It ached with an intensity that frightened me. I shouldn't have been drained. Not even close.
But I felt the hunger rising to meet me, my reality rushing away.
Selena. Don't hurt Selena.
I crawled backwards, scrambling my way up the stairs to get away from her.
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.”