Selena
Darkness encased my body. A horrible scratching sound raked my eardrums, like nails against glass. Fine dresses surrounded me, each drenched in blood, so much blood. I sank further and further into the silk folds until I wasn't sure whether I was suffocating or drowning. My nose was smothered, my eyes the only thing free-
I jolted awake, drenched in sweat, my breathing erratic as I shook the nightmares from my body. A crow launched away from the window in a flurry of black wings. I rested a hand on my heart, willing myself to calm down.
I'm not in the games anymore. I'm free. I'm with-
“Varick?” I called, suddenly anxious, jumping to my feet and helping myself to one of Reason's large winter coats. I wondered where Ignus had sent her and Mekiah. If they were even still alive. I felt all the worse for tugging up the zip on her coat, gazing around at their room.
The world beyond the window was a dreamland of snow, so thick it had piled up against the windowsill where the crow had been.
The sky was laden with clouds, but it must have been nearly midday from the way the light was shining through them.
I sped out of the room and ran straight into Ulvic, nearly knocking us both over with my momentum.
He grumbled something, moving past me in his trench coat as he headed toward the door, pulling on his snow boots.
“Where's Varick?” I asked.
“In the outhouse with the rest of the parasites.” Ulvic stepped outside, slamming the door in my face.
I huffed my frustration, quickly tugging on my boots from the V Games and heading after him.
Winter enveloped me, its icy breath encasing my lungs and biting my bare hands.
I stuffed them into my pockets, jogging down the steps after Ulvic. He stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled three notes into the snow-caked trees.
“Ulvic.” I caught his arm and he turned to me with heavily-ringed eyes. I was taken aback by his disheveled appearance and tentatively squeezed his arm. “Are you alright?”
His brows drew tightly together. “Ignus...I...I didn't want it to end so brutally.”
“Varick saved you,” I breathed in confusion. How could he care for someone like Ignus? After all he'd done to us?
Ulvic's expression contorted into a sneer. He shifted closer to me, leaning into my face. “That V is a monster. And mark my words, one day, he'll lose control with you. He'll forget any little connection you think you have.”
I pushed him away, fury heating my blood. “You don't know anything, Ulvic.”
Ulvic turned his gaze to the trees. “Either way, my faith in the Vs does not extend as far as yours does. They will be gone by morning. I won't have it any other way.”
“And what will you do if the Helsings turn up?” I challenged him.
“I have ten wolves – ah...eight.” His dusky eyes saddened and I felt the weight of his loss for Mekiah and Reason.
“We're stronger together,” I urged, extending an olive branch by resting my hand on his arm.
The padding of paws sounded through the trees and seven wolves appeared, dropping into a semi-circle around Ulvic.
I inhaled at the sight of them all. Strong, fierce animals, so willingly looking to Ulvic as their master.
“I have other friends...” He gave me a pointed look. “I hear Brendan Grey made an appearance?”
My heart seemed to stop beating for a few seconds. “You know him?”
He nodded vaguely which only infuriated me further. I clamped my hand tighter on his arm. “How?”
“We met a long time ago. I recognised him at the game...” His eyes trailed over my face. “I had no idea of his connection to you. Not until he spoke with me yesterday morning. He broke into the armoury and took the grenade that saved you.”
I nodded, my heart still beating too fast, my blood too hot. “But you know him? You're friends?”
“Friends is a little strong. We have done er...business together in the past, that's all. But he would assist me against the Helsings if necessary.”
Before I could ask more, Ulvic turned his back on me.
“Emerico.” He gestured to a grey wolf with white flecks across his muzzle. “Take Selena to the outhouse.”
The wolf jumped up, circling me once before padding off into the trees. I followed him, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I went.
“They'll be gone by dawn, Selena – remind them of that!” Ulvic's voice followed me into the trees.
I scowled, muttering, “I'll remind them of what a selfish, cowardly, piece of-”
Emerico barked at me and I gave him a small, apologetic smile. “Guess he's not all bad,” I backtracked, not wanting to rub the wolves up the wrong way.
Emerico slowed, pushing his head into my thigh. I stroked his ears, unsure if that was what he wanted. But he seemed happy enough as we walked on that way for nearly a mile. The outhouse loomed from the trees; just a huge metal box with no windows, topped with an icing of snow. I frowned at the place Varick and Cass were currently slaves to. It didn't seem fair that they were missing this beautiful winter's day.
Emerico howled his goodbye before shooting off into the trees and I knocked hesitantly on the door.
“Who is it?” Jameson called from within.
“It's Selena,” Varick snapped. “Move out the way!”
My heart flipped over.
I hurriedly flattened my hair, suddenly self-conscious. It was ridiculous really. After the way I must have looked during games, I didn't think he'd care much what I looked like now.
The door opened a crack and Jameon's grinning face came into view.
I stepped forward but he didn't move. “Password?” he teased.
“Move out of my way?” I tried to peer over his shoulder, but didn't have to wait long as Jameson was yanked roughly aside.
I hurried into the outhouse and shut the door to block out the sun. It was somehow colder inside the shed than out of it.
I shivered, squinting into the darkness. Lips met mine and my heart rate shot upwards.
I slid my hands around Varick's waist, recognising every hard plane of his body.
Someone cleared their throat and I realised, although I was blind in the pitch black room, the rest of the Immortal beings present were apparently not.
My cheeks turned scarlet but there was nowhere to hide as Varick released me.
“Hey,” I waved vaguely to the dark room and Cass started laughing.
“I think there's a light switch over there,” she said.
A lot of crashing and banging sounded and Cass shouted “Jameson!” before a single bulb flickered on above us.
“Sorry.” Jameson grinned, his hand still on the light switch, beneath which an entire shelf had collapsed. In fact, the whole place was a mess. Ulvic would not be pleased.
I gazed up at Varick, fighting a grin at his intense expression. “I thought you promised to wake me.”
His cool thumb ran across my cheek. “And bring you here? I don't think so.”
I spotted the rigid form of Kodiak across the room, his cheeks sucked in like he was holding his breath.
“Oh,” I breathed, glancing at Cass who was starting to look just as uncomfortable. “You're all hungry.”
“They're fine,” Varick growled immediately.
“Varick,” I said softly, scooting past him. “I can help.”
Kodiak's navy eyes brightened like two lamps and Varick suddenly clamped an arm around my shoulders, forcing me back against him. “No one is feeding from her, understand?” He glared at Kodiak in particular who backed off, looking disappointed.
I wriggled in his hold. “They need to eat-”
“Not from you,” Varick cut me off immediately. “You shouldn't have come here.” He practically carried me back to the door. “We'll be back at sunset.”
“Wait.” I blocked the door with both arms as he moved to open it. “Ulvic says we all have to leave before tomorrow morning.”
Kodiak spat air through his teeth. “And where will we go?”
“I don't know...” I started, biting my lip.
“Don't listen to Ulvic,” Jameson said. “I'll talk him round.”
“Yeah right,” Cass muttered. “You have to do what he says. So good luck with that.”
“Isn't Ulvic worried the Helsings will come after him?” Kodiak asked, frowning.
Jameson shook his head. “He reckons Ignus didn't have time to tell the rest of his family he betrayed them.”
“But won't they come after you?” I asked.
Jameson sighed. “I was only ever...on loan to the Helsings. Ulvic made a deal with them, I never belonged to them.”
“But you belong to Ulvic?” Cass clucked her tongue.
“Hey did I hear one of my pack bringing you over?” Jameson addressed me, ignoring Cass's remark.
“Yeah, I think his name was Emerico?” I replied.
“Sweet. I'm going for a run. Nothing like being a wolf in the snow.” He started stripping off.
“What's he doing?” Kodiak asked stiffly, lines forming on his smooth brow.
“I'm not gonna ruin every nice pair of jeans I have. These are Levis, bro.” Jameson pulled off his shirt, revealing a chiselled torso.
As he unbuttoned his jeans, Varick put his hand firmly over my eyes and I started laughing.
“I don't wanna see this,” Kodiak muttered.
“People would pay good money to see this,” Jameson quipped.
Kodiak grumbled his discontent then the door sounded and paws padded away across the crisp snow. I ducked under Varick's arm, grinning at his stern expression. I looked to Cass and she shrugged.
“He was naked half the time we were imprisoned together,” she said and I narrowed my eyes, hunting for any sign she was affected by that. But she had inherited the irritatingly perfect composure of a better fed V, just like Varick. How the hell was I supposed to read either of them?
Varick pulled me against him, his mouth suddenly by my ear and making white-hot energy race up and down my spine. His words extinguished the heat in a wave. “You should go.”
“Oh,” I sighed, pulling away from him, wanting to say a hundred things to the contrary. But my pride wouldn't let me.
Apparently I was easier to read than him, as he added, “It's freezing in here. Go back to the cabin. Stay warm, get some food. I'll come to you as soon as I can.”
I nodded, aching with parting from him again. We had been given so little time together as it was. Now even the sun was conspiring to keep him from me.
I slipped outside before my pride failed me and I decided to stay. I glared at the clouds with contempt.
When I arrived back at the cabin, I jogged up the steps, dislodging snow from the railing as I ran. I hurried inside, shrugging out of my coat and slipping off my boots, only one thing on my mind. Thames.
I hurried upstairs, calling her name until she answered. I pushed through one of several doors, finding her in a small, dark room, the curtains closed, her form a lumpy shape in the bed.
“Thames?” I approached her, the silence of the room pressing. “Are you alright?”
“What do you reckon?” She rolled toward me, and two bright eyes glared at me from beneath the covers.
“I'm sorry about what happened...” I shook my head, perching on the edge of the bed. She'd put her faith in mine and Varick's plan, and now her legs were severed from the knees. Her whole life would be altered until she could adapt. I knew she was strong enough to do so. But she'd always laughed in the face of danger as long as I'd known her. Now she seemed broken. Just a normal girl who needed help.
Her hand curled around my wrist and a small rattling breath passed her lips. “Wanna know the worst thing about this? I can't fight the Helsings when they come.” She yanked me closer. “And they will come, Selena. You think they're gonna let us get away with what we did?”
“No,” I said through my teeth, my heart rate spiking.
“Take your friends and get away from here,” she insisted as if we'd really leave her behind.
I sighed, dropping down into the space beside her. I knotted my fingers into hers and suddenly she was crying, dragging me into her arms and using me like a human teddy bear.
I let her continue for as long as she needed, her dramatic wails filling the house until some of the wolves started howling.
“Thames?” I whispered into her ear and she fell quiet. “You're one of the strongest girls I know. This isn't going to defeat you.”
“No, probably not...” She tugged the covers down and I slid in beside her. “Don't tell anyone I cried.” She fixed me with one of her fiercest stares.
“I'm pretty sure the entire island just heard you seeing as they've got super-sonic ears.”
I couldn't help but smile at her expression and she suddenly burst into laughter. It wasn't the manic cackles I knew so well, but sweet girlish chimes.
When she pulled herself together, wiping tears from her cheeks, she asked, “What's it like out there? I want to go outside and taste that freedom you promised me.”
“I'm pretty sure I didn't make any promises.” A sharp tug in my chest reminded me that not everyone in our group had made it away from the Isle of Lidelse.
Thames pinched my cheek overly hard. “They all died trying to live, Selena. They'd rather that than still be playing games.”
I didn't answer, moving out of the bed and heading across the room to open the curtains. Thames rolled toward me, squinting at the snowy treetops beyond the pane.
“It snowed?” she asked through a dramatic sniff, shuffling toward the edge of the bed as I nodded. “Always loved the snow,” she muttered.
I pursed my lips thoughtfully, then hurried back to the bed and perched on the edge of it, my back to her. “Come on, I'll carry you downstairs. Get on my back.”
When she didn't move, I glanced over my shoulder. “I don't offer rides to just anyone.”
She broke a small smile then shuffled her way toward me, wrapping what remained of her legs around my waist. The V blood Kodiak had given her had healed the skin over completely, leaving two perfectly smooth stumps. She wore only shorts and a vest, but the cabin was warm enough for the outfit. I lifted her, locking my hands around her back before heading downstairs.
“You're strong for a shorty,” she said in my ear, her dreadlocks tickling my cheek.
“You're heavy for a girl with no legs,” I wheezed and she let out a bark of laughter.