Selena
After we'd arrived back at the hotel, I'd sent the message to Ulvic. I didn't know how he could help us, yet. But at the very least, if we were going to get off this island, we'd need his boat.
I rushed to my room, ignoring the buffet and the party music that was playing as if we should all be celebrating another day of survival.
I showered quickly, throwing the remnants of my dress into a linen bin. As I returned to my bedroom, I felt like freedom was close, calling to me, dragging me into its hopeful light.
I changed into the night slip laid out on my bed – somewhat bitterly – and curled up beneath the covers, pulling them right over my head and creating a little cocoon of safety. If the spectators were watching the rooms, they'd have nothing to see here but a lumpy shape beneath the sheets. They'd have no idea I wasn't sobbing into my knees but, in fact, lighting up the screen on my tablet and finding my way to Layla's profile.
My fingers trembled over the keys as I opened up a dialogue, anxious to speak with Varick, but not entirely sure of what I wanted to say. I didn't know if it was safe to discuss a plan this way. So I started with something simple, something that could have been mistaken for a casual message between friends in any other world. But to me held the weight of everything in my chest, bled into words.
I hope you and Jameson are safe.
-S
Send.
Wait.
Breathe.
Breathing was difficult. Breathing was as hard as running from the Vs right then. But waiting was harder. The seconds ticked by. Minutes. Then a reply arrived that sent a shot of adrenaline through my veins.
Safe, yes. But Jameson has been taken away. No doubt to reinstall his collar.
Is there anything else you're hoping for?
- V
The irony of his sign-off didn't pass me by and a smile crept easily onto my lips. Impossible really, to be smiling amidst all this hell. But now I had a lifeline, a tether connecting me directly to Varick. And that was worth a goldmine.
My reply was swift – wherever he was, I wondered if my messages made him feel the way I did. Like there was someone else in the world that could fully comprehend the immensity of the fight we were up against.
I wasn't sure quite what he'd meant by his question. My mind fluttered with possibilities, but I settled on the most likely in my answer.
I hope that we'll survive. But more than that, I hope the Helsings get what's coming to them.
- S
I almost deleted that last sentence, slightly concerned our messages were being watched. That someone would be monitoring the conversations passing between girls and spectators alike. But what did it matter? The Helsings knew I was here for Varick. The worst they could do was take the tablet from him, then we'd be back where we started.
I waited, snuggling further down beneath the covers and rolling onto my belly, the tablet cupped in my palms.
His message came in at last and I wondered what he'd been doing between sending it.
Ditto, sweetheart. I've been dreaming about that particular revenge since I first came to Raskdød.
But I don't want to talk about them.
-V
I smiled a cautious smile, sensing the anger behind his words. My fingers fled over the keys before I'd entirely decided what to reply.
What do you want to talk about?
-S
The reply came quickly.
You.
-V
A blush slid into my cheeks, heating more parts of me than I could register at once.
Irrational.
I'm sure he didn't mean it how I'd felt it.
Why?
-S
Because I'm currently sitting in a dank cave with three Vs chewing on each others limbs (which is making me disturbingly hungry). And you're about the only thing worth thinking about that won't drive me mad.
-V
That knocked me for six. A breathless laugh escaped me. Not that his current situation was anything to laugh about. Perhaps it was texting like teenagers, hiding under the covers that was making me act like a schoolgirl. Whatever the reason, I clung to it. This moment wouldn't last forever so I buried deeper under the quilt and readied my reply.
Alright, but there's not much to say that's particularly uplifting. So I'll tell you about the happiest day of my life...
I hesitated, letting the memories fill me up. It was the perfect day, until it wasn't. But the first twelve hours had been wonderful.
My mother took me to the zoo for my eleventh birthday. My stepfather was working a double shift so we hadn't seen him since the previous night. We took a train to Regent's Park and wandered from one side to the other where the zoo is. It's a large park, perhaps you know that. And it was autumn - my birthday is in October. It was one of those days where the weather is out of sync with the seasons. The sun was shining through hazy clouds, the sky a dusky red so it looked like the apocalypse was upon us. The wind was warm and wild, rustling the trees so a thousand coloured leaves leapt through the air, dancing in a final act of beauty before they hit the ground.
At the zoo, we gazed at the animals. Tired lions, chattering penguins, and camels that looked like they were smiling. I liked the reptile house best, it was warm and muggy, almost tropical. And the snakes were so lazy. Not vicious, cruel creatures they're always made out to be. It didn't look like they'd bother to bite me even if I'd stroked them. Which, my mother had warned me, would have been a bad idea. 'Don't entertain monsters', she'd said. Which was ironic considering we had one living in our house.
Anyway, that day felt like freedom to me.
Do you have a memory like that?
-S
I pressed send, realising my words filled the entire screen as they flooded the dialogue bar.
His answer came quicker than I expected.
I think every day felt like that back in my human life. I just never realised until it was too late.
Your mother was right, by the way. And I urge you not to let this monster too close, because I have all the instincts of that sleeping snake tenfold.
-V
P.S What happened after?
His warning scrubbed against my heart. But the way he continued the conversation made me entirely aware that he was either incapable or simply didn't want to stop moving closer to me. So the decision was mine. And it wasn't really a decision at all.
Elijah happened. By the time we arrived home, he was drunk, waiting, his belt already strapped around his palm. You can guess the rest, I'd rather not write it down.
Your turn. You say you hate immortality, so I challenge you to tell me one good thing you've gained from it.
-S
His answer took a while and I wondered if he simply wasn't used to texting like this. I doubted he'd ever have had the need for a phone.
Considering the time he took to write back, his answer was surprisingly short.
I'll tell you the next time I see you.
-V
Is that a promise?
-S
I needed to be assured that we'd see each other again. Of course, it wasn't guaranteed. Anything could happen in the next round. I gripped the tablet like it held all the answers, like Varick could really guarantee we'd see other one more time. But his answer didn't come and I melted into the mattress, racked with worry and fear. I typed out a few more messages, trying to prompt an answer, but nothing came in return. And I knew sleep would be impossible.