Page 22 of Before We Burn

“Go on…A…” She sounds impatient, and I hate that tone.

I squeeze my eyes shut as the words pour out of me. “Alexander was nowhere to be found. Another vampire told the human soldiers where to find the school, and I think this was all set up by Alexander… Something—something is going on Connie.” I knew what was coming next. I knew I needed to get revenge for the attack. I knew I had to go after Alexander and whoever else he was working with.

This is going to start another war. This is going to take me from the life I’ve been learning to enjoy.

“Get here quick. We can’t talk on the phone anymore.” The phone goes dead, and I instantly take the old circular battery out of the bottom and stand there for a moment.

The soldier’s thoughts are loud again, clouding my mind and train of thought. How am I supposed to think about my next move when I am so easily distracted by what this man is thinking?

It’s a never ending cycle of confusion. The most prevalent thought is ‘Why isn’t she killing me?’ which is utterly ridiculous. No one likes to fight for their meals anymore, especially me. If I was going to kill him, I would’ve done so while he was asleep and the sedation left his blood stream.

I pull my attention back to my mask, forcing my eyes back to their normal green appearance, the black veins slowly fading as my fangs retract. I turn back to face him, seeing him examining his wound from the dart.

“You’ll be fine. Just rest. I have to go.” My mind shifts to the students that laid on the floor of the school. Darts all over their bodies, rubble covering them. I can’t imagine the fate they’re facing now.

“If you let me go, I won’t tell anyone where you are. I promise.” He wasn’t pleading or asking me. He was telling me, trying to convince me he is trustworthy. But I can’t let him go. Not yet. I need to talk to Connie, and I need to figure out what the humans’ plans are.

“That’s cute. But dumb. You’re not going anywhere, but… I’ll be leaving. Don’t get any smart ideas.” I slap my hands against my thighs and give him a shrug before I move toward my door. I’m still wearing my blood-soaked and torn clothes, but this is no time for vanity.

“Wait! I saved you. You owe me something.”

His words burn in my chest.

No one can just do nice things without asking for something in return. I grip the cold metal door handle, cracking it under my strength.

“Yeah, you saved me. But now… Now it looks like you’re my prisoner.” I turn and look at him, my eyes burning with hurt. “For now.”

I open the door, letting it slam shut behind me as I run out of the house and straight for Constantine.

10

PRISONER OF WAR

EVERETT

Inever thought I would be in a situation like this. Shit, I never thought I would step in front of a UV tranquilizer dart meant for a vampire. I want to kill them, not save them. It doesn’t help that I’m laid up in her bed like this was some accidental sleepover.

I take in the room I’m in, noting it isn’t a typical vampire lair. The walls are painted white with pastel art covering them. Green vines dance across the top of a deep brown bookshelf, and next to it, there is some type of pottery set up.

I stand and move to the corner where I find more unfinished hobbies. I can’t help but notice the dust on the books on her shelves. Such a waste.

I move closer to the bookshelf, my fingers trailing the spines of each of them. I don’t recognize any, but how could I? I’ve never had the chance to even learn what could be inside them. No one wastes schooling on parentless children. They only see us as one thing—warriors. Warriors don’t need education, they need anger and hate. A pure distaste for whatever demon they wanted us to hunt.

It’s odd being in this room without feeling instant anger and repulsion. Maybe it’s because I have conditioned myself over the years to believe these creatures—these monsters—want nothing but to destroy the small things I have learned to love.

I just didn’t expect them to run. I expected them to fight like the others, to have their claws and fangs showing. But not one of them turned around to fight, besides my captor.

Marzana.

Her name was different. I imagine names 382 years ago would be very different from where we are now. I turn around, placing the bookshelf behind me, and scan the room for another way out. I don’t want to instantly run for the door and get caught in a trap. I want to be careful.

I notice curtains, which means there are windows. I move toward them with a grin on my face. The vampire thought she got me, but she should’ve been smarter than to leave me here with an accessible window.

I slide the curtains back one at a time, filled with smug satisfaction, only to be instantly let down. The smile falls from my face, my brows pull together, and the words slip out of my mouth, “Fucking vampires!”

The windows are completely boarded up, and steel panels with UV protectant on both sides make it impossible to sneak out of them. If I touch the steel, I would burn my hands. It gets hot—so hot the Premier Leader found a way to convert that heat into energy. Something about the UV shield attracts it to conduct it somewhere else. His home in the south had them at every window to power the massive building.

We use them at the base, too, but the winter up north makes it hard to get consistent energy.