V Games - Dead Before Dawn Read online

  I stumbled into the room, but quickly regained my feet, spinning around to face him. I was in a luxurious bedroom with a velvet armchair and a large rug beside a king-size bed.

  I faced Abraham head-on as he started rolling up his sleeves. Stepping forward, he produced a key from his back pocket and roughly removed the headgear from my jaw with a snapping of metal clasps. I gasped, lifting my fingers to my cheeks to feel them, skin on skin.

  “This room now belongs to you,” Abraham announced.

  I glanced around, unable to believe I'd just avoided a severe punishment and been given a gift instead.

  “Any idea how I feel right now, V?” He dropped the muzzle to the ground with a harsh clang.

  I shook my head, but I knew really, because his eyes spoke of the anger inside him like I was gazing into two pits of hellfire.

  “Well...let me tell you. My son is dead. Brutally murdered by the Vampire who used to occupy this room. The game my great grandfather built from the ground up has been damaged, perhaps beyond repair, considering I will be hard-pushed to bring my clients back here after they watched their friends get torn apart.”

  I took a wary step back, sensing a violent air to his movements. He stalked toward me, a Hunter in full form, his hands curled into fists. Oh no. I'd misjudged this moment. Prison life wasn't serving me as well as it used to when it came to survival.

  “And I want a taste of revenge. I deserve it don't I, Vampire? You and your kind have done this to me. Only fair I get my pound of flesh for it.”

  “So you'll go after them?” I guessed, unsure if I cared or not. Selena, I liked. The others, I could take or leave. But Selena hadn't spared a thought for me before she'd high-tailed it off of that island. Surely it wouldn't have been too hard to bring me with her?

  “Yes, I'll get them back for sure.” He sneered, gazing down at me with a terrifying fury. “When I'm finished with you.”

  Before I could move, his knuckles cracked across my cheek. I stumbled back in shock, but the throbbing pain eased to nothing as my body healed itself. I snarled as he launched at me again, this time avoiding the swing of his fists.

  “You think you can take on me? A trained Hunter?!” he roared. “You have no idea what I'm capable of.”

  He prowled toward me and I mirrored every step he took to keep away from him. I wouldn't have said I was scared exactly. I'd been in plenty of prison brawls. But I was pissed off. Pissed off at this bear of a man taking his anger out on me. Pissed off that I hadn't truly gotten to enjoy the benefits of being a V because of my imprisonment – and I was convinced there were benefits. Pissed off that I was alone and had to fight for my own goddamn self as always. And pissed off that I was definitely going to lose this fight.

  Abraham's second blow brought me to the floor. I never cried out, just crumpled like a piece of paper onto the bed. Two things worth learning in prison fast; pick your battles, and know when to surrender. And I was starting to think this fight was better avoided.

  Abraham's hands were around my throat in seconds. I may not have needed to breathe, but it still hurt like hell.

  “Get off,” I snarled through my teeth.

  “You want to know what it took to break Varick?” Abraham brought his face within inches of mine.

  I remained silent, but he supplied me the answer anyway.

  “My father drained him of blood every day, in every possible way he could dream up. Until he finally fell in line. Is that what it'll take from you, kitten?”

  I went rigid. That word undid me. Simple and inoffensive as it was. Kitten.

  Love you, kitten.

  I shrieked like a banshee, slashing my nails across his face and tearing the skin open. I was on my feet in a flash, speeding toward the door, through it, into the corridor. I moved faster than I knew was possible. But as I hit the stairs, pain exploded in the back of my head. I tumbled forward, crashing down the stone steps, bones breaking from the impact. Crack, crack, crack.

  I shuddered as I hit the bottom step, silver pouring through my skull from the capsule embedded in the back of my head, disabling me.

  And I thought of her. One of the only people I'd ever loved. Let her fill up my mind as the pain eased, my body healed itself, only soon to be broken again by Abraham, no doubt.

  Meaty hands took hold of me and I let Abraham carry me back to the room. The remote control that could leak silver into my brain was clamped in his hand.

  When he was finished with me, I was left on the bed, blood soaking into the sheets around me. The cuts were healed, but I'd never forget what he'd done. How he'd battered my body until the bruises seemed to remain on the inside of my skin. Where they would live on forever. He was trying to make me his. Trying to bury whatever illusions I had of escaping. To teach me that whatever he asked of me would be done, or else I'd return here, to be beaten into submission once more.

  Prison. I was back. But it was a place I knew well. And Abraham underestimated me. Because the shit he'd just pulled on me, I'd pulled on new inmates a hundred times. The problem was, I wasn't top bitch anymore. I was bottom of the food chain. I just had to figure out how to rise to the summit again.

  After a while, the door reopened and I didn't move as someone approached the bed. Mercy's tan legs came into view beneath her short dress. She was truly beautiful which only made her cruelty more abhorrent somehow.

  She sniffed as she gazed at me and I glanced up, finding her crying. Hadn't known the Helsings were capable of such a thing...

  “How could you attack my father? At my brother's funeral?”

  I found my way into a sitting position, gazing calmly at her. Of all the Helsings, Mercy didn't frighten me. Because, unlike the rest of her family, she was a coward. “I'm glad he's dead.”

  She slapped me and I didn't flinch, the strike nothing in comparison to her father's fists. Did she even possess the strength the rest of her family were so notorious for?

  “Don't you dare,” she snarled, her lower lip trembling.

  “I will dare, Mercy. Because no matter how much your father uses me as a punching bag...no matter what your parents make me do, what they ask of me, I will always speak the truth to you.” I stood, coming eye to eye with her. “And the truth is, your brother was a sadistic little psycho. A freak. Tell me I'm wrong. Go on.”

  She scowled, her pale brows pulling together. “I'd never talk ill of him.”

  “But you think ill of him.” I shrugged. “Same difference.”

  She raised a hand to hit me again but this time I caught her wrist. “Uh-uh, puppy.”

  She yanked her wrist free, thrusting up her chin. “I'm taking a boat to scout out where Varick and the others are hiding.”

  “Great. Hope you drown.” I shouldered past her but she caught my wrist, her gaze suddenly desperate.

  “You're coming with me – Daddy's orders.”

  My skin prickled at the mention of Abraham. I considered her words. I was pretty sure I'd rather be stuck on a boat with Blondie than her fist-swinging father. And I definitely had more chance of escaping under Mercy's watch than I did from either of her parents. I just had to figure out how to remove the capsule of silver from my head...

  “When do we leave?”

  She straightened her spine, evidently trying to gain authority over me. “Now.”

  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 help
ing 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.