V Games - Dead Before Dawn Read online

  “You looked like dawn. Something I'd craved for so long, I'd forgotten how much I missed it.”

  I dipped my head, leaning into him. I soaked in the calm, the breeze. “What will we do now?” I addressed the elephant in the room at last. All this peace would only last so many hours. Like a mayfly at dusk, our time was waning.

  He tilted his chin toward the horizon and I followed his line of sight toward a large boat heading our way.

  “Have they found us already?” I breathed, terror curdling in my gut.

  “No,” he said with a confidence that calmed me. “Your father has returned.”

  I moved to stand, but he kept hold of me. “There's something I need to tell you before you speak with him...something I should have told you sooner.”

  “What?” His tone concerned me, his eyes flashing with danger.

  This couldn't be good.

  “You remember when I told you of your blood? How it is more appealing than other girls'?”

  I nodded slowly, searching his expression for what he was about to reveal.

  His thumb traced the back of my hand, his eyes pinned on that place. “Mercy and I spoke of it once. She suspected your blood might have an ability...” He took a deep breath, his brow furrowed as he looked me in the eye. “The ability to cure Vampirism.”

  I let out a wary laugh, looking for the prank in his gaze, but it wasn't there. And before I could really absorb such a possibility, he began supplying me with evidence.

  “Ravenos drank a lot of your blood, remember?”

  I nodded, recalling how the V had had a strange reaction, falling to his knees and cursing me for doing something to him. But I'd had no idea what. He'd seemed entirely unharmed physically.

  “I believe he had a stab of conscience. Turned more human than he'd been in over a century.”

  “I-” I couldn't think of a response, my only instinct was to deny it. “But you drank my blood and you're not human.”

  “No.” His eyes lightened a fraction. “But you know how it affects me. It's not like a normal feed. Even now I still feel my heart beating, my thoughts are clearer, my emotions are entirely present. And I haven't fed from you since yesterday.”

  I nodded slowly, trying to let the weight of this reality sink in.

  “And that's not all...” He gave me a small smile. “I know I haven't had a chance to tell you much about my human life, or even thereafter, but...I believe you are descended from someone I knew and loved very much.”

  “What?” I stood in surprise. He followed me to my feet, keeping close.

  I ran a hand through my hair, battling it back against the wind. “Who?”

  “A friend of mine. Her name was Kaitlin.”

  I nodded, gazing at my father's boat which was drawing in to shore, unsure what to say.

  Varick followed my gaze. “When we have more time, I'll tell you everything I recall about her.”

  I nodded, turning back to him. “So you really think I'm the cure?”

  Frown lines formed on Varick's brow. “Yes, and from the smell of your father I'd guess he is, too.”

  I searched his shadowed eyes. “How does it work?”

  “I don't know.” He gave me an apologetic smile.

  I reached up, running my thumb across his bristly chin. “Do you want to be human again?” I asked, no more than a whisper.

  His face shifted into his most human expression, his eyebrows lifted, light dancing in his eyes, his mouth hooking up at one corner. “Do you really have to ask?”

  Before I could say another word, Varick lifted me as if I weighed no more than a handbag, swinging me around his body so I clung to his back. He took off at speed down the hillside, heading toward the beach where my father would dock. The sight of that boat gave me hope. Hope that we had more allies than we knew. And that this freedom would persist. Perhaps even long enough to figure out how the cure worked.

  Varick

  “Do you want to be human again?”

  I'd been asked that question three times in my immortal lifetime. Once from Nirena, once from Mercy and now from Selena. Of course, the answer had always been yes. But the reasons behind that had only been driven by a need for the thirst to stop, for the blood-lust and the rage to be gone. I wanted rid of the curse. But now I didn't just want rid of something, I craved the human life I could have. What humanity could offer me now was far greater than it ever had before.

  Selena; I could love her as she deserved to be loved. I wouldn't have to sink my teeth into her anymore. I wouldn't fear that my strength would accidentally overwhelm her, break her. For as much as I loved her now, it was all lived enduring the struggle of letting her love me like this. But I could be so much more for her as a human. I could give her what she deserved.

  I carried Selena down to the beach. Ulvic had lit a row of burning torches buried in the pebbles, his wolves lined up between them. His calm demeanour told me he trusted Selena's father. But although I wanted to do the same, I couldn't let my guard down too soon. Not after all we'd been through.

  Ulvic glowered at me as I arrived and dropped Selena down beside him.

  “Where's Cass and Kodiak?” she gazed around.

  I angled my ear toward the woodland, hearing them there, talking in low murmurs. Evidently Ulvic had asked them to keep their distance. I pointed to where they must have been standing, just out of sight.

  I located Jameson in the line-up of wolves, his black snout lifted into the oncoming breeze that guided the boat to shore.

  It was still a fair way off and Selena continually glanced from the boat to the trees behind us.

  “What's wrong?” I asked.

  She bit her lip for a moment before sprinting off up the beach, leaving me confused and about half a second away from following her.

  I heard her speak with Kodiak amongst the trees, my curiosity piquing further. What she asked him made my heart soften like a marshmallow over a fire. She returned a moment later and I kissed her without a moment's warning. I could name a hundred reasons why I loved her without ever stopping to catch my breath. And now she'd somehow added an extra reason.

  After a minute, Kodiak appeared on the beach, having fetched Thames from the cabin as Selena had requested, carrying her down to join us, a blanket hanging over her legs.

  “I didn't think you'd want to miss the fun,” Selena said brightly as Kodiak moved to her side, as quiet and obedient as if he were nothing more than Thames's steed.

  “Thank you,” Thames muttered to Kodiak, glancing around the beach, her dreadlocks tangling in the wind.

  He gazed down at her, looking mildly perplexed. “You're welcome.”

  Ulvic shot Kodiak a glare, but he didn't ask him to leave.

  As the catamaran drew in to shore, Selena stepped anxiously forward, tugging up her coat collar around her throat.

  “Don't be nervous,” I said, taking her hand.

  “I'm not.” She glanced over her shoulder.

  “I can hear your pulse even over the wind.”

  She dipped her head, smiling. “Maybe that's because you're getting hungry.”

  I pulled her to my side, locking her under my arm. “Hm. Interesting theory.”

  She laughed, the light, chiming sound calming my worries. The catamaran moored alongside the pier, bumping into Ulvic's vessel, much to his muttered discontent.

  Selena's father, Brendan, disembarked, flanked by a tall man with deep, ebony skin and unusually fair eyes for his colouring.

  No. Not a man. A Vampire. I tensed, keeping Selena crushed against me despite her obvious desire to move to greet her father.

  “Good evening to you all,” Brendan spoke, his commanding voice carrying across the beach.

  “It's good to see you again,” Ulvic said, walking forward and taking his hand. “I have high hopes that you'll soon be taking these Vs off my hands.” He jerked his chin in my direction and I offered him a snarl in response.

  Selena hushed me, giving me a stare that told me to let her go. I reluctantly did so, squaring my shoulders toward the Vampire accompanying Brendan. He gazed easily back at me. He was strong, well-fed. That was good...and bad. His hunger was currently quelled, but his strength in a fight would be fierce.

  “Darrell is a friend,” Brendan said, eyeing me as he gestured to the V.

  Selena moved to greet him, holding out her hand. My muscles bunched as Darrell took it, inhaling at her scent but making no move to hurt her. Brendan smelt almost as good as Selena as I caught his scent on the ocean breeze.

  I stole a glance at Kodiak and was glad to find he didn't seem tempted to make a move toward either of them.

  Brendan scanned the group, his eyes landing on me. “Varick.” He approached me, his palm outstretched. “I have many thanks to offer you.”

  Guilt swept through me. “Forgive me, but I cannot shake your hand. I should be offered no thanks. It's my fault Selena ended up in the games. I worked for the Helsings for many years.”

  His hand came down on my shoulder, his eyes warm and full of an acceptance I'd only ever seen in Selena's gaze. “You were their slave as I understand it. I witnessed what you did, how you protected her.” He glanced toward Selena who was smiling admirably at me. My throat tightened as I hesitantly took Brendan's hand, feeling entirely undeserving of the man's gratitude.

  “Good.” He released my palm, smiling around at the group, his gaze lingering on Thames before his eyes wheeled toward Ulvic. “We should talk.”

  Ulvic nodded, gesturing to the track that led up to his cabin. Darrell stepped forward and a grey wolf jumped into his path, baring his teeth.

  “I'd ask that no more Vampires are brought into my home,” Ulvic said stiffly, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his trench coat.

>   “I see.” Brendan rubbed his chin. “Then no wolves either. Let us speak on equal ground. Perhaps Selena could accompany us, though?”

  Ulvic nodded stiffly and Selena moved to follow them. My heart thumped hard three times in a row. I instinctively moved after her and Ulvic glared at me.

  “No Vs,” he said through his teeth.

  I didn't stop until Selena turned to me, giving me an apologetic look. “I won't be long,” she breathed.

  Anxiety scattered through me as I watched her disappear into the trees with Ulvic and Brendan.

  “Will you be alright out here a while longer?” Kodiak asked Thames and she nodded, her eyes pinned on the sea.

  “Yup. Just fine.”

  I approached Darrell and the shadow of Jameson followed me, sniffing the air around the V's legs. Darrell folded his thick arms, gazing at me calmly. “We're here to help, so it'd be a real good idea to stop acting like you wanna fight me.”

  “I'm just letting you know who's in charge here,” I growled, not backing down. He was as tall as me and nearly as broad. But with Selena's blood in my veins, I reckoned I could take him in a fight if I had to.

  “We're not on different sides,” Darrell said, his tone impassive, evidently unaffected by my display of aggression. Darrell raised a palm, his eyes slowly travelling over us. “This is a meeting of peace. We have no trouble between us.”

  “Good, let's keep it that way.” I bared my fangs as Darrell's eyes steadied on Thames.

  Kodiak bristled, his arms curling tighter around her. Cass appeared from the trees, moving down the beach to investigate the newcomer.

  “The humans choose to be amongst you all?” Darrell raised a brow.

  “It's a fairly new alliance,” Thames replied, producing a pistol from beneath her blanket. “But we're working on it.”

  Darrell chuckled softly, turning back to me. “We're not all that different. You'll see.”

  My eyes slid to the boat behind him, listening for any sound of life within it. But all was quiet. They had come alone. A move which had given us the advantage. It seemed they really did mean us no harm.

  “When did you last feed?” Kodiak asked Darrell through tight lips.

  “More recently than you from the looks of your eyes.” He broke a mocking smile, before heading back to his boat.

  Jameson padded toward Cass who brushed her fingers over his head. He planted himself down, sitting beside her. The other wolves snarled their disapproval, but he didn't seem to notice as Cass continued to brush his ears, her eyes trained on the boat.

  When Darrell reappeared a few moments later, my throat tightened at the scent of the bottled blood he was carrying, the lid open and the scent calling to me.

  But I'd fed recently enough, and there was only one person's blood I desired nowadays.

  Kodiak was rigid, his pupils dilating as Darrell approached. Thames watched him warily as if she feared he might drop her at any moment. Somehow, he managed to restrain himself long enough for Darrell to approach and hand him the blood. He downed half of it, holding Thames with one arm before Cass yanked the bottle from his lips and polished it off.

  She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, thrusting the bottle toward Darrell with a look of disgust. “Where did you get it?” she demanded. Evidently she hadn't come to accept her need for blood yet.

  Darrell tucked the bottle into a backpack he was carrying. “From home.”

  “And where is home?” she hissed.

  “That's not something I can speak of. However, if Brendan sees fit, he will extend an invitation to you. Depending on how well his talk with your people goes.”

  Either way, me, Selena and the other Vampires would be leaving this island tonight. But I didn't like the idea of putting our lives in the hands of strangers. I only hoped Selena's conversation was going better than ours.

  Selena

  Ulvic led the way to the cabin and I trailed behind him with my father, my heart beating a little too hard.

  “I would have spoken with all of you, but Ulvic is...” Brendan trailed off.

  “Difficult,” I finished for him, nodding.

  “He's only seen Vampires at their worst,” Brendan said, glancing down at me, his breathing heavy as we climbed the steep hill. “Remember that.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him and he looked away. “But you've seen them at their best?”

  He nodded once, throwing me a cautious smile.

  The light of the cabin swept over us and I quickened my pace as the fire called to me from inside. Ulvic held the door open as we stepped inside and the heat enveloped me, thawing me through to the bone.

  “Drink?” Ulvic offered, heading to the bar.

  “I'll keep a clear head tonight, if it's all the same to you,” Brendan said, helping himself to a seat in a large armchair.

  I waved Ulvic away before he offered me one, perching on the edge of another chair.

  “Suit yourselves,” Ulvic muttered as he poured himself a large brandy in a glass marked with the Spanish flag. He took a swig of it before joining us and I noted the heavy circles beneath his eyes. Had he slept at all since we'd returned here?

  Brendan folded his hands in his lap, seeming completely at ease. There was an air about him that commanded a room; both Ulvic and my gaze were pinned firmly on him as we waited for him to speak.

  “I understand the Helsing boy was a casualty in the recent outbreak?” Brendan tipped up a brow, his eyes not giving away his feelings on the matter.

  Ulvic's lips tightened as he nodded.

  “I'm sorry, truly.” He bowed his head to Ulvic and my heart rate shot upwards.

  “Sorry?” I blurted, but my father held up a hand before I broke into a full-blown rant.

  “I'm not sorry that he is dead, but I am sorry for Ulvic's loss.”

  My gaze swivelled to Ulvic, his cheeks blotchy and his eyes watering. “He tortured you,” I breathed, unable to believe Ulvic could have any sympathy left in his heart for Ignus.

  Ulvic dropped his eyes, sucking in a small breath and nodding defeatedly in response.

  “I don't understand,” I said, as softly as I could, trying to figure out how Ulvic was feeling. How he could possibly regret Ignus's death even for a second?

  Brendan's features skewed, looking as if he were trying to come up with an explanation for me.

  Ulvic answered first. “When you have lived as long as I have...” His lower lip quivered as he battled to keep his composure. “You learn that love is such a very rare thing. My heart once belonged to Ignus. And even now, after all he did, even with how much I hated him and wanted my revenge, I cannot say that I truly ever wished for his death. There is a part of me, perhaps, that never stopped loving him, even when the rest of me despised him.”

  His heartbroken expression drilled its way through my anger, crumbling it to dust. I nodded slowly, finally understanding. And perhaps he was right. Perhaps I didn't know enough about love to judge Ulvic for his reaction to Ignus's death. But I despised the way he blamed Varick, how he hated him for what he'd done to Ignus.

  Ulvic drank his brandy with a shaky hand, before saying with more strength, “But we are not here to discuss that, are we?” He looked to Brendan who nodded in confirmation.

  “No. Actually, I'm here to offer you all sanctuary in my home.” Brendan cast his eyes over me. “But there is something you should know before you agree to come with me.”

  “What?” I asked, cautious.

  Frown lines formed around his eyes. “Your blood...”

  “I know,” I said before he could go on. “Varick told me.”

  “Told you what?” Ulvic butted in.

  I looked to Brendan for guidance, unsure if Ulvic should know the truth. Evidently he trusted him enough as he said, “Selena's blood holds the cure to Vampirisim. As does mine.”

  Ulvic's mouth fell open, looking almost comical as he gawped at us. “There is no such thing.”

  “Believe me, there is,” Brendan answered.

  “Do you know how it works?” My heart lifted in excitement, hope. Varick could soon be free from the thirst. He could see the sun rise again, walk in the day, experience summer and spring and all the things he'd missed.

  “It is...complicated.” Brendan's brow furrowed, dowsing my dreams in cold water.

  “But it works?” I pressed.