The wire at my throat was proof of Trinity’s love.
So, I knew that I was going to die on the murky banks of the Thames, under London Bridge, to the curdled tang of brine and piss, as the stars watched without giving one bleeding sod because why should they?
I can be all Emo when I feel like it, and when you’re about to be murdered…? You feel like it.
The wire eased. Then it was whipped off, and I was kicked sprawling into the mud. I spluttered, holding my hand to the jagged slash. I hissed, as my blood seeped out.
Trinity was scrutinizing me, and her cheeks were as wet as mine. “No one cares. A tear ain’t shed for one of ours.”
I pushed myself onto my knees. “He was one of mine too.”
A bark, and then a sudden blur of black-and-white. Mutt — in all her wagging glory — tumbled me into the stinking mud. Her warm tongue licked my tears.
“Mutts been missing my Will. He stays with us. This is his home,” Trinity ordered.
I stroked Mutt to hide the tremble in my hand. “I’d only have got peckish and noshed him anyway.”
Trinity flung down the wire, before shoving her hands into the pockets of her khaki jacket: definite knife reaching territory. Then she scuffed at the embankment. The gravel wept down the sides. “Where are your trainers?”
I peered down at the bloody soles of my bare feet. “I’ve lost a lot lately.”
Trinity’s eyes narrowed. “You ain’t going to tell me where my Will at? But you be telling me that he’s dead?”
“I’m sorry.” She was a bright First Lifer: that was enough for her to know the truth.
Trinity nodded. “Alright.” Her eyes were black with cold rage. “Now tell me who we shank.”
I wobbled to my feet, before edging towards her.
An enemy of my enemy was…
Still my psychotic, unstable, drug dealing enemy. Yet we had a common goal and grief. Trinity could be my ears out into the world: First united with Blood. Maybe it was an unholy alliance. But for Will…?
I’d have worn lipstick for the devil.
“If we work this right, then you won’t need to shank anyone (fun as that is), because we’ll make every bloody bastard care about you, me, and Will. We won’t be the Lost, and you won’t be invisible. They’ll see us at last.”
Trinity nodded and held out her hand. I grasped it, and First and Blood, we united to avenge Will and to make the invisible seen at long last.
Blake’s lounge was in darkness, when I crept in just before dawn. I reckoned I would kip on the sofa to save myself from She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.
When in the silence Blake touched the light by his designer chair, and Plantagenet sprang to life kneeling at his feet with Sun at his shoulder, like Blake was a medieval king at an execution, I couldn’t even convince myself that I was surprised.
“Like that, is it?” I glanced between them wearily. “Do you want me to tinkle the high notes on the Steinway and add some more dramatic tension?”
“Come and chat,” Blake calmly commanded, “or do I simply call security...?”
“Those great elephants blundering after me around London?” I slouched over to the sofa, throwing myself down with an eek of dying toys. I was too knackered to keep running. I smirked, when Blake grimaced at the snail trail of scarlet on his carpet. He’d know better to give me boots next time. If they wanted a fight, then they wouldn’t find me the roll over and take it sort anymore. Sun hid behind her veil of hair, as I pointed at her. “Dead classy, grassing on me to teacher. What did Blake promise? A shiny head girl badge?”
Blake patted the back of Sun’s hand.
My Sun Girl. Not Blake’s or his Renegades’.
Mine.
Blake smiled. “Head of department, actually. She’s our star.”
I burst to my feet. No bloody way. Then I caught a glimpse of Sun’s eyes, which were glistening with tears. She looked as stricken as me. “Still, most stars are just dying suns from our pasts, right?”
Sun exploded at me then, as I’d hoped that she would, because I hadn’t been able to see her standing there united with Blake against me. Not after what we’d fought for together. After all that she’d lost and betrayed for me.
Not when she was my elected.
Sun bowled me onto my back with her arm pressed against my throat. It reminded me of how Plantagenet had pinned me under the curtain of his curls as he’d wept for his lost family.
His legacy.
Sun’s lips pressed hard to mine, as if to prove that she was still burning molten, even though wet dripped from her eyes like an anointing.
“Sun,” I mouthed, “please…”
Sun pulled away from me, however, leaving me alone on the floor.
When I forced myself to look up, Sun was a shadow again at Blake’s shoulder. Plantagenet was studying me tenderly, almost regretfully. “Is this where you take me down to that dungeon of yours and get happy with the rack again, or am I demoted to lab rat permanently?”
“I told you not to ask questions.” Blake could’ve been a mafia boss. “I warned you to accept what I told you. You’re going to be a challenge to teach obedience.”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath.” I pushed myself up. There was no way that I’d let Blake continue to recline there looking down on me. “You’re my… We’re blood,” I hissed at Plantagenet who was shaking. Why was it shredding me that he’d never truly craved me as family, whilst I now craved him? “I reckoned that you were some sort of savior, rescuing us from that research lab, but it turns out that you were the bastard who put us in there.”
“Great gods, find no treason well-beloved! Nay, I knew not.” Plantagenet tried to rise with his hand outstretched to me, but winced when he was yanked back by Blake. I hadn’t noticed that Plantagenet’s curls were wound around Blake’s strong hand. For just a moment, I reckoned that Plantagenet would break free anyway, but instead he crouched back to kneel. “I was ignorant of such…” Plantagenet glanced from underneath his eyelashes at Blake. “Yet ignorance does not excuse my part. We wish no harm but only for you to listen to the winding path behind these wicked machinations.”
Another cruel twist on Plantagenet’s hair; this time he groaned.
To my surprise, it was Sun who growled.
“It was before… I didn’t know Plantagenet,” Blake was the most awkward that I’d yet seen him, darting glances anywhere but me, “or any Blood Lifer existed. This woman came to see me about a private and highly confidential subcontract. It’s not unusual. It turns out that they were a new department called the CIE.”
“Just what we need. Another sodding acronym.”
Blake gritted his teeth. ‘They wanted a new military facility fitting out, everything from examining tables to our most advanced genetic tests. Except, when the specs came through (for my eyes only), it was to fit a human or something very like.”
I cocked my head. “And you pulled right on out?”
“I tried to but I was committed. Plus, they added a bonus.” Blake gentled his hold on Plantagenet’s curls to a stroke. “They opened my eyes to all of it: The Blood Life Council and a whole new species. They promised me the best slave.”
Furious, I took one stride and — bam. I clouted Blake in the nose. Blake howled, cradling his face.
Whilst Blake stemmed the crimson with his handkerchief, I stood back, waiting for the wrathful whirr of Plantagenet thrashing my arse. Instead, Plantagenet simply knelt there and let me get away with hitting his master and that was blinding.
Stunned, Blake opened his mouth once. Closed it. Twice. Then a third time.
I gave a scornful laugh. “Cat got your tongue? Some bitch offered you enough money to tempt your greedy capitalist heart into overlooking the dodgy villain vibes. Then when you figured out the true darkness, you were bribed with a toy. Did I miss something out?”
Blake merely shook his head.
“Now what are we going to do about it? Our venom? I’m guessing that you didn’t
know about that fun part of the plan? All in hand? Yeah, right.”
When Plantagenet glanced at Sun, I felt like the new kid in school. “Is not this sufficient? The Blood Lifers we save as Renegades and being together as a family? You are all hail and thunder, but glory comes from our mission. What has the world to do with us?”
Plantagenet meant it. Bloody hell did he.
I clenched my fists. “Pure death won’t merely be used as a weapon against other countries or political assassinations but the undesirables too like our own country’s misfits. The First Lifers will use it to tidy up the imperfect, sway agendas, or cut costs: immigrants, old folks, or those taking up hospital beds. The disabled and the homeless.” Will’s dusky blond tumble of curls, as his blue eyes peeked up at me outside the comic shop, like he was waiting to be swept away with the rest of the rubbish: ciggie butts, chewing gum, and abandoned coffee cups. Then the black body bag wheeled through the lab. “Who’d miss them?” When had I started yelling? Yet I couldn’t stop. “A spike in heart attacks in vulnerable groups like that? Who’d care?”
I finally noticed Plantagenet’s gentle hand was on my shoulder, whilst Sun’s was on my other. Blake was left stranded and silent on his throne.
“I would, well-beloved,” Plantagenet was all serious determination, “simply because you do.”
For the first time, Plantagenet felt truly like family.
Why are the Blood Life Council working with the CIE and the First Lifer Westminster? Come on, give it your best.
It’s new Council policy…at least, it’s Captain’s policy…to work with whoever best suits our needs. That includes First Lifers, governments, or the CIE.
Great bloke, your Captain. And just who are these CIE wankers?
Committee on Interspecies Evolution. Julia Kane is human liaison.
Yet you have the cheek to call me a traitor?
First you were sell-outs to slavers. Now military weapon developers. Did Captain and his cronies fly the nest from their Authors too soon to learn even the basic Blood Lifer rules?
They slaughtered them, so the records say. I’ve been doing my homework, Mr Blickle, since we last chatted.
The ruthless bastards are going to get us all killed.
This First Lifer from the CIE isn’t all sparkly dolls and fairy dust. She’s studying us; how to hurt and kill us. But first? The CIE will use our venom to wipe out a city. Slip it in the Thames and it’ll be bye bye dear old London town. It’s more than a handy tool to assassinate Russian spies or terrorists in deserts. Pure death could enslave the world.
Or end it.
See beneath the paperwork, procedures, and petty divides, you silly bint: see me.
That’s not my job. All this other business is hardly your affair. We work with the British Government. The divide that I see? We’re legitimate, and you’re the terrorist. That’s why you’re the one who’s going to be burned alive.
Am I still silly?
You’re deluded.
We’re all slipping, one small choice and deed at a time, towards the edge of an abyss. And it’s bloody dark down there.
Now maybe that’s none of my business. But apathy isn’t one of my weaknesses, sweetheart.
So, I stole out of bed as soon as Sun was sleeping, before riding the lift down to the ground floor. Something was going on in Blake’s research labs, and although daft heroics had cost me in both First and Blood Life, I’d never lost the hope that this time I’d pull off the caper.
Yet now I had a secret weapon. I wouldn’t be alone; I had a fangirl.
I had Kallis.
“Awesome, you’re…” Kallis struggled to explain why I was hanging about the back of the lift. I knew that I was staying out of sight of the CCTV for as long as possible, whilst waiting for Kallis to sashay by, but I wasn’t helping her out on this one. I smiled encouragingly. “…scoping the territory for other predators?”
“That’ll be it, love.” When I dragged Kallis into the lift with me, she gasped. Her heart was thudding like a tribal drum message straight to my brain. My fangs shot out, as I licked up her neck. Kallis sighed, pressing her thighs onto mine, before she giggled because my fangs weren’t the only thing excited by the blood.
Sodding evolution.
I shoved Kallis back, as I shoved my fangs back in.
“Neat.” Kallis’ fingers were like soldiers; as fast as I batted back their raids on my fast wilting cock, they regrouped and charged.
At last, I grabbed her wrists and squeezed; Kallis squeaked, drawing back. “I didn’t come here for that. Instinct: hell of a thing. The blood—”
“Blood is life.”
I flinched. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t quote me. It creeps me out.”
Flustered, Kallis nodded. “Why’s Our Light walking amongst us again?”
“Touch of the risen Christ, but first things first. I’m being a bad boy here because I haven’t got permission. Blake’s not going to like that in a he’ll be doing more than spanking me way.”
“Hold up,” Kallis rubbed the back of her hand down my cheek; it was surprisingly tender, “Blake hurts you? He would hurt you or any Blood Lifer?”
I bit my tongue. Here was the crux: how much true darkness to unveil to a First Lifer.
It was the way that Kallis had touched my cheek with that flash of awareness, which prompted me to admit, “Blake’s built himself a fortress here, training a team of fanatics, who he separates from family and friends. He’s seated himself at the head. You do know that you Renegades kill? Think about all that, and then tell me that you reckon us Blood Lifers stay here because we love being stuck with needles, defanged, and wheeled out like prize exhibits? Blake’s a bloody tyrant. Me? I’m the rebel who’s going to burn this fortress to the ground. I’ll free you all for real, but you have to decide right now whether you’re going to turn me in or join the true rebellion.”
There was a long moment. Kallis stared at me. Then she gave a quick nod, before holding out her long-fingered hand, and we shook on the start of the rebellion.
A Komodo dragon.
Dead.
The Komodo was a greyish green, five-foot-long (as tall as Kallis), and its claws hung as motionless as its muscular tail. Its guts coiled worm-like, spiraling onto the examining table.
A tiny bloke in olive operating overalls, hardly more than a sodding kid, was jabbing a needle into the Komodo’s neck through its chainmail scales with gusto. He glowered at Kallis and me when we tore into the research lab, slamming the door.
I tottered to a meshed basket by the autopsy, before I chucked up.
“For God’s sake, Kallis,” the scientist wailed, “why on earth would you bring in this creature, whilst I was engaged in…?”
I wiped my mouth. The lab spun me back to Ivor’s: the powerlessness, the burn, and the scalpel… Do I cut it off all at once at the base? Quick. Or slowly slice by slice?
I chucked up again. This time I missed the bin.
“Get him out of here.” The scientist hopped up and down like an enraged bug. “He’s contaminating—”
“You’re the one contaminating, you little oik,” I hissed. “The Komodo died a natural death, did he?”
If the Komodo was still so green that meant he was only a kid too. The poor git’s forked yellow tongue lolled out of its snout. I wished that I could gently press the tongue back inside and give it some dignity at least, after this violation. Yet the guts gory on the padded plastic? How could I ever heal that wound?
I didn’t know why it was getting to me, but deep — biologically — there was a connection. It was my venom fizzing with fury at the outrage. We weren’t the prey to be sliced open with our insides on display.
“Neither did you,” the brat pointed the needle at me, “that’s nature.”
I slammed him against the wall, so fast that he didn’t even have time to eep.
More Komodo dragons. Another and another and… Photo after photo pinned to the walls. Living, mid-autop
sy, and dead. Green, gray, and uniform stone. Close-ups of teeth, saliva, and venom glands. In fierce battles and slaughtering prey.
I stared between them in silence, mesmerized.
“Your ancestor,” the brat was scrutinizing me like he was deciding where to jab the needle first.
“You say that about yourself whenever you see Mr Darwin?”
The tantrum scowl again. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand the finer points of the Island—”
“Monitor. Known to natives of the Komodo Island as ora, buaya darat, the land crocodile or biawak raksasa, the giant monitor.” Finally, the scientist lowered his gaze. “See, I know more about these buggers than you do and I knew it before you were born. I’ve saved the world, you condescending prat. This is a dangerous thing that you’re playing with. Us Blood Lifers? We’re not the school science project.”
“You’re right: you’re the Holy Grail, little man.” Fernando gave a casual wave as he sauntered into the lab. He was wearing scrubs, so had taken the time to be avenged on my ancestors too.
My world was spinning. Even Blake couldn’t have...?
Yet Fernando had been working on the Komodo, as if he’d just finished up torturing me and abusing Sun.
When I dived for him, I found myself instead nose-to-nose with Kallis. “Professor Zuniga Sanchez is on our team now.”
“Not my team,” I growled. “You reckon that you had vengeance? You don’t have a clue about Blood Lifer vengeance but you sodding will.”
I met Fernando’s glare. He was pressed against the door, sweat shining him doll-like. Yet Fernando was too cool for a bloke facing death.
Why wasn’t he playing the part of prey?
Then Fernando smiled, and it was my insides liquefying. Kallis pressed against my chest, and I met her gaze.
“You don’t know what he did,” I muttered.
“We know.” Kallis shrugged. “Plantagenet made him tell us.”
I could feel the heat like beacons in my cheeks, as Fernando’s smile broadened to reveal those not quite perfect teeth. “In a memo, was it?”
Rebel Vampires: The Complete Series Page 75
