by Leia Stone
I heard the soft click of the door as Ryder left to give me privacy and I let it all out. I needed to process this shit and get over it, because if the rumors were true, I would soon be fighting for my life. The Hive was overpopulated. If you wanted to live, you had to earn that right.
After crying it all out, I pulled myself together. That was my one moment to fall apart. Now I would deal with this shit the same way I had dealt with every bad thing in my life – by fighting back. I got out of bed, wincing as I pulled out my IV and the tape which had held it down. Noticing a pile of clothes on a nearby chair, I crossed over to pick up the first item. I felt my brows draw together as I stared at the shiny material. I wasn’t happy about wearing something of theirs, but I had no choice. I also noticed boots and underwear, which surprisingly enough looked to be my size. I slipped into the cotton underwear and followed this with the skintight black jumpsuit, which had silver panels on the side. Everything fit me like a glove. The back and front right pocket of my suit had “#46” on it.
Had they custom made this outfit for me or something? How long had I been out of it? Surely not long enough for them to measure and fit me with an outfit. Ugh, did those creeps take my measurements while I was unconscious? I really shouldn’t even be surprised by that.
Dressed and nervous, I was just deciding whether or not to try and open the door when I heard voices on the other side. I pressed my ear against it.
“There has never been a female ash. She’s special. The rules are not the same for her and we shouldn’t have her fight with the others. What if she’s killed?” Ryder’s voice was low, controlled, but I could hear undercurrents which made me nervous. I couldn’t tell how far away he was, but I could hear him as if he was right next to me. Ash perk.
A cold, hard voice cut him off. “There are eleven open beds left in this hive and forty-six new ash. She will fight with the others and earn her place like everyone else.”
“Sir, I respect your position, but—”
“But you’re not in my position, so do your job and follow orders. Find her a trainer and a sponsor and be done with it!” Loud footsteps retreated.
“Dick,” Ryder muttered, and I smirked.
The door opened suddenly, cracking me in the side of the face.
“Ow!” I rubbed my cheek as Ryder stood before me.
He let out an exasperated sigh. “Do you make it a habit to listen behind closed doors?”
His eyes locked in on me and I was struck by the notion that, like my own, his were a little different than the others. More silver.
I stepped back a few feet. “I might be guilty of doing that on occasion.”
He had no cast on his leg now. He hadn’t been kidding about the quick healing. And, thankfully, he no longer carried the torture stick. He gestured for me to follow him.
“If you can keep from attacking everyone, I can allow you to join the rest of the new ash.”
“No promises.” I pursed my lips. I wasn’t kidding either.
The smallest hint of a smile crossed his face as if he’d heard the extra thoughts I didn’t add. He picked up his walkie-talkie. “I’m taking new initiate number forty-six out into general population. Be advised.”
My eyebrows shot up. Seriously? What else had I done in my blood craze?
I followed him out of the long hall. We passed a dozen doors. My pretty cool, black ass-kicking boots clanked against the black and white checkered linoleum floors. At the end of the hall, Ryder opened two double doors which led into a nice waiting room. A beautiful, extremely well-coiffed female vampire sat a reception desk, talking on the phone. There were closed-door offices scattered to the left and right.
Ryder led me to a door marked “Orientation.”
He opened it and I glanced inside. It was empty of people. Just a few desks.
His expression was unreadable as he gestured for me to step inside. “This is where I leave you,” he said. “I will send Jose along to get you acquainted and give you a tour.”
Oh. I tried to school my immediate disappointment. Ryder was the only somewhat familiar person I knew here. Along with disappointment, there was also panic and nerves fighting to spill from me. Guess I couldn’t rely on Ryder any longer. It was probably best he left anyway. It would just make things easier all round if I didn’t go all Stockholm on this ash, and start falling for my captor. He was lethal in more ways than one.
“Thanks for…” Not letting me kill my mom. And so many other things.
He stared into my eyes again and I saw him inhale deeply, the silver of his eyes pulsing. Clearing his throat, he nodded. “Welcome to the Hive, number forty-six. Try to stay alive.”
He turned on his heels and left. Number forty-six? Asshole. I let the door slam behind me before turning to sink into the closest chair.
An hour later and I was still getting the tour of this crazy place. Jose, the Hispanic ash who had been my guide thus far, was like a robot on crack. He spoke rapidly, mostly about all the Hive facts I was supposed to give a shit about.
“So, like I said, the Hive is a master of ingenuity. Eighty stories. Twenty are dug deep into the earth. The other sixty tower high above, as you have seen from the city. There are shutters on all the upper levels so the vamps don’t burn up. They stay closed at all times during daylight hours. As soon as night hits, then the entire Hive opens up and comes to life.”
I was following him aimlessly, trying to ignore the crazy stares I was getting. Apparently the rumor mill was already in full swing. They all knew a freakin’ unicorn mythical ash creature was amongst them and they all wanted to get a look. A few full-fledged vampires had passed us – and I’m not gonna lie – when their strange energy brushed against me, my heart started hammering in my chest. Those bastards were so creepy. They barely walked – more like floated.
“This is the floor.” Jose stopped and I walked into his back.
“Ooof.” Whoops.
He glared at me and then went back to robot mode.
“This is the most important floor of the Hive. Level eleven, feeder and blood storage level. Every vampire and ash has a feeding schedule and a preferred feeder. Or if you like the bottled stuff, that’s fine too.”
He pulled out a tablet and looked down. “You’re O-negative. I’d suggest for pure taste you stick with that blood type, but you can drink any sort. Hmm, I see here you have been cleared for six feedings a day. That’s a lot.” His brow creased. I craned my neck to try and see what else the tablet said about me. He shifted it out of sight, turning it off and slipping it away.
He straightened, and continued the tour. As he opened the doors on the feeder room, the distinct copper scent assaulted my nose and I felt that burn in my gums again. Somehow I knew my fangs had lengthened. It felt like when my chocolate addiction kicked it. Blood now smelled as delicious as melted chocolate, the kind humans dipped their strawberries in.
Humans. Oh man. I was already drooling over blood and separating myself from humans. Not good.
Jose checked me in with the ash receptionist, a large, beefy, black-haired male, with really dark caramel skin. Beautiful like all ash.
“Well, this is the end of the tour. By the time your feeding session is done, I will have your room assignment ready.”
I was trying not to salivate as I looked at the open glass refrigerated cases behind the guy at the desk.
“Feeding session?” Shit, just hand me a few of those bottles and I was good. No session required.
“Your requested feeder is waiting in room seven,” front desk ash told me.
Requested feeder? Had Ryder set something up for me already? No way was I actually ready to feed from a human – I wasn’t sure I was ever going to actually bite into a person like they were a freakin’ apple. I was just opening my mouth to give a definite “Hell no” to the guy behind the desk when it hit me, a familiar scent. Under all the liquid chocolate was my bestie. Right … my requested feeder. Tessa, you crazy bitch.
“Tha
nks!” I opened the fridge, moving along the shelves until I found the O-negative shelf and grabbed a bottle.
“For later,” I said, before bolting down the hall. The doors were all numbered, and as I dashed toward number seven, I lifted the blood bottle and inserted my fangs into the two holes perfectly placed in the lid. The burn in my mouth increased as the canines fully extended, piercing through the seals. It was like they could sense the blood. I chugged the liquid down as fast as I could. I wouldn’t talk to Tessa thirsty. She would not heal like Ryder. As the splash of deliciousness coated my tongue, I tried not to moan. Moans were strictly for chocolate and orgasms. Not blood.
I slowed as door number seven appeared, and after removing the bottle and making sure all the blood was gone from my mouth, I burst through. My body immediately gravitated toward the warmth in the room – I was a damned predator now, and already my body was attuned to stupid blood – but I forced myself to focus on the fact that this was my best friend. I drank in the sight of her. Finally, something that felt familiar and like the old Charlie.
Tessa looked like shit. Her makeup was smudged, her blond curls wild.
She stood as I ran to embrace her, but when we were about two feet apart her eyes widened and a rich, cloying scent wafted from her. I halted a foot from her. I’d smelt this heavy scent before, when I had been afraid. Tessa was scared of me.
Her eyes scanned over me rapidly. She was cataloguing all the changes. The blood I’d just downed was working its magic, and I knew my eyes would be shooting out all kinds of swirly ash vibes.
The smile slid off my face. I wasn’t sure what to do. You know shit’s real when your best friend for most of your life is afraid of you.
“Hey,” I finally said. My eyes fell. I stared at my shiny boots. I really, really needed Tess to be my normal and annoying best friend right now. I was pretty sure I couldn’t handle one more disappointment this week.
As if she’d sensed that need, I felt a hand touch my cheek, and as I raised my head, a smile spread across her haggard features. This time she didn’t hesitate to pull me into a bone-crushing hug.
“Sorry, your eyes freaked me out. They’re kind of really fucked up, Charlie.”
I relished the brutal honesty this girl could dish out. “You don’t look so hot yourself,” I countered.
She pulled away. “Yeah, that’s what happens when your best friend turns into an ash and gets taken to the Hive.”
I sat down and took a deep breath. “Tess, I am so, so happy I got to see you this one time, but that’s all this can be. It’s not safe here. If you sign up as a feeder, others could use you.”
She sat next to me and threw across her biggest bitch game-face. “I’m coming here every week. Every. Single. Week. If I get fed on, then so be it.”
She was daring me to counter her. I couldn’t. I was selfish enough to know I needed her.
“I might not last a week,” I whispered, thinking of the rumors.
She put an arm around me and said, “Tell me everything.”
And I did.
Chapter 4
After talking with Tessa, I reluctantly pulled myself from her side and returned to being an ash. I got my bunk assignment from the receptionist. I was feeling all kinds of tired after this shit storm, and was pleased to find out that ashes still slept. At least I might have an escape from my newly discovered life during sleep. The receptionist had passed on a message from Jose, telling me how to find my room. Apparently I now had no escort. Which was fine with me. I found the right hallway no problem, level forty-four, room twelve. My card swiped open the door, and after seeing the room was empty, I collapsed into what was hopefully my bed and passed out.
A scratching, thud noise had my eyes flying open. Instinct pushed me to sit bolt upright, frantic.
Standing on the other side of the room was a gorgeous, tall, buff guy with dark espresso skin. We locked gazes for a few extended moments. I was awake enough then to hate on him a little for his ridiculously long eyelashes – wasted on a man, for sure – before deciding to speak and break the silence.
“Hi,” I squeaked. I should have realized I’d be sharing a room with a guy. There were no girl ashes.
He didn’t hesitate to cross the room and extend his hand. “I’m Jayden, hottest chocolate ash up in this bitch.” He did a flamboyant hand gesture for added measure and I cracked a smile. I had impeccable gaydar, which was definitely not required with Jayden. I instantly liked him and realized that those eyelashes were probably very much appreciated by this particular guy.
Shaking his hand, I introduced myself. “I’m Charlie.”
“Girl, you have the entire Hive in a frenzy. Female ash. Crazy stuff.”
I cleared my throat. I was thirsty and not for water. “Yeah, well, no one is more surprised than me.”
He stiffened then, his rippling muscles freezing in place. “Your eyes look a little hungry.”
Breaking his statue-like pose, he crossed the small room and opened a little refrigerator before tossing me a cold bottle of blood. “It takes a while to get the guts to feed from a human. I’m assuming you still like blood of the bottled variety.”
I caught the bottle midair and nodded, wasting no time popping my fangs into the lid. I was able to contain my excitement better. It wasn’t that the blood was less orgasmic – it was all kinds of amazing – but I was gaining a little control over my reactions.
“Thanks.”
He nodded and took a seat across from me on his bed. Our room was tiny. Like closet small.
“Wow, they really roll out the red carpet for us, huh?” I gestured to the room, which held two beds, the refrigerator, and a door to what I assumed was an adjoining bathroom.
Jayden smiled. “This is shitty temp housing for the newbies. If we survive the culling, we get proper cribs.”
My face went slack. Okay, yes, I had heard rumors, but here it was confirmed, the culling. Defined in the Webster’s dictionary as “Killing a bunch of motherfuckers off.”
Jayden noticed my shock. “Oh my God, honey. They didn’t tell you?”
They hadn’t told me shit, but I wasn’t going to tell him that yet. He moved and sat next to me, his warmth strangely comforting. I barely knew this guy, but for some reason I was getting legit and genuine vibes off him. There was a sense of nurturing about him, and that made me trust him.
“Tell me everything about this culling,” I said, letting my eyes fall on his pretty face.
His huge arms nearly ripped the seams of his shirt as he shifted back to lean on them. He cleared his throat. “Should have known those bastards would keep you in the dark. Look, I really don’t want to be the one to tell you this. Basically, vampire-human sexual relations are illegal, so we technically shouldn’t be allowed to live at all.”
That much I did know. And something told me the worst news was still to come. Come on, don’t draw it out. Hit me with it.
“But the vamps allow a small number of ash to integrate into the Hive each year. In two weeks there will be a culling … a series of fights to the death, all of which takes place over seven days. First we fight individually, and then when the initial weak are weeded out, it moves on to team fights. All of the new ash must fight, and if you survive, you get to become a member of the Hive. Yay.” He ended the last part with fake bravado.
I released the breath I had been holding. Well, I’ll be damned, the rumors were true.
Jayden went on: “There’re lots of rules and traditions that go along with it. There’re sponsors that pay for training, and a ranking system that says whether or not you fight first or last, and who you’ll team with if you make it that far. All of which can be the difference between life and death. You might be happy to know that rumor has it you caught the eye of Lucas. He’s on the Quorum. I haven’t figured out yet if…”
He trailed off and I was wondering more about who the hell this Lucas was. How many freakin’ vamps had I encountered in my bloodthirsty crazed days here?
My stomach growled. Odd. I didn’t feel thirsty, it was actual hunger that panged me. This felt much more like my old days of being a food whore.
Jayden’s smile quirked even higher. “Believe it or not, we still need to eat one human food meal a day, especially when healing.” He jumped up. “How you doing with this? Wanna curl up and die or are you ready to give this a try?” Those ash eyes sparkled at me. “The way I see it, you have two options right now: try to commit suicide, or come grab some food with me.” There was barely any silver in the black of his eyes. “I know which option I’d prefer. I’m not much for blood on my clothes, and I would hate to clean up your dead ass.”
I laughed, an actual real laugh. If I did need to be in this shithole and fight for my life, I mind as well keep my spirits up.
“Food,” I said, and stood. “I’m not one for giving up. I’m the life and lemons sort. As long as there is tequila too.”
“Amen to that, sister.”
I hadn’t been kidding, I was not one to give up. I would push all the information down to my deep dark place and pull it up later when needed.
After taking a quick shower and slipping into a new jumpsuit – I had like ten #46 suits in my side of the box cupboard – we left our room and went down a long hallway. I memorized the route as we pushed through two double doors and into a huge cafeteria. As we stepped inside, the noise hit me first, followed closely by the multitude of scents. My senses were kicking into overdrive, and it actually took me several long moments to deal with the overwhelming stimulation to my body, filtering it all out, compartmentalizing so I didn’t start freaking out.
There must have been over a thousand ashes in there. And at some point after my entrance, the noise started filtering away, until every single one of them had stopped what they were doing and was staring at me.
Holy cracking ash babies. I was frozen in the doorway. Unable to move, but at least finally not drowning in the sea of sensations.
