by L. C White
“Liz, we have enough going on, without you throwing a witch fit,” Nathan yaps. “You want to fix this mess, then you listen to me.”
“The longer we spend here chatting about this, the more time she has to get away!” I yell.
A hush consumes the room and all eyes are on me. I’m being labelled loony from all angles. I know I’m not myself. I’ve never really had to deal with conflict as a vampire before. Maybe they think my inexperience is going to fuck everything up. Maybe they are all right to judge me as an idiot. Shit, I’m so lost right now.
I lower my head, closing my eyes in shame. Adrien comes to stand before me, and pulls me into his arms. I exhale into his chest, then draw back.
“Okay,” Nathan breaks the heavy air in the room. “Leanna, and several other reliable Vigore have eyes on her now. We can’t just barge in there and demand she come with us. It’s broad daylight, and rush-hour. Last thing we need is her running through Kings Cross station, screaming vampire.”
“I know Maeve,” I say, keeping cool. “I know exactly how she feels. I’ve been in the same position myself. I can talk to her.”
“That’s a no Liz,” Nathan says, sharply.
“She’s right Nathan,” Adrien steps in. “What other option do we have?”
“I was thinking of sending Dom in,” Nathan replies. “She seems to trust him.”
“No offense,” Ben butts in. “But that’s a fuckin stupid plan.”
“Yeah, it is a stupid plan,” Dom agrees completely.
“Okay,” Nathan growls out. “Sara, stay here with Dom. We need eyes and ears on the Homefront. Ben, you with me. Adrien, stick close to Liz. We find Leanna first, so wait for my call when we land. No fuckin flitting, or fighting,” he warns.
I make my way to the doors, and Adrien follows. I’m going to have to put Maeve before Daniel for a while. I need to make a connection with her. She has to trust me. I need to be Liz Lovell once again. The innocent human girl, thrust into a world of vampires.
Chapter 29: Kings Cross
Nathan
I hate this city during the day, especially rush hour. People pushing and shoving, fighting their way to work, or trying to get home from the night shift. There are no rules or morals, it’s as manic as a flaming building; a mad stampede to the nearest exit. And the noise, shit, it screws up my senses. Being Vigore now, makes me sensitive to the outside human populace. Over the years I’ve had to train myself not to absorb the energy of the public. It can get too much, and it doesn’t energise me, but drains the hell out of me. I don’t only absorb the positive, but the negative also. God help any poor Vigore who happen to stumble across a menopausal woman, or hormonal teen. That shit really does fuck you up.
I prefer the night, and I prefer the silence. Before I was turned, I was like all these lemmings, scurrying around. I enjoyed the hustle and bustle, and the party life. But now, I can just about stand small groups, and nothing more. My party days are long gone.
I pull up in Pancreas carpark as the dashboard indicates I have a call from Leanna. I glance at Ben, reluctant to answer. I’ve learnt to tolerate him over the years. Hell, we’ve even had drinks together. But this is my business. Executive business. And I don’t need him throwing fuel at an already fired-up Liz.
“Give us a minute,” I say to him.
He mumbles, puffing out his chest as he flings open the door. My cell continues to ring, as I watch him approach Adrien’s Range Rover in the rear-view mirror. I swoop up my cell and answer before it stops.
“Leanna.”
“We have a problem,” she says.
“What?”
“If we want to get this girl out of here, we’re going to have to hurry the fuck up,” she hisses at me. “Laurie has been sighted, and he’s not alone. My Vigore want out of this!”
“Lillian?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Where’s the girl?”
“She’s on platform eleven,” she replies. “Look Nathan, I don’t think Laurie will be bothered about running around here with his fangs out. If he gets near her, she is his. We won’t be able to stop him.”
“Right.” I bring the cell away from my ear for a second, and hit the dashboard in frustration. “You stay in position, and if you have eyes on Laurie, you call me. We are on route now,” I say, jumping out of my Audi, flicking on the central locking. “Leanna, don’t allow Lillian close to you, we don’t know what she’s capable of.”
“Yeah, like I fancy having a run in with a Dhampir,” she says in a bitchy tone.
“Look, I’ll call you back.” I hang up.
I dip my head at Adrien, signalling we should get a move on. I turn my back and make my way across the street, toward the station entrance as he joins my side. I’m beginning to realise, bringing them here was a mistake. Liz has enough to do, convincing Maeve she’s safe with us, never mind knowing that sadistic dick Laurie is here with, and it pains me to say, Liz’s fucked-up Daughter.
“We good for this?” Adrien asks.
Fuck, I want to tell him, but he’ll only freak-out, and it will make Liz even more eager and irrational.
“Yeah, we’re good. Maeve is waiting on platform eleven. Liz,” I call behind me, waiting for her to catch up. “We all stand back. You calmly make your way to her, and talk, don’t threaten. Give her the choice.”
“Yeah, fine.” She jogs through a mass of people like she’s on some one woman mission, and I know she hasn’t listened to my advice. Shit.
It’s so damn bright in here. The noises from the trains. The announcements on the tannoy speakers. The bings and fuckin bells chiming on the flashing noticeboards. All are messing with my concentration.
I pop my Bluetooth earpiece in my ear, and call Leanna’s number. When she answers, I slip my cell phone back into my pocket, and I hurry down the stairs with the coven in tow.
“Leanna, lines open constantly now. Tell me what you see?” I ask, watching Adrien heading below the sign of platform nine.
“She’s just standing there, drinking coffee,” she replies.
We all kind of speed-walk across platform nine. We must look odd to people. I’m just hoping we blend in, and appear more like people on urgent business, rather than vamps on a deadly assignment.
I spot Leanna’s head over a group of pompous suits with man bags, walking our way. She’s standing behind a pillar, her head popping out from behind. My eyes search for Maeve, but I can’t see her.
“Shit,” Leanna hisses in my ear.
“What is it?” I find myself jogging behind Liz and Adrien, as Ben tugs on my arm, frantically.
I glance at him to see he’s pointing to the platform, opposite eleven. Oh fuck, Laurie and Lillian have eyes on us.
“Maeve is on the move Daniel!” Leanna’s voice rings in my eardrum as my jog turns into a run. “She’s dropped her coffee. I think she’s heading to the bathroom.”
“Stick with her. Send your Vigore over to platform.” I look over to where Laurie is. “Four. Laurie and Lillian are heading our way.”
“What!”
“Just do it.”
Adrien must have overheard. His eyes are now on his archenemy; his fuckin vamp eyes. And now Liz has spotted Maeve, and is racing like a mad woman toward the ladies bathroom. Everyone in this entire train station is going to witness a freak show bloodbath, if I don’t gain some control, dammit.
“I’m going,” Ben says, charging toward Laurie’s position.
Adrien goes to make a move, but my hand shoots out to grab hold of his bicep. A full on vamp battle, in the view of hundreds of commuters, isn’t going to achieve fuck all.
“We’re going to have to initiate plan B,” I utter in anger. “No talking to the girl. We need her out of here, so we take her.”
I can see it in his eyes, his tense jaw, and his stance. He wants to kill Laurie, and is not concerned who sees. I don’t have the damn time to talk him down.
“Stop being an incompetent prick about this. He’ll
get what’s coming to him,” I growl. “Liz and Daniel are the reasons we are here.” I charge forward and thankfully he follows.
I turn back to see Ben nearing Lillian. The two Vigore I sent are nowhere to be seen. He’s going to need backup. But right now I don’t have the resources, or the goddamn time to make that call.
I near Leanna, who is standing on guard outside the ladies bathroom, noticing humans being pushed outside. I turn to check on Ben one last time. He’s chest to chest with Laurie. All past grievances displayed on his face. Fuck.
I watch as Lillian leans and whispers in his ear. His body immobilises like ice at her words. She backs away, smirking, and I see him nodding his head at her, agreeing to something. He turns on the platform, his feet nearing the edge. The speakers are sounding out a train warning. Oh god, he’s going to jump.
Both Leanna and I race to the edge of platform eleven. I’m yelling at him, but he’s on planet fucking la-la.
A member of the public notices the uproar, and tries to talk Ben out of it. But he’s not listening. He lifts his arms out, staring into space, ready to fall.
“BEN… BEN!”
The train whooshes by as I keel over, gasping. Why the fuck did he do that? Where was his shield?
“Nathan…. Nathan!” Leanna yanks on my shoulder.
I exhale, straightening up, to see Ben alive and well on the ground. The Vigore Leanna came with, have managed to pin him down on the platform. I’ve never felt anything like it since being turned. The same feeling a human gets when blood stops pumping around the body in pure fright. That was so fuckin close. Too close. I can’t allow Lillian near anyone else.
“Leanna, make sure Ben doesn’t try to toss himself in front of another train,” I order. “Get him back to The Mill with the others.”
“What about you; you want to sacrifice yourself for a bunch of Sang?”
“If that’s what Lillian can do, imagine how powerful Daniel is. We have to get to him first, or we’re all finished.”
I burst into the ladies room to see Maeve backed up against the white tiles, her fingers clutching at the sink. Adrien and Liz stand side by side, blocking any way out for her. If I were her, unable to escape from a bunch of desperate vamps, I’d also shit myself. I remember the night I was turned, I was ass-holed, but it didn’t stop the terror when I saw the fangs and black eyes, closing in on me. I screamed like a girl.
“I’m not coming with you,” she says, her back sliding down the tiles to get closer to a toilet cubicle. “I’ll call the police.” Her trembling fingers slip into her trouser pocket, which is clearly empty. “I don’t want no part of this anymore.”
“Well, it’s too late for that, Maeve,” Liz says, trying to sound friendly, but coming across an insane bitch.
“We are sorry you have had to witness what you have,” Adrien adds. “But if you don’t come with us right now, there are some much worse characters, heading right this way.”
“Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?” she yells, her face flushing bright red. “I’ve been questioned by immigration control for nearly two days. I had the wallet of a missing man, full of cash. They only let me go, when I admitted to finding it on the floor. Daniel gave it to me!” She squeals out each word. “I fuckin lied for him!”
“You’ve been with Daniel?” Liz closes in on her.
“Look,” I bark. “We need to leave right now!”
I’m too late. The door opens and Laurie wanders in with Lillian. I back away, having witnessed what she can do. There is nothing more I’d love, than to rip Laurie’s throat out right now, but he has a weapon in Lillian, unlike any other.
Liz however, has no qualms leaping onto the vampire who has made her existence a living hell. It all began with Laurie, and she wants it to end with him. Her eyes switch to black as her fingers reach out to grab him, but Lillian simply lies her hand on Liz’s shoulder, and Liz is frozen to the spot, bound by invisible restraints.
Adrien is now taking a turn. Laurie smirks as Adrien is also taken by Lillian’s voodoo.
I slowly take a subtle step by the hand dryer. My plan is to try and get to Maeve first, but Lillian stops me with one single look. Not with her powers, but the threat of her using them on me. One of us needs to be free to move in this fucked up situation, so I do as I’m told.
“Adrien, you old dog.” Laurie gets close to Adrien’s straining face. “How are you?” He pats his shoulder.
“Laurie,” I say through my teeth. “You’re not going to get away with this.”
“Really, because from where I’m standing, there is nothing to get away with.”
I notice Lillian staring strangely at Liz. She tilts her head like a cave woman, looking at fire for the first time. She’s curious and is letting her guard down.
“And Elizabeth,” Laurie hums like a sick pervert. “Meet your biological Daughter… our Daughter.”
Adrien manages a step. “I will fuckin kill you… again,” he grunts.
“It’s good to see you again Liz.” Lillian runs her hand down Liz’s face as I fight the urge not to go all-out attack. “I’m sorry for the intrusion up in Scotland. I just wanted to meet you and my brother.”
“What do you want?” I ask.
“Daniel has become somewhat of a rebel due to his malnutrition over the years.” Laurie stares at Maeve. “And that little Scottish beauty, is the only one who can change that.”
“You have Daniel?” Liz forces her voice out.
“You really shouldn’t have favourites.” Lillian tuts at Liz, wagging her finger.
“Daniel came to me because he had nowhere else to turn,” Laurie replies like a smug-ass. “He is blood feeding now, but it is simply not enough. He needs his first ultimate boost, like a new-born requires the first milk from the breast.”
“You sick son of a bitch,” I yell. “Lillian, can you not see he’s using you. He’s going to use Daniel too. He only wants you both by his side, so he has total control. Look around the city, he’s using blood to grow the Voax!”
She begins to giggle at me. “I don’t think so,” she sings out.
“That’s rich coming from a greedy Executive,” Laurie laughs. “Who has done nothing to evolve, only provide funds and blood for The Order.”
“Please,” Liz begs.
I watch Liz’s eyes well up and blacken. She’s fighting with everything she has, but it’s not good enough. Adrien thrashes side to side, but that also makes no difference. I’m the only one who can at least try to stop this.
“Lillian, if you would be so kind.” Laurie smiles at Maeve.
“Maeve honey,” Lillian says. “You must come with us. Daniel needs you.”
Like Ben, Maeve seems to have been psychically controlled by Lillian, and is making her way toward Laurie. As Laurie holds out his arms to her, I leap and grab hold of Maeve from behind. I don’t want to do this, but I’ve got no choice. I pull back her head, with my fangs to her neck.
“I could end this right now,” I say, my breath bouncing off Maeve’s skin. “Your plan won’t work without her.”
“Nathan… no!” Liz yaps, as Maeve releases frightened gasps.
I close my eyes because I know myself, I can’t do it. But I’m still going to try and fuckin stop them.
“Can you not see, Daniel chose this,” Laurie says. “He came to me.”
“You’re lying,” Adrien yells.
I hush Maeve, as guilt traps me in its claws. I blink slowly and as I open my eyes, Lillian’s face is in mine. She pushes me off Maeve, and I’m now flying through the air. I land hard, my back slamming against the sink counter.
“FUCK!” I holler, clutching my bottom rib.
Lillian guides Maeve’s compliant body toward the door.
“I could end every single one of you right now in this room,” Laurie says, walking toward the exit. “But I won’t. You took everything away from me, now you will forever be on guard. You will witness the city transform into what you have failed
to achieve under The Order. And you will watch your son, open his heart to me.”
I push myself up as they casually walk out with Maeve. Liz and Adrien writhe and hiss, finally gaining some movement. I race out onto the busy platform, my eyes and Vigore senses trying to pick up Maeve. But she’s gone. It’s as though they flitted out of here without being seen.
***
I drove behind Adrien all the way back. I wanted to keep my eye on them I guess. He wasn’t fit to drive, and neither was Liz. I’ve never seen a vampire breakdown, but in Pancreas carpark, Liz released years’ worth of tears, collapsing on her knees. Adrien had to lift her from the ground to get her inside the back of the Range Rover, hiding his own rage and upset.
My head is well and truly fucked. I’m supposed to have all the answers; be able to solve problems and relations within our kind. But now I feel like I’m floating in damn space, and gravity is taking away all the hope. I don’t know how to stop this. It’s gone way too deep.
I pull up the handbrake, watching as Adrien lifts Liz out of the backseat.
‘Breaking news.’ I listen to the ten o’clock news on the radio. ‘A body has been found near Canary Wharf, which could be connected with the recent animal attack in Ilford. Authorities are yet to make a statement. It has been suggested that the attacks have been….’
I flick off the radio and growl out, slamming my head against the headrest. This is so crazy. We are supposed to be civilised; a fuckin democracy. Not goddamn animals. We’re going back in time.
There’s a tap on the window. I turn my head to see Sara, worrying over me. I feel like I’m letting everyone down. I can’t fix this. But still, I’ve got to get out of this car, and come up with an unfeasible solution.
I don’t say a word to Sara as I walk through the back entrance. She’s nagging behind me, but I can’t hear her words.
I march toward the dancefloor and stop. Ben is tied to a fuckin chair, and Dom is slapping him around the face, as Gwen the witch, has this shitty smelling incense wafting around the room.
