“Alexander, I begged you to bring her here. Why didn’t you do it?”
His friend shook his head and lowered his gaze. “I thought keeping you apart was for the best. She kept calling, asking how you were, and I got tired of it and made the deal with the hunters and Reaver. I told you, she gets on my nerves.”
“And now she may be in danger because of your inability to control yourself,” Lucious hissed and grabbed a leather jacket off the back of the chair. He put it on and grasped Alexander by the arm, leading him out of the room. “Let us hope it is not too late.”
10
A Bird In A Cage
Helena relaxed on the sofa. A blood bag, which Ben brought back from an unknown source, remained hooked up to her vein through an IV. With a blank expression, she stared at the plastic bag resting on the back of the sofa, deflating over time.
Ever since Alexander took Lucious mere hours ago, she couldn’t shake the longing. It clung to her like an unwanted odour. Was he doing well? He has to be. He’s a vampire, and he will heal. For some reason, such words no longer brought comfort to her. What remained—what held her together—was the fact that the link was stationary. It meant he was strong enough to keep her out of his mental shields.
Maya plopped on the sofa next to her and eyed Helena. “Don’t look so glum, sis. Things will work out once we get the blade from Reaver.”
Helena faced her, uncertainty overturning her gut. “Are you sure about that? How do we get to Lazarus once we have the blade?”
Maya’s eyes sought out Ben who was at the kitchen island, putting together a sandwich. Excitement evaporated from her face as she said, “Whatever it takes. The demon plays games with us because he sees us as weak, and we are anything but. We are survivors.”
“With Lazarus, we don’t know what to expect. He had a long time to plan his game whilst we were following his rules, waiting for him to pluck us from reality.”
Maya’s expression hardened. “Do you know why we can’t lose this fight against the demon?”
Helena shook her head.
“Because I’ve not killed every last one of those monsters out there. They should pay for their sins.”
Helena spoke in a strained voice, “Does that include me?”
Ever since she cast a successful spell, she didn’t know what it meant. Would the hunters see her as a creature to slay? The concept that she can do magic baffled her, and Michael never mentioned her having such abilities. But, it wouldn’t be the first time her guardian angel kept things from her.
Maya smiled and extracted herself from the sofa. “Your IV is pretty much done. Let’s get on with the training.”
After Maya removed the needle from her vein with care, she put a pink plaster where it used to be. With another mysterious smile, Maya took her hand. She led Helena to the available space between the hallway and the sofas. There was enough room for the two of them to move around without restriction.
“So, have you ever learned any martial arts?” Maya circled Helena, looking her over.
“No.”
Maya stopped behind her and grasped Helena’s upper arms. “You don’t have much muscle mass either. You’re all skin and bone. What’s the point of having a body if you’re not using it?”
“I don’t like exercise,” she admitted and separated from Maya’s grabbing hands.
The hunter glanced over her shoulder at Ben. He was watching them and eating his sandwich in silence. “What will be the best training for the short time we have?”
He swallowed what was in his mouth. “You shouldn’t skip any training, Maya. You know that. If she was my student, I would start off with strength training and cardio for the first few days. After that, you can ease her into the S-class workouts.”
“S-class?” Helena asked.
“Spartan,” Maya clarified.
Helena studied them both. What kind of training were they planning to put her through?
Maya pointed upstairs. “We should change into something else. Jeans are not the best for jogging.”
“I don’t have any tracksuits.”
“What about the room that reeks of girliness? Does your roommate own any?”
Her question made Helena’s thoughts revert to Laura. They had been together since secondary school. Laura was like the sun Helena could never reach. Her friend always tried new things, signed up to new sports, and never complained about anything. How could a girl so bright, caring, and fun-loving be a witch or a hunter?
“Are there any hunters in the area that you know of?” Helena asked.
Maya shot Ben a nervous glance. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m a tad bit curious.”
Taking her hand, Maya ushered her upstairs. They entered Laura’s bedroom. Without hesitation, Maya marched to the built-in wardrobe and opened its doors.
Helena crossed her arms. “Aren’t you going to answer my question?”
Maya pulled out a bunch of tops and moved on to the messy pile of trousers, jeans, and tracksuit bottoms wrapped together into a ball on the middle shelf.
Helena assessed the mess Laura had in her room and shook her head. How could she find anything when she needed it?
Having selected what she wanted out of the wardrobe, Maya tossed a black tank top and grey yoga pants at her. “Put those on.”
“Not until you answer my question.”
Maya’s eyes narrowed. She cautiously sat on Laura’s unmade bed. “I am apprehensive about the hunter topic, Helena.”
“Why?”
She touched the necklace Helena had to part with. Her fingers played with the clouded amber stone as she stared at the floor. “We are not sanctioned to be here. If any of the local hunter clans find out we have entered their territory without permission, we’ll have to face a trial.”
There was no emotion in Maya’s tone and it hurt Helena to see her like that. She lowered her arms to her sides while clutching the clothes in her right hand. “Shouldn’t the hunters be free to move around?”
“You’d think that, wouldn’t you? We are as territorial as the Vampire Councils, but if one of the clans was to request our help, we would do that for a fee.”
Helena’s brows shot up. “You charge people for your help?”
“How else are we supposed to make money? There is no universal hunter club. We are individual groups with different training, beliefs, and backgrounds. Some become hunters because they lose someone important to them. Some, because they want to make a difference. The others serve because their parents bred them that way. Bred hunters are the best and the worst of us.”
“What do you mean?”
Maya’s eyes flashed with fear. “I saw a bred hunter in a battle against a Class 3 vampire and a ghoul once. After the death of its master, the ghoul becomes a pretty docile creature, but this man was as cruel as the creatures we hunt. Instead of taking the monster out immediately, he secured it with silver chains and cut pieces off, watching them grow back. The ghoul cried, wailed, and begged him to stop. He didn’t. He said it was for research, but I knew better…” She shuddered. “There is a point when a vampire or ghoul becomes so drained that they start to heal at a human rate. That’s where he let it bleed to death from hundreds of tiny cuts and chunks of missing flesh. Only after that, the monster finally shrivelled up and died.”
Helena’s gut churned at the idea of such torture. No one should suffer like that, whatever they are. “That’s awful.”
“He is the leader of the South American hunters. I doubt you’ll see him because he almost never leaves his territory but, if you do, I suggest you keep the fact you can do magic a secret. Right now, you don’t smell like a witch. He’ll leave you alone.”
Helena sat next to Maya on the bed. “Hunters can smell witches, too?”
Maya let out a soft laugh. “Your vampire seems to tell you things, I guess. Yes. Since a few centuries ago, we decided to train all of our senses. Witches use herbs and chemicals, allowing us to distinguish them
from humans. After a while, they got smart and used their magic to disguise their scent.” She stood and pointed at the clothes in Helena’s hand. “We don’t have any more time to waste on chit-chat. Change, we’re going jogging.”
They had jogged for two kilometres around the half-empty backstreets of Dublin in broad daylight. It didn’t take long for Helena to run out of breath. She gasped for air as she trailed behind Maya for the duration of the torment.
As the final feat, Maya dragged her back to the apartment. The girl didn’t break a sweat, and Helena concluded that running from vampires or any other creatures was impossible for her. It was as if all the water in her body decided to abandon her through her pores. Helena was dehydrated, sweaty, and scrambling for the tap once they were in the vicinity of the kitchen sink.
She greedily swallowed the cool liquid and straightened on her aching legs. If this was beginner level training, what did an upgrade to Spartan entail? She prayed it had nothing to do with running or jogging or moving...
Helena returned to her room where she took a quick shower, grabbed her mobile phone, and dialled Alexander.
He picked up on the third ring and snapped, “What?”
Ignoring his outburst, she clutched the phone closer. “How is he doing?”
“As well as any savage beast in a cage.”
“Can I see him? If we’re together, he could calm down.”
Alexander sighed. “You cannot see him until he overcomes this ordeal.”
“Can I, at least, talk to him?”
“Forget about Lucious. For now, try not to get yourself killed while he’s imprisoned. Also, when I have time, I shall come by to discuss matters regarding Reaver. I suggest you do not get too friendly with the hunters in your home.”
A chill ran through her. “Why not?”
“You will know in due time.” He ended the call.
She tossed the phone on the bed and collapsed next to it on the soft sheets. Without Lucious lying next to her, the double bed seemed too spacious and cold. She closed her eyes, breathing in a mixture of his sandalwood, rum, and amber cologne that lingered on the pillow he used.
It stirred her memory of their kiss, the way he talked about his past, and the pleasure she experienced from his bite. When he held her in his arms, draining her life away, she wanted him to take as much as he wanted so the pleasure would continue. Were those her thoughts or something induced by whatever vampiric magic he used?
Helena rolled over to one side and concentrated on the link between them. He kept his shields shut tighter than ever. Not one emotion or word travelled through it. She tried to connect with him many times, but nothing happened. It was like the time he left for England and did not wish for her to contact him.
Taking that as he did not want to see or speak with her, Helena pulled his pillow to her chest and settled in for the night.
The next morning, Helena awoke in agony. Every muscle in her body screamed—especially her thighs and calves.
As if sensing her stirring, Maya burst into her bedroom. She already wore Laura’s shorts and a red t-shirt that seemed too big on her.
Helena groaned and tried sitting up. She winced as the muscles in her legs and abdomen complained.
“Hurry up, Helena. We are on a schedule here.”
“I’m getting up, or trying to.”
Maya folded her arms. “Try harder and get that ass out of bed.”
Shaking her head, Helena shifted and fell out of bed. Once she was able to stand, Maya pointed to the bathroom. “You’ve got five minutes.”
A groan escaped Helena as she shuffled to the bathroom like a zombie. The idea amused her, but when she saw Maya’s scowling face, her smile faded, and she moved faster.
After she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and relieved her bladder, she found Maya in her room.
Maya grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her downstairs. She lifted two glasses from the counter—both containing suspicious green liquid—and handed one to Helena.
“Bottoms up,” Maya ordered.
Helena raised it to her nose and sniffed it. An overbearing smell of celery and herbs rose from the drink. She wrinkled her nose. “Is this safe to drink?”
“Perfectly.”
She scanned the room for Ben. He wasn’t there. While she was asleep, someone pushed the sofas and the coffee table closer to the far wall, creating more space in the middle of the living area.
Maya, as if reading her mind, smirked. “Ben won’t be back until later. He’s gone to buy some weights we can use, and, while you were asleep, I rearranged the room so we can practice.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t look so freaked out!”
Helena assessed the drink, the room, and Maya again before she sighed. If it wasn’t vampires who controlled her life, it was hunters and their odd regimes and training schedules. Pinching her nose with her fingers, she consumed the liquid in the glass, causing her ears to pop. It tasted like shredded grass. She did her best not to let the contents return from whence they came by imagining it being a peach smoothie. Too bad her imagination wasn’t enough to counter the awful aftertaste.
When she swallowed the last mouthful, she glanced at Maya. Her glass was already empty.
Maya grinned. “That was one of the nice shakes Ben makes. Enjoy it while you can.”
Helena made a face and washed the glasses in the sink. “I won’t ask what’s in it. I just hope I don’t have to drink it every day.”
“Being a hunter isn’t bad,” Maya said, resting her hip against the counter. “Think of the lives you could save by killing the undead.”
Cold water pinched her skin as Helena froze. “I don’t want to be a hunter, Maya. I’ve agreed to this because I wanted to be able to defend myself. There’s nothing more to it.”
“Potato, pohtato.” Maya rubbed the back of her neck. “Your vampire must’ve told you that if you’re a witch, and you don’t work for us, we consider you to be a siren and have to hunt you. To hunters, you are an asset. If you don’t want to be one, you are our enemy.”
Helena turned the tap off. Icy water dripped from her fingers onto the tiled flooring as a chill wrapped its greedy fingers around her. “Is that what you see me as, an asset?”
Maya’s expression betrayed her caution. “Like I said last night, we are already breaking the rules by being in this area without informing the locals. After separating from our clan, I don’t see a road that leads us back into their good graces.”
“You won’t try to force me to become a hunter?”
“We make our own decisions in life.” Maya’s features softened. “I can’t force you to become a hunter and I don’t want to hunt someone I consider to be family.”
“But you don’t know the first thing about me…”
Maya shrugged. “I don’t have to know you to see that you want to protect those you care about. I’m the same as you.”
Her words sank in, and Helena relaxed.
When she did so, a sigh escaped Maya. “You know what your problem is? It’s that you trust what people say too easily. You should expect people to betray you and plan ahead.”
The relief from earlier vanished. “I can’t distrust someone who never deceived me. It’s wrong to do that.”
“Being like this is why you have leeches around you.” Maya motioned for her to follow. “Let’s get on with our morning jog.”
Maya didn’t go easy on her today either. Helena half-ran, half-shuffled for three kilometres before returning to the apartment where she had to lift weights, training different muscle groups she didn’t know existed. The only reason Maya stopped was because Helena couldn’t lift anymore. Her arms felt like they were made of lead. Her legs were in agony. She was hungry and nauseated at the same time. Amidst the screaming muscles, every meal she ate had chicken in it. If she were to become what she ate, she would sprout wings at a moment’s notice. Drained, she sat on the floor.
“I guess you can take a break for the rest of the day,” M
aya said, lifting the dumbbells.
Helena placed her hands in her lap. “I don’t believe I learned anything useful yet.”
Maya rolled her eyes. “If you’d kept your body in great condition, you wouldn’t have to do most of this. We could move on to the defence and sensory training.”
Helena opened her mouth when the doorbell sounded. She eyed Maya. Is she expecting someone?
Maya shook her head.
Ben came downstairs, too, his pistol already drawn and at his side.
Helena frowned as she stood with difficulty. She pushed past the pain in her muscles as she stumbled towards the door. Did they expect trouble?
She arrived at the door and called out, “Who is it?”
“Open the door,” Alexander grumbled from the other side.
Helena breath caught in anticipation. Lucious might by here with him. She unlocked the door, and Alexander barged in. To her dismay, he was alone.
He made his way to the sofa where he sat and pointed to the seats across from him. “I can see your finger twitching on the trigger, hunter. I suggest you refrain.” Alexander glared at Ben whose eyes narrowed in response.
Maya lowered the dumbbells. Resting her back against the wall, she nodded to Ben.
Her partner took Helena’s hand and pulled her towards the sofa where he pushed her into a seat. He remained standing.
“I dislike repeating myself,” Alexander said. “I suggest you sit.”
Helena bit her lip and glanced at Alexander’s guarded expression. “Is he alright? Is Lucious doing better?”
Alexander crossed his legs. “I have come here to discuss Reaver, not Lucious.”
“We are listening,” Ben said. “And we’ll stand.”
Helena’s heart deflated at Alexander’s response. She knew he wouldn’t be here if Lucious wasn’t doing well, but the fact that she couldn’t see or talk to him bothered her. It was as if half of her was missing.
Alexander observed the hunters with his steely gaze. “I have arranged a meeting with Reaver four days from now in Vienna. He is not too keen on leaving his territory.”
Demon Gates (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 2) Page 14
