V Games (The Vampire Games Trilogy Book 1)

by Caroline Peckham

  “Up,” she whispered, ever so quietly. “Not too fast.”

  I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, struggling alongside her, despite feeling stronger with every step. The timer ticked down on my cuff. Just thirty seconds.

  Twenty seconds.

  Ten.

  We quickened our pace, rolling over the doorstep with just five seconds to spare and I fell at Varick's feet, sighing my relief.

  I gazed up at him and his eyes blazed into mine.

  My attention was dragged from him as a high-pitched wail sounded in the corridor. I snapped around, clambering to my feet as I spotted a girl in a pale pink gown collapsing to the ground just metres from us.

  “Come on!” I cried, but blood was already pouring from her unseeing eyes, running down her cheeks in two streaks.

  “The poison,” Cass breathed as we gazed on in horror.

  Two metal doors slid closed between us, locking us away from the maze.

  I blinked, trying to register what I'd just witnessed. My palms were sticky with sweat and all I could think was 'that could have been me'. I was rooted to the spot, disgusted with myself for thinking that way. Despising myself for being grateful that I was standing here and not her.

  Varick touched my elbow to encourage me further into the room. And for the first time, I didn't recoil from him. Because I was sure, without a doubt, that it had been his blood that had saved me.

  Selena

  Cass clutched my hand. I was drenched in sweat and still shaking, probably resembling the undead.

  “I'll take her from here,” Varick commanded as we entered a large room where the survivors were gathered.

  I found Angelina amongst them and my upper lip curled back. I had half a mind to launch myself at her but Varick took hold of my arm, guiding me firmly away. At a glance, I would have guessed there were perhaps twelve of us remaining. Thankfully, Briony and Marie were amongst them, their eyes wide with fright at the sight of me.

  Cass let me go with less objection than I expected. I must have looked pretty rough if she was willing to let me wander off alone with Varick.

  He led me to another room, shutting the metal door behind him with a loud clunk. Bunk beds sat on either side of the small room and jumpsuits were laid out on each.

  Hastily, I sank down onto a bottom bunk, shivering in the freezing air.

  “I know what you did,” I said as Varick placed a metal chair before me and perched on it.

  “And what was that exactly?” He raised a brow.

  “The blood.” I touched my lips. “You let Cass heal me.”

  His eyes fixed on mine, dark green and deep as always. “And why would I help a contestant, Selena?” He was clearly trying to play dumb, but I knew the truth.

  “Your blood is stronger than the others. I know it was yours.”

  He leant in close, his jaw ticking. “Well let's keep that between the three of us, shall we?”

  I nodded, wide-eyed. “Of course.” The idea that I would rat him out after what he'd done for me was ludicrous. But I simply didn't understand why he had done it at all. “But Varick-”

  He halted me by raising a hand. “You need more blood.” He brushed the matted hair away from my neck where the V bite had been. “Your injuries were serious.”

  I nodded and he slit open his wrist with his teeth, holding it out for me. I leant back with a frown, my nose wrinkling at what he was suggesting.

  “Drink,” he demanded.

  Tentatively, I took his raised arm, but couldn't force myself to do anything more. Varick lifted his wrist, encouraging me. “Trust me.”

  Even after what he'd done for me, it was a difficult thing to do, but I had to get better if I was going to face another day.

  Sickened with myself, I pressed my mouth over the wound.

  Surprisingly, the blood was warm, not as hot as a human's, but so much more than the cold sludge that resided in the Vs' veins out in the game.

  I felt Varick's eyes on me as I drank and I tried to block him out, feeling strangely self-conscious.

  “That'll do,” he said at last and I released him, frowning at what I'd done.

  “My turn.” He took my wrist and I lurched away as he started laughing. “Too soon for jokes?”

  I shook my head at him. “You're twisted, you know that?”

  His mouth hooked up at the corner, but he said no more. He gestured to my jumpsuit. “There's no showers here.” He stood. “Get changed. Come eat. You've got twelve hours before round four.”

  I sighed, hanging my head as he walked toward the door.

  “Varick?” I called and he paused. “Thank you.”

  He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer before he exited the room. An electric charge seemed to dispel from the air and I was able to relax again. There was something about him I couldn't figure out. Everything he appeared to be on the outside, was hiding something softer. I had no doubt he could be vicious, dangerous even, and yet I sensed some vulnerability in him, too.

  Cleaning myself up as I best I could with the single, leaky sink in the room, I changed into the warm jumpsuit and braided my blood-coated hair into a long plait. It was the best I could do with the basic facilities provided for us, but I felt miles better than I had in that dress. If I ever got out of here, I didn't know if I could wear a dress again without thinking of this awful game.

  A sudden longing for home overwhelmed me. I'd expected to be locked up in prison when this kind of homesickness kicked in, not on some godforsaken island fending off Vampires on a daily basis. I shuddered, curling up on the bottom bunk and pulling the thin, woollen blanket over me. If this cold persisted, I'd never get a good night's sleep.

  What would Mum think if she knew I was here now? I'm sure she would tell me to 'hold out for brighter days'. That was her motto when things got really bad. Mum was strong, even though she hadn't been strong enough to leave home. Perhaps killing Elijah had been selfish. I'd saved myself. I'd landed myself in prison and, in a roundabout way, put myself on this island too. In doing so, I'd abandoned my mum. The one person who wanted to keep me safe, even if she hadn't always been able to do so.

  I curled tighter into a ball, passing from dreams to reality as the cold continually woke me.

  Eventually, Cass brought me some food and I was glad at least to find it was a hot broth, even though it tasted of very little. I wolfed down two bowls before I felt better, the taste of leeks remaining on my tongue long after.

  “Thought you were a goner,” she said quietly, slipping under my blanket and bringing her own one down from the bed above so we'd have an extra layer.

  “Me too...” I lowered my voice and said, “Angelina stabbed me.”

  Cass gasped, looking like she was about to storm from the room to confront her. I grabbed her arm.

  “It was an accident, we ran into each other around a corner. It could just as easily have been the other way around.”

  “But she left you there,” Cass said in disbelief.

  I bit my lip, giving a slight nod. “It's not her fault. We're all just trying to survive here.”

  “Some more than others,” Cass muttered, but seemed to drop the issue.

  “Thank you for coming back for me.”

  “Of course.” She nudged me. “When all of this is over, we're going home together.”

  I nodded, breaking a hopeful smile, trying to ignore the niggling doubt that it wouldn't be so simple.

  With Cass sharing my bed, we were both warm enough to sleep. Dim bulbs lit the room, flickering from time to time, their amber glow filtering into my dreams.

  After a few more hours of fairly decent sleep, I was forced to get up, feeling agitated. I knew I should try to rest longer, but my brain was on overdrive. What did tomorrow hold? How many of us would survive it? The thought of losing Cass seemed more unbearable every day. Now that she'd risked her life to save me, I felt a bond between us that wouldn't easily be broken.

  The other girls had joined
our room, snoozing soundly on the other bunk beds - apart from their persistent shivering. I slipped out of the room, part of me hoping Varick would be waiting there.

  He was sat on one of the chairs, facing the wall where the game had presumably been projected.

  “What's it like? Watching us?” I asked and he didn't jump, evidently knowing I'd been there all along.

  His gaze remained fixed on the wall. “Routine mainly. I've watched hundreds of these games. Watched too many girls die.”

  “So it bothers you?” I approached him slowly, taking in the icy room and the dark walls.

  He considered his answer then said, “Now it does.”

  “Why?” I blurted and he finally turned to me.

  There was something about him, something that drew me in and wouldn't let go. Perhaps all the Vs were capable of it. Maybe it was just another way they lured their victims to them.

  “Guess I'm just seeing things in a different light this time round.”

  “But why?” I pressed, approaching him, placing my hand on the nearest chair.

  He gave me a hard stare, taking in my shivering shoulders. “I don't usually drink during the games. Perhaps I'm feeling a little more human this time.”

  My neck tingled.

  “Who did you feed from?” I asked quietly, not sure if I wanted to know.

  “One of the spectators,” he said with a satisfied smile.

  I mirrored him; whoever he had drank from had probably deserved it. “Did he die?” It was twisted, but I hoped he had.

  “No,” he replied with a grimace. I wasn't sure if he was disgusted with himself or the fact the man still lived.

  A cold wind rattled through the space and I wrapped my arms around myself to keep warm. “What is this place?”

  “An old storage bunker for the castle. A long time ago, this island was a fortress for the Norwegian king. A fleet of ships once surrounded it to protect Norway from invading countries...and pirates.”

  Something in his tone made me question the last part. “Pirates?”

  “Mhm. People like me.” He smiled at some memory, but there was sadness in it too. And loss.

  “You were a pirate?” I asked in surprise, his appearance suddenly making much more sense.

  “I was a captain.” He scoffed at himself, raising his hands. “King of the bloody north sea. Now look at me.”

  I frowned, dropping into a seat a few down from his. “At least you did something with your life.” I threaded my fingers together. “I screwed mine up. Probably deserve to be here.”

  “No one deserves to be here,” he snarled and I fought the urge to recoil from his bared fangs.

  “At least the Helsings pick a bunch of murderers to take part in this game.”

  “They didn't always. And don't make the mistake of thinking that's some kind of decency. The only reason they take girls from prisons is because they're easier to bury. I have to Charm a lot less people into thinking you're dead.”

  My heart twitched. “Dead? Does my mother think I'm dead?”

  Varick shifted in his seat. “I'm sorry, Selena. It's protocol. I only Charm the guards. They would have informed your mother afterwards.”

  Tears burned my eyes. My mother had no one left but me. She'd be distraught thinking I'd died in that prison.

  The walls suddenly seemed pressing and my lungs couldn't drag in enough air. I stood, clutching at my chest. “I can't do this any more. I want to go home. My mother deserves to know the truth.” I sounded weak, but I couldn't help myself.

  “You can go home if you survive the game,” Varick said in a serious tone.

  “You swear?” I asked through my teeth. “Do you promise they'll let me go?”

  After a moment, he nodded. “They will.”

  I sighed, rubbing my eyes, certain he was telling the truth.

  “I'll make sure everyone forgets you were ever in prison. No one will know you killed your step-father but you. The Helsings will make sure of it, too.”

  I released a shuddering breath, clinging to the glimmer of hope.

  “Come.” He stood. “I'll take you for some air.”

  I raised my brows but he gave no further explanation, moving across the room and heading through a bolted door. I followed him into a metal shaft where a ladder led upwards, a sheer climb giving us access to the island.

  I gasped and moved toward the ladder, but he halted me, moving onto it himself. “I'll go first. Some of the Vs may still be out there.”

  I nodded, fear trickling into my gut. But my desire for fresh air overrode it. This place was oppressive and I needed to escape it, if only for a few minutes.

  Varick scaled the ladder in a flash and I moved after him, climbing as quickly as I could. My arms ached by the time I reached the top, scrambling over the edge. Varick helped me to my feet and I took in our surroundings. We were at the base of a mountain, its tip peaked in snow, and streams of water running down its sides. One of them passed close by, causing small waterfalls as it ran over the black rocks. A few pine trees gave us cover from the wind, but we'd be fairly exposed if any Vs came our way. I wondered how Varick felt about killing his kind.

  “Am I allowed to be out here?” I asked, breathing in the fresh air.

  “No.” He gave me a crooked smile. “Another one of our secrets.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Are we starting a collection?”

  His grin widened and he took my arm, leading me further into the woods. “When you're not being hunted like an animal, this place has its charm.” He guided me to a waterfall where a deer was lapping at the moonlit pool beneath it. Her head whipped up at the sound of us approaching. Well, me approaching, considering Varick didn't seem to make a single noise as he moved across the ground.

  “Go.” I waved my hands, not wanting the creature to be around if a hungry V showed up. The deer rushed off into the trees and my heart rate settled.

  “Will she be safe?” I whispered.

  “The Vs don't bother with animals whilst human blood is on offer.” Varick turned to me, taking my braid between his fingers, his jaw ticking. “Speaking of which. You should wash the blood from your hair in the stream. A V will smell this a mile off tomorrow.”

  I undid my sticky braid and Varick turned his back, his shoulders hunching. The blood was clearly bothering him, but I trusted he wouldn't bite me, considering his recent efforts to keep me alive.

  The water was icy cold, but I dunked most of my hair in it, washing it clean to make sure the blood was gone. I'd rather face the cold than a hungry V tomorrow.

  When I was done, Varick shed his leather coat, wrapping it around my shoulders. I gave him a smile of thanks and he started walking back toward the ladder.

  “Wait,” I begged. “I can't go back. Not yet.”

  “You'll freeze out here.”

  “Just a few minutes longer.” I dropped onto a rock by the stream.

  He moved to my side, hovering by the rock and I patted the space beside me. Raising his brows, he dropped onto the boulder. His arm brushed mine and my heart dipped.

  “Do you feel the cold?” I asked, my breath coming out in a puff of vapour.

  “No.” If any breath left him, there was no trace of it in the air. “Not the cold. Not heat. Nothing.” There was a bitterness in his tone.

  My brows lowered. “That's kind of sad.”

  He huffed a laugh. “I feel more when I've fed.”

  “What do you miss the most?”

  He remained silent for a while, thinking over his answer. Everything he did seemed to be deliberated. Like he was in no hurry at all. I guessed that was due to the fact he had an endless amount of time to spend. “The sun. Sunset, sunrises. Nothing beats that out at sea. The colours...” He painted his hand through the air. “Makes you believe there really is something worth living for.”

  “And now?” I asked quietly.

  He released a low growl. “Now, there's nothing left. Me and an eternity of darkness, craving blood. Wa
tching these damn games.”

  Something twisted in my chest. I shouldn't have pitied him. He had a hand in these games, even if he was a prisoner to the Helsings. But there was such a loneliness about him, that it hurt me to imagine. All that time alone, a slave to the Helsings with no end in sight. It didn't bear thinking about.

  I rubbed my hands together, the cold setting in. But for some reason, I didn't want to end this moment yet.

  “You need to survive, Selena.” Varick turned to me, lifting a hand then dropping it awkwardly.

  “Why do you care?” I had to know. What interest did this Vampire have in my survival? How did it affect him?

  “There's something special about you...” His brows drew together. “I don't know what, but I can sense it.”

  I shook my head determinedly. “I'm no different than the other girls. Most of them are stronger, better at surviving.”

  “I'm not talking about the game. You're more desirable than the others. Your blood...it's like a drug.”

  I almost shrank from him, knowing he must be able to smell my blood now. He must have wanted to drink it. Perhaps coming to a secluded place in the woods with him wasn't the best idea. But somehow I still trusted he wouldn't hurt me.

  “I won't touch you,” he said, echoing my thoughts.

  “I know.” I hung my head. “You wouldn't have helped me today if you wanted me dead.”

  “Or I was just waiting for a quieter moment in the woods.”

  I glared at him. “You're not good at making jokes.”

  He laughed and the sound was deep and human. I hid my own smile, turning away.

  Bloody Vampires. The sooner I got off this island, the sooner I'd never have to deal with one again.

  The crescent moon sat low in the sky, coloured amber tonight as it peered through the passing clouds.

  A howl cut through the air and my bones shook from the sound. Perhaps it was misguided, knowing there were much worse things than wolves to worry about on this island. But Varick was suddenly alert, springing to his feet in an aggressive stance.

  “What is it?” I hissed, but my question was answered as a V stepped through the trees. He was a huge man, thick with muscle and his straggly blonde hair hung around him like a mane. He was clearly well fed, but his eyes were still bloodshot and ringed with dark circles.