V Games_Fresh From The Grave

by Caroline Peckham

  “Jameson?” I breathed in surprise.

  Jameson turned to face me as he drove on, not looking where he was going at all. “Good to meet you in human form. Sorry about, you know, trying to eat you the last time I saw you.”

  “Apology accepted,” I said, bemused.

  Varick took hold of Jameson's face and forced him to look where he was going.

  Jameson laughed, speeding up wildly and veering in a wide arc as he headed in the direction of the hotel. Jabbing his finger onto the radio, he turned up the music so You Really Got Me by The Kinks blasted out.

  Jameson started singing full volume and I glanced at Varick, baffled.

  “Brother,” Varick snarled, but Jameson ignored him.

  I reached forward, laying my hand on Cass's shoulder. “How are you alive?” I asked over the loud music.

  She shifted away from my hand, turning to me with a hungry look in her eyes. I shrank into my seat a little. But I trusted Cass with my life, V or not. She was still my friend. And I could hardly register that she was actually here. Alive. Well, sort of.

  “Jameson, turn that shit off!” Varick barked.

  Jameson sung louder.

  Varick lunged forward, his hand fracturing the dashboard as he wrenched the radio out of its socket and threw it out of the window.

  Silence fell and Varick relaxed back into his seat. Despite the chaos surrounding us, I let out a laugh. Varick's mouth tugged up at the corner and I longed to kiss the place a dimple had formed. Heat crept into my cheeks and I turned away, facing the windscreen.

  Hope bloomed in my chest as the hotel appeared on the horizon. Jameson didn't slow down at all as we closed in on the fence surrounding it.

  “Watch the fence!” Cass called out, pointing ahead.

  We crashed through it at high speed, the silver wires splitting and cleaving apart.

  “What fence?” Jameson beamed at her as he drove the truck over a perfectly manicured garden, taking down every potted plant and carefully trimmed bush under the wheels, humming the song from the radio all the while.

  Skidding to a halt, he pulled the handbrake as we stopped right outside the grand entrance to the hotel.

  “Where is he?” I whispered, but no one answered.

  We poured out of the truck and headed into the lobby.

  It was deathly quiet.

  Jameson cocked a gun as he strode at Cass's side and I finally got a good look at her. She was...stunning. She'd always been beautiful but her face had taken on an ethereal quality that drew me to her. I gripped her hand, not letting her pull away this time, relief flooding me. “I'm so happy you're okay.”

  “Okay is a stretch,” she said, turning to me, a smile creeping onto her mouth. “But it's really good to see you.” She pursed her lips, moving away again. “Just don't get too close.”

  I nodded, shuffling toward Varick who, I realised, always had that uncomfortable expression around me, as if my blood was a constant temptation he was forcing himself not to indulge in.

  “So I know we're not exactly The A Team, but let's get this shit done,” Jameson said, nodding to the stairs. “Cass and I will search upstairs for Ulvic. You start down here.”

  I unstrapped the tablet from my wrist, passing it to Jameson. “Here. Message 'Layla' on this. Varick has the other one. If you find him, let us know.”

  Jameson pocketed it, nodding before handing me a gun. “There's silver bullets in this.” He cupped his mouth with one hand, lowering his voice. “For, you know, if Varick fancies a snack.” He winked at me before guiding Cass away. She raised a palm at me in goodbye, looking like she wanted to say something. I just prayed we'd both survive long enough for me to find out what.

  Varick led the way through a grand casino of red carpet and gold ceilings, winding past the empty tables. My footsteps seemed loud passing over the carpet, but Varick moved silently through the room, graceful as ever. I hurried to keep pace, but he never left me behind.

  A scream sliced through the air, making us both pause.

  “The Vs are here,” Varick said darkly.

  “The gap in the fence?” I guessed, though it had only been made moments ago.

  He shook his head, looking slightly guilty. “I told them how to get here. The way I did before, via the sea.”

  “Why?” I breathed.

  Varick ground his jaw. “More chance of killing a Helsing.”

  “But what about the girls?” I demanded, snatching his arm.

  “They're safe in their rooms.”

  “You got to me,” I insisted.

  His Adam's apple bobbed as he gazed at me, his eyes full of centuries of hate.

  I relaxed my grip – not that I'd been remotely hurting him – and sighed. “I get it. You want the Helsings to pay.”

  “I want them dead.” His jaw ticked.

  I nodded, filled with the same passion. “We don't leave until they are then, agreed?”

  He looked like he was about to say yes, then his eyes swept over me and his fingers trailed up my arm. “No. I'm getting you away from here. As far from them as possible.”

  “I thought this was my rescue mission,” I countered with only a hint of jest, clinging onto him.

  His pupils dilated and he suddenly moved away. With a jolt, I realised why as I took in the stains on his clothes. He'd lost a lot of blood, he needed to feed.

  “Drink,” I insisted, offering him my wrist.

  Varick gazed at me, looking bewildered by my offer. “Selena...it's not safe. Not when I'm like this. I can barely control myself.” He clasped his throat.

  His expression raked at my soul. I softened, shifting closer and cupping his cheek. He released a growl that was meant to warn me away, but only drew me closer.

  “I'd rather die here, by your hand, than anywhere else in the world,” I whispered. “But if you're strong enough, if you can stop, we'll have a chance.” I tiptoed up, brushing my lips over his and he stiffened, clearly not daring to breathe. I tilted my neck, exposing it to him, bunching my fingers into his shirt and forcing him to acknowledge me. He shut his eyes, leaning in to my throat.

  I braced myself but the sharp prick of his fangs didn't come. His mouth pressed to my skin. He was shaking, his muscles bunched with all the tension of a coiled spring.

  “I thought I'd imagined this,” he muttered into my neck, brushing the tip of his nose up to the sensitive skin behind my ear. “I didn't think it was possible. But it still lives in me. And I want to be strong enough to feel it again.”

  “I don't understand,” I breathed, sliding my hands around his waist.

  He didn't elaborate, instead moved his hands between us, taking hold of my wrist. He angled the gun in my palm so the butt rested against his chest. “If I don't stop, pull the trigger.”

  He didn't give me time to object, sinking his teeth into my neck. I gasped, but didn't scream and was proud of myself for doing so, because for a few seconds it was agony. The pain was worth it, knowing with every drop I gave to Varick, he grew stronger. And I longed to give him back the part of himself he'd lost.

  I lowered the gun before he was finished, knowing I wouldn't pull the trigger, no matter what happened. I couldn't. He released me in a flash and quickly bit his own wrist, holding it out to me.

  “It's just a bite,” I said, but he shook his head.

  “At least let me return the favour,” he urged, his eyes brighter already.

  I drank quickly, feeling the sickness in my stomach subsiding and the pinch of pain in my neck retreating.

  Varick snapped around as if he'd heard something. “This way.” He gripped my arm, keeping me close at his side as we passed out of the casino and took a set of winding stairs down beneath the hotel.

  Light danced on the ceiling and heat wafted over my cheeks. I'd been so numb with the cold I'd barely realised how frozen I was until now. Steam rolled over me as we entered an underground hot spa, carved into the rock itself. The glistening, blue pool curved around a central
bar and coloured lights flickered and danced beneath the surface.

  Varick took my hand, evidently intending to walk straight through it.

  “Wait, where-”

  He hushed me by holding up his hand and an inhuman wail filled the air. Vs.

  “Ulvic's close. I can...hear him,” Varick breathed, darkness passing through his eyes.

  There was a path that led around the edge of the pool, but Varick led me into its depths, my dress floating up around me.

  “I don't want them smelling you. We'll wait till they pass,” Varick whispered as the water rose to my shoulders.

  “I thought they were on our side,” I hissed, my body tense.

  He shook his head. “Plenty of the Vs were still out on the island. And you can't reason with a weak Vampire...” he trailed off, looking guilty and the memory of him feeding on me in the woods spilled into my mind. I took his hand, clenching my jaw. I'd made that decision. And I'd be damned if I was going to let him beat himself up about it.

  A splash up ahead made me duck lower in the pool. We moved quietly across it and I couldn't deny how grateful I was for the heat surrounding me, sinking into my bones.

  “I forgot what it was like to be warm,” I sighed as Varick lowered himself a little to face me.

  His hand was warmer now too, but I could see the longing in his eyes for what I was capable of feeling. My heart ached at his expression. I wished I could give that to him.

  Silence rang out, the slosh of water against the bar the only sound that I was capable of registering. Evidently Varick had his senses trained elsewhere, his body rigid as he listened.

  “They've gone,” he said eventually. “But we need to hurry.”

  We waded out of the water and moved side by side, hurrying down a narrow corridor. Emergency lighting lit the way, flashing in red.

  As we jogged, my ankle snagged on something and Varick tugged me immediately away from it.

  Turning, I discovered a man lying on the ground, his quaffed hair unkempt and his Armani suit in tatters. Blood was seeping thick and fast through his white tunic and his neck was riddled with bite marks.

  My gut turned over.

  “Please,” he rasped. “Help...me.”

  I began to shake as I gazed down at the man. Human. In pain. Just as so many of the girls had been in the game before they died.

  “Leave him,” Varick snarled, but I wriggled my hand free of his hold, crouching down before the man.

  “You...I know you,” he croaked. “Selena,” he managed.

  I nodded, grinding my teeth as I gazed down at his pale, wrinkled face. Varick's blood would cure him entirely. I could help.

  “Did you bet on me surviving or getting killed?” I asked, my tone void of warmth.

  His pale green eyes widened for a moment, then he said, “Surviving, of course. I always knew you could make it.”

  I slowly rose to my feet, nodding, a dark space opening up inside me. “I'll give you the same courtesy then.”

  Varick took my arm, but I tugged free of him.

  “You will?” the man asked hopefully.

  “Yes,” I breathed. “I'll bet on you surviving.” I turned away. “But I don't like your odds.”

  Varick's gaze was mixed with admiration and surprise as I headed past him, leaving a soaking trail behind me from my sodden dress.

  Only a small trickle of guilt slipped through my gut and I soon managed to fight it away. It wasn't like me. But I didn't know exactly who I was any more anyway. Up until I'd murdered my stepfather, I would have sworn I'd never hurt a fly. Since then, I'd hurt so many people, slaughtered countless Vs. I was morphing into someone I didn't recognise, and my soul was darker than I'd ever known.

  The corridor split into a fork, one prong leading back upstairs, the other blocked by a door. Across it were bright red words stating, Authorised Personnel Only.

  A keypad sat on the wall beside it and Varick didn't waste a moment in ripping it off. Chunks of plaster went flying and the broken wires sparked and crackled.

  The door clicked open and Varick shouldered his way inside, glancing back at me as if he were tempted to tell me to stay.

  I raised one eyebrow and that was enough. He continued inside and I followed, finding the lights overly bright and burning my retinas. Worst of all was the gut-churning screams that filled the air.

  The room curved out of sight. From the sounds filling the room, I knew that whatever was going on around the corner was something truly horrible.

  “P-please, please l-listen,” Ulvic panted and I fought the urge to move.

  “No, I'm done listening,” Ignus said in a bored voice. “You betray me, you betray my family.” There was a note of pain in his voice as he continued. “How could you Ulvic? After everything?”

  “My w-wolves-” Ulvic started then screamed to high heaven.

  My heart rate shot up. I wanted to clamp my hands over my ears. I couldn't bear it.

  Varick shifted forward, chancing a look around the corner. He turned to me, raising four fingers and I guessed that's how many people we were up against.

  When the screaming stopped, Ignus continued. “Damn your wolves to hell. I've already dealt with two of them and when I track down your Alpha he'll be seeing the same fate.”

  “N-no. Wh-what have you d-done to them?” Ulvic demanded, a note of strength returning to his voice.

  I readied the gun in my palm, inhaling deeply through my nose to try and calm down. But it was impossible. Ignus Helsing was less than five feet away and doing god knows what to my friend.

  “They're on their way to play their own game,” Ignus said, a smile in his voice.

  Ulvic screamed and the sound made me want to run and never look back.

  Now, Varick mouthed to me, moving in a sudden burst of speed.

  I fled after him, gun raised, pointing it straight at Ignus's blonde head the second it came in to view.

  Ulvic was laid out on a bed and three women surrounded him in white jackets, splattered with red. Blood soaked Ulvic's bare chest and I could barely stand to look at what had been done to him.

  Varick swept through the space, snapping the necks of every woman in the room. They crumpled to the floor and Varick moved toward Ignus with a dark grin on his face. “I'm about to unleash two hundred years of revenge on you, Ignus. Any regrets?”

  Ignus was frozen to the spot, the bloody knife in his hand his only defense. Apart from that, he seemed entirely unaffected by our presence. I aimed the gun straight, but knew this kill belonged to Varick. Ignus may have hurt me, but it was nothing in comparison to several lifetimes of imprisonment.

  Ulvic was wheezing with whatever had happened to him moments ago, unable to speak, his face turning pale. We didn't have long to save him, and the only possibility of that was Varick's blood.

  “I told father we should kill you,” Ignus drawled. “Our creepy little Vampire slave was bound to rise up eventually. And the sad thing is you think you've actually won, don't you?” Ignus started laughing and the sound chilled me to my core. I stole a glance at Varick, but his eyes were pinned solely on Ignus.

  Ignus pulled a silver remote control from his pocket, pointing it in Varick's direction. “Never were that clever, were you?” He jammed his finger down on the button, gazing at Varick with intention.

  Varick gazed coolly back at him, his smile growing. “Give me a little credit.” He launched forward, taking Ignus's whole head in his palms. “Ulvic didn't just help his wolves, Ignus, he helped all of us.”

  Ignus flailed, his eyes wild as he gazed up at Varick. “Liar!” But his eyes slid to Ulvic, desperation flaring in them and, if I wasn't mistaken, heartache.

  “He's played you from the second we stepped back into your castle,” I snarled.

  Ignus shuddered in Varick's hold, a sad acceptance in his sky blue gaze. “Drink then you foul creature. Get it over with.”

  Varick's upper lip curled back and I saw the monster in him, shining out of his eye
s. “I won't drink the blood of a Helsing ever again. Though your sister rather enjoyed it.” Varick threw Ignus back against the wall, pinning him by the throat.

  I took the opportunity to run to Ulvic, untying the leather binds around his wrists. He was unconscious, but his chest was still rising and falling, his skin slick with blood.

  “My sister wouldn't let a V touch her,” Ignus spat, saliva spraying.

  Varick got up in his face and I was frozen to the spot as I watched. “You don't know Mercy as well as you think. She has quite the thing for Vs. Me in particular. And I enjoyed every second of it.”

  My gut sank like a stone as I listened. Varick and Mercy?

  “No-” Ignus choked out, fear blazing in his eyes.

  Varick closed the gap between them. “I'm curious, do you even have a heart, Ignus?”

  “P-please. Wait. You can work for us again. All will be forgiven. I'll talk to father-”

  “You didn't answer my question,” Varick said through his teeth.

  Ignus panted wildly, struggling against Varick's hold. “Of course I have a h-heart.”

  Varick fell silent for a moment, seeming to consider Ignus's words, before snarling, “I'm not convinced,” and slammed his hand into Ignus's chest.

  I stumbled back in shock, unsure where to look or what to do as Varick ripped Ignus's heart out still beating. I turned away, my breathing coming in rags. I despised Ignus. I knew it was right to let Varick have his revenge. But the reality was terrifying to witness.

  Varick brushed past me a moment later, the room so silent that it hurt my ears. I glanced to the side, spying him feeding Ulvic from his wrist, his hands so bloody that I couldn't see an inch of skin.

  For a moment, I didn't know what was right or wrong any more. The world seemed endlessly grey. And all I was sure of was that I couldn't stand the sight of blood any more. I needed to escape from all this death.

  Ulvic took in a huge breath, sitting upright and I was glad of the new presence in the room to focus my attention on. Turning to him, I took his wrist, helping him down from the table.

  He eyed Varick, his hands trembling. “Good god,” he breathed, looking from Varick to Ignus's bloody form on the floor. “Good...god,” he repeated, his eyes watering.