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Kristina
The fluorescent lights on the ceiling above bother my eyes as they try to adjust to my new surroundings. I wake up disoriented and confused. I have no idea where I am or how long it has been since I was captured by Gerard’s men.
The details of the kidnapping back at the museum’s parking lot are vague, but I do recall the sneer on my captor’s face as he secured me in the van. The look of satisfied menace was unmistakable.
I can’t remember anything much until this morning. Or was it yesterday? I’m not even sure when it was that I woke up in what closely resembled an OR. The room was cold and sterile, filled with strange equipment on all sides. As soon as I started to struggle, a syringe full of an unknown liquid medicine was inserted into my arm. Everything got hazy after that and honestly, this is the first I’ve been awake and alert in a while.
I sit up and scan the room. It’s eerily quiet and uncomfortably clean in here. The smell of bleach combined with other chemicals is so strong I’m forced to take in some air in hopes of growing used to the odor, but the action is dizzying. My stomach is empty and the only thing I succeed in doing is upsetting it.
When was the last time I ate? I push my legs over the cot, which I just now realize I’m lying on, and set my hands on either side of my thighs. My skin breaks out in goose bumps and this prompts me to take a closer look at my outfit. The clothes Akana provided for me at the mansion are gone. In their place are a plain, white top, white cotton socks, and a pair of pajama-style bottoms. There isn’t a mirror in the room, but if I were to stand in front of one, I have no doubt I’d probably look like a patient from a mental institution. The clothes don’t do much for warmth, either.
The thought forces chills down my spine. I don’t have to analyze the situation much to understand what has happened. I must be at one of Gerard’s many Institutes, which means I’m now a prisoner, too. But if I’m here, where is Tiger? Did he run off and escape?
I stand up, pushing the doubts to the back of my head. I need to focus. I can’t afford to lose my cool here. Gerard is the kind of man who uses fear against his victims and I won’t give him the chance to see how scared I am.
By how things played out at the museum, I have the gut feeling the only way Gerard knew where to look for me was if he was listening to our conversation. Are Rose and Wyatt here? Did he find them and that’s how he knew where I was? It’s possible.
I assess the room as I turn to my left. Should I even refer to it as a chamber? It’s more like a glass cage. All four walls are made of giant, thick, transparent panels, which leave no space for privacy. There isn’t even a bathroom in here.
Beyond the door, which is also made of glass, there’s a long, spacious corridor that leads from one end of the floor to the other. I take in my surroundings, spotting several more enclosures like mine, some across the hall from me, others to the left and the right of my room. Most are empty. The one in front of mine is not.
Looking back at me is a young girl, probably around my age. With long, white hair cascading down to her waist and glowing red eyes staring back at me with curiosity, she’s like a female version of Nyall, only younger and far less terrifying to look at.
Movement to my right forces me to take a second look at the room adjacent to the one I’m in. There’s a person sitting on the linoleum floor, facing the other direction. Unlike my room, which is equipped with one cold, hard, blue cot and a blanket, the next room is empty except for the individual sitting there.
There’s something vaguely familiar about him, something I can’t quite put my finger on. I approach the single glass panel that separates us to get a closer look. I’m shocked to see he’s covered in blood.
“Hayden.” The stiff posture, the wounds, the blood—all I can think back on is the day I found him on the side of the road, hurt and pleading for help. I slap the glass to get his attention and he shifts slightly to his left, gazing at me over his shoulder. I choke on a sob at the sight of his handsome face, bruised, his right eye swollen shut. He must’ve been beaten recently, since he hasn’t even begun to heal yet. “Oh, God, Hayden. I’m so sorry.”
All this because of me. Tears begin to stream down my cheeks. The heaviness of our predicament settles in and with it, the understanding of the danger we’re in.
“Hayden.” I drop to my knees in front of the glass, flattening my palms over the smooth surface. “This is all my fault. I led them to us. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.” Any amount of apologies can’t make up for the damage I’ve caused. He must have resisted, and in turn they beat him into submission. Hadn’t he mentioned before that they only hurt him when he doesn’t obey? God, I feel like the world is about to drop from under us.
He reacts by scrambling to his knees, settling his hand on the glass on the opposite side of where mine rests. This close up, I can see the severity of his injuries and the air catches in my throat at how physical they have gotten with him. By what he explained before, he won’t die from the lacerations he has sustained and he will heal on his own, but the nasty gash on the right side of his abdomen appears to be mildly infected and continues to bleed, even as he sets his gaze on my face.
“Don’t be sorry.” Due to the thickness of the glass separating us, it’s hard to understand him without having to strain my neck in an attempt to hear him better. “I will be okay,” he adds.
But it’s not okay. Nothing is. Nothing will ever be the same.
I shake my head as a fresh batch of tears begins to fall down my face. “We’re trapped here because of me. If I’d stayed put, we wouldn’t be here.”
“You’re safe, Kristina. He won’t hurt you.”
How can he be trying to reassure me right now? “I don’t care what he does to me. I just don’t want him to hurt you anymore. I don’t want to ever see you like this again.”
Somewhere in the background, the sound of many feet padding toward us makes it clear we are about to have company, but I can’t bring myself to look away from Hayden. I want to find the safety I used to see there, but I’m met with uncertainty instead.
“I care what happens to you. I promised to protect you and I have failed at that.”
The feet grow closer. They can probably see Hayden and me communicating back and forth by now but I don’t care. They are going to have to pry me away from the glass if they want me to stop.
“No. You didn’t. You protected me. I...” Time runs out as the door behind me beeps several times before sliding open. Too scared to see who steps inside the room, I maintain eye contact with Hayden. His brown eyes widen as he stares over my head. I’m shaking in fear of the unknown, but I decide to continue looking at him.
“No,” I whisper as a group of men, clad in black, march down the hall to his room and activate a panel next to the door. Once they have pressed a series of buttons, the speaker of the intercom beeps a few times before the door slides open. Holding semi-automatic handguns and electric batons, they storm into the room and fan out. There’s at least a dozen men, all ready for battle.
“How melodramatic! You have begun to form an attachment.” That calculating, demeaning voice makes me want to be somewhere far away. I have yet to see his face but I can already tell he’s an asshole.
I don’t respond because I’m far from stupid. He wants to gauge my reaction, so I continue watching Hayden, though he glares determinedly back at the man standing behind me.
“Kristina Neeson, is it? Your grandmother and I have quite a long history.”
I tell myself to breathe, to not mind his words, but fear continuously creeps up on me.
“Being that you are in this situation, I understand your lack of enthusiasm, but I bothered to come all this way because I have an offer to make.”
Offer? Like I’d believe any proposition he makes will be an honest one.
“Pick her up,” he orders. “I need her to see this.”
I swallow hard at those words, and fight to keep it cool when rough hands forcefully set me on my feet and turn me to face the devil himself. Roughly around six feet tall, with short, red hair and blue eyes, he appears innocent enough, but I am not fooled by his pretty-boy looks.
“I’d like to say it is nice to meet you, but I’m afraid it would be an insincere statement.” His eyes twinkle with a hint of amusement.
“Likewise,” I retort with enough venom to save face.
My response eases a smile from him. “Well, you are a spitfire. That’s quite interesting indeed. You may turn out to be more fun than anyone else we have ever brought aboard.” With the smile still in place, he treads to the panel on one side of the exit and activates a screen below it. The monitor flashes white briefly before a grainy image pops up.
There is a pair inside a room much like the one I’m in. The older man is lying on the floor while the woman paces nervously from one side to the other. It takes one good look for me to identify the couple.
“Grandma,” I say in a harsh whisper. So she is here, imprisoned same as me. Tears threaten to spill but I fight them off, not wanting this manipulative bastard to see me breaking up in front of him.
“Ah, they are familiar.” He points to the screen feeding back the black-and-white image of my grandmother and her unorthodox friend. “They are alive and well. For the time being, of course. It is up to you to ensure they remain that way.”
He’s going to blackmail me. This evil son-of-a-bitch has leverage and he intends to use it.
“I’m not making any deals with you.”
“You might want to reconsider. In your position, I would not be too hasty in making any rash decisions. I’m the only thing coming in between their survival and your freedom.”
I bite my tongue to keep from shouting where I think he should shove his offer.
“What do you want?”
“Back in Iowa, who did you go there to meet?”
Is he playing dumb to see if I’ll confirm or deny anything?
“We met with no one.”
If my answer irritates him, he is quick to hide it. “Tiger ran off to meet someone. Since you were helping him, I have to assume you were aware of what his plans were.”
“Nope, sorry to say you are misinformed.”
His expression hardens. He’s beginning to grow impatient and angry at my refusal to cooperate. “I will ask you again: who did you two meet up with?”
“We didn’t meet up with anyone. We were on the run. At what point did we have time to slow down for a meeting?”
“That is the information I seek.”
“No one met with us,” I snap, turning my back to him. Gerard grabs my arm and pulls me around to face him with such force I stumble and am forced to hold on to him to steady myself.
This incites a response from Hayden, who immediately begins to pummel his fists against the glass while growling ferociously. I defy Gerard with a lift of the chin instead.
“Do you know who I am? Do you know where you are?” he yells, causing a vein on his forehead to become even more prominent.
“I don’t care who you are, but while we’re on the subject, why don’t you tell Tiger those little dirty secrets you’ve kept from him.” His grip on my arm tightens, but I refuse to allow him to see it on my face so I use the anger boiling up inside of me to fight the only way I can. “That’s right. Because it would be a huge inconvenience for you if Tiger was up to speed in terms of who his mother and father were.”
Hayden stops trying to punch through the glass panel and stands with two bloody extremities resting on its surface. I may have had problems trying to hear him but I doubt he has the same issue.
“What...?” Gerard’s eyes bulge out so much they look like they are going to pop out of his face. “You have a big mouth, I see. If you’re that eager to talk, why haven’t you told him yourself? Because...you haven’t ratted me out yet, have you?”
Shit. He got me there. “Lack of time, obviously.”
He scoffs. “Obviously. Now tell me, dear, what kind of information makes you this bold? It better be good.” His fingers squeeze even harder as his blue eyes glare with an intensity I can feel in my bones.
I try my best not to flinch at the pressure on my arm. “It has to do with the one-of-a-kind hybrid who fathered Tiger.”
He releases me so abruptly I stumble back a few steps before regaining my balance.
“That idiotic Gabriel. I knew it was a mistake to let him go.”
Let him go? I thought he escaped?
“So,” Gerard’s lips creep up into a menacing smile, “you met with Gabriel. Did he show you my book?”
“Your book?”
“Not my original work, of course, but it served its purpose well.”
I swallow. “All the info he gave me came straight from his mouth. No book was involved,” I lie.
“That poor bastard is always too eager to share things he shouldn’t.” Something tells me Gerard wants that book back too. “And thanks to you I know where to look for him.” Nodding to the men in Hayden’s room, he says, “Bring him in.”
Confused, I look on as the men in black escort Hayden from his room to mine.
“I...?”
“Don’t understand?” Gerard pads to one side of the room, closest to the exit. “It is simple, really. I don’t want you to think I’m not a generous man, so I’m going to give you two some time to get reacquainted while I figure out what to do with your grandmother.”
My heart sinks into my stomach. “You better not hurt a hair on her head.”
The guards all but shove Hayden into the glass cage with me, pointing their handguns directly at us. Weak and tired, Hayden crumples to his knees in front of me.
“You are in no position to demand anything of me. If I were you, I would be more concerned over what is going to happen to you both once this hour is up.” There’s no mistaking the threat for something else. This is his way of throwing a pity party for us before his grisly plans take shape.
“What is it you want?” I jut my chin out defiantly.
“Tell me who you met in Iowa.”
“I told you—”
“That’s the problem. You are delaying the inevitable. I’m going to find out what you two are hiding one way or another, but hearing it directly from you might make your stay here more pleasant.”
With a nod as a signal, Gerard exits the room, followed by the rest of the guards. They march down the hallway and out of sight soon enough, and I’m left wondering what’s going to happen to us next.
I push my fears aside and kneel in front of Hayden, gripping the sides of his face gently. “Why are you still swollen? Back at the farm you healed so quickly.”
His one good eye traces the lines on my face as his hands come to rest on my hips. “I haven’t eaten properly in a while, and it has been months since I last fed.”
My old fear resurfaces and I can’t help but ask, “What do you mean by fed?”
“I need to...drink...blood. Occasionally.”
“But you haven’t.” I wipe the crimson off his cheek, just under the swollen eye, carefully, with the tips of my fingers. “Why?”
“In order to drink I need to kill.”
He may have put Rose and me in danger when he decided to use us, but considering how disturbing his life has been, being raised to be a killer and left with no other option but to comply, I can see how desperate he may have been in order to do what he did. I’m not excusing him, but looking at him, I understand how mentally harmful it must be to endure this treatment each and every time he disobeyed.
“Hayden.” I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in for a hug. I need to feel his body close to mine. Our time together is decreasing. There is no sense of security anymore, just the need for comfort. I may never see him again once they take him away in an hour. “How long has it been since we were brought here?”
His arms circle my waist moments before he buries his face in the hollow between my neck and shoulder. “Two days.”
Two days. It has been two days already. That explains why I’m starving. As if on cue, my stomach begins to rumble. Nausea suddenly assails me. I feel as if I’m going to vomit but I know nothing will come out. What exactly has been done to me since I arrived? An image invades my mind. That of a group of people, dressed in scrubs, putting in an IV, though the only evidence of it ever being there is the bandage on my arm.
“Hayden,” I whisper against his ear. “There is something I have to tell you.”
He holds himself stiffly against me. “Go on.”
I’m not sure why Gerard left Hayden in the room with me. He must have suspected I’d say something. I don’t think he’s stupid enough to believe I wouldn’t. Or maybe he’s hoping I’ll use the information I have as a bargaining chip, but I’m not going to give him the chance to use me as he sees fit.
“You’re a hybrid. I think the reason you feel compelled to drink blood is because of the vampire in you.” I keep my voice barely above a whisper. I’ve spotted a camera on the opposite side of the exit. Gerard is watching us, but as far as hearing goes, I’m going to have to practice caution and hope he’s not listening in on us too.
The arms around my waist slacken a bit as Hayden draws away to look at me with his one good eye. “What?”
“Do you remember Gabriel? Back at Ny...” I refrain from saying the name in case Gerard can hear us conversing. “He was imprisoned at one of the Institutes, too. He told me about your condition and what makes you so special. Hayden,” I’m not sure how he’s going to take the news but I can’t hold out now, “Castiel is your biological father.”
Hayden’s entire body goes rigid. “How...?”
I go on to relate the information Gabriel shared with me days prior. By the time I’m done, he has let go of me and sits on the floor with his fingers buried in his semi-long hair. His face hangs in between his knees, his shoulders tense up with what I think is suppressed anger.
Hayden appears to be working through something so I let him process everything new he’s learned about himself and wait patiently by his side. A moment goes by in silence and then another. His dark eyes stare at the cold, hard floor with a determination I’ve never seen before.
“I understand why Gerard kept this from me but...Castiel...why would he not tell me?” His good eye searches my face as if he could find the answers there. “Gabriel said nothing about my mother?”
“No, he didn’t.”
Hayden feels deceived. Used. Now we have some common ground. “He must’ve had his reasons for keeping silent.” When Hayden’s eyebrows rise, I add, “Castiel, I mean.”
“He used me and he urged me to do the same with you.”
“Don’t.” I pry his fingers from his hair and push myself in between his knees. “What happened between us doesn’t matter. We’re together, stuck in this place, with no way of getting out unless we do something. Let’s not lament what has already occurred.”
“There is no getting out of here. I was lucky to escape once. Odds are, I’m not going to get another opportunity to flee in a long time.”
We can’t give up now. I don’t want to die here. I refuse to believe we made it this far, only to have our lives cut short at this place of horrors.
My God! I never imagined throwing a fit would cost us so much. If only I’d stayed behind at Nyall’s house and talked things through with Hayden instead of running off like a madwoman, maybe things would have turned out differently.
We have no plan. No backup. No one even knows we’re here. As much as the prospect of living the rest of my life in this place scares me, the thought of something happening to Rose and Wyatt threatens to send me into a state of hysteria.
“No,” I whisper. Tears spill down my cheeks as desperation threatens to get the best of me. “It can’t end like this.” I brush my lips against his, gently. “I’m sorry I messed things up.” I press my lips to his. He’s the only measure of comfort I have now and though I am far from being okay, there’s nothing else I can do but free some pent-up emotions.
Hayden draws me near, circling his arms around my body as his mouth covers mine. Warm, calloused fingers glide up my spine and then tangle in my hair, holding my head in place as our kisses grow heated. Through his actions, I can read his fears. They match my own.
Blood courses through my body like a river of molten lava. I’m aware of eyes on us, those of the girl in the cage across the hall, probably, but I don’t care. I don’t want to let Hayden go. I’m scared to death that if I do, I’ll never be able to touch or see his handsome face again.
Hayden must have the same thoughts in mind, because his hold on me tightens, but he tears his lips from mine and settles them over my neck, where he plants a soft kiss. “They are coming,” he whispers against my skin.
I hear them marching toward us. Every second brings them closer to our glass cage. My heart skips a beat as nervous anticipation builds up. I refuse to break away from Hayden. The sound of heavy boots padding against the hard floor carries toward us a moment later, and with it a renewed sense of foreboding. All I can do is bury my face in Hayden’s shoulder and take in some air to try to calm my rattled nerves.
“I won’t let them hurt you, Kristina.”
The panel beeps after some sort of code is entered. A chill runs down my spine as the door slides open.
“I will protect you,” he murmurs, a hint of promise underlining each word.
“Your hour is up, Kristina. From this moment onward, we will do things my way. If you refuse to cooperate, Rose, Wyatt, and Tiger will pay for every decision you make.”
I can sense many pairs of eyes on us, watching, but I refuse to break away from Hayden. I have the gut feeling that if they take him away, I won’t see him again.
“What do you have to say?” Gerard asks, but he receives no response from me. “I’m not a very patient man. You have but two options here. Either you work with or against me. The latter will likely get those you love killed, along with yourself.”
So in other words, I have to sell my soul to the devil in order to survive. I’d rather jump off a bridge than give him what he wants.
“You have nothing to say? Very well then, have it your way. Guards!”
Two pairs of feet shuffle in our direction. I’m yanked away from Hayden and shoved against the wall behind me. My vision blurs momentarily as my head connects with the glass. My knees buckle and only the guards holding me up by the arms keep me from slumping to the floor.
With a furious growl, Hayden bolts to his feet and rams the guard to my left, picking him clean off his feet. The man brings the butt of his gun down on Hayden’s head once, twice, but this only enrages Hayden even more and he reacts by hurling the man against the glass panel to my left, which rattles violently but doesn’t break. In fact, it doesn’t even crack. The man lands on his side, unconscious.
When Hayden spins around to face me, he finds me with a handgun pressed to my temple and Gerard at the other end, threatening to pull the trigger.
“You make another move and she dies.”
Gerard’s sneer sends a chill down my spine. My gaze finds that of Hayden’s and I swallow, unnerved by the ferocity I see there. Gone is the kind, somewhat frightened young man I’ve come to know in the past few days. Present now is a ferocious predator, right down to the unusually long canines, the black-as-midnight eyes, the dark gray hue of his skin, which was as pale as mine moments ago, and the prominent bluish-green veins I can see zig-zagging up his upper torso and neck. Muscles bulge out, stretching his skin to maximum capacity. Long, sharp claws replace his fingernails, completing his savage look.
The transformation took no longer than a few seconds, it happened so quickly I did not notice until now that he stands facing me, wide shoulders lifting slightly as he inhales sharp, agitated breaths.
There’s no humanity in the creature staring back at me. Although he’s not as big or wide as I expected him to look, he’s no less intimidating. Every inch of him screams dangerous. In his predatory state, does he remember me? Am I in danger?
“She’s dead. Do you hear me, Tiger? Can you live with her death on your hands? Will you continue on, knowing one mistake you made caused the pull of this trigger? Trust me, nothing will give me more pleasure than getting rid of her, and if you continue to push me, I’ll do just that.” He taunts Hayden deliberately.
When Hayden doesn’t immediately grovel at his feet, Gerard pushes the barrel of the handgun against my head as if he means to shove into my skull. The action sends a jolt of pain right down to my jaw. I can practically taste the metal. I try not to wince, but the reaction comes without any effort on my part.
Hayden, though he doesn’t move, releases a loud, lion-like roar that leaves my ears ringing. His eyes never leave mine though and I know, even before his body slowly transforms from beast to man once more, that he’s going to back off for me.
He can no more protect me than I can myself. But there’s a chance I can keep those I love alive and keep the guards from beating Hayden some more, so I’m going to chance it.
“It was a meeting,” I blurt out.
“Kristina!” Hayden steps forward, but Gerard lowers the barrel of the gun to my cheek and he understands the threat. He obeys.
I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, trying to muster enough bravado to continue talking. I open my eyes again, opting against staring at Hayden to abstain from seeing the disappointment on his face.
“We heard about this man who has a vendetta against you. He’s one of many leading the Legion, and wanted details as to what your operational methods here in the Institute are.”
A corner of Gerard’s mouth curves up. “The Legion. I have heard much of them, but I thought it was nothing more than an urban myth. So they are a reality? I may have created more monsters than I originally intended. It seems I have made many enemies over the years and now they aim to dethrone me, is that it?”
“It would seem so.”
“How quaint. Even after I allowed them to live, they want revenge. Who do they think they are? Double-crossing me? I’ll show them why the name Gerard Radcliffe strikes fear in my enemies.”
Talk about boosting his ego. Gerard is definitely full of himself. Unfortunately, he’s also crazy and dangerous, which is a bad combination.
“When did the meeting take place?”
“It didn’t. Your men intercepted us right before it did.” I lie my ass off, but what else can I do? At least my lie will buy us some time. I hope, anyway.
“Is that so?” Gerard is visibly displeased by the news. “Since my men first caught on to you, they reported back your inconsistent traveling patterns.” He lowers the gun from my face, but keeps it pointed directly at me. “Now, I imagine this was done on purpose. To throw us off, and for the most part, it worked well. Eventually, my men tracked you two down to Iowa. But what I want to know is if you met with members of the Legion at some point?”
He must be aware of the fact that we did, but I’ll be damned if I admit that so easily. “What makes you think we did?”
“Along the way you made a few stops. There was one specific location out in the woods where we found a single-bedroom cabin, a small thing, barely visible, as it was well hidden. I’m not sure if you two just passed by, but apparently, you were there visiting someone. And this mysterious someone planted a trap. Eight of my best tactical team died that morning. I want his name.”
God, he even knows about Ray. “He didn’t give us a name. He was kind of cryptic and paranoid. He kept a shotgun leveled at our stomachs practically the whole time we were there, and hastily sent us on our way.” Is Ray here too?
Gerard tosses a skeptical look in my direction. “Let’s play that game, then. Then who did you agree to meet in Iowa?”
I scramble to come up with a name, but my mind comes up blank. I’m struggling and I think Gerard can sense it. There’s a triumphant look on his face. He knows I’m lying. Damn it.
“Hayden. His name was Hayden,” I practically shout. My eyes search Hayden’s, seeking forgiveness for having blurted out the name I’d given him, but he merely dips his head as if to say he gets it.
Gerard’s brow lifts in surprise. “Now we are getting somewhere. Where that is remains to be seen, but I think I’m more than capable of figuring that out. I have ways of getting people to talk and resources to look for those I’m hoping to find. It’s merely a matter of time.” Pointing at me with the handgun, Gerard motions to the twelve or so guards still on their feet as he adds, “Take Tiger out of here. I’m sure he will be more than cooperative now that we have reached an understanding. Am I wrong?” His blue eyes target Hayden, as if in warning.
Hayden nods hesitantly and doesn’t protest when two men grab each of his arms and begin pulling him toward the exit. The guard to my right finally releases my arm and I take a step toward Gerard in anger.
“Where are you taking him? I told you what I know.”
The last of the guards follows the procession out of the room. My gaze stays with Hayden as he strides away quietly, without resistance. I’m heartbroken by his condition. And bitter because had it not been for me, he wouldn’t have been caught, brought to the Institute, and beaten. Because of me, Gerard now has another weapon to use against Hayden.
“Until I confirm your story, I think I should take Tiger down below and see what I can gather from him,” Gerard adds as he lowers the handgun to his side.
I feel as if though the weight of the world is on my shoulders.
“Now if you excuse me, I’ll be on my way. I have other prisoners to visit. Other stories to confirm.” With a mocking grin, he strolls out of the room, his gait casual and self-assured as he ambles away. And as soon as he figures out just how much of a lie I have fed him, Rose, Wyatt, or even Hayden will be held accountable for it.
“Oh, God,” I huff in despair. What am I going to do now?