Chapter 4
Uzi's P.O.V.~
The cold water running down my throat was probably the best thing I'd felt in a while. It was as if my mind was slowly beginning to rebalance itself, bringing back the memories of what happened in the run-down complex. I'd been poisoned by my own colony, then put into a state of paralysis. But after that…it's all hazy. I think I remember voices, but it's faint.
And…something shattering, like glass.
The pair of blood suckers still stood across from me, the weird table I woke up on being the only barrier between us. I highly doubt it would do much though, all things considered from what I heard these guys were pretty strong.
"So…feel better?" The male whom I heard the woman call N asked softly. He was strange, a sharp tail swayed behind him with the excitement of a dog like when its owner came home. His counterpart scoffed and rolled her eyes, jutting out one of her hips.
"Hmph." I shrugged, not bothering to answer them.
"Seriously?! Ugh! Did you not hear me earlier you damn purple thing? We're the ones that saved you! The least you could say is thank you."
"V…maybe we should let her be for a bit. She did just wake up after paralysis…"
'Right…so her name is V…was it her I heard back in the old place?'
"She'll have to start talking sooner or later N. If she doesn't the chances of J isolating her off are greater."
"What's going on with you? You weren't acting like this before—"
"—shut up!" She smacked her hand on top of the table, causing me to flinch and back away. V narrowed her eyes like she was sizing me up.
The woman is intimidating with her sharply cut bob, flawless cat-like golden pools and expertly built body. It took all of my strength to not glance down past her neck, quite well aware of just how surrounded I was. N next to her was just as scary, though I wouldn't admit it out loud. He's strong, I can tell by a simple glance despite his bright and cheery smile.
"Last chance, you gonna talk?" She growled, tail whipping around behind her, nearly breaking nearby glasses full of I don't want to know what. The red stains on the table tell me everything I need to know about this room.
I swallowed the nervous lump down my throat, clenching my hands into fists and shook my head. Vampires are cruel creatures, and the fact they've kept me alive means they want something—whatever it is I refuse to give. I'd rather they kill me if I can't find some way out of here.
I need a distraction…or at least some kind of open window.
V sighed, letting her tail drop to the floor with a big thud. Her brows furrowed as she ran her hands over her face, groaning. It was almost as if there was some pain behind it, trying to stop the worry from creeping into her eyes. N attempted to grab her shoulder but she shoved him off again.
"Fine…we're doing this the hard way." She said as she marched to the door and whipped it open. I leaned to the side to try and take a look, only spotting a narrow hallway lined with metal before she stepped through and slammed it shut, leaving the two of us alone.
"Sorry about her!" The male across from me scratched the back of his neck while laughing nervously. "V's not great with new people, but she's really nice once you get to know her!"
"Didn't know bitchy was a language." I muttered without thinking, internally cursing at myself. The stupid perky vamp seemed to light up like he had a skip in his step.
"Hey you can talk now! That's a good thing, I was worried your voice might have been damaged. You uh…you sound strong?"
"What?" Heat rose to my cheeks, "Ew, gross…I hate that you said that."
The room grew awkwardly silent, his mouth parting and eyes widening like he'd just realized his mistake. N slapped a hand over his mouth and looked to the side where a small circular-shaped window was, a harsh snow blizzard screaming outside. My lips formed a thin line, recognizing the weather pattern.
"How long?" I asked.
"How…long?"
"How long have I been out for?"
"Oh, that." He sighed, taking a minute to think. "I can't be too sure but I think at least a year give or take. Your stuff wasn't horribly covered with snow, and the electricity was still working."
'So if I escape I may still have a chance to recover some equipment and bolt…I wonder how gullible he is, maybe I can get a little more info out of him.'
"Just wondering but…did you see a bike on the first floor by chance?"
"Bike?" He seemed confused, raising a brow. "Uh, no?"
'Damn it! Some asshole must've taken my bike! I spent so long working on it too…'
I tried to hide the disappointment settling in my chest. This meant that even if I somehow managed to escape in the one in a million chance, they would likely just capture me again—if not kill me. That too, if someone took my bike they probably searched the whole building, finding me.
But they didn't do anything…? Not even report my current state? That wouldn't make any sense.
"Why am I here? Why didn't you guys kill me? I'm a human, you murder my kind." I lifted my hand, spotting a bite mark on my wrist. The corners of my mouth tilted downward with a little bit of fear. "Oh…"
One of them drank from me already?
"I can't really answer that because I don't know myself, but I do apologize about the mark." He pointed to where I was looking at. "I would've healed it up afterward but you woke up so quick that I-I didn't have time."
Suddenly his face tinted with a little bit of red, whether it was with embarrassment or something else I'm not sure, all I know is that whenever he looked at me, there was some kind of intention hidden behind it. It feels like he's searching for my soul, trying to pinpoint somewhere to shoot.
"Oh please, all of you bloodsuckers are the same! I highly doubt that! There's no point trying to befriend me, and don't even think about pity. I hate—"
"I'm not pitying you!" He blurted, finally meeting me head on. Slowly, he sucked in a breath and took a few steps around the table, my guard immediately up and barricaded. I've got one exit but if he comes over here I'm done for. I don't even know where V or the other one they were talking about were.
"Don't touch me!" I snatched the scalpel back from the tray and lifted it within close proximity of his face. "Don't come any closer! I WILL cut you!"
His steps paused, starring at my shaking hand that held the small weapon. This is so pathetic…I can't even keep a sturdy hand! He's probably laughing at me, or maybe sees me as some kind of toy to throw around until he gets bored. Just how much longer will I live for? I'm practically asking for death waving this thing around in front of him.
"Cut me?" He whispered, shaking his head as he slowly began to chuckle. My eyes widened at how sudden he seemed to give up his cheery act. "You can't hurt me, you can't even run away from me so don't try. Look, I'm not going to hurt you so just put the scalpel down. If you let me I'd like to explain why you have that bite mark. I think you've got the wrong idea."
"W-what? NO!" I swiped the weapon and managed to land a small cut on his cheek, causing him to stumble backward with shock. "Don't try that! You're not sweet-talking me you DAMN VAMPIRE! You RUINED my LIFE! YOU AND YOUR STUPID VAMPIRE GENETICS!"
The words poured out of me, my cheeks dampening with tears. I didn't know why I said those things but maybe I needed to get it off my chest. I'm filled with all this motivation but I have no one to back me up in my corner. So what if they see me cry? It probably makes no difference to them. They can have all the fun they want, but I'll keep persisting until they're nothing but a bunch of floating ashes. I rose the scalpel again, ready to ram into him head-on and try to land a hit anywhere closer to where it could take a long time to heal.
"Just die you damn—huh?!" In a swift motion his tail swept itself underneath my feet, throwing my balance off and ready to faceplant onto the floor. However, he switched positions and backed me up against the table, using one arm to wrap around my waist as the other held my wrists in a tight hold above my head.
No matter how hard I pushed I was pinned where I stood, thrashing about would only cause further damage, damage I wasn't willing to resort to just yet. I may be infected but I'm not psycho. It didn't stop me from shooting him a death glare, his face mere inches from mine. N was a lot more terrifying up close.
He's got a flawless complexion most girls would kill for, a strong jaw and just like V his eyes could make someone's blood run cold. Slowly I began to go frigid in his grasp, too scared to make another move. If he wanted to, he could snap me or one of my limbs in half. His heavy breaths were all I heard as my head spun.
"You can't go anywhere because I've drained you for almost all of your worth, just barely keeping you alive. It was the only way to bring you out of paralysis, so please." N sighed, giving my wrists a gentle squeeze, running a thumb over the bite. "Just let me heal the wound. That's all I'm asking."
"I won't let your disgusting mouth anywhere near me again." I spat with venom, lifting what I could of my foot and stomping it on his own. He let out a small yelp but kept me pinned. Baring my teeth I started to thrash around a little more. "Did you not hear me? I said your mouth won't go anywhere near me! LET GO!"
"Stop moving! You're going to break your arms!"
"I don't care!" I shouted, my mind starting to fog a little from reality. It hit me just how bad this could get. N could literally decide to end me any moment now, a sad and pitiful existence that wasn't meant to live. I don't blame my mom for what happened to her—she had no choice. But I more or so hate the beings that benefitted from it, seeing a perfect result in front of me made me sick. Pressing my arms further, it felt like they were burning, more tears escaping. "If I break my arms it's on you! The others want me alive, right? If you don't want to get in trouble then let me go!"
"Stop it!" He loosened his grip a little, but not by much. "I'm sorry about whatever happened to you but I promise V and I aren't like that! I'm not asking for your trust right away I'm just asking to clean up what I did!"
He quickly slid the hand that was around my waist up my back, taking one of his feet and wrapping it around my ankle to make me fall backward onto the table. I released a loud scream, feeling as he separated my arms and held each wrist down with his hands. My legs flailed around trying to kick him, but he stepped in between them and all I could do was try to squeeze the shit out of his waist.
"You're going to make yourself pass out, stop it." He spoke firmly. "I will NOT say it again. Act like this when J comes and you are as good as dead. Hear me?"
"Who the fuck is J?"
"Someone a lot scarier than V and I combined."
I felt a brief wave of pain wash over me, realizing how hard he'd been pinning me down. My muscles couldn't hold out any longer and my legs fell from his sides, limply laying half-way off the table. Sweat coated my skin, throat craving another bottle of cold water.
'Sigh.'
When the hell had I become such a loser?
I know better…
Turning my head to the side I sucked in a deep breath, watching the blizzard continue its chaos. I don't want to do as he says but had the vampire I'd been dealing with not been him I would've been laying over this table with my neck snapped.
A sick feeling twisted inside of my stomach, bile coating the back of my throat with the overall realization of where I was. I may not be able to escape these people, it's useless. And it'd be stupid to try anything now.
The cut on N's cheek was gone, his eyes turning soft once more. "Are you calm now?"
"Fuck off." I snapped, gesturing my head to the wrist with the bite mark. "Just do what you wanted to and then get the hell off me. I don't want to be near you anymore than I have to."
"Thank you."
"Eat shit."
"Rude…" He muttered, lifting the mark to his mouth. The male bloodsucker licked his lips and then touched my skin. Soft and plump, simply kissing the wound.
In a matter of seconds the two puncture marks were gone, as if they'd never been there. I sighed in relief, feeling the cool air hit my body the moment he released his grip. The amazement didn't last more than a second, exhaustion having taken over. Even though I'd been in paralysis for a year, I didn't want to move. My muscles would scream at me, head would spin from lack of blood, and my nutrition levels were likely really low and all over the place.
"Can you sit up? Or would you like some help?"
"Go to hell."
"Help up it is." He concluded, stretching out his hands to sit me up.
"Don't touch me."
"How else am I supposed to help?"
"I didn't ask for your help."
"Well this is an interesting sight…" Someone voiced from the doorway. Unlike V, her tone sounded strict. I didn't need to turn my head to know this was who N mentioned—J. The overall temperature in the room dropped, heels slowly clacking along the floor as she strided up to the state I was in. "Welcome back, or whatever."
"…"
"Annnd we're back to not talking." N sighed, folding his arms over his chest and shaking his head.
"She's got a pair of lungs on her that's for sure. We could hear you two from the other side of the pod." The woman growled, flicking her tail over him in a threatening manner.
'Sorry…" He muttered, never looking up from the ground.
"While I want to be mad it's unfortunately a normal reaction out of humans. They scream and whine and cry until they can't anymore." The female with pigtails starred me down, frown prominent. "You all never learn."
'No, no we don't.'
"…"
"Sit up."
"…"
"Do as she says human." V came in from behind, leaning against the door trim. Her frown was still forcefully smacked onto her face, eyes pleading. I wonder if she wasn't hurt by me talking to N, though I didn't actually mean to. Maybe her ego took a critical hit.
Slowly I turned on my side and saw N's hand from the corner trying to help me up, however I smacked it away and managed just fine on my own. I kept my eyes dimmed, smile or any kind of emotion nowhere to be found.
J smiled with satisfaction, resting her hands on her hips giving me a once over. "Well, you're not perfect but you'll do. What's your name human?"
"I don't have one anymore." I replied, taking in the silence for a second. "They gave me a serial designation. U."
"I see…" She rubbed her chin deep in thought, "And you'd prefer to use U over your actual name?"
"I guess."
"Alright then. V, do you still remember how to cook?"
Said woman in question glanced at her with surprise but didn't blow the question out of proportion. "More or less."
"Find something to make for U, she'll need to get some food and water down her along with sleep. Then we'll talk."
J came closer, her hand reaching out and grabbing my jaw. My body tensed but I had no energy to fight back, even if I tried she was clearly stronger than the rest. Her gaze switched to N's, looking him up and down as he just stood there with his head down. "Good job for following my orders. Keep that up and you won't have another punishment in your future. Understand?"
He nodded. "Yes J."
"You're in charge of the human, if she gets hurt it's on you."
"Yes J."
"I'm not some pet." I spat, furrowing my brows. Her fingers fixed around my jaw, clenching so tight I winced with pain, her nails clawing into my skin. "Hey—stop!"
"You have no say in this, understand? Talk back to me again and I'll make sure your heart stops beating for good this time around." She growled, pushing me back aggressively. I clenched my fists tight with anger, so very badly wanting to throw my own punch. But I know I can't, there's no doubt that this pigtailed bitch could end me in one swipe.
J sighed, shaking her head and muttering something about how humans are stupid creatures I'm sure. She spun around and walked out of the room without another word, heels clacking off into the distance.
N stood still, never moving from his spot as V huffed out a sigh of frustration, lifting a finger gesturing for me to follow. "If you know what's good for you purple thing, you'll do as she says."
Chapter 5
Uzi's P.O.V.~
I've lost track of how many days it's been. I went from promising myself to not straying far or getting off-course to completely and utterly lost. The damn bloodsuckers have locked me in a long-abandoned bedroom. Their leader—J—practically screamed at N about how he should've had the room ready, even if this was all suddenly last minute. Not exactly like they knew I was coming…not that I wanted to be here in the first place.
And three times out of the day they bring me meals, none of which I bother to eat. I don't know what they put in that shit, and if I can help it I won't let them use me for whatever it is that their planning. The only issue currently is how badly my stomach is hurting, how light my head feels and how I have little to no energy left in my system. All I drink is the water they bring me, just enough to stay alive.
Today seemed to be the final straw however, the sound of keys jiggling outside of the door and being inserted into the lock. The now familiar sight of pigtails were sharper than ever through the small slit from the hallway's light, narrow golden daggers shooting through my skull with putrid anger. She growled, kicking away the couple-hours old tray of breakfast I'd neglected. Scrambled eggs flew across the floor, with toast, butter long melted and gone.
"Still not eating, huh?"
I don't have enough strength to speak, so I say nothing at all.
"You'll have to at some point, all humans reach their limit eventually."
Still nothing.
Out of thin air she marched right up to me and swung her fist into my midsection, her punch so strong I keeled over and coughed out blood onto the floor. My small frame couldn't recover from the impact, collapsing on my side and lying there lifelessly onto the cold metal floor. I strayed my eyes over to the small window with glass strong enough not to break so carelessly, many scuffs on its edge from the first few days I did try to break it in.
Snow fell harder and harder, we were in the beginning of blizzard season, which means even if I somehow escaped now, there's no way with my state I'd survive.
"Damn it human! How many times do I have to tell you to eat?! You don't realize what's at stake here!" She kicked her heel into the same spot, instincts causing me to hunch in on myself like that could do anything to help me.
"Do you know how lucky you are?" Another kick.
"Everything is on the line here!" She kicked again.
"J stop!" V's voice boomed across the hall, the female vampire coming in like a bat outta hell. She looped her arms from behind and managed to pull J off of me, leaving me completely stunned. For a split moment, I thought I saw something more behind her eyes again, but just as quickly as it appeared it was gone, replaced with the same look of defensiveness. "We need her alive, remember? One in a million?!"
J quickly found her feet and shoved her off, panting heavily with a bead sweat dripping down her temple. The look she had was something out of a nightmare, eyes still glowing brightly like she was pissed about whatever newfound sense she'd come to. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out my sudden smile made her mood shift.
This was what I wanted.
Kick me, hurt me, KILL me.
Just don't use me.
V observed my pathetic state, closing her eyes and sighing. Her arms folded across her chest, standing there eerily in the reflective moonlight. From what I've seen out of her, she's got a good head on her shoulders, yet there's something wrong about me that ticks her off. Why is that? What did I do to her?
"Bite me." I spat blood onto her leaders' shiny heels. J's look of irritation and anger contorted into disgust, giving me one last final kick that sent me flying into the wall. I hit my head on impact, every cell in my body going light as my vision began to waver into nothingness. All I heard was V shouting something, and the two vampiric women probably getting into some kind of cat fight.
Oh well…not my problem.
***
"Good! You're waking up!" A familiar male voice strung through my ears as soon as I regained consciousness. Panic fleeting seconds later. Every single muscle in my body felt like it was aching, my head light, and chest heaving up and down with the strength of someone who might as well been hit by oncoming traffic.
A sound of disinterest rose up my throat, heat coursing through me as I felt something damp wipe itself along my forehead.
"Take it easy, looks like taking you out of shock made you catch a little bit of a cold."
'I'm sick?'
"About fucking time, J wouldn't shut up about how if she died, we'd never hear the end of it. That woman has some serious issues."
"V! Maybe talk about that another time?" N flicked his eyes over to me, then back at the taller individual standing in front of him, hands on her hips. "She just woke up."
"And I've been cooking for her all week!" The bloodsucker retorted, pointing her thumb into her chest. "She's the one who decided to not eat the meals so she's responsible for her own downfall. Honestly, do you think those meals are cheap? We can barely keep a damn greenhouse going in this weather and you waste food like its common courtesy."
"Stop talking." I murmured, hitching a breath as I tried to sit up. N's hand attempted to secure itself to my back but I stopped him just short of a few mere centimeters. "What did I say about touching me? Fuck off!"
"He's trying to help you, idiot."
"I don't need a vampire's help." I spat back.
"Really? Because it sure looked like you could've used help back when miss leader bitch was pummeling the shit out of you—"
"ENOUGH!" N's voice boomed with anger, causing the both of us to flinch with surprise. His own eyes widened, likely shocked with himself at how suddenly it just came out. Nonetheless he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, clutching the back of his locks. "Look, none of us like any of this right now nor do we know what J wants with you, but for the love of god, we can at least be civil about this."
"Can vampires even be civil?" V inquired, raising a brow. She'd quickly turned her shocked look into one of power, clearly trying to keep her place above the male.
There's something that can be said about N, he's not your average vampire, not by the looks of it. He's held me down when I tried to fight, but even then, he's never directly hurt me before. J took one look and landed the first hit within seconds. It was almost like she was the childish one, not keeping a clear head or general understanding for that matter.
Did she think beating me to a pulp was going to make me eat?
"V, one more snarky comment and you're in for a world of hurt." His tail lingered over her head, its sharp point ever-so-slightly caressing a small strand of her silver hair. Its gleam kept its promise, her posture straightening in seconds.
"You're seriously threatening me?"
"Do you want to find out?" His lips smiled darkly, flashing his sharp fangs like they were some kind of attractive feature. A strange heat swirled in the darkest depths of my stomach, something I'd never felt before in my life. It rushed up to my cheeks and my heartbeat rang through my burning ears.
The female counterpart shifted her wait, sighing deeply as the same effects overcame her, thighs clenching together hard and squirming.
'Oh my god…'
"Are you two seriously flirting right now?!" The question came flooding out of me the second it popped into my head. Immediate regret flashed into my mind as I slapped a hand over my mouth, frantically searching for something else to follow up with that made it seem as though I couldn't care less. "B-Because that's disgusting!"
'Just kill me now.'
One day you're simply exiled from your bunker and the next you find that two vampires are secretly going at it behind their leader's back. What kind of fuckery did I get myself into? The male seemed to remember where he was, that smug smirk on his face dissipating into a look of horror. Meanwhile V might as well have gone off the rails, snapping some kind of witty remark I couldn't bother to remember before stomping out of the room.
"Sorry…" N muttered. "That was uncalled for, I should have kept that to myself, especially after getting V to stop taunting you."
Any other person would have likely came out with some awkward comment, and as much as I wanted to turn my head away too, there was still the fact that I'm stuck in here, and sick. "Whatever, can you just go already? I don't want to look at you longer than I have to."
"I'll talk to V about making you some soup, hopefully we can get you in a stable condition soon." He ignored my plea, leaning back into the chair and placing one leg over the other, glancing out the window.
"I told you I didn't want your help, now go away." I used my hand to shoo him off, except he simply scoffed and sat there like I was just some kind of wild animal. "Dude, I'm not going to let you watch me sleep. I'm not a kid you don't have to watch over me. There's no way for me to break out anyways so it's not like I'm going anywhere."
"Who said I was tasked with watching you sleep?" He inquired. He laid his leg back down and leaned over, interlinking his fingers together. "Maybe I just wanted to bond with our new squad mate."
"As if!" I threw an empty plastic bottle at him, the piece of plastic simply bouncing off his head and into a random corner. "Don't try to bond with me now asshole! Mind you that your kind has caused my species to go into hiding. And need I ALSO remind you of how many families you've destroyed?!"
That seemed to hit some kind of nerve in him, that stupid snarky smile now failing. Pride shot through my chest at the small win. "Thought so. Not so innocent now, are you?"
"Why are you trying to get on our bad side? I mean, you haven't eaten so it's clear you don't want to get better as to prevent yourself in working with us. And now you're trying to insult my girlfriend and I. We simply want to be friends."
"Ugh, bite me. That shit is so cliché. 'You and your girlfriend'," I mocked with air quotations and a stupid voice, "From what I heard this wasn't necessarily any of your doing. You're just blindly following orders nitwit."
In reality though, I didn't think the bloodsuckers could be so smart. I thought they fought with their murderous bloodlust and the intelligence of a worm. Striking a wooden stake with beings that are sentient only made this ten times harder, not to mention they were onto me. I'd either get out of here or die trying at this point.
"We already said we weren't going to kill you. So long as you abide by the rules you'll still have your life. I don't understand what's so hard."
"…excuse me?" I deadpanned, blinking a few dozen times before outright laughing at his words. He looked at me with horror, scooching back in his chair. "You don't understand what's so hard about completely giving up your entire LIFE and everything you've ever KNOWN to an entity that wants you for something and you don't even know what?! What kind of dumbass strategy are you playing at because clearly you haven't thought this all the way through."
I slid the light blanket over my body off and swung my legs over the bed, feet dangling by just a couple of inches from the floor. Being vertically challenged was the least of my worries though, the insecurity burning away in a matter of seconds as I tried to stand my ground.
"U, I'm not trying to insult you, I'm trying to understand you." N reasoned.
"Well stop! You're not going to understand me and hopefully you never will. You could never process what kind of fucked up shit our outpost has done all because of some stupid infection that you blood-driven freaks spawned!"
The male vampire went still, brows furrowing together like he was trying to connect the pieces. "Did you say infection?"
"Don't play coy with me." Now I was just pissed, looking at something that had evolved perfectly through the horrid forces of the tales of what my mother and other lab subjects went through. "Leave me alone."
As I tried to walk out the door, N grabbed my arm and pulled me back. I grit my teeth and whipped around, now directly face-to-face with him. My breathing was heavy, rage building up in my core and that same feeling stirring inside of me just like when Lizzy and her bystanding followers tried to corner me. I didn't care if he was intimidatingly looming over me or if my neck strained to look up at him.
I'm not fucking losing.
"Let me go."
"Hang on, what do you mean by infection? What infection? Are you infected? Is that what that yellow eye was?"
"Yellow eye?" I thought for a second before shaking my head and slipped my arm out of his hold. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Were you exiled?"
"Why are you asking personal questions? That's rude you know!" I huffed with frustration, clenching my fists by my sides. "What the hell do you know? You're just some stupid vampire who acts like a dog and does as they're told. I don't know you, so why the hell would I trust you with sensitive information like that?"
"So technically speaking, if I took the time to know you then would you answer my questions?" He snapped his fingers like the lightbulb went off in his head, I however just stood there like he was the dumbest creature to ever exist in the universe.
"What…? No! Absolutely not!" I picked up another water bottle and threw it at him, this time the damn thing bounced off his chest as he proceeded to take a few more steps towards me. My own feet found themselves to be stumbling backwards, tripping over the same piece of plastic I threw only seconds ago. "Shit—!"
I squeezed my eyes shut, ready for my head to hit the wall again and yet for another concussion to take place. Except the only thing I felt was a soft hand flying behind my head softening the impact, and an arm tucking itself around my waist. He pulled me into a warm embrace, heavy breaths grazing my sensitive ear. I didn't dare to open my eyes, because if I did then it meant swallowing my own pride—maybe one of the only things I had left.
"Shoot…U I'm sorry I just—"
It felt like every cell inside of me was on fire, his words stopping for a brief second, and his thumb wiping away fresh tears that I tried to stop from flowing uncontrollably down my cheeks. I can't keep doing this, I never wanted this…and yet some stupid vampire was making me lose all patience and cool I'd built for myself over the years. I banged my fists against the wall, still keeping my head down.
"Why won't you do it?" I shook. "You're impossible. All of you. You act like this is the normal every single fucking day! You kill so many of us…why not me?"
He pulled his thumb away quickly, but the arm around my waist never let go. It felt weird and awkward—especially since I knew his girlfriend was somewhere else probably pissed off—but to me, ever fiber of my being felt something else stir inside my chest. Ever since I woke up I've felt strange, and being sick only adds to the concept that everything that was happening right now might as well have been a dream.
"I won't do it." He whispered, hand trailing up my back. I hitched a breath, a warmth swirling in my lower abdomen. "V and I don't want you dead. I promise."
"You're promises are lies. J hurt me, whose to say she won't do it again?"
"J isn't like us."
"Then what are you two?" Lifting my head, I stared at him directly in his golden pools. Vampires have such hypnotic eyes, but I knew every single instinct in my body told me this was wrong. He's doing something to me, and it's unfamiliar.
'But I can't bring it in myself to pry him off…'
"Last time I checked, you have fangs, wings, a tail—those all seem like vampiric attributes to me."
"That's not what I mean." The male vampire grimaced, holding me tighter. My frame pressed against his broad chest, my cheeks heating up instantly.
"What do you mean then? Huh? Are you toying with me? Waiting for me to be at my weakest? Pathetically crawling away until you tear me apart?"
"What—Jesus no! Where did you get those ideas from?"
"Your girlfriend's stare gave me a few ideas." I reminded him of where he stood with the female, at least from what he's told me. The second I brought V up his grip loosened, like he realized what he was doing and finally gave me some space. Though I can't say I was too enthused about it—not that I'd ever admit it out loud. Damn bloodsucker, it was probably hypnosis of some kind.
I'm trying, I'm trying so hard to force him into making a choice. He either let's me go and I have a small probability of surviving, or I get entangled in some kind of spider's web that wrapped me in its silk from the start. It's venom coursing through me like a pawn in a chess game, eagerly awaiting to make its move.
N sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "You're not feeling good right now, can I at least ask you trust me to take care of you until we get this whole J business settled?"
"You're just saying that because she said you're responsible for me."
"That's not entirely true," He laughed nervously, eyes darting anywhere but on me specifically. "It may not seem like it but—"
"But WHAT, Dear?" V's voice was filled with venom, her own golden orbs glowing with such energy that I had to do a double take. She was angry. And if I had to assume, it might have been because of our little collapse earlier, if she even stuck around long enough to see it. She swayed her hips with the power of some higher being, demanding the room. "The purple thing is sick, so I made soup. She won't be able to handle anything otherwise considering she hasn't eaten in a week."
The female vampire whipped her head in my direction, her steps following with direct precision. "So I suggest you go now, because I need a word with my BOYFRIEND here."
'Ah, there it is.'
That disgust I was so used to seeing.
All too familiar, and yet the adrenaline pumping in my chest never seemed to fade.
Though I can see that same betraying glimmer behind her shining iris once more from the look she was giving me. She's begging me to go, begging me to eat…begging me to stay alive for them.
But why?
Uzi's P.O.V.~
Someone banging on the door made me jump up from my bed, J's angry form beginning to be a rather common occurrence. I don't feel as horrible as I did a week ago, my cold pretty much gone and out of sight…thanks to V and everything. She's got a pretty good hold when it comes to anything medical but I'd never admit my gratitude out loud. The female vamp still gives me glares every chance she gets, and ever since N and I had that…weird moment…I've barely seen him. Purposefully I'm sure she's keeping him far away, which is unfortunate considering he may be my only lead for information on the blood suckers themselves.
"How are you feeling today? If you're better, I'd like to discuss a few things with you." J folded her arms across her chest while dread sunk into my stomach.
"I guess." I muttered, rubbing my eyes and swinging my legs over the bed. "Are we finally talking about what you're planning to do with me or whatever?"
"Not my plan per se but yes," She sighed, tapping her chin to take a minute to think. "Basically, a human with some kind of vampiric infection that's still alive is an interesting find. Which means I'm going to need to study you, however, that also comes with its own set of problems. Our quota has been lowered to only a few mere humans a month, enough blood for only a singular vampire." Her wide-fanged smirk sent me spiraling, the world going void for a couple of seconds. "Surely you know what that means, don't you, U?"
Swallowing the nervous lump down my throat, I opened my mouth to play dumb, but nothing could come out. "T-That's…you're…are you serious?"
"Oh, one-hundred percent serious." The cruel leader hummed with satisfaction, playing with one of the ends of her hair. "Obviously since I'm in charge I'll do as I always have and drain the humans for my own indulgence, however, that leaves N and V. You will let them feed off you whenever they wish and however much they want."
"FUCK NO!" I shot up onto my feet and threw the blanket up into the air. "That's insane! I'm not their fucking blood bag!"
Something cold wrapped around my throat from behind, her cocky smile quickly dissipating into a threatening frown. Looking up, I realized it was her tail, the sharp end directly aiming in between the space of my eyes. Its strength lifted me up to just the tip of my toes as her clawed hands lingered over my clothed midsection.
"Listen, infected or not you're STILL a human. And we need to keep you in check somehow. So, you'll do as you're told without any complications. Failure in doing so will result in punishment so inhumane you will wish you were DEAD."
"You're monsters!" I choked out, a light pressure beginning to rush to my head, my hands attempting to pry away the tail coiling tighter around my neck. "STOP!"
She quickly loosened her grip, causing me to fall to the floor. I gasped in as much oxygen as my airway would allow, glaring up at her with all the spite I could muster up. Time began to become irrelevant, but it seemed like each time this woman and I 'crossed' each other, her violent streak increased. The vampiric couple wasn't kidding, she really does seem to be messed up in one way or another.
"Fight back again and I'll keep my word. Now I'll ask one more time… Do. You. Understand?"
~Brief Flashback~
"If you know what's good for you purple thing, you'll do as she says."
~
"Fine." I sighed in defeat, staring down at my own two feet. I've been here for weeks now and I still can't figure a way out…I'm pathetic. I was so confident I could kill one of these things before…what happened?
"Good, now that being said N said something about how you had some interesting equipment back where they found you. What kind of technology was he talking about?"
"Why the hell do you wanna know?"
"What did I just say?" J growled, tail whipping around and sweeping underneath my feet, making me fall back onto the bed. Her shadow loomed over, a strike of fear piercing through my chest. "Answer my question NOW!"
"Bite me!" I spat reflexively, adrenaline shooting through my entirety like a strike of lightning. She snarled her fangs, raising a clawed hand in midair.
"That could be arranged. Careful what you say purple thing~." Another female's voice interjected, a small relief yet annoyance befalling my attitude. I hated how she always swooped in around the right time, like she's been watching us the whole damn time. V pushed herself off the doorway and took a few steps inside. "Let me handle this J, maybe I can take her to get the equipment? I'd like her and I to have a little...chat."
'Ah shit.'
The leader's hand lowered, relief flooding my system from the possible attack. She turned her focus onto the fellow female, raising a brow. "A chat? Since when were you so friendly?"
"Since I decided she may not be so bad to have on the squad."
"Your attitude this past week has said otherwise, what changed?"
"Do you really need all the details or would you rather have the equipment?" V snapped impatiently, suspiciously looking to the side as if she were trying to neglect her true intentions.
"Huh…you've been a lot more disobedient lately." J's eyes peaked with curiosity in the worst way imaginable, glancing between her and I like we were keeping some secret. Her smile gave me chills, tail swaying about. "Why is that I wonder?"
"You're in your own head again. This is nothing more than me just taking the job instead of you. Didn't you say you were going to hunt today? Let me haul her over to the complex to retrieve the equipment and you can continue to do what's necessary to keep yourself—"
"Alright I got it." She held a hand up, still seeming bothered. I gulped nervously, my mouth dry and wondering if I was going to even be back here in the pod by the end of the day. "Just…behave yourself, you know how you get the second you smell blood."
'Say what now?! Fuck I'm as good as dead.'
V scoffed, shifting the weight on her feet and hugging her arms around herself. "I'll be fine, don't worry. The human will still be alive by the end of the day. She may just be a little…drained."
"Wait what—" I held up my hand, standing up to face her. "Like hell I'm going with you! Go yourself! N can watch me if you're that worried."
"He absolutely will NOT." She spat back, hiking a hand onto her hip. "He's busy right now with something else he was tasked with. So your only option is to come with me."
"Not if you're going to drain me! If I go with you I'm as good as dead so why should I?"
"If you behave then we won't have any problems."
"Bullshit!"
"U." J's tone was so stern, so cold that I froze right there on the spot. V's playful grin and coy eyes immediately switched into ones of concern, whipping her head to witness the sharp end of her tail only inches away from my face. My body trembled, feeling as though the wind got knocked out of me from how fast her action was.
J's not someone to fuck around with. She's mean and cruel, her behavior so unnatural that I couldn't tell what she was thinking. Her pace was uneven, body lightly swaying side-to-side. It was only until I felt someone warm engulf me that I realized I was in some kind of trance.
"S-she'll come with me okay J? There's no reason for this to get ugly."
Fear, panic, and horror all struck into me at once. A strange feeling overcame my body, like something warm sinking into me following with a numbness not too long after. My ability to speak in the current moment was nonexistent, unable to retain any thought. What the hell is this?
"J!" V yelled again, swerving her tail in front of us to act as some kind of barrier. What is she doing? Why does she sound so frightened all the sudden? I thought she wasn't scared…
"Huh?" The mentioned leader blinked, coming to her senses and looked around. "Ah…guess I'll have to watch my own instincts from now on. Get going then, if you both don't return then rest assured the other will be swiftly taken care of. Understand?"
We both nodded, my hands clinging tightly to the arm that was holding me close.
'What the fuck was that?'
***
"Do you not have a coat that like…doesn't smell like blood?" I scrunched my nose in disgust with the new article of clothing on my body. It was a simple black winter coat with fur around the hood, comfortable and warm…but I didn't exactly like the idea that someone was probably murdered when wearing this. "Ugh…do you wash these at all?"
"Well excuse me, princess." V retorted continuing to look around her closet. "When you find a washing and drying machine then let me know. We don't exactly have proper appliances here if you couldn't tell."
"Okay one, never call me princess again—and two, if you don't have appliances then how the hell have you been able to make food? Or grow it for that matter?"
The vampire went stiff for a moment, sucking in a breath before turning toward my small frame sitting on the edge of her bed that looked like it was rarely ever used. "Well, we technically have a small kitchenette as you've seen. Those are for storing blood as such as other things like when J brings humans into the draining room. However, N did have to go out and find a part for the oven since it hasn't been used in over two decades. As for the food…we have a greenhouse but it's barely thriving."
"Oh." I frowned, a little bit of guilt dripping into me. I had no idea they were forced to go to such lengths, but at the same time it's not like I asked for them to do so. They could have easily killed me by now. "I see…"
V groaned, shaking her head. "Nope, don't do that. Don't feel guilty. It's simply orders from J, okay? Nothing special."
"Wha—w-well I wasn't insinuating that you—"
"Just—! Shut up, okay?"
Heat rose through my cheeks, my heart pulsating faster than it had before. It's like the same thing I felt when N and I…when he caught me before hitting the wall. I snuggled further into the coat, the smell still horrid as ever, but in this sense I'm sure she was fine with me going silent. The female pursed her lips, reaching out a hand but quickly pulled it back.
"Don't make that face…" She whispered. "Please."
"You're…confusing." I sighed. "Can we just go already? If I can get my equipment back I'd be more than happy to comply just this once."
'Not exactly a lie, I kind of need that stuff to check the perimeters around my location anyways.'
"Wow, the purple thing is actually being complacent for once? Color me intrigued."
"Bite me! I'm trying to find a common ground here."
"Well, then STOP trying." She crossed her arms over her chest, standing for a minute before clearing her throat.
"Whatever, let's go. The quicker we get this done the sooner J will be off our backs. And don't forget—we're still having that chat."
"How lovely." I commented sarcastically.
Stepping outside for the first time in weeks and taking in that fresh air felt like a godsend. It felt nice to feel that icy cold wind nip at my skin. A lot better than a pair of fangs piercing through my neck…I think so anyways.
Enjoying the air was one thing, however the vamp slightly swaying in front of me side-to-side was another. It was as if for a brief moment her entirety faded, V's siren eyes hazing over continuously before shaking her head. She smoothed her hands through her hair, body enlightened in the snowy atmosphere. Blood stained denim jacket unzipped a little more than usual, my cheeks grew warm from the sight, though I quickly shrugged that thought off.
No fucking way. Vampires are genuinely just hot as a freaking rule or something, nothing more, nothing less. Her and her fucking curves, big chest and well-rounded a—
"Hey, c'mon. Flying's easier so hop on—but so help me if you try anything I'll rip you open and make your organs my next art piece while you're still alive."
"Yeah, I don't think so." I shook my head, shoving my hands into my pockets trying to ignore the old smell still lingering around. No matter how hard they try to keep the place clean, it felt like decay would never really cease. They've been doing it for too long. "You're being weird. Why were you stumbling like that just now?"
V paused, wings growing stiff but soon waving a hand of dismissal. "It's nothing. I was just surveying the area like I always do—"
'Bull shit.'
"—either way, if we walk then we lose time, and J wants this done quickly. Didn't you hear her earlier? You know…back when she almost, like, killed you? Or were you off in hot topic la la land?"
"Hot Topic la la land?" A scoff escaped, "Big talk for someone whose just as scared of her as I am. Don't think I didn't see you shaking too."
"That's different. Fearing her…is the best thing to do, honestly. Fighting her just makes it worse."
"Makes what worse?" The words came out faster than I could register, though just as I noticed my mistake she did too. Suddenly the womanly vamp sighed with a hint of anger rising up her throat, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Just—! Hop on, will ya? I don't need to explain everything to an angsty grimy purple goth thing. It's bad enough I'm a form of transportation at the moment."
"Bite me," I rolled my eyes, giving in and grabbing her shoulders for leverage. She hoisted me on her back, nestled right in between her wings. "Do you remember the way back or were you and your boy toy back there too busy getting it on to be bothered?"
"You did NOT just say that!"
"Ah, that I did my loyal steed."
"Oh, so help me—! I will leave you here and get the equipment myself."
"But then what will J say, hm?" A strange excitement swelled up in my chest, hands squeezing her shoulders and well-aware her tail swerved above my head, likely threatening me. But I didn't miss how she grunted from the touch, ever-so-slightly squirming. The corners of my mouth tipped upward. "If she thinks you and I separated…then we'll both get punished. And like she promised, it'll be complete and utter hell~."
***
"OUCH! That fucking hurts—put me down damn it I said I was sorry! V!" The big winged creature carried me by my under arms instead, the majority of my weight flying through the air as her sharp nails threatened to dig into me. I almost wish they would, it might hurt less than the amount of stability I have right now.
A big smirk slapped itself across her face as she changed her trajectory to fly downward, suddenly her painful grip she had slipped and caused me to plummet into a big pile of fresh snow from the harsh storms. I yelped, feeling the cold rush down past my coat seeping into my skin.
"Careful what you wish for!" I heard her yell from afar, laughing her ass off in an evil manner.
'I'm fucking killing this one.'
"I-I-Idiot!" My teeth chattered as I crawled my way out, clothes be damned—her drop was a big mistake all the way around. "I-I-If there was a patch of ice under there I-I could've d-d-died!"
"Well, you're not dead, are you? You're clearly in front of me and alive so I say I did the job just fine." Her cocky stance stood firm for a couple seconds then softened, arms dropping by her sides. "Hey…seriously purple thing why are you shaking? It wasn't THAT high."
"The snow was still soft enough to go under my clothes jackass! I might as well be a god damn ice cube!"
"Shit…" She cursed, looking over at the all-to-familiar leaning complex. "Did you have any spare clothes up there by chance?"
"T-t-think so."
Hurriedly, I scurried out of the cold pile and barely zipped by past the entrance. To me it maybe only felt like yesterday since I visited this place…hard to believe it's already been a year. My feet filtered up the stairs and my gaze was met with the room I once put my trust in to keep me safe, everything growing eerily silent.
The sound of the wind still howling, a familiar throbbing in my arm, and a new…quenching feeling in my throat if only for a second. I remember hitting the cold hard floor, the few remaining moments of consciousness before everything went black…and that feeling of being alone. How no one cared to even report on my well-being, or to go look for me, or…do anything, really.
I'm aware of how pathetic it seems.
I was scared at the time…and then I heard someone's voice.
V's voice.
"Uh…U? You good?"
"Heh…not purple thing?" I wrapped my arms around myself, turning around to meet her worried glance. "W-w-what happened? Did hell freeze over?"
Her lips formed a tight line, but yet no witty remark came back to taunt me. She simply walked into the room ahead of me and began to rummage around. Her brow rose as she gave me a side-eye, lifting a shaky finger I gave in and pointed her in the direction of fresh clothes. Where they were hopefully still lying untouched by both weather and any stragglers.
She pulled out a black pair of tights with one of my few baggy hoodies I managed to tuck away before being kicked out of the bunker for good. She held them up delicately, and I nodded my head before reaching out.
They were cold, but at least they were dry.
"Give me like five minutes, I'll go change. My generator I had in here ran out of juice so you'll have to make a fire. Unless you want me to get sick again?"
'Or die.'
"Yeah…just go or whatever. You're getting paler by the minute." She rubbed her temples, taking a few steps back.
"V?"
"Just go, U. I'll make the fire you don't gotta worry about that. Remember if I leave without you then J will have my ass. I don't exactly have a choice."
"Harsh…" I shifted the weight on my cold feet. "I was just going to ask if you were okay. You're not look too great yourself—"
"Since when do you care?!" She snapped, tail hitting the ground and breaking a nearby vase left behind from those who lived there long, long ago. "Stop trying to get on our good side! You might as well be a fucking hostage but you keep coming back like a fish on a hook and biting on nothing!"
'Fuck, was I mistaken? Has that look behind her eyes…been something else this whole time?'
V doesn't like me at all, that much is evident. I feel like I'm some kind of burden, and the hurt is written all over my face. She clenched her fists, golden daggers piercing straight through my skull.
"A fish, really?"
"U I swear to god—"
"Alright, fine! Chill out, I'll go in the other room then."
A part of me feels crushed, but the other is telling me to hold onto what little left I have. I mean, I'll still get my equipment, so that's a plus. But if I don't get out of these clothes soon I might actually turn into a human popsicle.
My coat unzipped with a startling ease, letting it fall off and finally feeling the actual effects from the impact earlier. Body sore, mind tired, and overall still feeling like shit. Underneath was a singular black spaghetti strapped Cami…considering it was the only other thing I had under the hoodie before when they found me.
The baggy pants were next, its damp and heavy material immediately released from its hold leaving me in only my underwear with underlying insecurities brewing quickly and covering what little there was to see. It was then my mind instinctively switched over to V, how she easily flexed what others wished they could have. The girls back in the bunker would be so jealous of her, walking around with the confidence of someone who knew they could get what they want plus a little more. I envy that in someone like her. But I'll never admit it straight to her face, it's like accepting defeat.
Taking a loss.
Just as I'm about to reach for the new and clean pair of tights, I hear chaotic footsteps not too far behind. My hands fled to the hemline of my Cami and pulled it down past my hips, face flushed with embarrassment.
"V! What the hell?! A little privacy would be nice—!!"
The vampire swooped in so fast it was all a blur, her bright glowing eyes being the only source of sensibility I was able to somewhat keep track of. She clutched my wrists tightly, pulling me down onto the ground and pinning them on either side of my head. I kicked and thrashed my legs, but those were soon put to a stop by her own knee pressing down in between them, closer than I'd like.
"What's gotten into you?! Y-You said…"
"I-I can't…" She whispered, looking down. Her tail looped around one of my straps, slipping it down past my shoulder. "You smell too sweet I can't…"
Adrenaline shot straight into my veins, realizing falling over me like a tidal wave.
"V? H-hey let's talk about this!"
"U…" Her grip tightened, that same warmth swirling in my belly. "I need…I can't keep ignoring it."
'That bitch…J must've cut them off from her blood supply already. She's starving.'
My heart was beating so hard I could hear it through my ears, pulse racing. I don't have any strength left to fight her off, and I know one way or another she'll probably just get what she wants anyways. That seems to be the case for just about anything with them.
So, I did the only thing I could do and closed my eyes, feeling the pleasantly sharp sting of a vampire's fangs.
And how good her soft plump lips felt on my skin.