20_The Portal
1414 Words
Cole POV
“Would you mind waiting for me in the car when I go see the vampire?” I choose my words carefully as we drive to the dungeons. Knowing Ariella, she would want to join me – come hell or high water. “Just for a little while.”
“Sure,” she shrugs.
“Really?” I look at her in astonishment. “You’re not even going to fight me on this?”
“Now, why would I do that?” She rolls her eyes. “It makes sense, he hasn’t fed in two days. If he smells me, he’ll go berserk and then we’ll get nothing out of him.”
“But you’re still going to lure him with your blood,” I nod slowly, understanding her train of thought. She is not fighting me on this, but I will not be able to convince her to keep her golden blood safe and hidden.
“It’s like we share a brain,” she laughs softly, and I am again in awe by the sound. “Yes, the farmer forced vampires to do his bidding with angel’s blood. We should do the same and find that portal.”
“For the record,” I glance at her before parking. “I never said I liked it or that I want you to do it. I just know what you’re going to do.”
“Good enough for me,” she leans over and kisses me. “Now, go do your thing so we can go home and do other things.”
“Yes, dear,” I grin, getting out of the truck.
My heart is fluttering as I jog towards the dungeon. I feel like a hormonal teenager with only one thing on my mind, and I love it. I waited twenty-eight years for the love of my life. I am entitled to act foolish and horny.
“How’s he doing?” I ask Preston who is waiting for me at the cell’s gate.
“Starving,” he grins. “We ran the tests. He sizzles like a steak on a grill when we drop holy water on him, and garlic still irritates him. From what we can tell, nothing has changed except the ability to walk in sunlight.”
“That’s good news,” I smile and open the cell.
The vampire glares at me with hatred when I enter. But not even his stench of death can damper my mood.
“What’s your name?” I cross my arms in front of my chest, but he only snorts and looks away.
“Listen, man,” I sigh. “I’m having a good day. No, a wonderful day. I’m exceptionally happy. I found the love of my life, and I know you can’t relate. I mean, your kind can’t feel love. Anyway, I want to spread the joy. The kind of joy which makes me sound like a giddy schoolgirl. So, take advantage of my mood and make things easier for yourself. Just tell me your name. It’s not a secret, is it?”
“Have you considered that I don’t want to talk to you?” The vampire spits the word.
“Have you considered that I don’t care?” I smile. “You’re my prisoner. I can kill you, but I’m not … not yet. You might not feel love but you sure as hell can feel pain. And over the centuries werewolves have mastered the art of inflicting pain onto your kind. But I can also reward you.”
I smile charmingly as I kneel next to him.
“I can get you golden blood, you know,” I whisper. “All you have to do is cooperate.”
“Cooperate?” He sneers. “After you probed and propped me like a lab rat?”
“We were just curious,” I stand up. “You walked in daylight. How else were we supposed to know what works and what does not?”
“You could’ve asked,” he snapped.
“Oh, please,” I laugh. “You don’t even want to give up your name.”
The vampire ignores me and looks away.
“Fine,” I shrug. “Be like that. We’ll just stake you and be done with it.”
“You really only wanted to know my name?” He asks as I leave.
“Obviously not,” I grin. “But if I have to lick your ass for your name, it’s going to ruin my mood to ask you for anything else.”
“Olek,” he shouts as I close the gate behind me. “My name is Olek.”
“Do you want to go for a walk, Olek?” I turn to face him. “There’s a beautiful sunset waiting for you.”
“I need to feed,” he replies. “It’s been two days and …”
“And if I feed you now, you’ll feel the rush of fresh blood and try to break free,” I cut him off. “I’m not an i***t, Olek.”
“Why do you want to walk?” He looks at me suspiciously. “Why not talk here?”
“Honestly, it stinks in here,” I shrug. “And I want to test your day walker abilities.”
“And then you’ll feed me?” He asks hopefully.
“Even better,” I smile wickedly. “I’ll give you golden blood.”
“You weren’t joking about that?” Greed and hunger make his eyes turn red.
“I was serious,” I confirm.
“Untie me,” he pulls against his restraints. “I want to go for a walk.”
Ariella POV
I am bored out of my mind waiting for Cole in the truck. I am dying to know what is happening inside the dungeon, but more than that, I need to find the portal. If we can locate it, we can kill the vampires before they reach our – or anybody else’s – borders.
I still do not have the slightest idea how I am supposed to find Victor. If this vampire does not know or cannot tell me, we need to capture more until we find one who knows.
I quickly get out of the truck when I see Cole and Preston with the vampire walking out of the dungeon. The vampire has a collar around his neck with chains which Cole and Preston hold. The moment the vampire sees me, his face turns from sombre to eager and excited.
“Golden blood,” he drools as he looks at me.
“Easy, Olek,” Cole yanks on the chain, pulling him back.
“It’s still daylight,” I state the obvious. “And he’s still alive.”
“The effect is permanent,” Olek’s eyes are fixated on me, making my skin crawl.
I hold my hand out to Cole; he extends his claw and makes a small cut into my palm. Instantly, Olek jumps forward and fights his restraints to get to me.
“Where’s the vampire king, Olek?” I turn my hand upside down and allow my blood to drip into the dirt.
“No!” Olek shrieks, falling to his knees. “Don’t waste it.”
“Where’s Victor?” I ask again.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” he mumbles, his eyes following my droplets fanatically. “I receive my orders from his guards. They find us, we don’t find them.”
“Hold out your hand,” I order, and he obeys.
“How do you get a message to him?” I drip one droplet onto his palm.
Immediately, he licks it and closes his eyes in delight.
“Dark Moon,” he mutters. “I leave a note with Sean.”
“Dark Moon,” Cole mind links. “That’s our neighbouring pack.”
“Why does Sean help you?” my blood drips into his palm and he licks it eagerly.
“I don’t know, he just does,” he replies.
I take my hand away and close my palm.
“No, more, please,” Olek begs. “Sean helps. I don’t know why. I didn’t ask. I don’t care. Dark Moon doesn’t hunt us, and we don’t attack them.”
“You can have more blood if you take us to the portal,” I say firmly.
- Writer
