My Immortal Hunger

Seven

Xavier limped through the halls of the abandoned hospital, each step sending fire up his broken neck. Every muscle screamed, every joint protested, but he couldn’t stop—not while Viktor’s enforcers could strike at any second. If he’d stayed unconscious a moment longer, his head would have been separated from his shoulders.

He hated this place. Viktor insisted it was “homey.” Xavier called it a tomb for the deranged. Rusted gurneys leaned at odd angles, trays of syringes and vials of mysterious fluids littered the floor, and glass jars filled with grotesque specimens glimmered in the dim light. Some contained stitched-together animal parts, some human organs, some impossible hybrid monstrosities. He forced himself not to look too closely.

In the main hall, fallen vampires shifted uneasily, their eyes flat and accusatory. On a cracked examination table, Viktor lounged, one leg propped, the other dangling, humming softly like a predator at ease.

“Where is the girl?” Viktor’s voice sliced through the silence.

Xavier swallowed, heart hammering. “We had her, my lord… but the enforcers intervened. They killed my men.”

“Where is she?” Viktor repeated, each word sharper than the last.

“The Dacianians took her,” Xavier whispered.

Before he could process Viktor’s movement, steel-strong hands locked around his neck. He was lifted, feet dangling as if gravity had betrayed him. His neck screamed again under the pressure.

“You failed a simple task,” Viktor hissed. “Your men are dead. Why are you still breathing?”

“Please, my lord—” Xavier began.

The words died as Viktor’s fist smashed into his chest. Bones shattered. Heart in hand, Viktor lifted Xavier high enough for him to see the life drain from his own eyes, watching as decay crept across his flesh in moments.

“I am surrounded by idiots!” Viktor roared, the sound rattling the walls. Four months. Four months he’d asked for this, and no one delivered. Now, meddlesome Lucius had what he wanted, and Viktor’s patience snapped. He flung the decayed heart to the floor, stepping closer to the nearest burly vampire.

“Find everything about this girl. Every detail: where she lives, who she knows, her family, her habits—everything. I want answers before nightfall. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord!” The vampire scrambled away.

Viktor’s eyes lingered on Xavier’s lifeless, rotting form. “Burn him. I have no use for failure.”

A twisted excitement coursed through Viktor. Lucius was close, but once he achieved his goal, eliminating his self-righteous brother would be trivial. And the girl… she was the key.

“One thing is for sure, sweetheart—you are not ordinary.”

Thea sank onto the bed, letting the words reverberate in her chest. Her head throbbed. This was never the night she had imagined. She closed her eyes, longing for her old, boring life—her small apartment, her mundane job, and her crazy, lovable friend.

Lucius wanted to wrap her in his arms, to chase away the fear, the tears, the chaos. He wanted to protect her. But all he could do was stand there, silent, trying to understand what Viktor could possibly want with her.

She sat up, anger flashing in her amber eyes. “This is insane. Before yesterday, my life was perfectly normal. Besides some random guy following me and discovering vampires are real, I was just… me. Ordinary. Boring Thea.”

Lucius studied her, heart clenching at her words.

“I was supposed to be out celebrating with friends, dancing, drinking, living my life. That’s all I am.” Her voice wavered, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Lucius stepped closer, voice low but firm. “There has to be a reason.”

“You mentioned foster care… do you know who your parents are?” Jaen asked gently.

Thea stiffened, turning away. “No. I don’t know anything about them.”

Lucius saw the lie in her heartbeat. Anger surged—anger at her, at himself, at the unfairness of it all. He didn’t know why he wanted her trust so badly, but he did.

“You’ve been honest with us so far. Stay honest. That is all I ask.”

Thea whirled, defiance blazing. “Who are you to say I’m lying? You don’t know me. I owe you nothing. You’re no one to me!”

Regret hit immediately, seeing the hurt flicker across his face. Her heart twisted. She wanted to take it back, but couldn’t.

Lucius inhaled sharply, controlling himself. “I know about the lie. I know you owe us nothing. But we’re trying to help you. Hide what you want—lie if you must—but don’t expect my help if you do.”

Thea’s chest heaved. Anger, hurt, confusion tangled inside her. She picked up her bloodied scrubs and stormed to the bathroom. If he didn’t care, why should she?

Lucius closed his eyes, frustrated at how much she affected him. It’s about stopping Viktor. Nothing more. But he knew it was never just about that.

The door opened.

“Thea, please understand—you’re in danger,” Kate said.

“Not just you, but everyone around you,” Jaen added.

Being stubborn as ever, Thea marched toward Lucius, who stood with arms crossed.

“Thanks for the shirt, thanks for tolerating me this long, but I’ve overstayed my welcome. Excuse me—I’m leaving,” she said, glaring.

Lucius clenched the fabric in his hand, anger and helplessness warring inside him. He wanted to shake her, to force her to stay—but he didn’t.

“She is not a child, Jaen. She wants to go. I am no one to stop her,” Lucius said, repeating her own words back to her.

Thea stiffened at that, realizing he truly would not hold her back. She didn’t understand why it hurt so much. One last look, one last ache of regret, and she yanked the door open, stepping into the unknown.