Bloodbank

Twenty Seven

I was walking through a desert. Again. I was a prisoner. Again.

The only difference this time was that I wasn't alone. Not that Mason let us speak. At least that could've taken my mind off the ache in my toes, the weakness in my veins and the fear that the antidote was now lost.

We trudged up and down the dunes through the night, and I was met yet again with the sensation of sand snaking its way into my shoes and squeezing between my toes. I was kept at the front of the party, dragged along personally by Mason. Scott remained at the back, out of my view. Every time I craned my neck back to check on him, Mason jerked my head back, each time more violent than the last.

I would have been tempted to make conversation with him were it not for my raw throat and hatred of his guts. But still, I had so many questions. Why did he betray me? How long had he been hunting like this? Did he lure many vulnerable girls to the bank, or just me? Did he sleep with them, too?

But my mind was more occupied with the bigger questions. Would we reach Tenebris before the poison killed me? And what would Tenebris do to me if the plan didn't work? And how would we find another flower before I died?

I could already feel the poison's effects on me. The desert was impossibly cold at night, and I had been given a meagre shawl to keep me warm, but my insides were on fire. I was sweating where Mason was shivering, and I kept him at arms length constantly before he suspected something was wrong. I was paler than usual, and with each step I felt my energy dissipating into the sand. The dunes fought against my every move, sand slipping so my feet couldn't climb. Eventually the exhaustion crept up on me, and my knees buckled, hitting the sand with a thud.

"Get up." Mason ordered, pulling on my arm. I collapsed like a rag doll under him. He exhaled, annoyed at my weakness. "Bring me Scott."

Scott appeared as my vision began to waver. The sand was cool but my head was so hot. If I just lay against it, just for a moment...

And then I was hoisted into Scott's arms, still bound at the front. Woozily, my eyes opened as the walk continued.

"The flower..." I whispered, head jolting with each step he took.

"I'll find you another." His voice was firm and sure. My doubts were not eased; how would we come across another Devil's Claw before reaching Tenebris? And how would we get it without arousing suspicion?

"How?" I muttered, leaning my head on his shoulder. I could see the red marks on his skin around the ropes. They were hurting him and I couldn't do anything to stop it, yet again.

"Tenebris has gardens," he replied. I almost couldn't hear him over his footsteps. I nodded, my eyelids slipping close, Scott's footsteps lulling me to sleep.

I awoke to a silent strip of pink along the horizon.

The vampires made quick work of setting up camp; large tents were erected to shelter the vampires from the sun while we slept. A couple of Mason's men quickly cooked dinner, racing before the sun made an impromptu appearance.

I ate only half of what they served me. The food seemed to ignite as it went down my throat, the poison threatening to bring it back up if I ate any more. Mason also ate a meagre portion, supplemented by the blood bag next to him. By the end of the meal, his lips were stained red.

It was as I stared at the food, my body begging me to eat what it would only reject later, that I noticed the entire company of vampires staring at me.

"Back to work," Mason growled, shifting to block my body with his.

"What if we had just a taste? We're the ones carrying her all this way." One of the vampires spoke up.

"That's what the reward is for." Mason hissed back, "Or do you want to be on the bad side of Tenebris?"

"She's worth more than the reward." Another jeered. My pulse was raising - it seemed to be Mason against the entire company of vampires, numbering at least eight. One of them began to drool, undoubtedly hearing my heartbeat, increasing the rush of blood through my veins.

Scott, wrists bound, joined Mason in front of me.

"In case you've forgotten how many have already died trying to get this girl to Tenebris, I suggest you back off," Mason said. One vampire stood.

"I think we can take them."

In a flash, edged on by the blood he had just drank, Mason reached forwards and ripped the throat from the vampire. It was an eerie motion, seeming too easy. Lit by the glowing sunlight behind him, the vampire swayed, and then collapsed to the floor.

"Anyone else?" Mason asked. Upon no response, he continued, "then get out of my sight."