Why Vampires Sleep With The Lights On

Some Fucking Rescue Party...

Back up in the atrium, we exited the elevator and Victoria led the way through the madness of the crowd to a tall glowing blue portal that wasn't being used.

"This one leads to Church." Victoria said "Well, to a tunnel that leads to the Church anyway. It's not often used by Council members."

I knew why. Partly. Kian had mentioned something about a war between the Council and the Church back when we visited last. They weren't currently at war, but it didn't stop the tension between the two.

"Well, here goes nothing."

Taking a deep breath I stepped through the portal into a dimly lit tunnel. Victoria and Michael soon followed, as they did the portal dissolved behind them into the wall.

Fuck. That can't be good.

"Is that supposed to happen?" I asked, really hoping that it didn't mean we were trapped underground with a load of hostile vampires not far away.

"Uh, no." Victoria said running a hand over the rocky wall "I've never seen a portal do that before."

Well, this was going bloody brilliantly.

Some fucking rescue party we were going to be if we had no way of getting back out of here. Damn it! Why did it seem like somebody was always a step ahead of us everywhere we went?

I watched as Michael frowned at the ground and then bent down to pick up a handful of dirt which he then inhaled before smiling and dropping it into his suit pocket.

Ok, well, that was fucking weird...

As Micheal then started to head deeper into the tunnel I tapped Victoria on the arm, pulling her attention away from the wall.

"Our angel is on the move."

Victoria nodded and we followed Michael down the dimly lit passages. He managed to keep a good thirty paces in front of us, all I could see was the back of his blonde ponytail bobbing up and down as he walked.

Damn, he's fast on his feet...

"At this rate, I'm going to buy him a freaking collar and lead," I complained after losing sight of him as he rounded a corner up ahead.

"Don't be mean."

"I am not being mean." I explained as we finally reached the corner ourselves "I'm just... stating my frustration. There's a difference."

Victoria's silent look of annoyance served its purpose of shutting me up. I had to admit that I could be a bit of a blabbermouth when I got annoyed or scared or... actually, I tended to talk a lot no matter what the situation was.

Probably best if I just shut up.

...

...

Yeah, that was never going to bloody last for long. I have a lot to say, and I always feel the urge to get it out. I'm practically bursting right now!

That sounded way better in my head...

Anyway, I could see Michael up ahead standing by a large round meal door that blocked off the tunnel.

He'd found the Church.

As we finally reached Michael the metal door swung open and four armed and armoured vampires came marching out from inside.

They held their swords up in a salute and then stood facing each other to make a corridor. Then came the fifth armoured vamp, his helmet fashioned into the shape of a growling leopard glinting in the dull light of the tunnel.

Jay.

The matching sword with its leopard head pommel at his side still he reached up to take his helmet off. His dyed green hair had grown out since I had met him last, and the look of hatred in his matching green eyes was enough to send a shiver down my spine. My eyes couldn't help but catch the thick white scar across his throat from where Kian had cut him.

Crap, that was hard to look at.

Kian had caused those scars to save my life, but it was still hard to face the consequences. After a moment of silence, Jay looked around at our group and then smiled, the brutal cut across his neck bobbing around as he breathed in and out.

"Bring them."

Jay's voice was barely a whisper, but, it was unmistakable in the quiet of the tunnel.

Well, no going back now...

Turning to head back into the tunnel, we followed Jay, his guards falling into place behind us. The metal door swung shut behind us.

Shit. We really were trapped down here. If we had to make a run for it, we would never be able to get out, let alone get rid of our armed escorts.

As we eventually entered the Church's inner sanctum, the dull light was replaced by torches flickering with blue flames. The torches were held by grotesque gargoyles, and the tall stone pillars that stretched up to the ceiling seemed to be moving and dancing along with the flames. In the centre of the room was the large, carved marble throne of the High Lord, but it was empty. Odd. I would have imagined that the Church would have elected a new leader after Elliot was killed by Jay.

Talking of the green-eyed traitor, I was surprised that he still had the nerve to stay in the Church after the shit he tried to pull. I don't take having a sword at my throat lightly.

He led the way up to the empty throne and knelt down on one knee in front of it.

Is it just me, or was that just a little bit fucking weird?

Looking over at Victoria and Michael, they were both looking at the empty throne with confusion as well.

Huh. Glad it's not just me...

Suddenly I could hear footsteps coming from a tunnel set behind the throne. Seems we were all waiting for whoever was now in charge.

A figure entered the room from the tunnel, dressed in heavy blood-red robes, with a hood covering the face of whoever was underneath. They walked up to the throne and sat down on the hard marble seat.

The feeling of pure evil that radiated from the figure sent a shiver down my spine. I don't know why, but I had a bad bloody feeling about this.

"My Lord, we have some prisoners that we took at the main gate," Jay said in his light whisper.

The figure reached up a thin white hand and pulled down its hood.

"Then they must be allowed to explain themselves."

My heart fluttered wildly inside my chest as the familiar long blonde hair and blood-red eyes of Kian were revealed as he lowered his hood.

"Kian!"

I smiled and went to head to him, only to be stopped by the cold prick of metal as Jay quickly stood up and pointed his sword at my throat.

What the fuck?

Looking at Kian as he sat on the throne of the High Lord I could see no emotion or recognition in his eyes. He studied the scene in front of him with little more than boredom.

Something is very wrong here... why is he looking at me like he doesn't know who I bloody am?

"You will address me by my proper title lycan, I am the High Lord of The Church Of Dracul." Kian said angrily as he looked around at our group "I will give you the opportunity to plead the case of why you were trespassing on Church land. Impress me and I'll consider letting you all go, if you don't, then you will all die. Take them to the cells!"

Before I even had the chance to do anything I heard Victoria scream and then a sharp pain hit the back of my head and everything went black.